[81alum]

My very first game as a Stanford student (and my first game at Stanford Stadium) was vs. Army.  We lost.  It was my introduction to Stanford's long history of underperforming vs. lesser teams.  This history would reach a new low later that season when Stanford lost to Oregon State (one of the worst D1 teams).  The margin was a safety.  On a kickoff.  It was OSU's only victory that season.

With that memory still in mind, I am setting a low bar for Saturday - Beat Army.  No injuries.  Pyrrhic victories are not really victories.

I remember that season!  That was 1979.  In those days we never lost to either of the lowly Oregon schools, but we managed to lose to both of them.  Losing to Oregon State  in Corvallis was especially galling.  Didn't someone receive a kick, back up into the end zone, and down it for the loss? 

That was Elway's first year, although Turk Schonert started most of the games.  It was also the most thrilling win over UCLA I can remember.  Gordie Banks blocked a last minute UCLA field goal, we rapidly drove the field, and then we kicked a long FG that was long enough by a few inches and also hit the cross bar before bouncing over for the win.  I think Elway started that game and broke the fingers of one of the receivers with his hard throws. 

That was also the year that we tied USC 21-21.  That result was almost as shocking as our 24-23 victory decades latter.  USC was No 1, we were not.  I remember turning off the 1979 game at halftime when we were losing 21-0.  And 21-0 hardly covers it.  They were pounding us.  Then I tuned back in when I was driving around campus, just in time to hear the tying touchdown.  USC got the ball, drove the field, attempted a field goal--blocked by Gordie Banks again!  That guy was fast.  USC was undefeated that year.

I think 1979 epitomizes the old Stanford.  Defeating excellent teams, losing to bad teams.  Sparks of brilliance and completely inconsistent play.

[81alum]

My very first game as a Stanford student (and my first game at Stanford Stadium) was vs. Army.  We lost.  It was my introduction to Stanford's long history of underperforming vs. lesser teams.  This history would reach a new low later that season when Stanford lost to Oregon State (one of the worst D1 teams).  The margin was a safety.  On a kickoff.  It was OSU's only victory that season.

With that memory still in mind, I am setting a low bar for Saturday - Beat Army.  No injuries.  Pyrrhic victories are not really victories.

I remember that season!  That was 1979.  In those days we never lost to either of the lowly Oregon schools, but we managed to lose to both of them.  Losing to Oregon State  in Corvallis was especially galling.  Didn't someone receive a kick, back up into the end zone, and down it for the loss? 

That was Elway's first year, although Turk Schonert started most of the games.  It was also the most thrilling win over UCLA I can remember.  Gordie Banks blocked a last minute UCLA field goal, we rapidly drove the field, and then we kicked a long FG that was long enough by a few inches and also hit the cross bar before bouncing over for the win.  I think Elway started that game and broke the fingers of one of the receivers with his hard throws. 

That was also the year that we tied USC 21-21.  That result was almost as shocking as our 24-23 victory decades latter.  USC was No 1, we were not.  I remember turning off the 1979 game at halftime when we were losing 21-0.  And 21-0 hardly covers it.  They were pounding us.  Then I tuned back in when I was driving around campus, just in time to hear the tying touchdown.  USC got the ball, drove the field, attempted a field goal--blocked by Gordie Banks again!  That guy was fast.  USC was undefeated that year.

I think 1979 epitomizes the old Stanford.  Defeating excellent teams, losing to bad teams.  Sparks of brilliance and completely inconsistent play.