[Phogge]

We are in the Dog Days of fan sites. So a bit of fun. What is the greatest individual performance you witnessed on a sports field, diamond, pitch or arena?

Mine is 1971, SJS 13 Rose Bowl bound Stanford 12. The RB hero Rod Garcia missed four FG's and an extra point.

The Spartan's Dave Chaney was credited with 16 solo tackles, two fumble recoveries and an INT. He was in on many more plays and set up the first SJS TD by tackling punter Steve Murray on the one yard line following a bad snap. If anybody ever played with their hair on fire it was Chaney. His play surpassed the performance of Stanford's Ed Cummings in a '62 upset of Michigan State.

[Phogge]

We are in the Dog Days of fan sites. So a bit of fun. What is the greatest individual performance you witnessed on a sports field, diamond, pitch or arena?

Mine is 1971, SJS 13 Rose Bowl bound Stanford 12. The RB hero Rod Garcia missed four FG's and an extra point.

The Spartan's Dave Chaney was credited with 16 solo tackles, two fumble recoveries and an INT. He was in on many more plays and set up the first SJS TD by tackling punter Steve Murray on the one yard line following a bad snap. If anybody ever played with their hair on fire it was Chaney. His play surpassed the performance of Stanford's Ed Cummings in a '62 upset of Michigan State.

[Bampa]

There are so many, but I will always remember Stanford vs Arizona in 1989.

Watching Todd Lichti and Sean Elliot was something special.

Arizona was up 15 in the first half. In the second half, Lichti took over for the win.

I believe they both scored 35 points in that game, but what Licthi did in the second half was special.

[Bampa]

There are so many, but I will always remember Stanford vs Arizona in 1989.

Watching Todd Lichti and Sean Elliot was something special.

Arizona was up 15 in the first half. In the second half, Lichti took over for the win.

I believe they both scored 35 points in that game, but what Licthi did in the second half was special.

[BobK]

Plunkett to Vataha win to the rose bowl
Casey Moore run to the roses
Bob Garrett doing everything to beat UCLA 1953
Robinson from 40 for the win
Casey J to beat Duke
Dunning with 16? Ks vs usc
WBB beating UConn at Stanford
Jayne Appel 41 vs Iowa State
The Braves pitcher with 2 grand slams
Bobbbbk winning his last softball game with the pinch runner sliding home to beat the throw on a grounder to second lol
So many
Oh Willie Mays 3,000th hit

[BobK]

Plunkett to Vataha win to the rose bowl
Casey Moore run to the roses
Bob Garrett doing everything to beat UCLA 1953
Robinson from 40 for the win
Casey J to beat Duke
Dunning with 16? Ks vs usc
WBB beating UConn at Stanford
Jayne Appel 41 vs Iowa State
The Braves pitcher with 2 grand slams
Bobbbbk winning his last softball game with the pinch runner sliding home to beat the throw on a grounder to second lol
So many
Oh Willie Mays 3,000th hit

[PAsportsfan]

Nick Foles Super Bowl 52

[PAsportsfan]

Nick Foles Super Bowl 52

[bbm233]

Marques Tuiasosopo running for 200+ and passing for 300+ yards at Husky Stadium on Halloween to hand Stanford its first conference loss in 1999. Tui was unstoppable that day, but the Cardinal rebounded to get to its first Rose Bowl in nearly 30 years.

[bbm233]

Marques Tuiasosopo running for 200+ and passing for 300+ yards at Husky Stadium on Halloween to hand Stanford its first conference loss in 1999. Tui was unstoppable that day, but the Cardinal rebounded to get to its first Rose Bowl in nearly 30 years.

[bl82]

Some non-Stanford classic memories:
1) Mario Lemieux scoring five goals in a game (the third and final time he did it) in 1996, during his first year back after taking a year off to battle cancer
2) Bernard King scoring 55 points in MSG in a loss to the Nets (people forget just how unstoppable King was before he tore his ACL)
3) Orlando Pizzolato winning 1984 NYC Marathon despite coming to a complete stop eight times within five miles of the finish line in the worst heat and humidity combination for that race ever. Every time he stopped, he would look back, expecting someone to be charging up on him and incredibly, that never happened. I almost felt as if he was hoping someone would pass him and end his misery, but he plodded on in the small hills of Central Park and eventually crossed the line first.

[bl82]

Some non-Stanford classic memories:
1) Mario Lemieux scoring five goals in a game (the third and final time he did it) in 1996, during his first year back after taking a year off to battle cancer
2) Bernard King scoring 55 points in MSG in a loss to the Nets (people forget just how unstoppable King was before he tore his ACL)
3) Orlando Pizzolato winning 1984 NYC Marathon despite coming to a complete stop eight times within five miles of the finish line in the worst heat and humidity combination for that race ever. Every time he stopped, he would look back, expecting someone to be charging up on him and incredibly, that never happened. I almost felt as if he was hoping someone would pass him and end his misery, but he plodded on in the small hills of Central Park and eventually crossed the line first.

[Mick]

McCaffrey, 284 yards vs. Cal in 2016, greatest single performance.

Favorite team performance, no question, Stanford 24 vs. #1 USC 23 AT USC where USC was favored by 41.  Two years later, Harbaugh and 55-21 over USC "What's Your Deal?"

[Mick]

McCaffrey, 284 yards vs. Cal in 2016, greatest single performance.

Favorite team performance, no question, Stanford 24 vs. #1 USC 23 AT USC where USC was favored by 41.  Two years later, Harbaugh and 55-21 over USC "What's Your Deal?"

[BobK]

Another add. Bruce Jenner winning the Decathlon 1976 Olympics
Nadia Comaneci same Olympics

[BobK]

Another add. Bruce Jenner winning the Decathlon 1976 Olympics
Nadia Comaneci same Olympics

[cardcrimson]

Probably not the greatest feat, but watched Mark McGuire hit one over the Green Monster and onto Lansdowne Street. Pretty fun.

[cardcrimson]

Probably not the greatest feat, but watched Mark McGuire hit one over the Green Monster and onto Lansdowne Street. Pretty fun.

[BostonCard]

Toby Gerhart: 29 carries for 205 yards and 3 touchdowns against Notre Dame, including this first down run late in the fourth quarter to seal the win…

https://youtu.be/aTs-riiarhw

For good measure he also had a 33 yard reception and an 18 yard TD pass.

It was my birthday, to boot.

That was the game that should have sealed his Voldemort trophy.  Alas…

BC

[BostonCard]

Toby Gerhart: 29 carries for 205 yards and 3 touchdowns against Notre Dame, including this first down run late in the fourth quarter to seal the win…

https://youtu.be/aTs-riiarhw

For good measure he also had a 33 yard reception and an 18 yard TD pass.

It was my birthday, to boot.

That was the game that should have sealed his Voldemort trophy.  Alas…

BC

[Phogge]

I've always thought that Toby should have won. Thanks much Barry Tompkins. McCaffrey. Perhaps the greatest all around offensive season ever. If he played every game at 4pm Eastern he probably would have won.

Bryce Love was robbed.

Newton over Luck ok athletically but there should have been a rule that you have to be an actual student to play for your team. Griffen over Luck, no way, no how.

Plus Don Bunce should have been Top 5 in '71. The one indispensable player to his team that year.

[Phogge]

I've always thought that Toby should have won. Thanks much Barry Tompkins. McCaffrey. Perhaps the greatest all around offensive season ever. If he played every game at 4pm Eastern he probably would have won.

Bryce Love was robbed.

Newton over Luck ok athletically but there should have been a rule that you have to be an actual student to play for your team. Griffen over Luck, no way, no how.

Plus Don Bunce should have been Top 5 in '71. The one indispensable player to his team that year.

[Leftcoast]

Owen Marecic against Notre Dame in 2010 

Played full-time at both FB (offense) and LB (Defense) and scored both an offensive and defensive TD against a good ND team in a 13 second span.   The coaching staff estimated he experienced over 200 high impact collisions per game for most of his Senior Football season. You rarely see offense/defense combined starters in modern football and NEVER in two high-impact positions like FB and LB. Usually you see this as a DB/WR or a Safety/TE combo.

I wonder if the coaches would do that now knowing what we now know about multiple sub-concussion level impacts?

[Leftcoast]

Owen Marecic against Notre Dame in 2010 

Played full-time at both FB (offense) and LB (Defense) and scored both an offensive and defensive TD against a good ND team in a 13 second span.   The coaching staff estimated he experienced over 200 high impact collisions per game for most of his Senior Football season. You rarely see offense/defense combined starters in modern football and NEVER in two high-impact positions like FB and LB. Usually you see this as a DB/WR or a Safety/TE combo.

I wonder if the coaches would do that now knowing what we now know about multiple sub-concussion level impacts?

[81alum]

I have 2, both involving the same player:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ienobaWDOjM

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/31/sport...women.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSDYx1UWv_Y

[81alum]

I have 2, both involving the same player:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ienobaWDOjM

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/31/sport...women.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSDYx1UWv_Y

[winflop]

Only including events I have personally attended


Stanford performances
McCaffrey in the Rose Bowl - arguably the greatest offensive performance in the history of the game
Adam Keefe vs. UCLA - only time I've ever seen a team play box-in-one against a big man
Steve Kerr & Sean Elliot never winning in Maples (I think)

Non-Stanford performances
Walter Payton running for 275 yards against the Minnesota Vikings
Northwestern football breaks its 34-game losing streak
Cubs NLCS Game 1 vs Dodgers 2015 - backup catcher Miguel Montero hits a pinch-hit granslam on an 0-2 count with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th

[winflop]

Only including events I have personally attended


Stanford performances
McCaffrey in the Rose Bowl - arguably the greatest offensive performance in the history of the game
Adam Keefe vs. UCLA - only time I've ever seen a team play box-in-one against a big man
Steve Kerr & Sean Elliot never winning in Maples (I think)

Non-Stanford performances
Walter Payton running for 275 yards against the Minnesota Vikings
Northwestern football breaks its 34-game losing streak
Cubs NLCS Game 1 vs Dodgers 2015 - backup catcher Miguel Montero hits a pinch-hit granslam on an 0-2 count with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th

[Spiny_Norman]

I'll add 2 more, same as others, only considering sporting events I have attended in person.

Stanford
Brad Muster vs. UCLA 1986 at the Rose Bowl. Muster had 24 carries and 159 yards in the 1st half. Finished with 183 yards on 38 carries. Best RB performance I saw pre-Gerhart/McCaffrey/Love. Gaston Green had 140 yards himself for UCLA. This was a great game on a gorgeous day in Pasadena.

Non-Stanford
Jake Arrieta no-hit the Dodgers in 2015. Among all of the MLB games I have attended starting at the age of 5, this is the only no hitter I have seen in person. It was pretty memorable.

[Spiny_Norman]

I'll add 2 more, same as others, only considering sporting events I have attended in person.

Stanford
Brad Muster vs. UCLA 1986 at the Rose Bowl. Muster had 24 carries and 159 yards in the 1st half. Finished with 183 yards on 38 carries. Best RB performance I saw pre-Gerhart/McCaffrey/Love. Gaston Green had 140 yards himself for UCLA. This was a great game on a gorgeous day in Pasadena.

Non-Stanford
Jake Arrieta no-hit the Dodgers in 2015. Among all of the MLB games I have attended starting at the age of 5, this is the only no hitter I have seen in person. It was pretty memorable.

[cardcrimson]

How about Paul Wiggin guiding one of the greatest college quarterbacks ever to a losing record as a starter. Truly a remarkable performance. . . .

[cardcrimson]

How about Paul Wiggin guiding one of the greatest college quarterbacks ever to a losing record as a starter. Truly a remarkable performance. . . .

[Hurlburt88]

Stanford over UFDGF's 1992 . . . the safety . . . what's his name?   Oh yeah:   John Lynch!

[Hurlburt88]

Stanford over UFDGF's 1992 . . . the safety . . . what's his name?   Oh yeah:   John Lynch!

[lex24]

1.Madison Bumgarner 2014 playoffs and WS. Nothing else comes close.

2.  McCaffrey. Rose Bowl. 

3.  Ronnie Lott versus Giants. Monday night game. Niners win 7-3. One of the best football games I’ve ever seen.

4.  Curry.  Game 4 vs Celtics.  A talking head was trying to compare Curry to a player from the past. He couldn’t. To me it takes two - Pete Maravich with the ball.  John Havlicek without the ball.  Maravich invented some of the dribbling drills Curry uses.  And had there been a three point shot since he was a kid (as opposed to late in his career) he’d have been unreal.  Heck at LSU he’d pull up from half court.  CBS did a documentary on him.  The footage was unreal.  Plus remember, he had to dribble with his hand on top of the ball and there was no Euro step.  Saw him live a couple times in his prime. Man he was fun to watch.  (“Pistol” is a great book on him for those interested.  I remember that one of the  things he’d do is dribble a basketball out the window while Press drove.)  

Hondo, while in my mind slightly overrated, was one of the best off ball offensive players ever.  Perpetual motion.

What makes Curry special is he is great both with and off ball. That is very rare.

---

Stanford over UFDGF's 1992 . . . the safety . . . what's his name?   Oh yeah:   John Lynch!

Great call.  Greatest performance by a Stanford defensive player that Ive seen. Live actually.  One of my favorite memories.  Down 16-0 before we settled in. 32 unanswered…..But of course, midterms…….

[lex24]

1.Madison Bumgarner 2014 playoffs and WS. Nothing else comes close.

2.  McCaffrey. Rose Bowl. 

3.  Ronnie Lott versus Giants. Monday night game. Niners win 7-3. One of the best football games I’ve ever seen.

4.  Curry.  Game 4 vs Celtics.  A talking head was trying to compare Curry to a player from the past. He couldn’t. To me it takes two - Pete Maravich with the ball.  John Havlicek without the ball.  Maravich invented some of the dribbling drills Curry uses.  And had there been a three point shot since he was a kid (as opposed to late in his career) he’d have been unreal.  Heck at LSU he’d pull up from half court.  CBS did a documentary on him.  The footage was unreal.  Plus remember, he had to dribble with his hand on top of the ball and there was no Euro step.  Saw him live a couple times in his prime. Man he was fun to watch.  (“Pistol” is a great book on him for those interested.  I remember that one of the  things he’d do is dribble a basketball out the window while Press drove.)  

Hondo, while in my mind slightly overrated, was one of the best off ball offensive players ever.  Perpetual motion.

What makes Curry special is he is great both with and off ball. That is very rare.

---

Stanford over UFDGF's 1992 . . . the safety . . . what's his name?   Oh yeah:   John Lynch!

Great call.  Greatest performance by a Stanford defensive player that Ive seen. Live actually.  One of my favorite memories.  Down 16-0 before we settled in. 32 unanswered…..But of course, midterms…….

[Phogge]

Saw Russell many times at Kezar. Absolutely dominated every game. Today's players can block shots but Russell would block them and then guide them to a teammate, usually KC Jones. Perhaps the greatest defender in the history of sport. That opens up a whole new theme.

[Phogge]

Saw Russell many times at Kezar. Absolutely dominated every game. Today's players can block shots but Russell would block them and then guide them to a teammate, usually KC Jones. Perhaps the greatest defender in the history of sport. That opens up a whole new theme.

[cardcrimson]

---

Stanford over UFDGF's 1992 . . . the safety . . . what's his name?   Oh yeah:   John Lynch!

Great call.  Greatest performance by a Stanford defensive player that Ive seen. Live actually.  One of my favorite memories.  Down 16-0 before we settled in. 32 unanswered…..But of course, midterms…….

Was at that game, as well. My buddy's father in law was a big ND supporter and all his kids went to either ND or St Mary's. Sat in his seats. Half way through the game, I was told if I don't sit down and shut up, I'm not making it out of the stadium.

Went to the nail biter two years later as well. Met Lou Holtz the following winter at a small gathering before a big speech. Told him I was a Stanford grad, and that I really enjoyed the last two games in South Bend. Without missing a beat, he countered with "I guess you haven't been to the games in Palo Alto." Pretty funny. He actually found a way to weave me and our conversation into his speech later that night. Pretty cool. Don't like to admit it, but I like the guy.

[cardcrimson]

---

Stanford over UFDGF's 1992 . . . the safety . . . what's his name?   Oh yeah:   John Lynch!

Great call.  Greatest performance by a Stanford defensive player that Ive seen. Live actually.  One of my favorite memories.  Down 16-0 before we settled in. 32 unanswered…..But of course, midterms…….

Was at that game, as well. My buddy's father in law was a big ND supporter and all his kids went to either ND or St Mary's. Sat in his seats. Half way through the game, I was told if I don't sit down and shut up, I'm not making it out of the stadium.

Went to the nail biter two years later as well. Met Lou Holtz the following winter at a small gathering before a big speech. Told him I was a Stanford grad, and that I really enjoyed the last two games in South Bend. Without missing a beat, he countered with "I guess you haven't been to the games in Palo Alto." Pretty funny. He actually found a way to weave me and our conversation into his speech later that night. Pretty cool. Don't like to admit it, but I like the guy.