[Spiny_Norman]

I'll add a couple of other details that made the game even more epic. I have been going to Stanford-USC games at the Coliseum for a looong time and this was the game that I had anticipated the most.

Stanford entered the game undefeated. They were 7-0 and ranked #4. They were working on a 15 game winning streak dating back to the Oregon loss at Eugene in 2010. They had a streak of 10 consecutive games won by a margin of 26 points or more.  Stanford had destroyed #22 Washington the week prior while rushing for over 400 yards. Stanford was on a path that would lead to an expected clash of titans vs. Oregon in two weeks. Winner take all for the conference championship and a Rose Bowl berth (at a minimum).

To continue on this season of destiny that we felt could be one of the greatest in Stanford history, Stanford had to get past the Trojans. Two years prior, Stanford had crushed the Trojans 55-21 in the famous What's Your Deal game. The year before, Stanford had won on a FG by Nate Whitaker on the final play of the game. And of course everyone has a story about where they were October 6, 2007 during the Greatest Upset of All Time. Stanford vs. USC was developing into one of the best rivalries in the country.

I am usually cautious before big games, especially vs USC, remembering disappointments and crushing defeats from the past. But this team had infused me with a rare confidence. I was so pumped for this game that I was ready to put on shoulder pads and a helmet and hit someone myself. The Stanford section at the Coliseum was packed with like-minded fans. The fact that we were surrounded by approximately 90,000 Trojan fans made it seem that we were pilgrims in an unholy land.

I rode the emotional roller coaster during this game like everyone else. It started before kickoff when we learned that Jordan Williamson had injured himself during pre-game warmups. Eric Whitaker (Nate's brother) would be kicking for the first time in his Stanford career on national tv in the biggest game of the season so far. D**n. Then Jonathan Martin got injured during the game. I think there were other Stanford injuries during the game as well. Yet somehow the team persevered.

I won't recap the game since Hank did it so well in his GMC write up. But I will add that when I was at my lowest point after Robey had scored on the pick 6 and the 90,000 fans were going crazy and the USC coaches and players on the sideline were going crazy, I heard the PA announcer remind the fans to stay off the field after the game. I wanted to yell at everyone that the game was not over, there was still time for Stanford to tie things up. I needn't have worried. The Stanford team was already getting ready to take care of business.

[Spiny_Norman]

I'll add a couple of other details that made the game even more epic. I have been going to Stanford-USC games at the Coliseum for a looong time and this was the game that I had anticipated the most.

Stanford entered the game undefeated. They were 7-0 and ranked #4. They were working on a 15 game winning streak dating back to the Oregon loss at Eugene in 2010. They had a streak of 10 consecutive games won by a margin of 26 points or more.  Stanford had destroyed #22 Washington the week prior while rushing for over 400 yards. Stanford was on a path that would lead to an expected clash of titans vs. Oregon in two weeks. Winner take all for the conference championship and a Rose Bowl berth (at a minimum).

To continue on this season of destiny that we felt could be one of the greatest in Stanford history, Stanford had to get past the Trojans. Two years prior, Stanford had crushed the Trojans 55-21 in the famous What's Your Deal game. The year before, Stanford had won on a FG by Nate Whitaker on the final play of the game. And of course everyone has a story about where they were October 6, 2007 during the Greatest Upset of All Time. Stanford vs. USC was developing into one of the best rivalries in the country.

I am usually cautious before big games, especially vs USC, remembering disappointments and crushing defeats from the past. But this team had infused me with a rare confidence. I was so pumped for this game that I was ready to put on shoulder pads and a helmet and hit someone myself. The Stanford section at the Coliseum was packed with like-minded fans. The fact that we were surrounded by approximately 90,000 Trojan fans made it seem that we were pilgrims in an unholy land.

I rode the emotional roller coaster during this game like everyone else. It started before kickoff when we learned that Jordan Williamson had injured himself during pre-game warmups. Eric Whitaker (Nate's brother) would be kicking for the first time in his Stanford career on national tv in the biggest game of the season so far. D**n. Then Jonathan Martin got injured during the game. I think there were other Stanford injuries during the game as well. Yet somehow the team persevered.

I won't recap the game since Hank did it so well in his GMC write up. But I will add that when I was at my lowest point after Robey had scored on the pick 6 and the 90,000 fans were going crazy and the USC coaches and players on the sideline were going crazy, I heard the PA announcer remind the fans to stay off the field after the game. I wanted to yell at everyone that the game was not over, there was still time for Stanford to tie things up. I needn't have worried. The Stanford team was already getting ready to take care of business.