Originally posted on CampusAttic.com on November 9th, 2013
It
is often said, “those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it,” yet
sometimes even those keenly aware of the past must still struggle through a
sick replay of painful memories. The 26-20 Stanford victory over Oregon before
a national audience Thursday night played out eerily similarly to a game played
four years earlier to the day, with predictable outcomes.
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It
wasn’t flashy, but Stanford ran all over Oregon. (AP/Ralph D. Russo)
Freakin’
Stanford…
|
In
2009 it was a confident Oregon team with grandiose plans that came to Palo
Alto, and were humbled through a slow plodding methodical attack like a
thousand paper cuts. Then it was Toby Gerhart, setting a Stanford school record
with 38 carries for 223 yards and 3 TDs, grinding out gains at 3-4 yards a
carry, with a young Andrew Luck making timely passes to move the chains. That
day Oregon simply couldn’t get Stanford off the field, and a late 4th quarter
rally fell just short in a 52-41 loss.
It
was supposed to be different, the recent series being traded back and forth
with benefit to the road team, it was supposed to be Oregon’s turn. Some Oregon
fans with grand visions sported “We Want Bama” shirts along the eucalyptus
grove weaving through tailgate parties in an abhorrent display of look-ahead syndrome,
already booking plans for a January trip to Pasadena, and buying trophy polish
for that BCS national championship and Heisman trophy that were deserved,
right? After all, this was OUR year…wasn’t it?
For
those who follow trends and stats, this was a game of contradiction and
counterpoint. Oregon hadn’t lost an official road game (18 in a row) since
2009…at Stanford. Stanford carried an 11-game home winning streak, their last
loss in 2011…to Oregon.
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| Bralon Addison can’t reel in a 4th down pass in the endzone. (AP/Jeff Chiu) |
The
two programs are identical opposites. In 2009 when USC’s Pac-10 crown was
relinquished, it was Oregon and Stanford in back-to-back weeks humbling the
mighty Trojans, ending their glory days and Pete Carroll’s reign. In the time
since it has been Oregon and Stanford fighting back and forth for conference
supremacy, each showing their dominance over all others while parity is the key
word in this game of thrones. Stanford the big bruiser, Oregon the beautiful
mind, when these two meet up sparks will fly.
1954,
1964, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2009,
2012…and now 2013, all years when Stanford played the role of nemesis,
destroying Oregon’s dreams. 1995 Oregon was in line to go back-to-back for the
Rose Bowl until Stanford. 2001 was supposed to be Oregon’s year too, until
Stanford ended that run. 2012 it was the Cardinal once again preventing Oregon
from reaching the highest plateau. Let’s face it, if Oregon is Batman with all
the coolest toys, then Stanford is Bane.
Fast
forward four years to Thursday night, and it was more methodical, more
frustrating, more of the same. Stanford running back Tyler Gaffney broke
Gerhart’s record set four years prior by rushing 45 times, while quarterback
Kevin Hogan completed only seven passes on the night, but each at timely points
that kept the chains moving in the ultimate cruel game of keep-away.
By
the 2nd quarter, it appeared as though Stanford was already trying to bleed the
clock, grinding out first downs in an impressive display of composed
molasses-slow blandness. There was nothing flashy or fun about Stanford’s
attack, but if there is a check to counter everything, history has now proven
that there is no greater kryptonite to the glitz and glamor that is Oregon and
the spread option than the Stanford mold.
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| John Elway’s #7 was retired at halftime. (AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez) |
With
Stanford legend John Elway on hand for a halftime ceremony where his #7 was
retired, “time to kick some ass in the second half” was his message to the crowd,
but with the game already 17-0 and Oregon’s defense proving incapable of
stopping Stanford from getting first downs, the damage had largely already been
done.
Despite
a torrid 4th quarter comeback, Oregon blocking a field goal and recovering an
onside kick on their way to a 20-point quarter, just like in 2009 it was a
little too late. Just as it had repeatedly on multiple fumbles throughout the
game, the prolate spheroid’s unpredictable bounce once again fell Stanford’s
way on an onside kick with two minutes remaining, and Stanford ran out the
clock.
It
was an impressive showing, one of composure and basic X’s and O’s football.
Nothing fancy–run, tackle, control the clock, move the chains. These are the
fundamentals that football coaches have emphasized as the keys to winning since
the game’s inception, and Stanford did it to near perfection, dominating the
line of scrimmage throughout.
Under
Chip Kelly for four years and now under Mark Helfrich, Oregon has routinely
boasted that time of possession is the most overrated statistic imaginable.
While Oregon has been dead last in that figure for years, they have
consistently been at or near the top in total scoring. This game showed that it
does in fact play a role, Stanford’s ability to keep Marcus Mariota & co.
on the sidelines the clear difference maker in the contest. For once, all that
sarcastic time of possession talk proved folly, as Stanford showed that to
reach the top a team must first master T.O.P.
Yet
Oregon had more than its fair share of opportunities. Twice in the first half
Oregon drove to the two-yard line, both times coming away with no points. An
interception at the goal line was called back on a penalty, and Stanford scored
shortly thereafter. Again in the second half Oregon was driving for a potential
score, until a fumble ended it. Penalties, fumbles, missed tackles, errant
throws, poor reads, missed blocks…it was a textbook performance of everything
not to do in a game for 3 ½ quarters, yet Oregon still made it come down to the
final minute, despite a whopping 42 to 18 time of possession advantage for the
Cardinal.
Then
of course there is the matter of the 4th and goal play selection of a low
percentage fade pass, a play that earlier in the season under near identical
circumstances didn’t work then, didn’t work against Stanford, and won’t work
next time offensive coordinator Scott Frost decides to dial it up.
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| Marcus Mariota looks great against every team except Stanford. (AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez) |
For
the second year in a row, Marcus Mariota looked human vs. Stanford, a microcosm
for the entire team’s performance. No team is flawless regardless of how
unrealistically high fan expectations may reach (and certainly did in 2013…”We
Want Bama” shirts, seriously?). Every team has an off-day. Stanford already
experienced theirs in 2013, falling to Utah earlier in the year. Thursday, it
was Oregon’s turn.
Mariota’s
troubles though specifically against Stanford though are, well, troubling.
Against every other team Super Mariota is the epitome of calm, cool, collected,
and nearly perfect from a collegiate quarterback perspective. For two years in
a row vs. Stanford, Mariota has looked skittish, rattled, hesitant, and
choosing to drop down rather than hit open receivers downfield.
These
games have become a familiar sight for Oregon. Once a year for whatever the
cause, the Ducks fall flat. Receivers are overlooked or overthrown,
opportunities are not capitalized, and as fans squirm the inevitable shortfall
comes around. It happened against Boise State in 2009, Auburn in 2010, LSU and
USC in 2011, and for the last two years Stanford has been the backdrop for
Oregon’s self-inflicted woes.
What
this game specifically taught us is that when Oregon speed meets Stanford size,
size wins. Oregon’s philosophy of recruiting tall, lanky defensive linemen
resulted in a line getting pushed backwards every play just enough to slowly
churn out enough yards to move the chains. In order to get over the proverbial
hump a change in approach is needed. Oregon got pushed around in the trenches
on both sides all game, therefore more size is needed. Not the height approach
Oregon has utilized, the Ducks need some bulk, time to get big.
This
can’t be blamed on a kicker, on a missed block, or a clearly-down wrist not
being ruled correctly (even on replay)…this was a team effort, both in Stanford
playing to their strengths, and in Oregon ignoring theirs. It was history
repeating itself, whether Luck or Hogan, Gerhart or Gaffney, the outcome
remains the same.
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| DeAnthony Thomas and the Oregon run game was completely shut down by Stanford’s defense. (AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez) |
The
national championship so highly coveted is not out of reach, but not attainable
without help. Oregon has three games remaining, and much can still occur within
that time frame. For those that touted “national championship or bust,” ask for
the world beyond what can reasonably be expected from amateur athletes, and
inevitably end up disappointed. If this is the measuring stick for a successful
season, then every year 124 teams walk away disappointed.
It
is after all a game. One filled with an incredible amount of dedication,
passion, hard work, money, and emotion for it, but just a game. It is a cruel,
brutal, painful, heartbreaking, tragic, frustrating, agonizing, beautiful,
amazing, uplifting, magnificent game–one that can sway even the most passive of
individuals to fits of rage or joy in an instant. Amidst it all, it still
remains a game, one where one teams wins and the other loses. Please keep that
in mind, because after one loss, Oregon still has plenty to play for.
Congratulations to Stanford, celebrate the win and prepare for the next. For
Oregon, take account of all that has been accomplished to date, and finish
strong focusing on what can be controlled.
Perhaps
in the long run it is a good thing to occasionally be brought back to earth
with a devastating loss, a necessary evil to be knocked back a peg, to be
reminded of how a team must be both incredibly good and lucky to end up the supreme
champion. Every now and then the king must be toppled. That was USC, then
Oregon, now it is Stanford’s turn to sit atop, but for how long?
Oregon
has come close several times now, yet remains a work in progress, and that
should be perfectly acceptable. Put away the embarrassingly arrogant and
ignorant “We Want Bama” chants/shirts, stop nitpicking over every single
incomplete pass, and enjoy the ride. It is after all a game, one that is pretty
fun if you stop shooting for the moon, and simply take note of the immediate
surroundings.
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