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Stanford Cardinal vs San Jose State Spartans Football Preview

Stanford and San Jose State meet in week one after two 2010 seasons that were extreme in their own distinctly different ways.   

Stanford’s best season since 1940 ended with a 12-1 record, a number-four ranking, and a dominating Orange Bowl victory over ACC champion Virginia Tech. The Cardinal flexed their muscles and displayed all the physicality and swagger that coach Jim Harbaugh instilled into the program over the course of his tenure. Now, though, that winning edge must be retained under a new regime. Harbaugh moved across the San Francisco Bay Area to join the 49ers of the National Football League. Stanford won’t have its spiritual leader, the man who was the architect of the program and the preacher who poured copious quantities of self-belief into the minds and hearts of his players. As a new season starts, it’s not as though the Cardinal are lacking talent or skill. They’re still going to be a very difficult team to defend, and their clash with Oregon is almost certain to decide the first-ever champion of the Pac-12’s North Division. The question, though, is if new head coach David Shaw can continue what Harbaugh started. Few first-year head coaches in the United States will be under the gun the way Shaw will be in 2011.

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While Stanford enjoyed one of its best years ever, San Jose State definitely had one of its worst ever. The Spartans finished 1-12 last year, their lone win a come-from-behind triumph over FCS-based Southern Utah. San Jose State surrendered 35 points per game while scoring only 16 and was almost dead last in yards allowed. Offensively, things will likely continue to be difficult. Mike MacIntyre has been in no rush to name a starting quarterback, although with Tate Forcier transferring to San Jose to take over next year, the safe bet would be senior Matt Faulkner for the time being. The Spartan defense should improve a bit: Not only do linebackers Keith Smith and Vince Buhagiar return, but former starters Pompey Festejo and Kyler O’Neal return from injury as well.

In this game, however, that’s not likely to matter. Quarterback Andrew Luck returns to Stanford for his senior year after a stellar junior year in which he completed 71 percent of his passes on his way to 3,338 yards. The offense should continue its course with Shaw in charge. Luck is joined by last year’s leading rusher Stepfan Taylor, who rushed for 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns. Most surprising for the Cardinal in 2010 was the defense, which was top-10 in points allowed and will be anchored by junior linebacker Shayne Skov. If San Jose State is going to make improvements this year, it will have to come in small battles against Stanford, not in terms of the ultimate outcome.

By Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer