Stanford banned -- or band? -- from scoring at Rose Bowl

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Stanford comes into today’s game against UCLA having not scored a point in the Rose Bowl in 156 minutes 47 seconds, covering two-plus games.

It would be easy to attribute this to the Cardinal having some woeful teams -- it finished the 2006 season with a 1-11 record.

But consider this: Stanford has not scored a point since its band was not allowed to perform a show at the 2002 game.

The irreverent Stanford band, famous for spotted owl formations and being banned from Notre Dame, was preparing a show ‘Things Upon Which Both Stanford and UCLA Can Agree’ for the 2002 game. Word leaked that the performance would include jabs at Bruins quarterback Cory Paus and his two drunk driving arrests ( ‘ ... even if it doesn’t end your collegiate athletic career, drinking and driving could end someone’s life,’ was a line included in the routine). Stanford officials did a pre-emptive strike and banned the show.

Michael Sgroi kicked a 42-yard field goal with 6:47 left in the first half, giving Stanford an 18-10 lead. Halftime came and went without the band performing its bit. Stanford has been outscored by the Bruins 70-0 since.

It doesn’t take a Stanford degree to do that math.

Call it the ‘Curse of the Stanford Band.’

-- Chris Foster