PACIFIC 10 FOOTBALL / MAL FLORENCE : Cardinal’s 0-2 Start Leaves Coach Green Feeling Red-Faced

Even though the college football season is just under way, Stanford is a troubled team.

The Cardinal is 0-2, having lost to Washington and Arizona, and Coach Dennis Green had a bleak assessment of his team.

“We haven’t done a good job of running and we haven’t done a good job of stopping the run,” Green told the San Francisco Chronicle. “We haven’t done a great job of passing, and we haven’t done a great job of stopping the pass.”

Stanford has yielded 70 points in its two losses and an average of 195 yards rushing and 240 yards passing.

Stanford led Arizona, 17-0, Saturday, before its defense collapsed and the Wildcats went on to win, 28-23.

Moreover, several defensive players, notably linebackers Ron George and Dave Garnett, are suffering from injuries. All-purpose back Glyn Milburn came out of the Arizona game in the first quarter because of sprained knee ligaments, but his injury isn’t regarded as serious.

“We have this week off,” Stanford defensive coordinator Willie Shaw said. “We need it. We’re hurting. We’re really hurting.”

Stanford has had to use several inexperienced players because of injuries.

“(The young players) play good for a while, then--boom, the roof falls in,” Shaw said. “They have to grow up quicker.”

Growing pains will probably continue, too. Stanford’s next two games are against Colorado on Sept. 28 and Notre Dame on Oct. 5.

California’s Russell White was a bit dismayed when he was penalized for hurdling in Saturday’s game against Purdue.

The play occurred in the second quarter from the Purdue 28-yard line. Quarterback Mike Pawlawski threw a flat pass to White, who ran to the 11, where free safety Pat Johnson moved in for the tackle.

White leaped high over the startled Johnson, hit the ground running and went to the five-yard line before he was tackled.

“I never heard of it,” said White, the former Crespi High star. “How can they call you for hurdling? Fifteen yards. Man, I won’t do that no more.”

Cal Coach Bruce Snyder said: “It’s so rare this happens. I think the rule was put in to keep players from getting their cleats up in a tackler’s face.”

Trivia question: Stanford’s Rose Bowl teams from 1933 to 1935 were known as the “Vow Boys.” Why?

In a letter to the editor of the Seattle Times, a reader asks some provocative questions regarding Washington’s game with Toledo on Oct. 12:

“Will Coach Don James use his first team? Does the Humane Society know about this matchup? Does Toledo play 12-man football? What did Toledo do to deserve this?”

With the exception of Saturday’s game with Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., fourth-ranked Washington has a soft nonconference schedule, the Toledo game and a date with Kansas State on Sept. 28.

The Cornhuskers also are known for their easy nonconference schedules. They have tuned up for Washington by outscoring Utah State and Colorado State, 130-42.

On the subject of doormats, Pacific rolls on--or is it over?--having yielded 184 points in its first three games.

Trivia answer: As freshmen, Stanford’s players vowed never to lose to USC--and they didn’t.

Washington State, 0-2 and heading into Columbus to play Ohio State today, is off to a rocky start.

The same can’t be said of the Cougars’ record-breaking kicker, Jason Hanson.

Hanson is tied with Tony Franklin of Texas A&M; for the NCAA record of 16 field goals of 50 yards or longer. He already holds the record for field goals of 40 yards or longer, 32.

Hanson, who has made 56 of 77 attempts for a .727 average, is restrained about his chance to break the distance record today against Ohio State.

“I’m trying not to think about it too much,” he said. “It’s never been a goal of mine to hit the most 50-yarders in NCAA history, but it’s always been my strong point to hit long kicks.

“With nine more games this season, I have no doubt I should be able to beat that record.”

Hanson’s average for successful kicks is better at 50 yards or more, 16 for 23 or .696, than from 40-49 yards out, 16 for 26 or .615.

But for four blocked kicks last season--the only ones blocked in his career and three of them in the 40-49 yard range--the percentage would have been better, he said.

Hanson, a premed major, who has twice made field goals of 58 yards, has no special routine when he goes onto the field, other than making sure he has the right angles.

“I don’t really think about focusing in or telling myself to relax,” he said. “I kick best when I’ve prepared during the week. It just comes automatically. It’s just a natural thing.”