Running Game Powers Offense

Going from 3-8 to 8-3 in a year’s time means Stanford must have improved in a number of areas.

No one will argue, though, that the greatest progress was made by the running game.

In 1998, the Cardinal rushed for 831 yards in 11 games. This season, the rushing total has more than doubled to 1,690 yards.

The ability to run the ball has opened more options on offense and made quarterback Todd Husak a more effective passer.

Husak has thrown 139 fewer passes than last season and raised his completion percentage from 52% to 57%.

“Any time you become a one-dimensional football team, you run the risk of being shut down,” Coach Tyrone Willingham said. “We’ve been extremely blessed that our running backs, Kerry Carter, Brian Allen, Coy Wire and Casey Moore, have made tremendous contributions.”

Allen, a sophomore, leads the team with 604 yards rushing. Carter, a freshman, has 330 yards and Wire 317.

Allen has started the last five games. He rushed for more than 100 yards in consecutive games against USC and Washington. It was the first time in 20 games a Cardinal back had gained at least 100 yards.

Any kind of success running the ball against Wisconsin will be a certain sign that the Cardinal offense is clicking.

“Run and pass balance is always important, but the bottom line for us is winning the football game,” Willingham said. “Whatever it takes to do, that is what we want to do.”

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Red alert! The Stanford band has arrived.

The unpredictable musicians have been on their best behavior this season--although that didn’t stop the band from lining up on the field in the shape of a wheelchair during halftime of the UCLA game to remind fans of the Bruins’ handicapped-parking scandal.

People remain uncomfortable with the band’s antics. Disneyland has invited Wisconsin’s band to its park this week but not Stanford’s.

“They said something about our reputation not going with their family environment,” band spokesman Chris Henderson said. “I think we’re a little bit frustrated.”

As for what the band has planned for Saturday’s halftime festivities, Henderson said, “It will be original and we hope people watching will have as much fun as we have.”