Stanford Cardinal football report: David Shaw after 12 seasons as coach calls it quits

Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw coaches his final game for the Cardinal against the BYU Cougars at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto Sat Nov 26, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg and Barbara Mason

Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw after 12 seasons at the helm and a total of 16 years including as an assistant coach before has hung it up. After leading the Cardinal to a 3-9 season this year Shaw in all his efforts felt this was the right time to call it a day and will step down. Shaw during his post game press conference Saturday night at Stanford saying, “I just coached my last game at Stanford” adding “it’s been a great 16 years it really has.”

Shaw sadly made the tough decision after the loss in the season finale to the BYU Cougars 35-26. In the previous week before Shaw and the Cardinal lost in Berkeley during the Big Game to the Cal Bears in the final minutes of the fourth quarter due to two fumbles by the offense which Cal later turned them into scores in the Stanford loss to Cal 27-20.

Shaw added that he had prayed about this decision and thought about this decision about resigning but as each hour and each game that went by Shaw said the decision was “cemented” in his head. Shaw also added that he has no desire to coach again anytime in the near future.

Shaw said he was not burnt out and that he remains healthy and he feels good but 16 years was just too long of running the Stanford football program and being responsible for everything and it just take a toll on you. Shaw finishes at Stanford with a record of 96-54. It was the last two seasons that have been long drawn on Shaw’s mind with back to back 3-9 seasons this and last year and going 14-28 since the beginning of the 2019 campaign.

Shaw took time out to thank the University president Marc Tessier-Lavigne and Athletic Director Bernard Muir saying they were components of the support he got from the top but also the support he got from many of the people from behind the scenes. Shaw was very well liked by everyone from top to bottom and had the respect on the Stanford Campus it’s tough day for all those who worked and knew him.

Shaw should not be forgotten for some of the great achievements that he accomplished while as head coach at the university in his first four seasons as head coach leading the Cardinal to three Rose Bowls winning two, three Pac 12 titles, and four Pac 12 coach of the year awards. He coach numerous players who went onto the NFL including current San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.

Shaw started out his career with the Cardinal as a wide receiver from 1991-1994, he joined the Cardinal coaching staff in 1997 as an offensive coordinator and became head coach 2011 after Jim Harbaugh took the head coaching job with the San Francisco 49ers.

Barbara Mason covers Stanford football and basketball road games and Jerry Feitelberg does Stanford Cardinal podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Mauled by BYU in Season Finale on the Farm, 35-26

Stanford Cardinal quarterback Tanner McKee (18) throws a pass against the BYU Cougars defense at Stanford Stadium on Sat Nov 26, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calf. — The Stanford Cardinal (3-9/1-8 P12) were the prey to the prolific pouncing of the Brigham Young University Cougars (7-5), on a late night in the final game of the 2022 season. 35-26.

The Cougars got on the scoreboard (7-0) just over three minutes into the contest with a 19-yard scramble by junior quarterback Jaren Hall.  That wasn’t the end of their scoring barrage, as they proceeded to score a touchdown on all of their four possessions (28) in the first half.

Hall also tossed two TD’s to sophomore tight end Isaac Rex, and junior running back Hinckley Ropati rushed for a 43 yard scoring burst.

The Cardinal tallied their points on a 1-yard TD rush by sophomore running back Mitch Leigber and two field goals (34 & 54 yards) by junior kicker Joshua Karty.  Joshua hit the longer field goal with one second to go in the half, but unfortunately missed the extra point on the aforementioned touchdown.  At the half, 28-12 BYU.

The second half started off very blazay, as both teams failed to change the digits on the scoreboard in the third quarter.

However, the final stanza had plenty of excitement, as Stanford tried to close the gap.

BYU added to their total (35) with a 25-yard touchdown run by junior receiver Puka Nacua, putting them up by 23.

Stanford fought back with two consecutive TD’s to get the deficit down by nine points, 35-26, but the time on the clock was not on their side.  

Freshman QB Ashton Daniels sneaked in for a 1-yard TD, and junior quarterback Tanner McKee rifled a 7-yard TD to senior receiver Brycen Tremayne, but it wasn’t enough after 60 minutes of action.

The cold Thanksgiving Weekend evening ended with a 9-point loss by the home team.  Final score from the Farm, BYU 35, Stanford 26.

The Cardinal ended the season with three wins of their twelve games (.250), while the Cougars won 7 of their 12 contests, which all but guarantees they will have postseason play in the not too distant future.

Stanford’s Tanner Mckee threw for 310 yards and a TD.  Brycen Tremayne had 130 receiving yards and a touchdown.

BYU’s Jaren Hall threw two touchdown passes and ran for one.   Chris Brooks rushed for 164 yards and Isaac Rex caught two TD passes.

The Cardinal will have to forget this season and WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR for a better result in 2023.

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Daniel Dullum: Shaw says a victory against BYU would be a great send off for seniors

Cal Bears quarterback Jack Plummer (13) makes a run for it from Stanford Cardinal fullback Jacob Lowe (23) at Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Sat Nov 19, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Cardinal podcast with Daniel:

#1 The Stanford Cardinal going into Saturday night’s game against the BYU Cougars very likely will be a handful. The Cardinal 1-8 in conference games in the Pac 12 this season. They won’t be able to improve on that record anymore as they lost their last conference game in the Big Game last Saturday at Cal.

#2 The Cardinal are 3-8 and are last in the Pac 12. The Cardinal just looking at their overall record and that last loss at Cal had to be one of the most deflating experiences they’ve had all season.

#3 Daniel in the Big Game it had to be one of Stanford head coach David Shaw’s biggest disappointments leading 17-6 after three quarters to lost 27-20 after two fumbles and Cal capitalizing on those mistakes for scores?

#4 Coach Shaw did say that while it was disappointing not coming up with a victory against the Bears he hopes the team will refocus it’s efforts on this last game at BYU and get a win so he could send his seniors off with a victory.

#5 Daniel for Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee a rough season his line from the Cal game 29-45, 271 yards, he threw a touchdown and one interception. He needed more completions and he just wasn’t able to hit all the receivers he wanted to.

Daniel did the Stanford football podcasts throughout the 2022 season and will return next Friday with Women’s and Men’s basketball podcasts right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson: Cardinal face challenging Notre Dame Saturday for second straight road game

The Oregon State Beavers wide receiver Tre’Shaun Harrison (0) makes a 56 yard touchdown run against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on Sat Oct 8, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael fourth quarter last Saturday Oct 9th at Stanford the Oregon State Beavers (4-2) down by 14 points came back and edged the Stanford Cardinal (1-4) 28-27.

#2 OSU quarterback Ben Gulbranson threw a 56 yard touchdown to wideout Tre’Shaun Harrison with just 13 seconds left in the contest for what would be the winning touchdown.

#3 One thing that Stanford head coach David Shaw has to be concerned about is trying to finish games but said the Cardinal just couldn’t put it away in the fourth quarter.

#4 Close game tough loss for Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee was 20-32 for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Good enough to win but a tough loss to take.

#5 The Cardinal are in Notre Dame this Sat 15th. Notre Dame (3-2) won their last game 28-20 past the BYU Cougars (4-2). Look for Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne who threw for three touchdowns and 262 yards against BYU last Saturday.

Join Michael Roberson for Stanford Cardinal podcasts each Wednesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

BYU’s rough night at AT&T Park a microcosm of the challenges facing the school as a big-time independent

By Morris Phillips

A step slow, a play short: it was a pattern that played out to BYU’s detriment throughout the Fight Hunger Bowl Friday night.   While the Cougars acquitted themselves well, riding the spirit and running of quarterback Taysom Hill, when it came time to make a critical play, the Cougars didn’t while Washington did.

In the first half alone, the Cougars amassed 297 yards in offense, but never led.  Four offensive trips inside the UW 30-yard line produced three field goals and one touchdown on the initial push.  In the second half, a big interception had BYU poised to get back in it, but an incomplete pass and a sack preceded Justin Sorenson’s 44-yard missed field goal.

ESPN commentator Dave Pasch called BYU’s offense in the first half that enjoyed huge advantage in plays and yardage “dominant.”  In truth, the Hill-led attack was relevant, but ultimately ineffective.

“That to me was two even matched teams,” an upbeat BYU coach Bronco Mendehall recounted.  “I thought we had time of possession.  I thought we had ball control, et cetera.  We weren’t able to put it into the end zone, maybe on a couple of occasions.”

“When we get down there, we have to execute at a really high level, and we didn’t do that.  We had a couple of penalties that really killed us.”

And special teams were clearly no help.  After the Cougars drove 88 yards in 12 plays—including a gutsy fourth down run and conversion out of punt formation at their own 20—to tie it, 7-7, Washington got a 100-yard kickoff return from ultra speedy John Ross that put BYU behind once again.  After the Cougars narrowed the gap to 14-13, Jessie Callier’s 47-yard kickoff return set up the Huskies for another touchdown.

The BYU offense that moved the ball so effectively in the first half, bogged down after halftime.  Hill’s favored slant route to receivers Cody Hoffman and Skyler Ridley was effectively taken away by the Huskies crowding the box.  While Hill continued to find running holes—he would amass a career-high 31 rush attempts—UW dared the athletic quarterback to throw, and more often than not, Hill couldn’t connect.

The Cougars offense that amassed all the yardage in the first half went without a major push into Washington territory after halftime.  Washington’s touchdown on the initial drive of the half effectively put the game away.

Even more humbling for BYU were the marquee individual matchups that left many of BYU stars humbled.  All-American linebacker Kyle Van Noy played well in his final game as a Cougar, but when UW back Bishop Sankey was in his sights at the 11-yard line in the second quarter, Van Noy was left grasping for air as Sankey sidestepped the Cougar and then raced into the end zone for a 21-13 Washington lead.

In the third quarter stand out linebacker Uani Unga was matched up with UW’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins near the goal line, but the massive 6’6”, 280-pound tight end had the clear size and reach advantage when quarterback Keith Price whizzed a pass to Seferian-Jenkins in the end zone that put UW up 28-16 and left Unga an arm’s length short.

Hoffman, an NFL prospect at wide receiver, made plays in the middle of field, hauling in 12 catches for 167 yards, but his turn as passer didn’t fare well.  Hoffman received a pitch and threw a short out to Hill, but Hoffman took a shot to the ribs as he threw and was limited for the entire second half.

In all, a tough night for the Cougars, but also a reminder of what challenges life as a big-time independent will entail.  BYU left the Mountain West conference after 2012 for greater television exposure and the opportunity to play a national schedule and better pursue an opportunity at an elusive national championship.

But while a hand-picked schedule may garner exposure, the Cougars will have to recruit the best players to compete at such a lofty level.  On Friday night, the best athletes on the field wore purple and gold. A humbling loss to a middle-of-the-pack Pac-12 team in Washington could not provide a better illustration of the Cougars’ conundrum: the Cougars need to win big to gain national acclaim, but those wins will clearly be more difficult to grasp outside the Mountain West and squarely on top of the national stage.

For UW’s Tuiasosopo, the Fight Hunger Bowl is the singular challenge

By Morris Phillips

Washington’s plenty talented enough to hang with the BYU Cougars in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on tap at AT&T Park.  But with Head Coach Steve Sarkisian saying yes to USC and leaving Seattle after five seasons to coach the Trojans, one has to wonder what will be the collective mindset of the Huskies’ student-athletes when they hit the field on Friday night.

Could the Huskies feel spurned by Sarkisian, or be distracted by all the upheaval?  Or will a talented UW team leap to the challenge of attempting to win a ninth game in a season for the first time since 2000 when interim coach Marques Tuiasosopo led the Huskies to a 34-24 win over Purdue and Drew Brees in the Rose Bowl?

“You’d like to think every close team… would handle it the same way, but you just never know until you go through it,” Tuiasosopo said.  “I think our seniors have done a nice job, and I think our underclassmen have done a nice job of buying into what the seniors are talking about and staying focused on the task at hand.”

One thing’s for certain: the 34-year old Tuiasosopo is the point man for the Huskies’ mindset approaching kickoff on Friday night.  The UW legend, former Raider and son of Manu, the starting nose tackle for the 49ers in their second Super Bowl victory over Miami in 1985, is a rising star in the coaching profession.  In just five short years after retiring from the NFL in 2008, Tuiasosopo has gone from assistant strength coach at UW, to position coach at UCLA under Jim Mora, to quarterback coach and now interim head coach back at Washington with Sarkisian leaving and Boise State’s Chris Peterson set to take control of the Huskies following the bowl game.

And if Tuiasosopo can exude calm, excitement and anticipation for the meeting with BYU, why wouldn’t the players?  The interim coach’s situation couldn’t be any less unsettled than his team’s with a gaggle of UW assistants already gone to join Sarkisian in Los Angeles, and Peterson reportedly set to hire Jonathan Smith, his quarterbacks coach at Boise State, for the same position in Seattle.   Tuisasosopo might be a natural fit on Peterson’s staff in any capacity, or he could take his three week stint as head man and run with it… possibly to a head job at a non-BCS school looking to corral the unbridled energy of a promising, youthful coach.

Undoubtedly, Tuisasosopo and the Huskies will get just one shot together.  In BYU, the Huskies will face a staunch defensive team led by senior linebacker Kyle Van Noy that also features a power running attack led by dual threat quarterback Taysom Hill.  The Huskies will counter with oft-injured but supremely talented quarterback Keith Price and power back Bishop Sankey, who rushed for over 1,700 yards in the regular season.

The game figures to be high scoring and close; one requiring quick-twitch decisions and gutsy play calls, rigorous work for even the most seasoned of coaches. Not only will Tuisasosopo face all those challenges, he’ll do it with an unfamiliar staff.  Meanwhile BYU Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall has held the position for nine seasons and has made bowl appearances all nine times.  The contrast in experience couldn’t be more striking.

Still Tuisasosopo faces his challenge with enthusiasm and a keen eye on his alma mater’s history.  Price and safety Will Shamburger are the only remaining players from the 2009 recruiting the class that committed on the heels of the 0-12 season in 2008, the last under Coach Tyrone Willingham.  Tuisasopo referred to the 2008 season as the lowest point in the history of the school earlier this week.  Given that, Tuiasosopo frames the challenge of chasing a watershed ninth win on Friday as an historic quest.  And that’s what experienced coaches do: set goals and demand myopic focus on them.

“Now we’re at 8-4 and my hope… is that the young guys really focus on that, not everything else,” Tuiasosopo said.

And behind those goals are the players, committed to one coach who left and being asked to devote themselves to another… almost overnight.  Needless to say, according to Tuisasosopo, it can be confusing.

“They’re growing to become men, and sometimes they need to know ‘Hey, I totally understand what you’re going through.  They need someone there to help them through and manage and navigate their emotions through this process,” Tuiasosopo said.