Our team intensely relishes "tangible evidence" of victory, so much so that it was engraved on our Rose Bowl rings this past winter. The time to win trophies typically starts in late November, but Stanford has an alluring opportunity this weekend when we travel to northern Indiana for our annual rivalry game against Notre Dame. Since 1989, the winner of the game has been awarded the Legends Trophy. Currently sitting on display in the center of our football office lobby, this magnificent combination of Northern California redwood and Dublin crystal will be packed up Thursday and brought on our team charter for this trip.
The annual rivalry game between the Cardinal and Fighting Irish has featured spectacular performances and stunning finishes in recent years. Conrad Ukropina kicked the game-winner on the final play in 2015. Notre Dame converted a fourth down for a 23-yard touchdown pass with a minute to go in 2014. The Irish stopped Stepfan Taylor on 4th-and-goal in overtime in 2012. Toby Gerhart rushed for 200-plus yards and three touchdowns, while he passed for another, in 2009.
The magnitude of this rivalry was set nearly a century ago when the schools first met in a battle of unbeaten teams in the 1925 Rose Bowl Game. Sportswriters marveled that the collection of legends on that field would likely never again be replicated in a college football game. Stanford was led by coach Pop Warner and featured fullback Ernie Nevers. Notre Dame had Knute Rockne on their sideline and the Four Horsemen in their backfield. On two broken ankles, Nevers astoundingly rushed for a Rose Bowl Game record 114 yards on 32 carries, as well as nearly 80 percent of Stanford's defensive plays.
The Legends Trophy recognizes the generations of legends and the rich history which define both programs, elevating the rivalry on a national stage. This battle in South Bend is especially meaningful for the young men on Stanford's roster who grew up in the Midwest. An extensive shadow is cast by Notre Dame in that part of the country, making Saturday special.
"It's an opportunity to reestablish our dominance in an incredible game day atmosphere," says senior Mike Tyler (Brecksville, Ohio).
"I feel fortunate to be able to return to the Midwest and play in front of friends and family who have helped and guided me into becoming who I am today," says fifth-year senior Johnny Caspers (Glen Ellyn, Ill.).
The Legends Trophy as a result holds extraordinary value for these sons of the Midwest – and many more of our student-athletes who hail from the eastern half of the country. Eleven of our 12 regular season games in 2016 are played inside the Pac-12 footprint, and only one yearly opportunity allows them to compete on a gridiron close to home.
"The Notre Dame game gives me a chance to prove my worth to so many who doubted me, on a stage that I have dreamed of playing on since I was a young boy," says sophomore Reagan Williams (Jackson, Ohio).
This is the stuff of dreams, forged by legends.