STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford football team seeks its fourth consecutive win on Saturday when it travels to Berkeley to play Cal in the 119th Big Game at Memorial Stadium.
David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, said his team came to practice Monday night with a bounce in their step.
"It's not just another game," he said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. "You could just tell, seniors in particular. We didn't have to get them going; the guys were fired up. Yes, partially coming off of a nice victory, but this was about the Big Game and the seniors were already talking about it."
Their message was simple: retain the Axe.
"We've got to find a way play our best game," Shaw said. "All the things you want your team to say were being said. I anticipate us having a very good week of practice."
Shaw has a unique perspective about the rivalry having participated as a player (1991-94) and coach. Although the Cardinal (7-3 overall, 5-3 Pac-12) has won six straight games against Cal (4-6, 2-5), he knows players must keep an even-keel and be ready for a dogfight.
"I've basically said the same thing to the team every year since I came here in 2007," said Shaw. "Mainly for the young guys. The freshmen that are from all different parts of the country and maybe the sophomores that didn't play last year, to not be surprised by the emotions that will be in the stadium.
"When you walk in, you're going to feel it. Don't be surprised by it -- anticipate it -- and be ready to channel it in the right direction and make sure that we're communicating. It's going to be pretty exciting."
Shaw knows emotions will be flowing. Asked to cite the contrast between competing as a player and coaching in the Big Game, he said, "I have to control it more as a coach. As a player, you have a physical impact on the game. You can go out there and do something. So for me and our coaches, our impact is helping our guys channel their energy. But I feel it as a coach. I'm a Stanford guy. Big Game is always big."
Shaw attended his first Big Game on The Farm during his senior year at James Logan High in Union City, California. His father, Willie, was an assistant coach at Stanford.
"Going to the games during the course of the year and then going to that game was like, 'Oh my gosh, this one's different.' " said Shaw. "You felt it. It was louder, there was more energy, there was more excitement. You saw it with both teams jumping up and down, playing with energy and passion."
But the game that stands out was 1990 at Berkeley, when the Cardinal scored nine points in the closing 12 seconds and won 27-25 on a 37-yard field goal by John Hopkins as time expired. Shaw was a freshman wide receiver and suited up but did not play.
"Still one of the most exciting games I've ever been a part of on any level," he said. "Intrigue, great players, great playmaking. It was just a phenomenal game."
Junior quarterback Keller Chryst will be looking to build on last week's performance at Oregon. He completed 19 of 26 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns in the 52-28 victory.
"Game experience will help anyone," said Chryst. "You can simulate it in practice as much as you can, but nothing really compares to actual game speeds."
Chryst is now 3-0 as a starter, earning two wins on the road. The offensive line has settled in, allowing only one sack in each of the past two games.
Chryst prepped across the street from Stanford Stadium at Palo Alto High School, but only attended two Big Games. He did not play in 2014 and watched from the sideline as the Cardinal rolled in Berkeley, 38-17.
"We're going to treat it like any other game week," Chryst said. "Focus on what's important. That being said, you can feel the atmosphere around campus. You have the horn blowing every hour. People are starting to build up for it."
Chryst's father, Geep, is a former offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers. His uncle, Paul, is the head coach at Wisconsin.
Asked if he has received input from his dad after the last three games, Chryst said, "Not really. He stays positive. He's not too serious on postgame analysis. If there's a question I have, I'll go him."
Chryst said the best advice his father has given him this season is, "Have fun and trust yourself. It's a long process. Just stay high on your teammates and be positive."
Christian McCaffrey needs 89 yards against Cal to surpass Toby Gerhart for No. 3 on Stanford's career rushing list. Gerhart amassed 3,522.
Asked about their similarities, Shaw said, "Mentality. Just not the same body. He (Christian) is a physical runner and doesn't back down from anybody. At the same time, Toby was more elusive than people gave him credit for. Toby would step and slide out of tackles and then run somebody over. Both guys have been durable, love the game of football and play with passion. And they don't mind when the yoke is put on their shoulders.''
McCaffrey (503) and Bryce Love (249) have combined for 752 yards rushing in the past three games. They face a Cal defense that ranks second-to-last in the FBS against the run, allowing 283.4 yards per game.
"We haven't played well enough this season to look down on anybody for anything," Shaw said about the perceived advantage. "We have not been the pantheon of consistency. So for us, we have to focus on us, doing our jobs. Our offensive line has played better and better the last few weeks, and now we want to take another step this week."
Offensively, Cal ranks second in the Pac-12 in passing (361.2) and total offense (517.9), and fourth in scoring, averaging 37.8 points per game.
Graduate transfer Davis Webb from Texas Tech triggers the Bear Raid offense and is second in the conference in passing yards (360.1) and total offense (350.2). He's thrown 33 scoring passes.
Chad Hansen leads the league in receiving with 75 catches for 979 yards and nine touchdowns, while Demetris Robinson is tied for 11th with 44 catches for 571 yards.
"The kid (Davis) has a quick release, that ball comes out fast, and it comes out accurately," Shaw said. "It's impressive to watch. Their receiving core, those guys make plays. They've got big guys, they've got fast guys that are great route runners, and they do a good job of moving you around and keeping you off balance. You can't fall asleep."
For the third consecutive year, Stanford led the FBS with a 99 percent graduation success rate.
"For me, it's what we're here to do," said Shaw. "We're here to graduate young men. Give them a phenomenal education and a great start on life. If they happen to go on -- and we've had a bunch of guys go on to the NFL -- that's great. But you're here to get an education.
"We take that very seriously and take lot of pride in it. We back it up in our practices, not just in football, but in what we practice daily. We will move our practice times, we'll move parts of practice if guys have to go to a class. We'll make sure they get their things done so they can leave early. We have our priorities right."
Joey Alfieri grew up rooting for Oregon State, where his father played football and his mother ran track.
But that diminished the excitement he felt last Saturday after intercepting two passes at Oregon.
"It was definitely fun," said the junior outside linebacker from Portland, who had about 10 family members in the crowd. "Just in the right place at the right time."
Cal's offense will be a test for the Cardinal defense, which has held every opponent this season under its scoring average.
"They will have a higher tempo than any team we've faced," said Alfieri. "It will definitely be a challenge to keep up with them and stop them."
Although Stanford has surrendered big plays, the unit ranks second in Pac-12 in red zone defense.
"We've definitely talked about having a bend but don't break mentality the last couple years," Alfieri said. "The big thing is to eliminate chunk plays."
Alfieri also has a better feel for what it means to beat the Bears.
"I really do," he said. "Coming from Portland, I didn't really have a huge sense. The banners are up and teachers are talking about Big Game week. It's a pretty cool environment and I'm excited to play against them."
Quotable ... "His confidence has grown and that's something he's earned. He's a guy who's out there after practice every day doing extra stuff, whether it's throwing routes or running gassers." – Joey Alfieri on Keller Chryst.