One of the newer traditions for Stanford football has also been one shrouded in mystery. Home and away, the Cardinal runs onto the field for our team entrance before kickoff with one member of the team carrying the American flag, and so we unfurl the story of Stanford's flag bearer.
It began before the 2011 season opener, when Chase Thomas approached head coach David Shaw with an idea. "A bunch of my extended family is in the military, and my brother is in the Coast Guard," says Thomas. "I thought carrying our flag would be a great way to show appreciation for our military. I had seen it done by a couple other teams and thought it could be a cool idea."
Thomas floated the proposal to Shaw on the eve of the opener, who likewise has deep family connections past and present serving in the armed forces. It was enthusiastically adopted. With less than 24 hours to kickoff and Stanford's game operation in motion, the only challenge was to find the flag.
Senior associate athletics director and director of football operations Matt Doyle drove home the day of the game to grab the flag and pole from his house.
"My wife asked me the next day if it's really possible that someone would steal the American flag off our front porch," says Doyle. "I told her, 'Didn't you see it when the team ran out?' She was stunned. 'No way.' "
The Doyle family's flag traveled with Stanford the next week to Duke and was carried by Thomas with great honor at stadium run outs during his All-American season. Classmate Jonathan Martin joined the salute and carried Old Glory on a couple occasions.
Thomas was voted by his teammates as a captain before the start of the 2012 season. Team captains can be called out of the locker room by the officials before the team run out, to ensure that the coin toss takes place precisely on time. Thomas passed the honor on to Ben Gardner, who a year later bestowed the responsibility upon A.J. Tarpley. The players' succession for carrying the stars and stripes was born.
"At the time, we wanted to find a junior who is not a captain but is a badass," says Gardner.
"You definitely wouldn't be considered to carry the flag for our team if you were not respected," says Thomas. "There has been a trend of guys who are hard-working and show leadership. That's what America is about."
Circumstances in 2014 led to a handful of players taking the flag out with the team. Joe Hemschoot started the season, but was injured during the season opener, so he passed the baton to James Vaughters. When both players were recognized in solo run outs during their Senior Day versus Utah, Kevin Anderson was given the honor.
Anderson returned in 2015 and was voted a team captain. He says it was a "no-brainer" decision to give the flag to Christian McCaffrey. Though just a sophomore, the WildCaff exhibited all of the traits that earned the responsibility.
"That's one reason why it's such a cool honor," says Anderson. "Look at the guys who did it before, and they have been so influential to the program."
"It meant a lot to me, especially as a sophomore to be picked by the seniors," says McCaffrey. "It signifies a lot that is important to our team behind the scenes, being a strong leader who may not say a lot but puts their head down and works.
"I also love my country and have always had unbelievable respect for our military. I appreciate everything they do and feel it's necessary to honor them before each game."
McCaffrey was voted a team captain this year and deliberated upon two candidates to next carry the flag for Stanford in 2016. Daniel Marx and Alameen Murphy both fit the bill, and after discussing the decision with his fellow captains and Shaw, McCaffrey gave the juniors the joint honor for this season.
"It was hard to pick just one," says McCaffrey.
Marx ran out for the season opener and third game, before he suffered an injury at UCLA that has since forced him to the sideline. Murphy has now led the last five straight games, though Marx may soon return to game action and the run out rotation. Watch both closely the remainder of this season not only for their pre-game responsibility, but also the way they play and lead their teammates. It is a telltale sign of Cardinal strength.
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