Washington Vs. Stanford: History 101
By Carina Fung
This Thursday, the Washington Huskies take on the Stanford Cardinals who are 3–0 this season, 1–0 in Pac-12 play and ranked by the Associated Press 8th in the nation.
The Huskies are in for a difficult ride if history repeats itself. Here are some highlights (but mainly low-lights for Husky nation) of the match-ups between Washington and Stanford over the last few years.
1. No Luck Against Luck
There’s no way to sugar coat it: last year, the Huskies were pummeled by the Cardinals, 21–65. This was Husky QB Keith Price’s first head-to-head against Stanford’s star QB Andrew Luck. 2011 was Luck’s final year in college football, as he moved on to be the NFL 2012 first overall draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts. But for good measure, Luck put an exclamation mark on his record against UW by completing 16 of 21 passes for 169 yards with two touchdowns, thus serving the Huskies with a fourth straight loss to the Cardinals from 2008–2011.
Oct. 15, 2011; Pullman, WA, USA; Stanford Cardinals quarterback Andrew Luck (12) drops back for a pass against the Washington State Cougars during the second half at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-US PRESSWIRE
2. A Date Which Will Live In Infamy: November 3, 2007
Okay, maybe “infamous” is too strong a word (FDR might disapprove), but certainly a date to note because it was the last time Washington beat Stanford, 27–9. The key to this win was the Huskies’ rushing game and running back Louis Rankin, who carried the ball 36 times and ran for 255 yards with a touchdown. It was one of the best showings by a running back in Husky history.
3. Holding a Grudge
When the Cardinals met the Huskies in 2006, they were on an 11-game losing streak, which matched their 1959 season for the longest in school history. Yet somehow they beat the Huskies 20–3 in an upset that cost the Huskies an opportunity for a bowl bid.
Philosopher George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Well, Husky fans certainly remember Stanford’s continuous beatings, so they’ll be hoping for no repeats come Thursday.