Can the Stanford Cardinal Fit Through Shrinking Pac-10 Window of Opportunity?

(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

The loss to Oregon State was a serious wake-up call for a Stanford football team that thought of itself as a serious contender in the Pac-10.
 
In the words of my man Lee Corso, “Not so fast my friend.”
 
Saturday proved among other things that Stanford fits under the old cliché saying of “not quite there yet.”
 
Fans and players alike were hoping that Stanford would have been able to keep pace with the head of the Pac-10. That now seems less possible as both Oregon and USC are still on the schedule.
 
The belief that there’s always next year is a precept held faithfully by most sports fans, but for Stanford that may not be true.

Here are my reasons why this year was (and maybe still is) Stanford’s best opportunity.
 
Wide-open race:

Last week, Stanford was all alone at the top.

It was and still is a golden opportunity. USC has already lost to Washington and Stanford got Oregon at home. Before Saturday, all that had to happen was for Oregon to beat USC at their place and then lose at the 'Farm.

Now, Stanford has to win out including Oregon at home and on the road against USC. The second scenario seems a whole lot tougher.

Plain and simple- Stanford’s not out of it- but the loss to Oregon State hurts.
 
Good-Bye Gerhart:

The Heisman buzz is legitimate- Toby Gerhart is the real deal.

While Andrew will solidify the quarterback position for years to come. the team will miss Gerhart.

Unlike any other back, Gerhart is guaranteed to get five yards a carry. That is an immeasurable luxury when game-planning each week and calling plays during the game.

Harbaugh knows that he can convert any first and 10 into a second and five; and any third and short into a first down.

He is one of the all-time great's and it’s his last year.

Stanford needs to win now.
 
Hold on to Harbaugh:

The faithful will respond to losing Gerhart by saying that Harbaugh will continue to recruit top-level talent. This is obvious, but the question then becomes, "How long will Stanford be able to hold on to Harbaugh himself?"

As I speculated in my article last week, the powers that be on the 'Farm are obviously with Harbaugh (why else would you buy a man a $70,000 bathroom). But let me remind you that they failed to hold on to the last good coach (Tyrone Willingham) to come through here.

With his brother doing a spectacular job at Baltimore, how long before another NFL team comes calling for him?

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