1924 Stanford football team

1924 Stanford football
PCC champion
Rose Bowl, L 10–27 vs. Notre Dame
ConferencePacific Coast Conference
Record7–1–1 (3–0–1 PCC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeDouble-wing
CaptainJim Lawson
Home stadiumStanford Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 1923
1925 →
1924 Pacific Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 5 Stanford $ 3 0 1 7 1 1
No. 2 California 2 0 2 8 0 2
Washington 3 1 1 8 1 1
No. 7 USC 2 1 0 9 2 0
Idaho 4 2 0 5 2 1
Oregon 2 2 1 4 2 3
Oregon Agricultural 1 4 0 3 5 0
Washington State 0 4 1 1 5 2
Montana 0 3 0 4 4 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System

The 1924 Stanford football team represented Stanford University as a member of the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) during 1924 college football season. Led by first-year head coach was Pop Warner, Stanford compiled an overall record of 7–1–1 with a mark of 3–0–1 in conference play, winning the program's first PCC title. Stanford made its second bowl game appearance, losing to Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl].

Warner was hired from the University of Pittsburgh, where he had led the Panthers to three national championships. Andrew Kerr, who had been Stanford's head coach the previous two season, remained with the team as an assistant coach under Warner. Claude E. Thornhill was the team's line coach. Ernie Nevers starred at fullback and was later inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Stanford was undefeated in the regular season and

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 4Occidental*W 20–6[1]
October 11Olympic Club*
  • Stanford Stadium
  • Stanford, CA
W 7–0[2]
October 18Oregon
  • Stanford Stadium
  • Stanford, CA
W 28–13[3]
October 25vs. IdahoW 3–0[4]
October 31Santa Clara*
  • Stanford Stadium
  • Stanford, CA
W 20–0[5]
November 8vs. Utah*W 30–05,000[6]
November 15Montana
  • Stanford Stadium
  • Stanford, CA
W 41–3[7]
November 22at California
  • California Memorial Stadium
  • Berkeley, CA (Big Game)
T 20–2098,000[8]
January 1, 1925vs. Notre Dame*L 10–2760,000[9]
  • *Non-conference game

Season summary

3 men crouched, one standing
Line coach Claude E. Thornhill, head coach Pop Warner, assistant Andrew Kerr, and team captain Jim Lawson

The team played its home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California, but had the unusual circumstance of playing an additional "home" game at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California, home of rival California. The situation occurred after Stanford and California, convinced that fellow PCC member USC was guilty of recruiting violations, announced they would sever athletic ties with USC. In response, USC canceled its upcoming away game at Stanford, leaving Stanford with a hole in its schedule. Concerned that one fewer game would jeopardize the team's chance to win the conference, Stanford hurriedly scheduled a last-minute game with Utah. However, since Stanford Stadium was already reserved by the freshman team, California agreed to let Stanford play the game in Berkeley, which Stanford dominated, 30–0.[10]

Stanford returned to Berkeley as the visiting team two weeks later for the Big Game to determine the PCC championship, facing off against defending PCC champion California, who was also undefeated and had won the past five Big Games. In fact, Stanford had not won a Big Game since 1914, when both teams were still playing rugby instead of football. Stanford rallied from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to force a 20–20 tie and win the conference championship.[11]

After winning the PCC, Stanford faced Notre Dame in the 1925 Rose Bowl. Eight turnovers doomed Stanford to a 27–10 loss to the Irish, which was led by coach Knute Rockne and the backfield known as The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame. This was the first meeting of the teams, which began a rivalry series that continues to this day.

References

  1. ^ "Stanford wins from Oxy men". The Los Angeles Times. October 5, 1924. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Cards forced to limit to beat O.C. 7–0". The San Francisco Examiner. October 12, 1924. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Stanford enters struggle for Coast Conference honors by defeating Oregon 28 to 13". The Fresno Morning Republican. October 19, 1924. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Stanford gets lucky break, beats Vandals". Morning Register. October 26, 1924. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Jack James (November 1, 1924). "Cardinals Down Santa Clara Eleven, 20 to 0". The San Francisco Examiner. pp. 1P, 2P – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Stanford humbles Utah by 30 to 0 count". The San Francisco Examiner. November 9, 1924. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Stanford wins way to finals by taking Grizzlies into camp, 41–3". The Salt Lake Tribune. November 16, 1924. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "California, Stanford play 20 to 20 tie". The San Francisco Examiner. November 23, 1924. Retrieved October 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Bill Henry (January 2, 1925). "Notre Dame Wins 27–10: Stanford Beaten at Pasadena; Speed and Brains of Notre Dame Gridders Prove Too Much for Card Outfit". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1, 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "The Year USC Caused Stanford to Play a Home Game in Berkeley". SBNation. March 25, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  11. ^ "1924 Big Game: An Instant Classic". SBNation. July 18, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2013.