Extremely adorned coach Frank Reich would love nothing greater than so as to add to his spectacular resume when he leads Stanford up towards visiting Cal within the annual Massive Sport rivalry Saturday.
A two-time former NFL head coach who gained a Tremendous Bowl ring as offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018, Reich agreed to teach Stanford this season on a one-year interim foundation after Troy Taylor’s April firing.
He’ll make his Massive Sport debut Saturday in his second-to-last recreation on the Stanford helm, searching for so as to add his title to an inventory of rivalry-winning Cardinal coaches that features Pop Warner, Invoice Walsh and Jim Harbaugh.
Regardless of Stanford (3-7, 2-5 Atlantic Coast Convention) already being assured of a dropping document, Reich admits he is discovered that beating Cal may be how any Cardinal season is remembered.
“I’ve actually loved being a part of this neighborhood and realizing how huge that is,” he assured reporters this week. “I am excited to be part of it.”
Cal (6-4, 3-3) gained final yr’s 127th rendition of the Massive Sport 24-21 at residence thanks to 2 fourth-quarter landing passes from Fernando Mendoza to Jonathan Brady.
Mendoza has since transferred to Indiana, the place he’s a Heisman Trophy candidate this season, handing the ball off at Cal to freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who has thrown for two,518 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.
Two of these TD’s and 323 of these yards got here in Cal’s most up-to-date outing, a 29-26 extra time win at 14th-ranked Louisville.
Whereas Stanford acknowledges Reich’s settlement with the college is a one-and-done, Cal followers are hoping the identical is not true for his or her freshman standout.
Pressed on the difficulty this week, the Hawaii native wasn’t promising something.
“I am simply prepared to soak up the (Massive Sport) expertise,” he stated of his future this week. “My principal focus is profitable this recreation on Saturday. However I am fairly certain (I will be again), yeah.”
Stanford is predicted to counter with a freshman of their very own. Elijah Brown changed Ben Gulbranson for the second half of the Cardinal’s 35-20 residence loss to Pittsburgh on Nov. 1, then threw for 284 yards and a rating because the starter in a 20-15 loss at North Carolina in Stanford’s most up-to-date recreation.
Each groups had a bye final week.
-Subject Stage Media
