1973 Stanford Cardinals football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1973 Stanford Cardinals football Pacific-8 Conference Pac-8 7–4 5–2 Jack Christiansen 2nd Robert A. Jones 2nd Norb Hecker 2nd Mike Boryla Randy Poltl Stanford Stadium The 1973 Stanford Cardinals football team represented Stanford University in the Pacific-8 Conference during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. Led by second-year head coach Jack Christiansen, the Cardinals were 7–4 overall (5–2 in Pac-8, third) and played home games on campus at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California. The Pac-8 did not allow a second bowl team until the 1975 season. Schedule 1973 AP Pacific September 15 12:50 p.m. l y Penn State 7 Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA ABC 6–20 57,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bradenton-herald-8th-ranked-nittany/181650234/ The Bradenton Herald 8th-ranked Nittany Lions whip Stanford September 16, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com September 22 10:30 a.m. l y y Michigan 5 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI 10–47 80,177 Sweet Revenge! U-M Rips Stanford; 6-TD Parade, 47–10 Detroit Free Press Curt Sylvester September 23, 1973 1E, 9E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5644488/sweet_revenge_um_rips_stanford_6td/ Newspapers.com June 27, 2016 September 29 1:30 p.m. w y San Jose State Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA rivalry 23–12 47,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-pilot-stanford-rallies-to-top-san-j/181653965/ News-Pilot Stanford rallies to top San Jose September 30, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com October 6 12:57 p.m. w y y Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 24–0 45,383 https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-telegram-cardinals-blank-illini/181654042/ Independent Press-Telegram Cardinals blank Illini October 7, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com October 13 1:35 p.m. l UCLA 15 Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA 13–59 55,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-bruins-get-621-yards/181653363/ Ventura County Star Bruins get 621 yards rushing in romp at Stanford October 14, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com October 20 1:30 p.m. w y Washington Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 23–14 51,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-garcias-foot-gives-cards/181654156/ The Fresno Bee Garcia's foot gives Cards win October 21, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com October 27 1:35 p.m. w Washington State Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA 45–14 48,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel-boryla-sparks-stanfo/181654240/ Santa Cruz Sentinel Boryla sparks Stanford win October 28, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com November 3 1:30 p.m. w y Oregon State Parker Stadium Corvallis, OR 24–23 17,025 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze-4th-quarter-field-goal/181654321/ The Daily Breeze 4th-quarter field goal lifts Stanford November 4, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com November 10 1:30 p.m. l y USC 8 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 26–27 63,806 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-late-usc-explosion-shatte/181652337/ The Fresno Bee Late USC explosion shatters Stanford 27–26 November 11, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com November 17 1:30 p.m. w Oregon Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA 24–7 21,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-cards-slip-past-ducks/181654410/ Oakland Tribune Cards slip past Ducks November 18, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com November 24 1:35 p.m. w California Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA Big Game 26–17 67,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-stanfords-come/181654514/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Stanford's comeback earns win over California November 25, 1973 September 23, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1973 Stanford) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/364033 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics May 25, 2025 Game summaries Penn State collapsed Saturday, September 15 #7 Penn State 0 10 7 3 Stanford 0 0 0 6 Stanford Stadium • Stanford, CA 57,000 PS — Safety blocked kick went out of the end zone. PS — Hayman 14-yard pass from Shuman (Natale pass from Shuman). PS — Cappelletti 2-yard run (Bahr kick). PS — Field goal, Bahr 24 yards. Stan — Stone 8-yard pass from Boryla (pass failed). Penn State’s defense dominated Stanford, consistently applying pressure and forcing the opposing offense into hurried plays. The Nittany Lions’ blitzing strategy disrupted Stanford’s rhythm, resulting in sacks, turnovers, and limited offensive production, but Penn State was mostly unable to convert that pressure into points. The scoring started in the second quarter when Lion defensemen Greg Murphy and Doug Allen broke through the punt defense, with Allen belting the ball through the end zone for a safety. Late in the half, Jimmy Bradley recovered a fumble at the Stanford 10 yard line to set up another score two plays later when quarterback Tom Shuman found Gary Hayman from 14 yards out. In the second half, Cappelletti and Bahr rounded out the scoring for Penn State and Stanford scored against the Penn State reserves with three minutes left in the game.McAllister Ray 17 September 1973 Blitz Buries Stanford https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1973-09-17/ed-1/seq-5/ live 12 Jan 2026 The Daily Collegian 5 Michigan July 2013 San Jose State July 2013 Illinois July 2013 UCLA July 2013 Washington Stanford 6 7 3 7 Washington 0 0 0 14 October 20 Husky Stadium, Seattle, Washington 51,500 yes 1 STAN Garcia 37-yard field goal Stanford 3–0 1 STAN Garcia 38-yard field goal Stanford 6–0 2 STAN Test 10-yard pass from Boryla (Garcia kick) Stanford 13–0 3 STAN Garcia 47-yard field goal Stanford 16–0 4 WASH Phillips 46-yard pass from Rowland (Boyd kick) Stanford 16–7 4 WASH Rowland 1-yard run (Boyd kick) Stanford 16–14 4 STAN Laidlaw 8-yard run (Garcia kick) Stanford 23–14 yes Source:https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J0MnAAAAIBAJ&pg=6675%2C5031593 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Garcia kick helps Cards whip Huskies October 21, 1973 2B Washington State July 2013 Oregon State July 2013 USC July 2013 Oregon July 2013 California California 3 0 7 7 Stanford 0 3 10 13 November 24 Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California 67,000 yes 1 CAL VanderMeer 41-yard field goal CAL 3-0 2 STAN Garcia 36-yard field goal Tied 3-3 3 CAL Muncie 15-yard run (VanderMeer kick) CAL 10-3 3 STAN Jena 8-yard run (Garcia kick) Tied 10-10 3 STAN Garcia 37-yard field goal STAN 13-10 4 CAL Ferragamo 1-yard run (VanderMeer kick) CAL 17-13 4 STAN Inge 3-yard run (kick failed) STAN 19-17 4 STAN Laidlaw 10-yard run (Garcia kick) STAN 26-17 yes Junior running back Scott Laidlaw gained 132 yards on 23 carries while Rod Garcia finished his career with 42 field goals, and NCAA record, and 18 for the season, which tied the NCAA record. Stanford played most of the second half without starting quarterback Mike Boryla, who left the game with a bruised throwing arm.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OTJWAAAAIBAJ&pg=4998%2C6070520 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Cards rally behind Laidlaw November 25, 1973 6D Roster 1973 Stanford Cardinal f 12 Sr Mike Boryla QB y C 47 Fr Tony Hill Tony Hill (wide receiver) WR y 33 Jr Scott Laidlaw RB y 19 Sr Dave Ottmar QB 21 Jr Bill Singler WR 83 Jr Pat Donovan DE y 36 Sr Randy Poltl SS y C 91 Sr Roger Stillwell DT y 14 Sr Rod Garcia K 19 Sr Dave Ottmar P *Jack Christiansen (2nd year) David Currey – Offensive back Pete Kettela – Receivers Hudson Houck – Offensive line Norb Hecker – Defensive Coordinator & defensive line Ray Handley – Linebacker George Seifert – Defensive back Bill Moultrie – Special Teams Coordinator Gunther Cunningham – Assistant https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IzJWAAAAIBAJ&pg=5896%2C543502 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon The lineups November 3, 1973 2B All-conference 1973 All-Pacific-8 Conference football team Five Stanford players were named to the All-Pac-8 team: quarterback Mike Boryla, wide receiver Bill Singler, defensive tackle Roger Stillwell, safety Randy Poltl, and kicker Rod Garcia; Singler and Stillwell were juniors.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j6tVAAAAIBAJ&pg=2244%2C261468 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Three Ducks on Pac-8 unit December 2, 1973 3Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M6NYAAAAIBAJ&pg=6366%2C333216 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Three Cougars land on All-Pac-8 squad December 3, 1973 17 NFL draft Six Stanford seniors were selected in the 1974 NFL draft. References Stanford Category:Stanford Cardinal football seasons Stanford Cardinals football