Photos

By Rick Eymer
Palo Alto Online Sports

Stanford senior offensive guard Chris Marinelli is the leader of the 'Tunnel Union Workers,' an apt allegory for the folks up front who carve out the holes which running back Toby Gerhart winds through en route to big gains.

Marinelli, who has a high ankle sprain and probably shouldn't have suited up, practiced Thursday and announced he was fit enough to play.

He was there when Gerhart took his first handoff and he was there when Gerhart scored for the final time to give the Stanford football team a 45-38 victory over visiting Notre Dame on Saturday night, ending a seven-game losing streak to the Irish.

There was no doubt Marinelli was in pain and there was no way he was standing on the sideline for his final home game.

"That's an injury you are usually out for six weeks," Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh said. "He gutted it out and never said a word. He said he was ready to go. That's a tough thing to play with."

He's one of the reasons Gerhart goes after it so hard every time he touches the ball, even on plays where he acknowledged he wasn't sure he could catch his breath.

Gerhart gained another 205 yards on 29 carries and, statistically, became one of the two greatest runners in Stanford history, joining the legendary Darrin Nelson.

Gerhart created his own personal space in Stanford's Hall of Fame. The plaque won't be placed on the wall until the committee officially admits him in some future year, but he's already left a legacy.

He's also become a serious subject when Heisman Trophy discussions are held. He was a late addition to the talks but has been prominently displayed the past few weeks.

"Toby is too humble to say anything about himself but how can you not at least invite him?" Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck said. "He put this team on his back and made all of us better players. The one play he ran over the safety kept the drive going. I think he deserves it."

Gerhart set a Pac-10 single-season record with 26 touchdowns and a career record with 42. He surpassed Nelson's 40 for the Stanford mark.

Just to assure the voters he not a one-dimensional back, Gerhart also caught a pass for 33 yards and threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Whalen. It was the first pass attempt of his college career.

"We practice that once a week," he said. "I threw up a prayer and he made a great play. In practice those plays are wide open."

He was 1-of-2 on such plays in high school, throwing for a touchdown "and throwing one away, way far away."

Gerhart recorded his 10th 100-yard game of the season, the 19th of his career, and his third 200-yard career game. He finished the regular season with 17,36 yards, best in the nation.

With Gerhart running around, Stanford (8-4) set school records for points (434) and rushing yards (2,692) in a season. The rushing mark had stood for 60 years.

"We're a dangerous offense," he said. "Week in and week out coach keeps saying we can only stop ourselves. We've gotten better every week. We have Andrew Luck, dangerous receivers and an awesome O-line, the Tunnel Union Workers."

When Harbaugh met his team for the first time the year he was hired, the current seniors had not enjoyed a winning season. But even then he thought this was a group ready to produce.

"They were a group tired of getting their butts kicked and that was something to work with," he said. "That was the starting block. It all starts with the seniors. They have been around here a long time and seen it all the last five years. They made it happen because of their fire and desire to win."

Luck threw for 198 yards on 14-of-20 passing and no interceptions. Owen Marecic scored a touchdown and Jim Dray caught a pass in the end zone that was worth enough to tie the game at 38-all.

"It was a play action intended for Owen," Luck said. "Jim was running a clear out route hoping to take guys with him. I just threw it up and he did his job."

Nate Whitaker, who started his career at Notre Dame, was perfect on three field goals. Defensive backs Delano Howell and Richard Sherman shared the team lead with seven tackles apiece. Both of them began as offensive weapons at Stanford.

"Toby and I came in together," Sherman said. "The year before they were 1-11; coming in from high school we didn't know what to expect. Every year we won more and more and we've grown as seniors. The seniors who came before us helped build this base."

The season will end in a bowl game, with the team playing in Las Vegas, San Francisco or San Diego. It's the happiest season since Tyrone Willingham led the Cardinal on a journey to Seattle in 2001.

Gerhart is as close to a Heisman Trophy as any Stanford player has been. Jim Plunkett may yet get some company.

"It's a good way to go out; celebrating with my teammates," Gerhart said. "I'm still excited. I couldn't hear anybody. It was crazy."

People can hear Gerhart, loud and clear, and he never has to say a word.