Cardinal Cardinal (November 12, 2004)clinging to bowl hopes

Beating Oregon State on Saturday will keep those slim hopes alive

by Rick Eymer

For 11 seniors, Saturday's walk represent their final journey in a home uniform for the Stanford football team. The seniors still cling to slim bowl game hopes, but face must-win situations in the final two weeks of the regular season.

The first step comes when Oregon State visits Stanford for a 2 p.m. kickoff in a game that means everything to both teams. A win keeps postseason possibilities intact. A loss means a lonely postseason spent far from the football field.

"There's a lot riding on this game," Stanford senior defensive end Will Svitek said. "Our backs are against the wall."

After three consecutive losses, the Cardinal (2-4, 4-5) must win out.

"The last three games have been tough," sophomore receiver Evan Moore said. "We're still pretty positive. No one is close to giving up. It's not as difficult as lat year when we were getting slammed but it does wear on you. They have to win. We have to win. We'll see what happens."

Perhaps sending the seniors out winners will be enough added motivation for Stanford, which has lost four games by a combined total of 17 points. The Cardinal lost by three points to nationally-ranked teams, each time giving up the lead late in the game.

The seniors - Svitek, free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, linebacker David Bergeron, Menlo-Atherton high grad Greg Camarillo, quarterback Ryan Ecklund, linebacker Jared Newberry, defensive end Scott Scharff, tight end Alex Smith, running back Kenneth Tolon and cornerbacks Leigh Torrence and Stanley Wilson - will be honored in a brief pregame ceremony.

"It goes by so fast," Svitek said. "As we go through things, it feels like closure. I'd rather this be a normal game. This senior class is pretty special. We've gone through a lot. The dinner, the last walk, it will be sad and exciting at the same time."

Teevens, who is in his third year with the program, also called the seniors a special group.

"They have responded well," he said. "They are special guys. Camarillo has been outstanding. I know Ryan wishes he could have played more but he wants what is best for the team. There's some frustration they don't have the success they expected but they have continued to fight and battle and that's a tribute to them."

Svitek figures to get more playing time, and will even get shifted to defensive tackle, this week because of a knee injury to junior defensive end Casey Carroll.

"That alters things without him and we'll miss him," Svitek said. "It just means everybody on the defensive line will have to step up. A couple of us will play different positions."

Junior linebacker Kevin Schimmelman (knee) and sophomore strong safety Trevor Hooper are also out for the game. Junior linebacker Michael Craven (quad muscle), junior receiver Justin McCullum (shin) and junior running back J.R. Lemon (thigh) remain questionable.

There's also a question mark regarding the quarterback position. Starter Trent Edwards was forced out of last week's game with another left shoulder injury and has been largely ineffective since first injuring the shoulder against Oregon. Menlo-Atherton grad T.C. Ostrander would get the starting nod if Edwards can't make it.

"It's quite possible either of them could get the starting role," Stanford coach Buddy Teevens said. "T.C. has done a nice job and performed well under pressure."

Each time Ostrander has received extended playing time, he has led Stanford on drives that gave the team a lead in the fourth quarter.

"I told T.C. that what he's done over the last two times gives us security," Moore said. "We don't feel like we miss a beat. He's working his butt off. He knows what everybody does in the offense. There's no doubt that if Trent can't go, T.C. can step in."

Moore stressed that Edwards remains "our guy" at quarterback but Ostrander has show the ability to lead in the huddle.

"Sometimes Trent has more on his mind than T.C.," Moore said. "He has more experience and he's been our guy from the beginning but when T.C. comes in he's not thinking very much. He just plays."

Whoever starts at quarterback will be facing the Pac-10's top pass defense in Oregon State.

"They may well have the best secondary I've seen," Teevens said. "That's a very, very talented group back there."

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