Oct
09
Several people think I should be divided on my choice of college football teams given the state I'm from and where I attend college.
I say, let them speculate.
However, there is no speculation needed. I am an Oregon girl at heart. I bleed Portland Trail Blazers black and red. I will forever love my high school's red and blue. I have followed the green and yellow of the Oregon Ducks.
Now though, I have but one color. One color which says it all. Cardinal red.
It's no surprise to any of you that I attend Stanford University; an incredible institution which marks it's 120th birthday this year.What comes with this, as a sports fan, is an opportunity to see the best player in college football, the Heisman Trophy front runner, and leader of undoubtedly the most intelligent quarterback in all of college football.
I am a fan of Andrew Luck. Watching him every week pick apart defenses is a game within the game. It seems that for Andrew, it's like playing the first round of a video game each week. And here's the catch: The Cardinal hasn't even needed him to be at his best yet.
Stanford is 5-0 on the season after a 48-7 drubbing of Colorado. The score would have been much worse had Andrew played in the fourth quarter.
Now I've heard of this little team in Eugene -- and their fans on this network -- who actually think their team has a chance at winning the pac-12 title. Oregon is my home state and I will always be an Oregon girl at heart (the state, not the university),. However, there's no doubt in my mind that the best college football team is in the south bay.
In fact, after 2010's "The Decision," I contemplated legal action against ESPN for stealing my declaration from a summer previous: "I, Kassandra, announce that I'm taking my academic talents to the South Bay."
Oregon lost to a very good team in their first game ... but they still lost. Stanford now stands at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the Pac-12.
The naysayers will say that the Cardinal has not played higher quality talent. Perhaps that's true, however there is another thing to consider. In it's first game of the year, Stanford beat San Jose St. by 54 points. The Cardinal was supposed to beat the Spartans by that much. They did what they should have done. As a matter of fact, Stanford has beaten every spread it has faced in each of its five games so far. That tells us that the Cardinal is doing its job.
I linger on a number of national message boards (i.e. thescore; bleacherreport). All I seem to see there are fans of the ACC and SEC conferences claiming that their conference is the best in the nation.
What they don't take into account is the fact that teams in no other conference beat each other up as much as those in the Pac-12 (formerly the Pac-10). No other conference can even lay claim to that with a straight face.
In the SEC, sure LSU would like to boast about the fact they play Alabama. For every Alabama, there is a Mississippi St. or Kentucky. The point is, it all balances out.
True, Stanford has not played ranked competition -- that is yet to come in the form of Oregon, Arizona St. and perhaps others others -- but the high-octane and smothering defense should show that the Cardinal -- and the Pac-12 -- is ready to go up against anyone.
The biggest Pac-12 showdown will come when Oregon comes to Palo Alto on Nov. 12. I will be at the game. I will be wearing a red Cardinal t-shirt and probably white short-shorts. Try to find me if you can!
The Pac-12 is experiencing some growing pains, going from 10 teams to 12 this year. things are looking up for the conference. Teams like Arizona St., Washington and Washington St. are all seeing significant improvements this season.
But here's the bottom line: There is only one best player in college football. He leads an incredibly talented team of tight ends, running backs and wide receivers -- not to mention a stalwart offensive line. And the hard part to believe ... the Cardinal defense might just be better than its offense.
So to all my Ducks fan friends: I apologize in advance for the drubbing you will receive at the hands of my Cardinal.
~ KMM
P.S.: Stanford's biggest rival is Cal-Berkeley. I received word earlier this week, that my senior-in-high-school sister signed a scholarship agreement to Cal. I love Jessica, but we are about to be collegiate rivals. That should make things even more interesting next season.
In Kassandra's Words features regular blogs throughout the year. Comments and questions are welcome and encouraged. Seasons begin and end, but our Blazers are forever. Please follow on twitter: @Kassandra227