FOR OPENERS
People may be wondering why Oregon is opening up against Stanford. It's highly unusual to start the season with a league game even though, without going to the media guide, I distinctly remember Oregon opening the season at home against Arizona in either 1996 or 1997.
When the Pac 10 went to a round robin schedule Stanford was looking at playing 12 games in 12 weeks. No bye week.
Stanford decided that wasn't a good idea and went in search of a solution. The most viable alternative was to play Oregon September 3, get a bunch of money (and exposure) for playing an ABC, and then have a bye later in the season.
Stanford Head Coach Walt Harris told The San Francisco Chronicle, "I didn't see how (playing 12 straight games) could happen with the depth concerns that we have here. I did not want to play a conference game right off the bat," Harris said. "I don't think that's good for us, trying to rebuild out program, just in our second year, going against a coach that's firmly entrenched. It's already hard enough, but that makes it harder."
Stanford now he 3 bye weeks due to the Big Game with Cal being moved back a week.
Go figure.
