Oakland Tribune: Big Game jokes must be roasting to Cardinal

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SAN FRANCISCO — It was routine stuff for those who knew the routine. The comedian-master of ceremonies Bob Sarlatte in one of those traditional preludes to the Big Game, zinging away at both Cal and Stanford, mostly Stanford. Grimace-and-Golden Bear-it material.  Sarlatte, with an audience of more than 700 for the annual Guardsmen Luncheon at the St. Francis Hotel, while neglecting none of the obvious, admittedly was kinder to Stanford's 1-10 Walt Harris than he had been in 2001 to Cal's Tom Holmoe, who was 1-9 and headed both for 1-10 and the door.  Yet you had to wonder what was going through the head of Bob Bowlsby down at the end of the dais. This was all new to Bowlsby, having become Stanford athletic director only last spring, and it certainly must not have been pleasant. As the one-win introductory season, which literally made Stanford the target of Sarlatte jokes, must not be very pleasant.  This is Harris' second year employed in what he insisted is his dream job, returning to the area where he grew up, the Peninsula. But this is only Harris' first year with Bowlsby as his boss, and there has been some question whether he'll get a second. Although not by Harris.  Asked if he expects to return to coach in 2007, Harris said "Yes." Asked if he had any doubts, Harris said "No."  What Bowlsby said a couple of weeks back was, "I'm not going to get into evaluating (Harris) or any of the other coaches in the media."

Anyone with a slightest degree of how Stanford does business, meaning now and then bringing in an admissions director who doesn't care if the school ever beats Cal — like the recent woman imported from Swarthmore — grasps the problems faced by Harris.  Sure, maybe someone could have squeezed another win or two from this agonizing season that mercifully concludes Saturday, presumably with another loss. But considering the lack of experienced talent Harris found on his arrival, the loss of his starting quarterback and two wide receivers to injury, someone else may have gone zippo.  No question that the one victory, two games back against Washington, coached, interestingly enough by Ty Willingham — who fled Stanford for Notre Dame, thus creating part of this crisis — eased feelings a great deal. To borrow a line from someone close to Stanford football, "If you're 0-11, Jay Leno's using you as a punch line. If you're 1-10, you're just another bad college team."  The type the 50-year-old Harris inevitably seems to be presented.  He took over a losing program at his alma mater, University of the Pacific, and nearly made it a winner. Then he shifted to Pittsburgh and did make the Panthers a winner, although in his second of eight seasons they were 2-9.

"This is my third experience at rebuilding," Harris reminded. "They're all a little different, but they're all very much the same. And so unfortunately, I guess you could say, or fortunately, I've had some background and experience in this."  Too much for any mortal.  "I don't know what the Lord has in mind," Harris mused, "but I guess that's my spot in life, to rebuild, take on challenges and make people happy."  Not that he succeeded entirely. His last season at Pitt, although going 8-4 and to the Fiesta Bowl, Harris was ragged by Pittsburgh journalists, Ron Cook of the Post-Gazette writing early in that'04 season, "There's an unmistakable feeling around the university Harris hasn't done enough with everything he has been given."  By the time Pitt was stomped 35-7 in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl by Alex Smith-led Utah, Harris had accepted the Stanford position. "I'm kind of numb," Harris said after the game, "because I was hoping that we would play better."  The way Stanford people certainly were hoping this season their team would play better.  "You can look at our situation," Harris said, "and pretty much understand when you're playing 31 first-year players, you don't give yourself as much a chance as when you're not playing them."  That is undeniable. Also undeniable is the fact Harris better win next season, assuming there is a next season.  "I believe strongly," said Harris, "we have the people in place to climb out of the situation we're in."  If true, we'll learn quickly enough, if in Walt Harris they have the coach.