Year: | 1951 |
Team: | Stanford Indians |
Sport: | football |
Conference: | Pacific Coast Conference |
Short Conf: | PCC |
Coachrank: | 7 |
Aprank: | 7 |
Record: | 9–2 |
Conf Record: | 6–1 |
Head Coach: | Chuck Taylor |
Hc Year: | 1st |
Stadium: | Stanford Stadium |
Champion: | PCC champion |
Bowl Result: | L 7–40 vs. Illinois |
The 1951 Stanford Indians football team represented Stanford University in the 1951 college football season. Stanford was led by first-year head coach Chuck Taylor. The team was a member of the Pacific Coast Conference and played their home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California.
The 1950 season had ended in disappointing fashion after high expectations and a fast start. Head coach Marchmont Schwartz had resigned following the season,[1] and to replace him, Stanford hired Chuck Taylor, a former Stanford All-American guard and member of Stanford's undefeated 1940 team which defeated Nebraska in the 1941 Rose Bowl.[2]
Led by the passing attack of senior quarterback Gary Kerkorian and senior end Bill McColl, Stanford ran out to a 9–0 start and took a #3 ranking into the Big Game, where they were 13-point favorites over rival California.[3] Cal upset the Indians 20–7, but as PCC champions, Stanford was invited to the 1952 Rose Bowl against Big Ten champion and 4th-ranked Illinois.[4] The Indians led at halftime 7–6 and trailed only 13–7 to start the fourth quarter, but a 27-point scoring outburst gave the Fighting Illini a convincing 40–7 victory.[4]
Taylor, at 31 the youngest major college football coach, was named AFCA Coach of the Year, the only time a Stanford coach has received the award.[5] In addition to numerous awards, McColl was a Consensus All-American, finished fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, and would go on to a seven-year professional career with the Chicago Bears.[6] Kerkorian was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and backed up Johnny Unitas with the Baltimore Colts.
Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club | |
End | 3 | 32 | Chicago Bears | ||
Bob Meyers | Halfback | 16 | 190 | San Francisco 49ers | |
Quarterback | 17 | 194 | Dallas Texans | ||
Quarterback | 19 | 222 | Pittsburgh Steelers | ||
Harry Hugasian | Halfback | 21 | 242 | Dallas Texans |