Harris out as Cardinal coach following 1-11 season

Johnny BlazE · 12-04-2006, 03:39 PM

Quote:

STANFORD, Calif. -- Walt Harris was fired Monday as Stanford's football coach, two days after finishing the worst season in more than four decades at the school.

Athletic director Bob Bowlsby announced the decision after a morning meeting with Harris. The Cardinal (1-11) finished their season with a 26-17 loss to rival California in the Big Game on Saturday.

"This has been a tough year," Bowlsby said. "In some respects this decision was not made as a result of a 1-11 season as much as not seeing the progress in critical areas we would have liked to see the last two years."

Harris had a 6-17 record in the first two years of his five-year contract. Details of his buyout are being worked out. Bowlsby said he'd like to have a search for a new coach completed in two weeks.

Harris' team was devastated by injuries this season and finished with the most losses in school history and the worst record since an 0-10 mark in 1960.

The Cardinal have struggled mightily since Tyrone Willingham left for Notre Dame following the 2001 season. They have not had a winning season in five years under Buddy Teevens and Harris.

"Regretfully, I leave with a heavy heart, because we didn't get the job done," Harris said. "I wish the Stanford players and the program the best of luck as they rebuild."

A season that began with optimism because of a renovated stadium and the return of several skill players on offense, quickly became a disaster for the Cardinal.

After blowing a 20-point lead the second game of the season to San Jose State, the Cardinal didn't take another lead at any point in a game until beating Washington 20-3 for their only win Nov. 11.

Big-play receiver Mark Bradford went down with a season-ending foot injury in the season week and receiver Evan Moore missed four games with a foot injury.

Starting fullback Nick Frank ended his football career two games into the season after being diagnosed with a narrowing of a vertebra in his spine.

Then quarterback Trent Edwards, who battled injuries most of his career, went down for the season in the first quarter against Arizona on Oct. 14.

"Clearly the injuries were a factor this year in terms of how well we performed in some of the games," Bowlsby said.

With the team also needing to replace 10 defensive starters from last season, the results were predictably horrid and the new stadium was usually half-filled.

Bowlsby said the attendance was a factor in his decision, saying the football team plays a big role in raising revenue for other programs at the school.

"No question it was a factor," he said. "People vote with their pocket books and vote with their feet."

He doesn't deserve any season, expecially with a crappy record like it.

Thoughts?

Harris out as Cardinal coach following 1-11 season

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