STANFORD

Goodbye to ... Buddy Teevens
Coaching record: 10-23 in 3 seasons
Reason for leaving: Fired

For a school that produced the likes of John Elway and Jim Plunkett, averaging 22 points a game – as the Cardinal did last season -- just isn’t going to cut it. Add in three straight losses to your arch rival, in this case Cal, by a total of 70 points and you can call the movers.

Teevens went through three offensive coordinators, but none were able to discover a map to the end zone. It’s tough enough watching a team lose. But watching one lose without a hint of entertainment is flat out unacceptable.

Ric Francis / AP Walt Harris

Hello ... Walt Harris
Coaching record: 63-67 in 11 seasons at Pittsburgh and Pacific.
2005 prediction: 5-6

Harris helped put Pittsburgh back on the map, especially over the past five years when he took the Panthers to five straight bowl games, including last year’s Fiesta Bowl as the Big East champions.

He will be a welcome site in Stanford after three years of Teevens’ unimaginative, sloth-like offense. Harris will make it a point to get the ball down field, and has 10 starters returning on offense to help accomplish that.

First-year success will be tough to come by, as the Cardinal has many of the top Pac-10 teams at home and has to face most of the middle-of-the-pack teams on the road. That’s never a good combination.

Long-term prediction: Harris will get this thing turned back around if given enough time. He has a bright offensive mind and brings a level of authority and respect that will enhance the Stanford program. The school’s high academic standards are always an issue, but it’s been done before and expect Harris to find the players to make it happen again.

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