By Matthew E. Milliken
MEMwrites.wordpress.com
Sept. 5, 2018
The Stanford football team gave off some mixed signals as it got its 2018 campaign under way Friday evening. After the Cardinal elected to receive the ball, junior quarterback K.J. Costello and friends trotted out to start their first official possession of the year at the home 25-yard line.
However, the team burned a timeout before taking a snap. This would have been an inauspicious omen under any circumstances, but it seemed especially so since the team is working with a new offensive coordinator in Tavita Pritchard, the former Cardinal passer and ninth-year Stanford assistant coach who added play-calling to his responsibilities this offseason after Mike Bloomgreen’s departure for Rice.
Nor was the team’s first offensive snap much more comforting, as San Diego State senior lineman Anthony Luke batted away Costello’s pass on first down. But then the team seemed to settle down, as potential all-world senior running back Bryce Love ran for two yards before a Costello connection with junior tight end Kaden Smith went for 13 yards and a fresh set of downs. Love then carried for seven and two yards and senior running back Cameron Scarlett rushed for five yards on third and 1.
