Stanford is expected to move its football team to the Pacific Northwest in response to Santa Clara County’s three-week ban on contact sports, a Pac-12 source told our Jon Wilner.
The exact location is not yet known, or possibly has not yet been determined.
Stanford (1-2) has three games remaining on its schedule, only two of which have known opponents at this time — both located in the Northwest. Stanford is scheduled to play at Washington on Saturday and against Oregon State on Dec. 12.
The game against Oregon State was to have been played at Stanford. Now it could become a home game for Oregon State, played in Corvallis, or it could be played at Stanford’s temporary home in the Pacific Northwest.
The Pac-12 also plans to have teams play Dec. 19, though matchups have not been announced. If the conference has Stanford and Washington State make up their canceled game from earlier this season, a relocation would shorten the travel for the visiting team. Stanford is coming off a thrilling win in the Big Game sealed on a blocked point-after kick that would have seen Cal tie the game in the final seconds.
Monday, Santa Clara County executive Jeff Smith reiterated frustrations with sports teams based in the county for making plans to relocate, including the San Francisco 49ers. Smith added that he anticipated the three-week ban on contact sports will be extended.
“Historically, sportsmanship has been about building a team and protecting that team,” he said. “Coaches, managers and owners used to want to protect their players from harm. Those values seem to have been placed on hold during the COVID pandemic. If leaders want to protect their teams and communities, they should not play anywhere until it is safe. One might envision a reemergence of team-building if the teams spent their time building a COVID relief fund for the community rather than trying to put the community at more risk.”
The jury’s still out on how and if other Stanford teams will continue their seasons. The second-ranked Cardinal women’s basketball had its Monday afternoon game against San Diego canceled in response to the health order.
While neighbor university San Jose State fled to Humboldt County to practice free from Santa Clara County restrictions back in October, Stanford moved its practices just a few miles over the San Mateo County border to Woodside High School. Santa Clara County rebuked the Spartans for circumventing county orders to prepare for their season.
Staff writers Jon Wilner and John Woolfolk contributed to this report.
