MIAMI (AP) — As the Stanford Cardinal accepted their Orange Bowl
trophy, fans chanted "One more year!" They’re hoping to keep the coach
and quarterback who helped the school to its first bowl win in 14 years.
Andrew
Luck threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns Monday night to lead
fifth-ranked Stanford past No. 12 Virginia Tech, 40-12. The blowout was
the latest success for a school that went 1-11 just four years ago
before hiring Jim Harbaugh as coach.
Afterward, Luck and Harbaugh
deflected questions about whether the game might have been their last at
Stanford. Harbaugh is expected to be courted by NFL teams and perhaps
alma mater Michigan, and Luck is projected as the likely first pick in
the draft if he turns pro this year.
"There are a lot of worse
decisions you might have to make in life," Luck said. "I don’t want to
make an impulsive decision. I’ll enjoy this as long as I can. I know the
deadline is coming up. I’ll sit down with my parents, weigh the pros
and cons and go from there."
The sophomore turned in a performance
reminiscent of two sideline spectators, former Stanford quarterbacks
John Elway and Jim Plunkett. Elway, who is expected to become the Denver
Broncos’ chief football executive this week, served as honorary
captain.
"As an alum, it’s the greatest — to be able to come down
here and watch a great football team," Elway said. "They’re
well-coached, they played great. Some great players. A big thrill."
The
Cardinal (12-1) likely will end the season ranked in the top 5 for the
first time since the unbeaten 1940 team finished No. 2.
"They’ve
bounced back from some terrible years and put Stanford back on the
football map," Plunkett said. "I’m very proud of them."
Virginia
Tech (11-3), playing in a bowl game for the 18th consecutive year, fell
to 1-27 against top-5 teams. They were outscored 27-0 by the Cardinal in
the second half.
"They’re really good, and we helped them be
good," Hokies coach Frank Beamer said. "There were a couple of long
plays against our defense, and then the game got away from us. The thing
kind of snowballed."
Tight end Coby Fleener caught scoring passes
of 41, 58 and 38 yards from Luck, all in the final 21 minutes. Zach
Ertz had a 25-yard TD reception, Jeremy Stewart scored on a 60-yard run
and Stepfan Taylor added a 56-yard run. Fullback-linebacker Owen Marecic
scored on a 1-yard run and had a sack.
Luck went 18 for 23 and was chosen the game’s most valuable player.
"Andrew Luck is the straw that stirs the drink around here," Harbaugh said.
Fleener had six catches for 173 yards for the Cardinal, who outgained Tech 534-288.
Stanford
began to pull away by going 97 yards in two plays in the third quarter.
After Delano Howell made an interception at the 3, Taylor busted loose
and reached Hokies territory. On the next play, Luck threw deep to
Fleener for a 26-12 lead.
Luck also threw for a safety that cut
Stanford’s lead to 7-2. His pass was batted backward by Antoine Hopkins
to 303-pound offensive tackle Derek Hall, who caught the ball rather
than knocking it down and was tackled in the end zone.
"It was somewhat of a comical situation," Luck said. "Football can be a very funny
game."
The
Hokies’ Tyrod Taylor passed for 222 yards, but he was thrown for 70
yards in losses, and Tech twice came away empty after driving inside the
Stanford 35.
Taylor’s scrambling skills helped the Hokies score
their only touchdown. On third-and-goal he rolled left, retreated, spun
180 degrees near the Stanford bench and threw to David Wilson for an
11-yard score.
"Tyrod looked over at me and said, ‘Was I
inbounds?’" Harbaugh said. "I go, ‘Yes, you were inbounds. And that was
one heck of a play, young man.’"
Taylor moved the Hokies 60 yards
in the last 47 seconds of the first half to set up a field goal, but
that was their final score.
"I’m still proud of my boys for this
whole season," Taylor said. "We had a heck of a season, and it’s nothing
to hold your head down about right now."