Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Game Preview: Stanford "I don't think it's anything in particular schematically. I think it's just the fact that the Pac-12 is tough. People don't appreciate the nine-game conference schedule," he said. "It is a grind. They don't get Idaho in the middle of November, and they don't get Chattanooga in the middle of November. They don't get any of those get-well games. I think it's just the wear and tear." Game Info Notre Dame at Stanford Date: Nov. 30, 2013. Site: Stanford Stadium (50,000). Kickoff: 7 p.m. EST. Television: FOX. Radio: This broadcast can be heard on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129). Series Facts: This is the 27th meeting between Notre Dame and Stanford. The Irish hold an 18-9 advantage over the Cardinal, and won the last meeting 20-13 in overtime at South Bend in 2012. Coaches: Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (36-14, fourth season); Stanford — David Shaw (32-6, third season). Noting Stanford: Notre Dame clinched its first national championship in its first win over Stanford, a 27-10 decision on Jan. 1, 1925, in the Rose Bowl … The coaching matchup in that first game was Knute Rockne versus Pop Warner …The winner of the series has received the Legends Trophy — an Irish crystal bowl on top of California Redwood mounting — each season since 1989 … Stanford head coach David Shaw was a sophomore wide receiver for the 1992 Cardinal team that upset No. 6 Notre Dame for its only loss of the season … Shaw also played basketball and ran track while he was a student at Stanford. Stanford doles out its fair share of the West Coast wear and tear, particularly with a nasty defense that ranks in the top five nationally in team sacks (tied for fourth, 3.2 per game) and rushing defense (tied for third, 91.1 yards allowed per game) through 10 contests. That toughness on defense starts with experience and talent up front. The team lost fifth-year defense end Ben Gardner to a torn pectoral in late October, but still starts six players in the front seven listed as a senior or fifth-year senior. None has had a greater impact this season than outside linebacker Trent Murphy. The fifth-year senior led the nation with 12 sacks through 10 games, while his 18 tackles for loss trailed only Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald (22.5). The 6-6, 261-pound pass rusher is garnering national attention after being somewhat overshadowed by his All-American counterpart Chase Thomas. "When you look at the numbers, Murphy actually had a better year than Thomas did," Gemmell said. "He's been outstanding this year. He's such an athletic guy for his size." Along with his gaudy sack totals, Murphy has also been athletic enough to intercept two screen pass attempts flung over his head in the past two years and returned both of them for touchdowns. He is one of several future NFL Draft picks starting on defense this year in Palo Alto, Calif. Behind Murphy, inside linebackers Shayne Skov and A.J. Tarpley led the team with 81