WATCH: Stanford reveals 1970s throwback uniforms
Stanford is turning back the clock Saturday with a modern take on the Cardinal uniform from 1970 and 1971.
The uniforms are being worn to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Cardinal team who won the Rose Bowl. The program will also honor the 51st Anniversary of Jim Plunkett’s 1970 Heisman Trophy-winning season, the only Heisman Trophy winner in school history.
The helmet will feature a vintage “Block S” logo that is much smaller than the current iteration of the logo. The facemask is gray for the first time since 1978. Stanford’s helmets will be clean as the Axe reward stickers will not be displayed.
The jersey remains relatively similar to Stanford’s current uniforms with a few exceptions. Numbers return to the shoulder sleeve, in a nod to the 1967-76 era. Stanford’s uniforms typically feature a black trim around the white block numbers, which won’t be the case Saturday. The throwback uniform also features a white sleeve trim.
The pants will feature the classic Cardinal pant stripe, a departure from Stanford’s usual clean, all-white pants. On the feet, Stanford will rock all-black cleats, instead of the modern white and Cardinal cleat options.
Stanford is honoring the 1970 and 1971 Rose Bowl-winning teams. The 1970 team is considered one of the greatest Stanford teams of the last half-century and ended a a 19-year Rose Bowl drought, with a 27-17 victory over No. 2 Ohio State. The 1971 team, led by quarterback Don Bunce returned to the Rose Bowl after winning a second-consecutive Pacific-8 championship
Stanford is also honoring the 51st anniversary of Jim Plunkett’s Heisman Trophy winning season. Plunkett led the Cardinal to its first Rose Bowl Game appearance since 1952. He finished the 1970 season with 18 passing and three rushing touchdowns, along with a conference-record 2,715 passing yards.
Stanford is 2-2 this season, with wins over Vanderbilt and USC, but losses to Kansas State and UCLA. After scoring just seven points in the season-opening loss to Kansas State, Stanford head coach David Shaw made a switch at quarterback, naming former four-star quarterback Tanner McKee the starter.
McKee was one of the top quarterbacks in the 2018 recruiting class but served a two year mission, before enrolling at Stanford in 2020. As a freshman, McKee appeared in just one game.
Since taking over as the starter, McKee has thrown for 863 yards and eight touchdowns, adding 57 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Stanford hasn’t scored less than 24 points since McKee has taken over.