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2004 Stanford Offense - Walt Harris

The coach of the 2004 Stanford football team was Walt Harris. Harris was the head coach of the Stanford Cardinal from 2004 to 2006.

Walt Harris is a former American football coach who has held various coaching positions in college football and the National Football League (NFL). He was born on November 9, 1946, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Harris began his coaching career as an assistant coach at various colleges, including Pacific, Fresno State, and Ohio State. He got his first head coaching job at the University of the Pacific in 1989. He went on to coach at the University of Pittsburgh from 1997 to 2004 and led the team to six bowl games during his tenure.

Harris was then hired as the head coach at Stanford University in 2004, where he coached for three seasons before being fired in 2006. He also served as an assistant coach in the NFL for the New York Jets, the Baltimore Ravens, and the San Francisco 49ers.

Throughout his coaching career, Harris was known for his offensive expertise, particularly his ability to develop quarterbacks. He mentored several successful quarterbacks, including Jim Harbaugh, Trent Dilfer, and Aaron Brooks.

Harris retired from coaching in 2014 and currently lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Carolyn.

Walt Harris's teams at Stanford during the 2004 season finished with a record of 4-7 overall and 2-6 in the Pac-10 Conference. The Cardinal struggled that year, particularly on defense, where they ranked 111th out of 117 Division I-A teams in total defense, allowing an average of 467.3 yards per game.

Despite the team's struggles, the offense showed some promise under Harris's guidance. The Cardinal ranked 29th in the nation in passing offense, averaging 254.8 yards per game through the air. Quarterback Trent Edwards, who was a freshman that season, showed flashes of potential and would go on to have a successful career at Stanford and in the NFL.

Some of the highlights of the 2004 season included a 43-3 victory over San Jose State and a 28-20 upset win over #1-ranked USC on October 9, 2004. The win over USC is considered one of the biggest upsets in college football history, as the Trojans were heavily favored and had won 22 straight games leading up to the matchup.

Walt Harris was known for running a pro-style offense during his coaching career, and his offensive system at Stanford in 2004 was no exception. The offense relied heavily on a strong passing game, with the quarterback operating out of the shotgun formation and utilizing multiple wide receivers.

Harris's offense also placed a heavy emphasis on timing and precision. Quarterbacks were expected to make quick decisions and get the ball out of their hands quickly, while receivers were expected to run precise routes and be in the right place at the right time. The offensive line was tasked with protecting the quarterback and creating enough time for the passing game to develop.

Overall, Harris's offensive system at Stanford in 2004 was designed to take advantage of the strengths of his personnel. The team had several talented wide receivers and a promising young quarterback in Trent Edwards, so Harris focused on developing a passing attack that could move the ball down the field quickly and efficiently. While the team struggled in other areas, such as defense, the offense was able to put up some impressive numbers under Harris's guidance.

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