STANFORD, Calif. (AP) When Toby Gerhart arrived at Stanford in 2006 there was more talk about whether the Cardinal should field a major college football team than about the farfetched possibility of going to the Rose Bowl.

Stanford went 1-11 in Gerhart's freshman year under coach Walt Harris, losing eight games by at least 21 points.

"People laughed at us on campus," Gerhart said. "We were the laughingstock of the sports program. Now the student section is full each week and they're fighting to get seats. There are a lot of people believing in Stanford football. It's a complete 180 from where it was. Stanford football is on the rise." (MORE)