It would make a lot more sense to wait until next year to consider an All-Decade team -- you know, since the decade will actually be over after this season. But when I look at this current era of Stanford football, I begin ten years ago in 2009. Yes, Jim Harbaugh's arrival in 2007 and the upset of USC that season were pivotal moments, but 2009 marked the first year that the program was consistently successful. In the ten years since, Stanford has posted winning records and played in a bowl game each year and featured a Heisman Trophy finalist in half of those seasons. Every program, I suppose, can point to a Golden Age, but given the prior history of Stanford football, no Golden Age would seem more improbable.
Since my All-Decade Team isn't really pinned to an actual decade -- and since it's my team -- I feel like I can make up rules as I go. First of all, this is not a career honor. I'm not looking for the best overall player at each position, I'm looking for the best individual seasons at each spot. Second, there will be no second team, though I'll mention some of the other names considered at each spot. Finally, although the Cardinal obviously plays with multiple formations, and typically with three wideouts, I'm using a standard lineup with two wide receivers, a tight end, a fullback, and a running back. Okay, here we go...
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