Hail Harbaugh!

Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh

Opening statement

"Our team is much improved from last year and the beginning of this year. Our team plays very hard. They compete. I'm excited about this week playing against USC. USC is at the center stage of college football. Our team needs to understand how good USC is as a football team. They have the coaching, they have the personnel. So our guys understand the challenge, but that doesn't diminish our expectations of our ballclub."

On tailback Toby Gerhart

"We have very good backs that have been productive for our team this year. I expect all of them to be available for this game. How much they play will be the gameplan."

"Toby is a very good runner. He has good vision and balance. He is very competitive. He is a good football player with a great attitude."

On development of quarterback Tavita Pritchard

"He is playing very confident, very poised. He is playing the game which shows up in so many regards for your football team in a positive way. He knows the system and he saves us a lot during the game. He has a great mental understanding of the game with what we are trying to get done offensively. He has been very athletic in throwing the ball extremely well, even in some real adverse conditions. We have played three games in pouring down rain and it just never seems to faze him or bother him. He doesn't get rattled. He is very calm, cool and collected. He is very well-respected on our football team. The players like him."

On team defense

"We have a veteran group of linebackers returning from last year: Pat Maynor, Clinton Snyder, Chike Amajoyi. Our defensive line has been very effective for us. We have excellent ends and good up in the middle in our tackles. In our secondary, Bo McNally, is the leader of our football team and captain. We have veteran corners and our defense is like the rest of our football team. They are improving from last year and improving from game to game. They are a very competitive group."

On last year's win at USC

"Well I remember in talking with some of our players how they remember the week of practice and how good the week of practice was...everyone was really locked in and how those practices went. We need those same type of performances in practice this week. I'm looking forward to our guys hitting the field this week with a lot of enthusiasm and mental preparation for this ball game."

On using last year's game as motivation for Saturday's game

"We will look at last year's game in terms of preparation, but as far as motivation, you know...both teams will have fire in their eyes to play this football game. I would expect nothing less. It's a very big game for us."

On playing well at home

"I think everyone in the Pac-10 has been successful on their home field, this year compared to last year as a conference. For us, our student section has really been enthusiastic and supportive this year, being right behind our bench. Our team has really fed off that and I would say they are much improved from a year ago as well."

On this year's USC team

"There are so many things about them. It's difficult finding a weakness with this team...offensively, defensively, special teams. They have only allowed two touchdowns in their last six games. Like I said, they have the coaching and the personnel. I think they are an improved ballclub as well. I'm just very impressed."