Get the latest perspective on the team straight from the source with a weekly report from a Stanford player each Wednesday. Below is the final installment for the 2004 season of the feature that will let Cardinal Commitment readers in on the thoughts of Stanford football players. Senior flanker Greg Camarillo provides this week's report prior to the final contest of their collegiate careers for 11 Stanford seniors when the Cardinal travels to Memorial Stadium in Berkeley to face No. 4 California (8-1, 6-1 Pac-10) in the 107th Big Game this Saturday, November 20 (12:30 pm, PST, Fox Sports Net).
Nov. 17, 2004
 Greg Camarillo and 10 other Stanford seniors will play in their final collegiate contest in the 107th Big Game at California this Saturday, November 20 (12:30 pm, PST)  | |
Camarillo, who began his career as a walk-on freshman in 2000, has become one of the top receivers for the Cardinal in his senior year. He has played in all 10 games, making at least one catch in eight of those contests, including the last four in a row. Overall, Camarillo has already picked up a career-high 273 yards on 17 catches, one shy of the career-high 18 balls he caught in his junior campaign last year. His 16.1 yards per catch average this season co-leads the team, and he has made catches in eight of the 10 contests, including four in a row. Camarillo caught three balls for a career-high 74 yards in Stanford's most recent contest versus Oregon State last Saturday, including an acrobatic 36-yard grab on a fourth quarter drive that set up a Cardinal touchdown. Camarillo has caught 44 balls in his career for 392 yards.
Camarillo and his teammates will be hoping to snap a two-game Big Game losing streak and bring The Axe back to The Farm when Stanford (4-6, 2-5 Pac-10) and California (8-1, 6-1 Pac-10) square off this Saturday (12:30 pm, PST) at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley in a game to be televised live nationally by Fox Sports Net. Live audio broadcasts can be heard on the Stanford flagship radio station KNEW 910-AM, KZSU 90.1 FM and gostanford.com, as well as on the Stanford Football Radio Network (KFIA ... 710 AM, Sacramento ... KPSI 920 AM, Palm Springs ... KUIK 1360 AM, Portland).
Despite the current two-game skid, Stanford leads the all-time series between the clubs, 54-41-3. Stanford had won seven in a row over the Golden Bears from 1995-2001 to post the longest winning streak by a team in Big Game history before Cal's recent resurgence in the series.
CC: What's the attitude of the team heading into the Big Game this Saturday
GC: It's our last game of the season and for 11 seniors our last game at Stanford, so we might as well leave everything on the field. The goal is to upset their season and end ours on a good note.
CC: What are your thoughts personally as you head into your final game at Stanford?
GC: I just want to play well in my last game and just win. We've had so many upsetting days this season, and I just want to end my career on a high note.
CC: What's your role in the offense as a wide receiver?
GC: I would say that I'm a possession receiver. If we're in a situation where the catch needs to be made, I feel I can step in and be consistent. I might not be an every play receiver in the offense, because we have a lot of big playmakers, but I think by being consistent I can help the club in a big way."
CC: Do you think the receivers set the tone for the offense?
GC: I would like to think that when we make big plays it sets the tone for the offense. When you pick up large chunks of yardage on big plays, it really gets the offense moving.
CC: What influence has wide receivers coach Ken Margerum had on your play this season?
GC: Coach Margerum allows his receivers to play with freedom and just play the sport we've been playing since we were little kids. He coaches us during the week and then let's us play on game day. He brings a relaxed attitude to the game, which allows us to play with more freedom and confidence.
CC: You mentioned in the 2004 Stanford Football Media Guide that you pattern your play after former Stanford and NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey. What about him do you pattern your play after?
GC: Whenever I watched him play, he had sure hands and if the ball was thrown to him you knew he was going to catch it. That's how I try to represent myself on the field.
CC: Can you talk about some of the younger wide receivers on the team?
GC: Mark (Bradford) and Evan (Moore) are going to continue to do their thing for a number of years. Justin (McCullum) is not really still considered a young receiver, but I expect a lot of things from him next year and the same with Gerren (Crochet). He has deep ball capabilities and hopefully in the future he will take advantage of that. As far as this year's true freshmen, Anthony Kimble is a ridiculous athlete and is definitely going to be a major playmaker. The other three true freshmen (Thaddeus Chase, Kelton Lynn and Nate Wilcox-Fogel) I also expect them to get on the field and make plays.
CC: Being from nearby Menlo Park, how has it been to perform in front of your home crowd in your hometown at Stanford?
GC: It's great. I get to have my family there every game. My friends make it to a lot of the game. It's good knowing that people I know are in the stands and the community I'm involved in is at the game.
PREVIOUS 2004 PLAYER REPORTS
Will Svitek (11/10/04)Alex Smith (11/3/04)Stanley Wilson (10/27/04)Michael Sgroi (10/20/04)Julian Jenkins (10/13/04)Brian Head (10/6/04)Jon Alston (9/29/04)Oshiomogho Atogwe (9/22/04)Babatunde Oshinowo (9/15/04)Evan Moore (9/8/04)J.R. Lemon (9/1/04)Leigh Torrence (8/25/04)