Centennial alumnus set to start on Stanford offensive line

There’s nowhere to go but up for the Stanford Cardinal.

That's the belief as Stanford opens the 2007 season Saturday at home again UCLA.

Coming off a 1-11 season in 2006, first-year coach Jim Harbaugh and the rest of his coaching staff have brought an enthusiastic tone to a program that has not had a winning record since 2001.

Mikal Brewer is buying into the staff’s message.

“I think we’ll be an exciting team,” said Stanford’s starter at left guard. “Coach Harbaugh is very passionate and very enthusiastic. The morale among the players is a lot better. We’re looking forward to getting out there and playing.”

Beginning his fifth year at Stanford, the 2003 Centennial High School graduate has seen a lot in his time with the Cardinal.

Recruited by Buddy Teevens, Brewer redshirted his freshman season before seeing action in all 11 games including three starts in 2004.

Teevens’ third straight losing season though would mark the end of his tenure.

Brewer continued in his role as a reserve under Teevens replacement Walt Harris. After improving from 4-7 in 2004 to 5-6 in 2005 Harris’ squad hit rock bottom last year, going 1-11 and bringing about another coaching change.

After spending the first three years of his college career as a backup at center and both guard spots, Brewer has established himself as a starter at left guard this season.

“Mikal went out there and proved he should be a starter this spring,” said offensive line coach Chris Dalman, a Stanford alum who played seven years in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers. “He hurt his wrist and was in a cast, but he showed a lot of toughness by not missing any time. He’s a bright guy, real physical. I think he’ll be a big part of what we do.”

The new-look Stanford offense will incorporate elements of the West Coast offense, made famous by former San Francisco 49ers and Stanford coach Bill Walsh, as well as a zone-blocking scheme for the running game modeled after the one used by the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta led the NFL in rushing for three straight seasons with Dalman on the coaching staff as an assistant offensive line coach.

“He really gets off the ball well on running plays, and he’s improved his pass-blocking technique. He’s uses his hands well and has a strong grasp of the system,” the coach said.

Brewer, who said he is healthy, is excited about getting a shot at a starting role.

“When you start three times your first year, you kind of expect that things are going to happen and that you’ll be a starter,” he said. “I started some last year because of injuries, but I really appreciate the opportunity to start from Day 1 this time around. It really didn’t matter to me whether it was guard, center, whatever. I just want to win.”

Dalman said he and the rest of the staff have gone out of their way to avoid discussing the team’s problems last season.

“All I can tell you is that there’s more talent than one would think there would be on a team coming off a one-win season,” he said. “From what I’ve been told by outsiders that are close to the program, there’s just a much better attitude.”

Coming off a challenging season in 2006. the assistant coach said the team has lofty expectations.

“We want to win enough games to go to a bowl game,” Dalman said.

As a Cardinal graduate, Dalman came to Stanford following a 3-6-2 season. During his four-year career, the team improved from a 3-8 mark his freshman year to a 10-3 mark in 1992.

Brewer, who is closing in on earning his degree in conceptual design is aiming even higher.

“If you’re a competitor you’re going to shoot for winning the Pac-10,” he said. “That’s what me and all my teammates are working for.”

Whether he goes into architecture following the season or whether he continues his football career at the professional level, Brewer said he’ll be enthusiastic.

“I’d have to have a good season for a career in the pros to be an option, but my time here has taught me that anything is possible.”