Stanford's run defense was already facing a tall task going up against Wisconsin's Doak Walker Award winner Montee Ball in the Rose Bowl, but things have gotten tougher with the announcement than Terrence Stephens will miss the game. The defensive tackle committed a secondary NCAA violation regarding off-campus housing and will leave the Cardinal a big man short against the Badgers' powerful offensive line.
2013 Rose Bowl: Stanford starter Terrence Stephens ruled ineligible
Stanford’s Terrence Stephens will miss the Rose Bowl after committing a secondary NCAA violation.
Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE
The Cardinal are used to playing without Stephens at this point. He has missed four games this season, but the Cardinal did show some vulnerabilities against the run without him in the Pac-12 Championship Game against UCLA. Johnathan Franklin, a Doak Walker finalist, torched the Cardinal for 194 yards and two touchdowns and now Stanford will have to face the man who beat out Franklin for the award in Ball without Stephens.
David Parry will start in Stephens' place at defensive tackle. The junior has started the last two games and played in all of the Cardinal's games last season and this season so he has plenty of experience, but there will certainly be a drop off from Stephens to Parry.
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