Saturday at Big Game, Toby Gerhart will be the best running back on the field for Stanford and Cal.

He is a stocky tough fullback type, but he's also fast and elusive and plays tailback. When he was in high school Stanford was eager to get him. Cal didn't know he existed. And that was the end of Cal as far as he was concerned.

USC offered him a scholarship, but as a fullback. Gerhard said no dice. Also the Trojans said he couldn't play baseball. Double no dice. Gerhart is a power-hitting outfielder on the Stanford team, and the only two Pac-10 schools who would let him play both sports were UCLA and Stanford.

He still does not know if he wants to pursue a pro football or baseball career. After being hurt early last baseball season, he batted .325 in his last 20 games and he homered in the College World Series.

He's likely to run all over Cal in a Big Game Stanford can win -- should win.