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David Shaw has exhibited a keen understanding of the art and science of being a head coach in his two seasons in charge at Stanford. It's the other elements inherent to big-time college coaching that seem to escape him. And that's what made him so successful in Palo Alto.

David Shaw's ascension to Stanford football's top spot is a thoroughly American tale: The father knocks on opportunity's door; the son bursts through it.

Stanford QB Andrew Luck defied conventional sports wisdom when he declined the NFL's riches to return to college. But Luck is an unconventional star athlete excelling at an unconventional football school.

Andrew Luck's physical tools project an NFL future, but the Stanford QB's focus isn't on Sundays -- or himself.