1933 Stanford Indians football team

The 1933 Stanford Indians football team represented Stanford University as a member of the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) during the 1933 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Claude E. Thornhill, the Indians compiled an overall record of 8–2–1 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, sharing the PCC title with Oregon. Stanford was invited to the Rose Bowl, where Indians lost to Columbia. The team played home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California.

Season summmary
In head coach Claude E. Thornhill's first season, the Indians allowed only 36 points during the entire regular season and logged four shutout victories. The team was Pacific Coast Conference co-champions with Oregon and was selected to represent the conference in the Rose Bowl.

Vow Boys
After the prior season's devastating loss to rival USC, Stanford's freshmen football players, led by quarterback Frank Alustiza, vowed never again to lose to the Trojans. The "Vow Boys", as they and their team were called, kept the vow for their three varsity seasons, beginning with a 13–7 road victory over the 1933 USC team. The game was USC's first loss in 27 contests, and Stanford's victory paved their way to the Rose Bowl.

1934 Rose Bowl
Heavy favorites in the Rose Bowl against Columbia, the Indians, led by quarterback Alustiza and fullback Grayson, dominated the line of scrimmage, with Grayson rushing for 152 yards on 28 carries, more than the entire Columbia team. However, eight fumbles and a stiff goal line defense by Columbia kept Stanford from scoring, and the lone score, in a hidden ball play, gave the Lions the upset.