Stanford coach David Shaw was a wide receiver on a Cardinal team that ventured to Husky Stadium more than 19 years ago to play Washington on Labor Day weekend. The previous year, Shaw’s coach — the late Bill Walsh — had ruffled some Husky fur by calling Washington players “a bunch of mercenaries.”

The Seattle press made a production of it, which incited the fans and Washington players, who were waiting to enact revenge on Walsh’s Cardinal. Stanford, ranked No. 15 entering the season, stayed close for a half against the 12th-ranked Huskies, but were handled after intermission in a 31-14 loss.

Shaw set the whole thing straight at Monday’s press conference.

“Bill wasn’t happy about it,” Shaw said. “That was a pregame speech to get our guys riled up. Guys say things in pregame speeches that they don’t think will get out.”

Walsh tried to make light of the matter. When he stepped off the plane after the team arrived in Seattle, he put on a pair of Groucho Marx glasses. “Bottom line, that was a heck of a Washington team and they really took it to us,” Shaw said. “It was what it was, but it didn’t play into the rivalry. Washington was great, especially on defense.”

Venue switch

No. 8 Stanford (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12) plays the unranked Huskies (2-1, 0-0 Pac-12) at CenturyLink Field on Thursday at 6 p.m. Washington is using CenturyLink Field, home to the Seattle Seahawks, while Husky Stadium is being renovated. CenturyLink Field has a capacity of 67,000.

Lots of special work

Shaw had the luxury of having a bye week, plus five extra days, which he spent shoring up shortcomings that have occurred in the first three games.

“We worked on the red zone offense, third down, field goal kicking,” Shaw said. “Those were the big ones. It wasn’t a bunch of screaming and yelling. It was just making sure guys were doing their job and doing them well.”

Though Stanford’s 21-14 win over USC on Sept. 15 gained national attention, the Cardinal was hardly perfect in triumph. Special teams took a major hit when kicker Jordan Williamson missed a routine 23-yard field goal attempt with 4:09 left in the first half. Williamson hooked the chip shot to the left.

“Field goal kicking is all about timing and technique,” Shaw said. “He just missed it. When he is on, he’s as good as anybody in the country. Jordan is coming off a great week of practice. He has to make sure that transitions into games.”

A high snap from center didn’t help Williamson on his first attempt, which was a 47-yarder on Stanford’s first series. The ball hit the crossbar and bounced back. Williamson tried a 51-yarder early in the third period, but the kick was blocked.

Down from Cloud 9

Stanford will have had 12 days to put the USC win in its rearview mirror when it faces Washington. Cardinal tight end Zach Ertz referred to his first coach at Stanford, Jim Harbaugh, as to how the team avoids complacency.

“Coach Harbaugh always gave us six hours to celebrate the win,” Ertz said. “Then you move on to the next game. With the week off and the extra days, it was 36 hours where we focused on USC. Tuesday of last week, we were on to Washington.”

Richards influenced

Stanford strong safety Jordan Richards has been touted by Shaw to be one of the hardest hitters on the team. Richards, who has two interceptions this season, is tied for fourth on the team in tackles with 15. Richards has a team-leading six pass break-ups, which leads the nation (2.67 per game). Richards replaced hard-hitting safety Delano Howell, currently playing for the Buffalo Bills.

“Delano had a great idea how to play the game and I learned by watching him,” Richards said. “That’s how I want to play. It’s how I want to be known, to be at the ball at the right time.”

The Play II

Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor electrified the capacity crowd at Stanford Stadium with his 59-yard touchdown run against USC. Taylor did much on his own, but Stanford right tackle Cameron Fleming said the play took a village.

“On a run like that, everybody has to have their block,” Fleming said. “He made the safety miss and that’s what we count on him doing. I felt good about my block when I came off the back side.”

Email John Reid at jreid@dailynewsgroup.com; follow him at twitter.com/dailynewsjohn.