Football on the Pacific Coast had been on the rise since the late 1910s.
Early in 1922, Warner signed a contract with Stanford University in which he would begin coaching in 1924 (after his contract with Pitt expired).
Health concerns, a significant pay raise and the rising status of Pacific Coast football made Warner make the big change.
Years later, he wrote:
I felt my health would be better on the Pacific coast.
Weather conditions at Pittsburgh during the football season are rather disagreeable, and much of the late season work had to be done upon a field which was ankle deep in mud.
At the close of every season I would be in poor physical condition, twice being rendered incapable of coaching while I recuperated in a hospital.
Doctors advised me that the climate of the Pacific coast would be much better for a man of my age and in the work in which I was engaged.

In 1924, Warner began his nine-year tenure at Stanford University.
When he began coaching, Stanford was one of nine teams in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC).
Warner inherited a notable squad from the previous year, including Ernie Nevers (whom Warner considered his greatest player) and All-American ends Ted Shipkey and Jim Lawson.

A season highlight was the final game against Stanford's arch-rival California at California Memorial Stadium, the last game of the regular season.
Before the game, both teams were undefeated and Stanford had not beaten California since 1905.
Nevers did not play due to a broken ankle.
Late in the game, California was leading 20–3; California coach Andy Smith, sure the game was over, began substituting regular players.
Warner seized the opportunity to combine passing with the trick plays for which he was known (a fake reverse and a full spinner), and Stanford made a comeback.
The game ended in a 20–20 tie.

Because the game was California's second tie, Stanford was chosen to play in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day against the University of Notre Dame's Fighting Irish coached by Knute Rockne.
Like Warner, Rockne is considered one of the greatest coaches in football history.
According to journalist Allison Danzig, "With the exception of Knute Rockne of Notre Dame, Pop Warner was the most publicized coach in football."
The game was thus a test of two different and highly influential systems of football: "the Warner system with the wing backs, unbalanced line and gigantic power [and the] Knute Rockne system with its rhythmic, dancing shift, lightning speed, balanced line and finely timed blocking".
Notre Dame's backfield was composed of the renowned Four Horsemen.
Nevers played all 60 minutes of the game, and rushed for 114 yd (104 m) (more yardage than the Four Horsemen combined).
Warner's offense moved the ball but was unable to score, and Notre Dame won 27–10.

During the 1925 season, Stanford lost just one PCC game (to Washington); California was finally defeated, 27–7.
It was the first year of a new rivalry, with coach Howard Jones and the University of Southern California (USC) team.
In their first game, at the Los Angeles Memorial Colosseum, Stanford scored twice in the first half but had to hold off the charging Trojans in a 13–9 win.
Because of the loss to Washington, Warner's team was not invited to the Rose Bowl.

Stanford won all its 1926 games, crushing California 41–7 and narrowly defeating USC 13–12.
Warner's team was invited to the Rose Bowl to play Alabama.
Like the game against the Fighting Irish, Stanford dominated but the result was a 7–7 tie.
After the game, both teams were recognized as national champions by a number of publications.

The 1927 season was one of underachievement and ultimate success.
Stanford lost its third game to non-conference St. Mary's College.
Stanford's next loss was against non-conference Santa Clara.
The game against USC was a 13-to-13 tie.

However, that year, Stanford defeated California 13–6.
The game included a bootleg play, the invention of which some credit to Warner.
Powers stated that,
Stanford put the game on ice in the fourth period when Pop introduced the bootlegger play, which was t
Football on the Pacific Coast had been on the rise since the late 1910s. Early in 1922, Warner signed a contract with Stanford University in which he would begin coaching in 1924 (after his contract with Pitt expired). Health concerns, a significant pay raise and the rising status of Pacific Coast football made Warner make the big change. Years later, he wrote:
I felt my health would be better on the Pacific coast. Weather conditions at Pittsburgh during the football season are rather disagreeable, and much of the late season work had to be done upon a field which was ankle deep in mud. At the close of every season I would be in poor physical condition, twice being rendered incapable of coaching while I recuperated in a hospital. Doctors advised me that the climate of the Pacific coast would be much better for a man of my age and in the work in which I was engaged.
In 1924, Warner began his nine-year tenure at Stanford University. When he began coaching, Stanford was one of nine teams in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC). Warner inherited a notable squad from the previous year, including Ernie Nevers (whom Warner considered his greatest player) and All-American ends Ted Shipkey and Jim Lawson.
A season highlight was the final game against Stanford's arch-rival California at California Memorial Stadium, the last game of the regular season. Before the game, both teams were undefeated and Stanford had not beaten California since 1905. Nevers did not play due to a broken ankle. Late in the game, California was leading 20–3; California coach Andy Smith, sure the game was over, began substituting regular players. Warner seized the opportunity to combine passing with the trick plays for which he was known (a fake reverse and a full spinner), and Stanford made a comeback. The game ended in a 20–20 tie.
Because the game was California's second tie, Stanford was chosen to play in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day against the University of Notre Dame's Fighting Irish coached by Knute Rockne. Like Warner, Rockne is considered one of the greatest coaches in football history. According to journalist Allison Danzig, "With the exception of Knute Rockne of Notre Dame, Pop Warner was the most publicized coach in football." The game was thus a test of two different and highly influential systems of football: "the Warner system with the wing backs, unbalanced line and gigantic power [and the] Knute Rockne system with its rhythmic, dancing shift, lightning speed, balanced line and finely timed blocking". Notre Dame's backfield was composed of the renowned Four Horsemen. Nevers played all 60 minutes of the game, and rushed for 114 yd (104 m) (more yardage than the Four Horsemen combined). Warner's offense moved the ball but was unable to score, and Notre Dame won 27–10.
During the 1925 season, Stanford lost just one PCC game (to Washington); California was finally defeated, 27–7. It was the first year of a new rivalry, with coach Howard Jones and the University of Southern California (USC) team. In their first game, at the Los Angeles Memorial Colosseum, Stanford scored twice in the first half but had to hold off the charging Trojans in a 13–9 win. Because of the loss to Washington, Warner's team was not invited to the Rose Bowl.
Stanford won all its 1926 games, crushing California 41–7 and narrowly defeating USC 13–12. Warner's team was invited to the Rose Bowl to play Alabama. Like the game against the Fighting Irish, Stanford dominated but the result was a 7–7 tie. After the game, both teams were recognized as national champions by a number of publications.
The 1927 season was one of underachievement and ultimate success. Stanford lost its third game to non-conference St. Mary's College. Stanford's next loss was against non-conference Santa Clara. The game against USC was a 13-to-13 tie.
However, that year, Stanford defeated California 13–6. The game included a bootleg play, the invention of which some credit to Warner. Powers stated that,
Stanford put the game on ice in the fourth period when Pop introduced the bootlegger play, which was t
Pop Warner