Stanford’s monstrous win over Iowa at the Rose Bowl on Friday had even more meaning for one Cardinal player.
Senior offensive guard Brendon Austin proposed to his girlfriend Carly Hartman after the team’s 45-16 win over the Hawkeyes.
Austin enlisted the help of his parents and Hartman’s mom to ensure Hartman would be in the front row of the stadium after the game for the grand gesture. After the game ended, Austin made his way through the end zone to Hartman and got down on one knee to propose to her (video here).
I think @Aust1n74 just proposed!! pic.twitter.com/dAnQAFP7zM
— Andrew Bleich (@andrewbleich) January 2, 2016
@StanfordFball @Aust1n74 she said yes! pic.twitter.com/qnR3B5GkYv
— Brandon Solis (@brandon9182) January 2, 2016
Austin told ESPN after the game that he had an equipment guy hold onto the ring during the game. When the team won, the equipment guy located him to hand him the ring. Austin had his family make sure Hartman was in the front row, and he also talked with a security guard ahead of time too.
Though the proposal was awesome, Hartman apparently knew it was coming.
“As soon as I did it, she said, ‘I had a feeling that you were going to do it, I just didn’t want to say anything,'” Austin told ESPN.
Austin said he was full of “happiness” regarding the Rose Bowl and that the day “couldn’t have been better.”
Thanks for the unbelievable support from all! A Rose Bowl victory along with my engagement to @carlyhartman15 is truly a dream come true!
— Brendon Austin (@Aust1n74) January 2, 2016
We’ve seen another player get engaged after a win at the Rose Bowl, but that was a UCLA player doing it after a game, not a win in the actual bowl game. That’s what makes this one even more special. Congratulations to Austin on his win and engagement.
