STANFORD, Calif. (AP) -Good thing Stanford has a renovated stadium to show off to its fans for its home opener against Navy on Saturday night. What the Cardinal have shown on the field in two losses to open the season hasn't looked very good.

"The stadium means more than what we've been going through this season,'' safety Trevor Hooper said. "It's not just for ourselves to get back on track but for all the people who support us and helped build the stadium so quickly. I'd put the label on that as a must-win situation.''

Stanford (0-2) began the $90 million renovation project last November, immediately after the team's season-finale against Notre Dame.

In February, Stanford moved its Sept. 9 home opener against San Jose State to the road to allow extra time to finish everything, making the game against Navy (2-0) the home opener.

"I hope we can make it a memorable event,'' Navy coach Paul Johnson said. "I'm sure if they watched us on tape they hand-picked us. Anybody that puts the ball on the ground that much, I bet they can't wait for us to roll in to town.''

The venue looks like its old self from the outside, and the dirt in the middle of the field is the same - but otherwise there's little resemblance of the former stadium.

The number of seats has been decreased from 85,500 to 50,000 to make for a more intimate setting. Fans will be closer to the field, which Stanford officials believe will make for an increased home-field advantage.

"I'm hoping and praying it really makes a difference in the way we play and execute,'' coach Walt Harris said. "I told a group here earlier that everybody is required to be hoarse when the game is over. I would like to think the crowd is going to make a huge difference in the outcome of the game. I hope we can invigorate the crowd.''

Stanford, in its second season under Harris, hoped to give its fans on-field results to cheer as well as the stadium. But the Cardinal got off to a rough start and need a quick turnaround if they want to avoid a fifth straight losing season.

They lost the opener 48-10 at Oregon and then blew a 34-14 lead last week at San Jose State on the way to a 35-34 defeat.

"We have to respond for our team morale; 0-3 would be even a bigger hole to work out of,'' running back Anthony Kimble said. "I'm shocked and disappointed. You never want to be 0-2, and not the way we've lost. We got blown out in the first game and then lost a heartbreaker. For me, losing is always personal and I hope everybody takes it personally.''

The Cardinal have had particular trouble against the run in its first two games, allowing 298 yards on the ground to Oregon and 342 against San Jose State. The problems on defense were to be expected after losing 10 starters from last year's team and adjusting to new coordinator A.J. Christoff.

Navy, which runs the triple-option offense, is averaging 335.5 yards rushing per game in wins against East Carolina and Massachusetts, providing a tough test for Stanford's run defense.

"We've been in position to stop the run. We're just not doing it,'' Hooper said. "Navy has a great scheme for any team to defend. The key is playing really sound defense.''

Stanford will be without two offensive starters. Receiver Mark Bradford is sidelined indefinitely with torn ligaments in his right foot. Bradford caught nine passes for 105 yards in the opener.

Fullback Nick Frank was diagnosed this week with a narrowing of a vertebra in his spine, an injury that will end his football career.

There will be something else missing for the game: the Stanford marching band. The school said this week the band will not be allowed to perform at any athletic events this month because members vandalized their rehearsal trailer in July with spray paint and sledgehammers.

The band, known for eschewing formal marching formations, has been disciplined in the past for a number of embarrassing offenses, such as urinating on a football field, getting rowdy during a road trip and having a band member dress up as a nun and conducting with a crucifix during a game against Notre Dame, a Catholic university.