With Stanford, he's still just Richard

— -- SEATTLE -- In a red Stanford polo, with his trademark dreadlocks falling from a Stanford beanie, Richard Sherman stood on his alma mater's sideline at Husky Stadium as the target of screaming Washington fans.

They were relentless.

"Richard, we love you!"

"Richard, turn around!"

"Marry me, Richard!"

Each brief turn and wave of acknowledgement was captured by a sea of camera phones and celebrated like a Huskies touchdown. In a city that splits its love for its NFL and college teams perhaps more closely than any other, Sherman's opposing allegiance was insignificant. After he helped deliver the city's first major professional sports championship since the Sonics' 1979 NBA title, the Seahawks' All-Pro corner has reached iconic status and become one of the most polarizing figures in all of sports.

For Stanford coach David Shaw, who first coached Sherman as a receiver at Stanford in 2007, there are times it's almost hard to believe.

"He's still Richard. He's still the same, funny, smart guy," Shaw said. "But he's crossed over into another stratum."