Welcome Frank Reich - Printable Version
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RE: Welcome Frank Reich - BobK - 04-01-2025
Walsh’s first season back a brobdingnagian success
I went to the Florida bowl. Loved it
He did hire a number of his forber players as coaches many first year coaches. Not was the failure side
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - Mick - 04-01-2025
(04-01-2025, 07:46 AM)BobK Wrote: Walsh’s first season back a brobdingnagian success
I went to the Florida bowl. Loved it
He did hire a number of his forber players as coaches many first year coaches. Not was the failure side
Stanford hadn't won ten games in a season in 52 years, and they hadn't been ranked at the end of the season as high as #9 since Ralston's first Rose Bowl win. They had wins over five ranked teams that year, beating:
- #6 Notre Dame, 33-16
- #19 UCLA, 19-7
- #21 Washington State, 40-3
- #11 USC, 23-9
- #21 Penn State, 24-3
And they only lost to #7 Texas by three points, 10-7.
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - gailtate - 04-01-2025
(04-01-2025, 08:07 AM)Mick Wrote:(04-01-2025, 07:46 AM)BobK Wrote: Walsh’s first season back a brobdingnagian success
I went to the Florida bowl. Loved it
He did hire a number of his forber players as coaches many first year coaches. Not was the failure side
Stanford hadn't won ten games in a season in 52 years, and they hadn't been ranked at the end of the season as high as #9 since Ralston's first Rose Bowl win. They had wins over five ranked teams that year, beating:
- #6 Notre Dame, 33-16
- #19 UCLA, 19-7
- #21 Washington State, 40-3
- #11 USC, 23-9
- #21 Penn State, 24-3
And they only lost to #7 Texas by three points, 10-7.
"I was hoping for Moses. We got God!" ---Paul Cardoza, Jan. 16, 1992
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - JohnR34231 - 04-01-2025
(04-01-2025, 08:07 AM)Mick Wrote:(04-01-2025, 07:46 AM)BobK Wrote: Walsh’s first season back a brobdingnagian success
I went to the Florida bowl. Loved it
He did hire a number of his forber players as coaches many first year coaches. Not was the failure side
Stanford hadn't won ten games in a season in 52 years, and they hadn't been ranked at the end of the season as high as #9 since Ralston's first Rose Bowl win. They had wins over five ranked teams that year, beating:
- #6 Notre Dame, 33-16
- #19 UCLA, 19-7
- #21 Washington State, 40-3
- #11 USC, 23-9
- #21 Penn State, 24-3
And they only lost to #7 Texas by three points, 10-7.
Wasn't that Texas A&M rather than Texas?
I happen to remember because I was there.
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - ADPinWDC - 04-01-2025
(03-31-2025, 04:55 PM)msqueri Wrote: It occurs to me that “interim” could also be a political move by Luck to circumvent the Stanford bureaucracy. Interim avoids the time and gate keepers of the “committee” process Stanford always insists on. If Reich has some success and looks like he’s turning us around it is simpler to remove the interim tag than to hope he’s the one the committee settles on in the first place.
In the big picture we seem serious and that is the most important thing.
RIGHT. Luck called in a chit. Paying $4 million for a one year deal.
https://www.si.com/college/stanford/football/analyzing-frank-reich-s-past-career-and-what-he-could-do-for-stanford-football-01jqpsm7kwzp
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - BostonCard - 04-01-2025
“ Born in Menlo Park, California, Lucca is a 16 year old sports journalist who has done past work for College and High School Sports. “
The piece is actually pretty well written *for a 16 year-old*, but it is also written *by a 16 year-old*. Like, great for him, but what even is SI these days?
BC
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - martyup - 04-01-2025
Luck was hired to rebuild Stanford football into the Empire that it once was when he led the team. It should be noted that "Reich" translates to empire. So, there's that.
![[Image: ?u=https%3A%2F%2Fc.tenor.com%2FCc2EQtVXc...ipo=images]](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fc.tenor.com%2FCc2EQtVXcTUAAAAC%2Fhow-interesting-coffee.gif&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=ba5a211f34398b92d344454d48300fbc798df6fdb22f74df7c527ce9695b5189&ipo=images)
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - fullmetal - 04-01-2025
(04-01-2025, 09:42 AM)BostonCard Wrote: “ Born in Menlo Park, California, Lucca is a 16 year old sports journalist who has done past work for College and High School Sports. “
The piece is actually pretty well written *for a 16 year-old*, but it is also written *by a 16 year-old*. Like, great for him, but what even is SI these days?
BC
A shell of its former self, for sure. After a slow decline, Time, Inc. sold the magazine in 2018, and the decline has only since accelerated.
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - 82lsju - 04-01-2025
on the offense and coaching staff for 2025
Quote:Stanford tight ends coach Nate Byham was elevated to offensive coordinator after Taylor was fired, and the team will maintain the same playbook and scheme, Luck said. Reich is expected to add to it as the year progresses, but there will not be a major offseason overhaul. The coaching staff is expected stay intact without Reich bringing any of his own hires.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/44495389/stanford-luck-expands-taylor-firing-reich-introduced
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - dabigv13 - 04-01-2025
I love the hire, certainly much better than I was expecting and something that is really only possible because of Luck as our GM.
I wish Luck was talking about it as an interim with possibility of maybe extending, but that doesn't sound like the case based on that ESPN article, and while we don't hear from Reich directly, only Andrew's quotation, it doesn't sound like he is looking for a long term deal.
Dissappointed he's retaining the staff and not changing the offense. Not sure this will really be a step forward year for us, but having Reich as a steward for the program for a year I do think sets us up as well as possible for the next coach.
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - Goose - 04-01-2025
(04-01-2025, 05:18 PM)dabigv13 Wrote: I love the hire, certainly much better than I was expecting and something that is really only possible because of Luck as our GM.It also must be remembered that things change. If Reich has a great experience as a college coach he may want to continue. Far from a sure thing though so the coaching search must continue as if Reich is for sure gone at the end of the year.
I wish Luck was talking about it as an interim with possibility of maybe extending, but that doesn't sound like the case based on that ESPN article, and while we don't hear from Reich directly, only Andrew's quotation, it doesn't sound like he is looking for a long term deal.
Dissappointed he's retaining the staff and not changing the offense. Not sure this will really be a step forward year for us, but having Reich as a steward for the program for a year I do think sets us up as well as possible for the next coach.
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - jacket3ree - 04-01-2025
Frank Reich in German is "France".
I like the move mostly because it is interim. Had this been a permanent thing, my reaction would have been Frank Reich? Really?
Taking them at their word, this is a caretaker position. A real coach with real experience to at least get something out of what has long looked like a potentially historically terrible season. Like not even a crooked number win total.
If I remember this correctly, Bowlsby treated Harris as an interim coach (without telling him) in the fall of 2006 and actively scouted Harbaugh including games and practices.
Wow. $4 million for the year. It means we have money, are stupid, or both. Good sign.
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - fullmetal - 04-01-2025
I hope Coach Reich has a better effect on the Stanford QB room than he did with Bryce Young. I'm very much rooting for success there (the bar is so low).
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - SamuelMcF - 04-01-2025
(04-01-2025, 09:38 AM)ADPinWDC Wrote:(03-31-2025, 04:55 PM)msqueri Wrote: It occurs to me that “interim” could also be a political move by Luck to circumvent the Stanford bureaucracy. Interim avoids the time and gate keepers of the “committee” process Stanford always insists on. If Reich has some success and looks like he’s turning us around it is simpler to remove the interim tag than to hope he’s the one the committee settles on in the first place.
In the big picture we seem serious and that is the most important thing.
RIGHT. Luck called in a chit. Paying $4 million for a one year deal.
https://www.si.com/college/stanford/football/analyzing-frank-reich-s-past-career-and-what-he-could-do-for-stanford-football-01jqpsm7kwzp
Where was $4 million ever mentioned?
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - chrisk - 04-01-2025
(04-01-2025, 07:12 PM)SamuelMcF Wrote:(04-01-2025, 09:38 AM)ADPinWDC Wrote:(03-31-2025, 04:55 PM)msqueri Wrote: It occurs to me that “interim” could also be a political move by Luck to circumvent the Stanford bureaucracy. Interim avoids the time and gate keepers of the “committee” process Stanford always insists on. If Reich has some success and looks like he’s turning us around it is simpler to remove the interim tag than to hope he’s the one the committee settles on in the first place.
In the big picture we seem serious and that is the most important thing.
RIGHT. Luck called in a chit. Paying $4 million for a one year deal.
https://www.si.com/college/stanford/football/analyzing-frank-reich-s-past-career-and-what-he-could-do-for-stanford-football-01jqpsm7kwzp
Where was $4 million ever mentioned?
Sportscasting.com - “estimated $4 million”
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - msqueri - 04-01-2025
Reactions:
* The key words Luck seemed to want to emphasize in his opening statement: interim, steward, teacher, winner, coach of the highest caliber, role model, mentor. Much more to say below about how these seem to fit a clear vision for Luck but I do think that's the main point, that Luck has a vision and he sees Reich as fitting perfectly for it.
* Luck is such a compelling, genuine person. Not a reaction to this specific press conference any more than every other time he speaks, just worth noting. A little bit more specific to this presser is that Luck seemed especially joyful to be bringing Reich on board. Almost had a ring of "I can't believe I got this lucky." I hope he does feel that genuinely thrilled about Reich as the interim coach and I hope he's right about how this fits the vision.
* Slightly surprised Luck consulted notes so much during his opening remarks. He's always so polished and confident. Makes me think he was slightly more nervous than usual or at least really wanted to get the toplines/talking points out there. Since press conferences are mostly useful for quotes this has no different practical effect than being totally off-the-cuff, just something I was somewhat surprised about at the outset.
* I can't pretend to know/calibrate Reich's tone/emotions because this is the first I'm paying attention to him as the coach of one of my teams but at first blush he seemed a bit amped and even emotional. Came across a bit as being on a bit of a high diving into something he expects to be a passion project. He tried to put that into words, I think, with the story about his daughters' incredulity he was doing this and how his mission is to make this season the most rewarding of his career. By the way, when I hear him talk about how rewarding he expects this to be I think of the great Tom Hanks speech in A League of Their Own about how the hard is what makes it great. He probably views Stanford football as a total dumpster fire and the idea of trying to reclaim it to advance his friend's vision and legacy is exactly what draws him to this. And of course thinking that he can do it.
* Reich's key words for Luck are competitor and vision. Unsurprising but helps home in on the crux of this relationship and why they're teaming up again.
* Took me a bit aback to hear Reich start off the "crystal clear" objectives talking first about coming in and working with the coaches. It seems like a big part of this is mentorship and stewardship of Taylor's old staff. This is odd to me because if that is indeed a priority it would suggest that, unless Luck is an idiot (which I don't think he is), there's some thinking that this coaching staff is still worth investing in. That is at least somewhat odd in the context of an interim coach ostensibly to be followed by a new coach. Is Luck's vision that a good chunk of the staff will still be around in 2026? I have a lot of questions about that if so.
* The second objective is helping Luck fulfill his vision to bring Stanford football back to prominence. This was interesting to me because one could imagine more touchy feely objectives - and indeed at other points they talked about coaching the whole person and such - but this was a hard-nosed argument that Luck brought Reich in to advance a vision of winning and that's what drew Reich (the line about coming because they agreed the interim label does not mean a step back or hitting the pause button but rather moving forward). It's probably foolhardy to put win/loss expectations on Stanford football at this stage, but this sounded like an expectation of winning. It doesn't sound like Reich is coming here to win 4-5 games. It's a good thing if Luck and Reich's own expectations and standards are higher than the outside world's but it's worth noting that being anywhere near "prominence" in 2025 would shock the world. I guess there can be some wiggle room about what Reich means by the seeds being planted but the bottom line is Luck and Reich expect forward movement this year.
* The third objective was Reich's own personal growth and helping the players grow. Always love it when an accomplished old dude talks about the learning and growth they can do. None of us are ever finished and the best of us know that. And clearly Luck views Reich's suitability as a mentor/leader of young men as a major calling card.
* I take the answer on not seeing a big transition from the NFL to college on its face and basically agree. As I've chronicled at length, the NFL to college transition tends to go pretty well. Reich clearly knows football and knows how to coach. The second part of that answer about the job being attractive because Luck will take on so much of the other parts of the job is more fraught. Very understandable and unsurprising sentiment but I do think we have to worry a bit about leaning on Luck too much or at least the possibility that having to focus too much on _____ (take your pick: recruiting, fundraising, liaising with university stakeholders, media, negotiating NIL, operations, travel, community relations, etc.) will take his eye off other things. If it becomes the case that we really need Luck to focus intensively on one of those things other things will suffer. This seems like almost a given with recruiting. For one, you can't just substitute out head coach engagement on the recruiting trail. The head coach is allowed on the road and in making certain contact in a way Luck isn't, yet we apparently are going to take that off Reich's plate and make it more of an expectation for Luck. Some things just won't get done. I think in some areas, with recruiting the one I'm probably most worried about, "not taking a step back or hitting the pause button" may end up being an empty talking point. If Reich isn't doing things other than coaching the coaches and players, he isn't really a full head coach. In some sense we may be waiting for a coach without the interim label to have a full head coach.
* Others have raised a similar question about how compelling we can be to recruits if the head coach has an expiration date before the recruits even get to campus. I think the 2026 class will likely be a lost year though of course hope I am wrong about that. This may help us understand just how much the Stanford recruiting proposition is about the school rather than the coach or even a particular vision for the program. Then again, the Taylor years were lost years in recruiting so maybe we can maintain that level and then improve in 2027.
* The bit about having other options to go back into coaching in the NFL but deciding to move on after the Super Bowl until he got the call from Luck - the right person at the right place - is a nice talking point. No idea what level of options he had though suspect they weren't NFL head coach. This is a pretty unique fit, fortunately for us.
* Props to the 16 year old Sports Illustrated guy showing up in person and doing some journalism. Reich's answer was the second time early in the press conference he indicated the impression his conversation with Levin, even just 15-20 minutes, made on him. Levin a big deal for the football program as I think most here understand.
* I noted Luck talking about coming up with a way to move forward that was best for the players....and for the coaches. Really a surprising chunk of this press conference had the vibe of doing right by the coaches. That doesn't sit right with me. College football coaches sign up to work for a head coach and when the head coach fails the assistants get a bit untethered. That's unfortunate for them but it's the profession. If we were driven at all by a desire to maintain continuity for the coaches that's not really the hard-nosed competitive instinct I want to see. Luck may be having this impulse at the same time as thinking that continuity is what is best for the team in 2025, which may or may not be a rationalization. I hope we genuinely believe - and have valid reason - that the assistant coaches are good and it's a good model for 2025 to have them on board with Reich just swapping in for Taylor. My inclination is that Reich is a categorically higher caliber of coach than Taylor and we are forfeiting a lot of the benefit of getting an NFL head coach if we aren't going to have him select a staff his caliber of coaching enables. If we go into the season with just Taylor's staff that doesn't seem optimal to me.
* I think the rest of that answer was very revealing into Luck's mindset and speaks to what was really going on in his mind, which is that I think he calculated that an interim coach with as much continuity from the previous staff as possible is the best way forward because we want to win this season. The anecdote about telling Jay Green that we aren't tanking for the first pick was great, and the idea Luck referenced that we have seniors in their last season of football is an admirable and resonant thought for anybody running a college sports program. I think Luck couldn't bring himself to strip the program down to the studs and start over. I suspect this speaks to a genuine belief Luck had in what Taylor and Co. were doing. I fear that belief may have been misplaced and he's now doubling down too much on a coaching staff that hadn't delivered anything in two years. But it sure will be an interesting experiment to layer an NFL pro on top of that and to, hopefully, excise all the toxic stuff.
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - msqueri - 04-01-2025
* They could not have been more definitive that this is only for 2025. That's disappointing to me because the idea of Frank Reich trying to build something at Stanford is something I could really get behind. But there was no wiggle room. I hear what people are saying about how things can change and I know intellectually that's true, but to me this dispelled my notion that this could have been a savvy political move by Luck to circumvent Stanford bureaucracy and get his preferred guy in the door before finding a way to remove the interim tag. Unless they are both lying through their teeth, which seems implausible, this truly was a situation where Luck had a specific interim vision and had that as a condition and Reich bought in to that specifically. If so, it's an unusual and potentially quite awkward situation but I like what Reich said about leaning into it with players and coaches and trying to make 2025 a special year. Still, this is going to make the next Stanford coach a hot topic of discussion for the next eight months and there's no getting around that interim equals lame duck.
* Now is not the time to obsess over who could be next but a stray mischievous thought: if it was important for Luck to keep Taylor's staff and Luck believes in that staff and Luck picked a head coach for whom one of the big selling points is his ability to coach up and mentor the assistant coaches, could Luck already have a vision for the 2026 coach that is somebody eager and willing to mostly retain the Taylor staff? Like Andrew Luck himself? Probably not and more likely that 2025 is a one year thing/interim not just for Reich but also the assistants, but the thought crossed my mind.
* But yeah, I guess I'm still hoping for a magical year that convinces everybody we want to renege on the interim and keep the party going.
* Interesting insight into Luck telling Reich the staff is good but younger and Reich meeting with the staff and telling Luck he understated how good the staff is, though Reich did acknowledge it's a young staff. That was a super interesting answer in general, with Reich acknowledging that it was a big source of uncertainty to come in and not bring his own guys - that's what I'm saying! - and also saying that he told the staff that sometimes you earn trust but in this case we're starting from trust. Clearly Reich was told Taylor's staff was staying on and Reich is working within that construct. I can only hope his impression of the staff is as positive as he is saying. Reich made this explicit at the end of the press conference - Luck dictated that Reich couldn't pick the staff. Welp, hope Luck is making a good call.
* I doubt many people will feel warm and fuzzy about Luck knowing about the Taylor investigations in summer 2024, also being briefed about them before taking the current role, and implying that a week and a half ago he thought the direction of the program was to stick with Taylor. To me Occam's Razor is that Luck bought into Taylor and the tumult of the last few weeks is something he reacted to rather than drove. I think some will view that sequence of events as not exactly flattering to Luck and his judgment. Personally I am more interested in where we are going and I think the future of the football program is brighter than it's been anytime since last summer. Moreover, I kind of get the feeling from the whole thing that it was an example of Luck adjusting to new information and changing priors, which I think speaks well to his flexibility and humility. Put bluntly, I think he was probably wrong about Taylor and changed his mind and now we are in a better spot.
* Luck talking about competitiveness and what we have to prove and how we're playing the game and are going to do it within our ethos but are nonetheless playing the game (i.e., revenue sharing) never ceases to make me want to run through a wall. He's got the pitch down. Really hope this vision translates into results sooner rather than later. I just thought about how we don't get to judge any football in the Luck GM era for another five months. It is going to feel like such a long time and I bet even we Luck Stans get pretty tired of the pitch. Can't wait to see wins but yeah, while before that's even possible.
* It is really something - touching really - to hear Luck talk about what Reich means to him and why they connected so well in Indianapolis. Luck was a sublime quarterback through childhood, high school, college, and the NFL, playing in college for IMHO one of the greatest coaches ever in Jim Harbaugh and in the NFL making four Pro Bowls and yet his last year ever playing football the head coach made such an impression on him? And it's not just talk, you can tell from what Luck says and how he says it that there's a genuine attitudinal connection. Personally, the thing Luck homes in on - preaching trusting a process and getting better every day - is something I'm biased toward as I think it's one of the most important/most beneficial attitudes in life. [I will note that I was jazzed about how much Taylor talked about this. I am not saying people who say this are destined to success, just that I like hearing it.] I think a lot of people will focus on the part of this answer revealing that Reich married Luck and his wife but to me it was all of the other stuff explaining their connection that resonated with me.
* There is something poetic about that coda to Luck's career being so meaningful to him and now Reich coming to Stanford for this interim coaching role, by the way. The one year Reich coached Luck was the last year of Luck's career and, through their connection and perseverance amidst challenges won Luck NFL Comeback Player of the Year. That itself is poignant because Reich is one of the most famous comeback artists in the history of American sports (folks probably tracking, but one of the most legendary comebacks in NFL playoff history, one of the most legendary in college history with his Orange Bowl, and more). And now Reich comes to Stanford for what we hope will be a comeback for Stanford and he, as the only coach ever to be fired from the NFL in back-to-back seasons, is surely hoping will be a comeback for him too. Sports poetry, and we hope the story is even better in the telling nine months from now.
* I think I've made clear that I like the Reich hire and am a fan of what he brings so don't take this the wrong way, but Reich seems somewhat small and meek compared to Luck. Luck so often takes the initiative on the questions and answers more volubly. Some of that may just be personality and loquaciousness but for anybody looking for hints at power dynamic, whether Luck really is the boss, etc., this reinforces the sense most of us already had that Luck is running the football program. By the way, not calling Reich small or meek, to the contrary quite compelling, but the comparison does seem like Luck is an alpha. And then not much later than I write that, Reich had a great self-deprecating comment about how 2025 differs from 2018 because this time Luck is the boss and last time Reich was and how he can do that for one season maybe. Ok, maybe Reich is an alpha willing to make an exception.
* Didn't pick up on any specific hints on how the revenue sharing model will play out, just Luck reiterating that we're playing that game and have our allocations across sports and know that we need to fundraise (as he's doing) and win to make us more attractive. On the winning point, it was one of many times in the interview in which Reich smiled and nodded in concurrence with Luck's vision.
* Luck took the question on goals for the season - taking some umbrage at a suggestion a bunch of players left post-Taylor firing and then focusing on the fact we do have goals and have no intention of being an also-ran. Would have liked to hear Reich's take but, yeah, alpha. For what it's worth, Luck referenced the same goal he did when Taylor was around - winning a bowl game (as well as winning Big Game). That's a stretch goal but it would be thrilling and I will let myself believe for now.
* Luck also owned the question on recruiting. He said he's been involved more in recruiting than a GM typically would be, owing in part to our structure (which presumably will be only more the case with Reich than it was with Taylor). It seemed to me that our main pitch is the institution and Luck himself as continuity. It sounds like we are going to try to convince 2026 recruits that the head coach is tertiary. Kind of weird but sell what you've got, and what we've got (long-term) is Stanford University and Andrew Luck. Like I suggested above, I will be interested to see if this pitch amounts to anything more than treading water with the level of recruiting we had under Taylor.
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - msqueri - 04-01-2025
* Luck was asked a follow-up question on why he went interim and he went into more detail on what I discussed above regarding not laying down for this year. He made explicit that he was answering two questions, what's best for 2025 and what's best long-term. I think post-Taylor firing I ended up more in a place that the overriding criterion should be what's best long-term, but clearly Luck could not bring himself to write off 2025. I think he may have landed on an option that threads those two questions but IMHO it remains a fair question whether this is best long-term. Luck is intellectually honest enough that he acknowledged the answer to the two questions may not be the same. I just think he couldn't give up on 2025. He also confirmed, as I gleaned earlier, that he believes in this staff. He's making a bet there that I hope is right.
* Did I say intellectually honest? Also add refreshingly self-aware. That answer also included Luck saying he's green on the job and wants to figure out more about system and structure and how to improve. Read: he thinks he'll be able to make a better decision in the fall than he could have in a time crunch now. He also said there was a gut feel that Reich was right and he wanted to listen to that too. I think Luck has pretty profound insights into organizations, leadership, decisionmaking, and his own limitations and is honest with himself and us about his process. What's not to like about that?
* Reich teased us big time with his seven standards for the 2025 season and how he wasn't going to go into detail on that in the press conference. Would love to know what those are. Reich also said he could feel the energy of the team when he was going through those standards and observed that players have heard most of the standards before but it's a matter of emphasis, execution, culture, teamwork, chemistry, and trust. This was the same kind of thing we heard from Taylor but I am hope I am not being naive in thinking a guy who has been to two NFL playoffs is a better bet for it than a guy who peaked in FCS. It was also interesting to hear Reich talk about briefing the team on how they'll measure the standards. Not sure what that looks like, but interesting that this is supposedly something with some level of detail and measurement. (Not just love?)
* Luck demurred on the process for the permanent hire. Didn't sound coy but rather that it took a lot out of him to navigate this immediate transition and that he hasn't thought about the process for the permanent hire. Alligators closest to the boat (my phrase not his). There did seem to be an element of all in on 2025/focus on 2025, so I wonder how early and intensively we will get into the process. Still a ways to go in this year though so I think it's ok to take a breather. But if Reich is indeed interim as all indications suggest, I hope we are thinking deeply about this in October and not waiting until the season is done. A lame duck probably takes care of that and we don't have to worry about Luck getting caught flat-footed or waiting too long.
* Fun insight into Reich's family/interests to hear about his daughters having been Division I swimmers and being interested in the swimming team. Luck mentioned a staff outing to the Sunday Stanford baseball game and said a big chunk of the football team will be contributing to the attempt to break the softball attendance record later this month.
* Reich talked about "measured aggressiveness" in playcalling and how he's naturally aggressive but it's not smart to just be aggressive to prove a point. I would defer to people who remember Chargers, Eagles, and Colts offenses of yesteryear on what this may look like. I also suppose I'm not so interested in whether somebody is aggressive as opposed to whether they're effective.
* Nobody asked a single personnel question. Maybe an understanding Reich has been on campus for like two days and doesn't know anybody. Maybe asked not to raise QBs at a delicate time. I don't know.
* Luck closed the press conference with an ode to principles, values, cultures, and taking a step forward being enduring and how Reich only being here a year will make a difference that will last. Sounds good and Reich co-signed without adding further, but this felt like a bit of a hand wave to the question on Reich getting buy-in as a lame duck and making an enduring impact. After seeing "culture of love" fail in two years despite pretty spectacular success at the previous school, I think it's a fair question to ask what we expect one year of Reich to accomplish.
* I was trying to understand why Reich's jersey number is 36 and then realized 36th head coach at Stanford. That makes more sense than 36 NFL interceptions.
Anyway, good day for Stanford football and we can have some hope about being on a better track but there are legitimate questions about where this leaves us this fall and beyond. Looking forward to seeing the mark Reich makes.
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - BostonCard - 04-02-2025
Thanks, Matt. I don’t know how (or why) you do this, but thanks.
BC
RE: Welcome Frank Reich - ADPinWDC - 04-02-2025
Long term
We are paying Reich $4M for a one year gig.
Mile Denbrock, OC at Notre Dame, makes only $2M and is highest paid OC in USA. Solid Offense.
He also coached Jayden Daniels to a Voldemort at LSU.
Could we get him?
Could that help us recruit better O-Line?
We seem to get decent WRs, less so on RBs,, since CMC
Other OCs, all making less than $2M.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-football/10-highest-paid-offensive-coordinators-college-football-ft-notre-dame-s-mike-denbrock