[ColoradoTree]

I thought we only had 9 commits at this point anyway, but the point that this class seems pretty white at this point remains valid.  Aside from Lund and St. Brown, as BC notes, the remaining 7 are white, though we could probably make that 6, since Foster Sarell is at least part Asian, I believe (in his Army All-American background video, his mom sure looked at least part-Asian).

Though I believe both of our returning missionaries, Houston Heimuli and Gabe Reid, have a Pacific Islander background, too, so if we want to look at the current class in terms of "2017 counters," then we're at either 6 or 7 white players of 11, depending on Sarell. 

But the lack of more African-American faces in the current class does stand out, to be sure.  If the class closes as we hope, with Wedington, Adebo, and Wade-Perry, and hopefully Warner and Johnson, then that optical issue isn't as stark. 

[ColoradoTree]

I thought we only had 9 commits at this point anyway, but the point that this class seems pretty white at this point remains valid.  Aside from Lund and St. Brown, as BC notes, the remaining 7 are white, though we could probably make that 6, since Foster Sarell is at least part Asian, I believe (in his Army All-American background video, his mom sure looked at least part-Asian).

Though I believe both of our returning missionaries, Houston Heimuli and Gabe Reid, have a Pacific Islander background, too, so if we want to look at the current class in terms of "2017 counters," then we're at either 6 or 7 white players of 11, depending on Sarell. 

But the lack of more African-American faces in the current class does stand out, to be sure.  If the class closes as we hope, with Wedington, Adebo, and Wade-Perry, and hopefully Warner and Johnson, then that optical issue isn't as stark. 

[Red State]

I thought the objective was to recruit the best prospects available regardless of race. Would it be an issue if 9 of 10 were non-white?

[Red State]

I thought the objective was to recruit the best prospects available regardless of race. Would it be an issue if 9 of 10 were non-white?

[TrumpCard]

Of the 24 entering freshmen this year, 11 are part or all African-American.  There is also pretty good diversity on the staff with 2 AA (incl Shaw), 1 Native-American and 1 East Indian. Nothing to worry about.

[TrumpCard]

Of the 24 entering freshmen this year, 11 are part or all African-American.  There is also pretty good diversity on the staff with 2 AA (incl Shaw), 1 Native-American and 1 East Indian. Nothing to worry about.

[Spiny_Norman]

The Watkins Award is given to the top African American high school football player (based on performance, academics, leadership, etc.). Stanford has done very well recruiting Watkins Award winners and finalists.  Most recently, Frank Buncom won in 2015 and Bryce Love and Justin Reid were finalists. Other recent finalists have included Bobby Okereke, Alex Carter, Wayne Lyons, James Vaughters, Remound Wright and David Yankey. I think Stanford would be perceived very favorably by African American recruits.

[Spiny_Norman]

The Watkins Award is given to the top African American high school football player (based on performance, academics, leadership, etc.). Stanford has done very well recruiting Watkins Award winners and finalists.  Most recently, Frank Buncom won in 2015 and Bryce Love and Justin Reid were finalists. Other recent finalists have included Bobby Okereke, Alex Carter, Wayne Lyons, James Vaughters, Remound Wright and David Yankey. I think Stanford would be perceived very favorably by African American recruits.

[JJJ]

Of the 24 entering freshmen this year, 11 are part or all African-American.  There is also pretty good diversity on the staff with 2 AA (incl Shaw), 1 Native-American and 1 East Indian. Nothing to worry about.

Who is the East Indian? Never knew.

[JJJ]

Of the 24 entering freshmen this year, 11 are part or all African-American.  There is also pretty good diversity on the staff with 2 AA (incl Shaw), 1 Native-American and 1 East Indian. Nothing to worry about.

Who is the East Indian? Never knew.

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

[quote author=FarmBoy link=topic=16413.msg186113#msg186113 date=1484242387]
Is racial diversity really an issue of consideration for football recruiting? And are we lacking on the team overall? I've never seen this raised as an issue.

Never has been an issue because Stanford has always had good diversity, but when 9 of your first 10 commitments are white there could be an issue if the rest of the class had lack of diversity.
[/quote]

I read every post in this thread leading up to this exchange and for the life of me I can't figure out the context for this. Somebody help out?

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

[quote author=FarmBoy link=topic=16413.msg186113#msg186113 date=1484242387]
Is racial diversity really an issue of consideration for football recruiting? And are we lacking on the team overall? I've never seen this raised as an issue.

Never has been an issue because Stanford has always had good diversity, but when 9 of your first 10 commitments are white there could be an issue if the rest of the class had lack of diversity.
[/quote]

I read every post in this thread leading up to this exchange and for the life of me I can't figure out the context for this. Somebody help out?

[FarmBoy]

This was the comment that I was reacting to.

[quote author=kuz link=topic=16413.msg185697#msg185697 date=1484000949]
Connor Wedington (RB)
Dalyn Wade-Perry (NT)
Ryan Johnson (DE)
Leonard Warner (ILB)
Paulson Adebo (CB)

That would be a great close to the class if we could land all of them and it would bring us more positional (defensive players!) and racial diversity than our current commits.  We have heard Wedington and Adebo have cleared admissions.  Let's hope the others do as well. Is Chaz Ah You still in the mix?
[/quote]

[FarmBoy]

This was the comment that I was reacting to.

[quote author=kuz link=topic=16413.msg185697#msg185697 date=1484000949]
Connor Wedington (RB)
Dalyn Wade-Perry (NT)
Ryan Johnson (DE)
Leonard Warner (ILB)
Paulson Adebo (CB)

That would be a great close to the class if we could land all of them and it would bring us more positional (defensive players!) and racial diversity than our current commits.  We have heard Wedington and Adebo have cleared admissions.  Let's hope the others do as well. Is Chaz Ah You still in the mix?
[/quote]

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

This was the comment that I was reacting to.

[quote author=donkey687 link=topic=16413.msg185700#msg185700 date=1484001454]
[quote author=kuz link=topic=16413.msg185697#msg185697 date=1484000949]
Connor Wedington (RB)
Dalyn Wade-Perry (NT)
Ryan Johnson (DE)
Leonard Warner (ILB)
Paulson Adebo (CB)

That would be a great close to the class if we could land all of them and it would bring us more positional (defensive players!) and racial diversity than our current commits.  We have heard Wedington and Adebo have cleared admissions.  Let's hope the others do as well. Is Chaz Ah You still in the mix?
[/quote]
[/quote]

Ah, thanks. I read that post but for some reason missed the "racial diversity" bit. Seems like a strange concern to have.

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

This was the comment that I was reacting to.

[quote author=donkey687 link=topic=16413.msg185700#msg185700 date=1484001454]
[quote author=kuz link=topic=16413.msg185697#msg185697 date=1484000949]
Connor Wedington (RB)
Dalyn Wade-Perry (NT)
Ryan Johnson (DE)
Leonard Warner (ILB)
Paulson Adebo (CB)

That would be a great close to the class if we could land all of them and it would bring us more positional (defensive players!) and racial diversity than our current commits.  We have heard Wedington and Adebo have cleared admissions.  Let's hope the others do as well. Is Chaz Ah You still in the mix?
[/quote]
[/quote]

Ah, thanks. I read that post but for some reason missed the "racial diversity" bit. Seems like a strange concern to have.

[larkinforever]

[quote author=TrumpCard link=topic=16413.msg186158#msg186158 date=1484261190]
Of the 24 entering freshmen this year, 11 are part or all African-American.  There is also pretty good diversity on the staff with 2 AA (incl Shaw), 1 Native-American and 1 East Indian. Nothing to worry about.

Who is the East Indian? Never knew.
[/quote]

Same question for who is Native American.

[larkinforever]

[quote author=TrumpCard link=topic=16413.msg186158#msg186158 date=1484261190]
Of the 24 entering freshmen this year, 11 are part or all African-American.  There is also pretty good diversity on the staff with 2 AA (incl Shaw), 1 Native-American and 1 East Indian. Nothing to worry about.

Who is the East Indian? Never knew.
[/quote]

Same question for who is Native American.

[FarmBoy]

[quote author=FarmBoy link=topic=16413.msg186172#msg186172 date=1484267100]
This was the comment that I was reacting to.

[quote author=donkey687 link=topic=16413.msg185700#msg185700 date=1484001454]
[quote author=kuz link=topic=16413.msg185697#msg185697 date=1484000949]
Connor Wedington (RB)
Dalyn Wade-Perry (NT)
Ryan Johnson (DE)
Leonard Warner (ILB)
Paulson Adebo (CB)

That would be a great close to the class if we could land all of them and it would bring us more positional (defensive players!) and racial diversity than our current commits.  We have heard Wedington and Adebo have cleared admissions.  Let's hope the others do as well. Is Chaz Ah You still in the mix?
[/quote]
[/quote]

Ah, thanks. I read that post but for some reason missed the "racial diversity" bit. Seems like a strange concern to have.
[/quote]

I had the same reaction. But that's only because I don't see color.  :P

[FarmBoy]

[quote author=FarmBoy link=topic=16413.msg186172#msg186172 date=1484267100]
This was the comment that I was reacting to.

[quote author=donkey687 link=topic=16413.msg185700#msg185700 date=1484001454]
[quote author=kuz link=topic=16413.msg185697#msg185697 date=1484000949]
Connor Wedington (RB)
Dalyn Wade-Perry (NT)
Ryan Johnson (DE)
Leonard Warner (ILB)
Paulson Adebo (CB)

That would be a great close to the class if we could land all of them and it would bring us more positional (defensive players!) and racial diversity than our current commits.  We have heard Wedington and Adebo have cleared admissions.  Let's hope the others do as well. Is Chaz Ah You still in the mix?
[/quote]
[/quote]

Ah, thanks. I read that post but for some reason missed the "racial diversity" bit. Seems like a strange concern to have.
[/quote]

I had the same reaction. But that's only because I don't see color.  :P

[dabigv13]

I had to reread the thread 4 times to find where it came up.

Can't imagine it will be perceived as an issue, harder to think of many schools as diverse, in multiple ways, as Stanford.

[dabigv13]

I had to reread the thread 4 times to find where it came up.

Can't imagine it will be perceived as an issue, harder to think of many schools as diverse, in multiple ways, as Stanford.

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

I had to reread the thread 4 times to find where it came up.

Can't imagine it will be perceived as an issue, harder to think of many schools as diverse, in multiple ways, as Stanford.

I'd also imagine the type of kids Shaw recruits are less worried about such optics and more worried about pursuing their dream of playing football at Stanford.

And for those who are concerned about it, I'd imagine playing for a black head coach is more meaningful than having a few more black teammates. Not being one of the players myself, however, I can only surmise.

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

I had to reread the thread 4 times to find where it came up.

Can't imagine it will be perceived as an issue, harder to think of many schools as diverse, in multiple ways, as Stanford.

I'd also imagine the type of kids Shaw recruits are less worried about such optics and more worried about pursuing their dream of playing football at Stanford.

And for those who are concerned about it, I'd imagine playing for a black head coach is more meaningful than having a few more black teammates. Not being one of the players myself, however, I can only surmise.

[terry]

[quote author=JJJ link=topic=16413.msg186168#msg186168 date=1484266223]
[quote author=TrumpCard link=topic=16413.msg186158#msg186158 date=1484261190]
Of the 24 entering freshmen this year, 11 are part or all African-American.  There is also pretty good diversity on the staff with 2 AA (incl Shaw), 1 Native-American and 1 East Indian. Nothing to worry about.

Who is the East Indian? Never knew.
[/quote]

Same question for who is Native American.
[/quote]

Lance Taylor is Native American.

Tavita Pritchard is Pacific Islander.

Pete Alamar's mother is Cuban.

[terry]

[quote author=JJJ link=topic=16413.msg186168#msg186168 date=1484266223]
[quote author=TrumpCard link=topic=16413.msg186158#msg186158 date=1484261190]
Of the 24 entering freshmen this year, 11 are part or all African-American.  There is also pretty good diversity on the staff with 2 AA (incl Shaw), 1 Native-American and 1 East Indian. Nothing to worry about.

Who is the East Indian? Never knew.
[/quote]

Same question for who is Native American.
[/quote]

Lance Taylor is Native American.

Tavita Pritchard is Pacific Islander.

Pete Alamar's mother is Cuban.

[JJJ]

[quote author=larkinforever link=topic=16413.msg186177#msg186177 date=1484269020]
[quote author=JJJ link=topic=16413.msg186168#msg186168 date=1484266223]
[quote author=TrumpCard link=topic=16413.msg186158#msg186158 date=1484261190]
Of the 24 entering freshmen this year, 11 are part or all African-American.  There is also pretty good diversity on the staff with 2 AA (incl Shaw), 1 Native-American and 1 East Indian. Nothing to worry about.

Who is the East Indian? Never knew.
[/quote]

Same question for who is Native American.
[/quote]

Lance Taylor is Native American.

Tavita Pritchard is Pacific Islander.

Pete Alamar's mother is Cuban.
[/quote]

So there is no East Indian? (which I understood to mean India)

We do have a Japanese staff member, I learned today: Tsuyoshi Kawata

http://www.gostanford.com/coaches.aspx?r...h=football

[JJJ]

[quote author=larkinforever link=topic=16413.msg186177#msg186177 date=1484269020]
[quote author=JJJ link=topic=16413.msg186168#msg186168 date=1484266223]
[quote author=TrumpCard link=topic=16413.msg186158#msg186158 date=1484261190]
Of the 24 entering freshmen this year, 11 are part or all African-American.  There is also pretty good diversity on the staff with 2 AA (incl Shaw), 1 Native-American and 1 East Indian. Nothing to worry about.

Who is the East Indian? Never knew.
[/quote]

Same question for who is Native American.
[/quote]

Lance Taylor is Native American.

Tavita Pritchard is Pacific Islander.

Pete Alamar's mother is Cuban.
[/quote]

So there is no East Indian? (which I understood to mean India)

We do have a Japanese staff member, I learned today: Tsuyoshi Kawata

http://www.gostanford.com/coaches.aspx?r...h=football

[TreesAndBirds]

Of the 24 entering freshmen this year, 11 are part or all African-American.  There is also pretty good diversity on the staff with 2 AA (incl Shaw), 1 Native-American and 1 East Indian. Nothing to worry about.

And our Athletic Director is AA. And our "representative" on the CFP committee is AA.

[TreesAndBirds]

Of the 24 entering freshmen this year, 11 are part or all African-American.  There is also pretty good diversity on the staff with 2 AA (incl Shaw), 1 Native-American and 1 East Indian. Nothing to worry about.

And our Athletic Director is AA. And our "representative" on the CFP committee is AA.

[larkinforever]

So there is no East Indian? (which I understood to mean India)

We do have a Japanese staff member, I learned today: Tsuyoshi Kawata

http://www.gostanford.com/coaches.aspx?r...h=football

That was also confusing for me. Well, I guess there's nothing left to do except suck some limes and make sure all of our pork is in salt barrels before we set sail...  :D

Re: Kawata - I remember him. They did an interesting, short story during one of the games a few seasons ago (no recollection of what game) - as you might imagine, football is not big in Japan.

[larkinforever]

So there is no East Indian? (which I understood to mean India)

We do have a Japanese staff member, I learned today: Tsuyoshi Kawata

http://www.gostanford.com/coaches.aspx?r...h=football

That was also confusing for me. Well, I guess there's nothing left to do except suck some limes and make sure all of our pork is in salt barrels before we set sail...  :D

Re: Kawata - I remember him. They did an interesting, short story during one of the games a few seasons ago (no recollection of what game) - as you might imagine, football is not big in Japan.

[larkinforever]

And our Athletic Director is AA. And our "representative" on the CFP committee is AA.

Actually, both of our "representatives" on the CFP committee are AA - Condi Rice and Ty Willingham, both of whom are recused from considering Stanford. Interestingly, at least to me, is that Willingham is not recused from considering Washington or ND...

[larkinforever]

And our Athletic Director is AA. And our "representative" on the CFP committee is AA.

Actually, both of our "representatives" on the CFP committee are AA - Condi Rice and Ty Willingham, both of whom are recused from considering Stanford. Interestingly, at least to me, is that Willingham is not recused from considering Washington or ND...

[terry]

Actually, both of our "representatives" on the CFP committee are AA - Condi Rice and Ty Willingham, both of whom are recused from considering Stanford. Interestingly, at least to me, is that Willingham is not recused from considering Washington or ND...

Willingham's son works on the Stanford football staff.

[terry]

Actually, both of our "representatives" on the CFP committee are AA - Condi Rice and Ty Willingham, both of whom are recused from considering Stanford. Interestingly, at least to me, is that Willingham is not recused from considering Washington or ND...

Willingham's son works on the Stanford football staff.

[Goose]

Actually, both of our "representatives" on the CFP committee are AA - Condi Rice and Ty Willingham, both of whom are recused from considering Stanford. Interestingly, at least to me, is that Willingham is not recused from considering Washington or ND...

I assume they consider that the relationship with UW and ND is not, should we say, "amicable"? I guess you can't vote against someone, only for someone, so maybe that doesn't matter???? I would think ND and UW would complain.

[Goose]

Actually, both of our "representatives" on the CFP committee are AA - Condi Rice and Ty Willingham, both of whom are recused from considering Stanford. Interestingly, at least to me, is that Willingham is not recused from considering Washington or ND...

I assume they consider that the relationship with UW and ND is not, should we say, "amicable"? I guess you can't vote against someone, only for someone, so maybe that doesn't matter???? I would think ND and UW would complain.

[larkinforever]

[quote author=larkinforever link=topic=16413.msg186193#msg186193 date=1484274861]

Actually, both of our "representatives" on the CFP committee are AA - Condi Rice and Ty Willingham, both of whom are recused from considering Stanford. Interestingly, at least to me, is that Willingham is not recused from considering Washington or ND...

Willingham's son works on the Stanford football staff.
[/quote]

Ah, that makes sense. The GoStanford page says that Nathaniel has been on the farm for two years - first year as a recruiting assistant and now as a volunteer defensive assistant.

Given that, and assuming Nathaniel is the reason for Willingham's Stanford recusal (no reason to doubt you, terry), it's surprising that none of the other committee members have any immediate family member affiliated with any other school's football team at that level or higher.

Additionally, it's a little surprising (at least to me) given all the other recusals of committee members, that Bobby Johnson isn't recused from consideration of any schools.

[larkinforever]

[quote author=larkinforever link=topic=16413.msg186193#msg186193 date=1484274861]

Actually, both of our "representatives" on the CFP committee are AA - Condi Rice and Ty Willingham, both of whom are recused from considering Stanford. Interestingly, at least to me, is that Willingham is not recused from considering Washington or ND...

Willingham's son works on the Stanford football staff.
[/quote]

Ah, that makes sense. The GoStanford page says that Nathaniel has been on the farm for two years - first year as a recruiting assistant and now as a volunteer defensive assistant.

Given that, and assuming Nathaniel is the reason for Willingham's Stanford recusal (no reason to doubt you, terry), it's surprising that none of the other committee members have any immediate family member affiliated with any other school's football team at that level or higher.

Additionally, it's a little surprising (at least to me) given all the other recusals of committee members, that Bobby Johnson isn't recused from consideration of any schools.