[NDIrish]

NDIrish, you will note that your classification on the CardBoard has been upgraded from Honorable Heathen to Distinguished Foreigner based on your activity here.  Well done.

What are your thoughts about ending the Michigan-ND series?  Seems to be a lost opportunity for college football and its fans.  Besides the fact that they have played some really exciting, entertaining games,  I cannot imagine a better made-for-tv matchup than Harbaugh vs. Kelly. 

David Shaw has earned a lot more confidence and support based on the job he has done this season.  There was a lot of frustration after last season when a team with the #2 defense in the nation was undone by offensive anemia.  That frustration reached a boiling point after the first game when the team was lethargic and got pushed around by Northwestern.  But the offense finally got untracked the next game vs. Central Florida (including a 90 yard TD pass on a play that the coaches drew up during the game).  And cynicism and doubt changed to optimism and glee after the shocking upset of U.SC in the Coliseum.  Then while the rest of the conference beat up on each other, Stanford kept winning.  The 8-1 record and Pac 12 North Championship should be an award-worthy accomplishment. 

Everyone I know is a solid Shaw supporter.  That does not mean that we love every decision that he makes.  But he is a perfect fit for Stanford.  His teams have achieved success that I never thought possible over the first 25+ years of my Stanford fandom.  He and his staff and players are excellent representatives of a university that alums hold in very high regard.  I hope he stays for a long, long time.

Thanks for the upgrade. Hopefully most of the posts have been worth the time.

I was disappointed the series ended, but not all that surprise.  Michigan almost did the same thing a few years before.  And from what i have heard, it was always difficult to work with them when ND traveled to michigan.  Michigan made a big fuss about it because ND was the one that finally pulled the trigger, but with the conference realignment people at MU had admitted it would have been hard to keep ND on their schedule anyway, but i guess they found an opportunity to complain, so they did.  Plus it was opportunity to slam ND.  They were great games and i think it will work its way back, but i think ND is making an effort to spread out across the country.  I mean they use to be able to stay in the midwest barely travel and get all the coverage they want, but now that everyone is on TV i think they are trying to reach out the more prosperous parts than Michigan and Indiana, i.e. texas, georgia, miami, etc.  While maintaining their games in California.  I dont think it hurts their schedule, obviously harbaugh wasnt the coach when they did it, but they dropped them and added Texas, which looked like a solid move at the time. 

Its good for Shaw that he has gotten that support.  Makes better coaches when you aren't constantly looking over your shoulder.  I think its good for the sport to have coaches stay for a long time, teach the kids about dedication and perseverance.  From what i have seen he seems like a respectable human being.  I get the slams on Kelly and ND is going to have to make a decision on him quickly, because at 1.2 million a year, he wont stay, not with his record.  So i guess we will see how much the university is behind him.  If he can continue to grow, i think he can become a much more respected person/coach.  I do think he knows how to win and how to get his players ready though.

[NDIrish]

NDIrish, you will note that your classification on the CardBoard has been upgraded from Honorable Heathen to Distinguished Foreigner based on your activity here.  Well done.

What are your thoughts about ending the Michigan-ND series?  Seems to be a lost opportunity for college football and its fans.  Besides the fact that they have played some really exciting, entertaining games,  I cannot imagine a better made-for-tv matchup than Harbaugh vs. Kelly. 

David Shaw has earned a lot more confidence and support based on the job he has done this season.  There was a lot of frustration after last season when a team with the #2 defense in the nation was undone by offensive anemia.  That frustration reached a boiling point after the first game when the team was lethargic and got pushed around by Northwestern.  But the offense finally got untracked the next game vs. Central Florida (including a 90 yard TD pass on a play that the coaches drew up during the game).  And cynicism and doubt changed to optimism and glee after the shocking upset of U.SC in the Coliseum.  Then while the rest of the conference beat up on each other, Stanford kept winning.  The 8-1 record and Pac 12 North Championship should be an award-worthy accomplishment. 

Everyone I know is a solid Shaw supporter.  That does not mean that we love every decision that he makes.  But he is a perfect fit for Stanford.  His teams have achieved success that I never thought possible over the first 25+ years of my Stanford fandom.  He and his staff and players are excellent representatives of a university that alums hold in very high regard.  I hope he stays for a long, long time.

Thanks for the upgrade. Hopefully most of the posts have been worth the time.

I was disappointed the series ended, but not all that surprise.  Michigan almost did the same thing a few years before.  And from what i have heard, it was always difficult to work with them when ND traveled to michigan.  Michigan made a big fuss about it because ND was the one that finally pulled the trigger, but with the conference realignment people at MU had admitted it would have been hard to keep ND on their schedule anyway, but i guess they found an opportunity to complain, so they did.  Plus it was opportunity to slam ND.  They were great games and i think it will work its way back, but i think ND is making an effort to spread out across the country.  I mean they use to be able to stay in the midwest barely travel and get all the coverage they want, but now that everyone is on TV i think they are trying to reach out the more prosperous parts than Michigan and Indiana, i.e. texas, georgia, miami, etc.  While maintaining their games in California.  I dont think it hurts their schedule, obviously harbaugh wasnt the coach when they did it, but they dropped them and added Texas, which looked like a solid move at the time. 

Its good for Shaw that he has gotten that support.  Makes better coaches when you aren't constantly looking over your shoulder.  I think its good for the sport to have coaches stay for a long time, teach the kids about dedication and perseverance.  From what i have seen he seems like a respectable human being.  I get the slams on Kelly and ND is going to have to make a decision on him quickly, because at 1.2 million a year, he wont stay, not with his record.  So i guess we will see how much the university is behind him.  If he can continue to grow, i think he can become a much more respected person/coach.  I do think he knows how to win and how to get his players ready though.