[doubledub]

I tried to read through all the posts and I think one consideration is missing...CM is now thinking about getting a paying job whereas the bowl game is "just for fun." Yes, the "fun game" apparently has a lot of meaning for some fans, but why should that matter to the person trying to get the best, highest paying job that he can.  If I were back in school and someone told me that I had a better chance at getting millions more for my first my first job by skipping a school group project that was just for fun, I skip the project every time, especially if I know that others can ably take my place on the project team.  If someone told me the project had a 1% chance of costing me millions, I would never do it. 

Also, this debate of how important the game is seems ridiculous.  Talk to people who play the games.  When Stanford was nowhere, the bowl game became a larger than life experience.  Now that we have a few Roses under our belt in the not to distant past, the Sun Bowl has limited attraction for the players.  For those who are never going to play again, yes, they are looking forward to it and they want to win.  But for others, it just doesn't matter.  How do I know?  I asked them and they told me so, including starters.  Some, flat out, would prefer to give their bodies a break and spend time with their friends and family considering that they have been busting their asses since the summer time.  Who are we to decide what should or should not matter to them?  And I highly doubt that the fans are a significant part of the calculation for any player who chooses to come to Stanford.  As group, Stanford fans are nowhere near as passionate as fans at other programs that have the success that we have.  Coaches at Stanford have to recruit in spite of the fans.  That is the reality we face.

[doubledub]

I tried to read through all the posts and I think one consideration is missing...CM is now thinking about getting a paying job whereas the bowl game is "just for fun." Yes, the "fun game" apparently has a lot of meaning for some fans, but why should that matter to the person trying to get the best, highest paying job that he can.  If I were back in school and someone told me that I had a better chance at getting millions more for my first my first job by skipping a school group project that was just for fun, I skip the project every time, especially if I know that others can ably take my place on the project team.  If someone told me the project had a 1% chance of costing me millions, I would never do it. 

Also, this debate of how important the game is seems ridiculous.  Talk to people who play the games.  When Stanford was nowhere, the bowl game became a larger than life experience.  Now that we have a few Roses under our belt in the not to distant past, the Sun Bowl has limited attraction for the players.  For those who are never going to play again, yes, they are looking forward to it and they want to win.  But for others, it just doesn't matter.  How do I know?  I asked them and they told me so, including starters.  Some, flat out, would prefer to give their bodies a break and spend time with their friends and family considering that they have been busting their asses since the summer time.  Who are we to decide what should or should not matter to them?  And I highly doubt that the fans are a significant part of the calculation for any player who chooses to come to Stanford.  As group, Stanford fans are nowhere near as passionate as fans at other programs that have the success that we have.  Coaches at Stanford have to recruit in spite of the fans.  That is the reality we face.