[Goose]

I believe that, absent extenuating circumstances, a player has a responsibility to finish the season, and I think that bowl games are part of the season.

I basically agree with this. However, I believe that skipping your senior year to play pro football qualifies as an extenuating circumstance. But I agree that this is debatable, as we are proving here.

  I think his first mistake was to declare for the draft before the game, even if he'd already made up his mind.  Just say "I'll announce my decision after the season's over."  In my mind that would have been the responsible thing to do.

That is what I would have expected as well. Therefore, when he didn't do that, I imagine there were reasons, not just a whim. It must have been eating at him in some way, or others were just driving him nuts asking. It also could be that it was just too hard to act like you still care when you don't. He may have just been completely done with Stanford football, no more in the tank, and wanted to move on. I don't know, but I remain convinced it was something, or he would have just kept his mouth shut and avoided the controversy. I also don't think he had decided not to play in the bowl at the same time he decided to skip next year. If he had, it would have made sense to say so at the same time and avoid two publicity hits. Her certainly wouldn't have said he was preparing to play when he already knew he would not.

I get that you and others disagree - so be it, let's agree to disagree.  But given the number of former players and fans who have come out and said that his decision bothers them, it's hard to say that the "damage is slight."  Also keep in mind that Shaw has not (to my knowledge) said he supports the decision.

Yes, we can agree to disagree. I think that Shaw as been about as "even" in his statements as possible. He has neither supported or condemned the decision. I am not sure we can read anything into this. It could be he feels he has to be neutral for political reasons. He can't very well say "good idea" or the whole senior class might bolt, or at least question why they are playing. He can't very well say he is disappointed in CMac without alienating recruits that may see themselves doing the same. So I don't think we know what Shaw actually thinks beyond what he has said.
As far as the damage, we don't really know. If Stanford wins and Love has a great game, this will all be forgotten I think. If Stanford doesn't win, that will be a different story. As far as damaging Stanford's football reputation, I don't think it does. There are so many people on both sides of the issue, and everywhere in between (like me) that I don't see this as a problem. But we can agree to disagree about that too!

[Goose]

I believe that, absent extenuating circumstances, a player has a responsibility to finish the season, and I think that bowl games are part of the season.

I basically agree with this. However, I believe that skipping your senior year to play pro football qualifies as an extenuating circumstance. But I agree that this is debatable, as we are proving here.

  I think his first mistake was to declare for the draft before the game, even if he'd already made up his mind.  Just say "I'll announce my decision after the season's over."  In my mind that would have been the responsible thing to do.

That is what I would have expected as well. Therefore, when he didn't do that, I imagine there were reasons, not just a whim. It must have been eating at him in some way, or others were just driving him nuts asking. It also could be that it was just too hard to act like you still care when you don't. He may have just been completely done with Stanford football, no more in the tank, and wanted to move on. I don't know, but I remain convinced it was something, or he would have just kept his mouth shut and avoided the controversy. I also don't think he had decided not to play in the bowl at the same time he decided to skip next year. If he had, it would have made sense to say so at the same time and avoid two publicity hits. Her certainly wouldn't have said he was preparing to play when he already knew he would not.

I get that you and others disagree - so be it, let's agree to disagree.  But given the number of former players and fans who have come out and said that his decision bothers them, it's hard to say that the "damage is slight."  Also keep in mind that Shaw has not (to my knowledge) said he supports the decision.

Yes, we can agree to disagree. I think that Shaw as been about as "even" in his statements as possible. He has neither supported or condemned the decision. I am not sure we can read anything into this. It could be he feels he has to be neutral for political reasons. He can't very well say "good idea" or the whole senior class might bolt, or at least question why they are playing. He can't very well say he is disappointed in CMac without alienating recruits that may see themselves doing the same. So I don't think we know what Shaw actually thinks beyond what he has said.
As far as the damage, we don't really know. If Stanford wins and Love has a great game, this will all be forgotten I think. If Stanford doesn't win, that will be a different story. As far as damaging Stanford's football reputation, I don't think it does. There are so many people on both sides of the issue, and everywhere in between (like me) that I don't see this as a problem. But we can agree to disagree about that too!