[Owen Tufornomor]

Page 3 of 3

If I were AD at Stanford University, this year's "magic number" with respect to renewing Hanson's contract would be set precisely at 25 conference wins; nonetheless, I personally would tolerate that number being set at an absolute minimum of 8. Should this team fall short of winning 1/3 of its 24 conference games then, to my mind, there can be no reasonable doubt in anyone's mind regarding the proper course of action to take this off-season. It's a no-brainer NO DEAL on the contract renewal; while 8 or 9 wins would be a conversation starter only, not a guaranteed renewal. Ten or more wins in Pac-12 play? (Do you believe in miracles?? Yes!!! - I mean, no, not one of that magnitude.) Seriously, if such a miracle actually were to materialize then I, for one, would voice no objection should the signing of a one-year extension follow, just a matter-of-fact reiteration that I myself would have set the bar at 25 (at the urging of my ethical instincts).

Now, before I wrap this up, how 'bout we review expectations and results of the past season. Are you ready for this? Are you sure you're ready? Okay, here we go...

"We're ready to put Stanford softball back on the map. We want to redefine the program and see what this team is able to do this year. We're going to surprise a lot of people." Such was the vision of one senior player (sounding not unlike someone parroting words heard in a coaches-led team meeting) shortly before the commencement of the 2016 season.

So very sorry to say, truer words were never spoken. Failing to reach even the lowly heights scaled a year earlier (recall that that season's team was deeply divided and distracted by fallout from the then recent ouster of John Rittman as head coach and took a significant hit in talent, experience and depth when three of its accomplished but fed up players "mutinied" under the command of Head Coach Rachel "Captain Bligh" Hanson with 10 games remaining in conference play), the historic Campaign of 2016, further undermined by heightened Hanson era "redefinition," more than took the unsuspecting softball world unawares, as the infamy of an 0-24 ambushing of Stanford Softball's players, parents, alums, admin, sundry fans and philanthropic benefactors put Stanford Softball back on the map.

Every effort must be made to equip our extraordinarily dedicated and hard-working players with all the tools needed to proudly redefine what it means to put Stanford softball back on the map, a phrase most unfortunately perversely redefined under the Hanson regime. Top priority: An upgrade in the coaching department.

In the summers of my youth I regularly recited a brief pledge of sportsmanship known as the Little League Pledge, which reads in part, as follows:

I will play fair
And strive to win
But win or lose
I will always do my best

Needless to say, the players, parents, alums, sundry fans and philanthropic benefactors of Stanford Softball--and yes, of course, the school admin itself!--are deserving of and entitled to leadership in athletics unexceptionally committed to the fundamental ideals embraced by such a pledge.

Let us (meaning you, Mr. Muir) seek, find and employ such worthy leadership (as described above) with respect to the coaching of Stanford softball!

And now, in closing, a prediction; and that is, that at season's end I shall affirm the following:

It is time the reins of Stanford Softball were surrendered to a coaching staff that bleeds Cardinal red.

[Owen Tufornomor]

Page 3 of 3

If I were AD at Stanford University, this year's "magic number" with respect to renewing Hanson's contract would be set precisely at 25 conference wins; nonetheless, I personally would tolerate that number being set at an absolute minimum of 8. Should this team fall short of winning 1/3 of its 24 conference games then, to my mind, there can be no reasonable doubt in anyone's mind regarding the proper course of action to take this off-season. It's a no-brainer NO DEAL on the contract renewal; while 8 or 9 wins would be a conversation starter only, not a guaranteed renewal. Ten or more wins in Pac-12 play? (Do you believe in miracles?? Yes!!! - I mean, no, not one of that magnitude.) Seriously, if such a miracle actually were to materialize then I, for one, would voice no objection should the signing of a one-year extension follow, just a matter-of-fact reiteration that I myself would have set the bar at 25 (at the urging of my ethical instincts).

Now, before I wrap this up, how 'bout we review expectations and results of the past season. Are you ready for this? Are you sure you're ready? Okay, here we go...

"We're ready to put Stanford softball back on the map. We want to redefine the program and see what this team is able to do this year. We're going to surprise a lot of people." Such was the vision of one senior player (sounding not unlike someone parroting words heard in a coaches-led team meeting) shortly before the commencement of the 2016 season.

So very sorry to say, truer words were never spoken. Failing to reach even the lowly heights scaled a year earlier (recall that that season's team was deeply divided and distracted by fallout from the then recent ouster of John Rittman as head coach and took a significant hit in talent, experience and depth when three of its accomplished but fed up players "mutinied" under the command of Head Coach Rachel "Captain Bligh" Hanson with 10 games remaining in conference play), the historic Campaign of 2016, further undermined by heightened Hanson era "redefinition," more than took the unsuspecting softball world unawares, as the infamy of an 0-24 ambushing of Stanford Softball's players, parents, alums, admin, sundry fans and philanthropic benefactors put Stanford Softball back on the map.

Every effort must be made to equip our extraordinarily dedicated and hard-working players with all the tools needed to proudly redefine what it means to put Stanford softball back on the map, a phrase most unfortunately perversely redefined under the Hanson regime. Top priority: An upgrade in the coaching department.

In the summers of my youth I regularly recited a brief pledge of sportsmanship known as the Little League Pledge, which reads in part, as follows:

I will play fair
And strive to win
But win or lose
I will always do my best

Needless to say, the players, parents, alums, sundry fans and philanthropic benefactors of Stanford Softball--and yes, of course, the school admin itself!--are deserving of and entitled to leadership in athletics unexceptionally committed to the fundamental ideals embraced by such a pledge.

Let us (meaning you, Mr. Muir) seek, find and employ such worthy leadership (as described above) with respect to the coaching of Stanford softball!

And now, in closing, a prediction; and that is, that at season's end I shall affirm the following:

It is time the reins of Stanford Softball were surrendered to a coaching staff that bleeds Cardinal red.