[Langdude]

It would be quite shocking to have all three DL with a year of eligibility remaining leave the program. It could happen, but that's not what coaches are assume when they are developing their recruiting priorities.

So as much as I decry the failure to recruit more DL annually, even I know the last couple years of recruiting classes were executed on the assumption at least a couple of Williams, Swann, and Schaffer would play all four years they had eligibility.

Totally agree. Stanford has recruited over the last 20 years thinking that the majority of recruits will be around five years. I think the ease of fifth-year transferring has complicated the Stanford system, as has the readiness of contributing players to retire with eligibility remaining; I wonder about the reasons for the latter, but I think that 1) the increasing concern over brain trauma, and 2) the large starting salaries in various jobs are contributing factors. I do also wonder if any instability in the coaching staff has contributed.

Having said that, I do think and hope Swann will return, and am somewhat less sure about Schaffer. Who knows re: Williams.

-m.

[Langdude]

It would be quite shocking to have all three DL with a year of eligibility remaining leave the program. It could happen, but that's not what coaches are assume when they are developing their recruiting priorities.

So as much as I decry the failure to recruit more DL annually, even I know the last couple years of recruiting classes were executed on the assumption at least a couple of Williams, Swann, and Schaffer would play all four years they had eligibility.

Totally agree. Stanford has recruited over the last 20 years thinking that the majority of recruits will be around five years. I think the ease of fifth-year transferring has complicated the Stanford system, as has the readiness of contributing players to retire with eligibility remaining; I wonder about the reasons for the latter, but I think that 1) the increasing concern over brain trauma, and 2) the large starting salaries in various jobs are contributing factors. I do also wonder if any instability in the coaching staff has contributed.

Having said that, I do think and hope Swann will return, and am somewhat less sure about Schaffer. Who knows re: Williams.

-m.