[murky]

Stanford will never be a perennial football powerhouse.  We were blessed with our recent Rose Bowl and New Year's bowl appearances.  Shaw took Stanford football to heights many fans never thought they would see.  He may do it again, or he may not.  But if you want 10+ wins every year, become an Alabama fan.

Why can't Stanford be a perennial football powerhouse? What's wrong with expecting- no DEMANDING - a top 5 finish every year?  I tired of hearing all the excuses this year. 

As far as 10 wins - in this conference, 10 wins should be the floor.

Football, in unlike other NCAA sports.   
In most NCAA sports almost all of the HS student-athletes understand they should go to the best academic opportunity that also offers a chance at winning.  Crowd size, TV appearances, and other ego boosting elements are all rather unimportant in their decision making process.

In football the HS athletes often prefer big time stadiums, tv ratings, and a chance to play in important games to improve their NFL draft status and launch their career endorsing products.   Academics are not even a factor for many of the athletes at the elite level.  

As a highly selective university without millions of crazed fans, Stanford has to recruit a slightly different type of student-athlete.   We are very fortunate that winning seasons are possible as Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Duke and Rice have enjoyed far less success over the last 30 years.

Most coaches that get 8+ wins at Stanford will leave for far better coaching roles after one or two seasons.  History is our guide here..  Walsh, Green, Willingham and Harbaugh all left for more prestigious football opportunities after they achieved one or two seasons winning seasons. 

The 2010s was the best decade in the history of Stanford football.   It would be amazing for the 2020s to have a similar level, but to expect it would be to ignore all of the forces working against that type of outcome.

Great message. When the environment is tough and the competition tougher, expect mediocrity. . . .

Averaging 8 wins in a competitive conference is not mediocrity.    Expecting 10 plus regularly is delusion.  

But nobody is suggesting that Shaw aim for 8 wins, or 4th in the Pac 12.  

If that is the mean about which we fluctuate over the long term, we'll have done much better than our historical performance, better than our share, and better than most of the other teams in the conference in spite of our challenges.

Trying a new coaching staff every time we have a couple seasons that end near .500 is a recipe for much, much worse outcome.

[murky]

Stanford will never be a perennial football powerhouse.  We were blessed with our recent Rose Bowl and New Year's bowl appearances.  Shaw took Stanford football to heights many fans never thought they would see.  He may do it again, or he may not.  But if you want 10+ wins every year, become an Alabama fan.

Why can't Stanford be a perennial football powerhouse? What's wrong with expecting- no DEMANDING - a top 5 finish every year?  I tired of hearing all the excuses this year. 

As far as 10 wins - in this conference, 10 wins should be the floor.

Football, in unlike other NCAA sports.   
In most NCAA sports almost all of the HS student-athletes understand they should go to the best academic opportunity that also offers a chance at winning.  Crowd size, TV appearances, and other ego boosting elements are all rather unimportant in their decision making process.

In football the HS athletes often prefer big time stadiums, tv ratings, and a chance to play in important games to improve their NFL draft status and launch their career endorsing products.   Academics are not even a factor for many of the athletes at the elite level.  

As a highly selective university without millions of crazed fans, Stanford has to recruit a slightly different type of student-athlete.   We are very fortunate that winning seasons are possible as Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Duke and Rice have enjoyed far less success over the last 30 years.

Most coaches that get 8+ wins at Stanford will leave for far better coaching roles after one or two seasons.  History is our guide here..  Walsh, Green, Willingham and Harbaugh all left for more prestigious football opportunities after they achieved one or two seasons winning seasons. 

The 2010s was the best decade in the history of Stanford football.   It would be amazing for the 2020s to have a similar level, but to expect it would be to ignore all of the forces working against that type of outcome.

Great message. When the environment is tough and the competition tougher, expect mediocrity. . . .

Averaging 8 wins in a competitive conference is not mediocrity.    Expecting 10 plus regularly is delusion.  

But nobody is suggesting that Shaw aim for 8 wins, or 4th in the Pac 12.  

If that is the mean about which we fluctuate over the long term, we'll have done much better than our historical performance, better than our share, and better than most of the other teams in the conference in spite of our challenges.

Trying a new coaching staff every time we have a couple seasons that end near .500 is a recipe for much, much worse outcome.