[Redrum]

What is the argument for Condi?  Stanford has never had a woman AD.  (Sigh)  And look how Stanford and women athletes have suffered:  Trapped in what is arguably the premier women's program in college sports for decades on end.  Let's see, what else?  She's a very popular, recognizable figure.  Well, by that criteria,  why not Taylor Swift?  She's smart and has been successful in other fields.  OK,  then why not Carly Fiorina or Meg Whitman?    She's a BIG Stanford sports fan and helps with recruiting.   Then by all means give ME a shot,  too.  When did gladhanding and impressing recruits become a core competency for running an athletic program?  You hire coaching staffs to do that.

Condi is a great addition to the Stanford community and really does a great pitch with visiting recruits and their families.  But nothing in her professional resume equips her to run a top-flight athletic program.  Can you imagine where we'd be if instead of Bowlsby in 2006 Stanford had hired Rice to be AD?  Based on previous resume,  there's no contest.  Well,  our task is to find the next Bob Bowlsby.  He or she is out there,  but being a "she" shouldn't be the fulcrum issue.  Nor should having cleaned Gen. Colin Powell's clock with a vicious crackback block.  The one for us is out there somewhere and I hope a wise and rigorous search finds the right one for the right reasons.

[Redrum]

What is the argument for Condi?  Stanford has never had a woman AD.  (Sigh)  And look how Stanford and women athletes have suffered:  Trapped in what is arguably the premier women's program in college sports for decades on end.  Let's see, what else?  She's a very popular, recognizable figure.  Well, by that criteria,  why not Taylor Swift?  She's smart and has been successful in other fields.  OK,  then why not Carly Fiorina or Meg Whitman?    She's a BIG Stanford sports fan and helps with recruiting.   Then by all means give ME a shot,  too.  When did gladhanding and impressing recruits become a core competency for running an athletic program?  You hire coaching staffs to do that.

Condi is a great addition to the Stanford community and really does a great pitch with visiting recruits and their families.  But nothing in her professional resume equips her to run a top-flight athletic program.  Can you imagine where we'd be if instead of Bowlsby in 2006 Stanford had hired Rice to be AD?  Based on previous resume,  there's no contest.  Well,  our task is to find the next Bob Bowlsby.  He or she is out there,  but being a "she" shouldn't be the fulcrum issue.  Nor should having cleaned Gen. Colin Powell's clock with a vicious crackback block.  The one for us is out there somewhere and I hope a wise and rigorous search finds the right one for the right reasons.