[gailtate]

Finally, if Shaw has been so stellar at hiring, why are we seeing this steady degradation in performance, year by year?  Ultimately, every football program is the product of the head coach and his staff (and, yes, other factors such as facilities, fan base, financial resources, historic and recent reputation of program, etc.).  After the years 2009-2015, Stanford's reputation as a top-tier program was strong; but things began to go pear-shaped afterward; and ultimately, this all goes back to what the coach and his staff did or did not do.
[/quote]

I've been beating this drum for a long time. Bottom-line, the Shaw era is in the process of ending. He's going out not with a bang but a whimper.

[gailtate]

Finally, if Shaw has been so stellar at hiring, why are we seeing this steady degradation in performance, year by year?  Ultimately, every football program is the product of the head coach and his staff (and, yes, other factors such as facilities, fan base, financial resources, historic and recent reputation of program, etc.).  After the years 2009-2015, Stanford's reputation as a top-tier program was strong; but things began to go pear-shaped afterward; and ultimately, this all goes back to what the coach and his staff did or did not do.
[/quote]

I've been beating this drum for a long time. Bottom-line, the Shaw era is in the process of ending. He's going out not with a bang but a whimper.