[qwerty49]

The conference move is not the prime concern for me. I just feel Stanford is losing its ability to be competitive in athletics. I used to think the leakage was mainly in the major/revenue sports but when Canady entered the portal that signaled that the problem was pervasive.

Our ability to attract top athletes is greatly diminished. The “40-year decision” has become an outdated and irrelevant concept, and yes, it’s all about the Benjamins. Our own structural impediments (eg draconian restrictions on incoming transfer admissions) don’t help. I have little faith in our institutional desire and ability to retain the Canadys and Iriafens of the future. I really don’t think our administration views intercollegiate athletics as anything more than a bemused cocktail party conversation topic.  I’m not convinced Stanford really understands the new playing field.

All this eventually points toward mediocrity and I’m enough of a fair weather fan to find other things to occupy my time. A 4-8 football season with wins over schools like, say, Cal Poly, Sac State, Duke and Boston College doesn’t really do it for me.

Of course, Kal is in the same boat. I don’t count that as a plus point.

[qwerty49]

The conference move is not the prime concern for me. I just feel Stanford is losing its ability to be competitive in athletics. I used to think the leakage was mainly in the major/revenue sports but when Canady entered the portal that signaled that the problem was pervasive.

Our ability to attract top athletes is greatly diminished. The “40-year decision” has become an outdated and irrelevant concept, and yes, it’s all about the Benjamins. Our own structural impediments (eg draconian restrictions on incoming transfer admissions) don’t help. I have little faith in our institutional desire and ability to retain the Canadys and Iriafens of the future. I really don’t think our administration views intercollegiate athletics as anything more than a bemused cocktail party conversation topic.  I’m not convinced Stanford really understands the new playing field.

All this eventually points toward mediocrity and I’m enough of a fair weather fan to find other things to occupy my time. A 4-8 football season with wins over schools like, say, Cal Poly, Sac State, Duke and Boston College doesn’t really do it for me.

Of course, Kal is in the same boat. I don’t count that as a plus point.