[StanUSwagU]

Funny, because I first considered applying to Stanford because of its football team. To be more more specific, I fell in love with the '71 Rose Bowl team with Jim Plunkett at quarterback. Even though I lived in Texas, Stanford became my team. I loved the uniforms, the style of play, the California setting, Prince Lightfoot...you name it. I never wanted to go to school anywhere else. Only later did I learn the academics were solid. But it was football that won me over.

I did always wonder about the band, though.

***********************************

Branner,

I have attended both a Texas A&M home game & a UT home game.  AWESOME !

I would recommend to any Stanford Alum, to put these 2 events on their 'sports bucket list',

[P.S. as you probably know Branner, its mandatory to be there Friday  before the Saturday game, cause college football events at those 2 Universities begin on the Friday evening before]

StanUSwagU,

I've been to a Texas A&M home game and have a son who graduated from there and goes to all of them. Agreed: the atmosphere is amazing. A&M does a great job of welcoming alums and making families feel comfortable and wanted. I've posted elsewhere in this forum on what an outstanding job of marketing A&M does, and how it integrates academic open houses with football games. By the way, A&M baseball games are just as amazing! They fill the place and have baseball-specific cheers, chants, and student stunts that even opponents laugh at and appreciate.

Until I discovered Stanford, the Longhorns were my team. I haven't been to a game in Austin, but know the place rocks. I didn't care for the trash thrown on the field earlier this season (Georgia game, I think).

I've even been to games (football and baseball) at Texas State. Again, the place rocks, and the students feel connected to their teams and do what they can to influence the course of the games.

Stanford has great traditions. Somehow our students have been disconnected from them. I think we can do a much better job of marketing and engaging the Bay Area in Stanford sports. What's not to like? Stanford is truly an inspiring place. This is a business problem that can be solved, and I am optimistic that Luck will make a big difference, especially with Levin's support.

****************

Hi Branner,

Yep, as you well know, the College Football weekend experiences (starting on Fridays) at Texas A&M & UT are AWESOME !

I secretly wish Andrew Luck (being a native of Texas, Houston area I think) ....would take all of our Stanford University officials (eg President, Provost, Board of Trustees, BigDonors, CorporatePartners, Athletic Director, Admissions Director, Head FootballCoach, Key Faculty, etc .....to University of Texas & Texas A&M, to let them meet with their counterparts at these 2 universities, so that our Stanford University Administration & Faculty could learn & get a  'window into how their counterparts support & blend  the great Academics at these 2 outstanding Research Universities ..... with Great Competitive College Football that all the Student-Body, Faculty, and Administration enjoy & partake in.

I second that motion, StanUSwagU. Yes, Luck is a graduate of Stratford High School in Houston, where he was an excellent student and athlete. Sharing knowledge is a proud tradition of college sports. Darrell Royal allowed Emory Ballard to teach the wishbone to arch-rival Oklahoma. Consider, too, how many great coaches learned under the mentorship of Nick Saban. I believe that many universities would be pleased to assist Stanford, and in turn to learn from Stanford. I assume that conference realignment is far from dead, and that such relationships and familiarity could be fruitful for many reasons in the future.

****************************

Hi Branner,

1. Agree fully on the 'sharing of expertise' between Universities, after all ...isnt that what 'education & universities' are supposed to be about ?

2. I realize Univ of Texas & Texas A&M are much larger universities with regard to the size of their student-body (which is why I always mention NotreDame as the ciosest model to Stanford) ...but I think what can be learned from Univ of Texas & Texas A&M, is how ALL departments & wings of the University support Football, and how those University's Administrations work to make the Student/Fan/Alum experience on College Football Weekends, top notch !

[StanUSwagU]

Funny, because I first considered applying to Stanford because of its football team. To be more more specific, I fell in love with the '71 Rose Bowl team with Jim Plunkett at quarterback. Even though I lived in Texas, Stanford became my team. I loved the uniforms, the style of play, the California setting, Prince Lightfoot...you name it. I never wanted to go to school anywhere else. Only later did I learn the academics were solid. But it was football that won me over.

I did always wonder about the band, though.

***********************************

Branner,

I have attended both a Texas A&M home game & a UT home game.  AWESOME !

I would recommend to any Stanford Alum, to put these 2 events on their 'sports bucket list',

[P.S. as you probably know Branner, its mandatory to be there Friday  before the Saturday game, cause college football events at those 2 Universities begin on the Friday evening before]

StanUSwagU,

I've been to a Texas A&M home game and have a son who graduated from there and goes to all of them. Agreed: the atmosphere is amazing. A&M does a great job of welcoming alums and making families feel comfortable and wanted. I've posted elsewhere in this forum on what an outstanding job of marketing A&M does, and how it integrates academic open houses with football games. By the way, A&M baseball games are just as amazing! They fill the place and have baseball-specific cheers, chants, and student stunts that even opponents laugh at and appreciate.

Until I discovered Stanford, the Longhorns were my team. I haven't been to a game in Austin, but know the place rocks. I didn't care for the trash thrown on the field earlier this season (Georgia game, I think).

I've even been to games (football and baseball) at Texas State. Again, the place rocks, and the students feel connected to their teams and do what they can to influence the course of the games.

Stanford has great traditions. Somehow our students have been disconnected from them. I think we can do a much better job of marketing and engaging the Bay Area in Stanford sports. What's not to like? Stanford is truly an inspiring place. This is a business problem that can be solved, and I am optimistic that Luck will make a big difference, especially with Levin's support.

****************

Hi Branner,

Yep, as you well know, the College Football weekend experiences (starting on Fridays) at Texas A&M & UT are AWESOME !

I secretly wish Andrew Luck (being a native of Texas, Houston area I think) ....would take all of our Stanford University officials (eg President, Provost, Board of Trustees, BigDonors, CorporatePartners, Athletic Director, Admissions Director, Head FootballCoach, Key Faculty, etc .....to University of Texas & Texas A&M, to let them meet with their counterparts at these 2 universities, so that our Stanford University Administration & Faculty could learn & get a  'window into how their counterparts support & blend  the great Academics at these 2 outstanding Research Universities ..... with Great Competitive College Football that all the Student-Body, Faculty, and Administration enjoy & partake in.

I second that motion, StanUSwagU. Yes, Luck is a graduate of Stratford High School in Houston, where he was an excellent student and athlete. Sharing knowledge is a proud tradition of college sports. Darrell Royal allowed Emory Ballard to teach the wishbone to arch-rival Oklahoma. Consider, too, how many great coaches learned under the mentorship of Nick Saban. I believe that many universities would be pleased to assist Stanford, and in turn to learn from Stanford. I assume that conference realignment is far from dead, and that such relationships and familiarity could be fruitful for many reasons in the future.

****************************

Hi Branner,

1. Agree fully on the 'sharing of expertise' between Universities, after all ...isnt that what 'education & universities' are supposed to be about ?

2. I realize Univ of Texas & Texas A&M are much larger universities with regard to the size of their student-body (which is why I always mention NotreDame as the ciosest model to Stanford) ...but I think what can be learned from Univ of Texas & Texas A&M, is how ALL departments & wings of the University support Football, and how those University's Administrations work to make the Student/Fan/Alum experience on College Football Weekends, top notch !