[drnoodleman]

* Luck was asked a follow-up question on why he went interim and he went into more detail on what I discussed above regarding not laying down for this year. He made explicit that he was answering two questions, what's best for 2025 and what's best long-term. I think post-Taylor firing I ended up more in a place that the overriding criterion should be what's best long-term, but clearly Luck could not bring himself to write off 2025. I think he may have landed on an option that threads those two questions but IMHO it remains a fair question whether this is best long-term. Luck is intellectually honest enough that he acknowledged the answer to the two questions may not be the same. I just think he couldn't give up on 2025. He also confirmed, as I gleaned earlier, that he believes in this staff. He's making a bet there that I hope is right.

* Did I say intellectually honest? Also add refreshingly self-aware. That answer also included Luck saying he's green on the job and wants to figure out more about system and structure and how to improve. Read: he thinks he'll be able to make a better decision in the fall than he could have in a time crunch now. He also said there was a gut feel that Reich was right and he wanted to listen to that too. I think Luck has pretty profound insights into organizations, leadership, decisionmaking, and his own limitations and is honest with himself and us about his process. What's not to like about that?

* Reich teased us big time with his seven standards for the 2025 season and how he wasn't going to go into detail on that in the press conference. Would love to know what those are. Reich also said he could feel the energy of the team when he was going through those standards and observed that players have heard most of the standards before but it's a matter of emphasis, execution, culture, teamwork, chemistry, and trust. This was the same kind of thing we heard from Taylor but I am hope I am not being naive in thinking a guy who has been to two NFL playoffs is a better bet for it than a guy who peaked in FCS. It was also interesting to hear Reich talk about briefing the team on how they'll measure the standards. Not sure what that looks like, but interesting that this is supposedly something with some level of detail and measurement. (Not just love?)

* Luck demurred on the process for the permanent hire. Didn't sound coy but rather that it took a lot out of him to navigate this immediate transition and that he hasn't thought about the process for the permanent hire. Alligators closest to the boat (my phrase not his). There did seem to be an element of all in on 2025/focus on 2025, so I wonder how early and intensively we will get into the process. Still a ways to go in this year though so I think it's ok to take a breather. But if Reich is indeed interim as all indications suggest, I hope we are thinking deeply about this in October and not waiting until the season is done. A lame duck probably takes care of that and we don't have to worry about Luck getting caught flat-footed or waiting too long.

* Fun insight into Reich's family/interests to hear about his daughters having been Division I swimmers and being interested in the swimming team. Luck mentioned a staff outing to the Sunday Stanford baseball game and said a big chunk of the football team will be contributing to the attempt to break the softball attendance record later this month.

* Reich talked about "measured aggressiveness" in playcalling and how he's naturally aggressive but it's not smart to just be aggressive to prove a point. I would defer to people who remember Chargers, Eagles, and Colts offenses of yesteryear on what this may look like. I also suppose I'm not so interested in whether somebody is aggressive as opposed to whether they're effective.

* Nobody asked a single personnel question. Maybe an understanding Reich has been on campus for like two days and doesn't know anybody. Maybe asked not to raise QBs at a delicate time. I don't know.

* Luck closed the press conference with an ode to principles, values, cultures, and taking a step forward being enduring and how Reich only being here a year will make a difference that will last. Sounds good and Reich co-signed without adding further, but this felt like a bit of a hand wave to the question on Reich getting buy-in as a lame duck and making an enduring impact. After seeing "culture of love" fail in two years despite pretty spectacular success at the previous school, I think it's a fair question to ask what we expect one year of Reich to accomplish.

* I was trying to understand why Reich's jersey number is 36 and then realized 36th head coach at Stanford. That makes more sense than 36 NFL interceptions.

Anyway, good day for Stanford football and we can have some hope about being on a better track but there are legitimate questions about where this leaves us this fall and beyond. Looking forward to seeing the mark Reich makes.

As always, thanks for taking your valuable time to share your thoughts with us.

[drnoodleman]

* Luck was asked a follow-up question on why he went interim and he went into more detail on what I discussed above regarding not laying down for this year. He made explicit that he was answering two questions, what's best for 2025 and what's best long-term. I think post-Taylor firing I ended up more in a place that the overriding criterion should be what's best long-term, but clearly Luck could not bring himself to write off 2025. I think he may have landed on an option that threads those two questions but IMHO it remains a fair question whether this is best long-term. Luck is intellectually honest enough that he acknowledged the answer to the two questions may not be the same. I just think he couldn't give up on 2025. He also confirmed, as I gleaned earlier, that he believes in this staff. He's making a bet there that I hope is right.

* Did I say intellectually honest? Also add refreshingly self-aware. That answer also included Luck saying he's green on the job and wants to figure out more about system and structure and how to improve. Read: he thinks he'll be able to make a better decision in the fall than he could have in a time crunch now. He also said there was a gut feel that Reich was right and he wanted to listen to that too. I think Luck has pretty profound insights into organizations, leadership, decisionmaking, and his own limitations and is honest with himself and us about his process. What's not to like about that?

* Reich teased us big time with his seven standards for the 2025 season and how he wasn't going to go into detail on that in the press conference. Would love to know what those are. Reich also said he could feel the energy of the team when he was going through those standards and observed that players have heard most of the standards before but it's a matter of emphasis, execution, culture, teamwork, chemistry, and trust. This was the same kind of thing we heard from Taylor but I am hope I am not being naive in thinking a guy who has been to two NFL playoffs is a better bet for it than a guy who peaked in FCS. It was also interesting to hear Reich talk about briefing the team on how they'll measure the standards. Not sure what that looks like, but interesting that this is supposedly something with some level of detail and measurement. (Not just love?)

* Luck demurred on the process for the permanent hire. Didn't sound coy but rather that it took a lot out of him to navigate this immediate transition and that he hasn't thought about the process for the permanent hire. Alligators closest to the boat (my phrase not his). There did seem to be an element of all in on 2025/focus on 2025, so I wonder how early and intensively we will get into the process. Still a ways to go in this year though so I think it's ok to take a breather. But if Reich is indeed interim as all indications suggest, I hope we are thinking deeply about this in October and not waiting until the season is done. A lame duck probably takes care of that and we don't have to worry about Luck getting caught flat-footed or waiting too long.

* Fun insight into Reich's family/interests to hear about his daughters having been Division I swimmers and being interested in the swimming team. Luck mentioned a staff outing to the Sunday Stanford baseball game and said a big chunk of the football team will be contributing to the attempt to break the softball attendance record later this month.

* Reich talked about "measured aggressiveness" in playcalling and how he's naturally aggressive but it's not smart to just be aggressive to prove a point. I would defer to people who remember Chargers, Eagles, and Colts offenses of yesteryear on what this may look like. I also suppose I'm not so interested in whether somebody is aggressive as opposed to whether they're effective.

* Nobody asked a single personnel question. Maybe an understanding Reich has been on campus for like two days and doesn't know anybody. Maybe asked not to raise QBs at a delicate time. I don't know.

* Luck closed the press conference with an ode to principles, values, cultures, and taking a step forward being enduring and how Reich only being here a year will make a difference that will last. Sounds good and Reich co-signed without adding further, but this felt like a bit of a hand wave to the question on Reich getting buy-in as a lame duck and making an enduring impact. After seeing "culture of love" fail in two years despite pretty spectacular success at the previous school, I think it's a fair question to ask what we expect one year of Reich to accomplish.

* I was trying to understand why Reich's jersey number is 36 and then realized 36th head coach at Stanford. That makes more sense than 36 NFL interceptions.

Anyway, good day for Stanford football and we can have some hope about being on a better track but there are legitimate questions about where this leaves us this fall and beyond. Looking forward to seeing the mark Reich makes.

As always, thanks for taking your valuable time to share your thoughts with us.