[spike5882]

I wouldn't call half the MWC wearing a Pac-12 mask "home."

Well, the real PAC 12 has sailed. You prefer they play Boston College?   And what’s better for all those so-called “student athletes.”

I think only the student athletes can answer that question.  The majority of the sports teams at Stanford are elite or relatively elite.  Most of the student athletes are choosing a school to compete at a high level.  Going back to a conference where competition is at lower levels in most sports is going to deter many top level athletes who want to compete against the best in their respective sport.  So, which is better for these student athletes?  I think a majority would say they prefer to be in a conference that is competitive.

Interesting. "Lower levels". Looking at football, which is all that matters today in terms of conference affiliation, the Pacific and Mountain Time Zones seem to provide decent competition.

Stanford football is 5-4 all time against the Mountain West.

Stanford football is 15-7 all time against the WAC.

Stanford football s 17-8-1 all time against the Big West (SJSU only team played from that conference)

It is not like Stanford has run roughshod over the "lesser" western teams. Stanford football also lost to UC Davis and Sac State. It appears they would have trouble in a Sacramento Valley Conference.

Stanford football is also 6-1 all time against the SEC so everything comes with grains of salt.

Stanford can't afford to leave the ACC before it implodes, but panic moves get panic results. It has been interesting watching the baseball team flail this year in conference play. I steel feel Stanford should have taken a leadership position on the west coast and worked to be a kingpin. Similar to how UCONN WBB is in a garbage conference but is able to stay on top despite that.

Totally true regarding football, and it being the end all for conference affiliation currently.  However, I have never personally seen Stanford as a 'football school'.  If we ever did go that direction, I'd be less likely to follow Stanford sports as a whole as I currently do.  For me, it's the other sports that draw my attention.  Growing up near Notre Dame, football was rammed down my throat since a child with half the houses in my neighborhood having a room dedicated to ND football memorabilia.  It just got tiring for me, and that carried over when I headed west to Stanford.  But looking outside the two main male sports, football and basketball, Stanford's athletic program is pretty special and draws in so many talented athletes across the board.  For me, it'd be a shame to lose those types of athletes.

[spike5882]

I wouldn't call half the MWC wearing a Pac-12 mask "home."

Well, the real PAC 12 has sailed. You prefer they play Boston College?   And what’s better for all those so-called “student athletes.”

I think only the student athletes can answer that question.  The majority of the sports teams at Stanford are elite or relatively elite.  Most of the student athletes are choosing a school to compete at a high level.  Going back to a conference where competition is at lower levels in most sports is going to deter many top level athletes who want to compete against the best in their respective sport.  So, which is better for these student athletes?  I think a majority would say they prefer to be in a conference that is competitive.

Interesting. "Lower levels". Looking at football, which is all that matters today in terms of conference affiliation, the Pacific and Mountain Time Zones seem to provide decent competition.

Stanford football is 5-4 all time against the Mountain West.

Stanford football is 15-7 all time against the WAC.

Stanford football s 17-8-1 all time against the Big West (SJSU only team played from that conference)

It is not like Stanford has run roughshod over the "lesser" western teams. Stanford football also lost to UC Davis and Sac State. It appears they would have trouble in a Sacramento Valley Conference.

Stanford football is also 6-1 all time against the SEC so everything comes with grains of salt.

Stanford can't afford to leave the ACC before it implodes, but panic moves get panic results. It has been interesting watching the baseball team flail this year in conference play. I steel feel Stanford should have taken a leadership position on the west coast and worked to be a kingpin. Similar to how UCONN WBB is in a garbage conference but is able to stay on top despite that.

Totally true regarding football, and it being the end all for conference affiliation currently.  However, I have never personally seen Stanford as a 'football school'.  If we ever did go that direction, I'd be less likely to follow Stanford sports as a whole as I currently do.  For me, it's the other sports that draw my attention.  Growing up near Notre Dame, football was rammed down my throat since a child with half the houses in my neighborhood having a room dedicated to ND football memorabilia.  It just got tiring for me, and that carried over when I headed west to Stanford.  But looking outside the two main male sports, football and basketball, Stanford's athletic program is pretty special and draws in so many talented athletes across the board.  For me, it'd be a shame to lose those types of athletes.