[estephan500]

And now #3 in ESPN's early top-25
http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...013-top-25

As flattering as it is, I don't like it. I do think the chip on the shoulder helps us a bit, although it was getting tiresome, to be honest.
My main problem is that if they rank us this high next season, we'll be verging on being overrated. The defense will probably be stellar, but the offense can be anything between mediocre and very good.
If we have offensive problems, all the hordes of people who already doubt Stanford can sustain success, will be out in force.

I'd rather start in the 10-15 range, or even in the 5-10 range. From there, we're high enough that if we win our games we won't be snubbed, but not as high that the screams of "overrated!" can become defeaning (cough, U.SC, cough).

I agree with this. I see very little value in national fawning attention, especially while I am a bit more cognizant of (or paranoid about)  the skeletons in the closet.  All the media glamor during the Luck era seemed like more than a hassle than anything. And one thing I loved about this year was just a chance for our team to focus on itself, its several stars, its own issues, without corny Sports Illustrated articles dredging up superlatives.  (Here is where someone replies with "yes but it is good for recruiting." OK, yeah.)

[estephan500]

And now #3 in ESPN's early top-25
http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...013-top-25

As flattering as it is, I don't like it. I do think the chip on the shoulder helps us a bit, although it was getting tiresome, to be honest.
My main problem is that if they rank us this high next season, we'll be verging on being overrated. The defense will probably be stellar, but the offense can be anything between mediocre and very good.
If we have offensive problems, all the hordes of people who already doubt Stanford can sustain success, will be out in force.

I'd rather start in the 10-15 range, or even in the 5-10 range. From there, we're high enough that if we win our games we won't be snubbed, but not as high that the screams of "overrated!" can become defeaning (cough, U.SC, cough).

I agree with this. I see very little value in national fawning attention, especially while I am a bit more cognizant of (or paranoid about)  the skeletons in the closet.  All the media glamor during the Luck era seemed like more than a hassle than anything. And one thing I loved about this year was just a chance for our team to focus on itself, its several stars, its own issues, without corny Sports Illustrated articles dredging up superlatives.  (Here is where someone replies with "yes but it is good for recruiting." OK, yeah.)