Deja Vu, anyone?
I remember having this EXACT conversation during Montgomery's years near the top of the basketball world. Particularly the year we were Sports Illustrated's pre-season #1 (following our Final Four appearance). Folks on this message board wondered whether Stanford would wilt under the pressure and had only thrived by being able to play "under the radar".  Needless to say, this is no longer a top concern.
My takeaways from that long ago time? Being a perennial preseason Top 5 is much, much better than being a hungry second division Pac 12 team. The national expectations made the team tougher, games more important (UConn at Maples or Duke at the Colliseum anyone?) and, from a fan perspective, Stanford Basketball MATTERED on the national stage. Students camped out for tickets, Maples was rocking and players seemed to relish the big games and maintaining what they built. Think Peter Sauer, Chris Hernandes, Michael Montgomery, Jason and Jaron Collins, Casey Jacobsen - all players who relished and thrived in the hot house environment of a high national ranking. Recruits flocked to our games - even the ones who went elsewhere.
I'd rather have that environment any day than to be a hungry team on the periphery. Right now Stanford football is very, very good, the nation's noticed and that is OK. My advice: Embrace and Enjoy the moment!
I remember having this EXACT conversation during Montgomery's years near the top of the basketball world. Particularly the year we were Sports Illustrated's pre-season #1 (following our Final Four appearance). Folks on this message board wondered whether Stanford would wilt under the pressure and had only thrived by being able to play "under the radar".  Needless to say, this is no longer a top concern.
My takeaways from that long ago time? Being a perennial preseason Top 5 is much, much better than being a hungry second division Pac 12 team. The national expectations made the team tougher, games more important (UConn at Maples or Duke at the Colliseum anyone?) and, from a fan perspective, Stanford Basketball MATTERED on the national stage. Students camped out for tickets, Maples was rocking and players seemed to relish the big games and maintaining what they built. Think Peter Sauer, Chris Hernandes, Michael Montgomery, Jason and Jaron Collins, Casey Jacobsen - all players who relished and thrived in the hot house environment of a high national ranking. Recruits flocked to our games - even the ones who went elsewhere.
I'd rather have that environment any day than to be a hungry team on the periphery. Right now Stanford football is very, very good, the nation's noticed and that is OK. My advice: Embrace and Enjoy the moment!
In 1938 Neville Chamberlain declared "Peace in our time", Superman first appeared in Action Comics, Seabiscuit beat War Admiral ....... and C.a.l last won the Rose Bowl.