[OutsiderFan]

You think that is a good long term strategy, Stanford actually letting potential recruits know that if they stick with Stanford, they may need to go through the embarrassment of having to intentionally "pull down the hat" in a situation like this?

I don't know, oman, maybe it's just me being a stickler for honest dealings.  If I was a fan of another school I wouldn't want to be under the assumption someone who was admitted to Stanford chose against Stanford, which is what is going to happen to many fans next Wednesday.  I'd rather have Stanford's hat only be on the table when Stanford is an option.  If that means less exposure for Stanford, so be it. But on the flip side, Stanford's conversion rate for admits is exceptionally high.  I'd rather have the reality be that when you see a Stanford hat on the table, it means that hat is going to be the one chosen.  In an honest display of options, it will in most often be the one selected. 

[OutsiderFan]

You think that is a good long term strategy, Stanford actually letting potential recruits know that if they stick with Stanford, they may need to go through the embarrassment of having to intentionally "pull down the hat" in a situation like this?

I don't know, oman, maybe it's just me being a stickler for honest dealings.  If I was a fan of another school I wouldn't want to be under the assumption someone who was admitted to Stanford chose against Stanford, which is what is going to happen to many fans next Wednesday.  I'd rather have Stanford's hat only be on the table when Stanford is an option.  If that means less exposure for Stanford, so be it. But on the flip side, Stanford's conversion rate for admits is exceptionally high.  I'd rather have the reality be that when you see a Stanford hat on the table, it means that hat is going to be the one chosen.  In an honest display of options, it will in most often be the one selected.