02-08-2014, 04:45 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-08-2014, 07:45 AM by OutsiderFan.)
There are certain programs that simply by virtue of who they are and what they are perceived to be, will attract a steady stream of elite talent. In the PAC-12, USC football has long been a program that could have a monkey for its head coach and still land a steady stream of elite talent every year just by virtue of it having the brand and tradition it has.
To put a finer point on this, a USC offer to a coveted recruit has long been considered an "uh oh" moment for fans of opposing teams because so many top talents have that fulcrum of evil as their program of choice. In such cases fans often fear or even resign themselves to the fact a recruit won't be coming to their school when the Trojans become an option.
My question is has Stanford football now reached this level? Has Stanford's perceived value now become so high that we can now expect Stanford to land a healthy haul of very good talent in each class just because Stanford is Stanford? And has Stanford reached the point where a Stanford offer puts fear into fans of programs who covet Stanford-offered recruits?
If it hasn't, Stanford is as close to having that stature as is possible without being there yet. Perhaps it will take one more 10 win regular season in a row? Or maybe it will take David Shaw leaving and another coach continuing to win 10+ games?
In any case, my sense is at least with David Shaw at the helm, Stanford football is in this "we don't recruit so much as draft" position that is reserved for only the most elite of programs. The next thing that will be fascinating to see is if there is an uptick in the size of the eligible pool of Stanford-admittable elite football talent due to the success Stanford has had since every high school and younger football player knows nothing but Stanford success.
The one factor that could actually hurt Stanford is parents of academically-oriented kids may prohibit their boys to play football (due to the rising concern about concussions), in larger numbers than parents just wanting their kids to be eligible to go to a football factory. We'll have to see.
Aside from this potential reality, in the immediate present, based on the reactions 2015 recruits and their parents, and even media are having to Stanford offers, it does seem Stanford is at least for now at the elite recruiting level reserved for only the top five or so programs in the country. Do others agree or have I been reading too many Hulk posts? :)
To put a finer point on this, a USC offer to a coveted recruit has long been considered an "uh oh" moment for fans of opposing teams because so many top talents have that fulcrum of evil as their program of choice. In such cases fans often fear or even resign themselves to the fact a recruit won't be coming to their school when the Trojans become an option.
My question is has Stanford football now reached this level? Has Stanford's perceived value now become so high that we can now expect Stanford to land a healthy haul of very good talent in each class just because Stanford is Stanford? And has Stanford reached the point where a Stanford offer puts fear into fans of programs who covet Stanford-offered recruits?
If it hasn't, Stanford is as close to having that stature as is possible without being there yet. Perhaps it will take one more 10 win regular season in a row? Or maybe it will take David Shaw leaving and another coach continuing to win 10+ games?
In any case, my sense is at least with David Shaw at the helm, Stanford football is in this "we don't recruit so much as draft" position that is reserved for only the most elite of programs. The next thing that will be fascinating to see is if there is an uptick in the size of the eligible pool of Stanford-admittable elite football talent due to the success Stanford has had since every high school and younger football player knows nothing but Stanford success.
The one factor that could actually hurt Stanford is parents of academically-oriented kids may prohibit their boys to play football (due to the rising concern about concussions), in larger numbers than parents just wanting their kids to be eligible to go to a football factory. We'll have to see.
Aside from this potential reality, in the immediate present, based on the reactions 2015 recruits and their parents, and even media are having to Stanford offers, it does seem Stanford is at least for now at the elite recruiting level reserved for only the top five or so programs in the country. Do others agree or have I been reading too many Hulk posts? :)