[CardinalSagehen]

Last week, our Honorary Captain at the Utah game was Trent Murphy. The post on Stanford's Facebook page said the following: "'I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.' Proud to lock arms tonight with #HonoraryCaptain and former All-American Trent Murphy. #GoStanford"

The timing of his visit was provocative and made me wonder how he could speak to the team without directly and openly addressing the topic of his recent 4-game suspension from the NFL, which he has presumably just finished serving this week (while rehabbing a torn ACL). 

Don't get me wrong - I loved watching Murphy play at Stanford and I assume he's a fantastic and impressive individual. The truth is that I don't really judge PED use all that much, and I implicitly assume that PEDs are common at the elite levels of all sports.  (Let's not forget that Murphy's former teammate, Richard Sherman, also tested positive in the NFL.) 

A few questions:
1) How do you imagine the topic of PED use was addressed in Murphy's inspirational talk with the team?  Not at all or tangentially (taboo), or openly and honestly with sincere advice not to do PEDs?   

2) Is it possible to have an elite CFB program with minimal to no PED use among the players? 

3) Do coaches advise kids aggressively not to do PEDs, or do they basically look the other way and avoid the topic? 

I confess wanting to stick my head in the sand about this, and feel like a bit of a weenie bringing it up during the excitement of the season.  But I'm curious to hear other fans' perspectives.

[CardinalSagehen]

Last week, our Honorary Captain at the Utah game was Trent Murphy. The post on Stanford's Facebook page said the following: "'I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.' Proud to lock arms tonight with #HonoraryCaptain and former All-American Trent Murphy. #GoStanford"

The timing of his visit was provocative and made me wonder how he could speak to the team without directly and openly addressing the topic of his recent 4-game suspension from the NFL, which he has presumably just finished serving this week (while rehabbing a torn ACL). 

Don't get me wrong - I loved watching Murphy play at Stanford and I assume he's a fantastic and impressive individual. The truth is that I don't really judge PED use all that much, and I implicitly assume that PEDs are common at the elite levels of all sports.  (Let's not forget that Murphy's former teammate, Richard Sherman, also tested positive in the NFL.) 

A few questions:
1) How do you imagine the topic of PED use was addressed in Murphy's inspirational talk with the team?  Not at all or tangentially (taboo), or openly and honestly with sincere advice not to do PEDs?   

2) Is it possible to have an elite CFB program with minimal to no PED use among the players? 

3) Do coaches advise kids aggressively not to do PEDs, or do they basically look the other way and avoid the topic? 

I confess wanting to stick my head in the sand about this, and feel like a bit of a weenie bringing it up during the excitement of the season.  But I'm curious to hear other fans' perspectives.

[Hurlburt88]

I remember a quote a few years ago from Shaw or Turley about "the best performance enhancer is water"

Of course I have no idea how aggressively they discourage the banned stuff . . . hope they are aggressive  :)

[Hurlburt88]

I remember a quote a few years ago from Shaw or Turley about "the best performance enhancer is water"

Of course I have no idea how aggressively they discourage the banned stuff . . . hope they are aggressive  :)

[donkey687]

I thought it was interesting and a bit surprising that Trent was Honorary Captain., but I am happy to see it.  Shaw has demonstrated that he embraces Stanford family in good times and bad (ala Tiger Woods).  Trent is having a tough year and feeling like he is still part of the Stanford family despite his mistake on PEDs is probably important for him.

[donkey687]

I thought it was interesting and a bit surprising that Trent was Honorary Captain., but I am happy to see it.  Shaw has demonstrated that he embraces Stanford family in good times and bad (ala Tiger Woods).  Trent is having a tough year and feeling like he is still part of the Stanford family despite his mistake on PEDs is probably important for him.

[Snorlax94]

As for whether this kind of stuff happens at Stanford, perhaps I am. naive, but I always figured Stanford was much better about this than other schools. You'll notice at the combine Stanford athletes will ofgen have much fewer weightlifting reps than other players.

As far as this sort of thing happening in the NfL, I am strongly opposed to it but my guess would be tht it is quite common.

I don't think this sort of thing in the nfl alone should disqualify someone from being an honorary captain if balanced with an otherwise strong character.

[Snorlax94]

As for whether this kind of stuff happens at Stanford, perhaps I am. naive, but I always figured Stanford was much better about this than other schools. You'll notice at the combine Stanford athletes will ofgen have much fewer weightlifting reps than other players.

As far as this sort of thing happening in the NfL, I am strongly opposed to it but my guess would be tht it is quite common.

I don't think this sort of thing in the nfl alone should disqualify someone from being an honorary captain if balanced with an otherwise strong character.

[djones]

I believe it happens very little in college and not at Stanford. It is contemplated a lot in college, including Stanford. It happens often in the NFL.

[djones]

I believe it happens very little in college and not at Stanford. It is contemplated a lot in college, including Stanford. It happens often in the NFL.

[CardinalSagehen]

As far as this sort of thing happening in the NfL, I am strongly opposed to it but my guess would be tht it is quite common.

I don't think this sort of thing in the nfl alone should disqualify someone from being an honorary captain if balanced with an otherwise strong character.

I agree that it shouldn't disqualify someone from being an honorary captain, but that all depends on what they have to say about it to the team.  If they're not willing to openly discuss their very recent mistake, it strikes me as a very awkward conversation and a mixed message from the coaches to the team.  It would be like a CEO inviting Richard Smith (former CEO of Equifax) to give an inspirational speech to his or her company, and Mr. Smith not addressing that one time when he led a company that exposed 143 million people's SSN's and credit accounts, and what he learned from it.

[CardinalSagehen]

As far as this sort of thing happening in the NfL, I am strongly opposed to it but my guess would be tht it is quite common.

I don't think this sort of thing in the nfl alone should disqualify someone from being an honorary captain if balanced with an otherwise strong character.

I agree that it shouldn't disqualify someone from being an honorary captain, but that all depends on what they have to say about it to the team.  If they're not willing to openly discuss their very recent mistake, it strikes me as a very awkward conversation and a mixed message from the coaches to the team.  It would be like a CEO inviting Richard Smith (former CEO of Equifax) to give an inspirational speech to his or her company, and Mr. Smith not addressing that one time when he led a company that exposed 143 million people's SSN's and credit accounts, and what he learned from it.