[82lsju]

When I was hired as men’s tennis coach in the summer of 1966, the perception was that Stanford athletes weren’t tough enough. They were too involved in their studies, too soft to consistently battle for the top.


Stanford hadn’t won an NCAA team title in any sport since men’s golf in 1953. There was talk of de-emphasizing athletics, or dropping sports altogether. In the tennis world, USC and UCLA had a stranglehold on the national championship, winning 21 of 26 possible titles through 1971.

But I always liked a challenge.

https://stanford_ftp.sidearmsports.com/c..._feature__

[82lsju]

When I was hired as men’s tennis coach in the summer of 1966, the perception was that Stanford athletes weren’t tough enough. They were too involved in their studies, too soft to consistently battle for the top.


Stanford hadn’t won an NCAA team title in any sport since men’s golf in 1953. There was talk of de-emphasizing athletics, or dropping sports altogether. In the tennis world, USC and UCLA had a stranglehold on the national championship, winning 21 of 26 possible titles through 1971.

But I always liked a challenge.

https://stanford_ftp.sidearmsports.com/c..._feature__

[Spiny_Norman]

I really liked this insight which could be good advice to the current athletic administration.

My strategy was that every four or five years, I had to do something that showed we were energized, we were revitalized, and not just sitting on success – that we were trying to do something that had never been done before. We always wanted to project this image that Stanford tennis was never standing still or becoming complacent.

[Spiny_Norman]

I really liked this insight which could be good advice to the current athletic administration.

My strategy was that every four or five years, I had to do something that showed we were energized, we were revitalized, and not just sitting on success – that we were trying to do something that had never been done before. We always wanted to project this image that Stanford tennis was never standing still or becoming complacent.

[81alum]

That was a fun read.  I was inside Maples to watch McEnroe during that "innovative" indoor match at Maples. 

At the end of his piece, there is this:

"However, I worry some about where we’re going. In our efforts to consolidate and fundraise, you don’t want to discourage creativity, and I hope that’s not the case at Stanford. It’s been the beauty of working here for me..."

I wonder if anyone knows just what he is talking about?  It sounds a little like things I've heard from the Fast Break Club, that the consolidation of fundraising took a lot of the wind out of the sails of the WBB community here when people could no longer donate directly to WBB.  Did something similar happen to tennis?  Or am I reading too much into what he said....

[81alum]

That was a fun read.  I was inside Maples to watch McEnroe during that "innovative" indoor match at Maples. 

At the end of his piece, there is this:

"However, I worry some about where we’re going. In our efforts to consolidate and fundraise, you don’t want to discourage creativity, and I hope that’s not the case at Stanford. It’s been the beauty of working here for me..."

I wonder if anyone knows just what he is talking about?  It sounds a little like things I've heard from the Fast Break Club, that the consolidation of fundraising took a lot of the wind out of the sails of the WBB community here when people could no longer donate directly to WBB.  Did something similar happen to tennis?  Or am I reading too much into what he said....

[newguy]

That was a fun read.  I was inside Maples to watch McEnroe during that "innovative" indoor match at Maples.  

at Maples, the band would sometimes play during changeovers.
it was pretty funny to see the opposing players react to that.

[newguy]

That was a fun read.  I was inside Maples to watch McEnroe during that "innovative" indoor match at Maples.  

at Maples, the band would sometimes play during changeovers.
it was pretty funny to see the opposing players react to that.

[BobK]

I have t asked recently as I used to give to many sports individually however you could certainly earmatk your donation to a particular sport for a number of years after consolidation

The various sports prior to Bob Bowlsby had to fundraise. Thus talking away from coaching recruiting etc. Coaches I spoke to loved their sport bring fully funded

[BobK]

I have t asked recently as I used to give to many sports individually however you could certainly earmatk your donation to a particular sport for a number of years after consolidation

The various sports prior to Bob Bowlsby had to fundraise. Thus talking away from coaching recruiting etc. Coaches I spoke to loved their sport bring fully funded

[TinderForMidgets]

Dick Gould needs to be elected to the hall of fame for names.

[TinderForMidgets]

Dick Gould needs to be elected to the hall of fame for names.