[metsjetsfan]

Alabama at #3.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/bcs

It looks like the computers actually could @#$% us over.  Don't think it will, but...

Note: we went down in the computers even though we beat OSU.  So there probably is no need to panic if we beat Oregon.

[metsjetsfan]

Alabama at #3.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/bcs

It looks like the computers actually could @#$% us over.  Don't think it will, but...

Note: we went down in the computers even though we beat OSU.  So there probably is no need to panic if we beat Oregon.

[Farm93]

Stanford will move up to the #3 or #4 ranking in the computer rankings at the end if Stanford wins out.  Not too much of a worry, but it does go to show that this is a beauty contest.  Hype, popularity, fan enthusiasm all play a role in this silly process.

But for this week all of this is just a distraction.  The goal for this week is clear.  Beat Oregon!

[Farm93]

Stanford will move up to the #3 or #4 ranking in the computer rankings at the end if Stanford wins out.  Not too much of a worry, but it does go to show that this is a beauty contest.  Hype, popularity, fan enthusiasm all play a role in this silly process.

But for this week all of this is just a distraction.  The goal for this week is clear.  Beat Oregon!

[metsjetsfan]

I almost think that for the good of college football, either Stanford or OK State needs to win out.  There should be rebellions if we're forced to watch a LSU/Alabama rematch...

[metsjetsfan]

I almost think that for the good of college football, either Stanford or OK State needs to win out.  There should be rebellions if we're forced to watch a LSU/Alabama rematch...

[iyengar06]

We have plenty of time to improve our standing with the computers. If we beat  #7 Oregon, Cal, Notre Dame, and what would likely be a ranked Arizona State team (I realize UCLA controls its own destiny, but come on), we will pass a 1-loss Alabama team. The bigger question is whether we would pass an undefeated Oklahoma State, which doesn't play a championship game this year.

LSU still has to play Arkansas, and Oklahoma State still has to play Oklahoma. If we finish 13-0, I think our chances of getting "screwed" by the computers are less than 50%. If it did happen, though, we'd be getting screwed by the weakness of our schedule, of course. That's not anyone's fault, but there's no denying our schedule is weaker than that of the other BCS conference teams around us in the standings. Duke is a bad team in a bad conference, and San Jose State just lost to a one-win Idaho team at home. From here on out, the ideal would be for Cal, Notre Dame, and ASU to win out excepting our games with them.

Last thought: if we get "screwed" by the computers, that would mean we had just won the Pac-12 Championship Game and would probably be a 7 point (or more) favorite against anyone the Big 10 produces. I know we have higher expectations than that this season, but let's take a deep breath and realize that that is a pretty good place to be, all things considered.

[iyengar06]

We have plenty of time to improve our standing with the computers. If we beat  #7 Oregon, Cal, Notre Dame, and what would likely be a ranked Arizona State team (I realize UCLA controls its own destiny, but come on), we will pass a 1-loss Alabama team. The bigger question is whether we would pass an undefeated Oklahoma State, which doesn't play a championship game this year.

LSU still has to play Arkansas, and Oklahoma State still has to play Oklahoma. If we finish 13-0, I think our chances of getting "screwed" by the computers are less than 50%. If it did happen, though, we'd be getting screwed by the weakness of our schedule, of course. That's not anyone's fault, but there's no denying our schedule is weaker than that of the other BCS conference teams around us in the standings. Duke is a bad team in a bad conference, and San Jose State just lost to a one-win Idaho team at home. From here on out, the ideal would be for Cal, Notre Dame, and ASU to win out excepting our games with them.

Last thought: if we get "screwed" by the computers, that would mean we had just won the Pac-12 Championship Game and would probably be a 7 point (or more) favorite against anyone the Big 10 produces. I know we have higher expectations than that this season, but let's take a deep breath and realize that that is a pretty good place to be, all things considered.

[dabigv13]

Agree with Chris Fowler here...let's wait for next week to argue our case.

But if you're looking to gather some ammo for that argument, you can start with the BCS purposefully programming imperfection into the computers by taking out margin of victory, and then continue by realizing that this website is home to one of the rankings systems the BCS uses to determine the national championship.

[dabigv13]

Agree with Chris Fowler here...let's wait for next week to argue our case.

But if you're looking to gather some ammo for that argument, you can start with the BCS purposefully programming imperfection into the computers by taking out margin of victory, and then continue by realizing that this website is home to one of the rankings systems the BCS uses to determine the national championship.

[Farm93]

The bigger question is whether we would pass an undefeated Oklahoma State, which doesn't play a championship game this year.

No!

Care to bet?  I will put $250,000 on that one.  Undefeated OK State goes in ahead of undefeated Stanford almost every single time.  OK State is #1 in the computers NOW and will only get stronger with a win against Oklahoma.  Assume that Stanford ends as a pure #2 in both human polls, and OK State is a pure #3 in both polls.  As the votes matter, it will not be enough to just be a few votes ahead of OK State, Stanford would need every single #2 vote (unlikely).  This maximum human vote spread would allow Stanford to be 2 slots behind OK State in the computer polls, not more than 2.  Even this is a stretch unless OK State starts winning ugly, but let's run it out.

LSU would need to pass OK State in the computers.  That could happen as Arkansas and the SEC East would be good for LSU.  The problem is 'Bama.  If 'Bama has one loss they will probably stay ahead of Stanford, but behind OK State.  That alone is enough.  This assumes that Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Boise State all go below Stanford.  And that might not happen, but all it would take is Bama.

In any event a pure sweep of #2 human votes is really unlikely, so the probable computer deficit (Bama) would leave Stanford behind OK State.

Stanford would need to finish right behind Ok State in the computer polls, while having a big advantage in the human polls.  This is possible...IF....LSU is the clear #1 ahead of Ok State.  And the others from AQ conferences in between (Bama, Arkansas, Oklahoma) lose, Stanford passes Boise in the computers, AND Stanford looks so good crushing opponents that almost every human voter places Stanford at #2.

It is a big set of hypotheticals.  But none of them matter if Stanford does not beat Oregon. 

[Farm93]

The bigger question is whether we would pass an undefeated Oklahoma State, which doesn't play a championship game this year.

No!

Care to bet?  I will put $250,000 on that one.  Undefeated OK State goes in ahead of undefeated Stanford almost every single time.  OK State is #1 in the computers NOW and will only get stronger with a win against Oklahoma.  Assume that Stanford ends as a pure #2 in both human polls, and OK State is a pure #3 in both polls.  As the votes matter, it will not be enough to just be a few votes ahead of OK State, Stanford would need every single #2 vote (unlikely).  This maximum human vote spread would allow Stanford to be 2 slots behind OK State in the computer polls, not more than 2.  Even this is a stretch unless OK State starts winning ugly, but let's run it out.

LSU would need to pass OK State in the computers.  That could happen as Arkansas and the SEC East would be good for LSU.  The problem is 'Bama.  If 'Bama has one loss they will probably stay ahead of Stanford, but behind OK State.  That alone is enough.  This assumes that Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Boise State all go below Stanford.  And that might not happen, but all it would take is Bama.

In any event a pure sweep of #2 human votes is really unlikely, so the probable computer deficit (Bama) would leave Stanford behind OK State.

Stanford would need to finish right behind Ok State in the computer polls, while having a big advantage in the human polls.  This is possible...IF....LSU is the clear #1 ahead of Ok State.  And the others from AQ conferences in between (Bama, Arkansas, Oklahoma) lose, Stanford passes Boise in the computers, AND Stanford looks so good crushing opponents that almost every human voter places Stanford at #2.

It is a big set of hypotheticals.  But none of them matter if Stanford does not beat Oregon. 

[Row80Critic]

If Stanford wins out, I have to believe the human polls will overtake the computers and produce more sensible results.  In the meantime, this week's rankings are nothing short of offensive.  They serve solely to prove that computers can be programmed to produce desired results.

[Row80Critic]

If Stanford wins out, I have to believe the human polls will overtake the computers and produce more sensible results.  In the meantime, this week's rankings are nothing short of offensive.  They serve solely to prove that computers can be programmed to produce desired results.

[Farm93]

Row80?

That does not sound like a new stadium reference as the rows are in alphabetical order.  Sounds like you were a last row fan in the original Stanford Stadium.  Row 80 was far and away the most popular row in the old stadium.

[Farm93]

Row80?

That does not sound like a new stadium reference as the rows are in alphabetical order.  Sounds like you were a last row fan in the original Stanford Stadium.  Row 80 was far and away the most popular row in the old stadium.

[Row80Critic]

Yep, I coined the name in the Ty Willingham era (after watching Juan Carlos Lacey run the same play about 17 times in a row).  Been going to the games since 1970, and made it up to row 80 from about the mid 80's till the end of the stadium.  A section of it now serves as our tailgate bar...

[Row80Critic]

Yep, I coined the name in the Ty Willingham era (after watching Juan Carlos Lacey run the same play about 17 times in a row).  Been going to the games since 1970, and made it up to row 80 from about the mid 80's till the end of the stadium.  A section of it now serves as our tailgate bar...

[estephan500]

Hey. Were there many fragments of the wooden seats available from the old stadium?  Far too late, I have to admit, if I could get a segment with the old numbers stamped on it, I would be a happy guy.  (bonus if they are from the north end zone GA section, my old stomping ground. )

[estephan500]

Hey. Were there many fragments of the wooden seats available from the old stadium?  Far too late, I have to admit, if I could get a segment with the old numbers stamped on it, I would be a happy guy.  (bonus if they are from the north end zone GA section, my old stomping ground. )

[YoungStanford]

I think that the Oregon fans have to be pretty upset that Alabama is #3, since their only loss is also to LSU and they are #6. Bad timing I guess.

[YoungStanford]

I think that the Oregon fans have to be pretty upset that Alabama is #3, since their only loss is also to LSU and they are #6. Bad timing I guess.

[fullmetal]

YoungStanford-- Just the $EC bias, I think.  The computers and pollsters don't see the Pac-12 as being particularly tough competition.

P.S.  Congrats on your first post, and welcome to the board!

[fullmetal]

YoungStanford-- Just the $EC bias, I think.  The computers and pollsters don't see the Pac-12 as being particularly tough competition.

P.S.  Congrats on your first post, and welcome to the board!

[YoungStanford]

The computers don't like Oregon since Oregon players steal computers.

[YoungStanford]

The computers don't like Oregon since Oregon players steal computers.

[fullmetal]

niiiice.

[fullmetal]

niiiice.

[iyengar06]

No!

Care to bet?  I will put $250,000 on that one.  Undefeated OK State goes in ahead of undefeated Stanford almost every single time.

Farm93, I totally agree. Simply making the point that there's even less doubt that a 13-0 Stanford would jump past an 11-1 Alabama.

[iyengar06]

No!

Care to bet?  I will put $250,000 on that one.  Undefeated OK State goes in ahead of undefeated Stanford almost every single time.

Farm93, I totally agree. Simply making the point that there's even less doubt that a 13-0 Stanford would jump past an 11-1 Alabama.

[Nan3cy]

Estephan - I think the old wooden seats were long gone before the stadium was flattened -- they were replaced with metal seats some years ago.

[Nan3cy]

Estephan - I think the old wooden seats were long gone before the stadium was flattened -- they were replaced with metal seats some years ago.

[estephan500]

ay, yeah.  hmm -- well when they did the first wave of the metalization, they simply clamped gold metal on top of the wooden ones. Well, I can dream. Next time I visit campus I'll kick around among the oak trees and I bet I'll find one.

[estephan500]

ay, yeah.  hmm -- well when they did the first wave of the metalization, they simply clamped gold metal on top of the wooden ones. Well, I can dream. Next time I visit campus I'll kick around among the oak trees and I bet I'll find one.

[JeffInCorvallis]

Stanford marketed chairs and tables made from the wooden seats removed during (I think) the late 1980s. I've got one of the end-tables next to my living-room couch.

One of the chairs is sitting on my front porch.

[JeffInCorvallis]

Stanford marketed chairs and tables made from the wooden seats removed during (I think) the late 1980s. I've got one of the end-tables next to my living-room couch.

One of the chairs is sitting on my front porch.