[Gauss]

I think it is good that we, every once in a while, take notice of crazy posts in other fanbases so that we know what we want to avoid.

As a public service, I present the following post in this bearinsider thread discussing how long Stanford will stay on top:

I'm not sure I want to be honest about this but here's my theory. Let's just say that I think they have a PR machine that goes well beyond the field. Certainly winning helps, but Cal has to do a much better PR job in order to win the recruiting wars for the top student athletes. Cal's image was hurt decades ago by being associated with "hippies, druggies and commies". In contrast Stanford has the clean conservative and responsible image that resonates with the parents of elite student athletes. Sure Cal gets plenty of good student athletes. But, all things being equal, too much of the time they will take the offer from Stanford over Cal, if they can get admitted.

I think the powers that be, from the NCAA to the media prefer Stanford to Cal more often than not and get favorable treatment. For example, Stanford is the only Div. 1 team that has never been sanctioned by the NCAA. They generally are less penalized. They have a reputation of being clean and professional. This image has been carefully oiled over the years probably with private wealth connected to the university. To truly and permanently alter this, Cal has to expose Stanford as the anti-public and anti-common person rich-snob Hoover instituted CIA think tank that it is. Think Condalessa Rice, Not such a warm fuzzy person. I have confidence that Sonny Dykes has what it takes to bring Cal back from the PR brink.

But the athletic dept. needs to recognize that Stanford wants to keep Cal down, because it is really about deep seated political differences between the private sector and the public sector. Case in point, two wealthy Stanford elites tried to influence the recent elections with close to 50 million dollars in donations to damage the power of unions. This is just a theory, but I am sincerely trying to address the topic: Stanford's strength doesn't have to do with coaches and recruits, it has to do with an impeccable image.

Let the mocking and political hostilities begin.

The long and short of it is that I think Stanford will be strong for at least 5 more years. But I don't think they will be a BCS/playoff team every year and may not again. They should have a good offense for a few years but I don't think their defense will be good beyond 2014.

Personally, I kinda dig our neighbors to the North-East (they have a beautiful campus, and great graduate departments). I definitely root for them over most rivals with which I have no connection whatsoever. But I guess it's also kinda fun to have a rival.
What I don't understand is the frothy and visceral hatred that many people in that forum seem to profess for "Stafurd". The guy in the post above is clearly paranoid, but the people in this other thread really seem to have a chip on their shoulder. Oh well.

[Gauss]

I think it is good that we, every once in a while, take notice of crazy posts in other fanbases so that we know what we want to avoid.

As a public service, I present the following post in this bearinsider thread discussing how long Stanford will stay on top:

I'm not sure I want to be honest about this but here's my theory. Let's just say that I think they have a PR machine that goes well beyond the field. Certainly winning helps, but Cal has to do a much better PR job in order to win the recruiting wars for the top student athletes. Cal's image was hurt decades ago by being associated with "hippies, druggies and commies". In contrast Stanford has the clean conservative and responsible image that resonates with the parents of elite student athletes. Sure Cal gets plenty of good student athletes. But, all things being equal, too much of the time they will take the offer from Stanford over Cal, if they can get admitted.

I think the powers that be, from the NCAA to the media prefer Stanford to Cal more often than not and get favorable treatment. For example, Stanford is the only Div. 1 team that has never been sanctioned by the NCAA. They generally are less penalized. They have a reputation of being clean and professional. This image has been carefully oiled over the years probably with private wealth connected to the university. To truly and permanently alter this, Cal has to expose Stanford as the anti-public and anti-common person rich-snob Hoover instituted CIA think tank that it is. Think Condalessa Rice, Not such a warm fuzzy person. I have confidence that Sonny Dykes has what it takes to bring Cal back from the PR brink.

But the athletic dept. needs to recognize that Stanford wants to keep Cal down, because it is really about deep seated political differences between the private sector and the public sector. Case in point, two wealthy Stanford elites tried to influence the recent elections with close to 50 million dollars in donations to damage the power of unions. This is just a theory, but I am sincerely trying to address the topic: Stanford's strength doesn't have to do with coaches and recruits, it has to do with an impeccable image.

Let the mocking and political hostilities begin.

The long and short of it is that I think Stanford will be strong for at least 5 more years. But I don't think they will be a BCS/playoff team every year and may not again. They should have a good offense for a few years but I don't think their defense will be good beyond 2014.

Personally, I kinda dig our neighbors to the North-East (they have a beautiful campus, and great graduate departments). I definitely root for them over most rivals with which I have no connection whatsoever. But I guess it's also kinda fun to have a rival.
What I don't understand is the frothy and visceral hatred that many people in that forum seem to profess for "Stafurd". The guy in the post above is clearly paranoid, but the people in this other thread really seem to have a chip on their shoulder. Oh well.

[fullmetal]

A sampling of responses from that thread:

Your worldview seems to be based on conspiracy theories and the ideology of class struggle. I respectfully suggest that you rethink and get a life.

Honestly, your political BS makes me want to be a Stanford fan! Keep the political crap out of it. There are a great deal of Cal fans and alums that don't espouse to your (and others) ideology and get tired of it always being started from the alleged tolerant side. The one thing we have in common is we are all Cal fans! Let's focus on sports and sports only.

Heart, we are both on the same team when it comes to sports. You immediately lose a faction of the people here when you interject politics. You intimate the Koch brothers which will then conjure up George Soros references. Truth be told, of course you are attached to a certain ideology. You expressed it in your last post. Look, we are not in a class room. We are on a Cal sports site. Maybe the editors can start a politics and religion topic site. Until then, let's stick to sports.

[fullmetal]

A sampling of responses from that thread:

Your worldview seems to be based on conspiracy theories and the ideology of class struggle. I respectfully suggest that you rethink and get a life.

Honestly, your political BS makes me want to be a Stanford fan! Keep the political crap out of it. There are a great deal of Cal fans and alums that don't espouse to your (and others) ideology and get tired of it always being started from the alleged tolerant side. The one thing we have in common is we are all Cal fans! Let's focus on sports and sports only.

Heart, we are both on the same team when it comes to sports. You immediately lose a faction of the people here when you interject politics. You intimate the Koch brothers which will then conjure up George Soros references. Truth be told, of course you are attached to a certain ideology. You expressed it in your last post. Look, we are not in a class room. We are on a Cal sports site. Maybe the editors can start a politics and religion topic site. Until then, let's stick to sports.

[estephan500]

Wow, those replies are cool. Reading those makes that board look like a sharper crew than I remember. And the original poster is just kind of a screaming guy on Telegraph.

[estephan500]

Wow, those replies are cool. Reading those makes that board look like a sharper crew than I remember. And the original poster is just kind of a screaming guy on Telegraph.

[Oasis]

What I don't understand is the frothy and visceral hatred that many people in that forum seem to profess for "Stafurd". The guy in the post above is clearly paranoid, but the people in this other thread really seem to have a chip on their shoulder. Oh well.

  Once you understand their frothy and visceral hatred of us, you will kinda dig them a lot less.

[Oasis]

What I don't understand is the frothy and visceral hatred that many people in that forum seem to profess for "Stafurd". The guy in the post above is clearly paranoid, but the people in this other thread really seem to have a chip on their shoulder. Oh well.

  Once you understand their frothy and visceral hatred of us, you will kinda dig them a lot less.

[OutsiderFan]

Nobody tries harder than Cal fans to find excuses for losing.

[OutsiderFan]

Nobody tries harder than Cal fans to find excuses for losing.

[FarmBoy]

I have enough personal relationships with upstanding C.al fans with whom I have intelligent and reasoned discourse on the merits of our two schools that I can quickly discount the few Internet posting nut jobs out there inclined to spend their time frothing at the mouth and badmouthing anything Cardinal related.

I also thought to peruse the enemy's boards and saw some interesting comments. The few posters who threw out weak attempts to disparage the team or its accomplishments were quickly shot down by more reasoned posters. One poster called Shaw "mediocre" in passing and 3-4 others quickly replied "I wish our coaches were as mediocre as Shaw" or "explain how winning 23 games in his first two years including a Rose Bowl victory merits 'mediocrity'?"

[FarmBoy]

I have enough personal relationships with upstanding C.al fans with whom I have intelligent and reasoned discourse on the merits of our two schools that I can quickly discount the few Internet posting nut jobs out there inclined to spend their time frothing at the mouth and badmouthing anything Cardinal related.

I also thought to peruse the enemy's boards and saw some interesting comments. The few posters who threw out weak attempts to disparage the team or its accomplishments were quickly shot down by more reasoned posters. One poster called Shaw "mediocre" in passing and 3-4 others quickly replied "I wish our coaches were as mediocre as Shaw" or "explain how winning 23 games in his first two years including a Rose Bowl victory merits 'mediocrity'?"

[oman]

You guys have it real easy. I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Stanford. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs.  And take them down.

[oman]

You guys have it real easy. I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Stanford. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs.  And take them down.

[yvonne]

59er, that has such a wonderful ring to it today! Heck, now we can even call them 38ers! (It just isn't as euphonious, though.)

[yvonne]

59er, that has such a wonderful ring to it today! Heck, now we can even call them 38ers! (It just isn't as euphonious, though.)

[FarmBoy]

You guys have it real easy. I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Stanford. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs.  And take them down.

I'm not sure how this quote from Rushmore is relevant, but any time that film can be brought into the mix is a good thing.

[FarmBoy]

You guys have it real easy. I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Stanford. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs.  And take them down.

I'm not sure how this quote from Rushmore is relevant, but any time that film can be brought into the mix is a good thing.

[82 Card]

I agree with Farm Boy on this. The kal alumni I know tend to be reasonable and interesting. Running into Kal alumni at work is a good thing.

Most of the Kal alumni have the misconception that Stanford students are all rich. But they are not any worse on this than the alumni of most other schools. Folks that have not gone to Stanford or one of the Ivy schools tend not to know that some of the private schools provide a cost-effective solution for many students. When running into the occasioal hostile person, the best solution is a little gentle education.

[82 Card]

I agree with Farm Boy on this. The kal alumni I know tend to be reasonable and interesting. Running into Kal alumni at work is a good thing.

Most of the Kal alumni have the misconception that Stanford students are all rich. But they are not any worse on this than the alumni of most other schools. Folks that have not gone to Stanford or one of the Ivy schools tend not to know that some of the private schools provide a cost-effective solution for many students. When running into the occasioal hostile person, the best solution is a little gentle education.

[Embo]

Well, I have to give calfan some compliments on their, well, let's call it - persistence.

After the game, we went back to our hotel and walked the few blocks to the JW Marriott to see the team's postgame celebration.  The JW Marriott lobby was absolutely Stanford Football Central.  And tons of Stanford fans in the vicinity downtown.  Walking back to our hotel, I was in a crosswalk when a younger woman passed me then shouted, "Go B.ears!"  My immediate response was, "Are you kidding me?"  She yelled back, "No, I'm not kidding!  Go B.ears!"

I've got to say, if I were a fan of a team that is now celebrating its platinum anniversary (75 years!) of a title it wants more than anything else, and my rival is basking in the hours old glow of said title near ground zero, I'd just pass by quietly....

[Embo]

Well, I have to give calfan some compliments on their, well, let's call it - persistence.

After the game, we went back to our hotel and walked the few blocks to the JW Marriott to see the team's postgame celebration.  The JW Marriott lobby was absolutely Stanford Football Central.  And tons of Stanford fans in the vicinity downtown.  Walking back to our hotel, I was in a crosswalk when a younger woman passed me then shouted, "Go B.ears!"  My immediate response was, "Are you kidding me?"  She yelled back, "No, I'm not kidding!  Go B.ears!"

I've got to say, if I were a fan of a team that is now celebrating its platinum anniversary (75 years!) of a title it wants more than anything else, and my rival is basking in the hours old glow of said title near ground zero, I'd just pass by quietly....

[Redrum]

to be fair, the guy who wrote that got grief from some fellow posters and pulled back, claiming he was just messin' with their heads.  So maybe he was just doing artisan performance art...or maybe he has a personality disorder that makes him push and push until somebody pushes back.  OK, that's it.  I'm done with worrying about being fair to bearz.

[Redrum]

to be fair, the guy who wrote that got grief from some fellow posters and pulled back, claiming he was just messin' with their heads.  So maybe he was just doing artisan performance art...or maybe he has a personality disorder that makes him push and push until somebody pushes back.  OK, that's it.  I'm done with worrying about being fair to bearz.

[yvonne]

This is a beautiful thread!

[yvonne]

This is a beautiful thread!

[Nan3cy]

Nice find, Yvonne.

[Nan3cy]

Nice find, Yvonne.