[FarmBoy]

as long as we stay on top of our game and continue to have a competetive program

I would argue the 'SC and UCLA games are more important when the program is down. How much mileage have we gotten out of the "greatest upset of all time"? Far more than the damage being whooped by 30 points for years did, I would venture.

It's guaranteed national exposure, a chance for SoCal recruits to play in front of families, and opportunity for a weekender for the fans, and as CrazedZooChimp points out, not that much of an upgrade on average in terms of level of difficulty.

Honestly, I don't have dreams of playing in the CFP. Well, I guess I have dreams, but not realistic hopes. I want a clean, competitive program, year in and year out, and a chance to prove ourselves against the best in the nation.

[FarmBoy]

as long as we stay on top of our game and continue to have a competetive program

I would argue the 'SC and UCLA games are more important when the program is down. How much mileage have we gotten out of the "greatest upset of all time"? Far more than the damage being whooped by 30 points for years did, I would venture.

It's guaranteed national exposure, a chance for SoCal recruits to play in front of families, and opportunity for a weekender for the fans, and as CrazedZooChimp points out, not that much of an upgrade on average in terms of level of difficulty.

Honestly, I don't have dreams of playing in the CFP. Well, I guess I have dreams, but not realistic hopes. I want a clean, competitive program, year in and year out, and a chance to prove ourselves against the best in the nation.

[socalstanfan1]

I understand all the practical arguments for taking a more challenging game off the schedule and replacing it with a nominally easier one. We hear the exact same line of reasoning from SEC teams every year: we already have one of the toughest schedules, why add to the risk of an upset that can take you out of championship contention? I understand that replacing a perennial powerhouse with a lower-division team from your own conference is different than replacing a perrenial powerhouse with a directional state university program. But the essence of the argument is the same.

I'd prefer to hold the higher ground in this debate, and trust that we will remain strong enough to make a solid bowl game each year, and remain in contention for the championship tournament.

[socalstanfan1]

I understand all the practical arguments for taking a more challenging game off the schedule and replacing it with a nominally easier one. We hear the exact same line of reasoning from SEC teams every year: we already have one of the toughest schedules, why add to the risk of an upset that can take you out of championship contention? I understand that replacing a perennial powerhouse with a lower-division team from your own conference is different than replacing a perrenial powerhouse with a directional state university program. But the essence of the argument is the same.

I'd prefer to hold the higher ground in this debate, and trust that we will remain strong enough to make a solid bowl game each year, and remain in contention for the championship tournament.

[StanFan88]

I'd prefer to hold the higher ground in this debate, and trust that we will remain strong enough to make a solid bowl game each year, and remain in contention for the championship tournament.

Amen to that!  Go big or go home.

[StanFan88]

I'd prefer to hold the higher ground in this debate, and trust that we will remain strong enough to make a solid bowl game each year, and remain in contention for the championship tournament.

Amen to that!  Go big or go home.

[TrumpCard]

Going back to a Hulk thread from January to see how Shaw is doing on meeting the needs for the 2016 class:

Needs in the next class:
Three DLs, one a nose tackle.  This is obvious.
Tight end.  With only Schultz in 2014 and no tight ends in this class, we need to prepare for the day when Hooper, Cotton and Taboada disappear from this roster—simultaneously.  Try for two,
QB.  Chryst in 2014 abnd no one in the 2015 class.  Cannot risk a two-year gap here.
A power back.  Cameron Scarlett and his brother have injury histories, and Scarlett is the only power back on next year’s roster.  If only for short yardage, we need this guy.
A true cover corner.  Buncom and Meeks don’t have elite speed and Terrence Alexander burned his redshirt this year.  We need another Alexander.
Some elite OLs.  Always a need, and Murphy, Shuler, Caspers, Davidson, and Garnett aren’t around much longer.

Shaw hit a home run at QB and TE, two of the teams biggest needs.  (These results probably justify Shaw's decision to pass on Rosen and Pettite, two highly rated recruits at those positions who Shaw didn't think were the right fit.  Leaving that 1-year gap probably helped in recruiting Costello and Smith.) 

Bisharat looks to be a very good power back.

I'm not sure if this class will have a "true cover corner," but Darnay Holmes is a 2017 recruit who certainly would qualify and seems to have Stanford in the lead.  He's currently rated almost as highly by Rivals as Vernon Hargreaves was in 2013.  Game changer.  In any event, the 2016 class has several very good CBs in the mix.  Edmonds and Butler (if he joins) are both built for press coverage and helping against the run, but neither one is blazing.  Robbie Robinson is very fast, and he could be the future at nickel, but I don't see a 5'8" corner on an island against today's jumbo receivers. 

On the DL, Shaw has Peek and a great shot at Williams, plus very high interest from Rand if he can get admitted.  It's a very talented threesome, but all three of them have NT frames.  I don't know of a single DE still on the board who has visited Stanford's campus or who has imminent plans to visit.  Maybe an offer to Kemp will be forthcoming, if he has the academics.

On the OL, Shaw has a dandy in Yarbrough.  I think "some elite OLs" means more than one though.  Hamilton would be the second, and he's a good one too.  If Harballs gets him though, then I think Shaw is going to come up a little short of his goal for OL recruiting this year. 

LB is not a true need, but the Cardinal is sitting pretty there. 

WR was not identified in Hulk's post, but I think it is a need.  Good news is that Long is a whale and he loves Stanford.  Of course, Robertson would be giant as well. 

[TrumpCard]

Going back to a Hulk thread from January to see how Shaw is doing on meeting the needs for the 2016 class:

Needs in the next class:
Three DLs, one a nose tackle.  This is obvious.
Tight end.  With only Schultz in 2014 and no tight ends in this class, we need to prepare for the day when Hooper, Cotton and Taboada disappear from this roster—simultaneously.  Try for two,
QB.  Chryst in 2014 abnd no one in the 2015 class.  Cannot risk a two-year gap here.
A power back.  Cameron Scarlett and his brother have injury histories, and Scarlett is the only power back on next year’s roster.  If only for short yardage, we need this guy.
A true cover corner.  Buncom and Meeks don’t have elite speed and Terrence Alexander burned his redshirt this year.  We need another Alexander.
Some elite OLs.  Always a need, and Murphy, Shuler, Caspers, Davidson, and Garnett aren’t around much longer.

Shaw hit a home run at QB and TE, two of the teams biggest needs.  (These results probably justify Shaw's decision to pass on Rosen and Pettite, two highly rated recruits at those positions who Shaw didn't think were the right fit.  Leaving that 1-year gap probably helped in recruiting Costello and Smith.) 

Bisharat looks to be a very good power back.

I'm not sure if this class will have a "true cover corner," but Darnay Holmes is a 2017 recruit who certainly would qualify and seems to have Stanford in the lead.  He's currently rated almost as highly by Rivals as Vernon Hargreaves was in 2013.  Game changer.  In any event, the 2016 class has several very good CBs in the mix.  Edmonds and Butler (if he joins) are both built for press coverage and helping against the run, but neither one is blazing.  Robbie Robinson is very fast, and he could be the future at nickel, but I don't see a 5'8" corner on an island against today's jumbo receivers. 

On the DL, Shaw has Peek and a great shot at Williams, plus very high interest from Rand if he can get admitted.  It's a very talented threesome, but all three of them have NT frames.  I don't know of a single DE still on the board who has visited Stanford's campus or who has imminent plans to visit.  Maybe an offer to Kemp will be forthcoming, if he has the academics.

On the OL, Shaw has a dandy in Yarbrough.  I think "some elite OLs" means more than one though.  Hamilton would be the second, and he's a good one too.  If Harballs gets him though, then I think Shaw is going to come up a little short of his goal for OL recruiting this year. 

LB is not a true need, but the Cardinal is sitting pretty there. 

WR was not identified in Hulk's post, but I think it is a need.  Good news is that Long is a whale and he loves Stanford.  Of course, Robertson would be giant as well. 

[Rally]

I think the issue is admissions.  Since our ascendency how many offered admissible students have turned us down?  Some but not many.  Since we can't be sure of admissions, I think some of those "admissionables" who passed weren't, actually.

[Rally]

I think the issue is admissions.  Since our ascendency how many offered admissible students have turned us down?  Some but not many.  Since we can't be sure of admissions, I think some of those "admissionables" who passed weren't, actually.

[PrinceLightfoot]

Williams was told by Hart that they are looking at him as a DE.

[PrinceLightfoot]

Williams was told by Hart that they are looking at him as a DE.

[TrumpCard]

I wanted to evaluate whether Stanford is poised to fill the needs that Hulk mentioned in this thread a long time ago.  I'm using the final Scout 300 that was just published as a sanity check.  Here it is:http://www.scout.com/college/football/re...=HootSuite

Three DLs, one a nose tackle.  This is obvious.

Williams, Schaffer, Swann, and Peek fill this need well.  Williams, #225, is the highest ranked, and plays the position of greatest need.

Tight end.  With only Schultz in 2014 and no tight ends in this class, we need to prepare for the day when Hooper, Cotton and Taboada disappear from this roster—simultaneously.  Try for two,

Smith is a whale, ranked #38

QB.  Chryst in 2014 abnd no one in the 2015 class.  Cannot risk a two-year gap here.

Costello is a whale, ranked #91

A power back.  Cameron Scarlett and his brother have injury histories, and Scarlett is the only power back on next year’s roster.  If only for short yardage, we need this guy.

Bisharat is a good one, ranked #283.  Speights and Stephens are more every down backs, but still powerful, and also 4-star recruits.

A true cover corner.  Buncom and Meeks don’t have elite speed and Terrence Alexander burned his redshirt this year.  We need another Alexander.

Eboh (assuming he flips from UT) is a good one.  He's ranked #143 and put up some impressive combine numbers at The Opening.  His 40 and shuttle are a tenth slower than Alexander, but he's got 4" in extra height that allows him to match up better on the outside.  Stanford also landed Butler, who Scout ranks as a high 3-star, but who is more of a physical corner than a true cover corner. 

Some elite OLs.  Always a need, and Murphy, Shuler, Caspers, Davidson, and Garnett aren’t around much longer.

Hattis and Yarbrough both are in the Scout 300 and each played in an All-American bowl. 

Although Hulk didn't mention LB as a need back in February of 2015, there may end up being a need due to the less than ideal reports on Okereke's progress and due to the fact that Barton came back from Ghana in much worse physical shape than when he left.  Luckily, Stanford has Robinson committed and appears to be on the verge of landing McCulloch, which would comprise Stanford's most elite LB class at least since 2001 (Craven, Alston, Bonifas).  Shaw may have an embarrassment of riches if Okereke and Barton pan out, but better safe than sorry. 

Hulk probably should have included WR as a need as well, even though Irwin, Arcega-Whiteside, and Tyler comprised a solid class in 2015.  In that department, unfortunately, Stanford appears on the verge of a pretty significant whiff.  Barring a gift from admissions, Stewart (assuming he commits) is the only WR likely to be in the class that arrives in 2016.  Fehoko is ranked very highly, but he won't show up on campus until 2018.  Meanwhile, Stanford appears to have missed on McKinley, Crawford, Imatorbhebhe, Burton, and Nixon, all of whom were elite WRs and reported strong academic profiles. 

Despite the failure to close on an elite 2016 WR, I'd say that the overall class is shaping up to be just what the doctor ordered.  In fact, if Stanford closes as well as I expect, we may be looking at a title contender in 2017.

[TrumpCard]

I wanted to evaluate whether Stanford is poised to fill the needs that Hulk mentioned in this thread a long time ago.  I'm using the final Scout 300 that was just published as a sanity check.  Here it is:http://www.scout.com/college/football/re...=HootSuite

Three DLs, one a nose tackle.  This is obvious.

Williams, Schaffer, Swann, and Peek fill this need well.  Williams, #225, is the highest ranked, and plays the position of greatest need.

Tight end.  With only Schultz in 2014 and no tight ends in this class, we need to prepare for the day when Hooper, Cotton and Taboada disappear from this roster—simultaneously.  Try for two,

Smith is a whale, ranked #38

QB.  Chryst in 2014 abnd no one in the 2015 class.  Cannot risk a two-year gap here.

Costello is a whale, ranked #91

A power back.  Cameron Scarlett and his brother have injury histories, and Scarlett is the only power back on next year’s roster.  If only for short yardage, we need this guy.

Bisharat is a good one, ranked #283.  Speights and Stephens are more every down backs, but still powerful, and also 4-star recruits.

A true cover corner.  Buncom and Meeks don’t have elite speed and Terrence Alexander burned his redshirt this year.  We need another Alexander.

Eboh (assuming he flips from UT) is a good one.  He's ranked #143 and put up some impressive combine numbers at The Opening.  His 40 and shuttle are a tenth slower than Alexander, but he's got 4" in extra height that allows him to match up better on the outside.  Stanford also landed Butler, who Scout ranks as a high 3-star, but who is more of a physical corner than a true cover corner. 

Some elite OLs.  Always a need, and Murphy, Shuler, Caspers, Davidson, and Garnett aren’t around much longer.

Hattis and Yarbrough both are in the Scout 300 and each played in an All-American bowl. 

Although Hulk didn't mention LB as a need back in February of 2015, there may end up being a need due to the less than ideal reports on Okereke's progress and due to the fact that Barton came back from Ghana in much worse physical shape than when he left.  Luckily, Stanford has Robinson committed and appears to be on the verge of landing McCulloch, which would comprise Stanford's most elite LB class at least since 2001 (Craven, Alston, Bonifas).  Shaw may have an embarrassment of riches if Okereke and Barton pan out, but better safe than sorry. 

Hulk probably should have included WR as a need as well, even though Irwin, Arcega-Whiteside, and Tyler comprised a solid class in 2015.  In that department, unfortunately, Stanford appears on the verge of a pretty significant whiff.  Barring a gift from admissions, Stewart (assuming he commits) is the only WR likely to be in the class that arrives in 2016.  Fehoko is ranked very highly, but he won't show up on campus until 2018.  Meanwhile, Stanford appears to have missed on McKinley, Crawford, Imatorbhebhe, Burton, and Nixon, all of whom were elite WRs and reported strong academic profiles. 

Despite the failure to close on an elite 2016 WR, I'd say that the overall class is shaping up to be just what the doctor ordered.  In fact, if Stanford closes as well as I expect, we may be looking at a title contender in 2017.

[TrumpCard]

In the summary above, note the number of Texas natives who were priority recruits for UT.  Not just kids who got a non-committable offer, but kids UT desperately wanted/wants.  That list definitely includes Smith, McCulloch, Williams, and Eboh.  Sweeping those four would be a coup of epic proportions.  Obviously, Stanford still has work to do, but it's looking pretty good.

Plus, UT did offer Stephens at one point and showed some interest in Speights.  Both are nice commits for Stanford.  UT does not currently have a RB committed so those two might still be of interest, though it's not as clear to me that Stanford really stole those two.

Bravo to the Stanford staff, and thanks to the UT staff for its incompetence. 

[TrumpCard]

In the summary above, note the number of Texas natives who were priority recruits for UT.  Not just kids who got a non-committable offer, but kids UT desperately wanted/wants.  That list definitely includes Smith, McCulloch, Williams, and Eboh.  Sweeping those four would be a coup of epic proportions.  Obviously, Stanford still has work to do, but it's looking pretty good.

Plus, UT did offer Stephens at one point and showed some interest in Speights.  Both are nice commits for Stanford.  UT does not currently have a RB committed so those two might still be of interest, though it's not as clear to me that Stanford really stole those two.

Bravo to the Stanford staff, and thanks to the UT staff for its incompetence. 

[fullmetal]

Thank the UT administration for sabotaging Charlie Strong's efforts to land a decent OC.  The chaos in Austin only benefits everyone else's recruiting efforts in the Lone Star state...

[fullmetal]

Thank the UT administration for sabotaging Charlie Strong's efforts to land a decent OC.  The chaos in Austin only benefits everyone else's recruiting efforts in the Lone Star state...

[BostonCard]

Although Hulk didn't mention LB as a need back in February of 2015, there may end up being a need due to the less than ideal reports on Okereke's progress and due to the fact that Barton came back from Ghana in much worse physical shape than when he left.  Luckily, Stanford has Robinson committed and appears to be on the verge of landing McCulloch, which would comprise Stanford's most elite LB class at least since 2001 (Craven, Alston, Bonifas).  Shaw may have an embarrassment of riches if Okereke and Barton pan out, but better safe than sorry. 

The recruiting class of 2009: Shayne Skov (#3 MLB), Jarek Lancaster (#53 WLB), and Trent Murphy (#87 DE, but we wanted him as a 3/4 OLB) might have had something to say about that.  Certainly by accomplishments they outranked the 2001 class.  Of course, the big news in 2009 were the two we just missed out on: Manti Te'o (who, fake dead girlfriend aside was quite a player) and Luke Kuechly.

BC

BC

[BostonCard]

Although Hulk didn't mention LB as a need back in February of 2015, there may end up being a need due to the less than ideal reports on Okereke's progress and due to the fact that Barton came back from Ghana in much worse physical shape than when he left.  Luckily, Stanford has Robinson committed and appears to be on the verge of landing McCulloch, which would comprise Stanford's most elite LB class at least since 2001 (Craven, Alston, Bonifas).  Shaw may have an embarrassment of riches if Okereke and Barton pan out, but better safe than sorry. 

The recruiting class of 2009: Shayne Skov (#3 MLB), Jarek Lancaster (#53 WLB), and Trent Murphy (#87 DE, but we wanted him as a 3/4 OLB) might have had something to say about that.  Certainly by accomplishments they outranked the 2001 class.  Of course, the big news in 2009 were the two we just missed out on: Manti Te'o (who, fake dead girlfriend aside was quite a player) and Luke Kuechly.

BC

BC