[Papa John]

My freshman year was 1980. The Stanford football roster included the following superstars:

QB John Elway
RB and much more Darrin Nelson
RB Vincent White
RB Mike Dotterer
WR Ken Margerum
WR Andre Tyler
TE Chris Dressel

We were actually ranked in the top-20 pre-season but that ranking disappeared after an early season loss to a mediocre BC team. However, the following week Stanford destroyed #4 Oklahoma in Norman. (I had just arrived for freshman orientation that weekend. I was at some event with no TVs around and they announced the score about every 45 minutes. That's all I remember about the event.) Two other losses were to the SoCal schools, who were both highly ranked and UW, who had a solid team. But Big Game 1980 was a loss to a bad C.al team, which was 2-8 heading into the game with wins only against conference bottom-feeders UO and OSU--and playing a backup QB.

And that's pretty much the way it was in 1981 and 1982 for Stanford football. The team would knock off top teams like UW, UCLA or tOSU, but never developed the consistency to reach the upper echelons of the Pac-10. And losing to SJSU twice didn't help, either. Then the wheels fell off after Elway graduated, and in 1983 the team's lone victory was over a ranked UA team.

[Papa John]

My freshman year was 1980. The Stanford football roster included the following superstars:

QB John Elway
RB and much more Darrin Nelson
RB Vincent White
RB Mike Dotterer
WR Ken Margerum
WR Andre Tyler
TE Chris Dressel

We were actually ranked in the top-20 pre-season but that ranking disappeared after an early season loss to a mediocre BC team. However, the following week Stanford destroyed #4 Oklahoma in Norman. (I had just arrived for freshman orientation that weekend. I was at some event with no TVs around and they announced the score about every 45 minutes. That's all I remember about the event.) Two other losses were to the SoCal schools, who were both highly ranked and UW, who had a solid team. But Big Game 1980 was a loss to a bad C.al team, which was 2-8 heading into the game with wins only against conference bottom-feeders UO and OSU--and playing a backup QB.

And that's pretty much the way it was in 1981 and 1982 for Stanford football. The team would knock off top teams like UW, UCLA or tOSU, but never developed the consistency to reach the upper echelons of the Pac-10. And losing to SJSU twice didn't help, either. Then the wheels fell off after Elway graduated, and in 1983 the team's lone victory was over a ranked UA team.

[Kathy]

I certainly hope Muir does not wait until Johnny Dawkins devolves to Paul Wiggins bad before he gets rid of him.

[Kathy]

I certainly hope Muir does not wait until Johnny Dawkins devolves to Paul Wiggins bad before he gets rid of him.

[winflop]

I certainly hope Muir does not wait until Johnny Dawkins devolves to Paul Wiggins bad before he gets rid of him.

If Stanford does not make the tournament next season - which I highly doubt it will given what the roster looks like - I don't think he will have a choice.

[winflop]

I certainly hope Muir does not wait until Johnny Dawkins devolves to Paul Wiggins bad before he gets rid of him.

If Stanford does not make the tournament next season - which I highly doubt it will given what the roster looks like - I don't think he will have a choice.

[fullmetal]

Muir seems like he'll keep Dawkins for at least two more years, and probably more.  Unless Arrillaga or some other person with Muir's ear says something, the contract and Muir's faith in Dawkins will maintain the status quo.

[fullmetal]

Muir seems like he'll keep Dawkins for at least two more years, and probably more.  Unless Arrillaga or some other person with Muir's ear says something, the contract and Muir's faith in Dawkins will maintain the status quo.

[yvonne]

That's one thing I don't get. Why wouldn't Arrillaga, who as a basketball player, press for a top-level basketball program.

[yvonne]

That's one thing I don't get. Why wouldn't Arrillaga, who as a basketball player, press for a top-level basketball program.

[Papa John]

If Stanford does not make the tournament next season - which I highly doubt it will given what the roster looks like - I don't think he will have a choice.

What's wrong with the roster? Here is returning top-100 talent, according to a website that some folks on the CARDBoard despise/Rivals:
2012 class: Rosco Allen #78/73, Grant Verhoeven #79/132
2013 class: Marcus Allen #47/131
2014 class: Reid Travis #38/44, Robert Cartwright #50/82, Michael Humphrey #72/47, Dorian Pickens --/136
2015 class (incoming): Marcus Sheffield #93/103, Cameron Walker --/72, Josh Sharma --/84

As best as I can tell, each of the above players was rated in the top 25 for his position as a recruit.

The cupboard is not bare next year, and I think this team has the talent to finish in the top half of the conference and make the NCAA tournament. I was pissed off when the team folded in the second half of conference play this year (and in 2013, and in 2012, and in 2011...), and I'll be just as pissed off if it happens again in 2016. But then again, I'm pissed off for greatness.

[Papa John]

If Stanford does not make the tournament next season - which I highly doubt it will given what the roster looks like - I don't think he will have a choice.

What's wrong with the roster? Here is returning top-100 talent, according to a website that some folks on the CARDBoard despise/Rivals:
2012 class: Rosco Allen #78/73, Grant Verhoeven #79/132
2013 class: Marcus Allen #47/131
2014 class: Reid Travis #38/44, Robert Cartwright #50/82, Michael Humphrey #72/47, Dorian Pickens --/136
2015 class (incoming): Marcus Sheffield #93/103, Cameron Walker --/72, Josh Sharma --/84

As best as I can tell, each of the above players was rated in the top 25 for his position as a recruit.

The cupboard is not bare next year, and I think this team has the talent to finish in the top half of the conference and make the NCAA tournament. I was pissed off when the team folded in the second half of conference play this year (and in 2013, and in 2012, and in 2011...), and I'll be just as pissed off if it happens again in 2016. But then again, I'm pissed off for greatness.

[winflop]

I think this team has the talent to finish in the top half of the conference and make the NCAA tournament. I was pissed off when the team folded in the second half of conference play this year (and in 2013, and in 2012, and in 2011...), and I'll be just as pissed off if it happens again in 2016. But then again, I'm pissed off for greatness.

Have to agree to disagree: Rosco Allen has trouble staying out of foul trouble, Verhoeven is a bust I can't believe you listed him there, and Marcus Allen has about a 10ft shooting range.

And although I applaud your optimism, I've felt that way going into at least four of the last five seasons.  Half the problem is the talent level, the other half is the ability to put it together into a cohesive team that plays above the talent level of the individuals.  Haven't seen that once in the Dawkins era.

[winflop]

I think this team has the talent to finish in the top half of the conference and make the NCAA tournament. I was pissed off when the team folded in the second half of conference play this year (and in 2013, and in 2012, and in 2011...), and I'll be just as pissed off if it happens again in 2016. But then again, I'm pissed off for greatness.

Have to agree to disagree: Rosco Allen has trouble staying out of foul trouble, Verhoeven is a bust I can't believe you listed him there, and Marcus Allen has about a 10ft shooting range.

And although I applaud your optimism, I've felt that way going into at least four of the last five seasons.  Half the problem is the talent level, the other half is the ability to put it together into a cohesive team that plays above the talent level of the individuals.  Haven't seen that once in the Dawkins era.