[thunder_chik]

I've been a Stanford football fan since the 1972 Rose Bowl.  Football is part of the reason I chose Stanford (other choice was CalTech, whose football team was the "Beavers".  They retired the program in 1993).
In a cursory review of Stanford's record since 1970, a quirky pattern emerges:
1970-1979, no losing seasons
1980s, 8 losing seasons
1990s, 5
2000s, 8
2010s, 1
So perhaps we are just in a cycle, an ebb and flow of winning/losing decades.  Even so, I am not looking forward to watching the game on Saturday, but I will watch because I am still a fan.

[thunder_chik]

I've been a Stanford football fan since the 1972 Rose Bowl.  Football is part of the reason I chose Stanford (other choice was CalTech, whose football team was the "Beavers".  They retired the program in 1993).
In a cursory review of Stanford's record since 1970, a quirky pattern emerges:
1970-1979, no losing seasons
1980s, 8 losing seasons
1990s, 5
2000s, 8
2010s, 1
So perhaps we are just in a cycle, an ebb and flow of winning/losing decades.  Even so, I am not looking forward to watching the game on Saturday, but I will watch because I am still a fan.

[teejers1]

No one has to engage with anyone else if they don’t want to.  Life is not an XKCD comic.



BC

You've attached this comic box previously - it is one of the best ever.  So funny because it has so much truth behind it!

[teejers1]

No one has to engage with anyone else if they don’t want to.  Life is not an XKCD comic.



BC

You've attached this comic box previously - it is one of the best ever.  So funny because it has so much truth behind it!

[Phogge]

Pitchers and catchers report in twelve weeks.

Good night to Stanford football for about nine months plus.

[Phogge]

Pitchers and catchers report in twelve weeks.

Good night to Stanford football for about nine months plus.

[Leftcoast]

I hate visiting THE CARDBOARD when the bile and venom rises to its current level.  Makes me believe the Borg won after all, resistance is futile, and after a long fight we've all been assimilated. 

This board was founded and grew from Bootleg emigres who got tired of the humorless bashing, by a group known as the Borg, of another successful coach who could never succeed - Ty Willingham in his early and pre-Rose Bowl years.  It's not that the Cardboard Stepfords didn't criticize coaches - We certainly did.  Wlat Harris and Buddy Teevens were respectively known as Bob's Buddy and Bob's other Buddy here, but when criticisms send me back to reality ready to punch a hole in the wall, kick the dog, and renew my Zantac prescription then who needs to read a Stanford "fan" board?

Frankly Shaw deserves criticism for his recent efforts but inject a little levity and add something new to that 15th consecutive angry rant if not for yourself, than for the sake of the rest of us. Give us a little dark humor, be entertaining ... or go all out and see a ray of hope somewhere.  A quick reminder that in the last 10 years we've watched 3 Rose Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, more wins over ranked teams than any other Stanford coach in what is arguably the best 10 years of your Stanford football fandom.

I like the Cardboard but I also like to cultivate a generally sunny disposition (hard these days) when seeking to escape reality through sports.  I don't want to abandon another Stanford Board out of fear of being assimilated into a life devoid of sunshine and joy.  Nor do I want to drop football and spend the fall watching only Tara's team as a result of reading 25 identical and humorless Borg posts.

Cheers to all Stanford fans - Borg and Stepfords alike and Go Card - I'll be there on Saturday.  While we'll probably lose I'll be cheering for a better result and leave knowing that for all its issues the Cardboard is still a better read than any Domer board. 

Let's keep it that way.

[Leftcoast]

I hate visiting THE CARDBOARD when the bile and venom rises to its current level.  Makes me believe the Borg won after all, resistance is futile, and after a long fight we've all been assimilated. 

This board was founded and grew from Bootleg emigres who got tired of the humorless bashing, by a group known as the Borg, of another successful coach who could never succeed - Ty Willingham in his early and pre-Rose Bowl years.  It's not that the Cardboard Stepfords didn't criticize coaches - We certainly did.  Wlat Harris and Buddy Teevens were respectively known as Bob's Buddy and Bob's other Buddy here, but when criticisms send me back to reality ready to punch a hole in the wall, kick the dog, and renew my Zantac prescription then who needs to read a Stanford "fan" board?

Frankly Shaw deserves criticism for his recent efforts but inject a little levity and add something new to that 15th consecutive angry rant if not for yourself, than for the sake of the rest of us. Give us a little dark humor, be entertaining ... or go all out and see a ray of hope somewhere.  A quick reminder that in the last 10 years we've watched 3 Rose Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, more wins over ranked teams than any other Stanford coach in what is arguably the best 10 years of your Stanford football fandom.

I like the Cardboard but I also like to cultivate a generally sunny disposition (hard these days) when seeking to escape reality through sports.  I don't want to abandon another Stanford Board out of fear of being assimilated into a life devoid of sunshine and joy.  Nor do I want to drop football and spend the fall watching only Tara's team as a result of reading 25 identical and humorless Borg posts.

Cheers to all Stanford fans - Borg and Stepfords alike and Go Card - I'll be there on Saturday.  While we'll probably lose I'll be cheering for a better result and leave knowing that for all its issues the Cardboard is still a better read than any Domer board. 

Let's keep it that way.

[winflop]

I think Shaw has earned the opportunity to fix what he has broken, in whatever manner he chooses. But if things don't improve then he needs to go.

We all have our ideas on what changes need to be made, but ultimately what counts is results.

What's good enough for you? 8 regular season wins has always been the bar for me for what constitutes a good season. 6 or 7 is OK. Anything less is not.

2018 was the last time Shaw met that bar. No, 2020 doesn't count.

[winflop]

I think Shaw has earned the opportunity to fix what he has broken, in whatever manner he chooses. But if things don't improve then he needs to go.

We all have our ideas on what changes need to be made, but ultimately what counts is results.

What's good enough for you? 8 regular season wins has always been the bar for me for what constitutes a good season. 6 or 7 is OK. Anything less is not.

2018 was the last time Shaw met that bar. No, 2020 doesn't count.

[lex24]

The good news is it’s Eggnog season and I just finished a glass of Buds….

This has been a good discussion.  

Happy Thanksgiving.  We have much to be thankful for.

[lex24]

The good news is it’s Eggnog season and I just finished a glass of Buds….

This has been a good discussion.  

Happy Thanksgiving.  We have much to be thankful for.

[CowboyIndian]

I just finished a glass of Buds….

Duuuuude!!

[CowboyIndian]

I just finished a glass of Buds….

Duuuuude!!

[teejers1]

I hate visiting THE CARDBOARD when the constant bile and venom rises to its current level.  Makes me believe the Borg won after all, resistance is futile, and after a long fight we've all been assimilated. 

This board was founded and grew from Bootleg emigres who got tired of the humorless bashing, by a group known as the Borg, of another successful coach who could never succeed - Ty Willingham in his early and pre-Rose Bowl years.  It's not that the Cardboard Stepfords didn't criticize coaches - We certainly did.  Wlat Harris and Buddy Teevens were respectively known as Bob's Buddy and Bob's other Buddy here, but when criticisms send me back to reality ready to punch a hole in the wall, kick the dog, and renew my Zantac prescription then who needs to read a Stanford "fan" board?

Frankly Shaw deserves criticism for his recent efforts but inject a little levity and add something new to that 15th consecutive angry rant if not for yourself, than for the sake of the rest of us.  Add something new, give us a little dark humor, be entertaining ... or go all out and see a ray of hope somewhere.  A quick reminder that in the last 10 years we've watched 3 Rose Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, more wins over ranked teams than any other Stanford coach in what is arguably the best 10 years of your Stanford football fandom.

I like the Cardboard but I also like to cultivate a generally sunny disposition when seeking an escape through sports.  I don't want to abandon another Stanford Board out of fear of being assimilated into a life devoid of sunshine and joy.  Nor do I want to drop football and spend the fall watching only Tara's team as a result of reading 25 identical and humorless Borg posts.

Cheers to all Stanford fans - Borg and Stepfords alike and, Go Card - I'll be there on Saturday.  While we'll probably lose I'll be cheering for better and leave knowing that for all it's issues the Cardboard is still a better read than any Domer board.  Let's keep it that way.

Friend of Ted (not Bob), I'm pretty sure.

I'm now so worn down I don't have the energy for the venom.  Just hoping that real, effective changes are made.  The performance numbers of the team this year have been, to put it mildly, not good enough.

Men's hoops tonight; and then 3+ women's hoops games that should be well-contested and (hopefully) fun to watch.  [Suspect I'll plunk down the $$ for Flovision, or whatever it's called].

And we'll all survive Saturday evening . . . even if it may not be that pleasant.

Go Cardinal!

[teejers1]

I hate visiting THE CARDBOARD when the constant bile and venom rises to its current level.  Makes me believe the Borg won after all, resistance is futile, and after a long fight we've all been assimilated. 

This board was founded and grew from Bootleg emigres who got tired of the humorless bashing, by a group known as the Borg, of another successful coach who could never succeed - Ty Willingham in his early and pre-Rose Bowl years.  It's not that the Cardboard Stepfords didn't criticize coaches - We certainly did.  Wlat Harris and Buddy Teevens were respectively known as Bob's Buddy and Bob's other Buddy here, but when criticisms send me back to reality ready to punch a hole in the wall, kick the dog, and renew my Zantac prescription then who needs to read a Stanford "fan" board?

Frankly Shaw deserves criticism for his recent efforts but inject a little levity and add something new to that 15th consecutive angry rant if not for yourself, than for the sake of the rest of us.  Add something new, give us a little dark humor, be entertaining ... or go all out and see a ray of hope somewhere.  A quick reminder that in the last 10 years we've watched 3 Rose Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, more wins over ranked teams than any other Stanford coach in what is arguably the best 10 years of your Stanford football fandom.

I like the Cardboard but I also like to cultivate a generally sunny disposition when seeking an escape through sports.  I don't want to abandon another Stanford Board out of fear of being assimilated into a life devoid of sunshine and joy.  Nor do I want to drop football and spend the fall watching only Tara's team as a result of reading 25 identical and humorless Borg posts.

Cheers to all Stanford fans - Borg and Stepfords alike and, Go Card - I'll be there on Saturday.  While we'll probably lose I'll be cheering for better and leave knowing that for all it's issues the Cardboard is still a better read than any Domer board.  Let's keep it that way.

Friend of Ted (not Bob), I'm pretty sure.

I'm now so worn down I don't have the energy for the venom.  Just hoping that real, effective changes are made.  The performance numbers of the team this year have been, to put it mildly, not good enough.

Men's hoops tonight; and then 3+ women's hoops games that should be well-contested and (hopefully) fun to watch.  [Suspect I'll plunk down the $$ for Flovision, or whatever it's called].

And we'll all survive Saturday evening . . . even if it may not be that pleasant.

Go Cardinal!

[Leftcoast]

"Friend of Ted (not Bob), I'm pretty sure."
>> You are completely correct!  It WAS friend of Ted. I'd claim dementia but don't sufferers remember long ago things better than yesterday? I really, really, don't want to remember that loss to DAVIS. Whoops... now I've done it.

"I'm now so worn down I don't have the energy for the venom.  Just hoping that real, effective changes are made.  The performance numbers of the team this year have been, to put it mildly, not good enough."
>> Sadly true. 

"Men's hoops tonight; "
>> I'll be there too!  Go Card! Yes, Coach Haas you have a VERY good chance to have a better season than the football team.

[Leftcoast]

"Friend of Ted (not Bob), I'm pretty sure."
>> You are completely correct!  It WAS friend of Ted. I'd claim dementia but don't sufferers remember long ago things better than yesterday? I really, really, don't want to remember that loss to DAVIS. Whoops... now I've done it.

"I'm now so worn down I don't have the energy for the venom.  Just hoping that real, effective changes are made.  The performance numbers of the team this year have been, to put it mildly, not good enough."
>> Sadly true. 

"Men's hoops tonight; "
>> I'll be there too!  Go Card! Yes, Coach Haas you have a VERY good chance to have a better season than the football team.

[slide]

I hate visiting THE CARDBOARD when the constant bile and venom rises to its current level.  Makes me believe the Borg won after all, resistance is futile, and after a long fight we've all been assimilated. 

This board was founded and grew from Bootleg emigres who got tired of the humorless bashing, by a group known as the Borg, of another successful coach who could never succeed - Ty Willingham in his early and pre-Rose Bowl years.  It's not that the Cardboard Stepfords didn't criticize coaches - We certainly did.  Wlat Harris and Buddy Teevens were respectively known as Bob's Buddy and Bob's other Buddy here, but when criticisms send me back to reality ready to punch a hole in the wall, kick the dog, and renew my Zantac prescription then who needs to read a Stanford "fan" board?

Frankly Shaw deserves criticism for his recent efforts but inject a little levity and add something new to that 15th consecutive angry rant if not for yourself, than for the sake of the rest of us.  Add something new, give us a little dark humor, be entertaining ... or go all out and see a ray of hope somewhere.  A quick reminder that in the last 10 years we've watched 3 Rose Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, more wins over ranked teams than any other Stanford coach in what is arguably the best 10 years of your Stanford football fandom.

I like the Cardboard but I also like to cultivate a generally sunny disposition when seeking an escape through sports.  I don't want to abandon another Stanford Board out of fear of being assimilated into a life devoid of sunshine and joy.  Nor do I want to drop football and spend the fall watching only Tara's team as a result of reading 25 identical and humorless Borg posts.

Cheers to all Stanford fans - Borg and Stepfords alike and Go Card - I'll be there on Saturday.  While we'll probably lose I'll be cheering for better and leave knowing that for all it's issues the Cardboard is still a better read than any Domer board.  Let's keep it that way.

speaking of the Borgs & Stepfords era, it would be great to have Garvin and Redrum back for humor, diversity of interests and their control/wielding of English.

[slide]

I hate visiting THE CARDBOARD when the constant bile and venom rises to its current level.  Makes me believe the Borg won after all, resistance is futile, and after a long fight we've all been assimilated. 

This board was founded and grew from Bootleg emigres who got tired of the humorless bashing, by a group known as the Borg, of another successful coach who could never succeed - Ty Willingham in his early and pre-Rose Bowl years.  It's not that the Cardboard Stepfords didn't criticize coaches - We certainly did.  Wlat Harris and Buddy Teevens were respectively known as Bob's Buddy and Bob's other Buddy here, but when criticisms send me back to reality ready to punch a hole in the wall, kick the dog, and renew my Zantac prescription then who needs to read a Stanford "fan" board?

Frankly Shaw deserves criticism for his recent efforts but inject a little levity and add something new to that 15th consecutive angry rant if not for yourself, than for the sake of the rest of us.  Add something new, give us a little dark humor, be entertaining ... or go all out and see a ray of hope somewhere.  A quick reminder that in the last 10 years we've watched 3 Rose Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, more wins over ranked teams than any other Stanford coach in what is arguably the best 10 years of your Stanford football fandom.

I like the Cardboard but I also like to cultivate a generally sunny disposition when seeking an escape through sports.  I don't want to abandon another Stanford Board out of fear of being assimilated into a life devoid of sunshine and joy.  Nor do I want to drop football and spend the fall watching only Tara's team as a result of reading 25 identical and humorless Borg posts.

Cheers to all Stanford fans - Borg and Stepfords alike and Go Card - I'll be there on Saturday.  While we'll probably lose I'll be cheering for better and leave knowing that for all it's issues the Cardboard is still a better read than any Domer board.  Let's keep it that way.

speaking of the Borgs & Stepfords era, it would be great to have Garvin and Redrum back for humor, diversity of interests and their control/wielding of English.

[teejers1]

I hate visiting THE CARDBOARD when the constant bile and venom rises to its current level.  Makes me believe the Borg won after all, resistance is futile, and after a long fight we've all been assimilated. 

This board was founded and grew from Bootleg emigres who got tired of the humorless bashing, by a group known as the Borg, of another successful coach who could never succeed - Ty Willingham in his early and pre-Rose Bowl years.  It's not that the Cardboard Stepfords didn't criticize coaches - We certainly did.  Wlat Harris and Buddy Teevens were respectively known as Bob's Buddy and Bob's other Buddy here, but when criticisms send me back to reality ready to punch a hole in the wall, kick the dog, and renew my Zantac prescription then who needs to read a Stanford "fan" board?

Frankly Shaw deserves criticism for his recent efforts but inject a little levity and add something new to that 15th consecutive angry rant if not for yourself, than for the sake of the rest of us.  Add something new, give us a little dark humor, be entertaining ... or go all out and see a ray of hope somewhere.  A quick reminder that in the last 10 years we've watched 3 Rose Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, more wins over ranked teams than any other Stanford coach in what is arguably the best 10 years of your Stanford football fandom.

I like the Cardboard but I also like to cultivate a generally sunny disposition when seeking an escape through sports.  I don't want to abandon another Stanford Board out of fear of being assimilated into a life devoid of sunshine and joy.  Nor do I want to drop football and spend the fall watching only Tara's team as a result of reading 25 identical and humorless Borg posts.

Cheers to all Stanford fans - Borg and Stepfords alike and Go Card - I'll be there on Saturday.  While we'll probably lose I'll be cheering for better and leave knowing that for all it's issues the Cardboard is still a better read than any Domer board.  Let's keep it that way.

speaking of the Borgs & Stepfords era, it would be great to have Garvin and Redrum back for humor, diversity of interests and their control/wielding of English.

And the banter regarding the Daily v Daily Californian football games from way back yesteryear.

[teejers1]

I hate visiting THE CARDBOARD when the constant bile and venom rises to its current level.  Makes me believe the Borg won after all, resistance is futile, and after a long fight we've all been assimilated. 

This board was founded and grew from Bootleg emigres who got tired of the humorless bashing, by a group known as the Borg, of another successful coach who could never succeed - Ty Willingham in his early and pre-Rose Bowl years.  It's not that the Cardboard Stepfords didn't criticize coaches - We certainly did.  Wlat Harris and Buddy Teevens were respectively known as Bob's Buddy and Bob's other Buddy here, but when criticisms send me back to reality ready to punch a hole in the wall, kick the dog, and renew my Zantac prescription then who needs to read a Stanford "fan" board?

Frankly Shaw deserves criticism for his recent efforts but inject a little levity and add something new to that 15th consecutive angry rant if not for yourself, than for the sake of the rest of us.  Add something new, give us a little dark humor, be entertaining ... or go all out and see a ray of hope somewhere.  A quick reminder that in the last 10 years we've watched 3 Rose Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, more wins over ranked teams than any other Stanford coach in what is arguably the best 10 years of your Stanford football fandom.

I like the Cardboard but I also like to cultivate a generally sunny disposition when seeking an escape through sports.  I don't want to abandon another Stanford Board out of fear of being assimilated into a life devoid of sunshine and joy.  Nor do I want to drop football and spend the fall watching only Tara's team as a result of reading 25 identical and humorless Borg posts.

Cheers to all Stanford fans - Borg and Stepfords alike and Go Card - I'll be there on Saturday.  While we'll probably lose I'll be cheering for better and leave knowing that for all it's issues the Cardboard is still a better read than any Domer board.  Let's keep it that way.

speaking of the Borgs & Stepfords era, it would be great to have Garvin and Redrum back for humor, diversity of interests and their control/wielding of English.

And the banter regarding the Daily v Daily Californian football games from way back yesteryear.

[81alum]

Joe Paterno went through this lull in his winning record:
1999 10-3
2000 5-6
2001 5-6
2002 9-4
2003 3-9
2004 4-7
2005 11-1

Here is an article that mentions an effort to get Paterno to resign after the 2004 season, regretted after the 2005 season:

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/psu/...0512250225

It is at least nice to know that a great coach can have a skid and then climb back to previous heights.  (Of course, this is without focusing on Paterno's role in the coverup of a sex scandal.  Paterno was not David Shaw when it came to ethics.)

This article is quite apropos, I think.  The discussion of the pressure for him to resign after 2004 is very reminiscent of some of the conversations we have had here. The article does mention that he never fired an assistant coach, and that 2005 was achieved by "staying the course."  Still, I would be interested to learn more about the adjustments he made to turn that program around.

[81alum]

Joe Paterno went through this lull in his winning record:
1999 10-3
2000 5-6
2001 5-6
2002 9-4
2003 3-9
2004 4-7
2005 11-1

Here is an article that mentions an effort to get Paterno to resign after the 2004 season, regretted after the 2005 season:

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/psu/...0512250225

It is at least nice to know that a great coach can have a skid and then climb back to previous heights.  (Of course, this is without focusing on Paterno's role in the coverup of a sex scandal.  Paterno was not David Shaw when it came to ethics.)

This article is quite apropos, I think.  The discussion of the pressure for him to resign after 2004 is very reminiscent of some of the conversations we have had here. The article does mention that he never fired an assistant coach, and that 2005 was achieved by "staying the course."  Still, I would be interested to learn more about the adjustments he made to turn that program around.

[PAsportsfan]

Big difference

Joe P built PSU.

Shaw inherited.

What is the FOOTBALL positive you can credit to Shaw?

[PAsportsfan]

Big difference

Joe P built PSU.

Shaw inherited.

What is the FOOTBALL positive you can credit to Shaw?

[BostonCard]

Rip Engle was a hall of fame coach and Paterno’s immediate predecessor at Penn State, and Paterno was a player and later assistant under Engle.  

BC

[BostonCard]

Rip Engle was a hall of fame coach and Paterno’s immediate predecessor at Penn State, and Paterno was a player and later assistant under Engle.  

BC

[81alum]

For those who didn't read the Paterno article, they might be interested in this quote from Bobby Bowden.  It is unrelated to this thread, but is related to Stanford:

Other football coaches, even the greatest ones, loosened their control, adjusting to the lax trends of the modern century. Florida State's Bobby Bowden -- Division I-A's all-time winningest coach, and Paterno's opponent in the Jan. 3 Orange Bowl -- used to maintain strict rules, like Paterno, against long hair.

"But there have been many kids I've tried to recruit who've made us let up a little bit," Bowden said recently by phone. "A great player with long hair ... I used to say, 'You've got to cut that hair if you come here.' And so he'd go to Stanford.

[81alum]

For those who didn't read the Paterno article, they might be interested in this quote from Bobby Bowden.  It is unrelated to this thread, but is related to Stanford:

Other football coaches, even the greatest ones, loosened their control, adjusting to the lax trends of the modern century. Florida State's Bobby Bowden -- Division I-A's all-time winningest coach, and Paterno's opponent in the Jan. 3 Orange Bowl -- used to maintain strict rules, like Paterno, against long hair.

"But there have been many kids I've tried to recruit who've made us let up a little bit," Bowden said recently by phone. "A great player with long hair ... I used to say, 'You've got to cut that hair if you come here.' And so he'd go to Stanford.

[JohnR34231]

I hate visiting THE CARDBOARD when the constant bile and venom rises to its current level.  Makes me believe the Borg won after all, resistance is futile, and after a long fight we've all been assimilated. 

This board was founded and grew from Bootleg emigres who got tired of the humorless bashing, by a group known as the Borg, of another successful coach who could never succeed - Ty Willingham in his early and pre-Rose Bowl years.  It's not that the Cardboard Stepfords didn't criticize coaches - We certainly did.  Wlat Harris and Buddy Teevens were respectively known as Bob's Buddy and Bob's other Buddy here, but when criticisms send me back to reality ready to punch a hole in the wall, kick the dog, and renew my Zantac prescription then who needs to read a Stanford "fan" board?

Frankly Shaw deserves criticism for his recent efforts but inject a little levity and add something new to that 15th consecutive angry rant if not for yourself, than for the sake of the rest of us.  Add something new, give us a little dark humor, be entertaining ... or go all out and see a ray of hope somewhere.  A quick reminder that in the last 10 years we've watched 3 Rose Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, more wins over ranked teams than any other Stanford coach in what is arguably the best 10 years of your Stanford football fandom.

I like the Cardboard but I also like to cultivate a generally sunny disposition when seeking an escape through sports.  I don't want to abandon another Stanford Board out of fear of being assimilated into a life devoid of sunshine and joy.  Nor do I want to drop football and spend the fall watching only Tara's team as a result of reading 25 identical and humorless Borg posts.

Cheers to all Stanford fans - Borg and Stepfords alike and Go Card - I'll be there on Saturday.  While we'll probably lose I'll be cheering for better and leave knowing that for all it's issues the Cardboard is still a better read than any Domer board.  Let's keep it that way.

speaking of the Borgs & Stepfords era, it would be great to have Garvin and Redrum back for humor, diversity of interests and their control/wielding of English.

Garvin still posts on the Facebook Stanford website, if you want to check him out there.

[JohnR34231]

I hate visiting THE CARDBOARD when the constant bile and venom rises to its current level.  Makes me believe the Borg won after all, resistance is futile, and after a long fight we've all been assimilated. 

This board was founded and grew from Bootleg emigres who got tired of the humorless bashing, by a group known as the Borg, of another successful coach who could never succeed - Ty Willingham in his early and pre-Rose Bowl years.  It's not that the Cardboard Stepfords didn't criticize coaches - We certainly did.  Wlat Harris and Buddy Teevens were respectively known as Bob's Buddy and Bob's other Buddy here, but when criticisms send me back to reality ready to punch a hole in the wall, kick the dog, and renew my Zantac prescription then who needs to read a Stanford "fan" board?

Frankly Shaw deserves criticism for his recent efforts but inject a little levity and add something new to that 15th consecutive angry rant if not for yourself, than for the sake of the rest of us.  Add something new, give us a little dark humor, be entertaining ... or go all out and see a ray of hope somewhere.  A quick reminder that in the last 10 years we've watched 3 Rose Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, more wins over ranked teams than any other Stanford coach in what is arguably the best 10 years of your Stanford football fandom.

I like the Cardboard but I also like to cultivate a generally sunny disposition when seeking an escape through sports.  I don't want to abandon another Stanford Board out of fear of being assimilated into a life devoid of sunshine and joy.  Nor do I want to drop football and spend the fall watching only Tara's team as a result of reading 25 identical and humorless Borg posts.

Cheers to all Stanford fans - Borg and Stepfords alike and Go Card - I'll be there on Saturday.  While we'll probably lose I'll be cheering for better and leave knowing that for all it's issues the Cardboard is still a better read than any Domer board.  Let's keep it that way.

speaking of the Borgs & Stepfords era, it would be great to have Garvin and Redrum back for humor, diversity of interests and their control/wielding of English.

Garvin still posts on the Facebook Stanford website, if you want to check him out there.

[CowboyIndian]

Rip Engle was a hall of fame coach and Paterno’s immediate predecessor at Penn State, and Paterno was a player and later assistant under Engle.  

BC

I thought Paterno played at Brown.

[CowboyIndian]

Rip Engle was a hall of fame coach and Paterno’s immediate predecessor at Penn State, and Paterno was a player and later assistant under Engle.  

BC

I thought Paterno played at Brown.

[Austroturf]

Rip Engle was a hall of fame coach and Paterno’s immediate predecessor at Penn State, and Paterno was a player and later assistant under Engle.  

BC

I thought Paterno played at Brown.

He did.  Quarterback and cornerback.  Sort of a Dallas Lloyd playing both sides of the ball.

[Austroturf]

Rip Engle was a hall of fame coach and Paterno’s immediate predecessor at Penn State, and Paterno was a player and later assistant under Engle.  

BC

I thought Paterno played at Brown.

He did.  Quarterback and cornerback.  Sort of a Dallas Lloyd playing both sides of the ball.

[BostonCard]

Engle coached at Brown from 1944 to 1949, where Paterno was his QB from 46 to 49.  When Engle left for Penn State in 1950, he brought Paterno with him as an assistant coach.

BC

[BostonCard]

Engle coached at Brown from 1944 to 1949, where Paterno was his QB from 46 to 49.  When Engle left for Penn State in 1950, he brought Paterno with him as an assistant coach.

BC

[81alum]

Big difference

Joe P built PSU.

Shaw inherited.

What is the FOOTBALL positive you can credit to Shaw?

David Shaw was part of Harbaugh's original team.  Shaw was a more experienced coach than Harbaugh (Shaw spent 5 years coaching in the pros, Harbaugh 2) before Harbaugh tapped Shaw for his staff at San Diego.  Shaw moved with Harbaugh when he took the Stanford job.  (Lance Anderson also came from San Diego with Harbs.)  In any case, we can't know for sure how important Shaw's influence was on Harbaugh, but I think it likely that having an alum of the Stanford program on his staff made Harbaugh's ability to recruit and adjust to the unique conditions at Stanford much easier.  It is even possible that Harbaugh would not have been successful at a place like Stanford without Shaw.  So Shaw was at least somewhat important to building the program beginning in 2007 and may have been critically important.

[81alum]

Big difference

Joe P built PSU.

Shaw inherited.

What is the FOOTBALL positive you can credit to Shaw?

David Shaw was part of Harbaugh's original team.  Shaw was a more experienced coach than Harbaugh (Shaw spent 5 years coaching in the pros, Harbaugh 2) before Harbaugh tapped Shaw for his staff at San Diego.  Shaw moved with Harbaugh when he took the Stanford job.  (Lance Anderson also came from San Diego with Harbs.)  In any case, we can't know for sure how important Shaw's influence was on Harbaugh, but I think it likely that having an alum of the Stanford program on his staff made Harbaugh's ability to recruit and adjust to the unique conditions at Stanford much easier.  It is even possible that Harbaugh would not have been successful at a place like Stanford without Shaw.  So Shaw was at least somewhat important to building the program beginning in 2007 and may have been critically important.