[Leftcoast]

Most painful loss since 2000- Davis or Sac St (2023)?

I had the unfortunate privilege of watching both from the stands.  I think Davis hurt worse but it’s close!

[Leftcoast]

Most painful loss since 2000- Davis or Sac St (2023)?

I had the unfortunate privilege of watching both from the stands.  I think Davis hurt worse but it’s close!

[Vandelay]

Sac State 2023 is a much better team than UC Davis 2005.  They are certainly one of the top 3-4 teams in FCS.  Troy Taylor built a powerhouse.

[Vandelay]

Sac State 2023 is a much better team than UC Davis 2005.  They are certainly one of the top 3-4 teams in FCS.  Troy Taylor built a powerhouse.

[Mick]

Davis. I had no expectations against Sac State.

[Mick]

Davis. I had no expectations against Sac State.

[cardcrimson]

Even this board only picked us by 10. So the team that Troy Taylor built beat the team Troy Taylor inherited--yes it hurts.

The more puzzling aspects are where were our big players? Bailey and Yurosek and Humphreys were non entities. What happened to a creative offensive? We looked great against Hawaii with quick passing, and good against Sac St with power runs on the first drive. Where'd they go?

[cardcrimson]

Even this board only picked us by 10. So the team that Troy Taylor built beat the team Troy Taylor inherited--yes it hurts.

The more puzzling aspects are where were our big players? Bailey and Yurosek and Humphreys were non entities. What happened to a creative offensive? We looked great against Hawaii with quick passing, and good against Sac St with power runs on the first drive. Where'd they go?

[CrazedZooChimp]

Davis was worse. That Stanford team had some mild expectations, I had none for this team. 

Also Sac State is a top-10 FCS team, Davis was in their second or third year as an FCS team after moving out of D2 (they were a "provisional" FCS team).

And even worse in retrospect when we finished 5-7 and that loss kept us out of a bowl (If we somehow win 4 more games this one will suck more, but I'm not too worried about that...).

[CrazedZooChimp]

Davis was worse. That Stanford team had some mild expectations, I had none for this team. 

Also Sac State is a top-10 FCS team, Davis was in their second or third year as an FCS team after moving out of D2 (they were a "provisional" FCS team).

And even worse in retrospect when we finished 5-7 and that loss kept us out of a bowl (If we somehow win 4 more games this one will suck more, but I'm not too worried about that...).

[Snorlax94]

This was a more painful loss for me.

In 2005, Stanford had losing seasons the last 3 consecutive years and 4 of the last 5.

Today, Stanford has a winning season in 2020, played in the Pac 12 championship in 2017 and won the Sun Bowl in 2018, so the drop to FCS doormat feels more severe.

While Sac State is a better team than Davis (they could probably beat a lot of FBS teams, and their qb’s mobility is elite), and while people have bemoaned Stanford’s recruiting and transfers, three of the last five recruiting classes have been in the top 30. Sac State’s recruiting in 2021-2 were ranked #164 and #166.

[Snorlax94]

This was a more painful loss for me.

In 2005, Stanford had losing seasons the last 3 consecutive years and 4 of the last 5.

Today, Stanford has a winning season in 2020, played in the Pac 12 championship in 2017 and won the Sun Bowl in 2018, so the drop to FCS doormat feels more severe.

While Sac State is a better team than Davis (they could probably beat a lot of FBS teams, and their qb’s mobility is elite), and while people have bemoaned Stanford’s recruiting and transfers, three of the last five recruiting classes have been in the top 30. Sac State’s recruiting in 2021-2 were ranked #164 and #166.

[SamuelMcF]

This was a more painful loss for me.

In 2005, Stanford had losing seasons the last 3 consecutive years and 4 of the last 5.

Today, Stanford has a winning season in 2020, played in the Pac 12 championship in 2017 and won the Sun Bowl in 2018, so the drop to FCS doormat feels more severe.

While Sac State is a better team than Davis (they could probably beat a lot of FBS teams, and their qb’s mobility is elite), and while people have bemoaned Stanford’s recruiting and transfers, three of the last five recruiting classes have been in the top 30. Sac State’s recruiting in 2021-2 were ranked #164 and #166.

Considering almost every single player from the 2019 recruiting class is gone, you really can't count it as part of the current team's talent level.

[SamuelMcF]

This was a more painful loss for me.

In 2005, Stanford had losing seasons the last 3 consecutive years and 4 of the last 5.

Today, Stanford has a winning season in 2020, played in the Pac 12 championship in 2017 and won the Sun Bowl in 2018, so the drop to FCS doormat feels more severe.

While Sac State is a better team than Davis (they could probably beat a lot of FBS teams, and their qb’s mobility is elite), and while people have bemoaned Stanford’s recruiting and transfers, three of the last five recruiting classes have been in the top 30. Sac State’s recruiting in 2021-2 were ranked #164 and #166.

Considering almost every single player from the 2019 recruiting class is gone, you really can't count it as part of the current team's talent level.

[JohnR34231]

Over the years Stanford has shown the ability to lose to just about anyone.
So when they lose to a UC Davis or a Sac State, I'm disappointed, but not particularly shocked or surprised.

[JohnR34231]

Over the years Stanford has shown the ability to lose to just about anyone.
So when they lose to a UC Davis or a Sac State, I'm disappointed, but not particularly shocked or surprised.

[Farm93]

The UC Davis game felt like a better team overlooking a program.
It hurt because, at the time, Stanford was a program fighting each year for bowl eligibility.
That felt like a game the team needed to get for a chance for a bowl game.

Sac State is probably not a game TT would have overlooked.
It hurts because this probably was the last great chance for a win this season.
In the end it really won't matter much.   This team is not going to a bowl game, so any loss is not too painful IMHO.

1-11, 2-10, 3-9 are all very similar.
Though I would be very happy if the team could get 3 wins this season.

[Farm93]

The UC Davis game felt like a better team overlooking a program.
It hurt because, at the time, Stanford was a program fighting each year for bowl eligibility.
That felt like a game the team needed to get for a chance for a bowl game.

Sac State is probably not a game TT would have overlooked.
It hurts because this probably was the last great chance for a win this season.
In the end it really won't matter much.   This team is not going to a bowl game, so any loss is not too painful IMHO.

1-11, 2-10, 3-9 are all very similar.
Though I would be very happy if the team could get 3 wins this season.

[grendalor]

I guess, to me, this one is less painful because expectations were lower for this team, this year, for me.  It's personally jarring for Taylor, probably, but he also likely isn't surprised by it -- after all he built the team that just beat his new one.  And he came in knowing it wasn't possible to turn things around on a dime, so I doubt he is surprised by this result, and nor should the rest of us be, in my view.  By any measure, this was going to be a very down year almost certainly for us, 3 wins or less, perhaps 4 wins at the most, and so this is consistent with that I think.

[grendalor]

I guess, to me, this one is less painful because expectations were lower for this team, this year, for me.  It's personally jarring for Taylor, probably, but he also likely isn't surprised by it -- after all he built the team that just beat his new one.  And he came in knowing it wasn't possible to turn things around on a dime, so I doubt he is surprised by this result, and nor should the rest of us be, in my view.  By any measure, this was going to be a very down year almost certainly for us, 3 wins or less, perhaps 4 wins at the most, and so this is consistent with that I think.

[BobK]

The Davis loss lead to the firing of Harris by Bowlsby and the hiring of Harbaugh. If Stanford had beat Davis Stanford goes to a bowl game. Best loss ever

[BobK]

The Davis loss lead to the firing of Harris by Bowlsby and the hiring of Harbaugh. If Stanford had beat Davis Stanford goes to a bowl game. Best loss ever

[JohnR34231]

The Davis loss lead to the firing of Harris by Bowlsby and the hiring of Harbaugh.  If Stanford had beat Davis Stanford goes to a bowl game.  Best loss ever

I thought it was the subsequent 1-11 season in 2006 that led to Wlat's firing.

[JohnR34231]

The Davis loss lead to the firing of Harris by Bowlsby and the hiring of Harbaugh.  If Stanford had beat Davis Stanford goes to a bowl game.  Best loss ever

I thought it was the subsequent 1-11 season in 2006 that led to Wlat's firing.

[BobK]

Name a coach one year after a bowl game who was fired. Well a sober one that is.

[BobK]

Name a coach one year after a bowl game who was fired. Well a sober one that is.

[JohnR34231]

Name a coach one year after a bowl game who was fired.  Well a sober one that is.

How about Dan Mullen?

[JohnR34231]

Name a coach one year after a bowl game who was fired.  Well a sober one that is.

How about Dan Mullen?

[Jamesy]

This was a more painful loss for me.

In 2005, Stanford had losing seasons the last 3 consecutive years and 4 of the last 5.

Today, Stanford has a winning season in 2020, played in the Pac 12 championship in 2017 and won the Sun Bowl in 2018, so the drop to FCS doormat feels more severe.

While Sac State is a better team than Davis (they could probably beat a lot of FBS teams, and their qb’s mobility is elite), and while people have bemoaned Stanford’s recruiting and transfers, three of the last five recruiting classes have been in the top 30. Sac State’s recruiting in 2021-2 were ranked #164 and #166.

That 2005 team had played in the rose bowl more recently (5 years previous) than this one  (7 years).

[Jamesy]

This was a more painful loss for me.

In 2005, Stanford had losing seasons the last 3 consecutive years and 4 of the last 5.

Today, Stanford has a winning season in 2020, played in the Pac 12 championship in 2017 and won the Sun Bowl in 2018, so the drop to FCS doormat feels more severe.

While Sac State is a better team than Davis (they could probably beat a lot of FBS teams, and their qb’s mobility is elite), and while people have bemoaned Stanford’s recruiting and transfers, three of the last five recruiting classes have been in the top 30. Sac State’s recruiting in 2021-2 were ranked #164 and #166.

That 2005 team had played in the rose bowl more recently (5 years previous) than this one  (7 years).

[Mick]

The Davis loss lead to the firing of Harris by Bowlsby and the hiring of Harbaugh.  If Stanford had beat Davis Stanford goes to a bowl game.  Best loss ever

I thought it was the subsequent 1-11 season in 2006 that led to Wlat's firing.

I can't help repeating this. The most points Wlat's team ever gave up in a full game was 48 points in the first game of that 1-11 season. This year's Stanford game gave up more points in a single half---49 against USC.

This is a legendarily bad team.

[Mick]

The Davis loss lead to the firing of Harris by Bowlsby and the hiring of Harbaugh.  If Stanford had beat Davis Stanford goes to a bowl game.  Best loss ever

I thought it was the subsequent 1-11 season in 2006 that led to Wlat's firing.

I can't help repeating this. The most points Wlat's team ever gave up in a full game was 48 points in the first game of that 1-11 season. This year's Stanford game gave up more points in a single half---49 against USC.

This is a legendarily bad team.

[Embo]

Name a coach one year after a bowl game who was fired.  Well a sober one that is.

Here's one.  Lane Kiffin.  USC was ranked #1 at start of 2012, with Matt Barkley skipping the draft to compete for the national championship. (Those dreams  ended week 3 in a sold out and rocking Stanford Stadium, such a faint memory ....)  USC ended up  unranked at the end of the year and went to the Sun Bowl, what turned out to be another black mark on their program.  (First off, a couple of USC players tweeted about the unpleasantness of El Paso, not a nice thing to do to your host.  Then, USC showed up at the joint team dinner an hour late, and Georgia Tech left before.  Lastly, news came out of a fight post-game in the USC locker room between the Trojan players themselves.)

It was partly into the next season where "tarmac" became a verb.

---

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I was at the 2005 UC Davis game.  There is no comparison.  That was much worse than yesterday's loss.  Of course, not being present in the stands for Sac State helped ease the discomfort (my wife's in the hospital post-surgery, so I had no interest in going).
Stanford had Trent Edwards at quarterback in 2005.  The current talent under center hasn't shown me much to expect another victory this season.

[Embo]

Name a coach one year after a bowl game who was fired.  Well a sober one that is.

Here's one.  Lane Kiffin.  USC was ranked #1 at start of 2012, with Matt Barkley skipping the draft to compete for the national championship. (Those dreams  ended week 3 in a sold out and rocking Stanford Stadium, such a faint memory ....)  USC ended up  unranked at the end of the year and went to the Sun Bowl, what turned out to be another black mark on their program.  (First off, a couple of USC players tweeted about the unpleasantness of El Paso, not a nice thing to do to your host.  Then, USC showed up at the joint team dinner an hour late, and Georgia Tech left before.  Lastly, news came out of a fight post-game in the USC locker room between the Trojan players themselves.)

It was partly into the next season where "tarmac" became a verb.

---

---

I was at the 2005 UC Davis game.  There is no comparison.  That was much worse than yesterday's loss.  Of course, not being present in the stands for Sac State helped ease the discomfort (my wife's in the hospital post-surgery, so I had no interest in going).
Stanford had Trent Edwards at quarterback in 2005.  The current talent under center hasn't shown me much to expect another victory this season.

[cardcrimson]

While Sac State is a better team than Davis (they could probably beat a lot of FBS teams, and their qb’s mobility is elite), and while people have bemoaned Stanford’s recruiting and transfers, three of the last five recruiting classes have been in the top 30. Sac State’s recruiting in 2021-2 were ranked #164 and #166.

"I'm not looking for the best players; I'm looking for the right ones."
-Herb Brooks

from a tweet posted by Jim Craig

[cardcrimson]

While Sac State is a better team than Davis (they could probably beat a lot of FBS teams, and their qb’s mobility is elite), and while people have bemoaned Stanford’s recruiting and transfers, three of the last five recruiting classes have been in the top 30. Sac State’s recruiting in 2021-2 were ranked #164 and #166.

"I'm not looking for the best players; I'm looking for the right ones."
-Herb Brooks

from a tweet posted by Jim Craig

[fullmetal]

Both the Davis loss and this Sac State loss involved Stanford interceptions that had some aspect overturned, which would have turned the game for Stanford.  

Against Davis, CB Nick Sanchez intercepted the Davis QB on their last drive that was ruled out of bounds, although every eyewitness account I remembered said it was inbounds.  Without replay or camera against Davis, there was no recourse.  The drive resulted in the game-winning score for Davis.  I still want that line judge or referee to rot in perdition.

Against Sac State, CB Collin Wright intercepted the Sac State QB and returned it for a touchdown...except that the score was instantly overturned as Wright's knee seemed to be down at the spot of the interception.

The Davis loss was mitigated with hindsight, as it led to Harris' firing and Harbaugh's hiring.  The Sac State loss...who knows what this will bring.  It's the last season of the Pac-12, and this is no way to go out.  Taylor just got hired, and he's not the trash that Harris was to the '05 locker room.  Harbaugh took a team that was tired of losing, kicked out the steak eaters and bus riders, and forged a team culture that would go on to win.  Taylor has to do the same (is he capable of kicking out the steak eaters and bus riders?) while bearing responsibility for this loss.

[fullmetal]

Both the Davis loss and this Sac State loss involved Stanford interceptions that had some aspect overturned, which would have turned the game for Stanford.  

Against Davis, CB Nick Sanchez intercepted the Davis QB on their last drive that was ruled out of bounds, although every eyewitness account I remembered said it was inbounds.  Without replay or camera against Davis, there was no recourse.  The drive resulted in the game-winning score for Davis.  I still want that line judge or referee to rot in perdition.

Against Sac State, CB Collin Wright intercepted the Sac State QB and returned it for a touchdown...except that the score was instantly overturned as Wright's knee seemed to be down at the spot of the interception.

The Davis loss was mitigated with hindsight, as it led to Harris' firing and Harbaugh's hiring.  The Sac State loss...who knows what this will bring.  It's the last season of the Pac-12, and this is no way to go out.  Taylor just got hired, and he's not the trash that Harris was to the '05 locker room.  Harbaugh took a team that was tired of losing, kicked out the steak eaters and bus riders, and forged a team culture that would go on to win.  Taylor has to do the same (is he capable of kicking out the steak eaters and bus riders?) while bearing responsibility for this loss.

[81alum]

This loss was not particularly painful to me.  Low expectations coupled with my emotional withdrawal from Stanford football made me shrug.  I found the most painful losses to be during otherwise good years.  The Fiesta Bowl, Northwestern, etc.  Those losses dashed hopes.  This loss dashed rubble.

I sincerely hope that Taylor proves to be the answer, but my skepticism has been all along that what ails Stanford football goes way beyond coaching.  One thing is certain, Taylor is no Clark Shaughnessy, who installed a new offense and took the team from 1-7-1 to 10-0 and a national championship in one year.  This is not going to be a one year turnaround--if it proves to be a turnaround at all.

[81alum]

This loss was not particularly painful to me.  Low expectations coupled with my emotional withdrawal from Stanford football made me shrug.  I found the most painful losses to be during otherwise good years.  The Fiesta Bowl, Northwestern, etc.  Those losses dashed hopes.  This loss dashed rubble.

I sincerely hope that Taylor proves to be the answer, but my skepticism has been all along that what ails Stanford football goes way beyond coaching.  One thing is certain, Taylor is no Clark Shaughnessy, who installed a new offense and took the team from 1-7-1 to 10-0 and a national championship in one year.  This is not going to be a one year turnaround--if it proves to be a turnaround at all.