Eubanks leaving stanford -
Jamesy - 02-16-2023
https://twitter.com/maeubanks/status/1626356438183596032?s=46&t=Qf02swOF9TDyjy5MvOYirA
Losing both Lance Anderson and Mike Eubanks means a lot of institutional knowledge for recruiting and academics is gone. May be some more growing pains for the new staff and recruiting.
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
BobK - 02-16-2023
Taylor brought back Wolfe from Sac State. Wolfe worked with Eubanks at Stanford not long ago
I’ve known Mike for a long time. Sad to hear
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
winflop - 02-16-2023
Hard to read into this message for sure, but I get the sense his departure wasn't voluntary.
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
PVTree - 02-16-2023
Mike was a key player in our resurgence to prominence. He loves Stanford. It's a loss for Stanford. I don't get the move.
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
OutsiderFan - 02-17-2023
I don't know a lot about Troy Taylor or the specifics of his management style and priorities, but if there is one thing I feel I do know it's that he is aggressive and impatient, which are not characteristics I associate with David Shaw and the Stanford Football program needs in a lot more abundance.
Not gonna speculate why Eubanks was pushed out, but it's very possible Taylor wants someone who is more aggressive in the Eubanks role. After years of a reactionary and "staff comfort first" mentality being instilled at all levels of the football operation, Taylor may see Eubanks as too comfortable and not hungry enough to compete in the modern recruiting game.
At this point, I trust Troy Taylor because he isn't getting paid a top of market salary with a move from Sac State to Stanford. I assume he does want to improve more than be comfortable right now, and the only way he will get a pay raise is if he wins at Stanford. So at least until he proves he's incapable of winning, I will trust CTT knows WTF he's doing and is making decisions that will lead to more winning.
Mike Eubanks may love Stanford and be a great guy, but people like him almost need to be let go just to show everyone in the program that all coaches, staff, and players must fight for their job every day, from the top all the way down. I like the move from a culture instilling standpoint.
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
needle - 02-17-2023
TTaylor doesn’t have a track record when it comes to high-level recruiting. Seems short-sighted to push out a guy who surely helped with some big recruiting wins over the years.
But, OTOH, 16 years is a looong time to be grinding. Grateful to Eubanks and hoping he truly gets to enjoy his next chapter in life (and being a Stanford fan, lol).
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
BigJohn043 - 02-17-2023
(02-16-2023, 11:04 PM)PVTree Wrote: Mike was a key player in our resurgence to prominence. He loves Stanford. It's a loss for Stanford. I don't get the move.
On the other site there are a number of posters who clearly don't like Mike. Given that we are all Stanford fans, and so is Mike, he has clearly done something to really piss some people off. I don't know what it is but my guess is this move is related to some of those issues.
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
Farm93 - 02-17-2023
Taylor was hired to change the culture, so that usually requires changing the people too.
That's also what Taylor needs to do so that when a better paying BigTen or SEC offer is floating around in 2026/2027 he will be seen as a coach with a proven track record for making big changes quickly.
Not sure the group Taylor will bring in will successfully navigate Old Union and help recruits see the value in the Stanford approach, but I also don't think the 90s/00s/10s Stanford Football/DAPER/Stanford Admissions and Stanford University approaches are structured to thrive in the new NIL, semi-guaranteed money, transfer portal era.
Best of luck to Taylor. Change what you think needs changing as that was what you were hired to do.
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
qwerty49 - 02-17-2023
I don't have any insider insights, but it's my impression that Mike brought elements of both energy and structure to our recruiting, especially in the Harbaugh/early Shaw years. I remember that when he made the move from TOS I thought it was a dream job for any fan who was as heavily invested as he was.
I re-read his AD bio and this line stuck out:
"Since December 2020, he has been a member of the Stanford Athletics NIL working group."
I wonder if it somehow played a role in the move.
All the best to Mike, who gave a lot to Stanford.
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
Snorlax94 - 02-17-2023
(02-17-2023, 05:30 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: Mike Eubanks may love Stanford and be a great guy, but people like him almost need to be let go just to show everyone in the program that all coaches, staff, and players must fight for their job every day, from the top all the way down. I like the move from a culture instilling standpoint.
I have met Mike Eubanks and because his year is close to mine, some of my friends know him pretty well. He does love Stanford, and he is a fantastic guy. I am sad to see him go, and I feel bad for him in particular. But I agree with the point that even a great guy can be the wrong fit for a particular time and a particular plan. We’ve chosen Troy and this kind of staff change should be within his scope.
I wish Mike well, and am grateful for his tremendous passion and dedication.
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
StanfordMatt - 02-17-2023
Even if we assume that Mike is not leaving voluntarily, do we know that Troy Taylor was behind the decision to send him packing?
Mike’s title was an interesting one: Associate Athletic Director - Director of Recruiting and Football Relations. When I read that title, it somewhat begs the question of who reports to who. I think it’s probably safe to assume that he reported to TT and not the other way around but do we know that for sure? The Assoc. AD title to me at least implies the possibility that it might’ve been the other way around or that Mike reported more so to Muir than the head football coach.
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
82lsju - 02-17-2023
(02-17-2023, 12:53 PM)StanfordMatt Wrote: Even if we assume that Mike is not leaving voluntarily, do we know that Troy Taylor was behind the decision to send him packing?
Mike’s title was an interesting one: Associate Athletic Director - Director of Recruiting and Football Relations. When I read that title, it somewhat begs the question of who reports to who. I think it’s probably safe to assume that he reported to TT and not the other way around but do we know that for sure? The Assoc. AD title to me at least implies the possibility that it might’ve been the other way around or that Mike reported more so to Muir than the head football coach.
in the on-line AD staff directory
https://gostanford.com/staff-directory
Mike's listed in the group of "football" with Taylor at the top so he may (or may not) have been in Taylor's org
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
BobK - 02-17-2023
Mike worked for Harbaugh who hired him then For Shaw then for Taylor
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
Sakibomb25 - 02-17-2023
Damn this is a shock... Eubanks LOVED Stanford. I worked with him at The Bootleg and I was so happy for him when he got the job in the athletic department at Stanford. I wish him the best of luck in whatever avenue he chooses.
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
old spanish trail - 02-17-2023
(02-17-2023, 01:18 PM)82lsju Wrote: (02-17-2023, 12:53 PM)StanfordMatt Wrote: Even if we assume that Mike is not leaving voluntarily, do we know that Troy Taylor was behind the decision to send him packing?
Mike’s title was an interesting one: Associate Athletic Director - Director of Recruiting and Football Relations. When I read that title, it somewhat begs the question of who reports to who. I think it’s probably safe to assume that he reported to TT and not the other way around but do we know that for sure? The Assoc. AD title to me at least implies the possibility that it might’ve been the other way around or that Mike reported more so to Muir than the head football coach.
in the on-line AD staff directory
https://gostanford.com/staff-directory
Mike's listed in the group of "football" with Taylor at the top so he may (or may not) have been in Taylor's org
Yikes! Who are all those people?
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
cardcrimson - 02-17-2023
(02-17-2023, 04:59 PM)old spanish trail Wrote: (02-17-2023, 01:18 PM)82lsju Wrote: (02-17-2023, 12:53 PM)StanfordMatt Wrote: Even if we assume that Mike is not leaving voluntarily, do we know that Troy Taylor was behind the decision to send him packing?
Mike’s title was an interesting one: Associate Athletic Director - Director of Recruiting and Football Relations. When I read that title, it somewhat begs the question of who reports to who. I think it’s probably safe to assume that he reported to TT and not the other way around but do we know that for sure? The Assoc. AD title to me at least implies the possibility that it might’ve been the other way around or that Mike reported more so to Muir than the head football coach.
in the on-line AD staff directory
https://gostanford.com/staff-directory
Mike's listed in the group of "football" with Taylor at the top so he may (or may not) have been in Taylor's org
Yikes! Who are all those people?
And you wonder why we needed to cut a bunch of sports? Why have student athletes when you can have paid staff?
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
winflop - 02-17-2023
(02-17-2023, 04:59 PM)old spanish trail Wrote: (02-17-2023, 01:18 PM)82lsju Wrote: (02-17-2023, 12:53 PM)StanfordMatt Wrote: Even if we assume that Mike is not leaving voluntarily, do we know that Troy Taylor was behind the decision to send him packing?
Mike’s title was an interesting one: Associate Athletic Director - Director of Recruiting and Football Relations. When I read that title, it somewhat begs the question of who reports to who. I think it’s probably safe to assume that he reported to TT and not the other way around but do we know that for sure? The Assoc. AD title to me at least implies the possibility that it might’ve been the other way around or that Mike reported more so to Muir than the head football coach.
in the on-line AD staff directory
https://gostanford.com/staff-directory
Mike's listed in the group of "football" with Taylor at the top so he may (or may not) have been in Taylor's org
Yikes! Who are all those people?
Exactly. If you wonder why football is losing boatloads of money...look no further
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
cardcrimson - 02-17-2023
(02-17-2023, 05:17 PM)winflop Wrote: (02-17-2023, 04:59 PM)old spanish trail Wrote: Yikes! Who are all those people?
Exactly. If you wonder why football is losing boatloads of money...look no further
Football is losing money because those folks weren't doing their job. . . .
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
Branner77 - 02-17-2023
ME-97, as he was known on the Bootleg, will be greatly missed. He cared about LSJU and its football program. I think I still have the Boot-Toot whistle that he personally delivered to my house during the 1999 Rose bowl season!
RE: Eubanks leaving stanford -
MVCard - 02-17-2023
(02-17-2023, 08:34 PM)Branner77 Wrote: ME-97, as he was known on the Bootleg, will be greatly missed. He cared about LSJU and its football program. I think I still have the Boot-Toot whistle that he personally delivered to my house during the 1999 Rose bowl season!
Indeed he will be missed, but maybe we will see ME97 return to these boards? We shared at least one class together at Stanford and his time at The Bootleg was great as well. Fully expect there is more to come…