[Mick]

Interesting that Cignetti/Indiana retained the Offensive Line coach.  Our O Line play has been really poor for quite some time and without run blocking and pass protection, we are mediocre at best.  We need a return to the Tunnel Workers Union and our smash mouth mentality of trench dominance.  We should be able to recruit the horses to be dominant on the line, but we need the right coach to do it.  To me, this is the most critical hire to start the turnaround.  14 years ago, we were thumping Va Tech in the Orange Bowl.  That game the and the Rose Bowl win over Iowa were the best Stanford Bowl games that I had the honor of attending.

As I understand it, the OL typically are the smartest collective group outside of the quarterbacks. We've had a series of great OLs over the years. If we can't recruit great OLs, who can we realistically recruit?

[Mick]

Interesting that Cignetti/Indiana retained the Offensive Line coach.  Our O Line play has been really poor for quite some time and without run blocking and pass protection, we are mediocre at best.  We need a return to the Tunnel Workers Union and our smash mouth mentality of trench dominance.  We should be able to recruit the horses to be dominant on the line, but we need the right coach to do it.  To me, this is the most critical hire to start the turnaround.  14 years ago, we were thumping Va Tech in the Orange Bowl.  That game the and the Rose Bowl win over Iowa were the best Stanford Bowl games that I had the honor of attending.

As I understand it, the OL typically are the smartest collective group outside of the quarterbacks. We've had a series of great OLs over the years. If we can't recruit great OLs, who can we realistically recruit?

[ADPinWDC]

With the portal opening today, we are about to see what kind of recruiting clout Pritchard (with Luck) can bring.  
If we don't get much in the portal the next two weeks, then that is a big down tick vote on Pritchard by the talent "market place".  
And recruits actively chat with each other.

[ADPinWDC]

With the portal opening today, we are about to see what kind of recruiting clout Pritchard (with Luck) can bring.  
If we don't get much in the portal the next two weeks, then that is a big down tick vote on Pritchard by the talent "market place".  
And recruits actively chat with each other.

[Treebound]

Agreed Mick, we should be able to recruit top level O linemen.  We need a strong OL Coach NOW. With Andrew and Skov, we will pull in great offensive skill players and linebackers.  Without the horses in the trenches, it won't matter.  We've seen that movie before and Andrew lived it during his tenure with the Colts.

As for the portal, money talks right now.   Clearly Old Union has opened things slightly for transfers and the Post Bac is a helpful new tool to offer a path for grad transfers.    I too am very curious about how Tavita and team do with this cycle.

[Treebound]

Agreed Mick, we should be able to recruit top level O linemen.  We need a strong OL Coach NOW. With Andrew and Skov, we will pull in great offensive skill players and linebackers.  Without the horses in the trenches, it won't matter.  We've seen that movie before and Andrew lived it during his tenure with the Colts.

As for the portal, money talks right now.   Clearly Old Union has opened things slightly for transfers and the Post Bac is a helpful new tool to offer a path for grad transfers.    I too am very curious about how Tavita and team do with this cycle.

[fullmetal]

Interesting that Cignetti/Indiana retained the Offensive Line coach.

I don't know if that's interesting so much as an obvious move.  Their center, Pat Coogan, was named the Rose Bowl MVP.  How often do you see an OL player win an MVP award?  That OL coach is doing a lot of good things, and it's a shame we probably don't have the money to hire him (probably worth several professors' salaries).

Btw, did we all see that Cignetti has a market review contract clause that stipulates that his annual salary needs to be top three or else his buyout figure is zero?  Cignetti is currently at #4 with $11.6M, and Ryan Day is at #3 with $12.58M.  That is some serious wealth accumulation based on the performance of 20-yr old student-athletes.  This year, he's already earned $1.875M in incentives with another $1M on the table if IU makes it to the CFP final and $2M if IU wins the championship.

https://www.sportico.com/personalities/c...234880108/

[fullmetal]

Interesting that Cignetti/Indiana retained the Offensive Line coach.

I don't know if that's interesting so much as an obvious move.  Their center, Pat Coogan, was named the Rose Bowl MVP.  How often do you see an OL player win an MVP award?  That OL coach is doing a lot of good things, and it's a shame we probably don't have the money to hire him (probably worth several professors' salaries).

Btw, did we all see that Cignetti has a market review contract clause that stipulates that his annual salary needs to be top three or else his buyout figure is zero?  Cignetti is currently at #4 with $11.6M, and Ryan Day is at #3 with $12.58M.  That is some serious wealth accumulation based on the performance of 20-yr old student-athletes.  This year, he's already earned $1.875M in incentives with another $1M on the table if IU makes it to the CFP final and $2M if IU wins the championship.

https://www.sportico.com/personalities/c...234880108/

[Mick]

Agreed Mick, we should be able to recruit top level O linemen.  We need a strong OL Coach NOW. With Andrew and Skov, we will pull in great offensive skill players and linebackers.  Without the horses in the trenches, it won't matter.  We've seen that movie before and Andrew lived it during his tenure with the Colts.

As for the portal, money talks right now.   Clearly Old Union has opened things slightly for transfers and the Post Bac is a helpful new tool to offer a path for grad transfers.    I too am very curious about how Tavita and team do with this cycle.

Luck was sacked 80 times his first three years. Elway was sacked 90 times his first three years. Plunkett was sacked 112 times his first three years. Trent Edwards was considered to have been beaten up, he was sacked 58 times his first three years. Davis Mills was sacked 62 times his first two years, then his playing time fell way off, basically to near zero.

No idea how often Brodie was sacked. His first three years, sacks weren't kept as statistics. next three years, 65 sacks...and he led the league in sack percentage (fewest sacks) five times in a 17 year career.

[Mick]

Agreed Mick, we should be able to recruit top level O linemen.  We need a strong OL Coach NOW. With Andrew and Skov, we will pull in great offensive skill players and linebackers.  Without the horses in the trenches, it won't matter.  We've seen that movie before and Andrew lived it during his tenure with the Colts.

As for the portal, money talks right now.   Clearly Old Union has opened things slightly for transfers and the Post Bac is a helpful new tool to offer a path for grad transfers.    I too am very curious about how Tavita and team do with this cycle.

Luck was sacked 80 times his first three years. Elway was sacked 90 times his first three years. Plunkett was sacked 112 times his first three years. Trent Edwards was considered to have been beaten up, he was sacked 58 times his first three years. Davis Mills was sacked 62 times his first two years, then his playing time fell way off, basically to near zero.

No idea how often Brodie was sacked. His first three years, sacks weren't kept as statistics. next three years, 65 sacks...and he led the league in sack percentage (fewest sacks) five times in a 17 year career.

[PalmTree]

OK - this story on Pritchard's staff, or the lack thereof, just rolled out on SFGate - supposedly, even recruits are wondering WTFIGO. It's mainly a rehash of what's been said here, but still, not a good look....

EDIT: on the plus side, as of today, we only have 4 players in the portal so far (see the 2026 recruiting thread for the two latest entries, both WRs low on the depth chart)

[PalmTree]

OK - this story on Pritchard's staff, or the lack thereof, just rolled out on SFGate - supposedly, even recruits are wondering WTFIGO. It's mainly a rehash of what's been said here, but still, not a good look....

EDIT: on the plus side, as of today, we only have 4 players in the portal so far (see the 2026 recruiting thread for the two latest entries, both WRs low on the depth chart)

[norcard10]

OK - this story on Pritchard's staff, or the lack thereof, just rolled out on SFGate - supposedly, even recruits are wondering WTFIGO. It's mainly a rehash of what's been said here, but still, not a good look....

EDIT: on the plus side, as of today, we only have 4 players in the portal so far (see the 2026 recruiting thread for the two latest entries, both WRs low on the depth chart)

good thing expectations are already low post hire

[norcard10]

OK - this story on Pritchard's staff, or the lack thereof, just rolled out on SFGate - supposedly, even recruits are wondering WTFIGO. It's mainly a rehash of what's been said here, but still, not a good look....

EDIT: on the plus side, as of today, we only have 4 players in the portal so far (see the 2026 recruiting thread for the two latest entries, both WRs low on the depth chart)

good thing expectations are already low post hire

[jacket3ree]

Agreed Mick, we should be able to recruit top level O linemen.  We need a strong OL Coach NOW. With Andrew and Skov, we will pull in great offensive skill players and linebackers.  Without the horses in the trenches, it won't matter.  We've seen that movie before and Andrew lived it during his tenure with the Colts.

As for the portal, money talks right now.   Clearly Old Union has opened things slightly for transfers and the Post Bac is a helpful new tool to offer a path for grad transfers.    I too am very curious about how Tavita and team do with this cycle.

Agree that money talks louder than anything else, but players still want to go where they think they will get better and where they think they will win. So, they need good coaching to develop and to win. I bolded Luck and Skov because they aren't coaches. Luck runs the whole program. As I understand it, Skov is working on funding the whole program. Hugely important roles but offensive skill players and linebackers won't be coached by those two men. Why does having them in their present roles help Stanford pull in offensive skill players and linebackers?

If Luck and Skov are actively coaching, good luck getting good coaches to come work here only to have their jobs at least partially usurped by the famous people in the building.

[jacket3ree]

Agreed Mick, we should be able to recruit top level O linemen.  We need a strong OL Coach NOW. With Andrew and Skov, we will pull in great offensive skill players and linebackers.  Without the horses in the trenches, it won't matter.  We've seen that movie before and Andrew lived it during his tenure with the Colts.

As for the portal, money talks right now.   Clearly Old Union has opened things slightly for transfers and the Post Bac is a helpful new tool to offer a path for grad transfers.    I too am very curious about how Tavita and team do with this cycle.

Agree that money talks louder than anything else, but players still want to go where they think they will get better and where they think they will win. So, they need good coaching to develop and to win. I bolded Luck and Skov because they aren't coaches. Luck runs the whole program. As I understand it, Skov is working on funding the whole program. Hugely important roles but offensive skill players and linebackers won't be coached by those two men. Why does having them in their present roles help Stanford pull in offensive skill players and linebackers?

If Luck and Skov are actively coaching, good luck getting good coaches to come work here only to have their jobs at least partially usurped by the famous people in the building.

[Mick]

OK - this story on Pritchard's staff, or the lack thereof, just rolled out on SFGate - supposedly, even recruits are wondering WTFIGO. It's mainly a rehash of what's been said here, but still, not a good look....

EDIT: on the plus side, as of today, we only have 4 players in the portal so far (see the 2026 recruiting thread for the two latest entries, both WRs low on the depth chart)

It's been five weeks. This is a major football program, not a Jr. High flag football program. The lack of information about something as basic as a new coaching staff is highly troubling.

[Mick]

OK - this story on Pritchard's staff, or the lack thereof, just rolled out on SFGate - supposedly, even recruits are wondering WTFIGO. It's mainly a rehash of what's been said here, but still, not a good look....

EDIT: on the plus side, as of today, we only have 4 players in the portal so far (see the 2026 recruiting thread for the two latest entries, both WRs low on the depth chart)

It's been five weeks. This is a major football program, not a Jr. High flag football program. The lack of information about something as basic as a new coaching staff is highly troubling.

[PVTree]

It's not only is who are asking the question. 

Questions mount surrounding Stanford's new football coaching staff https://share.google/7aKSj95qvjKuwsLnW

[PVTree]

It's not only is who are asking the question. 

Questions mount surrounding Stanford's new football coaching staff https://share.google/7aKSj95qvjKuwsLnW

[Mick]

Just went back and looked at the AI-generated Stanford coaching options. I asked four AI engines to rank and rate the alternatives for Stanford coach. Tavita was the 49th overall option.

[Mick]

Just went back and looked at the AI-generated Stanford coaching options. I asked four AI engines to rank and rate the alternatives for Stanford coach. Tavita was the 49th overall option.

[martyup]

Just went back and looked at the AI-generated Stanford coaching options. I asked four AI engines to rank and rate the alternatives for Stanford coach. Tavita was the 49th overall option.

[martyup]

Just went back and looked at the AI-generated Stanford coaching options. I asked four AI engines to rank and rate the alternatives for Stanford coach. Tavita was the 49th overall option.

[Treebound]

My hope is that Andrew and Tavita are in serious conversations with NFL coaches regarding the OC and DC roles and that the finish to the season is what's keeping things from being officially announced.  Any OC or DC hire is going to want to build/have a significant say in their own staff.  Putting position coaches in place without the blessing of the coordinators is not ideal. Yes, timing is not great for us with the portal open now and if I'm looking to transfer, then I want to know who I'm playing for?

Jacket, while not officially position coaches, I still think you see Shayne and Andrew out on the field helping.  If you were able to attend any practices last year, Andrew was clearly out there helping and I think both he and Skov have much to contribute, even if it's not in an official capacity.  I think any position coach worth their salt would not be threatened by that and would buy-in to the Team approach Andrew and Tavita are trying to build here.  I know that they've been working the portal over the weekend, but not sure what is being shared with target recruits.   The clock is clearly ticking.  

How about that basketball WIN?!  Congrats to Kyle and team!

[Treebound]

My hope is that Andrew and Tavita are in serious conversations with NFL coaches regarding the OC and DC roles and that the finish to the season is what's keeping things from being officially announced.  Any OC or DC hire is going to want to build/have a significant say in their own staff.  Putting position coaches in place without the blessing of the coordinators is not ideal. Yes, timing is not great for us with the portal open now and if I'm looking to transfer, then I want to know who I'm playing for?

Jacket, while not officially position coaches, I still think you see Shayne and Andrew out on the field helping.  If you were able to attend any practices last year, Andrew was clearly out there helping and I think both he and Skov have much to contribute, even if it's not in an official capacity.  I think any position coach worth their salt would not be threatened by that and would buy-in to the Team approach Andrew and Tavita are trying to build here.  I know that they've been working the portal over the weekend, but not sure what is being shared with target recruits.   The clock is clearly ticking.  

How about that basketball WIN?!  Congrats to Kyle and team!

[MV72018]

Just went back and looked at the AI-generated Stanford coaching options. I asked four AI engines to rank and rate the alternatives for Stanford coach. Tavita was the 49th overall option.

The problem is that, as far as I can tell, an open-minded and comprehensive search was simply not conducted. Hence it didn't matter whether TP was ranked 49th, 349th, or 3,349th. He was probably #1 in someone's mind going in, OR he was chosen as a safe-harbour choice when someone realized that no one else had yet been identified who would take the job. Does anyone have any evidence that one or both of these conjectures are wrong?

[MV72018]

Just went back and looked at the AI-generated Stanford coaching options. I asked four AI engines to rank and rate the alternatives for Stanford coach. Tavita was the 49th overall option.

The problem is that, as far as I can tell, an open-minded and comprehensive search was simply not conducted. Hence it didn't matter whether TP was ranked 49th, 349th, or 3,349th. He was probably #1 in someone's mind going in, OR he was chosen as a safe-harbour choice when someone realized that no one else had yet been identified who would take the job. Does anyone have any evidence that one or both of these conjectures are wrong?

[Maple Leaf]

Per ESPN Stanford is hiring Terry Heferren from Virginia to OC, he was the OL coach at Stanford for 2 years

[Maple Leaf]

Per ESPN Stanford is hiring Terry Heferren from Virginia to OC, he was the OL coach at Stanford for 2 years

[PalmTree]

Per ESPN Stanford is hiring Terry Heferren from Virginia to OC, he was the OL coach at Stanford for 2 years

Heferren's UVa bio

Quick comment on his UVa coaching (see 2nd paragraph) mentions developing UVa's line to one of the ACC's best

Sept, 21 interview (just before his first stint at Stanford) he talks about O-line philosophy, recruiting

He was only here 2 years and I don't remember hearing much on how he did here, but those were at the tail end of Shaw's tenure so maybe I'm just blocking it out - any/all insights are welcome.

[PalmTree]

Per ESPN Stanford is hiring Terry Heferren from Virginia to OC, he was the OL coach at Stanford for 2 years

Heferren's UVa bio

Quick comment on his UVa coaching (see 2nd paragraph) mentions developing UVa's line to one of the ACC's best

Sept, 21 interview (just before his first stint at Stanford) he talks about O-line philosophy, recruiting

He was only here 2 years and I don't remember hearing much on how he did here, but those were at the tail end of Shaw's tenure so maybe I'm just blocking it out - any/all insights are welcome.

[OCcardinal]

The Athletic reporter Bruce Feldman Tweeted the following about an hour ago:

"SOURCES: Pete Kwiatkowski, the former Washington and Texas DC, has emerged as a strong candidate for Stanford's defensive coordinator job. Under Kwiatkowski, Texas ranked No. 3 in the SEC in defense in 2025 and was No. 1 in 2024."

Lot's of sad posts from USC fans at the moment. They really wanted him.  Nothing official yet of course.

[OCcardinal]

The Athletic reporter Bruce Feldman Tweeted the following about an hour ago:

"SOURCES: Pete Kwiatkowski, the former Washington and Texas DC, has emerged as a strong candidate for Stanford's defensive coordinator job. Under Kwiatkowski, Texas ranked No. 3 in the SEC in defense in 2025 and was No. 1 in 2024."

Lot's of sad posts from USC fans at the moment. They really wanted him.  Nothing official yet of course.

[PalmTree]

The Athletic reporter Bruce Feldman Tweeted the following about an hour ago:

"SOURCES: Pete Kwiatkowski, the former Washington and Texas DC, has emerged as a strong candidate for Stanford's defensive coordinator job. Under Kwiatkowski, Texas ranked No. 3 in the SEC in defense in 2025 and was No. 1 in 2024."

Lot's of sad posts from USC fans at the moment. They really wanted him.  Nothing official yet of course.

So Sarkisian fired DC Kwiatkowski and also defensive passing game coordinator (& former Stanford DB coach) Duane Akina after UT finished 9-3 (!!! - must be nice) but failed to make the CFP. Among the reasons for their firing cited (per ESPN) was that the D, which had several 2024 all-SEC players returning, gave up 30 or more ppg in 4 of 5 of UT's last regular season games, including a 35-10 loss to #5 Georgia which "effectively knocked the Longhorns out of the CFP race". 

Help me out here - UT was 4-1 otherwise in those 5 games, including a 34-31 win over #11 Vandy and a 27-17 win over #3 Texas A&M - radical thought, mebbe they should've score more than 10 against UGa? Anyhow, it'd be great if it comes to pass (arhh, arhh) that we can land someone of Kwiatkowski's caliber.  Akina will be 70 next year so I'm guessing he may retire - maybe he'd consider returning in a consulting capacity if he didn't want a full-time gig?

[PalmTree]

The Athletic reporter Bruce Feldman Tweeted the following about an hour ago:

"SOURCES: Pete Kwiatkowski, the former Washington and Texas DC, has emerged as a strong candidate for Stanford's defensive coordinator job. Under Kwiatkowski, Texas ranked No. 3 in the SEC in defense in 2025 and was No. 1 in 2024."

Lot's of sad posts from USC fans at the moment. They really wanted him.  Nothing official yet of course.

So Sarkisian fired DC Kwiatkowski and also defensive passing game coordinator (& former Stanford DB coach) Duane Akina after UT finished 9-3 (!!! - must be nice) but failed to make the CFP. Among the reasons for their firing cited (per ESPN) was that the D, which had several 2024 all-SEC players returning, gave up 30 or more ppg in 4 of 5 of UT's last regular season games, including a 35-10 loss to #5 Georgia which "effectively knocked the Longhorns out of the CFP race". 

Help me out here - UT was 4-1 otherwise in those 5 games, including a 34-31 win over #11 Vandy and a 27-17 win over #3 Texas A&M - radical thought, mebbe they should've score more than 10 against UGa? Anyhow, it'd be great if it comes to pass (arhh, arhh) that we can land someone of Kwiatkowski's caliber.  Akina will be 70 next year so I'm guessing he may retire - maybe he'd consider returning in a consulting capacity if he didn't want a full-time gig?

[midnight21]

Fairly uniformed observer here, but seems like Kwaitkowski would be close to the best possible option as DC. Amazing if it works out.

[midnight21]

Fairly uniformed observer here, but seems like Kwaitkowski would be close to the best possible option as DC. Amazing if it works out.

[Spiny_Norman]

Per ESPN Stanford is hiring Terry Heferren from Virginia to OC, he was the OL coach at Stanford for 2 years

Heferren's UVa bio

Quick comment on his UVa coaching (see 2nd paragraph) mentions developing UVa's line to one of the ACC's best

Sept, 21 interview (just before his first stint at Stanford) he talks about O-line philosophy, recruiting

He was only here 2 years and I don't remember hearing much on how he did here, but those were at the tail end of Shaw's tenure so maybe I'm just blocking it out - any/all insights are welcome.

Ben Muth (former Stanford OL) hates this hire. "Maybe it works out, hope it does, but our offensive lines under Heffernan were the worst of the Shaw era."

https://x.com/FO_wordofmuth/status/20079...81523?s=20

I will add that Virginia had the 2nd team all ACC center this year. And a tackle and a guard on the 3rd team.

[Spiny_Norman]

Per ESPN Stanford is hiring Terry Heferren from Virginia to OC, he was the OL coach at Stanford for 2 years

Heferren's UVa bio

Quick comment on his UVa coaching (see 2nd paragraph) mentions developing UVa's line to one of the ACC's best

Sept, 21 interview (just before his first stint at Stanford) he talks about O-line philosophy, recruiting

He was only here 2 years and I don't remember hearing much on how he did here, but those were at the tail end of Shaw's tenure so maybe I'm just blocking it out - any/all insights are welcome.

Ben Muth (former Stanford OL) hates this hire. "Maybe it works out, hope it does, but our offensive lines under Heffernan were the worst of the Shaw era."

https://x.com/FO_wordofmuth/status/20079...81523?s=20

I will add that Virginia had the 2nd team all ACC center this year. And a tackle and a guard on the 3rd team.