[JohnR34231]

There was an article yesterday about Clemson and how it got to be like Alabama, by emulating Alabama. One of the key takeaways for me was how Alabama and Clemson really make an effort to convince talented players to stay to complete their eligibility, and certainly not leave after redshirt Soph seasons.

Stanford appears to have a real problem on its hands, and is fighting a ridiculous up-hill battle in college football, making it harder on itself than frankly makes any sense at all. Consider these Stanford realities:

- Make recruits complete application process far more arduous than any other school
- Entrance requirements are higher than any other school 
- No early enrollment
- No JC players allowed
- Grad transfers out are common, Grad transfers in are virtually non-existent
- More guys retire and forego last year of eligibility than other schools
- Making matters even worse, Stanford employs a complicated offense that takes a long time to learn and get players producing

Teams are suppose to thrive on 5th year Seniors.  Just in 24 hours Stanford lost two such players in OL Wilson and DL Jackson.  Why should Stanford be offering full scholarships to players who don't want to stay for what is often the year they are most valuable to the program? Doesn't it seem the changing dynamics of college and pro football are making it clear Stanford needs to evolve its approach?

Those who fail to adapt to changing conditions usually die and certainly don't thrive. Has Stanford adapted enough? Where can it make some tweaks to augment the absurd amount of pressure it faces on so many of these fronts?  If I was David Shaw, I'd be really, really bothered by so many players not completing eligibility and getting a bit tired of dealing with so many obstacles my competition doesn't have to right now. It's one thing to face the higher admission standards, but quite another to deal with all the factors now driving guys out of the program, with no countermeasures to make up for them.

Yeah the way players are bailing I'm beginning to think the people predicting doom and gloom for next year may not be so far off base.

[JohnR34231]

There was an article yesterday about Clemson and how it got to be like Alabama, by emulating Alabama. One of the key takeaways for me was how Alabama and Clemson really make an effort to convince talented players to stay to complete their eligibility, and certainly not leave after redshirt Soph seasons.

Stanford appears to have a real problem on its hands, and is fighting a ridiculous up-hill battle in college football, making it harder on itself than frankly makes any sense at all. Consider these Stanford realities:

- Make recruits complete application process far more arduous than any other school
- Entrance requirements are higher than any other school 
- No early enrollment
- No JC players allowed
- Grad transfers out are common, Grad transfers in are virtually non-existent
- More guys retire and forego last year of eligibility than other schools
- Making matters even worse, Stanford employs a complicated offense that takes a long time to learn and get players producing

Teams are suppose to thrive on 5th year Seniors.  Just in 24 hours Stanford lost two such players in OL Wilson and DL Jackson.  Why should Stanford be offering full scholarships to players who don't want to stay for what is often the year they are most valuable to the program? Doesn't it seem the changing dynamics of college and pro football are making it clear Stanford needs to evolve its approach?

Those who fail to adapt to changing conditions usually die and certainly don't thrive. Has Stanford adapted enough? Where can it make some tweaks to augment the absurd amount of pressure it faces on so many of these fronts?  If I was David Shaw, I'd be really, really bothered by so many players not completing eligibility and getting a bit tired of dealing with so many obstacles my competition doesn't have to right now. It's one thing to face the higher admission standards, but quite another to deal with all the factors now driving guys out of the program, with no countermeasures to make up for them.

Yeah the way players are bailing I'm beginning to think the people predicting doom and gloom for next year may not be so far off base.