[cardcrimson]

Third, and I think this is the most controversial, we should encourage Tavita to go out for a few years, learn a completely new system from a great offensive mind, and then come back with the opportunity to incorporate what he's learned  with the principles he knows to help take Stanford's offense in a new direction.  Everything I've heard about Tavita is that he has the potential to be a great offensive coordinator, and that he is someone we want to keep our eye out for when Shaw eventually finds something else to do.  But I don't think we should hoard coaches.  Tavita should be allowed to, hell, encouraged, to stretch as a coordinator.  The only system he's ever worked with is the one that Harbaugh brought and Shaw developed, and Tavita is now refining.  Yes, he has done a lot to alter the system.  So I think he has it in him to work to improve what we have.  But right now, he needs to learn how to take the next step and integrate a bunch of different things into a coherent offensive philosophy.  And I think some time away from Stanford, under the tutelage of one of the more innovative NFL or college head coaches, would do him wonders.  Then he can come back to revamp the Stanford offense, or take over after Shaw leaves.

BC

Nice post. Though I swear I read similar from folks last year. Probably even the year before. Maybe even the year before that. NONE of the issues are new. What's new though, it's as if EF Hutton is finally bringing up the same concerns.

BC, I really liked your post, but the part about Tavita struck me as a bit mealy-mouthed. If you think he should be fired (which is the same as "encouraged to leave"), just say so. Don't come up with an elaborate fantasy where the Stanford Football hero goes off to expand his horizons elsewhere and then returns triumphantly years down the road to bestow his added knowledge on our program. It's highly unlikely, and if he's gone, he's probably gone for good, just like in most other workplaces. I know it's all coming from a good place of not wanting to be harsh to an alum that has devoted so much time and energy to our program, but it just doesn't hold together, in my opinion. We have even bigger problems on defense right now, too.  

CardCrimson, you are right that history (and message board overreactions) have a tendency to repeat themselves, ad nauseam. For example, here's an interesting and provocative thread entitled, "Mea Culpa"!

https://thecardboard.org/board/showthread.php?tid=10597

After the Northwestern debacle, I gave up on the coaching staff and the team. I humbly apologize. Right now, ours in the best team in the country, and will be after we win our next four games. Heart, talent, and coaching has been stellar.

Knowing that, I will be content (but royally pissed off) watching Stanford play in the Rose Bowl on New Years Day after watching LSU, Alabama, OSU, and Clemson play the night before for a spot in the championship.

Sorry, couldn't resist!  If you want to get me back, you can re-post my naive and rosy prediction for the UCF game!  ;-)

Not sure the point you're trying to make by digging up a post I made from 4 seasons ago, other than you have a ridiculous amount of time on your hands.

I was wrong in my judgement early that season and admitted it. The team turned it around in game two and played great the rest of the season. Ironically, I made that post right before we lost to unranked Oregon at home. Also that year, we did beat both UCF and USC (twice), and didn't get blown out by them as we did this year. So far this year, we've had one lackluster game and two awful ones.

Glad you're content. As I've mentioned, ad nauseam, complacency is a killer.

AFWIW, I'm still pissed that we had a losing record during my time at Stanford and never made it to a bowl game, and especially that the last play I witnessed as a student was the clusterf**k in Strawberry Canyon in 1982, Elway's last year.

[cardcrimson]

Third, and I think this is the most controversial, we should encourage Tavita to go out for a few years, learn a completely new system from a great offensive mind, and then come back with the opportunity to incorporate what he's learned  with the principles he knows to help take Stanford's offense in a new direction.  Everything I've heard about Tavita is that he has the potential to be a great offensive coordinator, and that he is someone we want to keep our eye out for when Shaw eventually finds something else to do.  But I don't think we should hoard coaches.  Tavita should be allowed to, hell, encouraged, to stretch as a coordinator.  The only system he's ever worked with is the one that Harbaugh brought and Shaw developed, and Tavita is now refining.  Yes, he has done a lot to alter the system.  So I think he has it in him to work to improve what we have.  But right now, he needs to learn how to take the next step and integrate a bunch of different things into a coherent offensive philosophy.  And I think some time away from Stanford, under the tutelage of one of the more innovative NFL or college head coaches, would do him wonders.  Then he can come back to revamp the Stanford offense, or take over after Shaw leaves.

BC

Nice post. Though I swear I read similar from folks last year. Probably even the year before. Maybe even the year before that. NONE of the issues are new. What's new though, it's as if EF Hutton is finally bringing up the same concerns.

BC, I really liked your post, but the part about Tavita struck me as a bit mealy-mouthed. If you think he should be fired (which is the same as "encouraged to leave"), just say so. Don't come up with an elaborate fantasy where the Stanford Football hero goes off to expand his horizons elsewhere and then returns triumphantly years down the road to bestow his added knowledge on our program. It's highly unlikely, and if he's gone, he's probably gone for good, just like in most other workplaces. I know it's all coming from a good place of not wanting to be harsh to an alum that has devoted so much time and energy to our program, but it just doesn't hold together, in my opinion. We have even bigger problems on defense right now, too.  

CardCrimson, you are right that history (and message board overreactions) have a tendency to repeat themselves, ad nauseam. For example, here's an interesting and provocative thread entitled, "Mea Culpa"!

https://thecardboard.org/board/showthread.php?tid=10597

After the Northwestern debacle, I gave up on the coaching staff and the team. I humbly apologize. Right now, ours in the best team in the country, and will be after we win our next four games. Heart, talent, and coaching has been stellar.

Knowing that, I will be content (but royally pissed off) watching Stanford play in the Rose Bowl on New Years Day after watching LSU, Alabama, OSU, and Clemson play the night before for a spot in the championship.

Sorry, couldn't resist!  If you want to get me back, you can re-post my naive and rosy prediction for the UCF game!  ;-)

Not sure the point you're trying to make by digging up a post I made from 4 seasons ago, other than you have a ridiculous amount of time on your hands.

I was wrong in my judgement early that season and admitted it. The team turned it around in game two and played great the rest of the season. Ironically, I made that post right before we lost to unranked Oregon at home. Also that year, we did beat both UCF and USC (twice), and didn't get blown out by them as we did this year. So far this year, we've had one lackluster game and two awful ones.

Glad you're content. As I've mentioned, ad nauseam, complacency is a killer.

AFWIW, I'm still pissed that we had a losing record during my time at Stanford and never made it to a bowl game, and especially that the last play I witnessed as a student was the clusterf**k in Strawberry Canyon in 1982, Elway's last year.