[cardcrimson]

So, if I read your comment correctly, Shaw is not a top tier coach in your opinion. If he were great or top tier, he would have wanted to challenge himself at the highest level, either at other programs or the NFL. Since Shaw has not, he is happily complacent at Stanford and mediocrity.

Fair point indeed.

And that is the cautionary tale.   Top tier coaches are not common, cheap or loyal to Stanford.   Very few of those top tier coaches could succeed at Stanford given its geographic location, academic standards, and small fan base.   And those coaches that do succeed at Stanford then become very appealing to the NFL because NFL teams understand just how hard it is to win at Stanford.

The NFL offers a chance for those super successful type coaches to test their skills against the very best coaches in football.   If they are that great it will be a challenge they will not turn down and will likely take after a couple of decent years at Stanford (see...Walsh, Green, Harbaugh).

[cardcrimson]

So, if I read your comment correctly, Shaw is not a top tier coach in your opinion. If he were great or top tier, he would have wanted to challenge himself at the highest level, either at other programs or the NFL. Since Shaw has not, he is happily complacent at Stanford and mediocrity.

Fair point indeed.

And that is the cautionary tale.   Top tier coaches are not common, cheap or loyal to Stanford.   Very few of those top tier coaches could succeed at Stanford given its geographic location, academic standards, and small fan base.   And those coaches that do succeed at Stanford then become very appealing to the NFL because NFL teams understand just how hard it is to win at Stanford.

The NFL offers a chance for those super successful type coaches to test their skills against the very best coaches in football.   If they are that great it will be a challenge they will not turn down and will likely take after a couple of decent years at Stanford (see...Walsh, Green, Harbaugh).