[winflop]

But of course we "belong" at whatever our best all time record was, or actually a bit better. Whoever was coach that year demonstrated it is possible, so it should be the minimum every year.

;-)

And of course any coach who can't accomplish that is incompetent and should be immediately dismissed. :)

Stanford's conference winning percentage in the last decade (2010-2019):
2010 - 89% above average
2011 - 89% above average
2012 - 89% above average
2013 - 78% above average
2014 - 55% below average
2015 - 89% above average
2016 - 67% below average
2017 - 78% above average
2018 - 66% below average
2019 - 33% below average

Three of the last four seasons have been below average (72.5%). This isn't about one season, it's about a troubling trend that is highly likely to persist into this year. I'd argue that the Golden Age was in the last decade, but it didn't last the entire decade.

The problem with playing that well over several seasons (2010-2015) sets an expectation level that it will continue. Right or wrong, that has been the bar. Whether you include the 2020 season or not, there's no doubt that there has been a substantial decline since our last Rose Bowl appearance.

[winflop]

But of course we "belong" at whatever our best all time record was, or actually a bit better. Whoever was coach that year demonstrated it is possible, so it should be the minimum every year.

;-)

And of course any coach who can't accomplish that is incompetent and should be immediately dismissed. :)

Stanford's conference winning percentage in the last decade (2010-2019):
2010 - 89% above average
2011 - 89% above average
2012 - 89% above average
2013 - 78% above average
2014 - 55% below average
2015 - 89% above average
2016 - 67% below average
2017 - 78% above average
2018 - 66% below average
2019 - 33% below average

Three of the last four seasons have been below average (72.5%). This isn't about one season, it's about a troubling trend that is highly likely to persist into this year. I'd argue that the Golden Age was in the last decade, but it didn't last the entire decade.

The problem with playing that well over several seasons (2010-2015) sets an expectation level that it will continue. Right or wrong, that has been the bar. Whether you include the 2020 season or not, there's no doubt that there has been a substantial decline since our last Rose Bowl appearance.