[Snorlax94]

Hmmmm, call me simple-minded, but I want Ws.  I don't know any fan who tires of them.

yes but do you like showing up/watching the Ws when they are against Sac State, or UC Davis, or William & Mary, or Colgate when we are expected to win by a lot?

I don't think this article necessarily applies to Stanford -- if this held true, the Pac-12 (the most evenly matched Power 5 conference where teams beat each other up every year) would have the highest attendance of the Power 5, but it has the lowest.

If *all* the wins were to UC Davis, that would be one thing, but within the context of the Pac-12, assuming 9 of your games are against Pac-12 teams, I have argued that more local opponents, with fewer coming from the Power 5, clearly works (IE, Alabama hosting the Mercer Bears and flying in New Mexico State).

If Stanford played San Jose State and Fresno State each year, there would be enough suspense, and the teams would have more time to rest and prepare because they wouldn't be travelling across the country, they wouldn't lose a day of practice in travel, they would never have jet lag, they'd never whine about the 9AM game, they'd be closer to their medical facilities in terms of recovery and treatment, the students would have more time to study/enjoy the campus life instead of travelling, and, probably, there would be fewer injuries playing fewer Power 5 teams. And the key is that these benefits don't just help you with that one game, they help you win more games the entire season.

Stanford has been trying to get money at every end. They want the bigger $ from a bigger TV audience stacking their schedule with out-of-conference opponents like UCF and K State. But then they're jetlagged, they get beat up, and they get injured for the whole season. They played Sacramento State in 2010, and San Jose State in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, Stanford sold out of season tickets for the first (and only?) time. Winning works.

Part of the mess of 2019 was flying out to UCF, which was a total disaster in every way. Part of the success of 2020 -- even as "Road Dogs" -- was probably staying on the west coast while playing only conference games.

[Snorlax94]

Hmmmm, call me simple-minded, but I want Ws.  I don't know any fan who tires of them.

yes but do you like showing up/watching the Ws when they are against Sac State, or UC Davis, or William & Mary, or Colgate when we are expected to win by a lot?

I don't think this article necessarily applies to Stanford -- if this held true, the Pac-12 (the most evenly matched Power 5 conference where teams beat each other up every year) would have the highest attendance of the Power 5, but it has the lowest.

If *all* the wins were to UC Davis, that would be one thing, but within the context of the Pac-12, assuming 9 of your games are against Pac-12 teams, I have argued that more local opponents, with fewer coming from the Power 5, clearly works (IE, Alabama hosting the Mercer Bears and flying in New Mexico State).

If Stanford played San Jose State and Fresno State each year, there would be enough suspense, and the teams would have more time to rest and prepare because they wouldn't be travelling across the country, they wouldn't lose a day of practice in travel, they would never have jet lag, they'd never whine about the 9AM game, they'd be closer to their medical facilities in terms of recovery and treatment, the students would have more time to study/enjoy the campus life instead of travelling, and, probably, there would be fewer injuries playing fewer Power 5 teams. And the key is that these benefits don't just help you with that one game, they help you win more games the entire season.

Stanford has been trying to get money at every end. They want the bigger $ from a bigger TV audience stacking their schedule with out-of-conference opponents like UCF and K State. But then they're jetlagged, they get beat up, and they get injured for the whole season. They played Sacramento State in 2010, and San Jose State in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, Stanford sold out of season tickets for the first (and only?) time. Winning works.

Part of the mess of 2019 was flying out to UCF, which was a total disaster in every way. Part of the success of 2020 -- even as "Road Dogs" -- was probably staying on the west coast while playing only conference games.