[Goose]

As a reminder: Harbaugh was at USD for 3 years 2004 (7-4), 2005 (11-1), and 2006 (11-1).  Harbaugh invited Shaw to join him from The Ravens' staff (query how that happened?) prior to the 2006 season.  So Harbs had already established USD as a power before bringing Shaw on board.  Then, after one year, Harbaugh gets tapped to be the head coach at Shaw's alma mater.  That's pretty serendipitous . . . wouldn't you say?

I would say that what I know of this history, and probably what anybody here actually knows of this history, is slim and none. We are building theories based on the conjectures of outsiders connecting events together that may or may not have anything to do with each other. This is the Internet. That's what we do. But please, lets not confuse this speculation with any reality.

The only speculation in the post was an open query as to how Shaw ended up at USD.  The rest - and particularly the reality that Harbs gained success at USD before Shaw even arrived - is just a fact.  It's also a fact that after one year at USD, Harbs was offered the HC position at Stanford, Shaw's alma mater.

Fair enough. However, as I read your "That's pretty serendipitous . . . wouldn't you say?" comment as an attempt to create a connection between the  unexplained hiring of David Shaw by Harbaugh at San Diego and the subsequent hiring of Harbaugh at Stanford. I was simply pointing out that AFAIK nobody has any evidence of such a connection. Maybe I am misinterpreting your intention and you just meant it was simply good luck and you believe it was totally a matter of chance.

[Goose]

As a reminder: Harbaugh was at USD for 3 years 2004 (7-4), 2005 (11-1), and 2006 (11-1).  Harbaugh invited Shaw to join him from The Ravens' staff (query how that happened?) prior to the 2006 season.  So Harbs had already established USD as a power before bringing Shaw on board.  Then, after one year, Harbaugh gets tapped to be the head coach at Shaw's alma mater.  That's pretty serendipitous . . . wouldn't you say?

I would say that what I know of this history, and probably what anybody here actually knows of this history, is slim and none. We are building theories based on the conjectures of outsiders connecting events together that may or may not have anything to do with each other. This is the Internet. That's what we do. But please, lets not confuse this speculation with any reality.

The only speculation in the post was an open query as to how Shaw ended up at USD.  The rest - and particularly the reality that Harbs gained success at USD before Shaw even arrived - is just a fact.  It's also a fact that after one year at USD, Harbs was offered the HC position at Stanford, Shaw's alma mater.

Fair enough. However, as I read your "That's pretty serendipitous . . . wouldn't you say?" comment as an attempt to create a connection between the  unexplained hiring of David Shaw by Harbaugh at San Diego and the subsequent hiring of Harbaugh at Stanford. I was simply pointing out that AFAIK nobody has any evidence of such a connection. Maybe I am misinterpreting your intention and you just meant it was simply good luck and you believe it was totally a matter of chance.