[gailtate]

Players seem to truly love Shaw today.

Not sure about that, which is normal.

In my years of fandom my impression is that the Stanford football head coach who has come closest to being universally loved by his players (as a person) was Paul Wiggin.

You neutered my meaning by omitting the second sentence. My point was comparing the apparent "players'-coach" bonhomie that Shaw seems to have created no longer delivers the sterling the results he once enjoyed. Your reference to Wiggin is more to my point: His lovable-guy persona did not make for a memorable career at his alma mater, nor with the Chiefs in the NFL. Players need a demanding coach, not a favorite uncle or another dad.

[gailtate]

Players seem to truly love Shaw today.

Not sure about that, which is normal.

In my years of fandom my impression is that the Stanford football head coach who has come closest to being universally loved by his players (as a person) was Paul Wiggin.

You neutered my meaning by omitting the second sentence. My point was comparing the apparent "players'-coach" bonhomie that Shaw seems to have created no longer delivers the sterling the results he once enjoyed. Your reference to Wiggin is more to my point: His lovable-guy persona did not make for a memorable career at his alma mater, nor with the Chiefs in the NFL. Players need a demanding coach, not a favorite uncle or another dad.