[81alum]

Stanford will have to operate in this world and do so effectively or it will cut itself off of access to a high percentage (‘80%?) of the premier athletes coming out of high school.

We won't have to operate in that world if we "go Ivy" and just get out of the business.  That possibility grows and grows with each of these corrupting changes.  Stanford is remarkable for walking the tightrope between being an elite academic institution and competing at the highest levels of athletics.  But the tightrope has been cut through on both ends.  In the long run, I don't see a way back.

I'm going to enjoy what we have while we have it.  I used to worry a lot about what would happen after Tara retires, for example.  I'm no longer worried, since she might coach until we get out of Div I or otherwise drop out of the arms race.

[81alum]

Stanford will have to operate in this world and do so effectively or it will cut itself off of access to a high percentage (‘80%?) of the premier athletes coming out of high school.

We won't have to operate in that world if we "go Ivy" and just get out of the business.  That possibility grows and grows with each of these corrupting changes.  Stanford is remarkable for walking the tightrope between being an elite academic institution and competing at the highest levels of athletics.  But the tightrope has been cut through on both ends.  In the long run, I don't see a way back.

I'm going to enjoy what we have while we have it.  I used to worry a lot about what would happen after Tara retires, for example.  I'm no longer worried, since she might coach until we get out of Div I or otherwise drop out of the arms race.