[Softball Fan]

Do people think we will be able to keep competing at a high level in non-revenue sports such as WSoc, WVB, WBB, MSoc, MWP, WWP, SB, BB, MSw, WSw if we drop to a lower division/lesser conference (assuming for the sake of discussion that there are no monetary issues about supporting such sports). Some elite athletes may choose to come here because of academics, but others may shy away because they want to compete against top teams in the ACC, SEC, and BIG. Will recruiting suffer?
Could Stanford play football in a lower division/lesser conference, but compete in non-revenue sports in a major conference, a sort of "reverse Notre Dame"?

UConn does well in women’s basketball despite being in a marginal conference.  Villanova and Gonzaga do well in men’s basketball despite not having BCS football teams.

BC

You might be citing the few exceptions that prove the rule.  Most teams in marginal conferences are not in contention for national championships. 

WVB is one sport I know about.  There is no doubt in my mind that Stanford moving out of the PAC-12 into a lesser conference would adversely impact recruiting.  There would still be the occasional elite athlete going to Stanford for the academics but in general elite athletes in WVB want to play in a conference known for competitive volleyball.

Stanford WVB might be better off going independent than joining a marginal conference.  It would be difficult scheduling matches around other conference schedules but it would be doable.

[Softball Fan]

Do people think we will be able to keep competing at a high level in non-revenue sports such as WSoc, WVB, WBB, MSoc, MWP, WWP, SB, BB, MSw, WSw if we drop to a lower division/lesser conference (assuming for the sake of discussion that there are no monetary issues about supporting such sports). Some elite athletes may choose to come here because of academics, but others may shy away because they want to compete against top teams in the ACC, SEC, and BIG. Will recruiting suffer?
Could Stanford play football in a lower division/lesser conference, but compete in non-revenue sports in a major conference, a sort of "reverse Notre Dame"?

UConn does well in women’s basketball despite being in a marginal conference.  Villanova and Gonzaga do well in men’s basketball despite not having BCS football teams.

BC

You might be citing the few exceptions that prove the rule.  Most teams in marginal conferences are not in contention for national championships. 

WVB is one sport I know about.  There is no doubt in my mind that Stanford moving out of the PAC-12 into a lesser conference would adversely impact recruiting.  There would still be the occasional elite athlete going to Stanford for the academics but in general elite athletes in WVB want to play in a conference known for competitive volleyball.

Stanford WVB might be better off going independent than joining a marginal conference.  It would be difficult scheduling matches around other conference schedules but it would be doable.