In addition to the fan issues related to slow tempo above, it is important to consider that there are likely recruiting/retention issues related to tempo as well.
Our WRs will never put up gaudy stats. Their first priority appears to be run blocking and we tend to run mostly possession-type patterns. Not only that, but we often favor TEs over WRs more than other offenses. In many ways, our prototypical WR is a tall, stronger blocker who can also also catch, but who is not primarily a deep threat. Almost like a WR/TE hybrid. For most HS WRs, our offensive style and the role of WRs in our offense is not going to be particularly sexy. You might be able to extend this same argument to how we use our RBs (more power, anyone?) too. Maybe two RBs at USC have some thoughts on this.
Kids are more excited by teams that can put up 50 points in a game, have no problem with 4-receiver sets and like to run a wide-open offense. Any offense that leads the nation in delay-of-game penalties, fewest plays per game, most punts inside the opponent's 40, etc. is not going to excite the speedster type of receiver that we desperately need to stretch the field, get separation, etc. On the other hand, our self-selection process might make us particularly attractive to bigger possession receivers who feel like they might be better utilized at Stanford than at a program that throws the ball 50 times per game and places an emphasis on speed.
Our WRs will never put up gaudy stats. Their first priority appears to be run blocking and we tend to run mostly possession-type patterns. Not only that, but we often favor TEs over WRs more than other offenses. In many ways, our prototypical WR is a tall, stronger blocker who can also also catch, but who is not primarily a deep threat. Almost like a WR/TE hybrid. For most HS WRs, our offensive style and the role of WRs in our offense is not going to be particularly sexy. You might be able to extend this same argument to how we use our RBs (more power, anyone?) too. Maybe two RBs at USC have some thoughts on this.
Kids are more excited by teams that can put up 50 points in a game, have no problem with 4-receiver sets and like to run a wide-open offense. Any offense that leads the nation in delay-of-game penalties, fewest plays per game, most punts inside the opponent's 40, etc. is not going to excite the speedster type of receiver that we desperately need to stretch the field, get separation, etc. On the other hand, our self-selection process might make us particularly attractive to bigger possession receivers who feel like they might be better utilized at Stanford than at a program that throws the ball 50 times per game and places an emphasis on speed.