[GK3]

Argument: Stanford won’t change its standards to remain competitive in the new order of college football.

Possible outcome: Stanford becomes a member of the Big 10 (12,14,16,18,20) solely to share in the wealth and is annihilated regularly on the fields of Champaign Urbana, Ann Arbor, Columbus and East Lansing. Gigantic TV revenue allows the Stanford Olympic and country club sports to prosper. Big Whatever enjoys the prestige of a Top Ten academic institution along with the athletic prestige said institution’s plethora of national championships brings to the table. Also the league’s member schools have a new patsy on their schedule.

Pretty much the logical outcome and the one I experienced after arriving at Stanford in mid 1950's until the few years of exceptional football after JH and then DS took over.  

Another possible outcome: Stanford becomes a member of the Big 10 (12,14,16,18,20) solely to share in the wealth. It is not really competitive with the top of the conference, but it is regularly part of the mass of teams (UCLA, Indiana, Purdue, Northwestern, Rutgers, Minnesota, Illinois, etc.) fighting for a .500 record and bowl eligibility. Stanford football provides enjoyable entertainment on a Saturday afternoon or evening. Gigantic TV revenue allows the Stanford Olympic and country club sports to prosper. Big Whatever enjoys the prestige of a Top Ten academic institution along with the athletic prestige said institution’s plethora of national championships brings to the table.

The scenario is pretty much what Stanford football experienced from the mid 1970s through the 1980s. It was frustrating getting pummeled by USC every year. But Stanford was only occasionally terrible and sometimes quite good. I'm quite ok with this scenario.

[GK3]

Argument: Stanford won’t change its standards to remain competitive in the new order of college football.

Possible outcome: Stanford becomes a member of the Big 10 (12,14,16,18,20) solely to share in the wealth and is annihilated regularly on the fields of Champaign Urbana, Ann Arbor, Columbus and East Lansing. Gigantic TV revenue allows the Stanford Olympic and country club sports to prosper. Big Whatever enjoys the prestige of a Top Ten academic institution along with the athletic prestige said institution’s plethora of national championships brings to the table. Also the league’s member schools have a new patsy on their schedule.

Pretty much the logical outcome and the one I experienced after arriving at Stanford in mid 1950's until the few years of exceptional football after JH and then DS took over.  

Another possible outcome: Stanford becomes a member of the Big 10 (12,14,16,18,20) solely to share in the wealth. It is not really competitive with the top of the conference, but it is regularly part of the mass of teams (UCLA, Indiana, Purdue, Northwestern, Rutgers, Minnesota, Illinois, etc.) fighting for a .500 record and bowl eligibility. Stanford football provides enjoyable entertainment on a Saturday afternoon or evening. Gigantic TV revenue allows the Stanford Olympic and country club sports to prosper. Big Whatever enjoys the prestige of a Top Ten academic institution along with the athletic prestige said institution’s plethora of national championships brings to the table.

The scenario is pretty much what Stanford football experienced from the mid 1970s through the 1980s. It was frustrating getting pummeled by USC every year. But Stanford was only occasionally terrible and sometimes quite good. I'm quite ok with this scenario.