[msqueri]

I'm having a hard time ranking a wish list for two reasons. First, my basic view is there are many dozens of very plausible candidates (very conservatively...recall earlier in the year when I posted 100) and I think there's risk and uncertainty (as well as excitement and upside) no matter what direction we go. Second, I really don't know how to define the universe of what's possible. My past posts and most posts on this board operate within a universe where we try to bind ourselves with some degree of realism. People aren't suggesting trying to bring Harbaugh back or trying to lure Franklin from Penn State. At the same time, there may be some very established Power Five coaches who'd be interested and we won't know unless we try (or they reach out).

For instance, I think highly of guys like Mike Gundy, Lane Kiffin, Billy Napier, Bret Bielema, Jonathan Smith, Mike Norvell, Kalen DeBoer, Sonny Dykes, PJ Fleck, Matt Campbell, Chris Klieman, Lance Leipold, Jeff Brohm, Dave Aranda, and Steve Sarkisian, but it ranges from difficult to laughable to imagine most of them leaving current gigs for Stanford. But stranger things have happened than one or more of them having a deep secret interest in Stanford and/or ties with Shaw or Muir that make it plausible. I'd hope Muir quietly takes a shot with a few of these guys.

To that end, I know it will sound crazy to many (most?) but I see big hairy audacious appeal, Stanford fit, and arguable mutual benefit with Dabo Swinney. That would rock the football world and is 99 point something percent unlikely/insane, by why not make the call and see if he wants to avoid the potential staleness trap? Less audaciously but still appealing to me I'd make a run at Fleck, Klieman, Brohm, and Campbell. Aranda strikes many as an obvious Stanford fit and I'm intrigued but wary of his limited track record. There are others I mentioned I like just as much/even more and I'd be supportive of back channels.

[msqueri]

I'm having a hard time ranking a wish list for two reasons. First, my basic view is there are many dozens of very plausible candidates (very conservatively...recall earlier in the year when I posted 100) and I think there's risk and uncertainty (as well as excitement and upside) no matter what direction we go. Second, I really don't know how to define the universe of what's possible. My past posts and most posts on this board operate within a universe where we try to bind ourselves with some degree of realism. People aren't suggesting trying to bring Harbaugh back or trying to lure Franklin from Penn State. At the same time, there may be some very established Power Five coaches who'd be interested and we won't know unless we try (or they reach out).

For instance, I think highly of guys like Mike Gundy, Lane Kiffin, Billy Napier, Bret Bielema, Jonathan Smith, Mike Norvell, Kalen DeBoer, Sonny Dykes, PJ Fleck, Matt Campbell, Chris Klieman, Lance Leipold, Jeff Brohm, Dave Aranda, and Steve Sarkisian, but it ranges from difficult to laughable to imagine most of them leaving current gigs for Stanford. But stranger things have happened than one or more of them having a deep secret interest in Stanford and/or ties with Shaw or Muir that make it plausible. I'd hope Muir quietly takes a shot with a few of these guys.

To that end, I know it will sound crazy to many (most?) but I see big hairy audacious appeal, Stanford fit, and arguable mutual benefit with Dabo Swinney. That would rock the football world and is 99 point something percent unlikely/insane, by why not make the call and see if he wants to avoid the potential staleness trap? Less audaciously but still appealing to me I'd make a run at Fleck, Klieman, Brohm, and Campbell. Aranda strikes many as an obvious Stanford fit and I'm intrigued but wary of his limited track record. There are others I mentioned I like just as much/even more and I'd be supportive of back channels.