[dabigv13]

4. Recruit football players as football players and to be football players (recruit players based on who can be admitted and help football team the most, less talk of 40 year decision, Stanford Men, etc. and more talk of team, brotherhood, football goals, etc.)

I think this concept is an interesting one, but I don't think it's really a major problem, and one that would not really be solvable anyway.

We have to consider that the players who can get admitted and want to attend Stanford will on average probably be more concerned with getting a good degree. Talking up that aspect also helps us get the few really bright guys who also are great football players.

If we didn't sell the 40 year decision aspect would we be any better off? I really doubt it.

Maybe the culture can be changed internally in a way that will encourage more returning players and more focus on football. But we aren't USC, and we won't be USC, and I don't think we beat USC by trying to copy USC.

Stanford's academic prestige is our distinguishing factor and we wouldn't have had the Harbaugh/Shaw glory days without it. If Harbaugh/Shaw are at, say, ASU, are they going to get Andrew Luck to come?

[dabigv13]

4. Recruit football players as football players and to be football players (recruit players based on who can be admitted and help football team the most, less talk of 40 year decision, Stanford Men, etc. and more talk of team, brotherhood, football goals, etc.)

I think this concept is an interesting one, but I don't think it's really a major problem, and one that would not really be solvable anyway.

We have to consider that the players who can get admitted and want to attend Stanford will on average probably be more concerned with getting a good degree. Talking up that aspect also helps us get the few really bright guys who also are great football players.

If we didn't sell the 40 year decision aspect would we be any better off? I really doubt it.

Maybe the culture can be changed internally in a way that will encourage more returning players and more focus on football. But we aren't USC, and we won't be USC, and I don't think we beat USC by trying to copy USC.

Stanford's academic prestige is our distinguishing factor and we wouldn't have had the Harbaugh/Shaw glory days without it. If Harbaugh/Shaw are at, say, ASU, are they going to get Andrew Luck to come?