[Mudhead]

The ACC is a ridiculous option for Stanford even if ACC members would part with an equal media share. It's a self-debasing option if Stanford has to enter the conference for "free" -- nothing is free -- or with a buy-in.

How has the university lost its dignity, and its way, and its self-respect, so suddenly?

This would be a far better option: keep the Pac-4 together. Add SMU, Rice, Tulane and either Army or UConn. Those eight would be a credible foundation for something that (i) could be expanded and (ii) has a feasible travel schedule. You would add Texas, Louisiana, and New Jersey (via Army or UConn) recruiting visibility. New TV markets would be Dallas, Houston, and New York. Texas and the south more generally are booming, with no signs whatsoever of a change in trend.

This new conference could wait for the ACC to implode, which seems likely, then add selectively from its ranks, but with eastern and western divisions to keep the travel burden down.

We face a hard choice. Joining the ACC gives us a way out.  Not as good an out as we could have had if only we faced reality a year ago but far better than if we wait a year to face reality. Why in the world would SMU , Rice or Army want to join a conference far away with Stanford , Cal, .Washington .state and Oregon State? And if for some reason they did , who in the world would care want that conference did?  

SMU would far, far rather be in the ACC and would prefer staying in the AAC than join a “conference” with no history , no future and no standing .  I can’t imagine anyone else would want to join but I don’t have any insight into the others.    As for dignity, I’m not sure we can avoid that luxury now.  But I am sure that there is far more dignity in being a part of a Power 4 conference than being a part of conferences with no national standing whatsoever.  

It’s probably good that we aren’t making the call. Time for leadership to make the hard choice…I only hope Stanford has that choice to make.

[Mudhead]

The ACC is a ridiculous option for Stanford even if ACC members would part with an equal media share. It's a self-debasing option if Stanford has to enter the conference for "free" -- nothing is free -- or with a buy-in.

How has the university lost its dignity, and its way, and its self-respect, so suddenly?

This would be a far better option: keep the Pac-4 together. Add SMU, Rice, Tulane and either Army or UConn. Those eight would be a credible foundation for something that (i) could be expanded and (ii) has a feasible travel schedule. You would add Texas, Louisiana, and New Jersey (via Army or UConn) recruiting visibility. New TV markets would be Dallas, Houston, and New York. Texas and the south more generally are booming, with no signs whatsoever of a change in trend.

This new conference could wait for the ACC to implode, which seems likely, then add selectively from its ranks, but with eastern and western divisions to keep the travel burden down.

We face a hard choice. Joining the ACC gives us a way out.  Not as good an out as we could have had if only we faced reality a year ago but far better than if we wait a year to face reality. Why in the world would SMU , Rice or Army want to join a conference far away with Stanford , Cal, .Washington .state and Oregon State? And if for some reason they did , who in the world would care want that conference did?  

SMU would far, far rather be in the ACC and would prefer staying in the AAC than join a “conference” with no history , no future and no standing .  I can’t imagine anyone else would want to join but I don’t have any insight into the others.    As for dignity, I’m not sure we can avoid that luxury now.  But I am sure that there is far more dignity in being a part of a Power 4 conference than being a part of conferences with no national standing whatsoever.  

It’s probably good that we aren’t making the call. Time for leadership to make the hard choice…I only hope Stanford has that choice to make.