[lex24]

I don't like this new arms race and the end of amateur athletics at all.  It smacks of Robbie Benson being paid to keep alligators out of the basketball stadium and has been a free for all the last few years. This is heading towards a likely collective bargaining agreement and salary cap, but it may take a few years of craziness to get there.   What concerns me is the volume of transfers, especially with quarterbacks (this thread).  There are very few true STUDENT athletes in these ranks anymore - as Andrew calls them:  "Stanford Men."  We need to continue to seek them out and he's the right person to lead that efffort.

With more money flowing to NIL and mainly into the money sports, what really concerns me is that Universities will start to cut their other programs.  It's already happening.  The Olympic sports will start to suffer as there will be fewer programs and less competition and the US will also take a hit in it's ability to do well against state run factories like China an Russia.  

As for Football and Basketball - $15M-$20M annually to compete in football is not sustainable unless some of our billionaire alums decide to step up likely Uncle Phil with Oregon (yes, he has an MBA from our GSB).  So I worry about our ability to compete and win in these sports too.  Our run under Harbaugh and Shaw (early years) was wonderful and the broader university and alumni base really enjoyed the limelight of "winning the right way."  Crushing the "Football Factories," Nerd Nation, with real student athletes was a highlight.   Can we find a "Stanford path" again that makes sense?  This is what Andrew, Sam and Levin are all chasing.   It's easier in college Hoops given the smaller number of athletes needed.   Look at Duke..., but that program is really the only game in town in Durham.  They can charge big bucks for tickets as they have no real competition, pro or otherwise.  

Yes, I will keep going to the Chuck Tayrlor Grove and to the games, but it all feels a bit tarnished now and that's sad.  I want the "Stanford Path" to winning too!

Stanford and its alumni have more money than almost any University on the planet.   . It’s not a matter of having the ability. It’s a matter of deciding if they want to join issue.

[lex24]

I don't like this new arms race and the end of amateur athletics at all.  It smacks of Robbie Benson being paid to keep alligators out of the basketball stadium and has been a free for all the last few years. This is heading towards a likely collective bargaining agreement and salary cap, but it may take a few years of craziness to get there.   What concerns me is the volume of transfers, especially with quarterbacks (this thread).  There are very few true STUDENT athletes in these ranks anymore - as Andrew calls them:  "Stanford Men."  We need to continue to seek them out and he's the right person to lead that efffort.

With more money flowing to NIL and mainly into the money sports, what really concerns me is that Universities will start to cut their other programs.  It's already happening.  The Olympic sports will start to suffer as there will be fewer programs and less competition and the US will also take a hit in it's ability to do well against state run factories like China an Russia.  

As for Football and Basketball - $15M-$20M annually to compete in football is not sustainable unless some of our billionaire alums decide to step up likely Uncle Phil with Oregon (yes, he has an MBA from our GSB).  So I worry about our ability to compete and win in these sports too.  Our run under Harbaugh and Shaw (early years) was wonderful and the broader university and alumni base really enjoyed the limelight of "winning the right way."  Crushing the "Football Factories," Nerd Nation, with real student athletes was a highlight.   Can we find a "Stanford path" again that makes sense?  This is what Andrew, Sam and Levin are all chasing.   It's easier in college Hoops given the smaller number of athletes needed.   Look at Duke..., but that program is really the only game in town in Durham.  They can charge big bucks for tickets as they have no real competition, pro or otherwise.  

Yes, I will keep going to the Chuck Tayrlor Grove and to the games, but it all feels a bit tarnished now and that's sad.  I want the "Stanford Path" to winning too!

Stanford and its alumni have more money than almost any University on the planet.   . It’s not a matter of having the ability. It’s a matter of deciding if they want to join issue.