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Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - Printable Version

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Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - OutsiderFan - 11-20-2014

http://guardsmen.org/events/65th-annual-and-final-guardsmen-big-game-luncheon/

It's pretty clear Ca.l people are pretty upset about what they see as Stanford killing this event.  I know they aren't capable of thinking rationally when it comes to anything Stanford, so I'm curious to get the Stanford take on this.  David Shaw stopped the tradition of Stanford head coaches attending, and that pretty much sent the message it wasn't important for Stanford supporters any more, which led to its demise as fewer Stanford people attended.

Re: Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - yvonne - 11-20-2014

I googled this, and the first item that came up is a 59er Insider thread. I did a news search and nothing came up.

Re: Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - Farm93 - 11-20-2014

Once upon a time I would guess these luncheons were a great opportunity to meet the coaches, learn about the teams, etc.

With several channels dedicated to broadcasting weekly news conferences that desire to hear directly from the coach seems to have been met by far better concepts.  We also have so many on-field and post game interviews that even I know most of Pac-12 coach scripts at this point.

I definitely think it is better for the student-athletes, the band and the dollies to skip these events since I never understood how the events in the week prior to Big Game helped them in any real way.

All of the well connected types that attend those luncheons can easily get the program access they crave in other ways.

It is a tradition that seemed destined to go away soon, so I am happy to know that Stanford was leading the way to change while UCB was stuck trying to live in the 1950s.

Re: Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - yvonne - 11-20-2014

I know they interrupt practice schedules, but I also appreciate the many great quips that have come out during these luncheons. They were a great tradition. I agree that only well-connected types can come to them, due to time and expense, but it will be sad to see them go, if indeed, they are going away.

Re: Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - 71Bear - 11-20-2014

It is most unfortunate the Luncheon will be discontinued.  It was a long standing tradition that benefitted a brobdingnagian number of under privledged Bay Area youth.

Just another example of the traditions of the game being plowed under by individuals who don't understand what makes college football unique...

Re: Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - donkey687 - 11-20-2014

I know a lot of Guardsmen who went to Cal and none that went to Stanford.  I think that is a big factor for why this event skewed Cal to the point that it didn't make David Shaw's priority list for the week.  If enough important Stanford alums and supporters attended this event, I think Shaw would have found a way to make it, but why should he spend his time entertaining a crowd of mostly Cal alums.

Re: Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - jacketree - 11-20-2014

I never went to the lunch, but always thought it was pretty cool that Cal and Stanford would get together the week before getting after it on a Saturday.  (There will be no such events in Athens or Atlanta next week I can assure you, although there is a big joint Leukemia fund raiser.)  It's a shame Shaw can't appreciate the tradition and charity involved.  My only source is listening to Joe Starkey basically rip Shaw for begging out of the event, during last week's USC broadcast.

For years KFOG had the C.al men's chorus in right before Big Game.  A little banter, a couple of songs, a few "Go B.ear.s!" Stanford's counterpart always turned down the invitation, to the point where they stopped getting one and the morning show openly rooted for C.al.  Maybe this stuff really doesn't matter, but when you see a half empty stadium one wonders. I'm not suggesting KFOG has that much influence, and I stopped listening years ago when they canned Morey, but there is a vibe out there that Stanford is too busy for anyone but itself.

One lunch a year isn't going to kill the head coach, two or three athletes, or game preparation.

Re: Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - 82lsju - 11-20-2014

(11-20-2014, 08:00 PM)jacketree link Wrote:One lunch a year isn't going to kill the head coach, two or three athletes, or game preparation.

does anyone know if both coaches still show up at the Bohemian Club on Thursday night for their Big Game event (at least I think it was Thursday night, I went once as a guest and both coaches were there)?

Re: Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - stupac2 - 11-21-2014

If you want to see what some more bears think: http://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/2mzcgq/for_third_straight_year_david_shaw_fails_to_show/

Plus some negative comments about Shaw throw in to boot!

Re: Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - FarmBoy - 11-21-2014

Honestly, I've never heard of this event until the hoopla. In terms of overall Big Game tradition, how important is it? It sounds like it's an event focused on glad handing the big time donors rather than engaging the average fan. It will not reduce the hoopla around Big Game from my perspective.

That being said, it sounds like a worthy cause. If Stanford is doing less for the community under Coach Shaw, I would be disappointed. But skipping out on this lunch doesn't necessarily mean that Shaw is doing any less for the community than past coaches. Perhaps he's more focused on local organizations in EPA or San Jose? For damage control, it might be worth it for the AD to communicate its strategy in this area.

Re: Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - Farm93 - 11-21-2014

Subtle hints didn't get it done.  So I will try to be more clear.

Shaw WAS a Stanford football player.  He had to know these pre-Big Game events were brutal for the players.  His dad WAS a coach.  He had to know these Big Game events were brutal for the coaching staff.

Now on the scene, and with a level of personal experience unmatched in the history of the program, he likely wants to trim down those events.  Charitable causes are great, but why do student-athletes, band members and dollies need to be forced to attend just to loosen a few dollars from well healed alums?  Those folks should support their causes without requiring or expecting coaches and players to drive all over the Bay Area.

Stanford level of involvement in the community is not an area that the AD needs to defend just because the coach decides to stop the luncheon madness.  The idea that the event had so little Stanford involvement makes the call easier.  This was the first, but my guess is over the next 10-15 years most of these luncheons will go away.  Just my guess.  There are many more efficient ways to support charities than weekday luncheons.

All of those that care about these charities will just need to find a way to donate without having football programs force the student-athletes and the football staff appear on command. 

FWIW, the Stanford and all of the Pac-12 member institutions probably need to stop all of these near mandatory student-athlete charitable events anyway as those commitments are certain to appear in a civil suit at some point in the future.  Much like we saw in the NFL with their cheerleaders.

Re: Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - stupac2 - 11-21-2014

(11-21-2014, 09:06 AM)FarmBoy link Wrote:Honestly, I've never heard of this event until the hoopla.

As I said in the reddit thread, I hadn't either. You'd think that, if this were something that was still important to the Stanford community, that it would come up at some point during my 4 years at the school and 5 years of being e-mailed for every watch party, etc (granted I don't read those all that carefully, but if anything that furthers the "it's not important to Stanford" bit). It really seems to me like the weenies are just taking absolutely anything they can get to tar Stanford, which is both incredibly pathetic and not even a little surprising.

Re: Your take on Guardsmen Big Game Lunch ending? - yvonne - 11-21-2014

I think it's a big thing for Bay Area people. The Chronicle always details quips that are made at the luncheon. It was there that Treggs made his move to Palo Alto vow.

Interesting take from 2013 event - jacketree - 11-21-2014

The second year Shaw stiffed them.  Not a popular dude at the lunch.

http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/11/21/cal-stanford-big-game-luncheon-2013-david-shaw-skips-larry-beil-for-bob-sarlatte-71806/

Surprised about Sarlotte.  I can't say that I know him well other than sharing a few drinks and working SI charity auctions and other events over the years. I don't think he commands a high fee for the high school gig.  I believe he is a Cal alumnus.

That lunch is was a big thing for Bay Area people.

Bohemian club - djones - 11-21-2014

Shaw and Dykes were both there last night.



Re: Interesting take from 2013 event - Mick - 11-22-2014

(11-21-2014, 01:41 PM)jacketree link Wrote:The second year Shaw stiffed them.  Not a popular dude at the lunch.

http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/11/21/Low APR U-stanford-big-game-luncheon-2013-david-shaw-skips-larry-beil-for-bob-sarlatte-71806/

Surprised about Sarlotte.  I can't say that I know him well other than sharing a few drinks and working SI charity auctions and other events over the years. I don't think he commands a high fee for the high school gig.  I believe he is a Cal alumnus.

That lunch is was a big thing for Bay Area people.

http://www.celebritytalent.net/sampletalent/4727/bob-sarlatte/

Looks like Larry Beil was third choice, but killed it...I didn't see it, but apparently he was very funny with his own material.

As for Sarlatte, it looks like his minimum daily fee is $7,500 and can go to $30,000.  He's fairly up there in years...maybe he's just at the earning cash stage.  I always thought he was a second-rate talent, but he used to be a staff writer for Letterman, and appeared on Late Night w DL twenty times.  Who knew?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncjchgOfrys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDyGbxYcmes

Unimpressed with the drummed up Cal outrage - Leftcoast - 11-22-2014

I attended Guardsmen lunches in the 90s.  I don't know how attendance stacked up in the event's heyday but even in the 90s the luncheon was already a majority Low APR U Alum event - probably 70% old Blues.  The Stanford Band made a brief appearance and a very frustrated Ty His Royal Ungratefulness mumbled a few words.  Two Stanford players were more eloquent, thank goodness, and had some friendly banter with their Low APR U counterparts.

The lunch itself was OK.  The format felt dated, not really "fresh" or contemporary in content and scope and despite attempts to reach out to younger alumni the Old Blues lived up to their adjective.  Most attendees wore suits and I was underdressed in a sports coat and tie.  Whoops - wish my host for that first lunch had warned me.  I enjoyed it for what it was but I'm not really surprised it's fallen on hard times.  It did not become a must attend event for me and a mid-day lunch in SF is out of reach for most Silicon Valley alums so I haven't attended since the 90s.

The pumped up Low APR U outrage doesn't move me especially when they pull out the charity angle.  I believe the Guardsmen do great things but this event can't be its biggest earner when the speaker's fee eats up all of the earnings. 

There is value to events that bring together both alumni groups.  There's value to reminding us of our similarities alongside the sports rivalries.  There's value to shared tradition.  It's not clear to me this event was bringing home those values anymore.

Re: Not a of exceedingly large proportions loss - Yawning at the Ca.l outrage - CowboyIndian - 11-22-2014

Yawning at Kal outrage is never off topic.