[Goose]

It is certainly true that examining the philosophy and methodology of "successful" football programs and incorporating them into your own program can be helpful. However, imitating some other program is often not possible and/or would not produce the same result in any given program. The constraints that each football program must follow are different. The opponents and schedules are different. The University philosophies are different. The student bodies are different. Most importantly  the definition of "success" is different.

It is equally true that many different and seemingly contradictory approaches have at various times produced successful teams. You need to know what others are doing, take what you think  will work for your program and find alternatives to things that will not. Stanford attempts to be a contributor to the body of knowledge in many fields. Football should be no exception. As has been said "You can read the literature, or you can write it". Every coach borrows from other coaches, but at the same time every coach and every program is different. Bill Walsh chose to write the literature. So did "Pop" Warner and Walter Camp. So has Nick Saban, in a different way. None of these programs were identical. Innovation isn't often along a single straight line.

[Goose]

It is certainly true that examining the philosophy and methodology of "successful" football programs and incorporating them into your own program can be helpful. However, imitating some other program is often not possible and/or would not produce the same result in any given program. The constraints that each football program must follow are different. The opponents and schedules are different. The University philosophies are different. The student bodies are different. Most importantly  the definition of "success" is different.

It is equally true that many different and seemingly contradictory approaches have at various times produced successful teams. You need to know what others are doing, take what you think  will work for your program and find alternatives to things that will not. Stanford attempts to be a contributor to the body of knowledge in many fields. Football should be no exception. As has been said "You can read the literature, or you can write it". Every coach borrows from other coaches, but at the same time every coach and every program is different. Bill Walsh chose to write the literature. So did "Pop" Warner and Walter Camp. So has Nick Saban, in a different way. None of these programs were identical. Innovation isn't often along a single straight line.