[GK3]

The "problem" (that dare not speak its name) is the one that's been around, to one degree or another since the days of  David Starr Jordan. It is Stanford's infernal recalcitrance to commit to championship-level football. Money has never been a roadblock to this institution. For anything. And never will be. Political WILL, however, is another thing. Period. Good speed, Andrew Luck. We'll be watching you.

Ah yes, the Green Lantern theory of college football success.  We have the mythical ring that allows its wearer infinite abilities, limited only by the organization’s willpower.

Unfortunately, the theory is unfalsifiable.  No matter how much we can or cannot do, we could have always done more if we had the political will to do it.  It’s also a convenient excuse, that absolves us of having to make tough choices, because we could always want it more.  Finally, it is not particularly useful, because somehow, you have to generate the political will to pull it off, and like the ring, there is no roadmap on how to accomplish that.

BC

I'm having a hard time identifying how your post could be better written or more on point. Well done, sir.

I wish Andrew all the luck and believe he can get the job done, but it is a monumental job, no way around it.  Andrew, Troy and the Stanford President are going to take some big steps to turn this around.  First we have to have a very competitive NIL program, we need a strong in house system to help players market their Name and Likeness. Then we need to get really serious about the portal and junior college programs. Are we willing to further modify our acceptance to allow individuals who might be marginal in terms of Stanford past admittees, but we need to admit those whom we believe have shown the ability to do the work elsewhere and are good citizens.
We absolutely have to start winning games and make a bowl game.  
Unlike most other games, football requires a lot of bodies and bodies who can play the game. If I were Stanford my focus would be entirely on finding 10 good offensive lineman.  If you don't have an offense you are not going to a bowl game.

[GK3]

The "problem" (that dare not speak its name) is the one that's been around, to one degree or another since the days of  David Starr Jordan. It is Stanford's infernal recalcitrance to commit to championship-level football. Money has never been a roadblock to this institution. For anything. And never will be. Political WILL, however, is another thing. Period. Good speed, Andrew Luck. We'll be watching you.

Ah yes, the Green Lantern theory of college football success.  We have the mythical ring that allows its wearer infinite abilities, limited only by the organization’s willpower.

Unfortunately, the theory is unfalsifiable.  No matter how much we can or cannot do, we could have always done more if we had the political will to do it.  It’s also a convenient excuse, that absolves us of having to make tough choices, because we could always want it more.  Finally, it is not particularly useful, because somehow, you have to generate the political will to pull it off, and like the ring, there is no roadmap on how to accomplish that.

BC

I'm having a hard time identifying how your post could be better written or more on point. Well done, sir.

I wish Andrew all the luck and believe he can get the job done, but it is a monumental job, no way around it.  Andrew, Troy and the Stanford President are going to take some big steps to turn this around.  First we have to have a very competitive NIL program, we need a strong in house system to help players market their Name and Likeness. Then we need to get really serious about the portal and junior college programs. Are we willing to further modify our acceptance to allow individuals who might be marginal in terms of Stanford past admittees, but we need to admit those whom we believe have shown the ability to do the work elsewhere and are good citizens.
We absolutely have to start winning games and make a bowl game.  
Unlike most other games, football requires a lot of bodies and bodies who can play the game. If I were Stanford my focus would be entirely on finding 10 good offensive lineman.  If you don't have an offense you are not going to a bowl game.