[Nurdyguy]

From the uastoday article

Three people also told the Standard that Paye is allegedly working to implement a system that would prevent players from taking classes in the summer and larger-than-normal course loads so they can’t graduate early. 

If this is really true Paye has to go now, without any doubt. One of the "big" disputes on this board is the degree to which academic accomplishment should be compromised in the name of athletic success. Any coach who attempts to actually prevent a student taking a heavy course load and/or summer classes is clearly subverting the academic purpose of the University as well as potentially damaging the students academic career. There is a reason the student wants to take a heavy load and/or take classes during the summer. The coach has no business impeding that academic progress.
 
I can see a coach suggesting that a lighter course load during the season in order to foster better athletic performance. However, if the student chooses not to do so, the coach must instead look for ways to facilitate athletic success subject to the students actual course load. The rest of the time, the coach needs to just stay out of the students academic program. That is ostensibly why the student is in school in the first place.
 
It is even more inadmissible to attempt to stymie a students academic career because the coach wants to deny the student the ability to grad transfer. Said student may not be able to get in to a Stanford graduate program, or simply may not want to do so. Denying the student the opportunity to get a year of graduate tuition paid for by an athletic scholarship elsewhere just because they would then have to stay at Stanford is totally inadmissible. If that was even seriously considered all involved should be fired for cause.

I'm with Coach Paye on this one.  Athletes graduating in 3 years is ridiculous, and I'd be happy if Stanford ends that.  Stanford will never again compete in revenue sports with Stanford's existing hostility to the transfer portal, PLUS the ease with which athletes can currently graduate in 3 years.  One of the biggest challenges I've seen with our Stanford WBB team over the past few years is a lack of fitness and precision, which you can address with focused work during the offseason.  Over the past few years, too many Stanford WBB players were simply out of shape.  They need to spend MUCH more time on the track and in the weight room during the offseason to fix that.

Athletes should take regular course loads that ensure they can graduate in the standard 4 years while putting in the extra time needed to build their fitness during the offseason.  We should see marked improvement in their strength and stamina each year, which hasn't been the case in recent years.  I get it that Stanford is a school first, but athletes need to commit to their sports too, and graduating in 4 years is not a hardship.  If potential recruits decide not to commit to Stanford because they won't be able to graduate in three years, it's better to know that upfront and recruit a different athlete who wants to be on the team for four years.

[Nurdyguy]

From the uastoday article

Three people also told the Standard that Paye is allegedly working to implement a system that would prevent players from taking classes in the summer and larger-than-normal course loads so they can’t graduate early. 

If this is really true Paye has to go now, without any doubt. One of the "big" disputes on this board is the degree to which academic accomplishment should be compromised in the name of athletic success. Any coach who attempts to actually prevent a student taking a heavy course load and/or summer classes is clearly subverting the academic purpose of the University as well as potentially damaging the students academic career. There is a reason the student wants to take a heavy load and/or take classes during the summer. The coach has no business impeding that academic progress.
 
I can see a coach suggesting that a lighter course load during the season in order to foster better athletic performance. However, if the student chooses not to do so, the coach must instead look for ways to facilitate athletic success subject to the students actual course load. The rest of the time, the coach needs to just stay out of the students academic program. That is ostensibly why the student is in school in the first place.
 
It is even more inadmissible to attempt to stymie a students academic career because the coach wants to deny the student the ability to grad transfer. Said student may not be able to get in to a Stanford graduate program, or simply may not want to do so. Denying the student the opportunity to get a year of graduate tuition paid for by an athletic scholarship elsewhere just because they would then have to stay at Stanford is totally inadmissible. If that was even seriously considered all involved should be fired for cause.

I'm with Coach Paye on this one.  Athletes graduating in 3 years is ridiculous, and I'd be happy if Stanford ends that.  Stanford will never again compete in revenue sports with Stanford's existing hostility to the transfer portal, PLUS the ease with which athletes can currently graduate in 3 years.  One of the biggest challenges I've seen with our Stanford WBB team over the past few years is a lack of fitness and precision, which you can address with focused work during the offseason.  Over the past few years, too many Stanford WBB players were simply out of shape.  They need to spend MUCH more time on the track and in the weight room during the offseason to fix that.

Athletes should take regular course loads that ensure they can graduate in the standard 4 years while putting in the extra time needed to build their fitness during the offseason.  We should see marked improvement in their strength and stamina each year, which hasn't been the case in recent years.  I get it that Stanford is a school first, but athletes need to commit to their sports too, and graduating in 4 years is not a hardship.  If potential recruits decide not to commit to Stanford because they won't be able to graduate in three years, it's better to know that upfront and recruit a different athlete who wants to be on the team for four years.