[FarmBoy]

I don't like the idea of any of our recruits committing to another school, even if it's just a public decoy that is supposed to only be used in case he gets the thin letter. Psychological forces are strong. Shaking a coach's hand and saying "yes" can carry a lot of weight. You start wearing the gear, watching the games with vested emotions, imagining yourself playing there next year, building a lot of expectations with your friends and families. Maybe late one night, instead of bearing down and studying for an important test, you take your foot off the pedal by justifying that even if you don't get into Stanford, you've got a great fall back. Suddenly, months later, you get the thumbs up and it's hard to reverse course.

I can see the practical benefits for the recruit of reducing the "noise", but I think it would hurt Stanford's chances.

[FarmBoy]

I don't like the idea of any of our recruits committing to another school, even if it's just a public decoy that is supposed to only be used in case he gets the thin letter. Psychological forces are strong. Shaking a coach's hand and saying "yes" can carry a lot of weight. You start wearing the gear, watching the games with vested emotions, imagining yourself playing there next year, building a lot of expectations with your friends and families. Maybe late one night, instead of bearing down and studying for an important test, you take your foot off the pedal by justifying that even if you don't get into Stanford, you've got a great fall back. Suddenly, months later, you get the thumbs up and it's hard to reverse course.

I can see the practical benefits for the recruit of reducing the "noise", but I think it would hurt Stanford's chances.