Can you catch lightening in a bottle twice. JH put one of the toughest most physical teams in the country on the field and he did it with limitations nobody else in the country has. I've never been a JH fan, but he did a hell of a job and I think you have trouble finding somebody to replicate that. Good luck! No pun intended!
Posted on 1/7 6:36 PM | IP: Logged
Harbaugh is definitely very good. But I wouldn't say Stanford has limitations... it's no disadvantage to be the best academic university with a Bowl Series football team. Winning at Stanford has been done again, again, again, again, and again. Seven different coaches have put Stanford in the Top 10 over the years, and in most every decade since football began. 12 Rose Bowls, etc.
And a brand new renovated Stanford Stadium that brought in Harbaugh doesn't hurt! Stanford has arguably the best football program going into the Pac-12 North, or close to it... probably tied with Washington historically and right behind Oregon currently.
Below are the series records for Pac-12 North teams against Stanford. As you can see, Stanford can hold its own and then some.
Pac-12 North Division
Washington (40-37 against S) STANFORD
California (46-56 against S, see Big Game)
Oregon (29-44 against S)
Washington St (25-35 against S)
Oregon St (25-49 against S)
For a more current picture, here's a look at the number of 4-star recruits that have come to the Pac-12 North in 2009, 2010, and 2011. This includes all who have committed through Lyons committing to Stanford today.
Last 3 Years recruiting
Oregon, 25 **** and 1 *****
California, 23 **** and 2 ***** STANFORD, 22 ****
Washington, 10 ****
Oregon St, 5 ****
Washington St, 1 ****
As you can see, I think and hope Stanford will see its share of Pac-12 Championship Games over the years. Oregon and Cal will be tough for the next couple of seasons of course, but Stanford will be too. Especially with Skov being only a sophomore and Luck coming back for another year!
Stanford is basically ahead of everyone but Washington historically and everyone but Oregon and Cal currently. Tedford hasn't yet shown that he can make the most of his talent, either.
This post was edited on 1/8 7:00 PM by Northern Cardinal
Posted on 1/8 5:50 PM | IP: Logged
Congratulations...this is the only board of major teams looking for a new head coach (Pitt, UConn and Stanford) that has avoided mentioning RichFraud---do yourself a favor and keep it that way!!!!!
Posted on 1/9 6:50 AM | IP: Logged
No way in heck that Stanford would take Michigan's leavings with the current state of the two programs.
But seriously, just no..
Posted on 1/9 4:05 PM | IP: Logged
Congrats on your new HC hire. Shaw will give your program some stability and continuity. Most teams take a step back with a new hire but I don't see that being the case here. I look forward to watching ND and Stanford square off this Nov 26th. I'm glad to see your team do so well in the PAC, and hope for many years of 'spirited' football between our two squads..
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