When Stanford received the Rose Bowl, it grew to become a dream faculty for 12-year-old me. What distinguished it from the Ivy League and different faculties, for me, was its willingness to pursue each tutorial and athletic excellence. Now, as a Stanford fan and pupil, I wish to see this faculty proceed to compete on the highest athletic stage potential. Overlaying one in every of this nation’s most profitable athletic departments has been one of many highlights of my time right here, however latest Pac-12 crises are making me understand that I can’t take without any consideration the power to see your alma mater play on an vital stage.
Final Friday, 5 packages determined to depart the Pac-12 for conferences with extra profitable futures. After we heard the horrible news of Oregon’s and Washington’s departures, reports that Utah, Arizona and Arizona State would comply with escalated a putrid scenario to a firestorm. Now the one groups left are Stanford, Cal, Washington State and Oregon State. The latter two, overshadowed by bigger packages inside their states, are unanimously agreed to be the odd males out relating to energy convention growth — leaving the ball in Stanford’s and Cal’s court docket.
The vitality that aggressive collegiate athletics carry to a campus is unparalleled. The solar appears to shine brighter, courses really feel much less of a slog and folks typically appear extra upbeat.
There are actually solely two convention choices that might evoke this stage of aggressive spirit: the Huge Ten (B1G) and Huge 12. There haven’t been many reviews about Huge 12 negotiations with Stanford, however latest reviews steered the Cardinal could possibly be a primary candidate to maneuver to the B1G. This, together with Cal becoming a member of the B1G, might hold alive a number of the West Coast rivalries that we all know and love. The Cardinal might proceed their rivalries with Cal, Oregon, UCLA and USC, whereas additionally rotating matchups with different B1G foes to spice issues up.
That might be the optimum situation. However what concerning the situation the place the Huge Ten Convention fails to choose Stanford up? With the information of Utah, Arizona and Arizona State transferring to the Huge 12, this will make it simpler for Stanford to affix, since there could possibly be a “Western pod” that decreases journey instances for athletes. Add in Cal and that wouldn’t be a horrible plan.
Some reviews floated the opportunity of the remaining Pac-12 faculties becoming a member of the ACC. However how lengthy will it’s till prime groups like Clemson, Florida State and others determine to take off for greener pastures? Plus, the journey instances could be much more of a nightmare than the opposite energy conferences.
Whereas the facility convention situations above are the very best potentialities for the Cardinal, there’s a very actual probability that Stanford might want to accept a second-tier convention. This might comprise these presently within the Mountain West like San Jose State, San Diego State, Boise State and others. Whereas I might be deeply dissatisfied if this have been the consequence, it might be the fact we’ve got to accept. With income sports activities performing poorly the previous few years, I’m not positive how engaging Stanford is in comparison with a decade in the past. And with the relative reluctance to dive head-first into NIL like different big-name packages, some athletic administrators and commissioners might not consider Stanford as a worthwhile program long-term.
Don’t get me incorrect: I feel these presumptions are incorrect. Simply take a look at the 2024 soccer recruiting class and the basketball recruiting courses of the previous few years. Stanford can undoubtedly appeal to a ton of proficient scholar-athletes. However the exterior narratives might not work to our benefit as a lot as we’d hope.
I feel I’m penning this all to say that within the midst of this uncertainty inside faculty athletics, Stanford definitely stands out as a program teetering on the sting of enjoying with the massive boys or being overlooked. However as a fan and pupil, I do know that Stanford boasts a number of the most spectacular student-athletes within the nation and I really feel anyone could be fortunate to have them in a convention.