I'm looking ahead to this possible scenario where the CFP Committee has to break some hearts. Curious what you guys think would happen:

#1) 13-0 UGA
#2) 13-0 OSU/Mich
#3) 13-0 TCU
#4) ?

It's a long shot of course, but let's say the contenders are 12-1 Clemson, 12-1 USC, 12-1 OSU/Mich loser, 11-1 Tenn.

I'm taking SC.

ok, so given that my Troy Taylor intel was, ahem, a bit overblown... I'll take a break from trying to be Stanford Football Adam Schefter and report on what I saw with my own two eyes tonight...

The Main Takeaway

I don't see how Haase possibly is the coach next season. This team needed to make the tournament and it doesn't look like they will be close. An upset tonight would have at least given a bit more hope for a strong conference run.

UCLA's press embarrassed them and effectively ended the game before it started. With Shaw gone, it's hard to justify retaining Haase after another (7 now!) middling season. Ben also made a good point that Carlyle is locked in due to his mom's job, so collateral damage of a coaching change is lessened (but no way does an assistant stay on). These guys simply aren't getting it done on offense and Haasefense is close to Shawfense in difficulty to watch.

The Scene

I'll give MBB credit, they are doing everything possible to get butts in seats and generate excitement (aside from playing quality hoops, sadly). They gave away posters and towels and the student section was packed 30 minutes before tipoff! Upon closer examination, the students were all eating Chipotle burritos... Yes, we are now bribing our students with burritos to sit courtside for the PAC home opener against a ranked team. Close to half of the students left after halftime (and many remained but with laptops out, NERDS!)

Adam Keefe and Tracy Murray spent a long time chatting pregame (Murray works for UCLA sports network). Lacob was in his spot with regular guest, Mike Duleavy Jr. I didn't see any of the football players in 6th man... but perhaps they are all hanging out in the portal instead (bad joke).

Muir sat courtside for the entire game and was rarely on his phone. Reflecting further, I don't think it's worth reading too much into what this means in the coaching search, or as an indication that Muir is screwing up. This was likely Stanford's biggest home game of the season and it's important for the AD to show up and be visible for these events. It appears that Fangio, Roman and Taylor are all clearly in play, and I would be happy with any of them (though I still think it will be Taylor, who presents the biggest upside, and probably downside). I don't think that Muir not working the coaching search for 2ish hours in the evening means that he's dropped the ball. But please, let's wrap this up soon!

The official Stanford roster that was handed out lists 16 players on the team, which includes Josue Gil-Silva and Roy Yuan, team managers who were just promoted to walk-on players. Here's a great little read on Gil-Silva (Isa's cousin!) and an older read on Gil-Silva playing for his father at Alisal HS in East Salinas. Benny Gealer and Jaylen Thompson were dressed but I assume they aren't playing this season and will redshirt.

The Game

Possibly the worst start to a game by a decent team that I have ever seen. Down 17-0 on only 2 shot attempts and 7 turnovers. I thought we might lose by 50 if UCLA kept pressing.

Silva has surpassed O'Connell as PG1, and flashed a bit but is still a weak spot. He has a better handle and is more of a natural scorer. His errant pass to Keefe was a momentum killer and effectively ended a spirited comeback.

Spencer Jones came to play but Ingram just didn't have it. Jaime Jaquez has a similar frame and game to Ingram and absolutely ate him alive. If JJJ is a 2nd round prospect, Ingram is a 5th rounder (there are only 2 rounds). He only played 19 minutes, a season low.

Michael Jones' cold shooting streak continues (when he finally hit a 3, he yelled out, clearly relieved to finally have one go down). He can consistently get good outside looks and the shots are almost always close but he's now shooting 20.9% from deep after going 42.1% last season. Devastating. Agarwal flashed a bit in 14 minutes, at the expense of Angel who got surprisingly little run (13 minutes).

The most entertaining part of the night was sitting directly behind Mick Cronin. He's an incredibly intense coach, he probably dropped 20+ F bombs that were audible to our section, his default signal for a sub is to scream "GET HIM OUT OF THERE!" and he was chewing out a player, up 14 with 30 seconds left. Picture JK Simmons in Whiplash. But boy, is that team incredibly focused on defense and super well-coached. The players spend an inordinate amount of time looking over to Cronin to get direction on offense, and he called the two final Jaquez plays that sealed the game (of course, his calls wouldn't have been audible to the PG in a normally loud road environment). I keep going back to the Mandel article on Shaw... many of the best coaches are incredibly demanding and push their players past their natural limits, using tactics that might not be acceptable to many parents or school administrators. Is Cronin a "good representative for the university?" Perhaps not by the traditional Stanford definition, but he absolutely gets results.

Sounds like this one close... game a grinder.
SJ Merc/East Bay Times: https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/12...lt-nl-bay-area-preps-hq-nl&utm_content=manual

2023 wide receiver Jackson Harris out of Berkeley High School in Berkeley, CA has committed to Stanford. He is not letting the coaching change stop him from coming to The Farm. Visited twice this month, official over the weekend, and also visited earlier in October as well.

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Read that here. Tonight's match is at 6:00 PM PT against LSU. I have a mini preview included at the end of the recap.

In the 2018 - 2022 classes, Utah brought in 16 4 stars and 0 5 stars. USC brought in 44 4 stars and 8 5 stars. And that doesn't include SC bringing in some 22 elite transfers this year, including last year's Biletnikoff winner and an AA QB. And Utah destroyed SC. A freaking genius.

Coach, what are your thoughts on Championship Weekend so far?

I know he agreed to speak with Stanford. Of all the college coaches, he, along with KSU's Chris Klieman would be my top choices for Stanford.

Hey Matt, when you’re ready, I have the title for your book/article….

- Ucla comes out and punches us in the mouth. Refs let them play, Ucla benefits because more physical and aggressive. Our guys can't handle pressure and more passive
- 1st half, horrific D. 2nd half, our guys come ready to play and play tough D, more physical and agressive
- Our guys overall are still weak ballhandlers and not very good shooters, yet we outscore Ucla in 2nd half and look to make a game of it
- We cut Ucla lead to 8 points, play great D, get a steal, fastbreak and Silva throws a wild pass to one of our guys who was totally open and streaking for what would have been a dunk and cut the margin to 6 with momentum. Silva is seen smiling after his errant pass. Is the kid an idiot or what? Before you know it, Ucla increases lead to 12 and that's game.
- Numerous terrible passes, especially after getting stops/steals on D with chances for us to catch up, but we blow it. Haase shoudl make the guys when not on the court pass the ball to each other.

Heck of an effort in the second half, but this team is frustrating and tough to watch.

This was posted by JohnnyO aka Doc in the Council (of Chiefs) Facebook group. As far as I know, not previously discussed here.

Coincidence on timing? I thought he was only offered by Yale and SJSU. PWO?

Carter Shaw

As a die hard USC hater, my normal reaction would be to root like hell for the Utes.

But then, there is the PAC-12 getting to the playoffs thing weighs on me. Or do we consider USC not in the PAC anymore.

What to do….What to do?

If you want fun entertainment (unlike the past several years of watching Shaw football), buy tickets now for the first two rounds of Stanford women's volleyball's NCAA tournament run against Pepperdine on Friday at 7 pm and Saturday at 6 pm against the winner of Hawaii-LSU match (which is 4:30 pm on Friday). Unlike normal early round games, Stanford will face decent opposition in both rounds getting a more difficult early round competition than expected. I anticipate competitive matches and lots of great action. You'll get to see 5 all-conference athletes including a contender for national player of the year, Kendall Kipp. It's also inexpensive with $30 getting you 3 volleyball matches. So let's pack Maples for our impressive athletes and get to enjoy fabulous entertainment and excitement (again, not like football games) led by PAC 12 coach of the year, Kevin Hambly. And let's make noise. I'll be standing and shouting from section 11.

See you Friday and Saturday. We all deserve to have a great time watching Stanford athletes play!

Miller Moss may get a chance to be a hero.

This is big y'all: Stanford women's volleyball has gotten a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Live on ESPNU. This means they get home court advantage all the way through the Final Four. If they get to a regional final, they'll host.

They will take on Pepperdine on Friday at Maples.

2 shots. 5 turnovers. UCLA has not missed. 15 O.

This is fantastic news and definitely interesting timing!! 😀😀😀

Read that here.

Read that here. Gorney and I are both in the same ballpark on this, though Gorney thinks it’s a bit bigger blow than I do. Hopefully they can pull him back in.

Read that here.

Read that here.

Anybody know anything?

1 shot. 5 turnovers. UCLA has not missed.

Read that here.

Looks likely.