Given there is no moral victory possible when it comes to the Axe or San Jose State, this game against #22 Louisville is Stanford's last chance for moral victory this football season.
The line setters expect Stanford to lose 40-18 against Louisville, so a win isn't even in the realm of possibility it would seem...
So, what does moral victory look like? Beating the Vegas numbers? Having lead at any point of the game? Winning at least one half on the scoreboard? Holding Louisville under their season average performance? Doing better than Stanford's average performance?
Some kind of individual player or unit production?
What, if anything would give you some sense of satisfaction or accomplishment in this all but certain loss? My kingdom for a better than #67 in country Pass Efficiency on Offense and Defense.
On O that would be: About San Jose State and Maryland-level at 133 PER
On D that would be: About Buffalo and Illinois-level at 135 PER
Stanford is # 128 in PER at 102 - Louisville is #72 in PER D at 137
Louisville in #24 in PER at 146 - Stanford is # 131 in PER D at 168
If my calculations are correct...
Stanford must be 31 points more efficient than average (6pts worse than UL allows on avg.) to achieve my moral victory Pass O.
Stanford must make Louisville pass the ball 33 points less efficiently than they typically allow (11pts worse than UL avg.) to achieve my moral victory Pass D.
That's not asking too much is it?
The line setters expect Stanford to lose 40-18 against Louisville, so a win isn't even in the realm of possibility it would seem...
So, what does moral victory look like? Beating the Vegas numbers? Having lead at any point of the game? Winning at least one half on the scoreboard? Holding Louisville under their season average performance? Doing better than Stanford's average performance?
Some kind of individual player or unit production?
What, if anything would give you some sense of satisfaction or accomplishment in this all but certain loss? My kingdom for a better than #67 in country Pass Efficiency on Offense and Defense.
On O that would be: About San Jose State and Maryland-level at 133 PER
On D that would be: About Buffalo and Illinois-level at 135 PER
Stanford is # 128 in PER at 102 - Louisville is #72 in PER D at 137
Louisville in #24 in PER at 146 - Stanford is # 131 in PER D at 168
If my calculations are correct...
Stanford must be 31 points more efficient than average (6pts worse than UL allows on avg.) to achieve my moral victory Pass O.
Stanford must make Louisville pass the ball 33 points less efficiently than they typically allow (11pts worse than UL avg.) to achieve my moral victory Pass D.
That's not asking too much is it?