Zach Zimmerman – The Stanford Daily https://stanforddaily.com Breaking news from the Farm since 1892 Wed, 30 May 2012 07:59:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://stanforddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-DailyIcon-CardinalRed.png?w=32 Zach Zimmerman – The Stanford Daily https://stanforddaily.com 32 32 204779320 Zimmerman: A column four years in the making https://stanforddaily.com/2012/05/30/zimmerman-a-column-four-years-in-the-making/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/05/30/zimmerman-a-column-four-years-in-the-making/#comments Wed, 30 May 2012 08:30:50 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1067766 After following Cardinal sports for four years, this is my final column.

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I’ve told the story a hundred times. Applying to college in the fall of 2007 with the limited guidance of an overworked public school counselor, I decided to make a funny and conclude my paragraph on why Stanford was the right fit for me by saying, “I fully support any school that embarrasses USC on the football field.” I like to think I made it in because Dick Shaw has an incredible sense of humor.

In truth, my application was anything but conventional or ideal. But the way I answered that final question was representative of everything listed on that digital form. I was being completely honest. Stanford was my top choice for a million reasons, but mostly because it had kickass sports. Other highly regarded academic institutions didn’t.

Fast-forward to the present. After following Cardinal sports for four years, this is my final column. I’ve been a writer and a fan, an eternal optimist and a remote-throwing pessimist, a student who has routinely delayed last-minute assignments to attend early-season games against mid-major schools that I still can’t locate on a labeled map.

In a few weeks, I’ll be graduating with perhaps the greatest college quarterback of all time; the nation’s biggest number of past, present and future Olympians; dozens of national champions; and the smartest fan base in the country. We’ve all endured our fair share of disappointment–wide lefts, “rebuilding years,” losses to Cal, etc.–but it would be a crime to say we’re leaving disappointed.

If not for any other reason, I’m proud of the way things have been accomplished. In the current collegiate athletics climate, going four years without any sort of relevant controversy is praiseworthy in itself. Doing it while maintaining the top all-around program in the nation puts Stanford in a league of its own. Every school has its imperfections, some more public than others, but the fact that there hasn’t even been a hint of significant negative speculation for a school that undoubtedly has a target on its back is truly remarkable.

I shouldn’t use what few words I have left to convince you to enjoy sports on the Farm as much as I do. I’m crazy. I wouldn’t be able to properly survive at some D-III school that arrogantly boasts three conference championships in ice hockey since 2003. I laugh at that. Stanford has turned me into a sports elitist, and a damn proud one at that.

What I can do is relay stories of friends who came to Palo Alto without a clue that a football had laces and now exit as diehard opponents of the Wildcat formation. Sports at this institution serve several purposes, but none more important than as refuge from the frightening realization that we’re being counted on as the future of this planet. It’s a task most of us are aware of and relish, but it’s also one that can get a bit overwhelming. There’s nothing better than knowing that when life is kicking your butt, you can head over to the southeast corner of campus and watch your team kick someone else’s.

The incoming freshmen will graduate from Stanford with a completely different sports landscape than we have today. Players will be paid, conferences will be condensed and admission standards across the country will continue to decrease. It’s a sick and twisted reality that has been a long time coming, but one that will hit the Farm long after some of the more controversial universities.

My only hope is that when that time does come, this athletics program will still have enough appreciation from the student body to thrive. I pray that kids leave their iPhone apps and CS assignments for a few hours a week to check out any of the world-class athletes this campus has to offer. Regardless of whether you care at all about sports, you must have admiration for people who have become the best on the globe at what they do.

I’ve tried for years not to be too much of a homer, to criticize Stanford athletics when appropriate and to remain objective in my analysis. That doesn’t mean I haven’t passionately rooted for the Cardinal during every single play of my undergraduate career. Whether you have loved or hated what I’ve had to say over the years, thank you so much for reading my column. I hope we beat the hell out of USC on Sept. 15.

Despite this sappy farewell, Zach Zimmerman wants to stay in touch. Check up on him at zachz “at” stanford.edu or follow him on Twitter “at” Zach_Zimmerman.

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Zimmerman: It’s not you, NBA coach, it’s them https://stanforddaily.com/2012/05/23/zimmerman-4/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/05/23/zimmerman-4/#comments Wed, 23 May 2012 08:30:19 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1067215 To say the position of NBA head coach is in a state of flux would be like calling Kobe’s shot selection a bit excessive.

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Stan Van Gundy is a great NBA coach.

He’s a brilliant basketball mind who took a defensively dysfunctional organization and turned it into an efficient winning machine. His five-year stint with the Orlando Magic was easily the most successful coaching tenure in franchise history, with a Finals appearance in 2009 accentuating a 259-135 regular-season record.

Now, Stan Van Gundy is unemployed because the culture of coaching has transformed to accommodate the ever-growing trend of players demanding more respect than those they should call their bosses.

To say the position of NBA head coach is in a state of flux would be like calling Kobe’s shot selection a bit excessive. Of the 29 coaches currently employed by NBA franchises, only three began in their current roles before 2008, with just one, San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, starting prior to 2000. Aside from Popovich, and possibly Boston’s Doc Rivers, it’s ridiculous to even attempt to make a case for any current head coaches as future Hall of Famers.

This is disheartening. Basketball has skyrocketed in global popularity and, like any growing sport, has evolved to become scientifically analyzed and produced. Coaches and players fluidly understand certain facets of the game that just didn’t exist 25 years ago. With the game becoming visibly more skilled at every level, the NBA coaching fraternity should consist of 30 of the most qualified people in the world.

The problem is, this isn’t the case. Out of the NBA writers I follow on Twitter, I could easily pick five that I would choose to serve as head coach for my team over a multitude of current leaders. These include people who didn’t play organized hoops past high school, which is irrelevant. The argument that these guys haven’t been there before and couldn’t guide a group of professional athletes is antiquated at best.

Coaches are picked through a type of “old boys” club that promotes nepotism and perpetuates the cycle of promoting former NBA affiliates unsuited to fill the role. It’s why we’ve seen mind-numbing substitutions and even more ludicrous quotes coming from guys in charge of playoff teams. That can’t happen at the highest level of any sport.

The root of the issue is money. As the battle to become a “max-contract player” wages on, those already in that upper echelon of salaries or those who feel deserving of greater recognition take it upon themselves to demean their bosses and stage verbal coups. Those in higher management are afraid of alienating star players–their moneymakers–and often force coaches onto the most uncomfortable of islands. How can a guy possibly do his job with the looming threat of a rebellious star constantly looming over everything?

This past season’s Dwight Howard saga was brutal for me to endure as a Magic fan, but nowhere close to as painful as it must have been for Van Gundy. Dwight’s appalling lack of respect for his coach–who I believe transformed Howard into a dominant post defender–ultimately led to the coach’s demise. Van Gundy is a hard-ass, a no-nonsense basketball disciple who refused to give in to constant outside pressures. He went about his job, coached his team the way he thought it should be coached and managed to get the Magic to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, with or without Howard. As a reward, he got canned.

Star culture won’t budge without a dramatic change in player accountability. In an ideal world, every one of the 30 franchises would routinely and sufficiently punish players who refuse to adhere to a coach’s philosophy. That doesn’t mean that players shouldn’t have a say; they should just handle themselves professionally and with cautious candor. Without this radical alteration, coaching positions will continue to be occupied by multimillionaire babysitters who succumb to their leading scorers instead of teaching the game of basketball. I don’t want to be a part of that world anymore.

This is possibly an exaggerated rant in the wake of Orlando’s recent decision, but basketball fans can’t possibly like the direction in which things are headed. People like Vinny Del Negro and Mike Brown are in unbelievably high-profile positions on teams that should be regular contenders. There’s something wrong with that.

Bring coaches back. Basketball misses them.

Zach Zimmerman may or may not own a Dwight Howard jersey. Ask him to show you his wardrobe at zachz “at” stanford.edu or follow him on Twitter “at” Zach_Zimmerman.

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Zimmerman: Preserve Oakland’s finest https://stanforddaily.com/2012/05/16/zimmerman-3/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/05/16/zimmerman-3/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 08:30:13 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1066462 Five years ago, if I had made a list of the top American cities in which I would least like to run out of gas, Oakland may have taken the cake.

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Five years ago, if I had made a list of the top American cities in which I would least like to run out of gas, Oakland may have taken the cake. I really knew nothing about the 510, other than that people from the Peninsula mocked it and that it was home to world-class rioters and high murder rates.

Then I met my girlfriend who resides in the East Bay, took a few classes that pulled my head out of the suburban Florida sand I had been stuck in for 18 years and slowly grew more comfortable making the trip over the Dumbarton Bridge and into one of the more undervalued multicultural hubs in the country.

Like any major city, Oakland has its flaws, but its infamous reputation has far exceeded reality. It’s home to things like gorgeous hiking trails and incredible places to eat, and having now driven though “the town” several times at night, it’s comical to think I was once afraid to park my car at any BART station.

In fact, the East Bay now feels a bit like a third home. As a displaced sports fan begging for a fresh start with a few unconventional teams, it’s no surprise that Oakland’s finest stood out. For the past couple of years, I’ve been loyal to the Warriors, Athletics and Raiders, but it’s been a difficult adjustment. These teams play in venues that are a far cry from the state-of-the-art Amway Center, the playing grounds of my hometown Orlando Magic. They’re not franchises you look to as models of effective management. And, most importantly, these aren’t bandwagons you hop aboard if you enjoy winning.

Never have I left a game in Oakland feeling as if a championship were on the horizon. I once saw LeBron James hit the first game-winner of his career, naturally against the Warriors, and that sort of other-team-moment has been all too frequent. Games are often attended to watch opposing players compete, and I’ve seen cheers for losses that improve draft position.

But I keep coming back, because there is something endearing about the cluster of stadiums directly off the 880, and something endearing about the people who migrate to them that is tough to put into words. Oakland fans are among the most passionate and intelligent in the world. That may be a hard pill to swallow when A’s games are regularly filled by fewer people than attended my senior prom, and Raider Nation routinely dresses like a group of teenagers headed to a gothic Halloween party.

It’s fair skepticism, but the regulars are more connected to their teams than just about any other fan base I’ve witnessed, and it is something that needs to be experienced in order to be understood. (As a bonus, parking is free and abundant at the Coliseum BART station. Good luck finding that at any other stadium in the country.)

Oakland’s teams, regardless of their recent history, are immensely valuable to a struggling city. However, they’re at risk of fleeing in the very near future. The Warriors are being actively enticed by city leaders in San Francisco to move back across the Bay to their previous home. The much-maligned Raiders have been rumored to be leaving the Coliseum again, this time for a potential stadium-share with the cross-town San Francisco 49ers. And the A’s, the beloved princes of the Moneyball era, have been mentioned in connection with places like Fremont and San Jose. Woof.

I’d be devastated to see any of the three depart, but my personal hurt would be nothing compared to Oakland’s. Mayor Jean Quan has suggested the possibility of building a sports wonderland in place of the current relics, allegedly with private funding, but the Warriors have a better chance at a championship than that happening in the near future. Different markets would undoubtedly garner more money and support, but it would kill one of America’s best sports cities.

So much of the hurry for relocation stems from outside pressures that see Oakland in the way that I used to see it. Sports are big business, I understand that, but there are ways to at least sustain the franchises without shipping them away to less deserving places. The city will never rival L.A., New York and Chicago in terms of financial potential, but knowledgeable and productive leadership can at least set things in the right direction.

The moral of the story is that things aren’t always as they seem. The Warriors, Athletics and Raiders are not second-rate organizations in a second-rate city. Oakland doesn’t need to go under the knife; it just needs a little makeup.

Considering that he drives the most stolen car in America, maybe Zach Zimmerman should reconsider leaving his Camry at BART. Send him safety tips at zachz “at” stanford.edu and follow him on Twitter “at” Zach_Zimmerman.

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Zimmerman: Making a case for Oliver Luck https://stanforddaily.com/2012/05/09/zimmerman-making-a-case-for-oliver-luck/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/05/09/zimmerman-making-a-case-for-oliver-luck/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 08:30:34 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1065913 As former athletic director Bob Bowlsby moves on to (arguably) greener pastures by becoming commissioner of the Big 12, Stanford is now tasked with filling the hole in its heart left by one of the most successful people to ever hold the position.

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Breaking up is never easy.

As former athletic director Bob Bowlsby moves on to (arguably) greener pastures by becoming commissioner of the Big 12, Stanford is now tasked with filling the hole in its heart left by one of the most successful people to ever hold the position.  It’s going to be nearly impossible to duplicate his impact in the short term–10 national titles in six years is about as unmatchable as it gets–and although things could surely be worse, he’s not necessarily leaving the throne at the best time.

Bowlsby’s successor will inherit several big-money teams in states of serious transition. The departure of Andrew Luck, uncertainty at the quarterback position and questionable calls made by new head coach David Shaw in Glendale this past January loom over a program fresh off of two consecutive trips to BCS bowls. The Stanford women’s basketball team, which has battled its way to five straight Final Fours, will have to find a way to deal with the loss of all-time great Nnemkadi Ogwumike, who was taken with the No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA draft. And although momentum from an NIT championship is a positive sign, men’s hoops still hasn’t made an NCAA tournament in Johnny Dawkins’ four-year tenure.

Other sports have also trended downward since the turn of the decade, and their struggles may need to be reevaluated sooner than expected. Suffice it to say that the Department of Athletics could face some adversity in the coming year. One hundred and two national championships and 17 straight Directors’ Cups are powerful indicators of prominence that could be lost without proper leadership.

Additionally, Bowlsby was instrumental in keeping the Athletics Department (which lacks in SEC-type boosterism) well funded through the robust Pac-12 television deal. That sort of business savvy is rare in today’s NCAA, especially when maintaining a program as clean and uncontroversial as Stanford’s.

This by no means is a decision that the administration can afford to rush to choose his successor. There have been rumors swirling over which direction University officials will choose to go, with certain names, including Condoleezza Rice, appearing on more than one occasion.  Although Rice’s affiliation with the school and her undying passion for the athletics program are well documented, her lack of experience on the business side of college sports leaves me worried.

Enter Oliver Luck, Andrew Luck’s father and the current West Virginia athletic director. His connections to Stanford are purely through his children, with women’s volleyball player Mary Ellen joining her brother on the Farm in the fall of 2010, but his credentials match perfectly with the most successful program in the nation. Having served as president of NFL Europe and president and general manager of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo, in addition to his current role with the Mountaineers, Oliver Luck is undoubtedly well versed in the job’s responsibilities. He helped to quickly rescue a West Virginia football program that was desperate to move past the fiasco of former head coach Rich Rodriguez leaving for Michigan and is widely respected as one of the country’s premier athletic heads.

There is no question that Stanford hasn’t at least tested the waters with Luck in the few days since Bowlsby’s appointment. Oliver Luck knows he’s on the short list of candidates. The problem is drawing the former Republican Congressional nominee away from his home state of West Virginia and away from the high status of his current position. The present state of West Virginia athletics is one that he should be proud of (the Mountaineers romped Clemson, 70-33, in the Orange Bowl this year), and a quick glance at the West Virginia message boards suggests that supporters are well aware of his aptitude.

However, West Virginia is embroiled in the dramatic conference realignment and just settled a nasty divorce with the Big East in favor of the Big 12. That switch will be financially beneficial and bring the Mountaineers stiffer competition and better ratings, but rarely does a school hop into a new league without initial growing pains.

If there’s any indication that Luck will at least think about the job, it’s that he declined to comment on the Stanford opening but flat out rejected consideration for Big 12 commissioner last week, the spot now filled by Bowlsby. At Stanford, Luck would find an athletics department that boasts success in many different sports and is situated in a wealthy and stable conference.

It’s obvious what Stanford has to offer: a private university setting, less media pressure, annual team championships, national respect and the like. The question is whether that is enough to bring a third Luck to Stanford and continue the family’s charmed run in Palo Alto.

Although it’s a long shot, the Athletics Department would be amiss to not make a strong play for the most beloved football dad in the school’s history.

Zach Zimmerman just wants another decade to make “Luck” puns. Shoot him your favorites at zachz “at” stanford.edu or follow him on Twitter “at” Zach_Zimmerman.

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Zimmerman: Sometimes, you just have to be there https://stanforddaily.com/2012/05/02/zimmerman-2/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/05/02/zimmerman-2/#respond Wed, 02 May 2012 08:30:42 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1065207 June 14, 2009, was not a fun day for this guy.

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June 14, 2009, was not a fun day for this guy.

Fresh off the completion of my freshman year and with a full summer of earning potential around the corner, I made the instantly regrettable decision to drop far too much money on nosebleed seats for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. In the grand scheme of things, the price wasn’t going to impact my life. But for an 18-year-old whose gigs had included a stint at Quiznos and an unpaid internship at a local radio station, the ticket represented at least 40 percent of my net worth.

In my defense, I justified the purchase with the thought that this may be the last time I’d get the opportunity to see my Orlando Magic legitimately contend for a title. What if I missed the game of a lifetime? What if Game 5 was the turning point in the series, the dominant victory that sparked a comeback from the 3-1 deficit I had convinced myself was manageable.

It wasn’t. The Magic lost, 99-86.

Since that day, I’ve been hesitant to pull the trigger to watch any live sports event. Seeing a game in person just hasn’t had the same value, and with the rapid evolution of televised events, I just can’t seem to find the will to pony up my hard-earned cash for a subpar view with limited replays and obnoxious fans.

But recently I decided to ease my way back into the fold as a spectator, and I was able to spend $5 for the Payton Jordan Invitational on Sunday at Stanford. The annual outdoor track meet has been and will forever be one of the most underappreciated and exciting events this campus has to offer. The competition draws many of the best runners in the world, and athletes vying for global recognition routinely shatter records.

This meet had special significance, however, as my freshman roommate and good friend Chris Derrick was attempting to meet the Olympic “A” standard in the 10K with a time of 27:45. He ran it in 27:31, setting the school and American collegiate record along the way. If you do the math, that is… absurdly fast.

I’ve been hyped since and have re-evaluated my conservative stance on live sports. If Chris manages to qualify for a certain competition in London this summer (jinx-proof), then I’ll be faced with the predicament of buying last-minute tickets to Europe and, more importantly, actual passes to the event.

I’m no longer 18. This is a big deal.

But what else will I spend my money on? I live nothing close to a lavish lifestyle, and the liberal college kid in me figures I might as well do what makes me happy while I’m young and my schedule is relatively flexible. I don’t remember sports ever leaving me as genuinely excited as I was on Sunday, except maybe for the 2009 Payton Jordan Invitational.

There was something about being in that particular moment, witnessing someone I know do something that very few people have ever been able to do, that resonated with me. If I could buy a (legal) pill that could duplicate that feeling, I probably would. Maybe it was because that event brought me out of my jaded sports funk that had plagued my level of fandom. Whatever the case, I left the track feeling damn proud of Chris and damn proud of myself for shelling out five bucks to witness a small piece of history.

On a depressing note, it’s going to be extremely tough for professional sports to sustain any sort of economic success with their current models. Ticket sales will undoubtedly plateau or decrease as technology in the home improves, and owners will be pushed to find alternative ways to fill seats. I’m not the only passionate fan who has found less of a need, be it for financial reasons or others, to be physically present at games.

Yet there’s a reason people have attended athletic competitions for millennia. Free or not, spectators are able to derive that unique rush from live action that just isn’t available through a monitor. Sure, I’ve been inappropriately pumped after a last-second shot on TV, but that feeling comes and goes as the network switches programs. There’s just no sense of camaraderie, no pure bond between fans and players. It’s not for everyone, but for me, there’s really nothing better.

With that, hit me up if you have connections in London. I’m okay with sleeping on the couch.

Zach Zimmerman’s 10K time would be blistering…if only he could make it through a 10K. Challenge him to a race at zachz “at” stanford.edu and on Twitter “at” Zach_Zimmerman.

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Zimmerman: Scrambletes deserve some respect https://stanforddaily.com/2012/04/18/zimmerman-scrambletes-deserve-some-respect/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/04/18/zimmerman-scrambletes-deserve-some-respect/#respond Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:30:50 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1063707 I’ve been playing an egregious amount of Scramble with Friends lately.

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I’ve been playing an egregious amount of Scramble with Friends lately. The Boggle-like iPhone app has consumed an inordinate amount of my time, even though, when compared to my friends, I’m just really not that good.

Still, nearly every conversation now directs itself back to our recent games, times we failed to notice that sexy “-ing” just waiting to be prefixed and confusion regarding the inclusion of some of our favorite derogatory colloquialisms (as well as the exclusion of others). In fact, we’ve all recently discovered that when we can’t get to sleep, we figure out all of the possible words that can be formed from a single stem.

Please save us. This is disturbing.

I’m confident that a few of my close Scramble buddies could put up a legitimately good fight against anyone out there. They have played enough anagram games that the reorganization of specific letter combinations has become second nature. These same friends are also masters of Sudoku, KenKen and a slew of other intellectually stimulating games.

But are they athletes?

To give you a bit of background, I have always been reluctant to liberally hand out the athlete card. I’m from the heart of NASCAR country, an area that draws more than 200,000 spectators twice a year to watch cars race around an oval, and I promised myself I would never consider it a sport. The same went for activities like bowling, fishing and poker. All fun, sure, but they just didn’t fit the bill.

Why? Conventional wisdom suggests that a sport must be physically demanding and require at least some athleticism, which is socially acknowledged as physical performance. Bowling a strike, catching bass and winning poker tournaments can be mentally exhausting, but you could also have never run a mile in your lifetime and excel relative to the general population.

The problem is, this definition of sport and athleticism–the only one that I have really ever known–isn’t really accurate. Merriam-Webster defines an athlete as “a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports or games requiring physical strength, agility or stamina.” Play a game of chess with a skilled opponent or grind out a 10-hour poker session before you tell me that those are games that don’t require stamina.

This column is not intended to take away from the traditional athlete. The time spent perfecting physical ability is impressive in and of itself, let alone witnessing the finished product in action. But after having my friends put the fear of God in me, a guy who is about to make a living using his words, I have a newfound respect for the undervalued athletes who spend countless hours crafting and maintaining a specific skill set, be it the ability to record a nine-dart finish in a pub or to memorize and employ every two-letter word in the Scrabble dictionary.

More so, there is a distinct connection between mental and physical performance. Regular aerobic exercise has been shown to improve cognitive skills and dramatically slow down age-induced deterioration. Ask any new exerciser how his or her mental clarity has changed, and the answer will be remarkable. Suffice it to say, a healthy athlete is more well-rounded than you may think.

The common denominator in competitors ranging from basketball players to crossword enthusiasts is endurance. With the seeming inability to escape distraction in our daily lives, people able to withstand obstacles and persevere through mental and physical training should be commended. I, for one, get irritated and discouraged when I accidentally omit an obvious six-letter word or blow a fast-break layup in an intramural game. Sometimes I take full advantage of these mistakes and turn them into valuable lessons for the future. Sometimes I don’t. I’m not an elite athlete.

Those who can find the will to constantly improve are athletes in their own right. They’ll never earn the same recognition as their prototypical peers, but they deserve equal respect. Sports mean different things to different people and shouldn’t be bound by a false and misleading definition.

Does this mean I’d rather watch the Monopoly World Championships than the NBA Finals? Never. But what I will do in the future is slow my roll when passing judgment on athletic prowess.

Add me on Scramble with Friends. Let’s be athletes together.

We think Zach Zimmerman’s Scramble With Friends handle should be Chaz (get it?). Send more creative ideas to zachz “at” stanford.edu and follow him on Twitter “at” Zach_Zimmerman.

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Zimmerman: Hoping for another Maples moment https://stanforddaily.com/2012/04/11/zimmerman-hoping-for-another-maples-moment/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/04/11/zimmerman-hoping-for-another-maples-moment/#respond Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:30:05 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1062928 I bet you’re scanning your memory for a game-winning three that capped off an improbable comeback hoops victory over Cal. Or you’re remembering one of the NCAA tournament games that catalyzed one of five consecutive Final Four runs for the women’s team.

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What’s your favorite Maples Pavilion memory?

I bet you’re scanning your memory for a game-winning three that capped off an improbable comeback hoops victory over Cal. Or you’re remembering one of the NCAA tournament games that catalyzed one of five consecutive Final Four runs for the women’s team.

My favorite moment? It may surprise you.

I’m a hoops fan through and through. That will never change. I’ve chronicled my longing desire to witness Stanford basketball dominance, but I’ve come to accept that I was recruited as a student during a rebuilding phase. This isn’t to say that the court hasn’t provided its fair share of excitement; it’s just that for every one step forward, there seem to be three turnover-prone steps back.

However, the hardwood did its job for me in 2010, when the Stanford men’s volleyball team took destiny on a date and eventually wifed her up. On May 8, Maples was the loudest it’s been in the new millennium, as the Card captured a national title on its home floor, a feat rare in any sport.

I’m absolutely nothing more than a casual volleyball fan. I know more about the sport than the average student, but the rules only began making sense when I arrived on campus. My high school fielded an expansion team of sorts during my senior year, but it was more of a “you’ve played beach volleyball twice so congrats, you’re the starting middle blocker” kind of group than anything resembling a legitimate varsity squad.

But here I am, making the case that a relatively unknown team in a relatively unfamiliar sport has a legitimate chance to repeat the magic from two seasons ago. It’s not an easy argument to make–the talent level at the top of the national rankings is unparalleled–but it’s one that deserves attention, which it has yet to receive.

In 2010, Stanford was loaded at every position, but none more so than outside hitter. Every match was a kill fest, and the Maples floor is undoubtedly still dented from the strikes of Evan Romero, Spencer McLachlin and Brad Lawson. Perhaps the unsung hero of that match, and of the entire championship campaign, was then-sophomore libero Erik Shoji. Now a senior, Shoji ranks fifth in the nation in digs per set, and the only reason he isn’t higher is because of the quality play of his surrounding teammates. Plus, he has a highlight reel that boasts one of the most ridiculous plays you’ll ever see–a kill-preventing dig with his foot that was also a near-perfect set. It’s hard to appreciate the role of libero, as defense isn’t what packs stadiums. But Shoji, a three-time All-American, may be the most skilled player on the squad.

What’s more surprising is the emergence of senior setter Evan Barry, who earned a starting role once Kawika Shoji, Erik’s brother, graduated following the 2010 season. Barry had enormous shoes to fill but has arguably become the best setter in America, leading the nation with 11.88 assists per set. His passing ability has enabled guys like Lawson and sophomore Brian Cook to rank among the top 20 outside hitters in Division I.

To say this team is full of invaluable, unsung heroes is a gross understatement. With a slew of other veterans, including senior middle blocker Gus Ellis, this team may rival the one assembled in 2010 in terms of potential. The only problem is that the competitive balance across the nation has also improved. There are currently five teams, Stanford included, within a game of the top spot in the MPSF. Seeding for the conference tournament is crucial, especially considering the Cardinal’s home court advantage.

The gentlemen of Kappa Alpha, as much of a spectacle as they are, are among the most passionate, knowledgeable and intimidating fans in the country. If Stanford is able to secure a road to the national semifinals that travels through Palo Alto with those guys along the sidelines, the Cardinal is in pretty good shape. I’ve never tried competing at an elite level with relentless opposing fans dressed as cavemen and stormtroopers just a few feet away, but I can’t imagine it’s very fun.

With the aforementioned parity, I’d be foolish to make any guarantees. After all, as a novice supporter, I can’t even pretend to accurately break down the competition. What I can do is recognize that all the pieces that were in place in 2010 seem to be there again, which means that if I’m putting my eggs in one team’s basket this spring, I’m going with men’s volleyball.

If you’re searching for a similar Maples moment, you should, too.

Zach Zimmerman was home for break when Stanford women’s basketball ended UConn’s 90-game winning streak, but he imagines that was epic, too. Share your favorite Maples moments with him at zachz@stanford.edu or follow him on Twitter @Zach_Zimmerman.

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Zimmerman: NIT win can catalyze Card https://stanforddaily.com/2012/04/04/zimmerman/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/04/04/zimmerman/#respond Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:30:03 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1062165 But one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and for the Stanford men’s basketball team–your 2012 NIT champions–finishing the season as the 69th best team in the nation never felt so sweet.

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The NIT is a tournament begging to be punned. It’s the participation trophy for the grass pickers in the outfield, a second-rate competition for second-rate teams. It’s the ultimate slap in the face, a reminder that for a single college basketball season, your team was inferior to schools you’ve never even heard of.

 

Elite programs wouldn’t be caught dead with the ugly prom date. Appearances are rare for the top tier, and when they occur, they’re justified with humiliating, “we’re in rebuilding mode” excuses. In a place like Chapel Hill, N. C., the year 2009 never happened.

 

But one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and for the Stanford men’s basketball team–your 2012 NIT champions–finishing the season as the 69th best team in the nation never felt so sweet.

It’s hard to not be slightly cynical about the postseason performance. Stanford didn’t play away from the Farm until the Final Four in Madison Square Garden, and its road to the championship featured no opponent seeded better than fifth. It was, by nearly any quantitative measure, the Cardinal’s tournament to lose.

There’s also the shadow of recent history that taps the excitement brakes after the win. Stanford’s consistent level of talent, combined with a now almost-forgotten legacy of the late 20th century, should never lead to D-list postseason losses and early trips home. But it did, and the fluctuating showcases of effort and ability for the first several years of Johnny Dawkins’ coaching career drove a lot of passionate fans, like me, to distribute copious amounts of irrational blame throughout the program.

So why be optimistic about the Card’s first postseason title since 1991? For starters, we finally got a glimpse of how head coach Johnny Dawkins has progressed in his role. In his fourth year, Dawkins finally settled on a suitable, predictable and effective rotation this postseason. And how many coaches in the country would be willing to take a seldom-used player like Andrew Zimmermann and thrust him into their starting lineup during the most important stretch of the year? Not many, and even fewer would be able to properly reconstruct offensive and defensive schemes to accommodate such a delayed adjustment.

Zimmermann, along with fellow seniors Jarrett Mann, Jack Trotter and Josh Owens, will not be around for the next campaign, but the continued emergence of the most dynamic backcourt in the conference, coupled with a boatload of returning and incoming talent, should more than make up for graduation attrition. Chasson Randle and Aaron Bright, the fantastic underclassman guards, dazzled in the NIT with stellar one-on-one play and precision shooting. Not since Brevin Knight has Stanford had a triple-threat point guard with a fondness for dribble-drive penetration. Now, the Cardinal has two.

What’s most important is the confidence gained from stringing together an impressive series of convincing wins. The Ray Lewis pregame speech was impressive, but this group actually needed to practice what he preached. It did, and now Stanford has to be considered a favorite heading into next year’s Pac-12. Don’t believe me?

Regular season champion Washington lost in the NIT semifinal to the same Minnesota team that was shellacked by the Cardinal. Cal, the only conference foe that received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, put up just 13 points in the first half of its play-in game loss to USF. And Colorado, an 11-seed in this year’s dance following their shocking conference tournament victory, lost both contests against Stanford this season by a combined 44 points.

With the loss of key Cal seniors, the declaration of UW superfrosh Tony Wroten for the NBA draft and Colorado’s inevitable regression to the mean, it’s impossible to find a team better prepared for the upcoming season than the Cardinal. It’s a more-than-welcome position for fans more accustomed to months of uncertainty and disappointment.

I’m not one to blindly donate my optimism. The NIT was an impressive stretch for a group of young up-and-comers, but the result still has to be taken with a grain of salt. After all, this same Stanford team was torched by the outside shooting of the Illinois State Redbirds.

But for a team that has been making a series of baby steps, this was the first leap in quite some time. With significant positive momentum, Stanford can finally turn the proverbial corner.

The NIT isn’t the Big Dance. But it’s not the size of the trophy that matters; it’s how you use it.

 

Zach Zimmerman is happy about the NIT win, but not as happy as Johnny Dawkins is in the first few seconds of the Ray Lewis video. Watch closely, then drop Zach a line at zachz “at” stanford.edu or follow him on Twitter “at” Zach_Zimmerman.

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Zimmerman: A must-win March for women’s basketball https://stanforddaily.com/2012/03/07/zimmerman-a-must-win-march-for-womens-basketball/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/03/07/zimmerman-a-must-win-march-for-womens-basketball/#comments Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:40:07 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1060696 There’s home-court advantage, and then there’s what the 2012 class of Stanford women’s basketball accomplished in its four years on the Farm.

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There’s home-court advantage, and then there’s what the 2012 class of Stanford women’s basketball accomplished in its four years on the Farm.

 

Before we laud our departing players for what has been one of the most dominant runs by a group of seniors in the history of the sport, it’s important to put Stanford’s accolades in context. The fact that this information isn’t widely known speaks volumes to the distance women’s sports still needs to travel, but it doesn’t downplay just how unbelievably remarkable this team has been under head coach Tara VanDerveer.

 

With a road win over California this past weekend, Stanford captured the inaugural Pac-12 championship, a fitting reward for the team that has won the past 12 conference titles. In fact, the last loss to a league opponent took place Jan. 18, 2009, when the Golden Bears bested the Cardinal in Berkeley. The squad hasn’t lost to its most hated rival in the eight meetings since. On a larger scale, Stanford has reached the NCAA tournament every year since 1988 and has made the Final Four 10 times since 1990.

 

It’s safe to say that things could be worse.

 

Now back to the elder stateswomen. In their 64 games in Maples Pavilion since arriving on campus in the fall of 2008, the Stanford seniors have won 64 times. For those sabermetricians at home, that is a grand total of zero losses. Those 64 contests are part of a 79-game home wining streak that dates all the way back to the 2007-08 season. In the past four seasons, the seniors have notched a ridiculous regular-season record of 108-8, an astounding mark by any measure.

 

With three consecutive Final Four appearances and more individual awards than can fit into any respectably sized trophy case, Stanford is once again primed to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and make a compelling run at a national title, the only achievement missing from an otherwise flawless four years in Palo Alto.

 

Although basketball is traditionally a male-dominated sport, this group of seniors has kept Maples from deteriorating into a lifeless venue. The women regularly attract more fans than their male counterparts, and although the faces in the crowd may be a bit more wrinkled, you’d be hard pressed to find more knowledgeable and passionate fans in the Bay Area. For all the attention (deservedly) devoted to the success of Cardinal football, women’s basketball has quietly remained the premium model of athletic consistency, more so than any other contributor to the oft-mentioned 17 consecutive Directors’ Cups.

 

Yet despite all their success, the fact of the matter is that the absence of a competitive men’s team has demoted basketball into the role of second fiddle on this campus. While this is a ludicrous thought for any pre-Harbaugh student, it’s something that’s accepted as universal truth by all others. Has the recent lack of hoops awareness cast an all-too-unfair shadow over the illustrious careers of some of the school’s best athletes? You tell me how many other 800-game winners have failed to make national headlines.

 

But this year can be different. It has to be. Four straight agonizing trips to the Final Four must amount to more than just free T-shirts and unrelenting disappointment. Cardinal fans can’t bear another Fiesta Bowl moment, where a victory sure to resonate throughout the country was ripped out of our hands. Stanford women’s basketball can’t be relegated back to the shadows, not when surrounded by a fan base begging for an injection of elation.

 

Maybe it’s inappropriate to demand a title this year. After all, it’s impossible to knock a coach with a quarter-century of service under her belt and a team that has made a permanent home atop the AP standings. Plus, even if the Card can’t get it done this year, we know that any and all vacancies will be filled with the best talent that legacy can find.

 

Good luck telling that to the women who will be playing for the final time in their careers.

 

It has been 20 years since the program won a national championship. In that magical year of 1992, the current Stanford seniors weren’t yet old enough to hold a basketball. They are now, and they’ve been put in a position to leave a lasting mark on the sport.

 

Will the fourth time finally be the charm?

 

 

More than anything, Zach Zimmerman never wants to see Geno Auriemma smile again. Share your opinions of the UConn coach at zachz “at” stanford.edu or tweet him @Zach_Zimmerman

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Zimmerman: A sports writer’s dilemma https://stanforddaily.com/2012/02/29/zimmerman-a-sports-writers-dilemma/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/02/29/zimmerman-a-sports-writers-dilemma/#comments Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:30:53 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1059835 So what are sports journalists to do? Should they ignore the extracurricular lives of athletes whose actions off the field may very well impact in-game performance

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Disillusioned is one way to describe my current relationship with the sports-writing industry. As a graduating senior and new member of the legal-drinking community, I’m still far too young to provide nostalgic anecdotes about the landscape that once was. Sports journalism is what it is. Whether you appreciate its current state or the direction it is going is another story.

 

There’s a distinct, objective line between sports and reality. This separation is what has kept me a shotgun passenger on the proverbial bandwagon since my preschool days. The beauty of fandom is that we experience authentic emotion without authentic consequence. Life doesn’t always allow for clichéd shots at redemption. In sports, there’s always tomorrow.

 

Recently, we’ve been captivated by a new era of journalism that has blurred this line. Sports are so easily accessible that the most passionate followers fall into a pattern of addiction that demands new information at the snap of a finger. I’m as guilty as the next person of trawling Twitter for hours, digging for even the slightest suggestion that my irrational sports-related dreams may come true. Those hints are, more often than not, rumors concocted by the least reputable of sources, whose Internet presence is exactly what turned the writer-reader dynamic sour.

 

Nearly every media organization, The Daily included, that attempts to do its due diligence to ensure appropriateness and objectivity has been accused of sensationalism. It’s a frequent claim that, grounded or not, occasionally requires attention. Is this because the nature of the industry has evolved to almost always require some sort of slant? Perhaps, especially when factoring in the race for page views and advertising dollars on the web.

 

But an even larger problem, one that is nearly always ignored, is the average fan’s meshing of life and sports to the point where overall satisfaction is impossible. When athletes excel in their craft, the masses flock, allowing our favorite stars to reap the benefits of celebrity status. Yet when those same athletes falter off the field, when transgressions become public and picture-perfect lives become slightly tarnished, the media is crucified for not recognizing them as people, just like you and me.

 

So what are sports journalists to do? Should they ignore the extracurricular lives of athletes whose actions off the field may very well impact in-game performance? That would be considered irresponsible, especially in the aforementioned situation we find ourselves in as fans. If a readership is connected enough to voice a constant demand for additional information, then it is the role of a media organization to provide its readers with that news when it is pertinent and reported professionally.

 

This isn’t to say that stars shouldn’t be graced with privacy; I’m one of the biggest opponents of sports tabloidization that you’ll find. Tiger’s extramarital affairs and Josh Hamilton’s struggles with addiction are personal matters that should be kept private. But that is my opinion. I don’t watch sports to idolize other people and fret over their mistakes. They are people. They are bound to make mistakes.

 

However, if an athlete performing in a public forum makes a decision that impacts future success individually and collectively, the modern fan demands the right to know. Emotional investment is so intense that there is no longer the distinction between superficial legitimacy and real, life-changing, life-or-death legitimacy.

 

As a result, media outlets have become scapegoats for an issue that is much larger than words written on paper. Fans and athletes must learn to discern fact from fiction. If the spike in TMZ-esque sports coverage is troublesome, athletes must not vocalize a special sense of entitlement, and spectators must not feed the growing celebrity culture. As it stands, both parties want to have a ton of cake and eat it too, and writers are struggling to find an appropriate recipe that accurately captures all sides of the issues.

 

This isn’t a problem that is going to fix itself soon. As the world becomes more publicly and socially connected, the nature of being human will be more candidly and crudely exposed. Through our loyalty, we’ve earned the right as fans to have more access into the lives of the players we admire than we did before, especially as their desire for fame grows. That is no longer debatable. Now what we must do is acknowledge the difference between relevant reporting and sensationalized gossip. It’s not always the most well-defined boundary, but it most definitely exists.

 

It’s not a lesson that is easily learned, but we can’t always kill the messenger just because we don’t like the message.

 

 

Zach Zimmerman is just glad that he didn’t have to deliver this message to King Leonidas. Talk about the joys of not being kicked into a bottomless pit at zachz “at” stanford.edu and follow him on Twitter @Zach_Zimmerman.

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Brief: Lacrosse beats James Madison, records first win of season https://stanforddaily.com/2012/02/28/brief-lacrosse-beats-james-madison-records-first-win-of-season/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/02/28/brief-lacrosse-beats-james-madison-records-first-win-of-season/#respond Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:41:58 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1059697 It wasn’t convincing, but the Stanford women’s lacrosse team managed to complete a thrilling come-from-behind victory, beating James Madison 14-13 at Cagan Stadium in a matchup of top-10 foes.   The No. 6 Cardinal (1-3) won its first game of the season behind five goals and three assists from senior Emilie Boeri, who was later […]

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It wasn’t convincing, but the Stanford women’s lacrosse team managed to complete a thrilling come-from-behind victory, beating James Madison 14-13 at Cagan Stadium in a matchup of top-10 foes.

 

The No. 6 Cardinal (1-3) won its first game of the season behind five goals and three assists from senior Emilie Boeri, who was later named WomensLax.com player of the week. However, not even a stunning performance by Boeri could hold off No. 9 James Madison (1-1) for most of the day, as the Dukes led for the vast majority of the affair.

 

Stanford entered halftime trailing by five goals after JMU’s Ariel Lane tallied three first-half scores. The Cardinal came roaring back after the break, however, as Boeri scored four of her five goals in a span of about 14 minutes.

 

It was a dominant second-half showing by the Cardinal, although the squad surrendered the lead with just 2:50 left in the match. Down one at 12-13, Stanford was rescued by a game-tying goal by Boeri at 0:32. The senior’s free position shot set up a game-winner by sophomore Anna Kim with just nine seconds remaining.

 

The win finally reversed the losing trend that plagued the Cardinal’s early-season play. The young Stanford team faltered in its first three matches against ranked competition, but with a notch in the victory column the Cardinal will now look to capitalize on its positive momentum heading into this weekend’s festivities.

 

The Cardinal hosts No. 17 Vanderbilt at Cagan Stadium this Saturday at 1 p.m.

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M. Volleyball: Two victories fuel five-game winning streak https://stanforddaily.com/2012/02/14/m-volleyball-two-victories-fuel-five-game-winning-streak/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/02/14/m-volleyball-two-victories-fuel-five-game-winning-streak/#respond Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:03:13 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1058158 No. 4 Stanford (9-2, 6-1 MPSF) eked out a five-set victory in one of the nation’s most thrilling sagas, beating the No. 4 49ers 18-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 15-12. The victory snapped the Card’s three-match losing streak to Long Beach State and continued Stanford’s recent dominance.

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M. Volleyball: Two victories fuel five-game winning streak
Middle blocker Eric Mochalski (above) and the No. 4 Stanford men's volleyball team kept up its impressive play with wins over Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge. (NICK SALAZAR/The Stanford Daily)

Long Beach State’s Walter Pyramid, the eighth wonder of the collegiate world, had been anything but wonderful to the Stanford men’s volleyball team in recent visits. On Friday, the Cardinal took in the architectural anomaly with winning spirit.

 

No. 4 Stanford (9-2, 6-1 MPSF) eked out a five-set victory in one of the nation’s most thrilling sagas, beating the No. 4 49ers 18-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 15-12. The victory snapped the Card’s three-match losing streak to Long Beach State and continued Stanford’s recent dominance.

 

Stanford coach John Kotsy was impressed by his team’s performance, particularly those of his middle blockers, Eric Mochalski and Gus Ellis. The two combined for 16 kills on .625 hitting, a phenomenal line symbolic of a careful team effort.

 

“It was an indication of our passing,” Kotsy said. “When the middles hit at a high percentage, it means we’re passing pretty well.”

 

Senior Brad Lawson added a team season-high 21 kills for the Cardinal, who battled back from a 2-1 deficit to grab a crucial road win. Sophomores Steven Irvin and Brian Cook joined Lawson in the double-digit-kills club, adding 15 and 10, respectively.

 

The win was the fifth in a row for the Cardinal, but the team went into instant-recovery mode in preparation for another tough road test less than a day later. And while Stanford had little time to recover for another huge contest against a ranked MPSF foe, it continued its winning ways against No. 11 Cal State-Northridge (4-7, 2-5) the next day.

 

The Cardinal walked away from the Matadome with its fifth consecutive road victory after a 25-22, 18-25, 25-22, 25-19 win, mostly thanks to a career night from Cook. The sophomore followed up his strong night against Long Beach by recording a career-high 26 kills against the Matadors — the most kills by any player on the Cardinal this season.

 

Cook’s 26 kills surpassed his previous career-high of 20 kills and contributed his biggest kills when the Cardinal needed him most. Tied 1-1 after two sets, the Santa Cruz native threw down eight kills in the third set to help win the set and swing the momentum in the Cardinal’s direction. In addition to Cook’s crazy night, Lawson was his typical outstanding self once again, recording 19 kills of his own.

 

With just two games left on its 40-day quest away from the Farm, Stanford has now compiled a 6-2 record with the only blemishes coming against UCLA and Penn State. Kotsy said that solid record, as well as Stanford’s current five-game win streak, indicated that the Cardinal is starting to gel at the right time.

 

“We see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “We’re learning how to win on the road. That’s the lesson here. Those are how conference champions are made. You make it a routine; you get in a groove.”

 

After earning its second consecutive weekend sweep, the Cardinal will wrap up its epic 10-game road schedule next weekend at UC-Irvine and UC-San Diego, but the bulk of the tough MPSF schedule still lies ahead. With 13 games left against conference foes, Stanford is currently in second place in the MPSF, but it will need to continue its hot play to stay in the heart of the race against a league stacked with solid competitors. However, the Cardinal will play 11 of those 13 conference games at home over the last three months of the season.

 

Stanford continues its quest for an MPSF title on the road this weekend in Irvine and San Diego, with the first match against the Anteaters at 6 p.m. on Friday.

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M. Basketball: Card looks to rebound from tough Washington trip at Cal on Sunday https://stanforddaily.com/2012/01/27/m-basketball-card-looks-to-rebound-from-tough-washington-trip-at-cal-on-sunday/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/01/27/m-basketball-card-looks-to-rebound-from-tough-washington-trip-at-cal-on-sunday/#respond Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:03:27 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1055950 Following a devastating road trip through Washington, the Stanford men’s basketball team hopes to right the ship Sunday when it travels across the Bay to take on rival California.

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Following a devastating road trip through Washington, the Stanford men’s basketball team hopes to right the ship Sunday when it travels across the Bay to take on rival California.

 

M. Basketball: Card looks to rebound from tough Washington trip at Cal on Sunday
Senior guard Jarrett Mann was held to nine points in two games against Cal last year. Even though his playing time has dropped this season, Mann will have to be one of many contributors on Sunday if Stanford hopes to knock off the conference-leading Bears. (IAN GARCIA-DOTY/The Stanford Daily)

The Cardinal (15-5, 5-3 Pac-12) has cooled off considerably following its 10-1 start, going just 5-4 since beating USC at home on Dec. 31. The recent struggles have dropped Stanford to fifth in the conference, although the weakness of the league leaves the Card just one game back of first place.

 

Stanford has suffered from the injury woes of sophomore forward Dwight Powell, who has not been able to progress as expected. The absence of a healthy Powell has noticeably hurt the Card’s frontcourt depth. However, Stanford head coach Johnny Dawkins is confident that his highly touted recruit will be able to contribute during the latter half of the conference schedule.

 

“We don’t like to make excuses, but the young man has gone through a lot with his ankle, with his heel,” Dawkins said. “He hadn’t re-injured it in quite some time, so it’s been able to heal properly. He’s starting to get back to form, which is exciting for us.”

 

Cal (16-5, 6-2), which currently holds a share of the Pac-12 lead, had won four consecutive conference games before losing a shocker to Washington State on Saturday. The Golden Bears are led by sophomore star Allen Crabbe, who averages nearly 16 points per game on 45-percent shooting from behind the arc. Crabbe has eclipsed the 20-point mark six times this season.

 

Stanford must improve its three-point shooting this weekend. The Card has connected on just seven of its previous 32 attempts from distance.

 

The lone bright spot for the team last weekend, senior forward Josh Owens, did not miss a shot from the field against Washington State but managed just eight attempts. Look for Stanford to feed Owens early in order to limit its reliance on perimeter scoring.

 

“Josh is having a terrific season,” Dawkins said. He’s been a senior leader for us. He’s really been our most consistent player night-in and night-out. And he’s really happy with his overall development. He’s worked extremely hard this off-season, and I think it shows in his play.”

 

Owens and the rest of the squad will need to bring their top game against the Bears. Despite its five losses, Cal — which boasts three players averaging at least 13 points per game — is the most talented team the Cardinal has faced since its six-point loss to No. 4 Syracuse in November.

 

“Cal is a good basketball team,” Dawkins said. “You know they’re going to execute very well offensively. They’re a very good defensive team. They just play sound basketball.”

 

Incredibly, with a win on Sunday and a little bit of help, Stanford can find itself back atop the conference as quickly as it surrendered its lead. The game tips off in Haas Pavilion at 5:30 p.m.

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M. Basketball: Easy win over Buffs keeps Card tied atop Pac-12 https://stanforddaily.com/2012/01/17/m-basketball-easy-win-over-buffs-keeps-card-tied-atop-pac-12/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/01/17/m-basketball-easy-win-over-buffs-keeps-card-tied-atop-pac-12/#respond Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:43:12 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1054428 Freshman guard Chasson Randle had instant-impact potential long before he arrived on the Farm, but his contributions thus far have exceeded any and all expectations

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Freshman guard Chasson Randle had instant-impact potential long before he arrived on the Farm, but his contributions thus far have exceeded any and all expectations.

M. Basketball: Easy win over Buffs keeps Card tied atop Pac-12
Sophomore forward Josh Huestis tallied 13 points for the second straight game and added a career-high four blocks in the Stanford men's basketball team's 84-64 win over Colorado. (IAN GARCIA-DOTY/The Stanford Daily)

 

Randle had 18 points to lead all scorers as the Stanford men’s basketball team took down Pac-12 newcomer Colorado 84-64 on Saturday. The outcome represented the biggest conference win of the season for the Cardinal, which has won five out of its past six games.

 

“I feel like we executed well,” Randle said. “This was definitely one of our best performances on both ends of the court. For us it’s all about getting better.”

 

Stanford (15-3, 5-1 Pac-12) had one of its most efficient outings of the year, as the young squad connected on 52 percent of its shots and dished out 16 assists to just 11 turnovers. The reduction of lost possessions was crucial in dominating Colorado (11-6, 3-2 Pac-12) in all facets of the game.

 

Cardinal head coach Johnny Dawkins was impressed with his team’s offensive effort, particularly with its focus on meaningful passes.

 

“Our ball movement was as good as it’s been all year,” Dawkins said.

 

Sophomore guard Aaron Bright and senior forward Josh Owens were efficient from the field, combining for 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting. It was, however, sophomore forward Josh Huestis who impressed once again. The Cardinal’s most productive bench player finished with 13 points, four rebounds and four blocks in just 23 minutes of action, his second consecutive double-digit scoring performance.

 

Huestis was pleased by Stanford’s all-around effort and saw Saturday’s outpouring as a meaningful sign of things to come.

 

“We feel like we are a good matchup for anybody,” Huestis said. “We just played harder. Thursday was not a good defensive effort.”

 

Despite overwhelmingly negative attention for the conference as a whole—a league that is without a team currently ranked in any major poll or in the top 35 in RPI—Stanford is making a legitimate claim to being one of the few potential earners of an NCAA Tournament bid come March. A win over the Buffaloes, who entered this week in sole possession of the Pac-12 lead, is a good way to attract votes moving forward.

 

Colorado relied heavily on its starters on offense, with the starting five recording 56 of the team’s 64 points. More noticeably, however, was the team’s inability to rebound with the Stanford frontline. The Buffs rank first in the league in defensive boards per game but were outrebounded by Stanford 23-15 on the defensive glass.

 

“You’ve got to credit Stanford,” said Colorado head coach Tad Boyle. “Stanford played a heck of a game. We knew rebounding was going to be a key, and they beat us on the boards—and pretty handily.”

 

The Buffaloes were led by sophomore forward Andrew Roberson, who tallied 15 points but managed to pull down just four boards, nearly eight below his season average. Austin Dufault, Carlon Brown and Spencer Dinwiddle joined Roberson in double digits. Colorado made just six of its 17 three-point attempts and finished its Bay road trip without a win.

 

“What we take from this game is that we just have to do things better—execute better offensively, and we gotta be tougher,” Boyle said. “We have a lot of young guys, and for us it’s something different every night we have to address.”

 

For Stanford, things are beginning to shape up nicely. The Cardinal is on pace to win 15 of its 18 conference games, but the team must first battle through one of its toughest stretches of the season, a three-game stint on the road that begins with the Washington schools and finishes with a tough matchup against Cal in which the Golden Bears will most likely be favored.

 

Thursday’s contest against Washington State tips off at 7:05 p.m. in Pullman.

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M. Basketball: Strong start puts Stanford in thick of Pac-12 race https://stanforddaily.com/2012/01/09/m-basketball-strong-start-puts-stanford-in-thick-of-pac-12-race/ https://stanforddaily.com/2012/01/09/m-basketball-strong-start-puts-stanford-in-thick-of-pac-12-race/#respond Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:38:25 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1053723 The road to a 3-1 conference start has been far from flawless, yet in the fourth season under the direction of head coach Johnny Dawkins, the Stanford men’s basketball team appears to have finally turned a corner and is now on pace to see its first legitimate postseason action since the departure of Brook and Robin Lopez in the spring of 2008

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The road to a 3-1 conference start has been far from flawless, yet in the fourth season under the direction of head coach Johnny Dawkins, the Stanford men’s basketball team appears to have finally turned a corner and is now on pace to see its first legitimate postseason action since the departure of Brook and Robin Lopez in the spring of 2008.

 

The Cardinal (13-3) has emerged as the early, albeit minute, favorite in the Pac-12, a conference still stuck in what seems like a perpetual rebuilding process. Stanford has benefitted from an improvement on offense, possible in large part because of the emergence of sophomore guard Aaron Bright and the addition of freshman guard Chasson Randle. The backcourt duo have combined to hit 63 three-pointers thus far, with Bright connecting on 50 percent of his looks from behind the arc. Efficient production from the perimeter has yielded a team output of 73.1 points per game, good enough for third in the conference.

 

However, the real surprise from this year’s team has come on the glass, where senior forward Josh Owens leads the most productive rebounding team in the conference. The Cardinal ranks first in both offensive and defensive rebounds, and its 52.7 rebounding percentage ranks in the top 25 nationally. It’s a marked improvement for a once height-challenged squad that has augmented its frontcourt depth. Owens pulls down 6.1 boards per game, and sophomore forward Josh Huestis grabs nearly 10 rebounds per 40 minutes. Both players, undersized at their respective positions, have performed admirably early in the conference season, most notably in the Pac-12 opener against UCLA, a team with a significant size advantage.

 

Rebounding has been critical in preventing second-chance scoring opportunities for opponents, repeated looks that would be fatal for a turnover-maligned offense—the Cardinal gives the ball away nearly 15 times per game. Additionally, the team averages less than one assist per turnover, a statistic that will undoubtedly need to improve to sustain Stanford’s early-season success but one that is shockingly not the worst in the conference.

 

As in recent years, turnovers have almost exclusively been the product of the cliched, careless errors. Stanford’s young ball-handling core has struggled with full-court pressure, reckless dribble-drives and, as demonstrated in the four-overtime thriller against Oregon State, inbounds in decisive moments. These issues, especially when attributed to youth, typically resolve themselves with increased playing time. But consistent minutes on any given night are hard to come by, and Dawkins has been far from hesitant to make lineup alterations. Nine players regularly average more than 11 minutes per night.

 

Another glaring issue is the team’s free-throw shooting, a groan-worthy flaw that is exposed on a nightly basis. Stanford has recorded the fifth-most shots from the charity stripe in the conference but has hit those attempts at a rate of 67.7 percent. The Cardinal plays four guys in its regular rotation that shoot worse than 65 percent from the line, and opposing teams have been intent to exploit this fault.

 

But even when factoring in the free throws and turnovers, Stanford is getting it done in the wins column. The Card is one of four teams in the Pac-12 with just one conference loss, a group that trails undefeated Colorado, a league newcomer that has shockingly won its first three Pac-12 games by a combined 69 points. It’s unlikely that the Buffaloes will maintain this torrid pace, leaving the door wide open for the conference title.

 

“Unlikely” may be an understatement when describing the Pac-12’s chance at securing more than two bids to the NCAA Tournament in March. But aside from the conference tournament champion, the team currently with the best shot at receiving an at-large bid is Stanford. The two losses to Oregon and Butler sting, but a five-point defeat against No. 1 Syracuse in Madison Square Garden—a game in which the Cardinal led for the majority of the action—could actually benefit Dawkins’ squad when the selection committee takes a look at its resume.

 

First, though, Stanford must navigate its way through a daunting post-break schedule. The team receives Utah and Colorado at home this week before taking on its toughest road trip of the season, a three-game gauntlet at Washington, Washington State and Cal. If the Cardinal is able to win at least four of those games, most notably the matchup with the Bears, then Stanford could see its first action inside the AP Top 25 and position itself for a berth in the Big Dance.

 

Minimizing turnovers and increasing offensive efficiency is imperative, as is cementing a firmer rotation. Sloppy play often masks reality, but the talent and coaching is there. Now it’s just a matter of putting it all together when it counts.

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M. Basketball: Buzzer-beater spurs Cardinal on to New York https://stanforddaily.com/2011/11/16/m-basketball-buzzer-beater-spurs-cardinal-on-to-new-york/ https://stanforddaily.com/2011/11/16/m-basketball-buzzer-beater-spurs-cardinal-on-to-new-york/#respond Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:03:34 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1051843 The Cardinal (3-0) advanced to the semifinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Tuesday night, beating Colorado State 64-52 in Maples Pavilion.

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Junior guard Gabe Harris collected the loose ball, took two dribbles and launched a 65-foot shot that hit nothing but net as time expired in the first half. The miracle heave was exactly what an ice-cold Stanford squad needed to right the ship.

The Cardinal (3-0) advanced to the semifinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Tuesday night, beating Colorado State 64-52 in Maples Pavilion. Redshirt senior forward Josh Owens led the way for Stanford with 15 points, with Harris and sophomore guard Aaron Bright contributing 12 apiece in what was a classic tale of two halves.

M. Basketball: Buzzer-beater spurs Cardinal on to New York
Redshirt senior forward Josh Owens (above) led the Cardinal with 15 points in a victory over Colorado State on Tuesday. With the victory, Stanford advances to the semifinals of the NIT season Tip-off. (IAN GARCIA-DOTY/The Stanford Daily)

The first period of play was not so kind to Stanford’s shooting, with the Cardinal firing 12 fewer shots than the Rams and connecting on just 42 percent of those looks. Free-throw shooting once again kept the game tight, with Stanford going 8-for-12 and CSU splitting its only two attempts.

Colorado State streaked out to an eight-point lead early, with redshirt junior guard Wes Eikmeier and junior forward Pierce Hornung hitting back-to-back three-pointers to extend the score to 12-4. Stanford couldn’t answer, starting 3-for-13 from the field before sophomore center Stefan Nastic buried a three from the top of the arc, cutting the lead back to eight at 23-15. But Eikmeier responded with one of his four first-half field goals to give the Rams the biggest lead of the opening period at 31-20 with 4:57 remaining.

Stanford then went on a scoring spree of its own, ending the half on an 11-2 run that culminated in the three-quarter-court buzzer-beater by Harris, bringing the game back to 33-31 at intermission.

“We didn’t come out necessarily how we wanted to play in the first half. [The buzzer-beater] was definitely a pick-me-up going into halftime,” Owens said. “To close it off with that just gave us all kinds of energy going into halftime.”

Harris, Owens and freshman guard Chasson Randle led the Cardinal in scoring in the opening period with six points apiece. Harris, who missed significant time due to injury last season, is just one of many unlikely Stanford players to make an impact early in the season.

“It’s about the players being worthy enough to be out there,” said Stanford head coach Johnny Dawkins, “And the competition has been healthy for them.”

Two quick turnovers by Stanford after the break made it look like the momentum from the Harris heave had ended, as Colorado State quickly brought the lead back to five.

The teams went back and forth before a three-pointer by sophomore guard Aaron Bright catalyzed the best offensive stretch of the night for the Card. Bright accounted for 11 points in a 13-2 run that also included a steal and emphatic dunk by Owens, giving Stanford its biggest lead of the game at 49-43. Bright, who led Stanford in scoring in the first two games of the season, came to life in the second half, tallying eight of his 12 points after the break.

But when it looked like the Card was beginning to pull ahead, Colorado State began chipping at the lead. Dawkins made the decision to give Bright and Owens a breather, a move that stagnated the Stanford offense and allowed the Rams to pull the game within four. A controversial tip-slam by Will Bell followed by an Andrew Zimmermann goaltend brought the game to 54-52 with nearly three minutes remaining.

Josh Owens ended a 6-0 run by Colorado State by muscling his way into position and banking home an easy two, bringing the lead back to four. Dawkins, who once again looked unsure of his rotation by playing 11 men in the first 11 minutes, finally seemed to find the lineup he was looking for in Bright, Harris, Mann, sophomore forward Huestis and Owens. The five, who recorded the most minutes on the squad with at least 24 apiece, accounted for 53 of Stanford’s 64 points and secured the win for the Card down the stretch with lockdown defense that held Colorado State scoreless for the final three minutes of the game.

“We would like to narrow it down if we possibly could,” Dawkins said. “We have depth this year. You have different guys stepping up and that provides us some flexibility with our personnel at times.”

Eikmeier, redshirt junior guard Jesse Carr and junior forward Greg Smith, who led the Rams in scoring in the first half, combined to shoot just 4-for-18 in the second period after opening the game 10-for-21.

The win advances Stanford to Madison Square Garden for the semifinal round, where it will take on the winner of today’s game between Oklahoma State and Texas-San Antonio. However, the team first travels to UC-Davis this Friday for a matchup with the Aggies. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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M. Basketball: Bright, Huestis lead Card to opening-round win https://stanforddaily.com/2011/11/15/m-basketball-bright-huestis-lead-card-to-opening-round-win/ https://stanforddaily.com/2011/11/15/m-basketball-bright-huestis-lead-card-to-opening-round-win/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:03:00 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1051793 Prior to the season, sophomore point guard Aaron Bright looked like he could be the odd man out in Stanford’s rotation. Now, he just may be the best player on the team

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Prior to the season, sophomore point guard Aaron Bright looked like he could be the odd man out in Stanford’s rotation. Now, he just may be the best player on the team.

Bright dazzled for the second straight game, leading all scorers with 21 points as the Cardinal (2-0) beat Fresno State 75-59 in the opening round of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Maples Pavilion. Sophomore forward Josh Huestis contributed a double-double off the bench for Stanford, which had five players score in double figures.

M. Basketball: Bright, Huestis lead Card to opening-round win
Sophomore forward Josh Huestis led Stanford with a career-high 11 rebounds to go with 10 points for his first career double-double as Stanford beat Fresno State in the opening round of the NIT Season Tip-Off, 75-59. (MICHAEL LIU/The Stanford Daily)

“You have to give Aaron a lot of credit,” said Stanford head coach Johnny Dawkins. “For one, he is a heck of a competitor. It was evident that he wanted to improve and wanted to become a better player. And he did. I love to see a kid willing to pay the price to become the player he wants to become.”

The Cardinal got off to a slow start in the nationally televised matchup, as senior big man Josh Owens took a seat less than four minutes into the game after a questionable over-the-back call. With sophomore forward Dwight Powell sidelined with an ankle injury, Dawkins entered a period of lineup experimentation, with 10 different Cardinal players seeing the floor in just eight minutes of play. Huestis provided the biggest lift in relief of Owens, holding down the paint with five points, five boards and a monster block before intermission.

“Going into last year, I struggled with confidence early,” Huestis said. “Coming into games this year, I’ve figured out my role on the team and how I can play into that to help us win.”

Once again, Bright starred in the first half. The undersized guard, who Dawkins deemed the most improved player on the squad, showed off his confident stroke from range, connecting on both three-point attempts en route to 10 points in the opening half. His two free throws at the 8:30 mark gave Stanford its first lead at 16-15, a lead the team never surrendered. The addition of highly touted freshman guard Chasson Randle has allowed Bright to play off the ball, a change that has reduced his ball-handling responsibilities and created additional shooting opportunities.

“When I go into the game, I’m not looking to be the leading scorer,” Bright said. “If they’re giving me the open shot, I’m going to take it. Right now, it’s been working in my favor offensively.”

Seniors Jack Trotter and Jarrett Mann contributed six apiece in the first half, as the Cardinal managed to shoot 48 percent from the field to begin the game. Stanford stretched the lead to as big as six with 1:12 remaining, but nine turnovers coupled with 50 percent shooting by Fresno State from behind the arc kept the game close, with Stanford holding onto a 34-30 lead at the break.

After intermission, the Cardinal picked up where it left off, blazing out to a 43-30 lead behind more dominant play from Bright. Stanford held the Bulldogs scoreless for the first 3:42 of the second half, with excellent defensive rotation on the perimeter more than making up for the lack of size on the interior. The teams traded buckets throughout the remainder of the period, but Stanford managed to hold on to a double-digit lead until the 12:10 mark.

That was when Fresno State’s Kevin Olekaibe caught fire. The sophomore guard, who finished with a team-high 17 points, scored eight straight for the Bulldogs, cutting the lead to just five. But the Cardinal took advantage of its 38 free-throw attempts, connecting on 25 to keep the game out of reach. Transition layups by Randle put the game firmly in hand, as Stanford held on to advance to the next round of the early-season tournament.

“I think it was a terrific challenge,” Dawkins said. “I’m very proud of our kids. I think our kids did a lot of growing up in a game like that where you have to stand your ground and maintain your poise.”

The Cardinal will take on Colorado State, which defeated SMU in the early game, tonight at 8 p.m. in Maples Pavilion.

 

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Zimmerman: Shaw fills Harbaugh’s shoes, and then some https://stanforddaily.com/2011/10/21/zimmerman-shaw-fills-harbaughs-shoes-and-then-some/ https://stanforddaily.com/2011/10/21/zimmerman-shaw-fills-harbaughs-shoes-and-then-some/#comments Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:45:08 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1050944 One year ago today, gun to your head, you’re forced to make a decision: Andrew Luck or Jim Harbaugh? The one you pick stays, while the other ventures into the depths of the NFL, destined to appear only on Sundays and in Ugg commercials.

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One year ago today, gun to your head, you’re forced to make a decision: Andrew Luck or Jim Harbaugh? The one you pick stays, while the other ventures into the depths of the NFL, destined to appear only on Sundays and in Ugg commercials.

I would have chosen Jim. You would have, too.

I’m smart enough to know that you don’t go to the Vatican and criticize the pope, nor do you admit to the Stanford community that you would choose any tangible thing in the universe over Andrew Luck. So let me explain.

One year ago, I was drunk off the Harbaugh Kool-Aid. I was fully on board with the hard-nosed approach, the yelling, the rescuing the team from a 1-11 season, the domination of USC, the sweater, etc. So were you. Keeping Jim away from the NFL was (at the time) undoubtedly the only way to sustain Stanford’s success. You could hear a pin drop in Stanford Stadium during 2009, the Cardinal’s first winning season in years. If Harbaugh left and the team subsequently imploded, pins would be able to hear pins drop.

Luck was, to me, more of a short-term luxury because he had to leave. There was no option, no contract negotiation, no $50,000 bathrooms. With Luck, there was the potential for a national championship the following season. I wanted the potential for multiple national championships. Harbaugh could provide that. Luck could not.

One year later, it took the lifting of a shirt and an aggressive handshake to remember that Stanford had actually lost what was once called the best thing to have ever happened to the football program. And as much as that has to do with the magical work of Luck, it has even more to do with new head coach David Shaw.

Have you heard of him?

Maybe not, but he’s answered every lingering question and then some with very few words.

The offense? It lost three linemen, its two best receivers and the best fullback in the nation. This season, it’s averaging nearly 46 points per game, good enough for fifth in the country. But Shaw was the offensive coordinator and inherited the best player in the nation, so it’s not that impressive.

The defense? It just ranks fifth in the nation, second behind only Alabama against the run. Remember when Harbaugh brought Vic Fangio, Stanford’s defensive architect, with him to San Francisco? Remember when Shayne Skov, the team’s star middle linebacker and arguably second best player next to Luck, went down with a knee injury less than three games into this season? Remember how this was the ultimate derailment to the Card’s championship aspirations? How quickly we forget.

Shaw, in what he calls his dream job, says all the right things and makes all the right adjustments. At halftime against Washington State this past week, after 30 minutes of the worst football that Stanford has played in well over a season, a vicious hit that sidelined Chris Owusu and a slew of questionable calls, Shaw collected his team and redesigned the offensive game plan. Stanford won by 30.

Harbaugh did great things for this school, don’t get me wrong, but there were always whispers of discontent among his players that his intentions weren’t always the best. I’m not sure I disagree. He has always been an NFL coach from an NFL family, and I’m thrilled he used Stanford as the platform from which to launch his career.

But witnessing a new style of coaching, one that prefers to be seen rather than heard, has brought with it the realization that Harbaugh’s methods aren’t suitable for the college ranks. Shaw’s are, and it’s why Stanford is poised for sustained success. Recruiting hasn’t taken a hit, another BCS run is in order and concern is back where it belongs: life after Luck.

The clincher for me happened after the game against Wazzu. Shaw was asked about the hit on Owusu, a play he intensely contested on the sidelines. His response?

“A couple of years ago, he probably would have been listed as a mild concussion because he wasn’t unconscious. Back in the old days, he would have gone back in the second half. We’re not in that era anymore.”

Such simple, overlooked responses like this provide such great insight into his coaching priorities. Players first, winning second, career a very distant third.

Today, no gun in sight, I’m choosing David Shaw, and it’s not even close.

Zach Zimmerman will never forget the day he was thrown out of Harbaugh’s $50,000 bathroom. Send him the location of an equally luxurious toilet at zachz “at” stanford.edu.

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Zimmerman: Stanford football’s success should foster more respect in Vegas https://stanforddaily.com/2011/10/14/zimmerman-stanford-footballs-success-should-foster-more-respect-in-vegas/ https://stanforddaily.com/2011/10/14/zimmerman-stanford-footballs-success-should-foster-more-respect-in-vegas/#respond Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:46:52 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1050741 It’s hard out here for a writer majoring in psychology. I’m what the good folks in touch with the job market refer to as “unemployable.” Thanks, guys!

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It’s hard out here for a writer majoring in psychology. I’m what the good folks in touch with the job market refer to as “unemployable.” Thanks, guys!

I went to the career fair last week in White Plaza. It was a mistake. Thrusting myself, a guy with no coding skills, into a pool of Silicon Valley recruiters reminded me of the time my friends and I tried to get from the airport in Managua, Nicaragua, to a coastal surf spot where we would spend the next two weeks. Our driver didn’t show up at the airport. We didn’t speak Spanish. We didn’t get to the beach. Instead, we were stopped in our unmarked taxi by a police officer armed with an AK-47 and looked to be heading for a world of hurt until our English-speaking driver, who had slept through his alarm, miraculously intercepted us. It was horrifying.

At the career fair, I had a similar experience. The fuzzy employers didn’t show up. I didn’t get a job. I don’t speak computer languages. I didn’t get rescued. And although there were no guns, it was equally horrifying.

So this past weekend, I found myself in a quarter-life crisis. Doing as I normally do in times of duress, I wasted time by checking out the lines of this weekend’s games, because what is a better picker-upper than a “STANFORD – 20-something” flashing across your screen? The Cardinal was 1-11 in 2007. For passionate fans, a -20-something line is like kissing Brooklyn Decker under a double-rainbow. (Hi, Andy.)

As it currently stands, Stanford is favored by 20.5 points on the road against Washington State. If you ask this guy, that spread is a bit insulting. The Card tops the conference in every major defensive statistic and boasts one of the nation’s top scoring offenses. Is Wazzu better than it was in recent seasons? Absolutely. Is Stanford fewer than three touchdowns better than Wazzu? Child, please.

That’s when I remembered that this is America, and in America we gamble! Why not exploit the disrespect for this fine institution and turn it into some cash that will eventually be funneled toward my inevitable trip to law school. At this point you’re asking, “But Zach, you know that sports betting requires an advanced knowledge of numbers and probability, right?”

Relax, I took Stats 60. How are these for some numbers?

Stanford is one of only two teams with a perfect record (5-0) against the spread (ATS) this season. The other, Rutgers, is in uncharted territory, having finished last season with a 2-9 record ATS. Meanwhile, Stanford’s success continues to be regarded as a fluke in the betting world, its currently undefeated season following a 7-4-1 mark ATS in 2010.

How many teams have a better record ATS than Stanford since the start of the 2010 season? That would be a whopping total of two: Oklahoma State and Hawaii. I can’t finish this column without first giving credit to those two teams for being impossible to read. Both possess dynamic offenses that have been nearly impossible to stop for the majority of my lifetime. Yeah, the defenses will occasionally give up 30- and 40-point performances to opposing squads. But who cares when you can routinely light up the scoreboard with half-century marks

That said, this is my future I’m wagering. I can’t afford to see my children’s college funds go up in flames because Hawaii let Fresno State score 60 points on a Thursday night game. Oklahoma State could have easily put up 100 points at some point this season, but the Cowboys pulled starting quarterback Brandon Weeden in the second quarter of last week’s game against Kansas. After the first quarter, Oklahoma State was on pace to score 140 points. If I’m gambling my rent, the starters have to play into the second half.

A team has to be more reliable on both sides of the ball if not only for the sake of predictability. With that guideline, find me a better team to bet on than one that is top 10 in total offense and total defense, has arguably (there’s not really an argument) the best player in college football, has the nation’s longest winning streak and most importantly is perpetually underrated by coaches, fans and gamblers alike. You really can’t.

Take your Boise States, Alabamas and USCs. My money is on Stanford.

I think I found my calling.

The line on the number of Zach Zimmerman columns you’ll read this quarter is three (and a half). Let him know if you’re taking the bet at zachz “at” stanford.edu, or follow him on Twitter @zach_zimmerman.

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Zimmerman: Student ticket shortage shouldn’t be a surprise https://stanforddaily.com/2011/10/07/zimmerman-student-ticket-shortage-shouldnt-be-a-surprise/ https://stanforddaily.com/2011/10/07/zimmerman-student-ticket-shortage-shouldnt-be-a-surprise/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:46:03 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1050450 If Andrew Luck makes a one-handed catch in 2008 and only 34,258 fans witness it, does his miraculous toe tap make a sound?

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If Andrew Luck makes a one-handed catch in 2008 and only 34,258 fans witness it, does his miraculous toe tap make a sound?

Probably not.

But this ain’t 2008, baby. I can no longer walk through the parking lots outside of Stanford Stadium and find people begging fans to buy their tickets for five dollars. In fact, scalpers are actually scalping. It’s like I went to sleep after the mysterious clipping call at Wake Forest and woke up, two years later, in some sort of twisted football dimension where a Stanford sellout wouldn’t necessarily stem from a charitable donation of 10,000 tickets.

I guess that’s just a logical consequence of the nation’s longest winning streak.

This past week, the Cardinal prepared to take on the UCLA Bruins in the first home game since students returned to the Farm. Despite earning the label of an expected blowout (Stanford was favored by three touchdowns), the game drew the fourth-largest crowd in the history of the new stadium, attracting 50,360 fans to one of the more underappreciated venues in the country.

As a football school still desperate to shed its pretender image, this is exactly what we need. The Department of Athletics has been tasked with drawing a professional-sports-oriented crowd to what used to be considered the fourth-best football option in the Bay Area. Fourth best. Behind the Raiders. It was that bad.

Think times aren’t changing? In 2008, average attendance at Stanford home games came in at a crisp 34,258, well below Stanford Stadium’s capacity of 50,000. That number climbed to 41,436 in 2009, and then, for reasons unknown, dipped to 40,042 in 2010. I will repeat that: attendance numbers declined during the best season in school history. Still, nearly 6,000 more people came to each game in 2010 than in 2008.

What’s more incredible is that nearly 48,000 people were on hand to see the Card demolish San Jose State in the 2011 home opener. This was before students had even sniffed the end of summer vacation. That’s what happens when you win — demand for tickets rises. Crazy!

Do you know what else happens? Demand for student tickets increases. Hence the new online ticket claiming system for which Stanford Athletics has absorbed a bevy of complaints. I’ve had several classmates approach me, swearing at the school for selling out. Change is hard, and not being able to just casually decide midway through a homework assignment on a Saturday afternoon that you want to check out the second quarter of a nationally televised game may really throw a few wrenches into your weekend plans.

A week ago, the school was abuzz with news that student tickets lasted only five hours. The first rule of being a football fan and turning this institution into a football school: don’t wait five hours to claim your free tickets and then gripe about having to wait in a standby line.

At the University of Florida, student tickets are decided by lottery. If you aren’t selected, tough. Kids go four years without receiving discounted tickets, instead settling for entry to the game at an insanely marked-up price. At Oregon, a school that also uses an online method for student-ticket release, reaction time is of the utmost importance. If you don’t click at the exact moment of distribution, it’s over for you. The things those kids would do for five hours of leniency.

Instead of knocking the Athletics Department for slightly inconveniencing your lives, take a moment to realize just how unbelievable this transformation has been. This season, there are legitimate national-championship aspirations. By taking two minutes to claim a ticket near the time of release, you get to see one of the best teams in the nation, led by one of the best players in the history of college football play in one of the most modern collegiate stadiums in one of the best football climates in the world. Typing that sentence made me giddy. It should have the same effect on you.

I grew up surrounded by SEC football, so this backlash against athletics probably offends me more than most. But unless you’ve experienced or at least heard stories of true college-football culture, you can’t possibly understand how fortunate you are to be in this situation as a fan.

There’s no need to sleep on concrete for three nights before a game. And although half of you probably could, there’s no reason to create a bot that perfectly times the online ticket release.

Just don’t wait five hours, you filthy procrastinators. See you on Saturday.

Zach Zimmerman didn’t get the memo about the new ticketing system, so he camped out in front of Stanford Stadium for three days at Camp Luck before the UCLA game. Send him notes from all the classes he must have missed at zachz “at” stanford.edu, or follow him on Twitter @zach_zimmerman.

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Zimmerman: Dawkins’ seat could get hotter quickly https://stanforddaily.com/2011/09/30/zimmerman-dawkins-seat-could-get-hotter-quickly/ https://stanforddaily.com/2011/09/30/zimmerman-dawkins-seat-could-get-hotter-quickly/#respond Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:45:37 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1050265 If you are currently an undergrad, I want you to think of the last time during your academic career when a coach of any Stanford sport was fired.

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If you are currently an undergrad, I want you to think of the last time during your academic career when a coach of any Stanford sport was fired.

You can’t.

We’re blessed as Stanford fans to avoid the national trend of coaching attrition. It’s all too easy to suggest that our coaches get a free lifetime pass because of the relatively small amount of outside pressure to perform. Is the booster presence the same here as the SEC? No. Do students lose sleep over basketball seasons that end without a trip to the Big Dance? Maybe just this one.

So why, then, are there three coaches with at least 25 years of head coaching experience on the Farm and a slew of others who have called Palo Alto home for over a decade? Because Stanford is really damn good at sports.

However, this idyllic coaching world could see its skies darken if the Stanford men’s basketball team fails to live up to expectations.

Head coach Johnny Dawkins was once the big name expected to bring order to a program ravaged by an ugly coaching breakup with Trent Johnson and the departure of current NBAers Brook and Robin Lopez. He was the Mike Krzyzewski disciple tasked with returning Cardinal ball to the glory days under Mike Montgomery.

The ride since has been anything but glorious. After an appearance in the CBI semifinals (yikes) following a 20-win debut season, Dawkins’ crew has failed to break .500 the last two years. The Card hasn’t won more than seven conference games since his arrival and finished this past season winning just a third of its final 15 games.

This isn’t all to say he’s a bad coach. Stanford’s 2010 recruiting class was among the best in the nation, and this season that group of now-sophomores is joined by elite freshman point guard Chasson Randle. Dawkins has done his job during the offseason, building a talented team, on paper, from scratch. His name alone brought a glimmer of hope back to Maples Pavilion, and there has been noticeable improvement by a formerly atrocious defensive unit. In fact, Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby was impressed enough to provide Dawkins with a two-year extension through 2015-16, although the school has the option to terminate the contract before the extension kicks in.

But basketball is a moneymaker regardless of recent success, or lack thereof, and it’s not unprecedented for a coach’s job to be at risk shortly after signing an extension. There are several factors potentially working against Dawkins in what could be a make-or-break year.

The first is the restructured Pac-12 and accompanying television deal. It was announced earlier this month that Stanford would be televised nationally nine times on FSN, a significant increase in coverage for a team normally confined to a regional audience. Additionally, the bump in Pac-12 exposure as a whole has already created a recruiting boost for rival schools. Arizona and UCLA have top 100 recruits lined up from coast to coast, and up-and-coming programs like Oregon have surprisingly stolen top talent from the Bay Area and other basketball factories. The window for Stanford to capture the conference in the down years of late has closed, as the Pac-12 is close to rejoining the basketball elite.

Another issue Dawkins is facing is youth, a characteristic of this past season’s team that was exposed early and often. Randle could start from day one, and although he has shined in the offseason — especially on the team’s trip to Spain where he averaged 11 points per game — the freshman has yet to engineer a college offense against quality opponents. And with the exceptions of senior Josh Owens and Randle, the team’s primary offensive threats, Anthony Brown and Dwight Powell, are just entering their second seasons. Those four bring the most offensive potential to Maples since the Lopez twins, but the future of their collective body of work is partly clouded by inexperience playing together.

The Pac-12’s resurgence and a youthful squad could hurt the team in the win/loss column, but the biggest threat to Dawkins’ job may come as a surprise.

The departure of Andrew Luck.

All sports, not just men’s basketball, have become overshadowed by the quick ascension of the football team, the success of which has been undoubtedly driven by the star quarterback. The Department of Athletics has allowed Dawkins to develop his program as the rise in football popularity has yielded unprecedented revenue. But when Luck graduates, the free ride could be over, and the other traditional “big” sports will be counted on to fuel the gravy train. Women’s basketball has lived up to its end, but the men have to follow suit to help maintain the current status of the Stanford brand.

With all that said, it must be reiterated that Dawkins has assembled a very talented cast. This team was able to hang with professionals in Europe, and with Randle likely the only newcomer to the rotation, they already have a year together under their collective belt. Dawkins has the cliched basketball IQ and personnel to win games, and the measureable support of Bowlsby to provide an extra dose of confidence. But as has been the case across the country, AD support can disappear as quickly as it emerged.

With a postseason berth, Dawkins could become known as the coach of the future. With another losing season? The coach of the past.

Zach Zimmerman is still grumpy that coach Dawkins never recruited him for his insane point-guarding skills. Send him the names of some D-III schools that may still be interested at zachz “at” stanford.edu, or hit him up on twitter @Zach_Zimmerman.

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M. Cross Country: Thrice denied, Derrick and Co. still hungry https://stanforddaily.com/2011/09/20/m-cross-country-thrice-denied-derrick-and-co-still-hungry/ https://stanforddaily.com/2011/09/20/m-cross-country-thrice-denied-derrick-and-co-still-hungry/#respond Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:48:57 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1050001 When senior Chris Derrick came to the Farm in the fall of 2008, he and the Stanford men’s cross country team had one goal in mind.

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When senior Chris Derrick came to the Farm in the fall of 2008, he and the Stanford men’s cross country team had one goal in mind.

Four years, four national championships.

Unfortunately for “The Machine,” this goal did not come to fruition.

The men are coming off a disappointing fourth-place finish at NCAA nationals last year after entering the final meet of the season with a No. 1 ranking. The performance followed an even more shocking finish in 2009, when the Cardinal placed tenth.

Still, Derrick is confident that the team’s chances at a title are still among the best in the nation.

“I definitely don’t think the window has closed at all,” the two-sport All-American in cross country and track and field said. “There are a couple of really, really good teams out there. But what we’ve been lacking is performance at nationals. We’re just trying to focus on getting ourselves to do the best we can on that day.”

Finding its stride on the biggest stage is one of the main objectives for the Card, but it may not be the biggest problem. Stanford lost All-American Elliott Heath to graduation at the end of last season, a loss that undoubtedly changes the dynamics of the squad. Derrick, Heath and senior Jake Riley were the clear-cut top runners, sticking together through the vast majority of races last year while pushing the pace for Stanford.

Even with a vital piece of the trio missing, Derrick isn’t quick to suggest a major change in strategy come race days.

“It’s kind of unknown at this point,” Derrick said. “Jake and I are still going to work together, but we’re going to be a bit more aggressive at the front. We’ll feel it out and try to make the judgment on what seems like the best strategy.”

Luckily for the Card, what the team loses in Heath it may make up for in depth and incoming firepower. Derrick pegged Joe and Jim Rosa, freshmen from West Windsor, N.J., as two new runners that could come in and contribute immediately. But Derrick stressed that there will be ample competition for a position as one of Stanford’s scoring members.

“There’s definitely a lot of opportunity for freshmen to contribute this year,” Derrick said. “There are a lot of people contending for the Top 7. That speaks volumes to the kind of depth we have.”

Stanford will also have to stay out of the training room as much as possible in order to succeed in the coming season. Although Derrick said that the team currently has a nearly clean bill of health, the Card has struggled in recent seasons with injuries to key runners. But with a bit of luck on the health front and key contributions from new runners, Stanford’s ceiling is as high as ever.

“It’s going to be a really tough competition for the title,” Derrick said, “but I think we’re as talented as any team there is.”

 

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Editor’s Farewell: Embracing Diversity https://stanforddaily.com/2011/06/02/editor%e2%80%99s-farewell-embracing-diversity/ https://stanforddaily.com/2011/06/02/editor%e2%80%99s-farewell-embracing-diversity/#respond Thu, 02 Jun 2011 07:28:51 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1049066 I grew up in Daytona Beach, Fla., a town primarily known for Spring Break, NASCAR and driving on the beach. The warm ocean was a good place to learn to surf (despite being the shark-bite capital of the world), and the public schools prepared me adequately for Stanford’s rigorous academics. However, what I realize now is that it is an area lacking the rich diversity many of us have come to take for granted in our time on the Farm.

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I grew up in Daytona Beach, Fla., a town primarily known for Spring Break, NASCAR and driving on the beach. The warm ocean was a good place to learn to surf (despite being the shark-bite capital of the world), and the public schools prepared me adequately for Stanford’s rigorous academics. However, what I realize now is that it is an area lacking the rich diversity many of us have come to take for granted in our time on the Farm.

The global awareness of our community is unparalleled. In fact, the student body immediately redefined the way I interpreted the term diversity. It no longer signified simple differences in family origin; it applied to those of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, of varying political ideologies and sexual orientation. We are beyond privileged to live and interact in an environment that promotes a mutual understanding of each other’s lives.

This continuous dialogue, as beneficial as it may be, is not always easy. The nature of a heterogeneous community is that there is rarely universal agreement. It’s a phenomenon that, when coupled with the inherent stress and competition of higher education, can move from highly thought provoking to overwhelming. When placed in these situations, we run the risk of reacting in ways we later regret, opting for impulsive, passion-driven actions over more eloquent, thought-out responses.

In the short amount of time that has comprised this volume, we have been through a tremendous amount as a community. We have encountered events that have tested our resiliency as a cooperative unit. We have found ourselves divided by arguments that appeared to offer little room for compromise and have been placed against many of our closest friends on issues of student life, academics and human rights where there was no shortage of passion. There have been trying times to say the least.

The same can be said for The Daily’s coverage of these topics. As a diverse group of students, we have been challenged as an organization to clearly define our roles as journalists. Like the greater Stanford community, we don’t always agree. The depth and breadth of our coverage comes under constant internal scrutiny. We have occasionally found ourselves toe-to-toe on how to cover or not cover issues we feel passionately about.

But as editor in chief, I found the most value not in what we decided, but in the processes by which we made decisions. Observing a diverse staff of stimulated minds sharing, discussing and debating opinions on topics ranging from ROTC to the expansion of the humanities has been among the more rewarding and awe-inspiring experiences of my life.

Attempting to constantly further our understanding of the Stanford community has been a primary goal during the existence of this 120-year-old organization. We wish to improve the quality of our work by becoming more in touch with your lives. Although the nature of journalism creates the occasional controversy, I am incredibly grateful for your appreciation and support of a staff dedicated to serving you in the best way possible.

On that note, you have done an unbelievable job of serving each other. This community would not be what it is without the endless desire to grow and to learn. We may never fully agree, but we can always try to understand. As President John F. Kennedy said, “If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.”

Thank you for an incredible volume. It has been an absolute pleasure.

 

Sincerely,

Zach Zimmerman

President and Editor in Chief, Vol. CCXXXIX

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