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I had the distinct honor of attending a Stanford University summer camp practice the other day as I was passing through Palo Alto on my way to Las Vegas, Nevada...

Stanford Football: Practice Is Not Hard Enough

by Thomas Brown (Senior Writer)

27

1,160 reads

Opinion

August 04, 2008


I had the distinct honor of attending a Stanford University summer camp practice the other day as I was passing through Palo Alto on my way to Las Vegas, Nevada.

Let me tell you something: I have never been more appalled at any college football practice since I have breathed on this earth.

I've seen many college practices in my day, and let me tell you, this was the worst one I've ever seen, hands down.

There was absolutely no energy, from the players to the coaches.  It was so quiet out there that if I yelled something the entire team would have looked over.

Not to mention that Harbaugh continually played the three's the entire practice.  The three's got about 20 reps during the scrimmage portion of the practice.

The coaches seem to think they are running a summer camp for little kids, not a division one football program out there.

It is like Harbaugh is running a country club up there in Palo Alto, it borders on the ridiculous.  I didn't know what was more amazing: the players walking back to the huddle in between plays or the five minute water breaks he gave them in between drills.

To cap it off, Harbaugh did not even make his team condition after practice.

I am not trying to be negative, but it became quite clear to me as to why Stanford is a struggling program in the Pac-10.  Harvard and Yale can beat this team.  In all honesty, I do not believe that Stanford would win the Ivy League.

If you are a Stanford fan, I would encourage you to head out and watch one of their "practices" in the next couple of weeks.  I think you would be sick to your stomach.

If Stanford ever wants to be a contender in the Pac-10, they are going to have to outwork opponents.  They will never have the talent of a USC or Oregon due to their high academic standards.  But if Harbaugh continues letting his program practice this easily for the entire camp, the Cardinal will struggle just like they always do.

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27 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Lew Wright 11 months ago

    Hey Thomas,

    Wish that your report actually reflected the Stanford football program for the coming season, but don't think that's the case.

    This week is when serious fall practice begins.

    We're a little over three weeks away from opening season kickoffs across the country.

    Coach Harbaugh can be labeled with any number of pejoratives. Country Club Manager isn't one of them.

    Chances are you witnessed little more than some walk through stuff. Stanford will be ready to build on the progress they made last season. Sure, they have a long way to go before there's a solid chance they might win a Pac-10 title. Coach Harbaugh will push the buttons required to make his team as competitive as possible.

    Oh how I wish you were right about Stanford not being competitive this season.

    Cougar Lew

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  2. Lisa Horne 11 months ago

    I think you might have witnessed some walk-throughs. Fall Camp just started Friday. Today was the first day in pads, and two-a-days don't start until the 7th.

    Harbaugh is a tough coach, country club manager doesn't seem very accurate. I think you were there right before practice started, which would make more sense, by your description of the day's events.

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  3. John Doe 11 months ago

    Your description couldn't be more off, and I'm a little embarrassed that you really don't know how camp works. Just because there was no conditioning after practice doesn't mean it doesn't happen. The boys go 24/7. First practice with full pads was this morning, so what you saw was an acclimation practice. It is pretty obvious when they don't have pads on and only helmets. Get your eyes checked. This is an absurd article.

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  4. George Watson 11 months ago

    Well, this is what you get when you let amateur writers empty their mental diarrhea onto a sports post. Thomas, it's clear you don't even know the difference between a walk through and a full practice. Did you see an pads buddy?

    It's all good though, I hope the entire Pac-10 reads this and dismisses the Cardinal even more then they already do. Easiest to catch 'em off guard when they're thinking about the next game. Then we'll let Thomas eat his words come game time. Generally a great site, but i guess one slips through the cracks occasionally.

    Shout out to Lisa, I digg your articles

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    • Thomas Brown 11 months ago

      George,
      they were in full pads, thanks.

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    • BabyTate 11 months ago

      Thanks for the kind words regarding the Bleacher Report. Thomas is one of our older writers and has quite a bit of experience reviewing sports for us. We appreciate his fine work and hope that you'll be able to provide some interesting articles of your own.

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  5. BabyTate 11 months ago

    Thomas, this article represents the type of thoughful presentation that you are capable of on a routine basis. An on-site visit to a school, a monitoring of the practice, and a professional report summarizing the activity. I couldn't be more impressed and pleased.

    Despite the fact that you have been gouged by the comments, I take note of the calm and professional responses to the criticism. A totally superior effort, Good work and keep this coming.

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    • Vamsi Adusumilli 11 months ago

      Tate,
      I appreciate that Thomas went to visit a practice, but when the analysis is incorrect (and dismissed by opposing fans even), you have to go back and re-evaluate said analysis. Ignoring my own personal observations, ESPN and the San Francisco Chronicle just did pieces on the workman-like ethic Harbaugh is instilling in his players. Every piece of evidence runs contradictory to what Thomas reported, which is easily explained as a misinterpretation of an acclimation practice, not a full out practice, which they're well into right now.

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  6. Jeanette Jan 11 months ago

    Clearly is having a lapse of judgment. This isn't what I saw at the past 3 camp practices!

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  7. Vamsi Adusumilli 11 months ago

    No full pads, just light pads. They ramp up to that. It was, as John said, and acclimation practice. I was there. Check out a practice tomorrow or today; if you still don't see the effort, then come back and say so.

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  8. Joe Joe 11 months ago

    What a dumb ass...you honestly think a division 1 school can get away without conditioning

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  9. bobby Johnson 11 months ago

    Stanford beat USC last season. You say they can't beat Yale?

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  10. GoBears 2008 11 months ago

    As a Cal fan, I wish this article were correct.
    Unfortunately, it's probably too good to be true. The Bears might actually have to work to take the Ax back, like they did from 2002-2006.
    Harbaugh is a hard-work blue-collar-approach coach.

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  11. Anthony Bledsoe 11 months ago

    Hi Thomas or anyone else,

    Does anyone know where the 2008 StanfordFootball FallCamp 2008 PracticeSchedule is listed.

    I would like to go out to watch few practices, but I cant find the practice-schedule anywhere on line.

    Or if anyone knows the practice schedule...could u post it on this blog.

    Thanks,

    -Anthony-

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  12. Tim Euhus 10 months ago

    Can anyone tell me about the Cardinal defense this year. I know what we did last year and I'm just wondering if it will change with the new 'Co-D-Cord.' tag. There should be some continuity from last season but I've heard that they may bring more pressure and it still isn't decided if they will be a 4-3 or 3-4 base team. I know they ran a lot of 3-3 in their sub package, I'm just curious if they will make this their base defense.

    I'd love to watch a practice if anyone can validate these times. Otherwise, I don't want to drive out to the farm.

    Thanks.

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  13. Glen mcgee 10 months ago

    Well, Stanford beat OSU. Suck it.

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