Stanford Football: Practice Is Not Hard Enough

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.