This news does bring some sadness. My first real memories of going to Memorial were when Taylor was our qb when I was 9 yo and part of the "cub club". I idolized him, of course. So seeing that he could not control or reform his behavior, even in the face of prudent advice is saddening. At least Andrew Luck knew when to cut the cord... So, Knowlton????
Stanford should join the Ivy League. Shaw saw the writing on the wall.
The current college environment has changed. Luckily we have a chancellor who knows that college football can be a great revenue source for the school. So working in a high energy environment and someone calls you a name or yells at you, kids these days get bent out of shape......go back home you little baby! I guess the great Bill Walsh wouldn't have made it in this era. According to close family and friends his favorite word was "that MF" and no one liked to stand next to him!
I had a "F*ck Stanfurd" shirt as a sophomore at Berkekely High... that abject hate for the furd has morphed into something else -- the best rivalry in sports that brings families and friends together, and maybe sometimes tears them apart. Luck seems to be a thoughful, decisive leader. Would you be upset if he were our GM? I wouldn't.
Yeah, U$C and fUCLA are now #1 and #2 on my enemies list. Whether I like it or not, we are in it together with StanfUrd, for now. The Tree still makes me Clockwork Orange angry though.
Luck is a good dude and was a great player (both college and pro), but has basically zero experience coaching or on the management side of the sport. He's basically just a StanfUrd golden (or is it red?) child. Great figurehead, maybe. Experienced or qualified to be a GM? Probably not.
Good luck to Stanfurd. If they can't handle Troy Taylor they are never gonna find a decent coach. If Coach Taylor was fired for inappropriate statements to women because how they smelled or were behaving on the field, then it certainly wasn't about sexual harassment. Did he offend/trigger some wokesters? No Coach will want to get near that kind of crap. You think Coach Prime could succeed at a place like Stanfurd the way he has done at Colorado? No flipping way. When the inmates in the asylum can get head coaches fired for stuff like this, then good head coaches won't add their name to the hiring list. Good luck Stanfurd.
I'm always amazed at how willing people are to allow others to be abused, all for some greater good they perceive. Speaks more about the person than the people who have the guts to speak up.
You mean, like Basic Training in the US Armed Forces? Cause, you know, they never yell at you or demean you...('for some greater good they perceive'). It's all positive motivation (like lollipops and stickers).
First, the military isn't sports. But glad you brought it up. Because the US military recognizes it needs to change. From Military.com
The loud and brutal drill sergeant was seen as a way to toughen up fresh recruits and prepare them for the harsh realities of war, from the jungles of Vietnam to the post-9/11 battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq. But that thinking is changing, and many in the service believe a less harsh approach may actually be more effective with recruits.
"The naysayers who we were initially fighting against didn't believe this new way of doing things," Beeson said. "Gentler isn't the right way to say it; it's just dignity and respect. People desire structure, and we're trying to give it to them. We're just not being assholes when we're doing it."
Hey. It's a bully move to pick on women, no doubt about that. Troy is guilty of being an asshole. But...there is an aspect of tough-love in football culture. I've coached both tackle football and soccer, and one of the best things about football is that you can implement more disciplinary measures (such as up-downs), no problem. ...things you could never get away with in soccer (or w/soccer moms). Not saying it's OK to abuse staff, but some of this sort of behavior is part of football culture (and borrowed from military culture). Perhaps it can be done another way, but it is what it is.
My son is a third degree black belt in the toughest Kajukenbo dojo in the country, led by one of the legendary bad asses in martial arts, and not once in the 18 years he's been there, from age 8, did I see him abused. Was he held accountable? Of course. Did he work hard? Harder than any other kid that I know.
I ran track from age 5, throughout high school, and only stopped when I got to Cal. Again, no abuse.
You don't have to accept abuse as a natural part of a sport, nor should we scream at the clouds because society has determined that coaches need to change. We can't poo poo Stanford, at the same time recognize that we had an AD ignore abuse in our swimming department.
It's like I tell writers who get mad that society has changed and they rail about 'political correctness' or 'woke culture' etc. If you're not skilled enough to adapt, then quit. Because there are others who CAN come up with innovative ways to teach without abusing.
Calling someone out for accountability is not abuse. In fact, a little yelling now nd then is not abuse in my book. Having played football and rugby, yelling can be considered motivation. Unless you're a snowflake of course.
My point here is that there are cultures attached to certain things we do. Not all cultures are honey and butterflies. Some cultures are tough and for good reason. You can't apply the same behavioral requirements to every culture.
People that can't handle tough love and motivation should stay away from sports that are known for rigorous and tough training, including verbal communication.
I guarantee you a football player won't see a coach yelling for accountability as abuse, but a young gal in the wrong place posing as a distraction to players in practice most certainly would.
The world isn't a fairy tale, and abuse is sometimes a contextual issue, especially for snowflakes - unless it's brutal verbal, physical or sexual, then its wrong.
You're kidding, right? Nick Saban wouldn't last two weeks at CAL. Watch some videos of him chewing out assistant coaches, players and reporters. He's tough, but everyone around him that is part of his winning culture appreciates his tough approach.
This shows Luck and Stanford Athletics have absolutely no strategy, or vision for their program. Luck was hired in November as their GM. Who fires a HC in the spring and so close to spring ball? Why wait so long to fire a lame duck coach? They’re going to have an assistant run the team, who will probably be in wayyyy over his head.
Anyone with internet could have noticed the previous investigations into Taylor. Only a recent ESPN article blows the lid off the story…? Seems to me the Stanford Admin forced this change. Athletic department and Luck would have kept Taylor this whole season, regardless of his record.
Luck has no strategy and is simply reacting to internal/external backlash. This is music to my ears folks. Can’t wait for this Big Game @ Stanford.
Actually, Andrew Luck is making the move he MUST make.
It's practically a given that Taylor's contract will be terminated for cause. That avoids any sort of a buyout. Add on to that two consecutive seasons of 3-9 for an overall 6-18 record (.250) and it becomes achingly obvious that the right move is to move on NOW even with Spring Ball staring the program in the face.
But it has to be done now. Otherwise, Stanf*rd loses the initiative and possibly damages the ability to make contract termination stick.
I mean... sounds like the guy was an asshole but literally almost no proof that he discriminated against women in that article other than the offhand hearsay about his comments on a female staffer's looks and smell.
The bar of 'proof' is set very low in such cases. Indeed, the presumption of innocence is nearly abandoned and the burden is on the accused to disprove the allegations.
"In the first investigation, Kate Weaver Patterson of KWP Consulting & Mediation found multiple complaints from female staffers, in particular inappropriately commenting on their appearances. It also, in general, found the environment of the program wasn’t welcoming to women. The second investigation was led by the law firm of Libby, O’Brien, Kingsley & Champion. It found Taylor’s behavior toward an NCAA female compliance officer was “inappropriate, discriminatory on the basis of her sex.” This came when he tried to have her removed from her post after she brought forward concerns about NCAA violations. Those included illegal practices and player eligibility issues.
"“Under Coach Taylor’s leadership, the football program has disregarded or simply not followed NCAA rules that they have been repeatedly and consistently educated on by the Compliance Office,” O’Brien wrote in the documents obtained by ESPN."
Having worked for a university for several years, when calling in outside investigators, law or HR firms, the final reports always find for the university to legally “cover their ass.” Personally, I would not take what has been written by Stanford scribes, ESPN, or outside investigators at face value. I doubt that we will hear from Taylor due to financial settlement and a non disclosure agreement. I think that he would shine a totally different light on the matter. I’m not dismissive of his alleged actions, but there is always another relative perspective in each case.
This news does bring some sadness. My first real memories of going to Memorial were when Taylor was our qb when I was 9 yo and part of the "cub club". I idolized him, of course. So seeing that he could not control or reform his behavior, even in the face of prudent advice is saddening. At least Andrew Luck knew when to cut the cord... So, Knowlton????
Before all of this, I kept asking why people were so enthralled with hiring Taylor. I just didn't see it beyond him being an alum.
It was his quick turnaround of Sacramento State.
Stanford should join the Ivy League. Shaw saw the writing on the wall.
The current college environment has changed. Luckily we have a chancellor who knows that college football can be a great revenue source for the school. So working in a high energy environment and someone calls you a name or yells at you, kids these days get bent out of shape......go back home you little baby! I guess the great Bill Walsh wouldn't have made it in this era. According to close family and friends his favorite word was "that MF" and no one liked to stand next to him!
So it seems like Luck is a real GM and Rivera is a GM in name only.
We shall see, especially if Wilcox starts 1-4….
Well, if Stanfarm hires Wilcox, then he’s welcome to start 1-4.
I’d drive him down the Peninsula myself!
Luck was a great player, but what makes dude qualified to be a GM? Part-time football coach at Palo Alto High? Please.
StanfUrd. Pffff. LMFAO. 🤣
I had a "F*ck Stanfurd" shirt as a sophomore at Berkekely High... that abject hate for the furd has morphed into something else -- the best rivalry in sports that brings families and friends together, and maybe sometimes tears them apart. Luck seems to be a thoughful, decisive leader. Would you be upset if he were our GM? I wouldn't.
Yeah, U$C and fUCLA are now #1 and #2 on my enemies list. Whether I like it or not, we are in it together with StanfUrd, for now. The Tree still makes me Clockwork Orange angry though.
Luck is a good dude and was a great player (both college and pro), but has basically zero experience coaching or on the management side of the sport. He's basically just a StanfUrd golden (or is it red?) child. Great figurehead, maybe. Experienced or qualified to be a GM? Probably not.
We'll see...
As long as they don't poach our current coaches, I'm fine with this news. Although it is disappointing it comes from our Cal alum.
Feeling conflicted but don’t care too much. I only have enough bandwidth to care about our Bears
They should hire Wilcox!
Good luck to Stanfurd. If they can't handle Troy Taylor they are never gonna find a decent coach. If Coach Taylor was fired for inappropriate statements to women because how they smelled or were behaving on the field, then it certainly wasn't about sexual harassment. Did he offend/trigger some wokesters? No Coach will want to get near that kind of crap. You think Coach Prime could succeed at a place like Stanfurd the way he has done at Colorado? No flipping way. When the inmates in the asylum can get head coaches fired for stuff like this, then good head coaches won't add their name to the hiring list. Good luck Stanfurd.
I'm always amazed at how willing people are to allow others to be abused, all for some greater good they perceive. Speaks more about the person than the people who have the guts to speak up.
You mean, like Basic Training in the US Armed Forces? Cause, you know, they never yell at you or demean you...('for some greater good they perceive'). It's all positive motivation (like lollipops and stickers).
First, the military isn't sports. But glad you brought it up. Because the US military recognizes it needs to change. From Military.com
The loud and brutal drill sergeant was seen as a way to toughen up fresh recruits and prepare them for the harsh realities of war, from the jungles of Vietnam to the post-9/11 battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq. But that thinking is changing, and many in the service believe a less harsh approach may actually be more effective with recruits.
"The naysayers who we were initially fighting against didn't believe this new way of doing things," Beeson said. "Gentler isn't the right way to say it; it's just dignity and respect. People desire structure, and we're trying to give it to them. We're just not being assholes when we're doing it."
Hey. It's a bully move to pick on women, no doubt about that. Troy is guilty of being an asshole. But...there is an aspect of tough-love in football culture. I've coached both tackle football and soccer, and one of the best things about football is that you can implement more disciplinary measures (such as up-downs), no problem. ...things you could never get away with in soccer (or w/soccer moms). Not saying it's OK to abuse staff, but some of this sort of behavior is part of football culture (and borrowed from military culture). Perhaps it can be done another way, but it is what it is.
My son is a third degree black belt in the toughest Kajukenbo dojo in the country, led by one of the legendary bad asses in martial arts, and not once in the 18 years he's been there, from age 8, did I see him abused. Was he held accountable? Of course. Did he work hard? Harder than any other kid that I know.
I ran track from age 5, throughout high school, and only stopped when I got to Cal. Again, no abuse.
You don't have to accept abuse as a natural part of a sport, nor should we scream at the clouds because society has determined that coaches need to change. We can't poo poo Stanford, at the same time recognize that we had an AD ignore abuse in our swimming department.
It's like I tell writers who get mad that society has changed and they rail about 'political correctness' or 'woke culture' etc. If you're not skilled enough to adapt, then quit. Because there are others who CAN come up with innovative ways to teach without abusing.
Calling someone out for accountability is not abuse. In fact, a little yelling now nd then is not abuse in my book. Having played football and rugby, yelling can be considered motivation. Unless you're a snowflake of course.
My point here is that there are cultures attached to certain things we do. Not all cultures are honey and butterflies. Some cultures are tough and for good reason. You can't apply the same behavioral requirements to every culture.
People that can't handle tough love and motivation should stay away from sports that are known for rigorous and tough training, including verbal communication.
I guarantee you a football player won't see a coach yelling for accountability as abuse, but a young gal in the wrong place posing as a distraction to players in practice most certainly would.
The world isn't a fairy tale, and abuse is sometimes a contextual issue, especially for snowflakes - unless it's brutal verbal, physical or sexual, then its wrong.
Those darn wokesters ruin everything, constantly having their feelings triggered.
Sorry, no. Lots of coaches manage to both “win football games” and “not harass staffers.”
Who
Nick Saban?
You're kidding, right? Nick Saban wouldn't last two weeks at CAL. Watch some videos of him chewing out assistant coaches, players and reporters. He's tough, but everyone around him that is part of his winning culture appreciates his tough approach.
Damned. "Bob R." must be rolling over in his grave.
To be replaced by Mike Pawlawski?
What’s with the typewriter font?
Yes, and his name overshadowing the tiny Stanford logo?
Just such a weird situation and I would write it off except that he was a Cal Alum and one time potential hire for us.
Don’t these guys have a shred of common sense? (If it’s all true).
You finally get your shot at a good program and this is the reason you sank your career?
Doyle in the callout is not identified.
This shows Luck and Stanford Athletics have absolutely no strategy, or vision for their program. Luck was hired in November as their GM. Who fires a HC in the spring and so close to spring ball? Why wait so long to fire a lame duck coach? They’re going to have an assistant run the team, who will probably be in wayyyy over his head.
Anyone with internet could have noticed the previous investigations into Taylor. Only a recent ESPN article blows the lid off the story…? Seems to me the Stanford Admin forced this change. Athletic department and Luck would have kept Taylor this whole season, regardless of his record.
Luck has no strategy and is simply reacting to internal/external backlash. This is music to my ears folks. Can’t wait for this Big Game @ Stanford.
Actually, Andrew Luck is making the move he MUST make.
It's practically a given that Taylor's contract will be terminated for cause. That avoids any sort of a buyout. Add on to that two consecutive seasons of 3-9 for an overall 6-18 record (.250) and it becomes achingly obvious that the right move is to move on NOW even with Spring Ball staring the program in the face.
But it has to be done now. Otherwise, Stanf*rd loses the initiative and possibly damages the ability to make contract termination stick.
Agreed
I mean... sounds like the guy was an asshole but literally almost no proof that he discriminated against women in that article other than the offhand hearsay about his comments on a female staffer's looks and smell.
The bar of 'proof' is set very low in such cases. Indeed, the presumption of innocence is nearly abandoned and the burden is on the accused to disprove the allegations.
"In the first investigation, Kate Weaver Patterson of KWP Consulting & Mediation found multiple complaints from female staffers, in particular inappropriately commenting on their appearances. It also, in general, found the environment of the program wasn’t welcoming to women. The second investigation was led by the law firm of Libby, O’Brien, Kingsley & Champion. It found Taylor’s behavior toward an NCAA female compliance officer was “inappropriate, discriminatory on the basis of her sex.” This came when he tried to have her removed from her post after she brought forward concerns about NCAA violations. Those included illegal practices and player eligibility issues.
"“Under Coach Taylor’s leadership, the football program has disregarded or simply not followed NCAA rules that they have been repeatedly and consistently educated on by the Compliance Office,” O’Brien wrote in the documents obtained by ESPN."
https://www.on3.com/college/stanford-cardinal/news/stanford-fires-head-coach-troy-taylor-after-accusations-of-bullying-belittling-female-staffers/
I mean, when you have two separate investigations saying the same thing, that's kinda really sort perhaps might be very bad.
Having worked for a university for several years, when calling in outside investigators, law or HR firms, the final reports always find for the university to legally “cover their ass.” Personally, I would not take what has been written by Stanford scribes, ESPN, or outside investigators at face value. I doubt that we will hear from Taylor due to financial settlement and a non disclosure agreement. I think that he would shine a totally different light on the matter. I’m not dismissive of his alleged actions, but there is always another relative perspective in each case.