Stanford AD's Mixed Legacy; LPGA Considers Scott; Oval Office Ambush

As most readers of this blog know, I worked in the Stanford Athletic Department for many years as Asst. Sports Information Director (when I was a student), Sports Information Director (for five years) and Associate Athletic Director (for three).

Because of that history, many of you have asked for my thoughts regarding Bernard Muir, who last week resigned after 13 years as Stanford's AD.

I've had some personal experience with Bernard, both positive and negative, and I've remained involved at Stanford over the years by emceeing football events, organizing fund-raisers and doing some marketing consulting, and through my close relationships with current and former coaches, athletes, and staff,

Evaluating Muir's record as AD is complicated, because there was a lot of good, and unfortunately, a lot of bad.

On the plus side, Stanford won 33 NCAA team championships during Muir's tenure, along with eight Learfield Cups (given annually to the best athletic department in the nation). 

Dozens of Cardinal athletes excelled in the Olympic Games, winning 39 medals in Paris alone, and many have gone on to successful professional careers in the NFL, NBA and WNBA.

In the classroom, Stanford athletes maintained a 98% graduation rate and continued to prove that the term "student-athlete" isn't entirely obsolete.

Last year, when the Pac-12 Conference imploded, Muir orchestrated the university's move to the ACC. Though the cross-country realignment has been rightfully criticized by some for the resultant, onerous travel demands, it was the only reasonable choice Stanford could make to stay in a Power Four Conference and provide its athletes with top-level competition.

Muir's coaching hires included both hits and misses. Jerod Haase failed to take the men's basketball team to the NCAA Tournament during his eight-year tenure, which should have ended much sooner, but when Muir finally made the change, he hit a home run with former Washington State and USF coach Kyle Smith. 

The jury is still out on head football coach Troy Taylor and women's basketball coach Kate Paye, but I believe both were solid hires. Dave Esquer (baseball), Jessica Allister (softball) and several Olympic sports coaches were all wins.

Critics of Muir, and there are many, blame him for the decline in Stanford football (four straight seasons with only three wins) and men's basketball (no trips to March Madness in the last 14 years).

Clearly, Stanford was too slow to adapt to the seismic changes in college football, dragging its feet in providing NIL payments to players and bringing in transfers. Some of the blame here falls on an administration that paid little attention to athletics, but Muir should've pushed harder and acted much faster.

(Side note: this has changed in recent months, as new University President Jonathan Levin has taken strong interest in the athletic program and hired Stanford great Andrew Luck as football GM).

The basketball decline is Muir's baby. He should've fired Haase at least two or three years earlier. The current tomblike atmosphere in Maples Pavilion will be one of his lasting legacies, although Smith may well bring about a revival.

To me, the other egregious failings were Muir's attempt to cut 11 varsity sports in 2021, the Varsity Blues fiasco, and his overall lack of leadership.

The sports cuts were met with such a huge public outcry, including threats of litigation, that Muir had to reverse course and reinstate the 11 sports. It was a well-deserved public humiliation.

During Muir's watch, the Varsity Blues admissions scandal touched Stanford, along with a number of other elite universities. Sailing coach John Vandemoer was thrown under the bus, but many believe higher ups in the school were aware of the mess.

Because of those incidents, and the decline in football and men's basketball, Muir lost the confidence of many Stanford alums and donors. He didn't work at building the relationships necessary for a thriving athletic directorship.

More importantly, Stanford, which should be a leader in college sports, became a follower, at times a foot-dragging, timid follower, during the Muir years.

That, frankly, is unforgivable. Chuck Taylor insisted that John Ralston switch to a pass-oriented offense and ushered in a new era of college football. Under Joe Ruetz and Andy Geiger, Stanford developed the nation's best women's sports program. Under Bob Bowlsby's leadership--providing new resources and hiring new coaches--Stanford revitalized its dormant football program and became one of the nation's best for 10 straight years.

Taylor, Ruetz, Geiger and Bowlsby were considered national leaders. They pioneered. They took a stand. They showed the way. 

Let's hope the next Stanford AD is in that mold.

LPGA Looks at Larry: Golfer Annika Sorenson, who's won 72 events on the LPGA tour, has endorsed disgraced former Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott for the same role with the LPGA.

Her endorsement was met with well-deserved derision both in the mainstream media and social media.

Once upon a time, Scott apparently did a decent job as head of the Women's Tennis Association (2003-2009), but whatever sponsorships and TV deals he arranged took place almost 20 years ago.

As commissioner of the Pac-12 from 2009-2021--as well documented on these pages--Scott was an unmitigated disaster.

Ego, arrogance, and incompetence marked his Pac-12 tenure, which led to the failed Pac-12 network and the disintegration of the great 109-year conference.

He was a shameless self-promoter, called himself a "visionary" and succeeded in alienating his own staff and the Pac-12 ADs.

Since being unceremoniously pushed out the Pac-12 door four years ago, he's been unable to find another gig.

If the LPGA wants to go up in smoke, Scott is a good choice. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail.

Oval Office Ambush: Friday's meeting between Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump and VP J.D. Vance was the most sickening display of American bullying I've seen.

Instead of giving the Ukrainian leader a hero's welcome for battling Russian aggression for three years--in a war that was supposed to last two days-- Zelenskyy instead was berated by the draft-dodger, Trump, and his moronic sidekick for being "ungrateful" and "disrespectful." 

This is the same Trump who had previously called Zelenskyy a "dictator" (despite the fact he won a democratic election with 73% of the vote) and ludicrously tried to blame Ukraine for starting the war.

I guess Trump wanted Zelenskyy to get down on his knees and kiss his ring, but the Ukrainian leader remained composed and firm in the face of constant interruptions and insults.

Like all but the usual Republican bootlickers, I was embarrassed for my country.

Instead of posturing, bullying, and parroting Vladimir Putin's lies, wouldn't it be a refreshing change if Trump actually showed some human empathy and told the truth once in a while?

I'm not holding my breath. The Ugly American lives on...in the White House.