dk_b
GOLD
The Stanford model, like many big schools serious about athletic championshjps., is a Freshman year working on a managed weight and muscle conditioning program and no game time, then a Redshirt Freshman year with full practice duty and occasional game appearances, then a year as backup (or maybe second backup), and if you are not a starter or an obvious candidate to start next year (Redshirt Junior, Year 4 of 5 allowed), the time has come to be checking out the rugby team.
KM blew that model up by becoming starter in her second year. Any top GK recruit just coming into the school will be ready for the big time just in time.
Yeah, I appreciate the tutorial but that is not always how it works out in practice. I believe Emily Oliver started as a frosh won the national title in her Soph year and Jane Campbell was nearly a 4-year starter (coming on when Oliver was injured; she originally rotated a couple of games but started the vast majority). My recollection is that AJ (who did RS) and Rood rotated for 2 years (with AJ getting the more meaningful starts but neither being FT starters) and, even this year, KM and Rood rotated some. Micah was a 4-year starter at UCLA and Collins will be a 4-year starter (who did RS her freshman year because Sammy Jo was leading USC to a national title). Emily Boyd was a 4-year starter at Cal after Emily Krueger was (I think) and EB will be followed another 4 year starter in AA.
My point is not about what the model is or has been at Stanford - finding an Emily Oliver or a Jane Campbell and not worrying from freshman year? Pretty good model. Or is it the RS model as you describe - also a pretty good model, especially if you also have Catarina Marcario and mates on the field - but what, in practice, is going to be an interesting thing to watch in the fall when another elite GK arrives. Will Ratcliffe rotate them? Will he RS the frosh? Will one win out and the other will sit?