Wow how can BYU's team be legit?

Anyone remember Chris Weinke from Florida State? The 27 year old QB who won the Heisman? Nobody complained about that. They all considered it a success story for coming out and playing.

The official rule for the ncaa is you have 5 years to complete your eligibility from the time you start competing, or 6 if you get a medical redshirt. However, there are three exceptions. The three "m's." Military, Maternity, and mission. If an ahlete goes on military leave, he or she can come back, and complete their eligibility within those 7 years. I don't see anyone complaining about that. And those guys really really really really get in shape while they're gone. Much different than coming back from a mission. Trust me, I just got back, and being 20 pounds heavier and having to adjust to altitude again is no fun. The maternity would be tough as well. But when they get their 6th and 7th years, everyone is so happy for them. If athletes from other churches served missions, they could also get 7 years, and they have, but I don't see anyone bashing them. I think people just like to hate when they see success, and right now, they're hating the mormons @ BYU.

How about you get fast too? wrote:

Just the fact that the person used the word "maybe" right there shows...

...that they were rather hesitant to admit it because it might weaken their defense. Nothing more, nothing less.

How about you get fast too? wrote:

And I don't see how asking you too cite your source is immature. It's something you learn to do in school when you grow up so I see no validity in that argument.

Just because YOU don't see the validity doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. You are blinded by your overt bias, and your analogy is horrendous. This isn't school, and you are most definitely not qualified to be my teacher! People typically need to cite external sources for reference. However, I was referring to a source within the very same thread, which means that you didn't read the material thoroughly enough and/or you were too lazy to look it up yourself even though it was readily available. Once again, both of those traits are indicative of a lack of maturity... not exactly the most shocking revelation where you're concerned.

up to my eyeballs in $#it!!!! wrote:

gawd, you guys kill me!!!!

please, somebody, just one person, show us the passage of the handbook which limits age...and quote the EXACT TEXT....oh, that's right,

AN AGE LIMIT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NCAA D-I!!!!!

By the way, does everyone else enjoy watching idiots like this guy quite as much as I do? They simply can't seem to overcome their self-righteous ADHD symptoms, and then when another post proves them wrong they conveniently disappear. Yet another compelling piece of evidence in favor of mandatory screen name registration!

Hey, I run for BYU. I went on a mission between 2004 and 2006 and gained 25 pounds. I ran three times on my mission - two 2-mile jogs at my partner's 9:00/mile pace, and a 2-mile on a track in 11:30, which by the way, hurt like hell after a year of not running. It took a full year before I had the same fitness level as I did when I left. It took another seven or so months before I had the same competitive mindset.

I know this is hard for most people that stalk the LRC boards to believe, but there are lots of stud distance runners at BYU that put it on hold for two years. I have personally known every distance athlete that has run for BYU between 2002 and 2009. I know of only one that had any consistent training, and he ran only about 40 miles a week. We all swap stories when we get back, and without exception, everyone tried to run for a few weeks at the beginning and quickly realized it wasn't working and would not be compatible with the rigorous missionary schedule/rules. They also all quickly realized why the left in the first place - serving others for two years was more important than anything else they left behind.

Virtually nobody trains on their missions. Not even Josh Rohatinsky, Josh McAdams, Kyle Perry, Chandler Goodwin, Rich Nelson, Bryan Lindsay, Nate Robison or any of the other All-Americans we've had this decade came back without a pair of saddle bags and a lot of hard work ahead of them to regain their pre-mission level of fitness. Some had such a tough time getting back in shape they thought about quitting, and some guys that were studs in high school do quit when they come home.

If simply being born two years earlier than someone else confers an inherent advantage, fine. Maybe my receding hairline scares the crap out of Chris Derrick and Luke Puskedra. But please, let's stop with the conspiracy theories about how much missionaries must train. Trust me - as a returned Mormon missionary I know a lot more about serving a mission than you do. YOU CANNOT TRAIN. Moreover, after two months YOU DO NOT WANT TO TRAIN EVEN IF YOU COULD.

End of discussion.

1998 wrote:

Only thing I dispute are the people who say division 1 athletes go on their missions and get fat while they're fully aware of coming back to the team after they're done. I mean some of these guys run 9:00 3200m in high school and have a big career looking up at them in the future. And I'm supposed to believe that they just completely forget about running for 2 full years while they're away? Of course none of us are actually on their missions with them. But to assume D1 athletes do the same thing as you did on your mission, or your buddy on his mission, or some average guy while he's on his mission is crazy.

I don't know. Maybe they do get fat. I'd love to hear actual stories from actual D1 guys. But regardless, they aren't cheating. That's ridiculous.

I'm pretty sure most of the guys that are posting about their experiences on missions are D1 athletes they just don't mention it. But if you want to hear actual stories, I will tell you mine. I ran for BYU for one year before I went on a mission. I saw HUGE improvements my freshman year. I took 12 seconds off my mile time and ran 22 seconds faster than my 3200 h.s pr in a split for a 5k. So I wasn't super good in high school but I definitely improved a ton at BYU. I made it to finals at regionals and placed at jr. nats etc. I was easily in the best shape of my life. If running had been the top priority of my life I definitely would have stayed and kept training. But I had always planned on serving a mission and I knew it was more important.

On my mission I knew I wouldn't really get to run, but I figured if I could just maintain weight I would be alright. Well, after two months, my metabolism had gone into shock and I had already gained 15 pounds. After 6 months I was 30 lbs overweight and weighed 180 lbs. Not exactly top running shape. Yeah, I wanted to run, but it really just doesn't work like you think it would. You have so much more to worry about. And even without running I would get home more tired from working than I ever have been from running. If I ever got a companion that was willing to go to a park with me (I had two that would do this) I would try and run a mile or two with the thirty minutes of exercise time we had. I did that probably a total of ten to fifteen times over those two years. I remember once I timed myself and I was running seven minute pace for two miles and I thought I was going to die. I was so out of shape. Most of the time though, I would do a few pushups and situps in the morning. So I would estimate that I ran maybe 20 miles TOTAL over two years. And keep in mind I was one of those serious D1 athletes you keep talking about.

So I got home about thirty pounds overweight and started running again. At first I could barely go three miles without stopping. Then four milers, then some five milers, then after about a month I was able to be running about six miles a day. After three or four months, I was finally up to sixty miles a week, and stuck with that for about the next six months. I just couldn't handle the mileage. Slowly, the weight came off, but I still weigh about ten pounds more than my freshman year. So there's my story. Yes even the D1 athletes do get fat and out of shape. No, they don't train. I know that doesn't make sense, but there are just completely different priorities for two years.

BYU RUNNER wrote:

If simply being born two years earlier than someone else confers an inherent advantage, fine.

End of discussion.

The bottom line... wrote:

BYU RUNNER wrote:

If simply being born two years earlier than someone else confers an inherent advantage, fine.

End of discussion.

Seriously??

Half the kids I ran against and still run against hit puberty two years before I did. Isn't that an inherent advantage? Is that fair that I had to run against guys in high school that could grow full beards, and I couldn't even sprout a whisker? It still happens now. I see incoming freshman that look physically more mature than I do. Is that fair? There's a lot more to physical maturity than just age. Early bloomers get an advantage, late bloomers are put at a disadvantage. Maybe the NCAA should start doing it like they did back in high school at some meets. We can have a freshman heat and nationals, then a sophomore heat, then a junior heat..... I think that would be a lot more fair. Give me a break!

Been there done that wrote:

Seriously??

Very.

Of course, you can keep composing smart-@$$ examples until you are blue in the face, but that doesn't change the fact that it IS an advantage to be two years older as a collegiate distance runner. That's why the NCAA has age restriction rules in place for D-I athletes. They should eliminate the exemption.

[quote]kprunner wrote:

BYU's advantage is not their age! I know what it is.

ED EYESTONE!

since he took over in 2000... they have made it to NCAA's every year.

also interesting to note he ALWAYS has a guy in to mix for a title

2003- Kip Kangogo- indoor 3k

2004 Robison, 2nd- indoor mile, 2nd-1500

- Adams- Steeple all american

- XC Team 5th at NCAA's

2005 Lindsay- 2nd- 1500

- mcadams steeple all american

2006-Mcadams Steeple Champ

- Rohatinsky XC Champ

2007- Goodwin- steeple and XC all american

2008-Perry- 3rd indoor 3k

- XC team 9th at NCAA's

2009-Perry- Steeple Champ

- Nelson, Steeple All-American

- XC Team Ranked 6th NCAA

Hey, BOZO - Do you really think a 24-year old is that much better physiologically than a 22-year old? Obviously a 17-year old that's growing sideburns has an inherent advantage over a 16-year old that has yet to mature. But I'm pretty sure most D-I athletes have already had their balls drop and shave on a regular basis. Do you honestly expect anyone to take your argument seriously? 21 vs. 23? 22 vs. 24? 20 vs. 22? Really?

You are not smart.

BYU RUNNER wrote:

You are not smart.

...and you are Mormon.

BYU RUNNER wrote:

Do you honestly expect anyone to take your argument seriously? 21 vs. 23? 22 vs. 24? 20 vs. 22? Really?

Are you referring to the numerous other people throughout this thread who agreed with me that it is an advantage, including two LDS advocates? Has the reading comprehension level in Provo dropped significantly?

BYU RUNNER wrote:

You are not smart.

Perhaps, but in the valley of the blind, the one-eyed man is king!

BYU RUNNER wrote:

Do you really think a 24-year old is that much better physiologically than a 22-year old?

As a distance runner? Hell yes! If you DONT think so, than you don't know nearly as much about the sport as you THINK that you do!!!

avon barksdale wrote:

The whole LDS Church was formed just as a way to get some 25 year old racing 18 year olds in cross country.

Let's start a Full Gospel Let's Run Church College, and we can compete with BYU. We'll be tax-exempt, only allow 25+ runners, and the "coaches" on here can write all the workouts.

You are what they call a wuss back in my hometown.

jim jones wrote:

Let's start a Full Gospel Let's Run Church College, and we can compete with BYU. We'll be tax-exempt, only allow 25+ runners, and the "coaches" on here can write all the workouts.

Except you would still lack the talent and coaching.

Keep in mind that there are several other schools (Weber state, Utah state, and Southern Utah) where the majority of the runners are also returned missionaries. You don't see them competing with BYU. Many of the athletes at these schools were even better than the BYU athletes in high school. Steve Shepherd of Weber St. was a 2002 footlocker finalist. He ran 25:00 at Dellinger. Doesn't look like he's reaping the benefits of that two year mission. Probably because it doesn't actually help anyone. He's older than most of BYU's guys. hmm.... there must be something else that's making BYU faster. Maybe its the school, athletes, coaching, and training program that makes the difference.

Been there done that wrote:

Maybe its the school, athletes, coaching, and training program that makes the difference.

I have no doubt. It takes several prominent ingredients to cultivate a top-notch distance runner, and I will be the first to admit that BYU is a great school! However, those that adamantly dispute that the extra two years of age isn't an advantage are just overly defensive, and quite frankly, in denial.

BYU Runners,

Quick question, what is Coach Eyestone like as a coach ? Also do you think training at altitude helps you during races ? good luck and know there are many Cougar fans out here in LetsRun land.

why thank you....you just proved my point, there IS NO AGE LIMIT...read your little link, better yet, post copy from there and show everyone how stupid YOU ARE...no age limit, just 4-in-5 rules, and "lose a season after 21" rules. so, in essence, a kid could go on a "mission" right out of highschool for ten years and come into the ncaa as a 29yr old freshman...so long as he didn't do any organized races.

Again? wrote:Another uneducated @$$hole on Letsrun.

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=420

oh, and this guy, i don't even know how to respond! again, post copy of the ncaa stating that "you can't run/swim/etc after 25" and i'll eat my hat, until then quit showing yourselves to be the true doofuses. thanks

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