The REAL story about the Oregon HS XC situation

Classic comment in the story:

"Shortly after, the widely-read running site LetsRun.com—a site not exactly known for hyperbolic restraint—ran a link to the RunnerSpace page under the headline: This Is For Real - They're Axing Team XC In OREGON. "

how is this the real story? it doesnt say anything different. they were still planning to change the team part of the state meet

You STUPIDs now think LR / RS / DS has credible stories ? Oh gaw. You whiney crybaby libs.

The way I read this...the article claims that running sites blew this way out of proportion. They were going to eliminate teams as a whole from competing at state, except for top individuals.

Based on the report in letsrun.com and others, I think the posters had it right. OSSA wanted to eliminate team cross country in the way it has been done for years. This article seems to trying to be covering themselves for a mistake that they heard "loud and clear" about.

I was as critical as anyone about this situation. However, this was an option they were considering, not a final plan. The outcry is justified, but I think some are missing how the situation came about. The OSAA classifies sports as either "team" or "individual" sports. There are differences in out of season practice rules depending on what category you're in. Cross country is in the individual sports category. What you have is a committe made up of administrators and a few AD's, many of whom probably know very little to nothing about cross country. They have been charged with reducing costs and trying to increase competition. They are dealing with changes to state qualifying in every sport. This idea was part of a larger look at state champsionship qualification for all sports. In an effort to accomplish this, some of these committee memebers looked at xc being in the individual sport category and wondered if the qualification should be more similar to other individual sports such as tennis, track & field, wrestline etc..

The obvious problem is that you can't have people with no understanding of the sport coming up with ideas without some consultation first. The idea they even said they were investigating the idea was a major screw-up on their part, because if they'd done any research first they would have learned that wouldn't fly. However, it also wasn't the witch hunt agains xc that some made it out to be. Better ideas are being presented to the committee and hopefuly they listen to these proposals.

Sounds like letsrun was right on the money. The response seems like a lot of damage control by the Oregon High School Association.

Responding to hayward102--yes, it was an option rather than a done deal, but it was an option clearly on the table before the backlash from posters. I do appreciate the context provided for these decisions.

hounddogharrier wrote:

Sounds like letsrun was right on the money. The response seems like a lot of damage control by the Oregon High School Association.

Thank you. The fact of the matter is they were and maybe still are considering this and we were right on the money.

I can't tell you how many Oregonian people have written me to thank us for highlighting this issue.

The fact of the matter is it may have only been a proposal but the key is to stop idiotic ideas like this before they get enacted.

Notice how in the dystat article, the guy doesn't deny anything.

[quote]Buckster wrote:

Responding to hayward102--yes, it was an option rather than a done deal, but it was an option clearly on the table before the backlash from posters. I do appreciate the context provided for these decisions.

[quote]hayward102 wrote:

Buckster, completely agreed. The backlash was necessary to make it clear this was a bad idea. In my email to the OSAA I told them that it was frustrating we were even looking at this option again, as they brought the same idea up in 2005 or 2006. I would have thought that the complete lack of support for the idea then would have shelved it forever, but that apparently wasn't the case.

Hayward102, You would think that with Brad Garrett, whom I a think is a pretty standup kind of guy, and our XC coaches committee that this would never have even been up for disucssion. I am fairly certain that costs are driving a fair number of adminstrators to see where things can get cut. Aside from Mike Maghan, if you look at the makeup of the Championship Committee, it is devoid of an interscholastic athletics presence. I don't know the background of each of those members, but I hope that our XC Coaches Committee can sway them.

http://www.osaa.org/governance/committees/statechampionship/roster.pdf

From Brad Garrett of the OSAA:

The OSAA State Championship Committee conducted a conference call on Tuesday, January 26 to consider concerns regarding the possible elimination of team qualifying in the sports of Cross Country and Golf. The correspondence received to this point strongly supports keeping the team qualifying component of both Cross Country and Golf. Given this, the Committee is interested in exploring alternative ideas to meet its mandated charges while keeping the team and individual qualifying components of the events. Considering this decision, testimony concerning the possible elimination of team qualifying from Cross Country and Golf will not be taken at the February 1, 2010 meeting. The Committee requests that those concerned focus their attention and testimony towards the development of alternate qualifying models that will meet the committee's mandated charges to reduce the financial pressures on member schools and the Association and to strengthen the competitive level of the teams/individuals in the championship events. The next public meeting will take place on February 1 at 9 a.m. at the OSAA Office in Wilsonville. Contact Cindy Simmons or Brad Garrett with correspondence and questions.