High School Distance Recruit - University of Alabama and Other SEC Schools

ahhhhhh wrote:

By the way, the large academic scholarships have drawn a lot of out of state students both instate and out of state to Alabama. Over 40% of the students scored 30+ on the ACT.

If you're a NMSF, it's a """""full ride""""" and don't let anyone tell you it isn't...call the University.

Bamabanana wrote:

ahhhhhh wrote:

By the way, the large academic scholarships have drawn a lot of out of state students both instate and out of state to Alabama. Over 40% of the students scored 30+ on the ACT.

If you're a NMSF, it's a """""full ride""""" and don't let anyone tell you it isn't...call the University.

That's what I have heard. I'm anxiously waiting my PSAT scores.

100% true. Full Ride for a Division 1 School with a great quality of education. I'm there now in my 3rd year and it's the best decision I've ever made school wise. What Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan wanted>>>>>HUGE $$$$. Not worth it for undergrad. You'll be debt-free after 4 years and be taking some type of loans out for grad school>>>or none if you have the smarts and certain schools want you. Great school dude, I'm glad I visited as it really helped to seal the deal. Good luck!

Bamabanana wrote:

100% true. Full Ride for a Division 1 School with a great quality of education. I'm there now in my 3rd year and it's the best decision I've ever made school wise. What Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan wanted>>>>>HUGE $$$$. Not worth it for undergrad. You'll be debt-free after 4 years and be taking some type of loans out for grad school>>>or none if you have the smarts and certain schools want you. Great school dude, I'm glad I visited as it really helped to seal the deal. Good luck!

If you are familiar with the Alabama cross country team, do you know if they have many non athletic scholarship athletes quit the team or do most kids stick with it all 4 years? I want to go somewhere that has a low attrition rate.

Most guys end up sticking around for 4 years. But very rarely do they end up contributing. If you take out the Kenyans, they have not and will not get much production at the SEC or regional level out of their distance squad. Not faulting Alabama at all – what they are doing is certainly working. But it is very important to look at the collegiate success of people on their team who were not already studs coming in. And at Alabama, that "success" usually consists of a mid to back of the back individual finish and a picture with the Kenyans that carried the team to a decent finish.

Real Talk wrote:

Most guys end up sticking around for 4 years. But very rarely do they end up contributing. If you take out the Kenyans, they have not and will not get much production at the SEC or regional level out of their distance squad. Not faulting Alabama at all – what they are doing is certainly working. But it is very important to look at the collegiate success of people on their team who were not already studs coming in. And at Alabama, that "success" usually consists of a mid to back of the back individual finish and a picture with the Kenyans that carried the team to a decent finish.

The 3 Kenyan juniors are all transfers and just started running there this year.

Some don't go there as they can't take the humidity, brutal in the Summer.

Go luck with Waters or Tribble...recovery is crucial at that level, but...

Give Coach Franks a call at MSU. They are not always very competitive - but they will take 9:30 guys. Stark Vegas is a fun place to be. But the best looing ladies in the SEC are in Oxford.

Training expectations can be too high in that weather, especially doing certain workouts. It's tough. Good luck:)

Bulldog wrote:

Give Coach Franks a call at MSU. They are not always very competitive - but they will take 9:30 guys. Stark Vegas is a fun place to be. But the best looing ladies in the SEC are in Oxford.

Thanks. I ran in the upper 9:20s last as a sophomore so I'm hoping to run sub 9:20 this year. I have considered Ole Miss too. They also have good academic scholarships and competitive team and it's a little closer to home. I'll reach out to both programs over Christmas break.

Maybe I'll reach out to MSU too but I don't think so.

Michigan State University or Mississippi?

Ffffhug wrote:

Training expectations can be too high in that weather, especially doing certain workouts. It's tough. Good luck:)

OK. Not too many people have commented here but thoughts expressed that it's a tough training environment especially during certain months because it is unbearably humid. Also that Coach Waters typically has a high mileage program.

Additionally, non scholarship athletes typically like the program enough to stay there 4 years but most do not contribute :)

Sounds great! :).

Positives

SEC athlete benefits of free unlimited tutoring, early registration, and tons of Nike gear. Low attrition. Am I missing anything else?

Which one dude:) wrote:

Michigan State University or Mississippi?

I had to look it up but Coach Franks is at Mississippi State.

Mississippi State appears not to have a men's XC team. There's none listed on the athletics website and they don't compete in the SEC Championship. They do run at Regional and the NCAA (last I checked) still thinks they have a team.

They had a team on the website a couple years back (2015) and then, poof, they disappeared without any announcement. No men's roster the last 2 years.

Apparently men's XC is very expensive.

Alabama is a good enough school, and Tuscaloosa would be a decent place to spend 4 years. But, please, for the love of God, do not run for Daniel Shannon Waters. Look at University of Georgia or Ole Miss. They give decent academic money last I checked and would take a sub 9:30 guy. Look at Wesley Curles on the Auburn squad.

Maybe look into UGA. They just had an extremely solid recruiting class and seem to do a good job at developing/low attrition rate.

I ran in Tuscaloosa for a summer in high school while I interned at U of A, and I can say that it is the worst city for running that I have ever experienced. There are no nice running trails, only a packed 3-mile riverfront trail that I had to run back and forth on to get my miles in.

I can also say that Tribble and Waters aren't exactly known for developing domestic talent...