Runner turns down Rhodes Scholarship to run nationals

No, there are no exceptions according to the committee. Besides Reich, there is the FB player from Yale, FBer from FSU, and volleyball player from Army who have athletic conflicts. Candidates apparently have the option of applying the following year if their is a conflict.

mother goose wrote:

I can't remember which collegiate football game I was watching, but one of the players is up for a RS also. He also had a game/interview conflict. The NCAA actually changed the game-time and allowed the chartering of a private plane to get the youth to his interview and back to the game. Way to go NCAA, actually thinking of an athlete in other terms than $$$$$$$$$.

If you're talking about Myron Rolle from FSU, the NCAA is actually making more money by changing the time to make it a night game.

Parts Unknown wrote:

Am I the only one thinking "Dude, his DIII team would perfect score your DI team!!!! Go run at nationals!!!!"?

nominated for dumbest post of the day.

Based om the what I read the game time was not changed. He is missing the first half and FSU is picking up the flight. I can't see how the NCAA would change a game time for FSU and not change the start of nationals for the runner.

or simply change his interview time or place. I am sure there are interviews going on in other locations across the US, and if he really tries, maybe he can get them to change it. and seriously, applying for a rhodes scholarship is probably alot of work that he is just giving away. But, statistically speaking, he likely wouldnt get the scholarship anyways. if that were the case, and he gave up his spot at nats, he probably would regret it the rest of his life. I'd do the same thing, but than again, i would have no desire to apply for a rhodes scholarship.

That's my alma mater, but I'm sure they're embarrassed to admit it.

Back in the day we had another top runner who was considered for a Rhodes Scholarship. He did go to his interview but refused to spiff up his punk haircut, take the safety pins out of his ears, or think of wearing anything other than punk attire of the day: black trench coat, black slacks, and white shirt. Can't remember if it was a button-up or just a t-shirt. He didn't get the scholarship.

Anyway, they have built a solid DIII program. You'd think that the Rhodes people would allow some flexibility in a case like that. Their loss.

JimG wrote:

Candidates apparently have the option of applying the following year if their is a conflict.

there

listen, the rejection of the second rhodes interview (you have to make it out of the campus process first, which is tough) is probably going to generate extra interest in him on the part of the rhodes' committee. rhodes is for scholar-athletes. he shows extraordinary group loyalty to participate in the most important event of the year for his team, so the rhodes' committee would have to honor that. my freshman roommate won a rhodes scholarship (he competed in indoor track as a freshman and that was it), and if I remember correctly, this key interview is at a kind of cocktail or dinner party with former rhodes winners and other applicants. and the rhodes are decided regionally (8 per region, 4 regions?), so it's not the kind of thing that can be changed unless they can defer the interview to the next year.

the point was made that an oxford m.phil is not worth the harvard or m.i.t. degree. in fact, it is worth as much or more, and is not exclusive of the latter. if you get 4.0 at grinnell and go to oxford as a rhodes scholar, you're not going to get rejected by any grad school in the country. in my profession, the oxford m.phil is held by at least as high a proportion of professors at so-called top fifty graduate schools as harvard or princeton ph.d.s.

1500 wrote:

Wow, too bad he couldn't switch days with the guy on FSU's football team who has an interview tomorrow night. Seems Bobby B. told the guy to go. They are flying him into the game site for the second half of their Thursday night game.

I hope the interview goes very long and stresses the guy out and there's a big storm in the flight path

mother goose wrote:

I can't remember which collegiate football game I was watching, but one of the players is up for a RS also. He also had a game/interview conflict. The NCAA actually changed the game-time and allowed the chartering of a private plane to get the youth to his interview and back to the game. Way to go NCAA, actually thinking of an athlete in other terms than $$$$$$$$$.

The game is at night because it's a big game. Not for Rolle

the interview can't be rescheduled because all of the candidates interview on the same day, and after the first round, some will be asked to interview again that same afternoon. at the end of the day, each district will choose two winners, and the rhodes trust will announce all 32 scholars saturday evening.

everybody who interviews has a lot going on... that's one of the reasons they are finalists. the rhodes trust is no more willing to give an exception for a sporting event than they are for a mock trial, a science exhibition, etc.

what a tough choice for reich... in my opinion, myron rolle's (florida state football player) situation doesn't compare. there's a big difference between the national championships and a night game against maryland. to the people posting who think he should have gone to the interview because grinnell won't be a top-ten team-- i don't think you understand much about what makes sports worthwhile. there are a lot of reasons to do one or the other, but where you may or may not finish isn't one of them.

I guess I'm the only one who thinks this is crazy. Although there is no guarantee of getting the scholarship, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I was lucky enough to run in an NCAA national cross country championship race, and as great as it was, it (thankfully) was not THE opportunity of my lifetime.

1500 wrote:

Wow, too bad he couldn't switch days with the guy on FSU's football team who has an interview tomorrow night. Seems Bobby B. told the guy to go. They are flying him into the game site for the second half of their Thursday night game.

Do you think the Florida State AD would do the same for a cross country runner?

Is there any way Letsrun could have that Chariots of Fire music playing in the background as we're reading the letter?

dasfdfs wrote:

Am I the only one that is thinking, "Dude, you are in D3!!! Take the interview!!!"?

Nope, I was thinking that as well.

Why? Just because he isn't running D-1 nationals means he should go to the interview? You think that somehow, just because he is a D-3 guy, he has less love for the sport or his teammates? So what if he isn't as talented as the D-1 guys, or that he won't become a sweet, awesome, and ridiculously cool "pro" runner once he graduates from college like the D-1 guys. I'm not saying he should race or should not race, but if there was a reason he should go to the interview, it's not because he's in D-3.

silly old fossil wrote:

1500 wrote:

Wow, too bad he couldn\'t switch days with the guy on FSU\'s football team who has an interview tomorrow night. Seems Bobby B. told the guy to go. They are flying him into the game site for the second half of their Thursday night game.

Do you think the Florida State AD would do the same for a cross country runner?

Do you think there would be much point in showing up for the second half of a cross country race?

Reich made a visit to Carleton College when he was a high school senior. He stayed in my room. Too bad we didn't get him.

So you shouldn't bother trying to do anything that is a lot of work? Or working towards a goal that others are working towards because the odds are against you? Guess that career taking orders at the McDonald's drive-up window is looking pretty good for you, huh?

or... wrote:

or simply change his interview time or place. I am sure there are interviews going on in other locations across the US, and if he really tries, maybe he can get them to change it. and seriously, applying for a rhodes scholarship is probably alot of work that he is just giving away. But, statistically speaking, he likely wouldnt get the scholarship anyways. if that were the case, and he gave up his spot at nats, he probably would regret it the rest of his life. I'd do the same thing, but than again, i would have no desire to apply for a rhodes scholarship.