How about some praise for the fact that Oklahoma State has 5 guys who have gone sub-4 in the mile this year?

Praise for the OK State milers...right here!

Or it's easier to recruit high end talents from other countries, rather than develop the Americans here, because the coach is unsuccessful at proving so with more than one athlete.

Martin Smith a good coach LOL LOL LOOOOOOOOL.

Also Raul did his sub 4 at Seattle.

Psshh, not that impressive.

Now, if he had 4 guys who were sub-5 for the mile, that would be something to talk about.

The scholarship limit is the scholarship limit, same for everyone else in D1. If you think OSU has some recruiting advantage over schools like Oregon and Stanford, all I can say is damn you ignant.

why yes wrote:

Or it's easier to recruit high end talents from other countries, rather than develop the Americans here, because the coach is unsuccessful at proving so with more than one athlete.

Were those foreigners in sub 4 shape before they got here?

Actually, they do have a different scholarship limit than almost everyone else. They use all 12.5 scholarships on distance and using their ability to get 14-15 runners on full scholarships, as that's the main and almost only way to buy a foreigner. As other schools can't do that with just 5 scholarships for distance, such as Stanford. Though, Stanford coaches Americans for the most part. So, there's a different moral system going on.

Nice try.

why yes wrote:

Actually, they do have a different scholarship limit than almost everyone else. They use all 12.5 scholarships on distance and using their ability to get 14-15 runners on full scholarships, as that's the main and almost only way to buy a foreigner. As other schools can't do that with just 5 scholarships for distance, such as Stanford. Though, Stanford coaches Americans for the most part. So, there's a different moral system going on.

Nice try.

That's Stanford's choice to use fewer scholarships. They could use more if they wanted. So more like "nice try" to you, yeah?

why yes wrote:

7 Moskowitz, Shane JR-3 3:59.48 - AMERICAN

4 out of 5 of those are foreigners, wake me up when David can coach some Americans to be good.

Isn't this what they said about Mick Byrne at Iona before he went to Wisco?

If you can coach, you can coach period. ARe the laws of physiology different for foreigners?

People generally rip coaches that go foreign under the dumb notion that you aren't proving you can 'develop talent' (as if getting a ton of Foot Locker top 5 guys isn' talent), you are just importing it. Well here is a memo to all the xenophobes, the best coaches all recruit the best talent. Period.

Alberto and Mary Cain. Wetmore and Ritz, etc, etc.

Top Americans may not want to go to school at Ok. State just like they didn't want to go to school at Iona. So Dave Smith gets the talent where he can find it.

As for Martin Smith, there is no doubt that he also can coach but he's bringing them in as stars just like Dave.

Is having Americans transfer in any different than bringing in seasoned foreigners? Patrick Casey and Riley Masters were damn good before they got to OU. That Burcham kid will be as well next year.

All coaches bring in studs.

gggh wrote:

why yes wrote:

Actually, they do have a different scholarship limit than almost everyone else. They use all 12.5 scholarships on distance and using their ability to get 14-15 runners on full scholarships, as that's the main and almost only way to buy a foreigner. As other schools can't do that with just 5 scholarships for distance, such as Stanford. Though, Stanford coaches Americans for the most part. So, there's a different moral system going on.

Nice try.

That's Stanford's choice to use fewer scholarships. They could use more if they wanted. So more like "nice try" to you, yeah?

3-time national champions in the past 4 years and people on this board still want to discredit Dave Smith. Amazing.

It's funny you should mention Stanford; Every year they look like the clear favorites in XC, both in talent and performance, and every year they get smoked. No one cares to talk garbage on them or their coach, though, 'cause they 'mericans.

Even if smith hac 5 americans under 4mn... I would never aknowledge him !! NEVER, EVER !!! do you hear me !!

I will always find good reasons :

* the kids will be either too white or not enough !

or

* If he is that good, why doesnt he recruit 8mn/mile high schooler and bring them under 14mn on 5k !! ?? please tell me !

or

* 4 titles is not that good in 50 years when you think about it ( and I dont care if he was not born 50 years ago... that is own fault.. and that raise my case !!)

You will see, you will see... I will always find good reasons to say his coaching is not good !!

I am a real dick and I am legion (on letsrun)

What Dave Smith is doing right now in OSU really reminds me of the old (late 90's/early 2000's) Stanford team. Those boys would destroy cross country, run some great indoor times (not a couple but MANY would run out of their mind), and then finish off strongly outdoors. There were no resemblance of dominance from their sprints, just Distance University. And it seems almost impossible nowadays, for me at least, to think of OSU without thinking of German Fernandez. The kid was and is just SOOO talented; his ability is insane. But, I'm convinced now that it wasn't Dave Smith's issue as it relates to German's inconsistencies. This coach knows what he's doing and guess what, German is still having something off at the moment. Now this is my opinion, but if Dave can string together another 5-10 years of what he's been doing the last few, we may be looking at an all-time list of dominant/superior distance schools as follows:

1. Arkansas

2. Oregon

3. Stanford

4. Wisconsin

5. Oklahoma State

German Fernandez, Colby Lowe, Ryan Vail

Very impressive. I want to also point out that Adams State is doing something very similar in division 2 this year.

Tabor Stevens- 3:59.56 American

Kevin Batt - 4:00.22- Austrailian

Matt Daniels - 4:02.91- American

David Sanchez - 4:05.13 - American

I would say that is pretty impressive also. Damon Martin is one of the best distance coaches in America. He may not get a lot of attention because he is Div 2 but all the best coaches know and respect him.

would love to see Ok State in against Nova , Oregon, maybe wisconsin in a 4 x mile at Penn this year

You bring up the valid point, in which, many people would not like to go to OSU. Which Makes David Smith get superbly talented Foreigners.

I understand your views, but I still think it's contradicting one's coaching abilities to recruit an insane amount of foreigners.

That's how he's building the girls program, last year or it was the previous year, he just shipped in 1-6 of the xc team from overseas, or Canada. That's an easy way out.

I feel ya, Wejo

I like you the more I read your posts, rojo. Not trying to brown-nose here, that was just damn well put.

I get tired of reading all the anti-OK State BS on these boards. I had my doubts about Dave Smith after watching German and a few other guys struggle with injuries, but after winning 3 NCAA titles, I think you have to admit that the guy knows how to get his team ready for when it counts.

Plus with the results these guys are getting on the track.... One of my good buddies is running for Dave Smith and I'm growing more and more confidant he'll be joining that sub-4 list as time goes by. The man can coach.