Furman College

What is the appeal of Furman over top NCAA Division I schools for a Foot Locker Finalist?

jeffrey d. boomhauer wrote:

greenville isn't in the mountains, idiot.

The school is fairly liberal, relative to others in the SE.

Ummm . . . ever heard of Paris Mountain, idiot?

Or he didn't want to be a head coach at a major college track team (or track team at a big D1 program) and got an opportunity to make more or similar money focusing on his small elite group, and have enough left over to delegate and pay for jobs for his wife and another assistant.

To me it sounds like a sweet deal. That was in the works while he was still under contract with Ohio State.

You think Martin Smith just took the Iowa State job out of the blue without talking to them when he was still at Oklahoma?

I can't blame Gary for taking the Furman job.

It's been noted a few times that he was talking to Furman long before he left OSU. He talked to Furman BEFORE he signed a contract extension with Ohio State. You can search that on the boards.

I'll also say that Coach Smith did not talk to Iowa State while Cory Ihmels was still there. From a technical stand point, Yes he talked to them while still employed with Oklahoma. He didn't however sign a contract with ISU while signing a contract for OU. Which is what Robert Gary did from my knowledge.

Robert Gary had no problem being a head coach. He did a great job spreading the wealth around with scholarships. He was a head coach for quite some time and did a decent job doing it. He didn't leave because he didn't want to be a big d1 head coach.

Look at the results from Ohio State. I won't say look at Furman because he has only been there a short time. His Ohio State results were not that great and before people say look at See or Leslie..I know. Both of those guys were low 4 min in High School. He didn't get great results from kids were were in the 4:15-4:20 range and sure as heck didn't get anything from 9:15-9:20 guys with the exception of Olinger. He has had his fair share of studs sometimes more than most top 15 programs and rarely did anything with them.

Listen, anyone looking to go to Furman look at the academic side of things. Don't go to a school because of a coach go for the opportunities to put yourself in the best position to get a job after college.

I'm not saying look elsewhere because RG has done great things with the RIGHT athlete. I'm saying if you are only considering Furman because of the chance to join an elite group after college you might want to rethink that. Furman is a great school and if you get a lot of money that's great. I'll say: some d1 coaches will yank your $$$ in a heart beat if you are not running well. Quite frankly furman is expensive. So i'd ask RG if he has ever pulled $$$ because of performance. I don't know if he has or not..just saying.

I can guarantee 95% of these posts are from rival coaches and 5% from current Furman team members.

Gary accepted Furman position in summer of

2011 because that's when our coach at the time was told and AD told us the Ohio State AD agreed to let Gary stay the year. Probably thought he would change his mind or quite frankly didn't care. When Gary confirmed departure and signed contract, they threw book at him and fired him.

The NCAA allows for guaranteeing aid now and that is what Furman is doing. I am sure Gary loves not having to offer small 20% scholarships anymore.

I think Gary would agree he wants to spend most of his time with Elites and doesn't love cross country like most distance coaches. Last year, Elites trained in the early morning and regular team at 3. 1500 and obviously steeplechase seem to be most excited about.

With all the programs being cut and reduced, why all the shock or hatred for a program trying to build distance running center? Beautiful campus, supporting the Elite athletes, and giving real scholarships to best kids in the country just like football and basketball. I wasn't good at all, but I am proud and excited about future there.

Jealous much?

Listen,

If you were directing that towards me.

1)- I'm not a RG hater. I was simply pointing out he was in fact talking to furman before he signed the contract extension with Ohio State.

-Comparing that to Martin Smith was a bit of a stretch.

2)- The results from Ohio State were not all that great minus a few studs ( See- Leslie- Olinger)

3)- As I've said Furman is academically a great school.

4)- I think it's good that the elites can stay on campus and what not.

I've talked to RG before, I've heard him talk at clinics and I'm not saying he's a bad coach or a great coach. I was simply saying go for the opportunities after college because a coach can take $$$ away. Don't pick a school just because of a coach.

twotimer wrote:

2)- The results from Ohio State were not all that great minus a few studs ( See- Leslie- Olinger)

I'd include Rob Myers too, he damn near made the Olympics in the 1500m in 2004, and made the US Team in 2005.

Myers was actually 3rd at the 2004 Olympic Trials. I would aslo include Dan Huleing down as a "decent" runner under Gary. 8:13 steeplechase 3:37, and 13:20's 5k.

I liked him because he was great at sharing at the Ohio clinic and several years, he qualified to the NCAA meet with all Ohioians.

Sherman Miller-Smith wrote:

I'm not sure this was written by a high school student as it is too polished and smells of salesmanship.

My thoughts exactly. No way a high schooler wrote that.