Really surprised with the number of folks who are downvoting Mike Smith to CU. 1. CU is a better school than NAU 2. CU has more money than NAU
The second point is important because it means Smith could get more money at CU, but it also means Smith could pay recruits more $$$ or at least get them more $$$ through NIL deals and the like.
The only reason to stay is perhaps legacy, which is not nothing. But that actually gives Smith better leverage to negotiate a better deal for himself.
Not a real criticism of Wetmore but I know that I (without my coach pressuring me) tried to cut weight to be better at XC as more of a middle distance guy in college and it was horrible. I know Nick Symmonds said the same but I would get sick every time I got below a certain weight. Anecdotal, but I have observed that different runners have different tolerance for low body fat %. Schools like Colorado have long had the luxury of endless talent walking through the door such that a few stress fractures and illnesses won't usually ruin anything for the team. Part of me thinks it is perfectly valid to take a little bit of a training by attrition approach if you're chasing national championships and to push everyone to fit a prototypical low body fat mold but is it really necessary to be constantly testing and comparing numbers? There's certainly no need for snide remarks. If you're going to run the kids through a meat grinder and see who survives, it's almost sadistic to shame the ones who fall short. That's the whole point of training a team that way, to find out everyone's limits knowing that many will fall short!
Really surprised with the number of folks who are downvoting Mike Smith to CU. 1. CU is a better school than NAU 2. CU has more money than NAU
The second point is important because it means Smith could get more money at CU, but it also means Smith could pay recruits more $ or at least get them more $ through NIL deals and the like.
The only reason to stay is perhaps legacy, which is not nothing. But that actually gives Smith better leverage to negotiate a better deal for himself.
Mike Smith has something else going on it won't include Colorado
Really surprised with the number of folks who are downvoting Mike Smith to CU. 1. CU is a better school than NAU 2. CU has more money than NAU
The second point is important because it means Smith could get more money at CU, but it also means Smith could pay recruits more $ or at least get them more $ through NIL deals and the like.
The only reason to stay is perhaps legacy, which is not nothing. But that actually gives Smith better leverage to negotiate a better deal for himself.
Of course. CU is ranked #105 in academics by Forbes. NAU is not in the top 300. CU has a medical school and a law school. NAU has neither. Boulder has been consistently ranked as 1 of the top 10 cities to live by Forbes and U.S. News. There is a reason so many professional triathletes and runners live there. Smith would have to consider it if offered the job.
I've met Mark and really liked him. But at what point does age play a role in being able to relate to an 18 year old? There are probably a lot of 18 year olds who don't want to be coached or have to interact with someone that old.
Wetmore probably rubbed Prime the wrong way. So Prime said "see ya".Mark has the personality of a flounder. Boulder was in the hunt for track town USA and we know how that turned out. All the world class runners trained in Boulder once upon a time. Look what Wetmore did. He made it very uncomfortable for people to come and run using the CU facilities.
Did anyone else see the Daily Camera (local Boulder newspaper) article tweeted out this morning (and then soon after deleted) titled: "CU Boulder alum, Dathan Ritzenhein, set to take over the men and women's cross country and track and field programs following Mark Wetmore's departure"?
Would be surprising since that job is way more of a pain than his current gig. Probably pays more, though.
Hey maybe CU would at least start getting Niwot athletes.
How is this going to help exactly? If you take the Niwot athletes of both genders that would still have eligibility through next year, and grouped them together, how would that work out? Do you see a title? They do have a couple right now if I recall correctly.
Did anyone else see the Daily Camera (local Boulder newspaper) article tweeted out this morning (and then soon after deleted) titled: "CU Boulder alum, Dathan Ritzenhein, set to take over the men and women's cross country and track and field programs following Mark Wetmore's departure"?
Perhaps the Daily Camera knows something we don't. Based on the "What We Would Like You to Have" category for the job posting, they are seeking a person with: "Prior experience working with CU Boulder Athletics."
Wetmore probably rubbed Prime the wrong way. So Prime said "see ya".Mark has the personality of a flounder. Boulder was in the hunt for track town USA and we know how that turned out. All the world class runners trained in Boulder once upon a time. Look what Wetmore did. He made it very uncomfortable for people to come and run using the CU facilities.
Brosnan would be perfect for CU. Coach Prime and Brosnan are the same
First hand knowledge here: Wetmore began having his women do Dexascans in 2005.
These scans were not accompanied with education about eating disorders or healthy eating. I witnessed eating disorders at CU, NC State and other D1 schools firsthand.
A counter example I saw was the University of Tennessee women's swim team in the late 90's - they had their women weigh themselves before each practice and also get blood tests for iron levels regularly. If underweight, they were sent to the cafeteria, and if iron low, given red meat. These women athletes were also provided with guidance, coaching and counseling about healthy relationships with food and their body.
Wetmore failed to do that. Also, if you go back and read Running with the Buffaloes, anytime an athlete was injured, he sent them off to figure it out on their own. Prescribing some workouts isn't coaching. Coaching is attending to the whole athlete.
I know CU athletes who are very much angered by all of this and they feel very fondly for Wetmore and their time under him. Fact is, the university internal investigation system is fatally broken, and Wetmore has fallen victim of that. That said, how many tens of thousands of students have filed Title IX claims or discrimination claims that were investigated by the same broken internal investigation system and left hung out to dry.
Really surprised with the number of folks who are downvoting Mike Smith to CU. 1. CU is a better school than NAU 2. CU has more money than NAU
The second point is important because it means Smith could get more money at CU, but it also means Smith could pay recruits more $ or at least get them more $ through NIL deals and the like.
The only reason to stay is perhaps legacy, which is not nothing. But that actually gives Smith better leverage to negotiate a better deal for himself.
Of course. CU is ranked #105 in academics by Forbes. NAU is not in the top 300. CU has a medical school and a law school. NAU has neither. Boulder has been consistently ranked as 1 of the top 10 cities to live by Forbes and U.S. News. There is a reason so many professional triathletes and runners live there. Smith would have to consider it if offered the job.
I've met Mark and really liked him. But at what point does age play a role in being able to relate to an 18 year old? There are probably a lot of 18 year olds who don't want to be coached or have to interact with someone that old.
Actually, the CU medical school is in Aurora, not Boulder, really a separate facility.
NAU is getting a medical school which will be in Flagstaff.
Ever heard of :once bitten, twice shy" . The AD won't fill the position with another distance coach. Prime wants a ballistic coach to help get the speed he needs to win football games. Mark my word, CU will do with their distance program what Wetmore did to the ballistic athletes when he arrived.