but the good news is there's a never ending pipeline of LDS runners and every so often one is good enough to go pro so they'll always have pro runners to coach.
Can we talk about this?
it may just be I don’t pay enough attention to other sports, but to me it feels like American running as a sport has an unusually large amount of elite athletes who are LDS. Like, it just seems weird that a small fraction of our population happens to fill 2 of the 3 spots on our Olympic marathon roster, usually has a couple podium finishers at NCAAs if no champions, and usually has a few elite HS runners every year.
Is this happening in other sports or am I noticing something unusual here?
You make a good point, there is a lot of good LDS talent in the distance ranks on the national scene at least. In addition to Mantz and Young in the marathon, BYU athletes Rooks and Corrigan made the U.S. steeplechase Olympic team with Rooks perhaps being the biggest surprise in one of the most thrilling races of the games. Is this the LDS factor or the Eyestone factor or a combination of the two?
People in college complain about them being two years older but the fact is as missionaries they are out of running for two years in their prime and some never regain their pre-mission fitness. For those that do make it back to fitness, they have two added years of maturity but two years of lost training. Age is not an advantage on the national scene once they are out of college so no complaints once they are pros. Eyestone has had success with non-LDS athletes as well so probably chalk the success up to a great system, continuity, altitude, facilities, support, talented athletes and a tradition of winning that instills belief that they can be the next great thing. Most LDS believe that there is a higher power assisting them which can be a powerful psychological advantage as well.
it may just be I don’t pay enough attention to other sports, but to me it feels like American running as a sport has an unusually large amount of elite athletes who are LDS. Like, it just seems weird that a small fraction of our population happens to fill 2 of the 3 spots on our Olympic marathon roster, usually has a couple podium finishers at NCAAs if no champions, and usually has a few elite HS runners every year.
Is this happening in other sports or am I noticing something unusual here?
You make a good point, there is a lot of good LDS talent in the distance ranks on the national scene at least. In addition to Mantz and Young in the marathon, BYU athletes Rooks and Corrigan made the U.S. steeplechase Olympic team with Rooks perhaps being the biggest surprise in one of the most thrilling races of the games. Is this the LDS factor or the Eyestone factor or a combination of the two?
People in college complain about them being two years older but the fact is as missionaries they are out of running for two years in their prime and some never regain their pre-mission fitness. For those that do make it back to fitness, they have two added years of maturity but two years of lost training. Age is not an advantage on the national scene once they are out of college so no complaints once they are pros. Eyestone has had success with non-LDS athletes as well so probably chalk the success up to a great system, continuity, altitude, facilities, support, talented athletes and a tradition of winning that instills belief that they can be the next great thing. Most LDS believe that there is a higher power assisting them which can be a powerful psychological advantage as well.
I agree with you, and want to add that I think LDS culture emphasizes daily discipline and does not like harmful distractions. This helps foster an environment that’s conducive to success.
the young black men who generate all the money are starting to get paid (a small amount of what they deserve in a reasonable market place)
so all the rich people sports (including XC) that the black men have been subsidising are going to disappear in their current form
XC is not a rich people sport. There's no expensive equipment involved. No special competitive travel teams starting at age 10. No extra club system. Practices last 60-90 minutes once a day in nearly all cases. This isn't lacrosse or hockey or crew or anything like that. XC is one of the most popular youth sports, nearly entirely located within the public school system, with extremely low barriers to entry.
What happens when Eyestone eventually retires? Do they give the gig to a non-Mormon in Diljeet? She seems to hold "honorary Mormon" status at BYU, but is that good enough for the grizzled, moss covered Elders of that church?
Waite takes over the men's distance program no doubt. He payed his dues in the blue hen house.
Eyestone and his relationship is different to other coaches. Just like when he return to BYU to run cross after finishing 6th in the world cross. Unlikely anyone will ever do that again.
What happens when Eyestone eventually retires? Do they give the gig to a non-Mormon in Diljeet? She seems to hold "honorary Mormon" status at BYU, but is that good enough for the grizzled, moss covered Elders of that church?
Waite takes over the men's distance program no doubt. He payed his dues in the blue hen house.
Waite won't get the program. He isn't dynamic enough! I know for a fact that Soles, maybe Timo, Isaac Wood at SLCC, and a few of the top non BYU college head coaches like Corbin Talley will be in the hunt for the main job when Ed retires. BYU will only hire someone who can keep it at this level!
Diljeet will leave once Ed plans to retire, she can't become the head coach there as she isn't Mormon.
the young black men who generate all the money are starting to get paid (a small amount of what they deserve in a reasonable market place)
so all the rich people sports (including XC) that the black men have been subsidising are going to disappear in their current form
The misconception about college football and basketball is why the money is there, IMO. Kids in those sports will start getting more money and they should, but the value is almost always in the school name and Alma mater status, not who the athletes are.
the young black men who generate all the money are starting to get paid (a small amount of what they deserve in a reasonable market place)
so all the rich people sports (including XC) that the black men have been subsidising are going to disappear in their current form
XC is not a rich people sport. There's no expensive equipment involved. No special competitive travel teams starting at age 10. No extra club system. Practices last 60-90 minutes once a day in nearly all cases. This isn't lacrosse or hockey or crew or anything like that. XC is one of the most popular youth sports, nearly entirely located within the public school system, with extremely low barriers to entry.
lmao. go look at who's getting the scholarships. go look at who's winning high school champs. all private school. almost all rich whites.
go look at the ncaa demographic stats for the different sports
it's all about transferring value from young black men to white kids
you americans have taken leave of your senses with your ncaa system I'm so happy it's dying
What happens when Eyestone eventually retires? Do they give the gig to a non-Mormon in Diljeet? She seems to hold "honorary Mormon" status at BYU, but is that good enough for the grizzled, moss covered Elders of that church?
Waite takes over the men's distance program no doubt. He payed his dues in the blue hen house.
Waite won't get the program. He isn't dynamic enough! I know for a fact that Soles, maybe Timo, Isaac Wood at SLCC, and a few of the top non BYU college head coaches like Corbin Talley will be in the hunt for the main job when Ed retires. BYU will only hire someone who can keep it at this level!
Diljeet will leave once Ed plans to retire, she can't become the head coach there as she isn't Mormon.
It's tradition to give head coach status to a member of the church, but it's not a rule. Taylor has done a good enough job with the women that I wouldn't be surprised if she got the offer. However, she seems really invested in creating strong women in general with her athletes, so I wonder if she would prefer to just stick with the girls.
Isaac Wood seems like a natural next choice with the whole REP group. If Ed sticks around for another 4-5 years, I wouldn't be suprised if someone like Jared Ward or Clayton Young was in the conversation.
lmao. go look at who's getting the scholarships. go look at who's winning high school champs. all private school. almost all rich whites.
go look at the ncaa demographic stats for the different sports
it's all about transferring value from young black men to white kids
you americans have taken leave of your senses with your ncaa system I'm so happy it's dying
All private school champs? Whatever in the world are you talking about? Newbury Park, Herriman, Great Oak, American Fork, Fayetteville-Manlius... Man, do you have even the faintest idea what you're talking about? Obviously not.
Those are both valid comments, but I don’t think it’s that far fetched that Eyestone could leave BYU and focus on coaching a pro group in Utah if he doesn’t like the changes happening in the NCAA.
A lot of similar things about Eyestone and his job at BYU could be said about Nick Saban at Alabama. He had a great long-term job (16 years), successful program, fantastic salary, support from admin and alumni, a school that was attractive to top recruits, etc. But he didn’t like the changes happening in the NCAA, so he got out. It’s conceivable that Eyestone could do the same.
He won't leave til he retires. The problems for ncaa won't be problems for BYU.
Yes, he can only have 17 varsity runners, but BYU would certainly fund an excellent club with a competent coach. You would be shocked how many 4:15/9:20 Mormons would choose to walks on to a BYU club program rather than attending a different college.
He may not be happy losing to a team of Kenyan pros, but Eyestone is a grown man and won't be quitting over that. His pros have to face Kenyans anyway.
Eyestone and his relationship is different to other coaches. Just like when he return to BYU to run cross after finishing 6th in the world cross. Unlikely anyone will ever do that again.
lmao. go look at who's getting the scholarships. go look at who's winning high school champs. all private school. almost all rich whites.
go look at the ncaa demographic stats for the different sports
it's all about transferring value from young black men to white kids
you americans have taken leave of your senses with your ncaa system I'm so happy it's dying
All private school champs? Whatever in the world are you talking about? Newbury Park, Herriman, Great Oak, American Fork, Fayetteville-Manlius... Man, do you have even the faintest idea what you're talking about? Obviously not.
Gaming the religious monopoly of LDS to get elite athletes without recuriting. Basically.
It would be like if a D1 University was started with leaning towards Islam (which also has the idea of missionaries) and they were allowed to compete at a top conference.
Imagine the number of elite North Africans and other refugee athletes that are in the US they could recruit without much effort. East/North Africa for distance and West Africa for sprints.
A dual meet between BYU and this fictitious Islamic Univeristy would be all white vs all dark skinned folks. The contrasts.
Gaming the religious monopoly of LDS to get elite athletes without recuriting. Basically.
It would be like if a D1 University was started with leaning towards Islam (which also has the idea of missionaries) and they were allowed to compete at a top conference.
Imagine the number of elite North Africans and other refugee athletes that are in the US they could recruit without much effort. East/North Africa for distance and West Africa for sprints.
A dual meet between BYU and this fictitious Islamic Univeristy would be all white vs all dark skinned folks. The contrasts.
Liberty is basically trying to copy BYU, but with whatever their Pentecostal focus is.
What happens when Eyestone eventually retires? Do they give the gig to a non-Mormon in Diljeet? She seems to hold "honorary Mormon" status at BYU, but is that good enough for the grizzled, moss covered Elders of that church?
Waite takes over the men's distance program no doubt. He payed his dues in the blue hen house.
Waite won't get the program. He isn't dynamic enough! I know for a fact that Soles, maybe Timo, Isaac Wood at SLCC, and a few of the top non BYU college head coaches like Corbin Talley will be in the hunt for the main job when Ed retires. BYU will only hire someone who can keep it at this level!
Diljeet will leave once Ed plans to retire, she can't become the head coach there as she isn't Mormon.
no way Diljeet leaves as long as Jane Hedengren is there - she's a generational talent. though I expect her to someday copy what Mike Smith did and give up NCAA coaching to coach Nike Swoosh full time - now that they have a hub in Provo it makes that decision a lot easier.