does Rupp train with Oregon or Salazar?

You think Bil Gates' kid wouldn't have ridiculous adcantages and resources because of Gates' billions? Is that fair.

Life isn't fair. Having Salazar as a coach offers certain perks and benefits. Big f***ing deal. Doesn't everyone here know that much of life comes down to who you know?

life is fair. everyone's obligation is to be a decent human being something letsrun posters rarely show through their posts. if we work hard we get results in the reward for our efforts whether we win or lose, gain financially or not. we always have the personal obligation to be decent people. from what i have seen and heard directly about rupp he is a decent kid.

and it is ORYGUN as Usher posted.

hayward102 wrote:

I'm far from a Rupp fan boy. I do however, wonder where the vindictive spirit of many on here comes from.

Is it really that hard to figure out? People are jealous of his success. They think he's a geek. They are jealous of his advantages. They think he looks funny, or they are subconsciously attracted to him and try to tear him down because of it. People can't stand to see someone as unassuming/cute as Rupp succeed. Rupp seems like a very nice guy - I've never seen him express anything but humility, genuine happiness, and a desire to compete. I'm sure some people actually feel like something unfair is happening, which in my opinion is not correct, but the majority of the hate is because of jealousy.

I agree with the poster who said that life is unfair. Rupp happens to know Salazar. Big deal. Rupp also happens to have an extraordinary talent for distance running, another thing he didn't earn. At least he's putting it to good use.

Someone said that Nike has twice rearranged the coaching staff at Oregon for Rupp only for Rupp to use Salazar anyway. Please explain. I know Martin Smith was fired, and while it was controversial, the fact is Oregon is a distance school and Smith never got it done in cross country. I acknowledge I might be in the dark about something, but what else happened? Didn't Pat Tyson coach there for a minute? Was that "for Rupp"? Did Rupp tell Phil Knight at one of their many clandestine meetings that he wanted to be coached by Tyson only to change his mind later? Enlighten me.

As far as I know, Smith was fired because the Oregon XC team wasn't performing, and Vin was hired. Rupp decided to go to Oregon and Vin said it was cool for Rupp to keep Salazar as his coach. I can understand that this might bother some team-oriented people who worship the group mentality, but if everyone at Oregon is cool with it, what's the problem?

As for Rupp's advantages, I just don't get the complaints. I think it's 95% blind jealousy. I thought letsrun was populated mostly by rich kids. You guys act like a trip to Europe costs $100,000 or that Rupp lives in a mansion bought by Nike. Yeah he uses an underwater treadmill sometimes. If you seriously think the underwater treadmill is what is responsible for his success, then I pity you. Could an underwater treadmill be considered geeky? Sure. But so could going for a lactate threshold run. And so could shoes. It's called technology and science, and it helps us to run faster.

Rupp has never even won an NCAA title. I fail to see how he is ruining college distance running.

Do any of the haters have a response?

Salagon or Orezar?

I seem to remember a similarly controversial runner, whose training methods and brazen Nike sponsorship were said to mark the final end of true amateur athletics. People said he was smug and shunned traditional training methods, instead choosing to train "scientifically" with his dad who was not a runner but a cold, calculating engineer. He was clearly terrible for the sport, hated real running, and mercilessly crushed all the hometown favorites. ;) His name was Sebastian Coe.

It's time to just sit back and applaud a kid who is whole-heartedly committed to running and is running amazingly well right now.

How disappointing would it be if Rupp didn't take advantage of the opportunities with which he's been presented, and never reached his full potential?

Is it unfair? Perhaps, but you could give all the NCAA runners the same coaching, gear and technologies, and I don't think they'd be as good. Sure, there's a chance a handful would catch up to Rupp -- but I have my doubts.

Personally, I'm more interested in what he can achieve as an individual runner than what his collegiate eligibility status is.

Why are US runners do full of self hate?

It seems that most on here would rather see a foreign runner win the WRs, gold medals, NCAAs, etc..

Why cheer along the destruction of our sport here at home?

I hope Rupp and McDougal, and Webb, Ritz etc.. all go on to win and run well on a national and international level.

jizzmo wrote:

Why are US runners do full of self hate?

It seems that most on here would rather see a foreign runner win the WRs, gold medals, NCAAs, etc..

Why cheer along the destruction of our sport here at home?

I hope Rupp and McDougal, and Webb, Ritz etc.. all go on to win and run well on a national and international level.

Most of the people that post on here are idiots. They fail to see the hypocrisy of the situation. Rupp is genuinely talented and SHOULD have advantages. As a country, we are trying to compete with athletes that are born with innate abilities that we must re-create here. Either cheer for him or let it go. Most can't because they are jealous of him or his situation. Suck it up, life ISN'T fair.

I'm "full of hate" for Rupp because of my perhaps antiquated notions of what it means to be a student athlete. If you want to run for the team, you must attend the school in person, show up at practice, listen to the coach (the team's coach, not your personal coach), and be a team player (not skip a meet because of ruts in the course).

As far as I know, Rupp does not live in Eugene. He lives and works out in Portland and barely steps foot on the UO campus. Please correct me if I'm wrong. To me, living hours away from campus and taking a few online courses does not earn you the chance to run for your college's team. I'm taking online courses at a college 3000 miles away from my house...should I try and use up my last year of eligibility running for them?

I think it's great Rupp has the chance to work out with Salazar. It's great he has a lot of advantages. But don't go thinking that his situation is normal or should be accepted.

Do you think the same for HS kids? I know at least one FL national champ that is not coached by the school's coach. She has her work outs made done by a former Olympian.

What's the big deal. As long as Rupp peforms well, then he is representing UO just fine. Don't worry about how he does it, just as long as the end result is positive.

tflightfoot wrote:

Is it unfair? Perhaps, but you could give all the NCAA runners the same coaching, gear and technologies, and I don't think they'd be as good. Sure, there's a chance a handful would catch up to Rupp -- but I have my doubts.

Personally, I'm more interested in what he can achieve as an individual runner than what his collegiate eligibility status is.

Now in his senior year, Rupp is still trying to win something on a national collegiate level.

Your argument's pretty weak. So far Rupp is NOT better than many of those who do not have his advantages. If all collegiate runners had the same advantages, doubtful Rupp would even be in contention, at all.

Rupp is and will always be a Nike product. I really don't detect any Rupp bashing going on in this thread. I read some posts who seem to know what happened at Oregon, and I read others who just like Rupp, a lot, almost irrationally. Not knowing who to believe, I'm left feeling a little skeptical about the whole situation. Why is it that Rupp fans have little to fall back on besides the same tired platitudes "humble", "hard working", or "likeable". Nike has promoted Rupp well, at least to the easily spoon fed. Rupp doesn't come off as much world class, as just popular with certain fans.

If Rupp is really everything he's made out to be, good or bad? Results are all we have to go by, and until Rupp starts racing outside of the "stage managed" affairs that he has succeeded in, no one really knows. An NCAA championship would go a long way toward securing credibility.

"Correct me if I'm wrong."

I'd be happy to. Rupp lives with 4 of his UO teammates in a house off campus.

I don't think his situation is normal. I DO think his situation should be accepted. Everyone has some advantage over someone else, be it in terms of talent, opportunity, whatever. Where do we draw the line? Is Wisconsin unacceptable because it's a fully funded program? Is Colorado unacceptable because they live and train at natural altitude? People have all sorts of HUGE advantages, Rupp just has a few more small ones that happen to sound fancy.

Thank you themanontherun. As far as I know, Rupp being based in Portland, taking online classes was only in preparation for the Olympics. I went to a talk Salazar did a month or two ago, and he had just returned from Eugene where he put Rupp through a workout. Again, if you don't like the situation of Rupp having a private coach, I understand that. However, much of the criticism is based on bad information (he doesn't live in Eugene or attend classes on campus. He is the only collegiate runner around that has the ability to use an altitude tent or underwater treadmill).

rupp love wrote:

[quote]tflightfoot wrote:

If all collegiate runners had the same advantages, doubtful Rupp would even be in contention, at all.

Results are all we have to go by, and until Rupp starts racing outside of the "stage managed" affairs that he has succeeded in, no one really knows. An NCAA championship would go a long way toward securing credibility.

This came up in another thread a few weeks ago. The logic just doesn't make sense. First, you're putting too much emphasis on some ancillary training devices. They aren't magic potions that take the place of hard work. Second, everyone at Oregon has access to an underwater treadmill and anti-gravity treadmill. They aren't only available to Rupp. Any NCAA athlete or their family, that can afford it, could buy an altitude tent. If these items are the magic devices that some seem to suggest (or even some part of Rupp's success), let's get them in the hands of more of our top collegiate and professional runners rather than knocking the individuals and teams that have access to them now.

The most ridiculous comment is that Rupp wouldn't be in contention if we gave all collegiate runners the same advantages. Rupp was second in the Olympic Trials. He was the top American, in fact the top non-African in the Olympic games. Do none of the other professional runners in the US or the non-African world have access to the same "advantages" Rupp has? I guess those are the only reasons he beat them at the Trials and the Olympic games? Then again, maybe it is becaue the Trials and Olympic games are the same "staged managed" affairs where Rupp has found his only success.

I do agree with you that an NCAA title is something that Rupp should have by now, and that will add credibility. I hope he gets it.

Threads like this just make me want this guy to succeed that much more.

Go Rupp!

What the hell is that thing that he is in?

Orygonian wrote:

It's Or-i-gun. Trust me on that.

Actually, people in Oregon pronounce it Or-i-gin. Like Ted Ginn.

There's all this talk about whether it's fair for rupp to race collegiate meets. I agree, it is questionable.

But, why don't people consider that it's actually GOOD for our sport to have him in these races? I mean seriously; the equivalent of a 27:55 in a regional meet. That's cool. That puts some energy into things around the country, and inspires all college runners to try harder.

The NCAA is one of the best athlete development systems in the world, and having people like rupp around makes it better. And while the guys who finish 2nd and lower at nationals might feel slighted by the fact that rupp is allowed to run, in the end they're actually better off for having the privilege of running against him.

runduderun faster faster wrote:

There's all this talk about whether it's fair for rupp to race collegiate meets. I agree, it is questionable.

But, why don't people consider that it's actually GOOD for our sport to have him in these races? I mean seriously; the equivalent of a 27:55 in a regional meet. That's cool. That puts some energy into things around the country, and inspires all college runners to try harder.

The NCAA is one of the best athlete development systems in the world, and having people like rupp around makes it better. And while the guys who finish 2nd and lower at nationals might feel slighted by the fact that rupp is allowed to run, in the end they're actually better off for having the privilege of running against him.

I pretty much agree with this. Everyone knows Rupp is a pro, and trying to hide it just makes the whole thing look screwy. Rupp should run as an "audit professional", competeing but not eligible for actual college titles or records (other than junior/national).

Rupp is still the biggest dweeb that running, a sport known for dweebs, has ever seen.

If Rupp ever makes it as a pro and becomes the world class runner he apparently has the talent for it will be quite a sight. That is if he can stand up to the scrutiny of legit drug testing, an issue not yet addressed.

Just think of all the top distance runners from Ethiopia, Kenya, etc. Cool, calm, composed, dignified at the line. And then Rupp doing some spastic dance out of High School Musical, and very badly at that. If Rupp could win at that level, it would be hard to argue with. Although poking fun at Rupp's insane dorkyness will never go away.