Anyone on the German Fan Train a little less of a fan with him ducking NCAA's?

I think everyone has forgotten that INDOORS DOESN'T MATTER! It just doesn't, it's something to waste time before outdoor season starts. It simply is not important.

The AD is allowing German to do this, and his coach as well. There is nothing wrong with this situation.

how it stacks up wrote:

Worlds > college

Fernandez > Rupp

OSU > Oregon

Worlds JUNIOR > college

DNF > 1st place

8th > 1st place

First, replace "ducking" NCAA's with "skipping" NCAA's.

I doubt he is afraid of losing.

But with this decision he may as well give up his college scholarship and go pro.

Representing his college with an NCAA Championship would be huge for the school. He won't be representing his college at World Cross.

He should take the money and run the races he wants. I mean, he's already running the races he wants. Of course he can make it up to the school in the outdoor season and in the future.

I think we all wish we had his decisions to make.

I'd run NCAA's but I am not him.

Good luck to him.

fresh perspective wrote:

um... Rupp skipped all of indoors last year in preparation for his summer season without so much as one complaint from the boards.

The fact of the matter is that both Salazar/Rupp and Smith/Fernandez know how to better prepare themselves for their goals better than anyone on this thread or message board.

This shouldn't even be an issue.

Actually plenty of people have moronically made reference to him skipping the season, not being a team player, being a pro, etc etc. You have to be a complete idiot OR, have been abducted by aliens last year to suggest no one did...giving you the choice incase you don't want to be an idiot.

I'm not saying he should be bashed, i'm just saying don't pretend Rupp wasn't.

"Or how about this,"

If you are so eager to give out advice, how about taking some. How about this: you live you life and follow your principles, and let others do the same. If German and his coach think World Cross is more important to them than NCAA indoors, then that is THEIR decision. If they think that trying to run indoor 2 weeks before cross is too much time away from school, and is trying to do too much against his bigger goals for this year (which, apparently, is running a good 5k this spring or summer), then that is THEIR choice.

When you have a choice, then you can make the decision that is best for you, and we'll all come here and give you shit about it.

toro wrote:

But with this decision he may as well give up his college scholarship and go pro.

Representing his college with an NCAA Championship would be huge for the school. He won't be representing his college at World Cross.

While he won't be running in OSU colours, don't you think that each and every top ranked US high schooler is going to know that if they choose to go to OSU, that they will be given the chance to compete for their country if they qualify?

Wouldn't that indicate to them that maybe OSU is a school that takes a bigger picture look at the development of their athletes and isn't entirely focused on grinding them through 4 years and then tossing them on the scrap heap?

What is that kind of reputation worth to a school in the coming years?

Guys, quit blaming German. HE WANTED TO DO BOTH! If you are going to blame someone in this blame Coach Smith and the AD for letting him skip it. I think it is a great call but I guess some of you guys don't. I'll just say it one more time, German would love to mix it up at both but Smith thought for development and making sure he can reach his goals in the 5k that he should do one and World XC is the better one to do. End of story, shut the f*** up.

dylan383 wrote:

I don't care whether he gets motivated or not over criticism. It's ridiculous to be on a team and then skip the ncaa championships. Ridiculous.

you sir, are retarded.

haha, YO wrote:

Guys, quit blaming German. HE WANTED TO DO BOTH! If you are going to blame someone in this blame Coach Smith and the AD for letting him skip it. I think it is a great call but I guess some of you guys don't. I'll just say it one more time, German would love to mix it up at both but Smith thought for development and making sure he can reach his goals in the 5k that he should do one and World XC is the better one to do. End of story, shut the f*** up.

I've heard different things on whose decision it is, but whoevers it was, this thing is dubya-ee-aye-are-dee.

Who puts a guy on full ride, flys him around the country on the track budget to chase indoor marks (along with Rupp he was the most travelled and raced runner indoors this season) and then says "aww ta heck with it, let's focus on worlds now"?

Because he surely wasn't focused on worlds before. If he was he MAY have run a 5K or two, or a 5K and a 3K. But mile races don't prepare you for 8K cross country and have a higher risk of injury.

I really do think NCAA's is a valuable experience. Any race that is a focussing point for so many athletes and brings together a good deal of talent (and this years NCAA's are deep) is a very good opportunity.

Like others have said one of the things that German will have to deal with if he is the prodigy that some think he is, will be dealing with pressure and overcoming it. He's not expected to medal at world cross, he is at NCAA's.

We know German can run fast, we don't know if he can handle competitive pressure. Footlocker obviously not, and NCAA left most scratching their heads. Why was a guy that good so far back for most of the race? And then he dropped out so it leaves it unknown. He could have answered the questions at NCAA indoors.

Worlds will be great competition. Even if he wins it it won't answer the question because he is not expected to win it. He kind of has a free pass there. Finish anywhere in the top 15 and be ahead of Luke and Chris and he's pretty much golden. The only pressure would be if he finished top 3 this year and then had to go back next year and defend it, which he won't.

Can German Run Fast - Yes

Can he do it alone - Yes

Is he SUPER talented - Yes

Does he have great range - Yes

Can he do it when it counts most - Unknown, guess we'll have to wait until NCAA's outdoor.

Clusterfudge, you sure are a negative whining loser.

It is NOYFB what German or anyone else does with their running.

Jr WXC is a far higher competition than NCAAI

J.R. wrote:

Clusterfudge, you sure are a negative whining loser.

It is NOYFB what German or anyone else does with their running.

Apparently German gets a much longer tolerance leash than Rupp or Ritz from the masses.

Sucks for Coe and Ulrey because they deserved their shot at redemption at the meet that counts.

I feel like it's almost an arrogant gesture, like "hey I beat you once already mid season so your not even worthy, I'm off to take on the world."

Guy may be getting a little too cocky for his own championship resume. You gotta prove your mettle when it counts for that arrogance.

jr WXC wrote:

Jr WXC is a far higher competition than NCAAI

Barely, if at all. Do your homework!

Event 5 Men 1 Mile Run ** Auto: 03:59.50 **

RANK ATHLETE YR SCHOOL SEED TIME DATE

==== ======================= == ======================= =========== =====

1 Shane Knoll JR Michigan St. 3:57.36 02-07

2 Dorian Ulrey JR Arkansas 3:57.60 01-24

3 David McCarthy FR Providence 3:57.75 02-14

4 Hayden McLaren JR Providence 3:57.78 02-14

5 Lee Emanuel SR New Mexico 3:57.91 02-07

6 Matthew Centrowitz SO Oregon 3:57.92 02-14

7 Austin Abbott SR Washington 3:58.23 03-07

8 Justin Switzer SR Michigan 3:58.86 02-06

9 Jacob Boone JR Oklahoma 3:59.07 02-07

10 Craig Miller JR Wisconsin 3:59.09 03-07

11 Mark Davidson SO Tulsa 3:59.97 02-07

12 Ian Fitzgerald SR William & Mary 4:00.01 02-14

13 Duncan Phillips SO Arkansas 4:00.02 03-06

14 Andrew Acosta JR Oregon 4:00.11 03-07

Event 6 Men 3000 Meter Run ** Auto: 07:54.50 **

RANK ATHLETE YR SCHOOL SEED TIME DATE

==== ======================= == ======================= =========== =====

1 Galen Rupp JR Oregon 7:44.69 02-07

2 Michael Coe SO California 7:48.05 02-14

3 Dorian Ulrey JR Arkansas 7:50.86 01-31

4 Shawn Forrest SR Arkansas 7:51.07 01-31

5 Elliott Heath FR Stanford 7:53.64 02-14

6 Shadrack Biwott SR Oregon 7:55.27 02-07

7 Matthew Centrowitz SO Oregon 7:55.90 02-28

8 John Kosgei JR Okla St. 7:55.95 02-14

9 Hassan Mead SO Minnesota 7:56.60 02-14

10 Patrick Smyth SR Notre Dame 7:56.66 03-07

11 Matt Leeder SO Fla St. 7:57.06 03-07

12 Chris Derrick FR Stanford 7:57.30 02-28

13 Chris Rombough JR Minnesota 7:57.58 02-14

14 Emmanuel Bor JR Alabama 7:57.60 03-07

Event 7 Men 5000 Meter Run ** Auto: 13:47.00 **

RANK ATHLETE YR SCHOOL SEED TIME DATE

==== ======================= == ======================= =========== =====

1 Galen Rupp JR Oregon 13:18.12 02-13

2 Sam Chelanga SO Liberty 13:19.79 02-13

3 Tyson David JR Alabama 13:36.76 02-14

4 Shawn Forrest SR Arkansas 13:37.77 02-13

5 Shadrack Biwott SR Oregon 13:41.66 02-14

6 Kenyon Neuman SR Colorado 13:41.78 02-14

7 Chris Derrick FR Stanford 13:44.02 01-30

8 Luke Puskedra FR Oregon 13:46.52 02-14

9 Samuel Kosgei JR Lamar 13:48.56 03-07

10 Elkanah Kibet JR Auburn 13:49.44 03-01

11 Rory Fraser JR New Mexico 13:49.57 02-14

12 Dan Nunn SR Georgetown 13:52.65 02-21

13 Scott Wall SR Oregon 13:54.20 02-14

14 Jake Schmitt JR Washington 13:54.25 03-07

These are INDOOR marks this season.

If you look at the lists of competitors from worlds, you wont find a significant improvement (if any)in comparison, using their all time outdoor PR's.

JR worlds is very good, but either some of you cats don't know what is going on at the NCAA level right now or have never bothered to look in detail at the credentials of these juniors. You heard that Geb and Bekele ran there so you assume that every one in the top 20 is ready to run under 13:10 for 5K RIGHT NOW (and here's another concept, though a couple may be ready to run 13:10 by late summer that doesn't mean they're any better than 13:30 right now).

Ryan Gregson was 30th last year and went on to run 14:10 outdoors. He just now ran 13:56 and has a legit shot at top 20. So do Chris and Luke, and they would be darkhorses for a medal at NCAA indoors.

And most importanly, why doesn't the prodigy just breeze to an NCAA championship and then "take on the world" two weeks later?! I'm sure his supportive AD and administration would cut the Frosh NCAA champ a little slack for an international trip to take on the world.

It sucks to be an oregon wannabee, who was such a star in high school but can't even make the cross country team anymore.

oregon wannabe wrote:

It sucks to be an oregon wannabee, who was such a star in high school but can't even make the cross country team anymore.

Get trainin fella, you can make it.

He reminds me of Franklin Sanchez, but he is a bit faster. I wonder if his career will last longer; I hope so.

Didn't German indicate that he was running Worlds' as soon as he made the team. We say it is great that Basketball players etc. want to represent their nation so what is wrong with German running with U.S.A. on his chest?

how dare German run what he wants instead of following our advice!! So selfish... we all know way better than him about what races he should race

2 in the Pink wrote:

dylan383 wrote:

I don't care whether he gets motivated or not over criticism. It's ridiculous to be on a team and then skip the ncaa championships. Ridiculous.

you sir, are retarded.

since you can't answer the hypocrisy of not competing in the ncaa championships, you instead say something truly retarded. Chances are 2 in pink has nothing.