Listen and Listen GOOD about EMU....

LDO, you obviously know nothing about the Eastern Michigan program or the situation with Earl Jones. Earl could be FAR worse off than he is right now if he hadn't attended Eastern Michigan and run for Bob Parks. And yes, Bob Parks is one of the few who stuck with Earl through the hard times and helped him to finally earn his degree. Give the guy some credit for trying to better himself and earning an honest living - whether it is as a janitor or not.

T-rex wrote:

I walked on two years ago, the last season Parks was there, that fall i thought i could train harder than i could, parks let me,and i ran myself into the ground, could barely run 6 miles when i went home for christmas(not doggin parks cuz he was cool and his record speaks for itself).......Goodridge came in after christmas and took me to 14:53 as a true frosh, 14:35 the next year(even though i was dumb and partied too much,) among other things.....i was a 16:20 xc 5k guy and one time ran 4:26, and 9:26 in hs, only times i was ever below 4:30 and 9:40......i think that speaks for itself........i am no longer there, but not because of John or the team, they are all awsome and i wish them the best of luck in the upcoming meets....

Just wondering what you're highschool training was like and how many miles you ran? Be honest.

It is unfair to blame the XC program or the school for perceived post-athletic underachieving by Earl Jones.

The school gave Jones a scholarship, including tutors and career coordinatoors. What more does it owe a person?

In addition, if it is his desire, Jones has his degree and has the ability to gain a corporate career when he wants.

I fail to see why EMU's program should be blamed for coming more than half-way.

You should be thankful that you haven't experienced the rocky road that Earl Jones has been down since 84. He goes out to train with Santa Monica TC and gets into a car accident that for all intent and purposes, ends his competitive running career. He then bounces around from place to place trying to revive that career, but it just doesn't happen. Sure, he made some poor decisions along the way-I remember seeing him in the locker room at Bowen fieldhouse in 88 during an indoor meet extremely drunk and showing everyone his medal. It was tough to see a guy we all considered to be bulletproof in that state. But, as Sue Parks correctly pointed out, Bob Parks kept after Earl to finish his degree. No, he isn't where you are career wise, LDO, but you should thank God for your good fortune rather than sneer at your fellow man. Let's face it, many of us on here would give our left nut to have run in the games AND be one of the few American medalists since the 70's. Earl ran the 800 like it was meant to be run and I can tell you that it was great fun watching him at the many MAC meets that we both competed in. He always had time to talk to all of us schmoes and eventhough he never lacked confidence, he always had time to talk. Compassion for someone who has not been on the "fast track" in their careers. One of the things I love about coaching is that I can care about people and not measure them just by their pr's or incomes. Coach Parks (both of them) does a great job of that.

LDO, you are the prick. This is Joel David and I run for EMU, AND I don't use a false name. I came to EMU over the Naval Academy, Princeton, George Washington, and the like because I wanted to be a teacher, not a lawyer or a doctor, or a career military man. EMU has a fantastic college of education, one of the very best in the nation in fact. I had the aptitude to attend a more prestigous university, but I chose EMU because they are one of the best at what I want to be. Plus Eastern has one of the best running programs around for a runner like I was coming out of high school (4:21, 9:45, 15:39). I am not here on any athletic money and we sure as heck don't recieve any perks. (I lettered two years ago in track and still don't have my varsity coat) So Mr. LDO, get some balls and state your name or stop talking about things which you know nothing about.

PS My email address is on the website.

LDO how about you come down to Bowen Field House this winter so i can kick the sh*t out of you! You coward

to A-train- I am also know as T-rex in my earlier post, i ran about 50-60 miles a week in highschool, spent my senior year on a fairly succesful team, did an occasional 2 hour long run, probably trained harder than alot but not as hard as some, if you wondering if I was undertrained so therefore had to improve in college, NO, simple fact is everything clicked under Goodridge, mostly because he is so supportive of all walk -ons, and pays attention to everyone down the line......i no longer compete for EMU, now i am at Grand Valley State(number 4 d2 team in todays polls!)but i left EMU for my own reasons, and they were not anything negatvie towards the team, the things goodridge taught me and the memories i have from that team will remain with me for the rest of my life. i wish them the best of luck in everything they do. Crane- i know you dont need it but you know i got your back if that dude who doesnt post his name ever shows up to the field house!!!!! cuz you know i got the biggest distance guns around!!

Hey Crane and the man with 2 first names. I dont know why you guys think you are so bad but I don't think anyone is intimidated by your whimpy threats. How about me and LDO meet you after NCAA and iron out a few things. I always wanted to kick your ass when i was in college. He speaks the truth. He was not attacking Earl, he was attacking the program. All you guys can do is help make it better. It is not your fault the program had a bad rep before you got there. But I would say ole Stevie boy is holding up the tradition. See you guys in Terra Haute.

Finally a reply from someone with no ties to Ypsi. I second that. Crane I will beat your fricking face so bad when I am done you will be handsome. Don't forget it

So, D-MAN, whoever you are, you say EMU had a bad rep before the current group of runners got there. Please, indulge me and provide specific examples of your accusation.

And, you are a whole lot wrong to feel LDO 'speaks the truth' in his portrayal of Earl Jones, EMU and what he thinks the school owes the guy. Read my original post over again carefully and the others that followed and if you can find fault w/the points made, get back to me.

Know that all of us would love to know your name.

D-Man who have some issues i think we can sort out, you wrote "I always wanted to kick your ass when i was in college" Thats fine, im thinkin you maybe one of two people. Matt bliss, or some other coward who doesnt post his name. You see the email link so dont be affraid to use it like you are to post your name so ever one sees you the big horses ass is. LDO? You got alot of nerve to attack my program the way you do. You dont know anything about earl jones so why even go there? You wanna talk about my face looking different, man that really cool. i mean i havent heard that kind of stuff since i was in elementary school and now you are in college? cool? You guys sit here and attack me and my program for a number of stupid reasons i will not even go into. Im sure whatever school you go to is SOOOOO uninteresting nobody even knows where the heck it is. I might even be the best runner at your school and take away your pathetic scholarship but id rather be here in ypsi as A WALK on working 20 hours a week being the 5th man with people like Earl Jones cheering me on! you wanna attack me or my running thats cool you have the email address but dont come on here bashing my program then say where the one who brings its reputation down when in the first place the point your trying to make is that our school sucks. If it sucks leave it alone, if where a good team then we are. no need to state the obvious people can tell for themselves.

thats all

I really have two first names? Oh my gosh thank you for pointing that out cause I never knew that. My whole world has changed now with your deep insight on me having two first names. I owe you a debt of gratitude. So how is second grade going for you anyway? Are you passing all of your spelling tests and playing nice on the playground D-man?

ps If you want to talk to me in person, I invite you to. It would be my pleasure to meet someone who doesn't know me yet doesn't like me because I run for a different school and can't even attach his name to his comments.

I dont think any of the eatern guys are trying to come off as big mocho men here. Crane and David are those guys you all wish you had on your team because they are good hard working runners who get really motivated about competition. There not the kind of guys who just show up to practice whenever and dont really contribute to the team. They are just trying to defend themselves from people talking trash about there school. I see those guys training alot in the arb and can tell you that they are a hard bunch of guys who care deeply about what they do and if anything are setting the standard at emu because this might be the best cross team ever over there.

LDO, as my teammate and my friend was trying to explain to you is that Earl at some point made a bad decision with his life. It was not Eastern that did it to him, it was HIS choice. I know that what I choose to do with myself after I graduate is MY choice. You can't expect a university to babysit every athlete or person that comes out of their programs. So why don't you and your perfect life stay off this board until you can find something to write about, rather than attacking a great athlete and supporter of EMU athletics that you can't even disrespect face to face. So you can go get bent. Ryan Desgrange

LDO and D-MAN..... are you growing balls yet. I still don't see your name or school. Just as I thought, too embarresed to name your school. I would love to see you try and start anything with Steve Crane at the nationals. Very daring of you to try and threaten someone on-line without telling us who you are. Great sportsmanship also.

Fighting doesn't solve anything ladies, trust me. I think I might have an idea of who LDO and D-MAN are. They no longer go to school so no need to worry about kickin there ass in a race. But if you are looking to fight with them, I think you should pass. Nice post Desgrange, but you other guy's credibility is no good. You guys are wasting your time on these message boards defending EMU. Where I am from, it is a lot better to just let it go and keep moving forward. Its funny how I never see Desilets, Boaz, or Gavin on here. You guys need to let it go. As long as you guys recruit foreigners who LOOK over age you are going to get criticism. Your team is good and thats why you get the attention. Look at Toledo, they have a foreigner but they suck, so they don't get this crap. You just keep making yourselves look stupid by posting these replies. We all get the point. You love your program, as you should, but let it go.

And to Scott Hubbard...when you have guys like Ben Reese eligible, that explains everything about the "program".

Enough said.

I'm not sure what you could possibly mean by that comment about Ben Reese. He had to go through the NCAA Clearinghouse just like you did. Perhaps the NCAA Clearinghouse cheats for Eastern Michigan - I think not!

Provide your proof that Ben Reese, Boaz, etc. shouldn't be eligible or quit your griping.

Well, THANK YOU Former Huron. You took the words right out of my mouth about Ben Reese. I don't need to defend EMU. I invite those taking shots at my alma mater to provide examples, documentation of their accusations. And, I pick my spots to offer support for guys like Earl Jones.

So far, nobody has either identified themselves after I ask them too nor have they provided evidence to support their accusations.

Somebody noted that the '02 Huron team might be the best ever. Well...um, the teams from the early to mid 70's might want to be in on that comparison. Not sure about that? Ask the ol' coach, Bob!

At any rate, the '02 team is potent and I wish you guys well this weekend. I plan to be in Terre Haute as a guest of a certain EMU Hall of Famer and former teammate, Dr Gordon Minty, and cheer you on!