2010 SoCon Cross Country

Good posts. There are actually nine regions (not seven) and 31 teams will compete at NCAAs.

To confirm your point, most of the "points" needed to be selected for NCAAs (as an "at large" selection) have been earned. Unless one of the SoCon teams places first or second at NCAA Southeast, there is no opportunity for SoCon teams to earn any "points" at the SoCon meet.

Conversely, for example if FSU wins the South region (a good probability), but they get beat by a few of their ACC rivals at the conference meet, those teams beating them at the ACC would earn points to be considered for NCAA selection.

This may be one of the strongest SoCon fields ever. Celebrate the growth.

"drank a beer to it with a teammate"

I love this. couldn't beat 'em so the lasting bitterness of losing repeatedly makes you wish they lose. I get it.

If davidson wins I'll give them all the credit in the world, but they kind of have a history of getting to the meet and not being on their A-game.

UNCG, I have no hard feelings for JT, but the rest of their team is essentially the same as UTEP or 'Bama now. Will they ever get any more North Carolinians on their team from here on out, or American's for that matter? I doubt it. F that.

Runner A: 3:46 1500

Runner B: 8:05 3000

Runner C: 14:32 5000

Know the common theme for these runners? They're all on App's team, might not have performed that well so far this season, and they very well might lose, but I wouldn't expect them to take a loss laying down. it ain't over 'till it's over.

Saying they won't get any more NCians or Americans is downright stupid. If anything their team will attract more good runners as they are now more in the regional/national spotlight and have good results to show to future potential recruits. Just because you are bitter that they are winning and beating your former team doesn't mean you have to make stuff up. If this is what it takes to get the conference to another level then so be it. And the 14:32, which is actually a 14:22, guy isn't running. The 8:05 guys is an MD guy who has only run 1 legit race this season. The 3:46 guy is another MD guy who can only do so much against distance specialist like Katam and Chelimo.

Also, there is no way Chelimo wins NCAAs. He will be top 30 but win? No way.

Seriously guys, I am actually quite concerned with the reading comprehension level amongst the individuals competing in the Southern Conference. My post was meant to be uplifting, to congratulate the certain individuals on having a great season, and to attempt to convey the idea that the Southern Conference is improving and everyone here should be proud. Instead, one person thinks I’m an “ass” for bashing App. The bashing never occurred. In fact, I did the quite opposite in telling asking people to stop bashing App in the first and last paragraphs of my post.

Here is what I said:

“They [App] have a great program and they put together a solid run as team champions. With that said, I agree with the statement that people shouldn't celebrate App's loss on a public forum next week. Quite frankly, it's just not a big deal. Yeah yeah... they have been de-throned; but it wasn't done while they were on their A-game. If anything, I would like to see their team 100% healthy next week and put up a fight to hold onto their title. Now that would be news!”

And

“I didn't go to App but I was jumping up and down cheering for them during the 4th quarter when they beat Michigan.”

That’s exactly what was said. I asked people to stop bashing them and two seperate times I stated that I wanted to see them win. My best friend graduated from there, I was always friendly with the guys who ran for App, and I am still in contact with several of them. There are no hard feelings what so ever. There is no grudge for not beating App, because I have beaten App. I’ve beat several guys from App multiple times in track. I’ve also been on XC teams that have won the Old Mountain Jug and retained ownership of it.

And yeah, App’s team was brought up while drinking with an old teammate, but we didn’t meet up to drink to App. Actually, he was a track guy and didn’t even run XC. The point of that sentence was to add context and a specific timeline to the underlining point of the paragraph – that people shouldn’t be celebrating App’s loss, because due to injuries and other factors, it is not new and/or cool that they don’t look like they are going to win conference. I.e. I drank a beer with a teammate six weeks ago; because it came up in conversation then, it therefore it cannot be new news today. It’s a simple logical reasoning “if-then” statement. That’s day one stuff kids.

Furthermore, my level of intelligence was called into question because I said I thought it would be cool if UNCG made nationals. I never said that they would. I actually said that it was unlikely that they would, but I was criticized for saying something that I actually never said.

Here’s what was said about qualifying for nationals:

“If Chelimo wins the region it’s almost like UNCG only has to score four runners. It never quite worked for Liberty with McDougal and Chelenga, but it was a real possibility then and it is just as real now…. I don't believe that both teams will make it. I'm not overly confident that one will make it. But I do believe that one of them could sneak into the spotlight and steal a spot at the big dance.”

Listen, I get it. Most of the posts on here are negative. You might even say it is the point of the thread. And I knew that everyone wasn’t going to agree with what I wrote. I actually ended the post by predicting myself being criticized. But seriously gentleman, your intelligence and maturity has to be called into question with responses like this. If you disagree with the main point of the post and think that everyone should hate each other, then that’s fine. I suggest that you turn off the selective hearing (or reading in this case) and try actually using your brains to evaluate what others are saying. Because right now beating your head against the keyboard until your nose hits the send button isn’t working for you. Listen guys, I'm writing all this for your benefit. It's a tough job market out there and I am honestly worried about you guys. It really does help to stay positive. So if you guys ever need any advice or tips on sentence structure/reading comprehension, please don't be afraid to ask.

<3

3:46 is nc

not a big deal wrote:

3:46 is nc

Pretty sure he meant that the 3:46 guy is a mid distance (hence the MD) runner. That seemed fairly clear when reading the entire sentence for context. In that sentence he compared the mid distance (MD) guy to distance guys (Katam and Chelimo). I hope I don't have to explain every post to every Appy person who gets on here or it could be a long week.

not really wrote:

not a big deal wrote:

3:46 is nc

Pretty sure he meant that the 3:46 guy is a mid distance (hence the MD) runner. That seemed fairly clear when reading the entire sentence for context. In that sentence he compared the mid distance (MD) guy to distance guys (Katam and Chelimo). I hope I don't have to explain every post to every Appy person who gets on here or it could be a long week.

I have one problem with your point that everyone should support each other and its that that'll never happen within the same SoCon sport for which one competes or any conference for that matter. I don't think App is going to be hoping UNCG or Davidson does its best and wins the conference and advances to Nats. Now that might and probably will change once they've graduated and moved on in life. But until then "haters going to hate" as much as they can.

Sincerely, YourNeighborhoodMessageBoardTroll

Need I say more?

Oh I love Socon Week! Everyone up in arms, emotions running high and a all out battle to finish it out. I can almost hear the cries of the victors and wails of the defeated. Saturday will be a good day.

On another note, I'm currently living in Charleston and can host some spectators who are currently in college or recent alumni which find themselves low on funds but with a desire to cheer their team to victory at the socon meet. The more fans at the meet the more I will enjoy the race(everyone is self absorbed). If you are interested in this offer hit me up and bring a sleeping bag. Hope to see you on the course! GO PALADINS!!!

morganpj@appstate.edu

Patrick Morgan

furman '09

app '11

Patty Mo,

Wish I could make it down there but I don't want to pay to fix any more walls. Pretty sure Oops You're an Ass is planning on staying with you though. And Blumpkin...even though you stole my name you made me LOL, so you can keep it. Stay classy, SoCon thread. Oh Yeah, GO MOUNTAINEERS!!!!

Cakes you traitor!!!!!

Dude you don't have to pay to fix anything...you work for Steve!!!!

Patty Cakes,

Not sure where this Patty Mo is coming from. You're generous and I shall take you up on this offer. As they say in the south, "Yipee ki yay, mofo!"

With love,

Chris Borch

Women:

1.Furman

2.UNCG

3.Samford

Men:

Anyone but App State. I've got too much money invested in Furman to see App State win every year. I'm drinking the Hater-ade.

Prince Reggie K wrote:

Patty Cakes,

Not sure where this Patty Mo is coming from. You're generous and I shall take you up on this offer. As they say in the south, "Yipee ki yay, mofo!"

With love,

Chris Borch

Women:

1.Furman

2.UNCG

3.Samford

Men:

Anyone but App State. I've got too much money invested in Furman to see App State win every year. I'm drinking the Hater-ade.

Hey I don't know who this impostor is but let me tell you one thing. I only give a damn if Furman is top 5 at nationals. Top 3 in the Socon? That's not why I'm invested in this program.

...Well I'm not actually that invested since I don't do anything with the program but I like to act like I'm in charge and tell the Furman runners they aren't good enough.

Now if you'll excuse me I have to go bore someone else with my story of how I went through college.

Ok, so I was thinking that I wouldn't put up my predictions seeing as how letsrun/socon thread tears people down, but this year is so close that it is hard not to have a prediction. My first thought is that many of the teams have elected to run on very fast and/or short courses (app has not, besides a dismal showing at Paul Real Short). I'm not sure how much we actually know about head to head battles. The Facts: Chelimo will win. The weather will be ideal/cool which benifits app. The course is hard, flat and fast. With that said here are team predictions:

1)Davidson (Solid group of guys with a small spread. They have a top running in Hopkins, but they also have seven guys that can be infront of anyother teams 5. That said, they have historically found ways lose it at the conference meet.)

2)Appy (They did it last year with the same tactics they are using this year, bunch up. Put 7 in front of UNCG 5 and its pretty much over. Too bad the pack will be slighly behind Davidson's.)

3)UNCG (Probably the best 3 front runners the socon has ever seen. If they go 1-2-3 it wouldn't suprise me, infact if they aren't all in the top 5 I will be suprised. BUT, this is a 5 man sport and teams live and die by that man. Unfortunatly for UNCG this proves the case.)

4)Furman (My boys in purple will do the school proud but this is one hell of a socon meet. Having two freshmen in your top five is not ideal, they tend to be glorious or blow up. Only way Furman is moving up is if Klecker and Jay Miller have great races. Lightning!!)

5)C of C (I know that no one has noticed, but they are moving up in the socon. Having 5 solid guys but little beyond that hurts. All they need to do is pack up. Home course can make the magic happen.)

6)Western (With 5 C of C infront of their 5th plus two freshmen in top 5 makes them a solid 6th place team. Any other year they would be going for top 3.)

7)Chatt (loss of vasquez really really hurts. Big Bill, you need more depth!)

8)Elon (not really their year, better luck next year.)

9)Samford (Well, the girls team is good.)

10)Citadel (Thanks god for Wofford)

11)Wofford (Mighty Mighty Terriers making last look real good)

And the Girly race which I don't follow quite as closely:

1)Furman PALADINS!!!

2)APP

3)Elon

4)Davidson

5)C of C

And yes I am a traitor to many schools. I just love watching people run their guts out. Good luck to all and please prove my predictions wrong. GO PALADINS!

Furman has 2 total scholarships on the men's side.

Don't think that is out-resourcing the rest of the conference anytime soon. Add the fact that it costs around $50,000 to attend and you sure do have a recipe for National prominence huh?