ED EYESTONE THROWS SERIOUS SHADE AT SUDBURY, GAUSON, AND SMITH FOR INTERNATIONAL RECRUITING

Of course, you could take the perspective that Kenya, if it has the will, could easily set up a highly competitive collegiate xc and track conference within Kenya and pay or award scholarships (actually unnecessary because college is dirt cheap there, like most of the world) to top runners, just as the United States has set up such a system and can as easily be justified in preferring its own citizens and legal residents to develop its own successful athletes. On the other hand, limiting foreign athletes opposes meritocracy and artificially limits competition. Right now, the universities cannot even bring some of the best qualified applicants for jobs as professors to campus because of the $100,000 visa fee. If you consistently advocate for meritocracy, then you would minimize obstacles to bringing in the best people, whether faculty or athletes. But you would still have a fair argument for setting age restrictions and even for distinguishing the need for national development of athletes who will compete for the U.S. from faculty who will aid the United States simply through their teaching and research.

There you go again, completely ignoring the argument. Your “millions of datapoints” don’t address what happens when someone takes two whole years off, do they? These are the literal “exceptions” you acknowledge exist. Yet you try to just sweep them away like they are irrelevant.

Does he complain about non Africans foreign recruits in the NCAA?

Lots of teams have them, but didn't hear him whining then.

His own team has them but for him its ok.

Man up and step up your game.

Agreed, the “BYU has an unfair age advantage” narrative is starting to resemble The Emperor’s New Clothes. The facts are standing right in front of everyone—there are far more significant examples of age, experience, and development advantages across collegiate running, yet people cling to the BYU age cheat narrative. The truth has already been exposed, but a portion of the crowd continues to pretend the emperor is still wearing magnificent robes. At this point, repeating the BYU-specific claim without engaging actual evidence or comparable cases isn’t analysis—it’s just buying into the illusion.

And they continually overlook the greatest evidence of all: if it’s such an advantage, why does no one else do it?

Why?

Are those cases not included in those millions of data points?
Do you know what an exception is in terms of statistical relevance?

I thought I was supposed to be against DEI :(

He definetly needs to look at his own team. Six year seniors lol.

Doesn't this rule from the ncaa website apply?

So if a BYU runner competes freshman year, goes on a 2 year mission, and then returns. Then they would have 2 years eligibility because of the 5-year calendar year window? Unless the NCAA has some special rule for Mormons and 2-yr missions.

Apart from that, I respect Eyestone for developing American talent. On the other side, with teams laden with foreign talent, you can make the argument that it raises the performance level of the NCAA and helps prepare the best Americans for competition beyond college. The 70s-80s were like that with the likes of WSU and UTEP African runners.

What other examples? Do you want me to state the obvious that there’s an advantage of having a 25 year old professional freshman come in to your program?

No one argues that. Some, mostly BYU alums, still argue that they didn’t have an advantage racing as 25-26 year olds in college.

If only there was an example….

OH WAIT

https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/5542589/Oklahoma_State/Joshua_Thompson.html

Josh Thompson!!!! OSU Mormon all star! Good at Cross good at mid distance, older than everyone

I think ultimately this issue depends on what we want the NCAA to be. Do you want it to be a system for American young adults who want to develop in the sport while receiving an education, or a semi-professional system that does not prioritize based on nationality?

I think NCAA leadership has a difference of perspective than Ed Eyestone on this.

I'll take it one step further. If you're not eligible to represent USA internationally in your sport you shouldn't get a scholarship.

I don't understand the obsession of anti-Mormons to the point that they derail threads that are supposed to be about running. Would you do this with other religions if their affiliated universities were good at running? Yes, there is weirdness in early church history that most members are aware of that, but who cares as long as current members don't have bigoted beliefs or practice polygamy? It was a different world back then.

The only relevant issue with BYU here is whether a two-year age advantage, but with a two-year training hiatus, gives them an advantage. And if it does, isn't it worse if the athletes are (1) even older, (2) don't have a break in training, (3) have competed professionally, and (4) predominately come from the country with the worst doping record in the world?

Do you know that they are? Show me. Do you know that even if they are they show that Mormons who took two year missions hit their peak at the same time as others? Show me.

How in the JHFC are people still playing this silly religious game today?

Can we all make up a story and get exemptions in life?

And he wasn't "gaming the system." He just ran faster than everyone else.

Eyestone is a little cringe for saying hes recruiting an American of african decent. Like that kid is just an american like any other recruit. It clearly shows an us vs them mentality where he would describe an American recuit as Kenyan due to his ethnicity when he wouldnt do that about any white recuit whose parents were born in Europe. He needs to get on board with the LDS colonization and forced tithing of african dollars back to Utah. I wonder if the church will be mad a him for not being on board with their grift.