Iowa sprinter "de-commits" to Yale

I think that with him looking elsewhere shows the sad state of Yale track’s program. They may have a solid individual or two every few years (and it’s usually a mid-distance runner) but nothing solid for them to be competitive within their own conference. I’ve heard rumors of how upset alumni have been with the current director/head coach over how poor the team has been performing at the conference meets.

The football coach got him admitted. No football, no admission.

Former Iowa Great wrote:

The football coach got him admitted. No football, no admission.

I don’t think that’s how it works in the Ivy League but I’m sure the Yale TF coach could have still had some sway with the admissions office if his admission status was in limbo if the kid was still interested in staying at Yale for track.

Former Iowa Great wrote:

No football, no admission.

IF he was offered admission, that's it: Admission is not conditional on engaging in a particular sport, or in any extracurricular activity.

However, the young man's admission to Yale was probably helped by a "boost" from the football coaching staff. IF he felt that it would be unethical to take advantage of that boost--and then not play football--then I applaud him for it.

I agree that he's a long, long way from competitive Power 5 sprint times, and that even Ivy-level competition would be a challenge for him. Unless he manages extraordinary improvement as a collegian--he's already been in a top high school program, so he's not a diamond in the rough with a lot of upside potential--he most likely will sink without a trace at the D1 level.

Former Iowa Great wrote:

The football coach got him admitted. No football, no admission.

Not true. It doesn't work as it does at Iowa, even for "Greats." Smith was admitted (assuming he was admitted) on April 6, and has until May 3rd to give Yale his decision and deposit.

I would like to think like IvyGuy -- Smith wanted to be totally up front with the Yale athletic department and admissions office.

But it also could be that he was not admitted, or was placed on the wait list, when he had thought he was in. He then needs to explain why he's not going to Yale...

Do none of you understand admissions for athletes? Did you follow the varsity blues? Coaches have a number of pink folders that they use to get athletes automatically admitted. Their credentials would not get them in on their own. This is not a secret; this is the policy. It is also used for legacy students. They don't admit kids with a 20 on the ACT but coaches get decent kids admitted who otherwise would have no chance. Of course you can quit the team after getting there. That is the trick that the varsity blues scandal utilized. They paid coaches to use some of their auto admit tickets for kids who never ended up playing the sport that supposedly got them admitted.

Former Iowa Great wrote:

Do none of you understand admissions for athletes?

I think "Spainflyer" and I both have a solid grasp of how it works. In my earlier post I specifically acknowledged that the football staff's boost probably helped the young man gain admission (assuming that in fact he had received an admission offer).

I used to coach at an Ivy, and there (and elsewhere) I would use one of a limited number of "bumps" to help a prospective student-athlete gain admission--after which sometimes s/he then decided not to participate in The Sport.

I was never bribed to give someone a bump, but that's a separate question.

Maybe Yale was expensive and he's rethinking that part of it, as well as wanting to look at other track teams. But ya the article makes it seem like he will have his choice of where to go, but 49.37/22.09 is walk-on material at best for any competitive P5 school. The top of the top wouldn't even let that as a walk-on. He'd be best suited for Ivy-League track team or a mid-major. If he liked Yale enough to begin with and it wasn't a financial decision, it might make the most sense just to continue going there and be on the track team there instead of football.

In his home state, the University of Iowa has literally 13 runners this season who have run a faster 400 than him. Even if accepted to walk-on there wouldn't be many racing opportunities. I also don't think it would be very fun to be irrelevant for your team. Best to go somewhere where you are a contributing member. Now if he goes off in a few weeks and improves to a 21.70 and 48.5 then I'll take it back and he could be more ambitious with his track school.

I agree. Waukee is an expensive suburb in Des Moines. Many homes cost $1M and people earn $250k who live there. This kid had the means to transfer there to play sports. It makes sense that he was probably shocked when he received his financial aid offer from Yale which left his family paying $300k for a 4 year education while he thinks he is a scholarship type athlete. There are several faster sprinters in the state who are going to D3 schools. I think he has his his head in the stars which most good athletes do.