Turning Pro Odds: Hocker, Grijalva, Teare, Nuguse

After NCAA's I could see Hocker and Teare going pro. However I believe Teare did state once he, Charlie Hunter, and Reed Brown all have eligibility left for outdoor and that they might want to come back. Obviously a lot of thinking to do but they would probably sign contracts after the trials so they can run under their colleges one more time.

strengthmoneyinthebank wrote:

All of

Nuguse- my guess is ND will convince him to come back like they did for Molly Sidel. Not the right decision but I expect that.

I'm not a fan of Notre Dame, and those feelings probably stem from my extreme dislike of the ND football team, but it is absolutely one of the best schools in the country from an academic standpoint that isn't an Ivy or named Stanford, Rice, Carnegie Mellon, U of Chicago, Washington University, (St Louis), Duke, etc. If Nuguse is a good student, he should stay and get his degree.

The counterargument is always something like "you can always go back and get your degree and you should make the money while you can." In reality, though, how much do professional track athletes make? I will buy that argument for an NBA lottery pick or a high-round draft NFL prospect, that can stand to make millions, but a runner's earnings will pale in comparison. Additionally, if Nuguse does go back and get his degree will it be from Notre Dame? A Notre Dame degree carries a lot of cachet.

Stay in school wrote:

Washington University, (St Louis)

That is supposed to read "Washington University of St. Louis"

Washington Univesity in Seattle and St. Louis University are both fine schools but not the peer of Wash U.

It’s his 4th year now, I’m assume he’s graduating. He could come back for a fifth year, but he’ll have his degree either way.

Most Notre Dame athletes graduate in 4 years, thus the 5th year athletes are in Grad School. The question is does he come back for 1 more season of Cross Country for perhaps a team title?

Just for thought, an athlete can play professional baseball and still play college football. If Cross Country is a separate sport from Track & Field, could you be an amateur in Cross but a pro in Track?

Pretty sure Nuguse said in the Running things Considered podcast episode he was on that he was planning on coming back for a 5th year.

Is_Update wrote:

It’s his 4th year now, I’m assume he’s graduating. He could come back for a fifth year, but he’ll have his degree either way.

Good point. For some reason, I thought that he was a year younger.

I agree, then, that going pro would be a good idea. However, if he could begin post-graduate work at ND's expense, that might be a good option. This is happening in other sports in which the athletes have eligibility remaining because of covid. Athletes are staying where they are and starting graduate work or are entering the transfer portal. It has changed recruiting a lot in the short term.

Yared got a degree this year so he has options. I think it may have been something to eventually get him into med school though.