Jerry doesn’t realize that half of his guys don’t care about turning pro. Being an All-American, beating their friends at other schools, and winning titles means a lot to them and he’s not getting it. And that doesn’t include the alumni who are wondering if the team still exists.
And of the half wanting to go pro, just a fraction will make it happen successfully. That's not a knock on those dreaming of a pro career, but it's SO difficult. Racing in college didn't seem to hurt most of our most successful professionals.
I agree with the general feeling of disgust at how Jerry is handling the program. Here’s my question: how well do these UO guys need to run for you to feel that Jerry was justified in redshirting them for so long? I was willing to give Jerry some time when he came on. This past XC season seemed like too much time. When Oregon didn’t show up for indoor track this year, I felt like that was just an unjustifiably long time to, y’know, not actually coach a team of athletes! For me, the only way I’ll look back on this and feel that it was justifiable is if at least one of his guys becomes conference champ in the 15, 5, or 10 AND the team ends up with at least three men’s distance All-Americans in June. How about others. What, if anything, would you need to see from the UO guys to make you feel like it was worth it for them to miss indoor 23, outdoor 23, XC 23, and indoor 24?
JS is the coach. Not the AD. Not the CEO of HF. It's been a caustic, backstabbing, whiney work environment since 2022 when UO lost, squandered, or were cheated out of $3 million at the World Championships. It's no a fun place anymore.
I totally agree. The first point to make about Jerry Schumacher is that he's weird and controlling. The second and most important point about Schumacher: He's weird and controlling. Jerry needs to get out of his own way and get those runners into competition early and often. And get them to compete as Team Oregon, not a few guys in this meet & a few guys in that meet. It's so weird how all these superstar HS runners go to Oregon and disappear. That's on the coach.
Jerry doesn’t realize that half of his guys don’t care about turning pro. Being an All-American, beating their friends at other schools, and winning titles means a lot to them and he’s not getting it. And that doesn’t include the alumni who are wondering if the team still exists.
And of the half wanting to go pro, just a fraction will make it happen successfully. That's not a knock on those dreaming of a pro career, but it's SO difficult. Racing in college didn't seem to hurt most of our most successful professionals.
It feels like Jerry is having a hard time adapting back to college. Short term I could see the appeal as a HS to go run for him. But as some point people are going to go what have those recruits done. He needs these guys to start showing up at national meets…
I totally agree. The first point to make about Jerry Schumacher is that he's weird and controlling. The second and most important point about Schumacher: He's weird and controlling. Jerry needs to get out of his own way and get those runners into competition early and often. And get them to compete as Team Oregon, not a few guys in this meet & a few guys in that meet. It's so weird how all these superstar HS runners go to Oregon and disappear. That's on the coach.
it actually is super weird. he got two of the best hs runners from last year and they haven’t done jack 💩 so far
appreciate trying to get people hyped up, and rooting for all these guys. but elliott cook and reinhart harrison are already past redshirting in terms of seasons sat out, unless they're gonna try to apply for 6th years of eligibility. cook raced in december and missed the rest of indoors. don't think harrison has run a single indoor race in his 2 years at oregon. ran a couple huge races unattached last spring as a freshman tho. burns also raced in december and not the rest of indoors. those aren't redshirts for cook, burns, or harrison this winter (again- unless they're applying for medical redshirts ...)
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Totally agree that I'd love to see guys racing often, but I just checked TFRRS and it seems like there might be the bones of a really competitive program:
7:56 FR Smith 7:59 FR Balazs 8:01 FR Del Barrio 8:01 FR Steury 8:02 FR Edwards 8:08 FR Noakes 8:11 FR Stevens 8:12 SO Affolder 8:15 SO Scasso
That's six freshman (eligibility?) under 8:10 indoors, not including the aforementioned stud recruits. I didn't love the height of BTC time-trials, but it's undeniable that the core of that group progressed from college studs to world class. I wouldn't be shocked if this Oregon team is really good in the Fall. I just hope we get the chance to see them.
Below is the most accurate statement about OR yet. The BTC approach to college, even at OR, for the overwhelming majority of team simply doesn't work. Get them racing and dare I say having fun again and the program will make a major pivot we all should have happened already. “Jerry doesn’t realize that half of his guys don’t care about turning pro. Being an All-American, beating their friends at other schools, and winning titles means a lot to them and he’s not getting it. And that doesn’t include the alumni who are wondering if the team still exists.”
Below is the most accurate statement about OR yet. The BTC approach to college, even at OR, for the overwhelming majority of team simply doesn't work. Get them racing again and dare I say having fun again and the program will make a major pivot we all think should have happened already. “Jerry doesn’t realize that half of his guys don’t care about turning pro. Being an All-American, beating their friends at other schools, and winning titles means a lot to them and he’s not getting it. And that doesn’t include the alumni who are wondering if the team still exists.”
Cross country 2024 is 100 percent unavoidable for Jerry. He HAS to pull something off. He does not coach the women, Shalane does. So he cant take credit for that. Hopefully there are some seriously great times in track for the men of OR, but to answer the original question. Cross country 2024 Jerry HAS to show something.