FERNANDEZ SIGNS WITH OKLAHOMA STATE!!!!!

My only real question about this- has Fernandez ever had to train in the cold? I know that it doesn't get -that- cold in OK, but... colder than SoCal by a fair stretch.

On another note, its great that he didn't up falling into the Stanford/Colorado/Oregon/Michigan/Wisconsin groove. Seems like so many of the best runners all go to the same few schools and a lot of them end up getting overlooked. Its nice to see some change taking place.

questioner of questions wrote:

On another note, its great that he didn't up falling into the Stanford/Colorado/Oregon/Michigan/Wisconsin groove. Seems like so many of the best runners all go to the same few schools and a lot of them end up getting overlooked. Its nice to see some change taking place.

Agreed. Good to see things spread out once in a while (along with the FL champ going to FSU).

Riverbank is in Northern California. While we don\'t get terribly cold, it is not uncommon for low 30\'s and heavy tule fog to dominate for weeks at a time during the winter.

I'm pretty excited to see German tear it up for OSU. Oregon, Colorado, Wisconsin, are great programs, but I get tired of seeing all the best talent go to those places all the time.

Everyone has mentioned Oklahoma State's performance in XC, but what have those guys gone on to do on the track?

The only American I can think of who's done anything decent in the past 10 years is Chuck Sloan, who won the 2000 NCAA steeple.

San Diego wrote:

Oregon has not really recovered from losing Martin Smith. Oregon is doing all right but they're living on hype. Hell, their prodigal son barely even competes for them. Why worry about being an NCAA runner up (or so), when you can have Nike's PR machine pushing false hopes for Olympic medals.

Oregon is a joke. At this point a top prep would have to be nearly an idiot to consider Oregon's program. For some though, hype counts for a lot.

Oregon is a joke and all hype...YET they win XC Nationals? What planet are you on? Eugene is home to the next two Olympic Trials and 2 of 3 USATF Championship meets, and they are pretenders?

They have an unbelievable team...no thanks to Martin Smith - I think they are fully recovered.

That being said, I think Dave Smith at OKState is one of the best coaches/recruiters in the US. Probably one of the strongest programs around right now, and he's getting even better. Just wait until they get a new outdoor track facility AND indoor facility....

You and others like you love to rip on Oregon because they have things you wish you had...

Someone might have already said this but I thought that some alum gave a ton of money to build some great facilities there. It should have places to run indoors when outdoors gets ugly, but it is not like running up in Madison, and California boy Bethke seems to be doing ok. Also, as mentioned, GF is from the Central Valley area and it gets cooler more often in the winter and often stays cool because of the pervasive fog. Don't forget that OSU placed well because they ran a very smart race; maybe that was not last on GF either.

Someone might have already said this but I thought that some alum gave a ton of money to build some great facilities there. It should have places to run indoors when outdoors gets ugly, but it is not like running up in Madison, and California boy Bethke seems to be doing ok. Also, as mentioned, GF is from the Central Valley area and it gets cooler more often in the winter and often stays cool because of the pervasive fog. Don't forget that OSU placed well because they ran a very smart race; maybe that was not last on GF either.

Two words for why he signed: Clay Mayes.

haha i will agree with dark horse. if you don't like your host, then odds are you won't have a very good time on the visit. clay must have showed him a good time

clay... are you still redshirted? you really suck. how did you ever get a spot on the team?

how hard is it to say "good luck Fernandez, I wish you the best at Oklahoma State"? He's a kid- you people are pathetic.

Could letsruners allow Rupp's "kid" torch to be passed along to Fernandez?

good to see that the tide is turning maybe for some programs. Foot Locker guys bucking the traditional powers and going to places like oklahoma state and syracuse.

Youpeoplerdouches wrote:

how hard is it to say "good luck Fernandez, I wish you the best at Oklahoma State"? He's a kid- you people are pathetic.

POD!

I did say that Oregon is doing alright.

BTW, I went to Oregon, and still spend a lot of time there. I'll always be an Oregon fan, but what went on post M. Smith doesn't cut it.

Doesn't change a thing, Oregon is mostly hype. XC is one thing, lets see how T&F pans out. Locking up a bunch of top distance recruits will isn't going to do it, sorry no recovery.

OK state is great if you're a distance runner. How many guys do they have at track Nationals this year? Last year? How hard would it be for a dozen other coaches to put 12 scholarships in the distance area and be a top 10 team. The best coaches still have a track team. As fo Oregon, they do benefit from some shady advantages, but they were NCAA CHAMPIONS in cross country and they'll be top 10 in track even without wonderbot Rupp!

OK state is great if you're a distance runner. How many guys do they have at track Nationals this year? Last year? How hard would it be for a dozen other coaches to put 12 scholarships in the distance area and be a top 10 team. The best coaches still have a track team. As fo Oregon, they do benefit from some shady advantages, but they were NCAA CHAMPIONS in cross country and they'll be top 10 in track even without wonderbot Rupp!

Anyone know why Smith left Texas Tech where he was already the head Cross Country coach? It seems from reading his bio that he went to Oklahoma State and was an assistant cross coach for 4 years and was only last year promoted to Head Cross Country Coach as OSU. Why would a coach leave one big school, only to take a lower position under an already established distance coach? Seems weird? Anyone?