Did Barnicle and the gang cause McDonell to quit?

underachievers and troublemakers come and go in a program; he's simply tired. He's been coaching there since the early 70s for cryin out loud! 35 plus years.

I think he's just tired as well. It's funny though how much more tired you are when you have a bunch of egocentric, self absorbed athletes. They lost the magic when AC graduated. Hope they get it back.

Not here to defend Barnicle or the other so-called underachievers, but Barnicle just ran 13:53 5k (indoors), Strang just ran 28:38 10k in Stanford, Scotty Mac ran sub-29 last year, Tyler Hill (a walk on) just ran 13:57 5k and 7:59 3k indoors, several 3:44 1500 guys (more than 4), the McClary brothers were awesome indoors, Duncan Phillips (another freshman) just ran a solid 3:44 1500 meters at a low key meet, and a very promising 800 runner in that freshman from Alabama (Chris Bilbrew I think).

With that said, I think it's really unfair to call these runners underachievers and to blame McDonnell's retirement on all of the PR's of these current runners. McD is just tired, is approaching 70 years old, has a wife and kids, and in my honest opinion should move on and pass the torch to someone else. Let this guy move on in peace, as well as the many youngsters who are also impacted by his departure. Barnicle is no angel, but I think McD would have kicked him off the team a long time ago if he was in fact that much of a distraction (ie Sam Vasquez or Mike Poe, etc, etc.).

The man is 69 years old. Maybe he just decided it was time to retire and enjoy life.

Excellent post.

if those guys have run the times posted, then by collegiate standards they are good, solid runners; not underachievers.

good be normal college standards; boarderline underachieving by Hog standards. Thats the brutal reality of it and is also the brutal reality Johnny Mac's sucessor will have to deal with.

Never want to be the guy to follow the 'Man'

A lot of people base the whole team or barnicle and cormier who never really improved much. Barnicle was probably a 14:10 guy his senior year.

asker wrote:

Did the current distance running crop of merry underachievers cause McDonell to quit?

Yes, I'm sure that a kid who has had one truly bad race all year(Indoor Nat's, his first national track meet) would make him want to quit. A kid who was huge in winning regionals(6'th I think) and SEC championships(indoors(12 pts.) & Cross Country(8'th place)).

What did Barnicle do that caused you to call him a trouble maker? I hadn't heard anything.

sjdkfhkdshgkf wrote:

A lot of people base the whole team or barnicle and cormier who never really improved much. Barnicle was probably a 14:10 guy his senior year.

Or hir Jr year.

Barnicle is a good guy who works hard yet has definitely had some trouble. He had a great xc season and indoor season. He is not a troublemaker by any means.

I'm not arguing that Arkansas is a team of underachievers, but I can give another example of a bad race. In their first dmr attempt this indoor season one of the McClary twins anchored in like 4:10

I heard Barnicle likes men, hot sweaty men. But that's just what I heard.

yo murph... people have bad races once in awhile.... relay teams don't click all at once... there is always a leg that will perform a little bad sometimes...

when everyone on a relay team clicks then you get a world record or college record like texas did that day for their DMR

Mrr82 wrote:

Or hir Jr year.

WTF??

To Mrr, an 8:50 2 mile equates to a 14:10 5k

8:49 3200 equates to 14:19 for 5000 meters exactly. Just trust me on this one. This is for high schoolers.

Older stronger runners with a better base could run 14:00 for 5000 once they get in 8:50 shape.

With the retirement of Coach Broyles With the retirement of Frank Broyles you knew that changes were going to be made in the athletic department. Coach Broyles and John had a GREAT relationship and John had access to him when ever he needed something. The new AD requires an appt. a week in advance! Coach McDonnell is a legendary coach and a great human being. He doesn't need to kiss the new AD ass to talk to him. John can now come to Eugene when I'll give him whatever he need to win a NCAA title for the ducks!