When should German go Pro?

After he gets his degree.

student-athlete wrote:

After he gets his degree.

You're one of those brilliant people who bash people others for going pro because they aren't in college anymore...when in fact they are still taking classes and getting their degree.

Perhaps you should get your degree, then you would know you can make money (doing the same thing you would be anyways) while getting your degree.

True if you go for an easy degree. For German (and most others as well) to get hard degree that you can bank on for the rest of your life would take 5 years especially if running a full D1 XC and T&F schedule. Plus that German was like most of us, a basic high school student.

student-athlete wrote:

After he gets his degree.

Ditto - the same as Rupp has done.

Not now.

with the bad economy, the companies are tighter on money then they have been in the past.

if German waits a year or two, if the economy picks up, he will get a lot more. right now it is a tough market for shoe deals.

J.R. wrote:

Ditto - the same as Rupp has done.

Except Rupp has had every advantage of being pro without actually going Pro. And don't for a second say that isn't true. Rupp got away with some B.S. He was basically pro but ran for Oregon. German will stay all 4 years, but don't try comparing him and Rupp in that sense.

After next year's track season

J.R. wrote:

student-athlete wrote:

After he gets his degree.

Ditto - the same as Rupp has done.

That's one way to do it.

Webb kept going to school, and going pro was probably the best thing he ever did. Making about 2 million dollars since going pro, and getting his degree, and setting the AR in the mile, among his other achievements.

If he had waited, who knows what would have happened. maybe he'd be where he is right now, not being able to demand hardly any money.

FT wrote:

True if you go for an easy degree. For German (and most others as well) to get hard degree that you can bank on for the rest of your life would take 5 years especially if running a full D1 XC and T&F schedule. Plus that German was like most of us, a basic high school student.

What is it exactly about getting paid to run, that you think makes it harder to get a hard degree, then if you aren't being paid? Do you think it's having more races while trying to study? Because it's not....most of the pros big races are when college is out, which is a HUGE plus to being pro while being in college. You have a much easier racing schedule during the school year, and can set your training shedule to fit your needs rather than whatever has already been decided for you.

Yeah, That is why Rupp's parent's went 100k in debt to pay for his travel, coaching, expenses, and Salazar's petrol form Portland to Eugene.The went by the rules, suckhead.Some babies will just never stop being jealous.

henry david thoreau wrote:

J.R. wrote:

Ditto - the same as Rupp has done.

Except Rupp has had every advantage of being pro without actually going Pro. And don't for a second say that isn't true. Rupp got away with some B.S. He was basically pro but ran for Oregon. German will stay all 4 years, but don't try comparing him and Rupp in that sense.

Jabroniii wrote:It would be more beneficial, because I'm assuming he could cash in quite a decent amount right now after all his accomplishments. If he could even rake in $100k a year that would be phenomenal--- he could save a pretty penny as well as pay for the years he would be missing college with that kind of money. .

I would hope given the fact he's 18, has run 339/747i/355.0i,1325, and doesn't seem to have even maxed his potential in any track races he ran other than perhaps the 5k which was pretty much all out, that he would make more than that. Webb got 250k a year, which followed a year in which he tanked. German has done things Webb wasn't capable of at the same age, even in the mile (indoors, and like outdoors if he had been given the shot). Heck weren't the Hansons offering anyone who could break 28 mins in the 10k 100k a year!?

I know the economy is crap etc etc...but if Nike or any running company wanted to put their eggs in one basket, German would be the man to get it. If (i should say when) Nike picks up Rupp, German could be another shoe stores "Jordan" to counter attack.

There's something about the comments Coach Dave Smith has made that seem to indicate he knows he could lose German at any time. But I think he expects to have him for at least another year, and it would be wise to stay through 2011. In the Olympic year 2012, depending on how things are shaping up, maybe turning pro would make sense.

I tend to think the college team experience is enjoyable and invaluable. I think Rupp, Barringer, and Wheating have all felt the same way.

someitup wrote:

Not now.

with the bad economy, the companies are tighter on money then they have been in the past.

But I thought Obama was going to fix the economy and save us all....

someitup wrote:

Not now.

with the bad economy, the companies are tighter on money then they have been in the past.

if German waits a year or two, if the economy picks up, he will get a lot more. right now it is a tough market for shoe deals.

This is true that company's are definitely cutting back. Also his stock wont be able to go up really over the next couple years at least as far as the big company's are concerned. He will get a lot better over that time but that's not what matters. Track athletes just like swimmers get much better deals in Olympic years/ WC years especially if they are qualified for the championships and might do well. Unfortunately he did not qualify for this WC and next year will be the useless year with no championships so he should wait till at least 2011 and hope he has another good season and in the mean time he will get free education and still get to run fast. The great thing about our sport is no matter who you are you can still compete against the biggest people in the world if you are just fast enough, no real need to be pro. Not true of the NBA etc.

march 18, 2010

Umm. When he wants to?

Nike cut 1700+ employees recently and even more recently cut club runner sponsorship, so you have to figure that they (and other shoe companies) are not going to pay out large sums to runners now, other than their oregon boy. Lagat stayed in the NCAA system, Falcon did, BK did. It's not necessary to leave. GF should establish world elite level credentials before he does. But as Mrr82 pointed out, if he goes pro before graduating, his contract will likely include money to pay for him to finish college, as in the case of Webb and so many other big names.

Nike cut 1700+ employees recently and even more recently cut club runner sponsorship, so you have to figure that they (and other shoe companies) are not going to pay out large sums to runners now, other than their oregon boy. Lagat stayed in the NCAA system, Falcon did, BK did. It's not necessary to leave. GF should establish world elite level credentials before he does. But as Mrr82 pointed out, if he goes pro before graduating, his contract will likely include money to pay for him to finish college, as in the case of Webb and so many other big names.

When German learns how to race, he should go pro. I'm probably the biggest German Fernandez fan on the planet, but I'm also intelligent enough to know that the kid has a LONG way to go to reach his potential. He's young and extremely ill prepared for the Pro racing circuit. He needs to learn how to mix it up with other young stars before he tries to take on the world. That's where I think Coach Smith is messing up. German doesn't need the confidence boost of running out front where it's safe and winning races in time trial fashion. He needs to get in and mix it up with some elbowing, position jockeying blue collars. There's no way he can live up to his potential without learning how to race.