omahaisflatnot wrote:
Devaney wrote:I don't think your "football as primary sport" argument holds.
"Husker Football Culture" is about how work ethic and consistency of purpose leads to excellence. See: walk-on program. This culture is embraced by the state and, yes, symbolized through the NU football program.
If anything, I would assume this would generate more quality runners because excellent running is predicated on long term commitment to development.
You obviously did not go to high school in nebraska
The problem with Nebraska running is that there is ZERO running culture.
In high school, it's the gawky, awkward, uncoordinated small kids who go out for the xc and track teams once all other options have been exhausted. It doesn't help when many of the high school coaches are the football coach or the PE teacher. Not that this is necessarily different than any other state/culture (and can in fact be a badge of honor), but at least then some of those kids "get it" and figure out it's going to take more than 20 mile weeks to succeed. But it takes a precedent, an example to follow born from a running culture already in place, or at least attempts to establish it. Don't believe me? Has anyone here ever tried telling a high school aged Nebraskan that they may have to run more than four miles at a time to improve? The ones that do "get it" are terrified to mandate or even encourage a summer/winter base for fear that all the rest will quit. Don't believe me? There has been serious discussion to drop both the women's and men's race distances (4k and 5k) so that fewer kids quit!
Post-collegiately, go ahead and praise the virtues of "the good life", but it turns the best potential into married, child-rearing, god-fearin' Millard-livin' office zombies by age 23. Not that this life-style is inherently counterproductive for all, but when a population is this obliviously unaware of what else is out there and what's possible, it tends to make fast people very slow very quickly.
Those who do "get it" get out or are just biding their time for various reasons. There are a few between Omaha/Lincoln that the OP can track down who are sticking around for the time being. Not that Omaha/Lincoln/Nebraska is "that bad", plenty of "good people" to get a beer, share a run and complain about each other's spouses with, but just not conducive to getting faster.
Get in, do your time, find some like-minded individuals and seek out some redeeming value (hard to find but it's there) and get out before you get stuck. :)