ACC Men's 3000 DQ -- Cost VT the team title

i'm twelve years old and what is this

I would like to think that people in this world have not stooped so low as to actually defame and slander a 20 year old college amateur athlete as though he owed anything to anybody but himself and his team mates. They do not race for money or fame. The most that any of them get out of this college races is a medal and maybe a blub in their school’s online sports page. Until they move into the professional running world which is a different story. Professional athletes sign up for this treatment by signing endorsement deals and coming into our homes via our televisions and they are paid. This is not Mulherin’s career. He does not deserve such harsh criticism from what is probably a bunch of other athletes. Athletes who should take a good look at themselves and try to imagine how it would feel to have your title striped from you minutes after you are announced a winner and then read as people bad mouth you on the internet. Who cares if he acted cocky after winning the race? Who really cares? Has nobody on this message board ever celebrated something and done it in such a pure way that you did not censor yourself to be politically correct? I feel like if the answer to that question is no, then you have not really accomplished anything in your life. So stop hating on a college kid. Grow up and move on. It was just a race. Yes, the race determined who won ACC championships but at the end of the day it was just a race. Yes there will be disappointment when something you train for everyday does not pay off in the way that you want it, there is going to be anger. But what is done is done, and hopefully from now on there will be NCAA sanctioned video at events at Virginia Tech, especially important meets such as ACC’s so such disputes will never be left up to a single person to decided. So everybody just needs to move on from this incident. Get back to your real life and stop posting slanderous comments on the Internet about someone who is just trying to enjoy a talent given to him and use it to the fullest while he still has the youth and physical ability to do so.

found this pic of mulherin and leeder. it looks like he punched him in the face

This is far more black and white than people are making it out to be.

The situation:

1.) Mulherin raises his hand to Leeder bumping him and causing him to break stride.

2.) A flag is thrown.

3.) The officials at the meet come to a decision that Mulherin did not run within the rules and disqualify him as a result.

No matter how heated the coaching staff (of either team) were, the officials are there to make the call. Watch any sport on TV where a coach gets irate, the officials never change their decision based on the coach's agitation. Why would this situation be any different?

Lastly, FSU's staff did not file a protest about the outcome of the race, though they did (clearly) protest verbally. There is a huge difference here.

While I understand the intent in your post, you are being overly simplistic. Amateur athletes are constantly put under a similar microscope as their professional counterparts. College football and basketball players are analyzed and criticized on a daily basis. I'm sure a good portion of those 18-22 year olds want the best for themselves and their team. Like I said you have a valid argument that the line between critique and slander gets blurry at times, but believing that collegiate runners aren't going to be held accountable or at least questioned is naive and unrealistic.

Come on people. There are more important problems to worry about than the ACC Men's 3000 DQ. We have to end apartheid for one. And slow down the nuclear arms race, stop terrorism and world hunger. We have to provide food and shelter for the homeless, and oppose racial discrimination and promote civil rights, while also promoting equal rights for women. We have to encourage a return to traditional moral values. Most importantly, we have to promote general social concern and less materialism in young people.

Pat Bateman wrote:

Come on people. There are more important problems to worry about than the ACC Men's 3000 DQ. We have to end apartheid for one. And slow down the nuclear arms race, stop terrorism and world hunger. We have to provide food and shelter for the homeless, and oppose racial discrimination and promote civil rights, while also promoting equal rights for women. We have to encourage a return to traditional moral values. Most importantly, we have to promote general social concern and less materialism in young people.

And you are working on all that by wasting your time on Letsrun huh? Let us know when your work is done. Maybe you can start your own thread about it.

I watched the video in one of the previous threads and the DQ was way out of line IMO. BS call.

what doesnt kill us makes us stronger... sometimes there is no time to think about the situation we are in when we are in the middle of it.

http://www.funnysociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/logistics-4_368699861.jpg

While I appreciate your description of Mr. Mulherin and don't doubt that he is passionate and was very likely distraught after begin DQ'd, your statement that Mulherin did not swear at any FSU coaches is false. After the final decision was made on the dq, Mulherin walked down off risers where the media was asembled, walked by FSU sprint coach Ken Harnden and muttered "f***ing c***sucker." Then, as Coach Harnden walked through the warm-up area towards the finish line, Mulherin pointed directly to Coach Harnden and SCREAMED "you f***ing c***sucker." Coach Harnden then approached at VT asst, told him what happened, and asked the coach to get the athlete under control which the VT coach attempted to do. As passionate as he may be, and as much of a team player he may be, his actions were uncalled for, and a very black mark on his program and the ACC.

I figure the fact that Leeder's back was close enough for Mulherin to be able to push him in the back pretty much proves that Leeder did not have enough clearance after his "pass" to legitimately cut in to the lane! If he had passed before cutting in, he wouldn't have been able to be pushed.

Robby Andrews should be DQ'd for having too much talent. his last laps in the DMR and 800 were ridicasaurus rex. who gives a shit about the 3k. Braman is just pissed that he's losing his place at the top of the ACC. Your reign of terror is over, Boob

rollie braman wrote:

Robby Andrews should be DQ'd for having too much talent. his last laps in the DMR and 800 were ridicasaurus rex. who gives a shit about the 3k. Braman is just pissed that he's losing his place at the top of the ACC. Your reign of terror is over, Boob

With the amount of points sitting back in Tallahassee waiting for the outdoor season, don't expect the 'Noles to pass the flaming spear on too quickly.

rsbones wrote:

I figure the fact that Leeder's back was close enough for Mulherin to be able to push him in the back pretty much proves that Leeder did not have enough clearance after his "pass" to legitimately cut in to the lane! If he had passed before cutting in, he wouldn't have been able to be pushed.

No, Leeder was past, and then Mulherin responded and accelerated to close up the gap as Leeder was running on the outside of lane 1. It was Leeder's space the Mulherin ran up into.

The video does NOT show leeder trying to cut in. the argument that Leeder cut in too early is false.

Homestretch Observer = Ken Harnden

You are falsifying a story to slander a college kid and to make yourself look better. Laughable, man.

No, Backstretch Observer = Harry Norton

homestretch observer: that is complete bs. I was within arms reach of him as he walked out of the warmup area and never did he say anything directly to ANY fsu officials/athletes. the only words yelled to any officials/coaches was that the "push" was in defense of leaders elbow/impeding of space. mulherin nor any other VT track athlete would say such things to officials/other coaches....even if they deserved it.

Who really cares about the acc championships anyways? Former acc runners? 8:07/8, is slow. If the guy was fast this whole mess could have been avoided. This whole argument is pointless. Slow runners in a crappy race. get over it.

Nope, sorry.

I suggest people wait until the ACC select video is put online. I'm sure this video will give an unbiased look at the final few laps of the race.

Harry Norton