Trevor Dunbar is a sell out

From the linked article: “Trevor would have gone there had they offered a scholarship or even called him out of high school,” Conner says. “I did, so he came here. Now he’s good enough to get a scholarship down there.”

Totally untrue. Trevor attended Oregon's Track/XC summer camp in HS and was definitely recruited by them. It was actually a surprise when he decided to attend Portland.

That being said, I am of the opinion you stick with your decision and make the best of it. I feel bad for Coach Conner.

This topic has already been discussed at length, but I will say that I think the article takes the right approach and tone to the whole deal. There's an undertone of slight anger and more importantly, dissapointment in the individual's character. But above all else there is the idea that we shouldn't begrudge a 20yr old kid over a college decision. At the end of the day, it's not loyal to UP, the team, or Coach Conner, but as a business decision it might be best. By competing for the Ducks, he'll be in Nike's good graces and as he says, in their "atmosphere." I'd say he's more likely to get a contract now than if he were to enter the pro circuit as just a former Pilot. But this is why guys like Barkley (USC) get commended and guys like Dunbar take the heat. At the end of the day, each lives with his own decision, as should we.

who cares? I can tell you he certainly doesn't give a shit what you moron "fans" think of his personal decisions.

So based on your view of Dundar, would you hold the same feeling about Evan Jager? He left Wisconson early for his development.

Right choice for Trevor. Oregon is eons and eons above any running school in the nation as far as environment and fan base is concerned. Ask any runner, there is no place like running a race at Hayward field, an unbelievable experience, particularly with the fans being the most intelligent in the world when it comes to running. As with any runner who can make the Oregon Duck running team, the Duck fans will embrace and welcome Trevor Dunbar.

Dunbar is right wrote:

Right choice for Trevor. Oregon is eons and eons above any running school in the nation as far as environment and fan base is concerned. Ask any runner, there is no place like running a race at Hayward field, an unbelievable experience, particularly with the fans being the most intelligent in the world when it comes to running. As with any runner who can make the Oregon Duck running team, the Duck fans will embrace and welcome Trevor Dunbar.

Is this comment a joke? Seriously?! Get a clue.

Portland has a full track and field program, just not the facilities or scholarship $ to bring in national level non-distance athletes (or vice versa, as the choice may be).

Also, Lananna didn't coach Rupp, so scratch that time from this article's relevance...Kiptoo-Biwott was a Kenyan transfer from New Mexico, urged by Salazar as well...Right now, Conner's recent 5k development is as good in track as supposed "Track Town" legend Lananna's, who is leaving in 2012 to CEO USATF, by the way. Who has Vin had under 14 minutes in the 5k at Oregon?

I sense some jealousy here? I'm sure Portland has a great program. Tell me the last time Portland had 10,000 fans at their last college meet?

Students transfer all the time from one university to another to find a better fit. Why should student athletes not have this right? Get over it.

So Oregon loses LV and they poach Dunbar? Nice.

Richard Blower wrote:

So Oregon loses LV and they poach Dunbar? Nice.

And they still suck. Nice!!!!

He wanted to be a part of a full track and field team and experience the team atmosphere of Pac 10's and winning Track and Field Championships. No fun just being on a cross country team that trains in the winter and spring and runs a few meets. Not much fun going to a meet and everyone on team just waiting around to run the 1500 and 5k. Portland does do a nice job developing distance runners though, but should look into developing a track and field program as well.

fan of the sport wrote:

He wanted to be a part of a full track and field team and experience the team atmosphere of Pac 10's and winning Track and Field Championships. No fun just being on a cross country team that trains in the winter and spring and runs a few meets. Not much fun going to a meet and everyone on team just waiting around to run the 1500 and 5k.

Nonsense. I was on a good college team in one of the top few distance conferences. Conference track champ meets were fun, but they were twice a year. As distance runners we were focused on meets like Stanford and Mt. SAC like everyone else. And if you were good enough--nationals. (same as Portland)

Remember that top CC teams have the top guys only running a few meets per year for example. They aren't out there every other week trying to have team "fun time," and some may not even run at conference if it doesn't fit their peaking schedule.

Dunbar should do whatever he wants as long as he's as honest as possible with everyone. Would you pass up a job that you think you'd like better just b/c the manager you work for now is nice? If so, you're not that bright.

Trevor messed this up; sorry to say. He'll never be recognized as a genuine Duck and he's burned his bridge with Portland fans. In the future he'll realize this but it's too late to turn back. He's not a contender to make the 2012 team and in six months Vin will be gone and this whole scene will be iver. Trevor will be stuck as a fifth-year senior in a rebuilding program.

Yes, he is a sellout just like his dad was.

And the difference between Dunbar, and any scholarship athlete, is that they sign a contract and accept money to put on an institution's singlet. Like it or not, you give up your right to play the field after that. Karma's a bitch. Stand by for the epilogue.

I think its a bit out of line to label a college cross country runner as a "sell out". We're talking about a kid transferring from one state school to another, not Lebron James leaving the Cav's for the Heat. With that being said I agree that what he did was somewhat greedy and foolish. He said he wants to be on a team that competes for NCAA titles in both cross country and track. This doesn't make sense because he had to know that when he signed up to be a pilot there was a direct focus on cross country and distance. If his goal was to be on a more track and field rounded team than he should have choosen that out of high school (and he had the options; NON 2 mile champion) instead he choose portland, a school known for its distance program.

This article is written by a huge BEAVER ! He is an OSU guy through and through. If Oregon did ANYTHING, this guy would say it's bad.

Second between LV and Centro turning pro money has become available at Oregon. Trever has friends in Eugene I am friends of friends on facebook and can see his page.

Finally, Andy Maris is not the same. The only thing they have in common is FL runner up and Portland. Andy was a weird dude not a fit at Oregon or Portland he finally ended up running at Portland state. Andy didn't get a release because he didn't ask for one. He just left

Portland, finally, had a shot as a team to do something, but now, with Dunbar gone, it's pathetic. Oregon's good and all but you need to stick with the team you've bonded with and become a part of.

I understand switching coaches as a pro, but in college, no.

Cagel, do your homework. UofO is a state school, while UP is a private, Jesuit school. They are also clear rivals in the distances, particularly cross country. That fact alone makes Dunbar's decision far more complex than if he were leaving the area/state/region to pursue other options. Going from Portland to Eug after his level of success with Conner is a callow and disloyal move.

What level of success? He has hardly done anything at worthwhile at UP. A couple of XC All-Americans means nothing to a kid of that caliber. And what, 13:42...Dunbar had to have been at least a 14:15 kid in high school...

He's done okay at UP but he hasn't progressed all that much IMO. Probably his opinion too.