Truth is, we lose many of the best track athletes before they even hit the track in college. Many of those who do compete in college (Tyrone Wheatley here in Michigan is a good example) only do so on loan from their football coaches and only when it doesn't conflict with spring practice.
Track may lose a lot of guys to football but football loses a lot of guys to US Marshall, the American Penal system and NA (Narcotics Anonymous).
On a serious note....sic
At the 1991 Penn Relays...Raghib Ismail was a featured sprinter in the college men's 100 meters. He had placed 2nd at the NCAA indoor meet at 55 meters with a time of 6.02 I recall.......He ran 10.6 something and was smoked by JOn Drummond then at TCU....short bursts of speed in football do not necessarily translate to 100 meter speed...
In 2004, American Sprinters consistently win on A World Stage....
Let's look at other sports.....
NBA cannot claim to be the best in the World anymore...they lost to Argentina and Italy....Do you think any of the "Dream Team" is embarassed that they were staying in 6 star accomodations, fathering children out of wedlock and getting arrested for spousal abuse when the teams that beat them were probably staying at the Olympic Village. If they were out of shape...maybe I should show up...I am better than Michael Jordan....when and if I decide to get in shape....sic
American NHL "Dream team" was never even close to being Olympic GOld caliber anything except hotel room trashing.
US soccer is not the best in the World but they are getting good...because they are willing to take a beating from other teams around the World....Soccer...or Football... at least as far as numbers goes....lays the best claim for having the best athletes by virtue of having the most participants around the World.
MLB "Dream Team" would get some good competition from The Japanese Dream Team, Dream Team from the Dominican Republic , PUerto Rico, Panama and a few more....at least we sent a triple A squad to Athens and they stayed in the Olympic Village...
American Football players have not proven or disproven themselves on a world stage..for the simple reason that few other countries except Canada play it....and thus as far as numerically....Football has the weakest claim that it has the best athletes as well as the fastest runners...even in hypothetical situations..If football becomes popular on a World level...the same thing might happen as the above sports...
Track was never restricted to North America