De Grasse will soon be De Pro Grasse

Has he agreed to their doping cycle? You know they have different standards.

This sounds like wishful thinking from Ducks fans. In fact, they already have a plan through the 2016 Olympics, which includes either the Pan Am Games in Canada or the World Championships:

http://www.thestar.com/sports/2015/05/23/sprint-prodigy-andre-de-grasse-sets-sights-on-pan-ams-and-beyond.html?utm_content=buffer10b02&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

If he tums pro now, he would lose maybe the best coach in the world, and his value would be lower than it will with Olympic medals around his neck. And given the scale of the Nike doping scandal going on right now, I can't imagine any true prodigy that would be stupid enough to sign with them, when he has other options like Adidas.

I think Ducks need to factor in that they're going to be facing him next year, and Smith-Gilbert is going to be able to recruit a bunch more talent to go with him.

It's got to be a tough choice. I'd hope he would stay in school. Say he comes back next year after good, but not great results this summer at Pan-Ams and World Championships (every one seems to assume he'll never have a down moment again), and let's say he comes back and repeats NCAA title in one event but not the other. I'd assume a contract is still waiting for him, but the amount would be less?

I know he told his mother he is staying in school to complete his "degree". But the history of true amateurs in sport is money talks and b$#ll s#@t walks.

Strike while the iron is hot. It makes no sense to stay and risk injury. Then there's no Olympics, let alone pro contract. Look at the roster at USC and then figure out who hasn't competed since spring, if at all this year. Coach d, you need to stop it with this "best coach in the world" crap. There are lots of better coaches who put the welfare of their athletes first. Period.

I sort of agree. How many people get to make a living in track and field? If a good contract is there, take it. He went to college as much to major in track as he did to major in any academic discipline. If the track career doesn't work out, he can always go back to college (I know it's not always that easy or automatic, but technically it's true). But, the track contact may be a once in a lifetime opportunity. And, his stock is high.

This isn't a question of "stay in school" vs "go pro"--this is a question of "compete in NCAA" vs "go pro". There are plenty of college-aged track and field pros who are attending college (Mary Cain and Ajee Wilson are probably the two most prominent examples). If it were my decision, I'd take the money and continue in school. NCAA competition isn't worth giving up hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It's not like Bromell is far off Andre on any given day. He beat him indoors. Also an NCAA (and also world youth) champ with a legit 9.90. Does Bromell make the move towards the pros or wait another year?

so dumb not to take it.

He could get injured, burnt out, not run as well again.

And does he have to leave his coach? cant he take the contract and still train there? Even if not still take it!!

also why can't he go to school and just run pro? wouldnt that be best of both worlds???

De Grasse is at a school with many of the top US military, aerospace, medical, energy, and weapons laboratories. He would be dumb to leave school short of a degree.

An issue might be his grades and keeping academic eligibility. How strong a student is he?

He just ran some of the best times ever wind aided or not. Will he ever run faster in a future season? Odds are he won't. He should take the money now. Look at guys like Clement and Xman, or numerous other top collegiate sprinters who never got faster. He's actually worth more before the Olympics since he's now one of the favorites, once they are over its 4 years again until someone cares, and if Gatlin and Bolt beat him he won't be a household name. Right now he's Canada's great hope. Many people get dumped immediately after the Olympics regardless of performance because the next Olympics is so far away.

Doo wrote:

This isn't a question of "stay in school" vs "go pro"--this is a question of "compete in NCAA" vs "go pro". There are plenty of college-aged track and field pros who are attending college (Mary Cain and Ajee Wilson are probably the two most prominent examples). If it were my decision, I'd take the money and continue in school. NCAA competition isn't worth giving up hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Good point. I'd assume hundreds of thousands of dollars in a contract would give an athlete the opportunity to stay in school.

But, I really don't know how track contracts work. I'd assume most athletes aren't getting tons of cash to spend as they wish.

De grasse is so new to the sport and his form is PISS POOR. That's probably what's making his stock high. He needs to go pro now. He can easily still get his degree. That's not a valid excuse.

This guy could be great if he cleans his form up. Was I the only one thinking about Nigel Amos watching him run. Either of those guys cleans it up and wow!

Coach D lol do you really really think U$C will come close to Oregon next year at either Pac 12's or NCAA with or without De Grasse plain and simple NO U$C is no where freaking close to being on Oregon level the Ducks have what 9 straight Men's team championships and 7=8 s8? on the Women's side. I almost feel bad for Adoree Jackson he picked U$C over Oregon and he will never ever win a Pac 12 Championship let alone a National Championship at U$C because Oregon owns both sports in the Pac 12. Oregon>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>U$C

#1 USC Track and Field has always dominated the Olympic Games Medal stand and will continue to do. De Grasse could very well add to USC T&F tally at 2016 Rio. #1 USC dominates over #2 UCLA, #3 Stanford, and #4 Cal in total Olympic Medals won throughout history. I guess CGS has an incredible tradition to live up to. I wish CGS continued success.

John Smith or Bobby Kerssee?

Thanks for being the LR message board's biggest tool and fool and of course being wrong again