Team aspect of XC goes all season long. Why does it need to go into the post-season? Who wants it to go into the post-season? – A shoe marketing company, coaches unable to separate team from individual because team is more important to them as it elevates the coaching aspect, and many many team runners lacking the ability to compete nationally at Footlocker.
Kinney-Footlocker brought together the best-of-the-best in a special format highlighting the individual and celebrating their talent. Team aspect was excluded for a very good reason. Nike’s initial proposal was to scrap Footlocker and change it to an NCAA championship format race. Nike wanted to scrap the history, the location, the uniqueness and individuality of Footlocker. The proposal was given with smile on their face while jingling coins in their pocket. Nike knew the proposal would be rejected. Make up your own minds about the aftermath.
I applaud NXN and their participation numbers. The NXN web-cast was very good. But the web-cast mirrors the NCAA web-cast as it follows the lead runners and the winner as he or she crosses the finish line. Visually following a team race has always been a concern. Viewers can see the individuals who cross the finish line one, two and three and know who won the race. Ironic that a team-promoted concept focuses on the individual during the actual event. NXN got that part right.
One could argue that NXN lacks diversity since the same teams qualify frequently. The Manlius girls are amazing. But name two Manlius girls from this year’s team. Name any Manlius girl from a team several years ago. Anybody know the coach’s name? I assume most coaches will know the Manlius coach, but not the girls themselves. Coaches celebrate coaches. Coaching factories will continue to dominant NXN. Anybody think Manlius, Great Oak or Saratoga girls will be on the NXN podium in 2016?
Coaches preach team-team-team. Individuals get lost in the team-team-team. Some individuals believe in team first. Others do not. Kinney-Footlocker celebrates the individual post-season. There is no mystery why Footlocker rejected the NCAA concept. Footlocker is post-season high school. The NCAA Championship is in-season college. High school is not college!