As the title asks ... is there any other sport where college and pros are mixed during competitions..?
As the title asks ... is there any other sport where college and pros are mixed during competitions..?
Early season football games, like U of M vs. Appalachian State.
Jesus man use your head. It's an individual sport. The pro's outcome doesn't affect anyone else's outcome. The pro doesn't change the team scores at all.
Well.... wrote:
Early season football games, like U of M vs. Appalachian State.
haha
Not all college track meets do allow open/pro athletes.
Some reasons events may allow it:
- to attract more competition that may help your top collegiates run faster times when they can go along with the pros
- ends up causing some meets like stanford, pre classic, etc to be much more successful in terms of revenue through entries and ticket sales
- may draw prestige to their school if they run a top meet
But the biggest reason is probably just that the coaches and athletic department members setting up the meet are fans of the sport. They want to watch elites run too.
In the case of meets allowing lower level open athletes to compete, again it usually is just a desire to see the sport thrive. Those lower level athletes may end up being coaches for local high schools, etc.
I'm an example of that. My mid level decathlon abilities don't bring any prestige to local meets. I end up in the middle of the results for some open events and the upper third of decathlon results at the meets I go to. But I likely never would have gone on to coach if I hadn't decided to compete after college, instead I would likely have faded out of the sport, or only felt qualified to coach distance.
Instead, I feel qualified to coach multiple events. This proved relevant, because I the local high school had been unable to find a vault coach for 2 years until they found me. I also can fill in if the throws, jumps, or hurdles coach can't make practice that day.
Gentle on the top wrote:
As the title asks ... is there any other sport where college and pros are mixed during competitions..?
Please name the college meets you are referring to.
I'm an open runner in collegiate track meets, what impact have I had on your season? Why shouldn't I be allowed to compete? Does getting first in your heat matter if you win with a 7:00 mile?
Gentle on the top wrote:
As the title asks ... is there any other sport where college and pros are mixed during competitions..?
You are assuming that those meets are "college meets" instead of just "meets". Some of them are opens. Some of them are invitationals. Some of them are college meets.
Golf
Bowling
Its the nature of our sport... College or HS students could compete in the Diamond League if they were good enough. So why not go the other way too.
Besides its a totally different world (track and field vs pro sports). The day we have $1B stadiums to watch weekly track meets among pros who earn $1-20 million just to run 800m is the day we can abandon college integration.
How many meets per year do you see where only Pros are allowed?
Walk ons prospective walk ons. Sometimes used to give them a chance to prove themselves in conditions that the coach can make the best judgment about.
Sometimes runners compete unattached.
Sometimes alumni. Etc. Benefits for the program, the general culture surrounding the program, etc. Benefits for spectator,
Families, friends, community enjoyment, interest, excitement.
Because the sport is marginal at best and can't support itself outside of a few meetings held in Eugene each year.