Johnny Tax payer, consider the possibility that some donors may really like the idea that they are supporting this opportunity for young men and women from Kenya. They may also like that the team does not discriminate, who knows..... maybe they even like the experience that all of the student athletes get by having diverse teammates from around the world. Some donors may contribute BECAUSE of the amazing running of these guys from Alabama. Roll Tide Baby. You think the football fans wouldn’t love if they found some rugby player from New Zealand or Nigeria that could tear it up on the Football Field for Nick Saban? Hey...maybe some will discriminate, but I’m sure others would love it.
Sure, some donors may not like it - no one is forcing them to contribute if they have a problem with someone coming from Kenya., although if you want to discriminate against someone strictly based on where they are from, you may think about doing some self reflection. There are plenty of charities supported by Americans that benefit those from other countries. The thing is though, this is far from a hand out...these young men are earning these opportunities and straight up PERFORMING.
You say the 9:15 guy that had to work would be a 13:00 guy? Who comes to mind? What HS 9:15 guy do you think would have run 13:00 if Kenyans were not allowed in the NCAA? What was his college job the prevented him from running 13:00? I’m hoping for your point that Erik Jenkins was working 80 hours a week in the coal mine through college but even then that example wouldn’t work because he was probably on a full scholarship and if not could have been if that was his objective.
The person who lets obstacles and competition stop them was never going to reach the highest level.
Great for the program, you know that Kenyans can’t integrate with the Americans? Why don’t you ask Josh McDougal what his relationship was like with Sam Chelenga? Or post collegiate for Ben True? Ask UofArizona teammates about Lawi - your gonna generalize every student athlete from a country and say they can’t integrate? Come on, you gotta know that’s not right. Dosnt mean that others don’t have trouble integrating but plenty of Americans will have trouble integrating in college as well. It’s different person to person. Some Kenyans are shy, some are funny, some are insanely smart, some are not, some are kind, others are dicks. They are people and they are not all the same.
You want to complain about them leaving after? If so, do you also have a problem with WCAP guys STAYING? With Lagat, Chez, Sambu STAYING? You might not have a problem with them staying but others do. Even if they do leave, what’s so terrible about a University contributing to the betterment of the world outside of the US? If Harvard can attract the most brilliant young mind from across the planet you better believe they are going to take them.
Those complaining about age, there is not an age rule. There. Is. Not. An. Age. Rule. This is the same for every team. It is not age cheating if they are older than an 18 year old freshman. Being older can be an advantage, but it is completely within the rules. Yes, it would not be in the norm for an 18 year old to train for years before entering college but they can choose to do that here or they could even go to Kenya with a lower cost of living like the Robertsons and do it there if that college scholarship is a must. But in comparison to Alabama’s top 3 how many 9:15ish Americans will run around 28:20 for 10K at any agE?
This is competition. Like others mentioned it raises the level of competition for guys like Rupp, Jager, Centro making them more ready for international competition. It literally recruits for the US Team as we have added Guys like Lagat and Chelimo after they went through the NCAA system. But often the same people who complaine about a college strengthening another countries Olympic team by supporting their up an coming athletes will also have a problem with someone born in Kenya becoming an American citizen and training in the US and earning a spot on the USA Olympic team. Because at the end of the day....the real truth behind all that hate is the same hate that people had for Black Men like Jackie Robinson, the fear that someone better who dosnt look like you, or isn’t from the same place your from is going to take the spot. You’ll search for every way you can to shape the narrative to your liking, try to vilify them...say it’s unfair...maybe cry? Give up? Or you can embrace the challenge and compete.
They seem like badass reliable teammates to me.