When Lanana arrives at Oregon

Tim Goldsack wrote:

I do not think the track program will lose ground. Vin won nationals at Stanford in track. He will do the same at Oregon. Vin is a lot smarter then you give him credit for.

The track program will lose ground. He did win nationals at Stanford, and it's conceivable that he could do it at Oregon. I don't mean to be negative towards Vin, I beleive he's one of college tracks greatest assets. What I mean by lose ground is that under Martin, the track team was a consistent Pac-10 title contender and a top ten National team building their way towards being a trophy team. The only way to do this on a consistent basis is to be balanced across all events. I don't beleive that Vin is incapable of doing this, I just beleive that Eugene is incabable of doing it because they can't stand resources being put into sprints. Someone earlier said that Oregon could be Arkansas in track, and I beleive that to be true, and the one to do it was Martin Smith. Arguably oregons best ever pac-ten team (they lacked the true big hitters to win nationals) was the year they fired him, this team scored in every event on the track except the 1500 (where both Rupp and Logsdon were capable of scoring). This team also set a school record for winning margin at the conference meet. Watch Oklahoma over the next few years, the team will develop into a consistent Big 12 title contender and national title contender, they will do it with balance. Maybe oklahoma will be the new Arkansas once Mcdonnel leaves and they start to fade from the scene.

Maybe the happiest people about Vin being at Oregon are those at USC, UCLA, and Oklahoma. Smith was tough competition at Oregon, has done a great job at Norman, and got a fat pay raise. USC has had both mens and womens programs in the top 10 in nationals the last 3 years (the only school to do so). ASU women won last year, and UCLA seems on the way back now. Those are the real Pac-10 track powers now, and with Nellums joining 3 members of the USC team that competed at Osaka, those trends are likely to continue. I'm guessing that 2008 is the year that Smith beats Oregon at nationals, and USC will score more points in the 400 alone than Oregon's whole team.

Enjoy the jogging in Eugene.

Very true Coach D, although, the Eugene fans are very happy with Lananna, they got what they wanted. An outstnading recruiter and distance coach who will have scores of guys running fast times at dual meets.

Coach D wrote:

Maybe the happiest people about Vin being at Oregon are those at USC, UCLA, and Oklahoma. Smith was tough competition at Oregon, has done a great job at Norman, and got a fat pay raise. USC has had both mens and womens programs in the top 10 in nationals the last 3 years (the only school to do so). ASU women won last year, and UCLA seems on the way back now. Those are the real Pac-10 track powers now, and with Nellums joining 3 members of the USC team that competed at Osaka, those trends are likely to continue. I'm guessing that 2008 is the year that Smith beats Oregon at nationals, and USC will score more points in the 400 alone than Oregon's whole team.

Enjoy the jogging in Eugene.

Well coach, do you think they are jogging in Eugene right now? I'm surprised you come to a running forum and try to bag a team for running. Focussed on running, and builing a dynasty around running.

Enjoy the jogging of your mouth.

Superpredictor wrote:

Let's just see how many of these things happen, might want to cut and paste this for future reference:

A)Lanana goes to Oregon as Coach/Assisant AD

B)Tyson stays on as distance coach in a Mike Riely role.

C)They recruit the shit out of the country

D)The meets in Eugene draw train loads

E)Hayward Field Packs out

F)The fastest collegiate times in the country are logged at Hayward Field.

Now, I know this is not all very likely to happen, but just in case......

Would he ever consider returning to Stanford in the Athletic director role?

This was an interesting post.

A) Happened

B) Didn't

C) Happened and happening

D) One could argue that this has happened, or at least has started, Oregon had some big meets last track season.

E) Hasn't happened, but attendence was up and it will surely pack out for the Trials, a result of Lanana's efforts.

F) Again, it is reasonable to think that this may happen as the meets are getting bigger and better in Eugene. Stanford still is a big draw for fast times.

Very funny about everyone's shock that Martin was a jerk on the track to outsiders. I no issue with joggers and less than elite runners not being allowed to run during practice time, but Martin used to pull this all the time at UW even when there was no official practice taking place. I remember watching him take over a 800 meter run during a summer all-comers meet for a time trial for his elite running group. Some guy (who was probably a bit over 2 min.) wanted to run in the heat with Martin's boys. All Marty kept doing was badgering the guy with "Sir can you run a sub-2?" over and over again until he backed off. A real class act.

I also was part of a group argument with his buddy assistant at OK Mark Napier who was telling us slower runners couldn't use lane one because of excessive wear on the track due to heavy footplant. Funny all the wear done in lane one was due to spike marks.

I do agree he got the shaft in Oregon, but it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Coach D wrote:

Maybe the happiest people about Vin being at Oregon are those at USC, UCLA, and Oklahoma. Smith was tough competition at Oregon, has done a great job at Norman, and got a fat pay raise. USC has had both mens and womens programs in the top 10 in nationals the last 3 years (the only school to do so). ASU women won last year, and UCLA seems on the way back now. Those are the real Pac-10 track powers now, and with Nellums joining 3 members of the USC team that competed at Osaka, those trends are likely to continue. I'm guessing that 2008 is the year that Smith beats Oregon at nationals, and USC will score more points in the 400 alone than Oregon's whole team.

Enjoy the jogging in Eugene.

Care to revisit this prediction Coach? I have a hunch you may be wrong given Oregon's recent ranking and victory over Wisconsin.

Bump on this

Northwestrun wrote:

The potential is there in Eugene, sure. Great facilities, lots of NIKE money -- well, Phil has currently pulled his money until Moos is gone, but still ... -- and a state that has fine prep track athletes.

If Vin does not follow the exact blueprint by recruiting bad local runners, having dual meets, and kissing old Oregon Track Club members' a$$es, he's sunk.

In Eugene, it's not if you win or lose, it's how you play the game ... it's always that. And playing the game means kissing the right butts.

Oregon actually could be Arkansas in track, but they hate sprints and jumps.

you are a dumbass.