Noah Affolder to Oregon

So did he just stop competing for Syracuse as soon as he decided to transfer? Is that how it's supposed to work? I thought people usually finished out their season with their current team even if they intended to transfer for the next season.

I know a kid who went to our coach halfway through the season and told coach he was transferring to another school after the semester. Our coach thanked him, and asked him to turn in his singlet and gear before the end of the day.

The kid was shocked, everyone else was not. Why would a coach waste his time and energy on someone who has no interest contributing to the team and is leaving in a few months?

PersonalAnecdote wrote:

Why would a coach waste his time and energy on someone who has no interest contributing to the team and is leaving in a few months?

To score points. That seems obvious.

Not sure why it would be assumed that the person has no interest in contributing to the team. Self-interest alone should incentivize an athlete to keep performing to the best of their ability.

And if the fact that the person is going to leave in a few months means that they don't belong on the team, all seniors should get kicked off the squad.

Oregon opened up a full ride.

He didn't tell his coach he was transferring so the coach probably heard it second hand so he kicked him off the team. If you read the kids instagram you can see that his own team at Syracuse didn't like him and he went all in to be with his girlfriend who used to run at Oregon . Kids a talent and a head case which Oregon will soon figure out

Apparently nobody stroked his ego enough at Syracuse.

Honestly I am not surprised. Syracuse lost all relevance as soon as Knight graduated and Fox left. Can't blame the kid for leaving a school after his coach abandons the program.

When he makes it to the Olympic Trials next year, you can eat your theories. The Powells departure and Coach Thomas' arrival at OR has made for a much happier Team, rather than a bunch of self-absorbed individuals who think they're God's gift to running. Maybe the kid wants to bring some fun into his game, and knows that running with his best buds is going to make the OT a possibility. OR has no steeplechasers, and he's a Superstar in the steeple. Seems obvious why he transferred. And who would want to live through nightmare winters in Syracuse anyway??? We're lucky to have him at OR. Welcome Mr. Affolder!

Full ride opens at Cuse.

Didn’t he go to 3 or 4 high school’s? Now he transfers colleges. That’s a red flag to anyone.

While Kate Murphy has posted positive things on social media about doper Mary slaney (and responded to a comment calling her out about it with "everyone has opinions" lol) she is a very sweet person and has dealt with quite a bit since her arrival at Oregon. Can't speak to Noah but this comment is inaccurate as it applies to her

You're an idiot. His family is MILITARY - they get moved every 2 years. And LOADS of athletes transfer for a variety of reasons. OR men's team is going to kick butt next in XC, Indoor & Outdoor. You do realize he made it to NCAA's in the 3K Steeple as a Freshman, right?? He outshone Tooker at Syracuse, and Tooker couldn't stand it. Probably made Affolder's life miserable. Professional jealousy, anyone???

Hounddogharrier wrote:

Didn’t he go to 3 or 4 high school’s? Now he transfers colleges. That’s a red flag to anyone.

His dad is military and is transferred every 2 years. Not the kid's fault that he went to TWO high schools.

As for leaving Syracuse, well, I think you have a young coach who cares more about how the team performs and and less about desirable team culture and character. Probably not a good fit for Noah. Maybe he got tired of being the designated driver every weekend. Maybe some schools see partying together as positive team culture, and the one who doesn't want to participate is considered the problem, the "non-team player". Hope Oregon is better for him and he can find some kindred spirits on the team or at school. He is a talent.

Wow, someone has a big axe to grind here. Wonder if it's someone Noah beat easily. Or someone who is so deeply jealous of a truly happy man of faith, who is beautiful/talented/smart/kind and has an amazingly gorgeous/talented/smart/kind girlfriend. Sounds like a teammate at Syracuse who just can't cope with seeing his successful teammate ride off into the sunset, happy. Get ready, buddy. Noah and OR are gonna blow right by you next year. Take a look at the OR roster that he's joining: Reed Brown, Levi Thomet, Blake Haney, Cooper Teare. Brown & Teare just punched their tickets to NCAAs this weekend. Next year they'll have Noah in the 3k Steeple, which they have no one to run right now. OR is looking stronger & stronger. Throw that O, man. Quack!

a coach would use any athlete available to get the team further along. Kid was injured this spring, after getting injured during indoor season. Comes from a really nice family, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, takes his running seriously - probably not a great fit for a big party school. If you're talented enough to be able to transfer wherever you want to go, why not go find that place that's going to make you happier. That OR distance group is the same group that ran at the Texas Distance Festival in highschool when they were all top in the country - those boys know each other well. How do you build a great team? Bring together a group of great individuals who will run for each other, and not just for themselves. OR coaching is showing how smart they are to bring him on board. Can't wait to see what they can do together.

Good for both Syracuse and Oregon. ‘Cuse gets a scholarship freed up and Oregon picks up a stud. Once he stopped running well at ‘Cuse and had to deal with some injuries problems just multiplied and became extremely evident. Interesting to see how he adapts to yet another new school.

Everyone at Oregon knows we have no distance program. Its all done. Any guesses why?

Hejendo76 wrote:

Noah Affolder is headed to Oregon according to his Instagram story. He will be competing against his brother now who is going to Washington. Thoughts?

Thanks Noah, try to stay relevant...

Umm...Thomet and Haney didn't compete this weekend.