I'll set this straight once. Then you guys can go back to making ish up.
Craig was just a 1:55, 4:15, 9:06 runner when he committed to NC State. He didn't even win the XC state title or make footlocker. He was not yet the Craig everyone speaks about in high school.
NC State recruited Craig hard all summer, when he was just a 9:20ish, 1:55, 4:15 runner. During the summer most coaches weren't calling. UNC didn't recruit him. The only coaches that were calling were small schools, NC State and colleges that knew his coach.
Craig is a loyal person and it meant a lot to him that Seaton recruited him so hard. A lot people Craig knew were going to run for state, and he wasn't ready to go far away from home. Also state offered a good scholarship (not a full) before Craig blew up. His family needed the money for him to go to school.
Craig blows up (1:49, 4:03, 8:55) and NC state never ups his scholarship.
Craig goes to State and doesn't improve year 1. Part of this is because he had to have elbow surgery after falling off a bike during XC season. That summer Craig wins USATF Jrs and PanAm Jrs. Next year XC comes and it doesn't go well. Indoor and Outdoor go awful.
Now it is Craig's 3rd year in college. He runs decent in XC. Always in the top 7. He is not chosen for Nationals. Craig drives up to NCAAs with teammates who also didn't make meet to cheer on team. While he is there he and the coach get into it. The relationship that was rocky is now over.
Craig transfers to Ole Miss and the rest is history.
Takeaways
1. NC State was a bad fit for Craig, both training an personality wise.
2. NC State is a great program.
3. Lots of people transfer and than run faster.
4. Craig has the right to feel like he wasted 2.5 years at State.
5. State has done fine without Craig.