Iowa state Kenyan plan

I guess you're being prepared for the real world. Thank the coach.

I guess you're being prepared for the real world, thank the coach.

I guess you're being prepared for the real world.

Thanks for the bulletin. Iowa State has been competing with foreign athletes for a mere 40 years going back to Joseph Kipsang, through Yobes Ondieki, Jon Brown, John Nuttal and a host of others. In fact, the overwhelming majority of XC All Americans who competed for Iowa State have not been Americans.

However we appreciate you pointing out this recent phenomenon.

Pollard may be the only American in top 5 next year. 2 former state champs are sitting on the bench getting disgruntled.

The coach is insane, so I wouldn’t be surprised. I’ve heard stories directly from athletes about 1-2 hour long speeches before workouts, 6 hour practices, and the coach getting mad for no reason, cancelling workouts if splits are off, etc.

This really is true. But I think you need to do it the right way. Taking a sheltered 18 year old kid and screaming at them doesn't seem like the best way. Looking back I can understand what he was trying to do. Making mentally tough athletes and cutting out soft attitudes are both things that needs to be done, but recognizing and knowing your athletes is also a big piece of the puzzle and I think that is why there is a very big turn over rate there.

Yes, it's so generous of the OP to point out something that's been true since the '70s or '80s, getting us up to speed in case we weren't on this planet for the past four decades.

I wonder if this has ever happened elsewhere.

Corey Ihmels and Jon Brown developed just fine alongside the Kenyans there, but then they clearly weren't fragile millennial snowflakes.

Millenialolz wrote:

Corey Ihmels and Jon Brown developed just fine alongside the Kenyans there, but then they clearly weren't fragile millennial snowflakes.

Right there is a certain kind of person who it works for but I do think it is sad all of the kids that go there and end up going no where because they dont know what they're getting into and it isn't actually a good fit.

Droddy & Stinson's Communal Bong wrote:

Yes, it's so generous of the OP to point out something that's been true since the '70s or '80s, getting us up to speed in case we weren't on this planet for the past four decades.

Most high school kids don't know and when the coach is telling you something different then what actually happens it's frustrating. Plus there have been multiple coaching changes since then so just because it was like that decades ago it could have changed since the. And that's what the recruiters will tell you when it's not really true.

They may have a lot of foreigners but they will make a run at a championship next year and they will make some noise during track. They not only have the best distance runner in the NCAA but they have the best mid distance group.

Millenialolz wrote:

Corey Ihmels and Jon Brown developed just fine alongside the Kenyans there, but then they clearly weren't fragile millennial snowflakes.

John Nuttal somehow stumbled his way to an NCAA XC title as well. Don't know how he had the stones to do so.

justpointingitout wrote:

Millenialolz wrote:

Corey Ihmels and Jon Brown developed just fine alongside the Kenyans there, but then they clearly weren't fragile millennial snowflakes.

Right there is a certain kind of person who it works for but I do think it is sad all of the kids that go there and end up going no where because they dont know what they're getting into and it isn't actually a good fit.

Then their helicopter parents didn't do their due diligence in researching what programs could be just soft and fluffy enough to send their precious little angel off to, should have steered clear of any coaches who show the slightest hint of expecting accountability.

Chad Johnson (Ohio) , Milo Greder (Nebraska), Mitchell Day (MIchigan) will all be in the Cyclone Top 7 next year. I question if Gable S. ever makes the rotation at this point but I questioned it before he got there. I like the Sindt kid alot but not sure Martin will be patient enough for him. Martin has not done well with Iowa kids outside of Pollard.

well, it looks like you didn't get the job done and now you are whining on here.

Just pointing that out though.

Millenialolz wrote:

justpointingitout wrote:

Right there is a certain kind of person who it works for but I do think it is sad all of the kids that go there and end up going no where because they dont know what they're getting into and it isn't actually a good fit.

Then their helicopter parents didn't do their due diligence in researching what programs could be just soft and fluffy enough to send their precious little angel off to, should have steered clear of any coaches who show the slightest hint of expecting accountability.

I'm not sure if I would say breaking radios over nothing and riding in gators yelling at your athletes telling them to get their heads out of their ass because they're doing something wrong but then doesn't communicate what he wants them to do instead. For me he kept telling me to relax but for me I felt relaxed and he never told me what I was doing wrong but would yell at me all the same. I'm not sure if that is what accountability is. When you have self sufficient athletes who are motivated and want to do well and then you punish then for wanting to do well isn't what I would call accountability. But sure we should of known better you're right there.

not to be wrote:

well, it looks like you didn't get the job done and now you are whining on here.

Just pointing that out though.

I did not get the job done you're right haha but I think that was his plan so I would leave. In high school I was doing 75-80 miles a week and with a fair amount of intensity and when I went there my second year he still only had me doing 50-60 a week and not really doing anything hard. I think the best fit for someone going to iowa state would be someone who is stupid talented who will blindly do everything the coach tells them and it will work because they are just that talented. Iowa state I would argue has done a very poor job of developing athletes from where they were in high school to what they can do in college. Like they lost the NCAA DMR because they couldn't develop their 1600 guy from a 8:50 2 mile and a 4:08 mile in high school to a guy who can go solo with a big lead better than 4:05. You would think a guy with those high school time with all of the best facilities and everything available should be able to be turned into a sub 4 guy. But they dont develop people there.