Sports Illustrated Reports: Harvard and Georgetown willing to work with Salazar

I don't know much about Georgetown's academic reputation, but I've heard about their frat parties and Hoyas basketball.

Can't imagine Harvard a good choice. Cold, dark, running misery half the academic year. Why subject yourself to that? Gtown better and an interesting possibility but still way behind Stanford as an ideal spot. Of course maybe they are not willing to accommodate them?

If Salazar to coach her, why not just turn pro and still attend school? What are the benefits of running in the NCAA for her? Training partners maybe? (Serious question, not trying to be snarky).

In the Sports Illustrated article they mention that the Cains want to keep all options open at this point. The article quotes Allyson Felix who said that she felt like she missed out on the college experience by running pro while attending college.

The article also mentioned this -

She avoids track-website message boards, which can be vicious and are demographically disconnected from her world. "All those old men [critiquing her]," she says.

I think she will eventually settle on Oregon. Why? Because it is only an undergrad degree that she will be working on while she's competing. She can get a higher degree later, from an Ivy League school if she wishes. It she went to Oregon, she could do what she loves (running) for the best in the country and she could be making connections to turn pro after about three years (a lot of the Oregon people are starting to do this). The final reason is that she could make a lot of money as a 21 year old pro, money she might not ever make in her chosen profession, meanwhile she could experience three years of the fun and growing of college life without the undo stress of an Ivy League type school.

You know what's stressful? Being a smart girl surrounded by thousands of ducks for four years.

mathwiz wrote:

I don't know much about Georgetown's academic reputation, but I've heard about their frat parties and Hoyas basketball.

First, Georgetown does not have social frats; second, they are consistently one of the top 25 universities.

Third, Georgetown does not have a track.

Don B. wrote:

mathwiz wrote:

I don't know much about Georgetown's academic reputation, but I've heard about their frat parties and Hoyas basketball.

First, Georgetown does not have social frats; second, they are consistently one of the top 25 universities.

10/10 LOL

Montesquieu wrote:

Third, Georgetown does not have a track.

Oh, but they do.

This would surprise me, based on what I've seen and read of her so far.

- I don't think that the stress of an Ivy League type school would be "undo" for someone like Cain.

- She doesn't need to make connections to turn pro. She's not some marginal athlete trying to make it into OTC Elite. She'll have people banging down her door.

- As for it being "only an undergrad degree," that's an accurate description of an Oregon degree--something that let's you check a box and apply to grad school. On the other hand, if she gets a real degree from Harvard, she would be poised for a professional (non-athletic) career without going to grad school.

- Going to a top academic school is insurance. We all assume she has an incredible future ahead of her as a runner, but anything can happen. If running doesn't pan out, she'll still be in great shape. If she's not highly competitive on the world stage at age 22, I can't see her wanting to chase the dream for another decade.

The city has a track that Georgetown gets to use. And it's only 320 meters

This isn't the only time since Rupp that a college was willing to work with Salazar like this.

Verzbicas and Portland.

What's "ideal" about Stanford? Far away from home. Besides, The Farm is a f__kin' finishing school. It would kill her killer instinct.

the lifelong value of a Harvard degree cannot be understated

If running doesn't work out she can command six figures pretty much anywhere she wants, she's a smart girl.

But we have treadmills. That's why Sabrina Southerland has committed.

Training not interrupted by horrid weather.An excellent school.A real team with other runners at least near her skill level, so she can have the 'team experience', unlike some Ivy where it would be like running on the Bronxville girls team again.

illegal Mexican worker wrote:

What's "ideal" about Stanford?

Realism wrote:

If running doesn't work out she can command six figures pretty much anywhere she wants, she's a smart girl.

And that's what's most important in life.

FM wrote:

In the Sports Illustrated article they mention that the Cains want to keep all options open at this point. The article quotes Allyson Felix who said that she felt like she missed out on the college experience by running pro while attending college.

I would guess that Allyson made at the very least half a million dollars in her first four years out of high school. Adidas also paid for her tuition at USC (though if she had gone NCAA I'm sure she would have been on full scholarship). She says she felt like she missed out on some stuff, buit if she had to do it all over again would she choose the NCAA over the cash? I doubt it.