'12 MD ATH Ronald Darby (Florida State Signee)

[Rhode Irish]

LSU has a serious track program.

I know Darby is serious about track. And he should be - he's an excellent runner. But it is amazing to me that a school's track program could play any role in where a kid chooses to play football. At the end of the day, track is just something you do. It isn't on TV, there aren't any fans, there isn't a pro "league" or anything. Really, it seems like a misnomer to even say "track program" - its just running and jumping and occasionally throwing some things. Its good insofar as it develops skills needed to play actual sports, but I don't get how it could be so important for a serious athlete. It would be like a baseball player taking into account a school's rowing program when choosing where to play baseball.

And this is not in any way trying to question Ronald's decision. Its his life and he should do whatever makes him happy. This rant is completely about me and my confusion about it.

 

[tussin]

ps i like our chances in a straight up FSU battle for Ronald. he'll do is visit there, along woiht 20 other guys, will dive in the kool aid...then kelly and the boys get their in home and go for the close once the afterglow of fsu visit diminishes

I dont........ He has mentioned lately that track isnt that great at ND so I would assume since FSU DOES have a quality track program that would go against us. I never thought track was a deciding factor until recently. While I do like our chances football to football, adding the track factor might put us behind.

My completely uninformed guess is that the whole track thing is overblown. I'm guessing the staff (because they didn't want to lose him at NSD) said either decommit or stop taking visits and he chose to decommit. Doesn't mean who won't join back up, just that he wants his visits and wants to see what else is out there.

I think he was a little jolted by the staff's ultimatum and is using the track thing as the public reason for the move.

 

[NDdomer2]

We beat FSU for Lynch and Prestwood, the latter after he enrolled. I like our chances.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Update on 247 makes it sound like it's FSU, LSU or ND

I, too, like our chances against FSU. Not so much against LSU.

 

[kmoose]

I know Darby is serious about track. And he should be - he's an excellent runner. But it is amazing to me that a school's track program could play any role in where a kid chooses to play football. At the end of the day, track is just something you do. It isn't on TV, there aren't any fans, there isn't a pro "league" or anything. Really, it seems like a misnomer to even say "track program" - its just running and jumping and occasionally throwing some things. Its good insofar as it develops skills needed to play actual sports, but I don't get how it could be so important for a serious athlete. It would be like a baseball player taking into account a school's rowing program when choosing where to play baseball.

And this is not in any way trying to question Ronald's decision. Its his life and he should do whatever makes him happy. This rant is completely about me and my confusion about it.

Usain Bolt signed an endorsement deal with Puma, this past summer, that is reportedly supposed to be somewhere in the 4 year, $32 million dollar range. So it's not like he's going to commit himself to a lifetime of certain poverty, if he chooses to pursue football AND track.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Usain Bolt signed an endorsement deal with Puma, this past summer, that is reportedly supposed to be somewhere in the 4 year, $32 million dollar range. So it's not like he's going to commit himself to a lifetime of certain poverty, if he chooses to pursue football AND track.

OK, fine. Usain Bolt. There is always one sprinter in the world that is famous. It used to Carl Lewis, then Michael Johnson, and so on. Now its Usain Bolt. But even hardcore sports fans would have a very difficult time naming the second best runner. But that isn't even my point. College track is not on anyone's radar, except track people. It exists in near total obscurity. So, for that reason, I just find it amazing that football could be effected by such a thing.

 

[enrico514]

Silly question but how good of a runner/sprinter is he ? Does he have the potential to be a Usain Bolt ???

 

[stlnd01]

I know Darby is serious about track. And he should be - he's an excellent runner. But it is amazing to me that a school's track program could play any role in where a kid chooses to play football. At the end of the day, track is just something you do. It isn't on TV, there aren't any fans, there isn't a pro "league" or anything. Really, it seems like a misnomer to even say "track program" - its just running and jumping and occasionally throwing some things. Its good insofar as it develops skills needed to play actual sports, but I don't get how it could be so important for a serious athlete. It would be like a baseball player taking into account a school's rowing program when choosing where to play baseball.

And this is not in any way trying to question Ronald's decision. Its his life and he should do whatever makes him happy. This rant is completely about me and my confusion about it.

FWIW, Rhode, I'm equally confused about this. I mean, college track? Whatever.

On the other hand, we are in the final two on some people's #1 football recruit in the country because he can maybe play basketball for us next week. So who knows how the minds of these young men operate.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Silly question but how good of a runner/sprinter is he ? Does he have the potential to be a Usain Bolt ???

Yes. He competes internationally, and has Olympic-level speed.

 

[Irish Fam]

Usain Bolt is a stretch to me. But he definitely has World Class speed

 

[kmoose]

Usain Bolt is a stretch to me. But he definitely has World Class speed

The point was that there are some track and field people who make the kind of money that a late first or early second round player could expect to make.

Maybe it's just that he has always wanted a chance to win an Olympic medal, and feels that he needs to go to a solid collegiate level track program in order to get the kind of coaching that will get him there?

We're football guys, so we tend to put blinders on: some people have dreams that don't include football, whether we understand the thinking or not.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Silly question but how good of a runner/sprinter is he ? Does he have the potential to be a Usain Bolt ???

If his favorite color is bronze, yes.

 

[Irish8248]

Track is mainly an individual sport so who cares about the program if you're that good? He can set all the records at ND if he ran there. Unless his passion is the 4x4 relay, I don't get why a track program would be that relevant.. If it is, then i'm jumping up and down if i'm BK because that its an easy point to sell.

 

[military_irish]

To give some light on the Darby/Bolt thing. When Bolt was 15 he ran a 20.61s in the 200m and when Darby was 18 he ran a 21.24s 200m.

Darby could still increase his speed but Bolt is phenomenal.

 

[Irish Fam]

The point was that there are some track and field people who make the kind of money that a late first or early second round player could expect to make.

Maybe it's just that he has always wanted a chance to win an Olympic medal, and feels that he needs to go to a solid collegiate level track program in order to get the kind of coaching that will get him there?

We're football guys, so we tend to put blinders on: some people have dreams that don't include football, whether we understand the thinking or not.

My bad. Guess I didn't understand the context.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

The point was that there are some track and field people who make the kind of money that a late first or early second round player could expect to make.

To the best of my knowledge, Bolt is the only track and field athlete who makes NFL-like money, solely because of his endorsement deal with Puma.

For a kid in Darby's situation, football offers far better financial prospects than track.

 

[Chamellion]

Lets be honest, if he was really serious about wanting to run track as one of his motivators, he'd have Oregon as one of his leaders. They're top notch in football and track facilities and programs.

 

[NDTampa]

Not true. If you look at last years rankings for Mens outdoor track and field the rankings are as follows:

1. Texas A&M
2. Florida St.
3. Florida
4. LSU

I believe Oregon is known as a long distance running school which is not Darby's specialty.

 

[TerryTate]

Prefontaine, decent movie

 

[irishfanjho15]

Prefontaine, decent movie

Without Limits, another one about Pre

 

[WaveDomer]

I don't understand people's knock on track. Rocket ran track at ND. I saw him at the Penn Relays years and years ago running for ND. Anyway, track allows you to go to the Olympic Games, football doesn't. Is track on TV as much as football? No. Can you make near the money in track as in football? No. But so what? If the kid likes track and is good at track, why shouldn't he look for a school that has a great track program and a great football program?

 

[ThePiombino]

As long as we're still in the mix, I'm happy. It would have been too befuddling to be completely removed from the picture after months of verbal commitment. Let's hope Kelly closes!

 

[ND NYC]

The point was that there are some track and field people who make the kind of money that a late first or early second round player could expect to make.

Maybe it's just that he has always wanted a chance to win an Olympic medal, and feels that he needs to go to a solid collegiate level track program in order to get the kind of coaching that will get him there?

We're football guys, so we tend to put blinders on: some people have dreams that don't include football, whether we understand the thinking or not.

if in fact he is thinking Olympics....or fancies himself being a US Olympian....then he needs to hang up his helmet pads and cleats.

 

[Irishnuke]

if in fact he is thinking Olympics....or fancies himself being a US Olympian....then he needs to hang up his helmet pads and cleats.

this

 

[irishog77]

Prefontaine, decent movie

Without Limits, another one about Pre

Across the Tracks. Best track movie ever. Brad Pitt and Ricky Schroeder are an unstoppable duo.

Across the Tracks (1991) - IMDb

 

[Fbolt]

I imagine that on 1/13 Kelly, Diaco, and Alford will be knocking on his door with the ND plane at the nearest intersection. He will be Irish.

 

[FLDomer]

Just got word from my FSU insider that Darby is not going to FSU this weekend....but he is going next weekend which is even worse because Marvin Bracy and Jamies Winston will also be visiting. Darby apparently hit it off with Bracy at the AU game.
This is not good for our chances in getting him back IMO.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Just got word from my FSU insider that Darby is not going to FSU this weekend....but he is going next weekend which is even worse because Marvin Bracy and Jamies Winston will also be visiting. Darby apparently hit it off with Bracy at the AU game.
This is not good for our chances in getting him back IMO.

Yea... not good.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Where is IrishInFL to get the inside scoop from Gene?

 

[cLaRk_JoNeS]

FSU Track & Field Team