Really sad what has become of our once nationally respected men's track team. I don't know the reason but the rapid descent was evident even during the last few years in The Belt. Now the descent is compounded by the fact that C-USA is by far better in track that the OVC or Belt.
Various reason have been proposed for the decline: Hayes' age, the inability to hold on to quality assistant coaches, lack of support in the Athletic Dept. (de-emphasis of track when compared to other sports - primarily finances needed to recruit) - to his credit Hayes had not complained publicly if true, lack of cooperation with other coaches in sharing athletes, and the inability to recruit high level local (mid-state) athletes who once would come to MT. Regardless, it's hard to see this once proud program decline so much during the twilight of the career of one of the greatest coaches MT will ever see. And this disappointment is exacerbated by the fact that the WKU women won the championship and their men were far ahead of MT is points finishing in a close 3rd place.
Cross posted at BlueRaiderZone.com - "Non-Revenue Sports + University News" forum
(Admin. - please advise if not allowed)
Various reason have been proposed for the decline: Hayes' age, the inability to hold on to quality assistant coaches, lack of support in the Athletic Dept. (de-emphasis of track when compared to other sports - primarily finances needed to recruit) - to his credit Hayes had not complained publicly if true, lack of cooperation with other coaches in sharing athletes, and the inability to recruit high level local (mid-state) athletes who once would come to MT. Regardless, it's hard to see this once proud program decline so much during the twilight of the career of one of the greatest coaches MT will ever see. And this disappointment is exacerbated by the fact that the WKU women won the championship and their men were far ahead of MT is points finishing in a close 3rd place.
Cross posted at BlueRaiderZone.com - "Non-Revenue Sports + University News" forum
(Admin. - please advise if not allowed)
