Andrew Wheating, you have a dilemma.
Should you stay or should you go … pro, that is.
The decision, believe it or not, should be entirely yours.
Don’t let a shoe company tell you what to do. By the same logic, don’t let Oregon tell you what to do, even if the coaches did turn you into what you are now – an Olympian, the first since the dad of your teammate Matt Centrowitz to do so with eligibility remaining.
Don’t let them talk you into a “be true to your school” argument. You’ve already delivered enough free publicity for the University to last it several advertising campaigns in the future.
Don’t believe me? Check out the two-page photo of the 800-meter finish in this week’s Sports Illustrated.
That’s you on the left, in the Oregon jersey.
Most people in Eugene probably don’t even want to bring up the argument of pro vs. college, afraid they’ll lose their running prodigy in an instant. But, this town loves track so much, do you think they’d really begrudge its newest favorite – adopted – son for following the momentum of Eugene 08 all the way to a contract?
That 1:45.03 you ran for 800 meters on June 30 is the second fastest in Oregon history. Even if your story of how you started running and came to Oregon is full of luck and being at the right place at the right time, your instinct on the track is no fluke.
Think about this: Your personal best is second only to Olympic gold medalist Joaquim Cruz.
It’s a tough decision. If you go pro, you won’t be practicing with the same class of distance runners you’re used to anymore. You know, the ones who dressed up and stood up at volleyball games in green and yellow before you really knew if they were good or not. You were a part of the first big distance recruiting class at Oregon in a long time; are you ready to be the first of it to have a career beyond the yellow ‘O’ jersey?
You should.
Not because you’re a favorite to medal at these Olympics, but because you can’t really do much more than you already have. Losing the NCAA title by .01 seconds might still sting, but making the trip to Beijing is its trump card.
How many national champions would trade their school’s jersey right now for your team U.S.A. Olympic singlet?
A team national championship? You don’t have that either, but since you don’t run cross country, a track title in the spring is a much more difficult task. Vin Lananna did it once at Stanford, but it won’t be any easier now.
You’ve already ran the four-minute mile, the 3:38 1,500m and the faster and faster 800s. Think about what you could do when you learn race strategy and devote yourself to the sport.
Turning pro wouldn’t mean you’d be ostracized from everything you know now. I’m not an expert on turning professional, but you’re one of the most marketable runners in the nation right now. You’re a great quote, genuinely likable and not too cool to show some emotion.
Wouldn’t anyone who wanted to sign you have to bend to some of your demands because of that?
You could train in Eugene still, pick your coaches and still finish your degree.
Play beach volleyball with your friends whenever you want. Walk around with the genuine “Who, me?” expression all the time.
The truth is, Eugene will like you no matter what you do.
For being the guy who didn’t know anything about the history of Oregon track, you are part of the race that made fans and coaches since the 1960s in Eugene say was the loudest they’d ever heard.
You should know that the stands at the all-comers meet on July 30 will be a little more full than usual. Why? Well, you’re running in it. Right now, that’s all that matters. Your stock in Eugene and the track and field world is so high that you could run with one shoe – like you did at an indoor meet in Washington this past winter – and runners would mimic it.
Don’t let anyone tell you that your story will stop if you leave the Oregon track team. The truth is, the legend of Andrew Wheating was written just before dusk on June 30, when you, Nick Symmonds and Christian Smith made the Olympic 800m team an all-Oregon affair.
You almost can’t go wrong either way. Choose wisely – and don’t forget to keep that finishing kick.
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Take it to the next level, Andrew
Daily Emerald
July 12, 2008
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