Comments on: Matt McCue’s “An Honorable Run” http://www.flathillsroad.com/2009/11/matt-mccues-an-honorable-run/ Parker Morse writes about running Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:21:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: pjm http://www.flathillsroad.com/2009/11/matt-mccues-an-honorable-run/comment-page-1/#comment-223 pjm Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:37:17 +0000 http://www.flathillsroad.com/?p=248#comment-223 I think it's a big deal given the context McCue provides (and I didn't). McCue never got any scholarship money from Colorado; that's basically what "walk-on" means in this context. So the money is, let's say, even. (CU and Midd obviously have different price tags, but it's impossible to guess what kind of need-based aid McCue qualified for or was offered by either school; he doesn't make a point of it.) I think the difference is that he was guaranteed the chance to run four years for Middlebury, even to be a big fish in a pretty small pond, but he chose to go to Colorado without even a promise that he'd be allowed to walk on--that's the part I neglected to mention. He could have gone to Boulder, worked his tail off, and never even had the chance to run for the school. So he's set up the decision as less small-time vs. big-time as sure thing vs. long shot. I think it’s a big deal given the context McCue provides (and I didn’t). McCue never got any scholarship money from Colorado; that’s basically what “walk-on” means in this context. So the money is, let’s say, even. (CU and Midd obviously have different price tags, but it’s impossible to guess what kind of need-based aid McCue qualified for or was offered by either school; he doesn’t make a point of it.)

I think the difference is that he was guaranteed the chance to run four years for Middlebury, even to be a big fish in a pretty small pond, but he chose to go to Colorado without even a promise that he’d be allowed to walk on–that’s the part I neglected to mention. He could have gone to Boulder, worked his tail off, and never even had the chance to run for the school. So he’s set up the decision as less small-time vs. big-time as sure thing vs. long shot.

]]> By: crowther http://www.flathillsroad.com/2009/11/matt-mccues-an-honorable-run/comment-page-1/#comment-222 crowther Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:22:54 +0000 http://www.flathillsroad.com/?p=248#comment-222 Sounds like an interesting read... But was his "decision to pass up a spot at Middlebury" a big deal? Middlebury is a NCAA Div. III school and thus cannot offer athletic scholarships, so ... trading a spot in the Midd. varsity for a chance to walk on at Colorado seems pretty understandable even to me (speaking as a NESCAC alumnus and fan).... Sounds like an interesting read… But was his “decision to pass up a spot at Middlebury” a big deal? Middlebury is a NCAA Div. III school and thus cannot offer athletic scholarships, so … trading a spot in the Midd. varsity for a chance to walk on at Colorado seems pretty understandable even to me (speaking as a NESCAC alumnus and fan)….

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