Wayne The point that most people miss with Road Racers and T&F, is that most of the Racers have never had anything to do with T&F, and know nothing about it. 95% of these (RW subscribers) do this for fitness and have no interest in T&F. They think that they can't possibly run on the track, it is only for fast, competitive people. Additionally, they don't watch the sport and don't help with its administration either. The collective groan when TAC became USATF came from this group, becasue they felt like they were getting less of the pie, so they took their toys and left. Its only the recent work of Craig, et al, and RunningUSA that have turned this around somewhat. On a whole Racers, still disassociate with anything on the oval.
If we are to build the fan base, it will never come from the Road Racers. The HS Kiddies are the group we want to get. They are also the TV demographic, too. Team scoring all season long (sans the Relay Meets) is the only way were going to create interest. This can work, but it means that many coaches are going to have to learn how to coach (not athletes) a team. This is very different than getting you best athlete a qualifier (which is what pisses off the Hogs coach). You have to manage the talent available to get them to win & perform well to boot. Many coaches today just can't do it. Sure they can win the NCAA, but that is all the studs banging heads, try getting that 4:15 miler to contribute as much as the 3:59 guy, now that is coaching. MJR
