skieuropeSuper ModeratorPosts: 38,606Super Moderator
edited May 2017
I believe Bill Belichick was a three sporter at Wesleyan (football, squash, LAX).
That was 100 years ago (OK, 42 years ago). Three sport athletes were more common a generation ago (or longer in Belichick's case), but these days, the buzzword is specialization, and multi-sport athletes are a rarity. Right or wrong, it is what it is.
sushirittoRegistered UserPosts: 2,284Senior Member
Nowadays, both at the high school and college levels, the best athletes are sitting out to protect either their scholarships or their future professional careers.
Two examples: One local high school football player sat out his high school's playoffs because he didn't want to get hurt and affect his D1 football scholarship. And Christian McCaffrey sat out the Sun Bowl so he could prepare for the NFL Draft. There are probably hundreds of similar examples. Multi-sport athletes are a dying or dead breed.
twoinanddoneRegistered UserPosts: 19,584Senior Member
In the olden days, the 2 or 3 sport athletes were the top of the heap. Dion Sanders, Bo Jackson, John Elway. A bunch of the U of Miami football players had track scholarships when Miami lost football scholarships in the 1980's. Christian McCaffrey was a three sport athlete in high school (as are/were his brothers). McCaffrey admitted he would have played in the bowl game if Stanford was going for a national championship or probably the Rose Bowl.
It's not uncommon for field hockey and lacrosse to share athletes. I think it might be easier if the second sport is an 'individual' one, like track or swimming or golf, when the entire team isn't waiting for the player to finish up the first sport.
Replies to: 3 sport athletes
Two examples: One local high school football player sat out his high school's playoffs because he didn't want to get hurt and affect his D1 football scholarship. And Christian McCaffrey sat out the Sun Bowl so he could prepare for the NFL Draft. There are probably hundreds of similar examples. Multi-sport athletes are a dying or dead breed.
It's not uncommon for field hockey and lacrosse to share athletes. I think it might be easier if the second sport is an 'individual' one, like track or swimming or golf, when the entire team isn't waiting for the player to finish up the first sport.
https://www.colby.edu/magazine/three-sports-for-standout-athlete-kate-pistel-play-is-nonstop/