What is a "fast track"?

[BehindSteelCurtain]

I hear this sometimes but don't understand what it fully means. I heard that OSU has a fast track, because player's 40 times always are better at pro day. I mean how can one track be any different then another? Can someone sum this up

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Its kind of like the difference between playing tennis on a hardcourt vs grass....or running on grass vs. astroturf.

The softer the base of any turf, the more it will absorb the energy put into it to push off. The whole thing is that some schools run on a rubberized track, some put a rubber mat on their turf, some run on field turf, others on grass and some scouts swear that some schools run their 40's on a slight downhill slope.

I dont know what the OSU turf is like, but the best thing about the combine is all players run on the same turf for comparison. Film is still the best way to evaluate speed.

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by El-Gonzo Jackson

Its kind of like the difference between playing tennis on a hardcourt vs grass....or running on grass vs. astroturf.

The softer the base of any turf, the more it will absorb the energy put into it to push off. The whole thing is that some schools run on a rubberized track, some put a rubber mat on their turf, some run on field turf, others on grass and some scouts swear that some schools run their 40's on a slight downhill slope.

I dont know what the OSU turf is like, but the best thing about the combine is all players run on the same turf for comparison. Film is still the best way to evaluate speed.

Absolutely.

I don't know if you ever watched hockey El G. But there were these five brothers that all played in the NHL. The Sutter Brothers. Now, they were never the fasted, quickest, hardest hitting, best shooting, etc. Matter of fact, probably half of every team they were on had more speed AND talent than they did. However, when the puck dropped, it was AMAZING how many times they could beat a faster guy to the puck, put a bigger guy on the ice, find the hole to make the key goal.

SOme people just KNOW how to play the game. Those are teh people that you REALLY want on your team, because they will put their heads over the boards, puke, then come back and skate for another 20 minutes.

Same thing in football. You don't need the fastest, most talented, tallest guy. You want the guy with the biggest heart and has "it." No track can tell you that. Right Hines Ward?

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Yes Preacher, I watch some hockey. I know all about the Sutter family and have actually driven by their hometown of Viking Alberta. Funny story about them was they used to have a half mile walk up their dirt road to the farmhouse. Apparently the 5 brothers got in a lot of fights on that daily walk from when the bus dropped them off and some credit their toughness to that daily experience.

[tony hipchest]

its a horseracing reference. if the horse runs on a hard compact dirt surface he is faster, as opposed to when he runs in the mud.

[xfl2001fan]

Grass = more give/slippage = slower 40 time
Astroturf = less give (more push with the feet)/less slippage = faster 40 time.

The harder the surface, the less the ground absorbs the energy of your legs pumping into it...and the faster you are able to run. The easiest way to really get a feel for it would be to run on sand and then run on asphalt. Or to run on one of those moonwalks.

[BehindSteelCurtain]

I firmly believe that 40 times are stupid. I think you run faster when someone is chasing you. Am I not right?

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Originally Posted by BehindSteelCurtain

I firmly believe that 40 times are stupid. I think you run faster when someone is chasing you. Am I not right?

Or, as Richard Pryor said..........."when you are on fire and runnin' down the street, people get out of your way!!!"

[Godfather]

Originally Posted by BehindSteelCurtain

I firmly believe that 40 times are stupid. I think you run faster when someone is chasing you. Am I not right?

Depends. Bengals only run faster when it's a cop and not an opposing player.