The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

http://m.uabsports.com/m/sports/w-soccer...17aab.html

(05-22-2017 11:34 AM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  http://m.uabsports.com/m/sports/w-soccer...17aab.html

Last 3 seasons for Iowa: 13-8-1, 7-10-1, & 8-11

Compared to the last 3 seasons UAB had it looks outstanding.

(05-22-2017 12:48 PM)ICB Wrote:  

(05-22-2017 11:34 AM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  http://m.uabsports.com/m/sports/w-soccer...17aab.html

Last 3 seasons for Iowa: 13-8-1, 7-10-1, & 8-11

Appears to be a rather strange hire - from a losing program - with a west coast/ mid west background that should help us recruiting?

But at least we are finally trying a women coach- can not hurt. By the way, I have to admit still do not understand the firing of Paul and am not really over that.

(05-22-2017 12:58 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Compared to the last 3 seasons UAB had it looks outstanding.

True, but they worked real hard to make her stint at Iowa look impressive, even looked like they fudged the win total... "29 wins" (Iowa shows 28, btw) there were 29 losses.

I for one would like someone with region ties that could go after the top players in this state & surrounding states versus signing 20 players from wherethe***isitgonia.

Still seems like a small step up from whatever we had in place the last 6 years.

No reason why UAB can't be at the top of the league in this sport.

The expectations of UAB being in the top of CUSA in every sport doesn't seem to be there in a lot of the sports.

(05-22-2017 01:39 PM)ICB Wrote:  

(05-22-2017 12:58 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Compared to the last 3 seasons UAB had it looks outstanding.

True, but they worked real hard to make her stint at Iowa look impressive, even looked like they fudged the win total... "29 wins" (Iowa shows 28, btw) there were 29 losses.

Everyone complains when they don't do PR and then when they do PR things like spinning bad records to look good, we call them out for that too.

(05-22-2017 03:08 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(05-22-2017 01:39 PM)ICB Wrote:  

(05-22-2017 12:58 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Compared to the last 3 seasons UAB had it looks outstanding.

True, but they worked real hard to make her stint at Iowa look impressive, even looked like they fudged the win total... "29 wins" (Iowa shows 28, btw) there were 29 losses.

Everyone complains when they don't do PR and then when they do PR things like spinning bad records to look good, we call them out for that too.

I think you have it backwards. Ray Watts had a PR firm, spent lots of money too, to make a bad decision look good. I'm quite sure when speaking of PR firms, that's not what was meant. In this case, to make a what appears on paper as a mediocre hire look good.

How do you know she will be a mediocre hire. She hasn't coached a day yet and already getting trashed. I'm sure it is because of who hired her and the pledge made by some Blazer fans to trash whatever Ingram does.

give her a chance to do something before the bloodletting starts. But we know it isn't about her record anyway.

(05-22-2017 04:02 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  How do you know she will be a mediocre hire. She hasn't coached a day yet and already getting trashed. I'm sure it is because of who hired her and the pledge made by some Blazer fans to trash whatever Ingram does.

give her a chance to do something before the bloodletting starts. But we know it isn't about her record anyway.

I wouldn't exactly call

Quote:"Appears to be a rather strange hire"

"seems like a small step up from whatever we had in place the last 6 years"

"what appears on paper as a mediocre hire"

as trashing her, trashing the committee's decision sure, but not directly her or her coaching ability.

(05-22-2017 04:02 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  How do you know she will be a mediocre hire. She hasn't coached a day yet and already getting trashed. I'm sure it is because of who hired her and the pledge made by some Blazer fans to trash whatever Ingram does.

give her a chance to do something before the bloodletting starts. But we know it isn't about her record anyway.

Where did I ever say she Will Be a mediocre hire. On paper it appears mediocre, she may end up being the best hire in UAB history, I hope so. I don't know who was on the committee, so it isn't because of who hired her. My original post merely stated facts. Somehow this has turned into me trashing her? Iowa went 28-29 while she was an assistant, fact. The only thing closer to mediocre is 29-29. So, maybe it appears as a less than mediocre hire on paper.

from an secondary Iowa fan...not excited about this one

Apparently no one on this board was present during her interview so we don't know her answers to questions about recruiting (I would suppose that was discussed), we don't know her coaching philosophy and we don't know how her personality came across in that interview. Had one of us been in the room, that person might be singing her praises and telling us how we stole her away from Iowa.

We also don't know her competition either.

(05-22-2017 02:23 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  I for one would like someone with region ties that could go after the top players in this state & surrounding states versus signing 20 players from wherethe***isitgonia.

Still seems like a small step up from whatever we had in place the last 6 years.

No reason why UAB can't be at the top of the league in this sport.

The expectations of UAB being in the top of CUSA in every sport doesn't seem to be there in a lot of the sports.

Your solution to get better is to recruit from a state that is historically weak in the sport?

(05-23-2017 09:49 AM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(05-22-2017 02:23 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  I for one would like someone with region ties that could go after the top players in this state & surrounding states versus signing 20 players from wherethe***isitgonia.

Still seems like a small step up from whatever we had in place the last 6 years.

No reason why UAB can't be at the top of the league in this sport.

The expectations of UAB being in the top of CUSA in every sport doesn't seem to be there in a lot of the sports.

Your solution to get better is to recruit from a state that is historically weak in the sport?

It is generally the same suburban enclave schools that have the top soccer teams as have the top football teams (the state even set up a 7th level just for them). The rest of the state's public schools are on their way to becoming "historically weak" in all major sports. NOTE: The 2017-2018 SETF just passed into law is still almost one half BILLION ($500 million) less than the 2007-2008 SETF. The politicians brag about enlarging a few programs but don't mention the ones cut to provide that funding.

I never knew when I lived in Alabama, I lived in an enclave. I bet all of those Hispanic kids that are good in soccer never knew they lived in a suburban enclave either.

(05-24-2017 06:06 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  Again, that has nothing to do with the overall quality of the players in the state.

You are right most of the competitive soccer players develop when they play club ball. This is true nationally as well as within the state of Alabama, To develop as a player you need to play against the better players and receive high level coaching (usually have played pro or college soccer). These individuals usually do not have an educational degree,

OK, Let's see if I am understanding the unique organization for teenage soccer development. Unlike "metro league" football and basketball which feed into high school programs, soccer club play remains separate from high school soccer up to college play. Do these "tracks" remain entirely separate or do they merge to any extent with players moving between "tracks"?

Are any of these clubs found in lower income neighborhoods or are they mainly / entirely found in the more affluent locations around the state? (Hiring former pro or college players does not sound like a low income endeavor)

One obstacle to high quality athletic programs in low income areas is that practices are after school when many of those kids are working part time jobs for ready money their parents can't provide. Given the choice of weekly cash in pocket or playing sports for free is not a choice.

(05-24-2017 09:17 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  OK, Let's see if I am understanding the unique organization for teenage soccer development. Unlike "metro league" football and basketball which feed into high school programs, soccer club play remains separate from high school soccer up to college play. Do these "tracks" remain entirely separate or do they merge to any extent with players moving between "tracks"?

Are any of these clubs found in lower income neighborhoods or are they mainly / entirely found in the more affluent locations around the state? (Hiring former pro or college players does not sound like a low income endeavor)

One obstacle to high quality athletic programs in low income areas is that practices are after school when many of those kids are working part time jobs for ready money their parents can't provide. Given the choice of weekly cash in pocket or playing sports for free is not a choice.

Yes soccer is hurt in urban areas and even worse in rural areas. There are soccer clubs in inner cities but the higher level clubs where div 1 players typically come from are in suburbs with there own highly developed fields currently Vestavia and MB(BUSA) are best in Birmingham.

The majority of the kids also play high school but AHSAA has rules that hurt such as limit the number of kids from same HS playing together. The influence of so-called "travel ball" teams (usually AAU) are also dominating other sports such as Basketball, volleyball, softball, tennis, etc. The best prospects are scouted there. Only in football are schools still dominate. In Basketball the AAU shoe money does help urban kids.

PS Agree finances is a major obstacle but unfortunately times have changed these kids have little if any access to part time jobs in the inner city - the jobs are in suburbs also