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(06-02-2021 02:51 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  I get what you are saying about Marshall, but college soccer is a different animal than football. Soccer is still very political, even at the academy levels, and many guys aren’t even given a look at all, so how could they be rated? Highest ranked does not always mean best.

Blazr is 100% correct that soccer is a sport in which talent can’t be overcome. It doesn’t show as much at the d1 college level, but it definitely shows at the lower college levels and high school level. Certain teams just won’t be able to compete with other teams no matter what they do.

Coach got lazy. Coach had been lazy, he just got away with it by signing great international talent. He basically did not recruit outside of the Birmingham metro area, and it was once again somewhat political. Those are the guys you need for quality depth at the worst, and he couldn’t be bothered to look for them. UAB soccer was a brand, and then it wasn’t. It’s going to take the right coach to right the ship.

I undertand you in someways but it only gets political if those in and around your program let it. And yes some of the best players out there are never rated because one they don't have the money for the academy or club or two they live and play in an area that doesn't get soccer attention.

And again the blue bloods and soccer elite schools can afford to pass on big time players. Marshall has midfielder that was ranked 3rd in youth soccer 16U in Germany, Max Schneider, who was set to go to Stanford. He fractured his ankle 5 days before he was set to come to the US and join the Cardinal soccer team. They released him from his LOI the next day. He said he EMAILed every DI coach he could find an address for and the only 2 responses he got was from Coach Chris Grassie and Coach Petsa Ivanovic (Marshall asst.). Two months later and 4 days before the 1st match (2019) Schneider was in Huntington as a part of the Thundering Herd.

When Mike Hamrick hired Coach Grassie in 2017 he basically just stepped back and let Coach Grassie do what he wanted without interference (that can be really rare now). As Coach Grassie said in an interview after the title talking about how he was hired at Marshall, Coach Grassie said "When Mike Hamrick hied me in 2017 he said he didn't know a thing about soccer, but he knew what he liked, and he liked me".

This years class (2021) is already signed but for Marshall it will be extra intriguing next year to see what type of recruits Coach Grassie gets when he is able to use the line "Come to Marshall and help us win a National Championship", and at the same time be able to show a National Title.

from C-USA Twitter

(06-15-2021 11:47 AM)C-Finder Wrote:  from C-USA Twitter

Yeah, much like UAH hockey you have to find enough schools around you to make the $$ work. Kentucky and South Carolina are in CUSA for men’s and women’s soccer.

(06-15-2021 01:59 PM)blazr Wrote:  

(06-15-2021 11:47 AM)C-Finder Wrote:  from C-USA Twitter

Yeah, much like UAH hockey you have to find enough schools around you to make the $$ work. Kentucky and South Carolina are in CUSA for men’s and women’s soccer.

Soccer is easier for any schools to have compared to hockey for obvious reasons.

Certainly. What's interesting to me are "regional" sports that a tight geographical group of schools are serious about. Lacrosse in the north Atlantic seaboard & New England is the first example I can't think of.

(06-15-2021 06:45 PM)blazr Wrote:  Certainly. What's interesting to me are "regional" sports that a tight geographical group of schools are serious about. Lacrosse in the north Atlantic seaboard & New England is the first example I can't think of.

Hockey schools = northern US
football schools = deep south states.

There are also deep changes taking place in America as kids are starting to go to soccer clubs like kids in Europe. Then they go straight to a low-level pro league.

(06-15-2021 07:08 PM)blazr Wrote:  There are also deep changes taking place in America as kids are starting to go to soccer clubs like kids in Europe. Then they go straight to a low-level pro league.

Great

(06-15-2021 07:08 PM)blazr Wrote:  There are also deep changes taking place in America as kids are starting to go to soccer clubs like kids in Europe. Then they go straight to a low-level pro league.

I know players get hurt in soccer, but do the injuries involve long term brain problems like the ones football players seem to be facing? Would football benefit from reducing all that body armor which brings on "targeting" calls and such? Maybe we are "protecting kids" out of a sport many love to play..

(06-15-2021 10:05 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  I know players get hurt in soccer, but do the injuries involve long term brain problems like the ones football players seem to be facing? Would football benefit from reducing all that body armor which brings on "targeting" calls and such? Maybe we are "protecting kids" out of a sport many love to play..

Soccer can get a lil physical and concussions happen but I don't think it gets to the level of CTE. With all the studies, data and examples of what can happen over the course of a career, I can see a lot of parents push their kids to play other sports. Basketball and baseball being the traditionals but also pushing them to play soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and maybe even e-sports. There have been a number of universities start to sponsor e-sports and I can only see that growing.

(06-15-2021 10:35 PM)HerdZoned Wrote:  

(06-15-2021 10:05 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  I know players get hurt in soccer, but do the injuries involve long term brain problems like the ones football players seem to be facing? Would football benefit from reducing all that body armor which brings on "targeting" calls and such? Maybe we are "protecting kids" out of a sport many love to play..

Soccer can get a lil physical and concussions happen but I don't think it gets to the level of CTE. With all the studies, data and examples of what can happen over the course of a career, I can see a lot of parents push their kids to play other sports. Basketball and baseball being the traditionals but also pushing them to play soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and maybe even e-sports. There have been a number of universities start to sponsor e-sports and I can only see that growing.

There is a youth CTE issue, but obviously not as widespread as football. (Off topic, rugby is now facing CTE issues worldwide...stuff that has always been ignored). Some youth leagues don't allow headers even on 50/50 ball (which I'm conflicted about because winning a 50/50 header is as much a skill as a rebound blockout in basketball) and many have gone to the padded helmet rugby players, and a few pro soccer players, wear.

(06-15-2021 11:14 PM)blazr Wrote:  There is a youth CTE issue, but obviously not as widespread as football. (Off topic, rugby is now facing CTE issues worldwide...stuff that has always been ignored). Some youth leagues don't allow headers even on 50/50 ball (which I'm conflicted about because winning a 50/50 header is as much a skill as a rebound blockout in basketball) and many have gone to the padded helmet rugby players, and a few pro soccer players, wear.

Rugby is one sport I was never able to learn. I took a whole season of the NHL and watched it and learned it in my Soph year of HS (1988). Lived right outside of Lafayette for 11 years (1995-2006) and was a season ticket holder of the Louisiana IceGators. I done the same thing with a year of the Super 12 and a year of 7 on 7 and finally give up on it, just as ignorant about it the last time I watched from the 1st time.