How important is it for UGA and GT to get a team?

[Eleven Bravo]

I think this is one of the biggest things that hurts Georgia soccer. The bad thing about it is it doesn't give Georgia players anything to really aspire to play for.

I'm not saying MLS won't expand to Atlanta because of it, but it'd be nice to see UGA and GT get a team so that most of our talented Georgia players don't go to waste.

So, how vital is it for UGA and GT to get a men's soccer team?

[footfetish]

i don't know. while i think it would help, south carolina has an excellent program that seems to do a good job of picking up quality georgians. josh wolff and clint mathis both went there.

i truly think that the best thing for young players in georgia would be a series of youth academies attached to the silverbacks and a future mls team.

[Eleven Bravo]

i don't know. while i think it would help, south carolina has an excellent program that seems to do a good job of picking up quality georgians. josh wolff and clint mathis both went there.

i truly think that the best thing for young players in georgia would be a series of youth academies attached to the silverbacks and a future mls team.

i agree with you except for the fact that i know how people will crap in their pants to go to UGA. i just think that a lot of talent is lost because they don't have teams.

[Michael CM1]

It sure would help. There are many people (at least at UGA) that will go to nearly anything if it's a UGA team playing. I even survived a PING! college baseball game a couple of PING! years back. Did I mention how much I hate aluminum bats?

The problem for this is Title IX. UGA (and many other schools) created womens teams to comply with Title IX. Therefore if you had just 15 full scholarships on a men's soccer team, another 15 would have to be added in a women's sport. Either that or do away with 15 other men's scholarships. I can't think of any sport at UGA that would even be close to something like that. The whole program is madly successful and the program is millions in the black.

[BigKahuna]

There are other options though. Mercer, GA State, and Georgia Southern all play D-1 and there are other good programs in smaller divisions like Berry, Clayton State, Young Harris, Perimeter, and Thomas College. I think it would be great if the two biggest schools in the state had varsity teams, but I don't think it holds GA players back. Youth soccer is huge in the Atlanta area and we produce ALOT of good talent...most of which is picked up by Clemson, SC, UAB, Furman, etc.

Like Michael said, title IX is the major issue for both school since they are football schools. Also, the problem for Tech is the lack of a suitable field to play and no land available to convert to a field.

[nemo594]

GT is actually one of the few schools that doesn't have Title IX issues. There has been talk for several years about adding a team and it just doesn't seem to go anywhere. I think it's primarily funding and a place to play, although it seems like they could play at Silverbacks park with Ga. St. Whatever the reason, it's too bad for both schools. Georgia has a ton of top level talent going out of state and, in Tech's case, the ACC is a dominant soccer conference so it's seems like a natural.

[BigKahuna]

GT is actually one of the few schools that doesn't have Title IX issues. There has been talk for several years about adding a team and it just doesn't seem to go anywhere. I think it's primarily funding and a place to play, although it seems like they could play at Silverbacks park with Ga. St. Whatever the reason, it's too bad for both schools. Georgia has a ton of top level talent going out of state and, in Tech's case, the ACC is a dominant soccer conference so it's seems like a natural.

I also think Tech could very quickly build a program considering the appeal it has outside the region and country. Hell, the club team is better than some college teams I played against...they already have 5 or 6 players that could be D-1.

[Clancelot]

i don't know. while i think it would help, south carolina has an excellent program that seems to do a good job of picking up quality georgians. josh wolff and clint mathis both went there.

i truly think that the best thing for young players in georgia would be a series of youth academies attached to the silverbacks and a future mls team.
Don't forget Ricardo Clark... picked up by Furman Univ. SC.& Justin Moore picked up by Clemson,SC.

Sorry , but I think with International companies like Coke and CNN we can do alot more to get sponserships to market the game more in Atlanta. When this happens, it will definitely take off not only at GT & GA but also at the professional level.

[BigKahuna]

Don't forget Ricardo Clark... picked up by Furman Univ. SC.& Justin Moore picked up by Clemson,SC.

Sorry , but I think with International companies like Coke and CNN we can do alot more to get sponserships to market the game more in Atlanta. When this happens, it will definitely take off not only at GT & GA but also at the professional level.

We will be looking into that soon enough...stay tuned for details

[Proteo]

It is not important to the development of youth soccer in this state. That will skyrocket for the next 25 years.

Unfortunately at UGA, the American football nuts run that American football nut house.

GA Tech is in the MIDDLE of the biggest city in the region! Forget about it!

The bottom line is that the Athletic Associations of UGA and GA Tech are run by former American Football players. Nothing will change until that does.

So players in Georgia must enjoy their High School soccer and prepare to get a degree, because they sure as hell won't be guaranteed to walk on to teams in the ACC, Big East, Conference USA, or Big 10.

Someone really needs to change Title IX. That is the most destructive piece of legislation that I have ever seen.

[MPoole]

The bottom line is that the Athletic Associations of UGA and GA Tech are run by former American Football players. Nothing will change until that does.

I think that that is a little unfair to say. Both schools have very successful sports teams that are not Football. GA Tech has an outstanding basketball, hockey, and baseball team, and UGA's baseball and gymnastics teams are fantastic. Those organizations are run by former football players because that is where the money is. Don't trash the American Football teams on Georgia campuses, without them there would be no funding for other sports. Yes, before you chime in, the majority of the funding goes back into Football, but that's just business, you put you money in what gets the best return. There is no other sport on a Georgia campus that will fill a 80,000 seat stadium every weekend and bring in corporate sponsors. So Football deserves the money. But the fact of the matter is that the money from football fuels every other sport, period. (except maybe UGA gymnastics, those women bring in the crowds too.)
Why UGA doesn't have a team is because of the legal aspects. On a public university you have to have equal sports for men and women. Right now UGA is in ballance, so to add a men's soccer team you need to add a women's team as well, and you have to find personel to staff those teams. That is why UGA has a club team, and according to the posts above GA Tech is in the process of creating a team.

[abw]

Yes, before you chime in, the majority of the funding goes back into Football, but that's just business, you put you money in what gets the best return. There is no other sport on a Georgia campus that will fill a 80,000 seat stadium every weekend and bring in corporate sponsors. So Football deserves the money. But the fact of the matter is that the money from football fuels every other sport, period. (except maybe UGA gymnastics, those women bring in the crowds too.)

Perhaps. I hear that the revenue is mostly important for covering long-term debt payments (for example for expansion of the football stadium, or - at UGA - for the new women's softball/soccer complex). Those additions aren't funded out campuswide capital improvement funds.

However, at UGA (and I suspect GT), the fact that we have a soccer stadium (a pretty nice one, too), makes one wonder why we don't add men's soccer to double on the capital investment.

There was an interesting story in the NYT a while back about men's football, which is growing at the D3 level because of the lack of scholarship requirements. There is a pretty robust D2/D3/NAIA scene in the south (for example, Berry). Part of the reason is that different scholarship rules apply at that level.

[BigKahuna]

That is why UGA has a club team, and according to the posts above GA Tech is in the process of creating a team.

Tech has had one for some time....they've gone to nationals a couple times in the past few years.

[USvsIRELAND]

That is why UGA has a club team, and according to the posts above GA Tech is in the process of creating a team.

Tech's team went to Nationals last year. They tied UGA in the fall. (http://cyberbuzz.gatech.edu/soccer/results.php)

[USvsIRELAND]

However, at UGA (and I suspect GT), the fact that we have a soccer stadium (a pretty nice one, too), makes one wonder why we don't add men's soccer to double on the capital investment.


No soccer stadium at GA Tech. No Women's Soccer Team.

[USvsIRELAND]

Question for UGA people: Is the men's club soccer team allowed to play in the women's soccer stadium? Are they at least allowed to practice on the field? Or play on practice fields?

[GTMerciless]

So it appears that the GT Club team plays during the fall...I wonder if they would be allowed to play at the Max. I don’t see why there would be a rule that you have to play on campus and if not that could be a great opportunity to expand the soccer landscape in Atlanta. Granted until the stadium is finished construction would be occurring and not club soccer. But in 2-3 years I think that an agreement between the GT Team and the Silverbacks could be great.

Heck it would even be like a farm system for them, Very much win win for all those involved. Invite UAB up for a preseason against the Tech Club team, the opportunities are endless.

[Michael CM1]

So it appears that the GT Club team plays during the fall...I wonder if they would be allowed to play at the Max. I don’t see why there would be a rule that you have to play on campus and if not that could be a great opportunity to expand the soccer landscape in Atlanta. Granted until the stadium is finished construction would be occurring and not club soccer. But in 2-3 years I think that an agreement between the GT Team and the Silverbacks could be great.

Heck it would even be like a farm system for them, Very much win win for all those involved. Invite UAB up for a preseason against the Tech Club team, the opportunities are endless.

Georgia and GT played ice hockey at the Gwinnett Arena a few years ago (and may have since then) so such a thing is hardly unprecedented.

[Proteo]

Question for UGA people: Is the men's club soccer team allowed to play in the women's soccer stadium? Are they at least allowed to practice on the field? Or play on practice fields?

No men allowed. Only women get a nice soccer field.

[USvsIRELAND]

No men allowed. Only women get a nice soccer field.

Now that sucks!