[alessiob]

Not sure if this topic has been covered before, but just a thought. I keep reading and hearing about how USOC isn't really covered in the early rounds.

Has any NCAA team ever competed in the USOC. I'm too lazy to look it up.

Either way, this would be a good test for NCAA college teams. Think about it, an early to mid-round showdown with a college soccer team like SMU against someone like say the Charleston Battery or Seattle Sounders, to see who plays against an MLS team.

This might give more coverage to the Open Cup.

Also, I think it would be very possible for a college to compete in a tourney such as this. The travel would be doable with a college footing the bill. Why settle for a NCAA title, when you can have a title and a lamar hunt trophy.

Any comments?

[Y&B POWER]

just this very season BYU Cougars(now a retired NCAA and a devoted PDL side) played 1st round and lost only 1-2 to the USL D1 enormous California Victory side which later knocked down the very well traditioned Minnesota Thunder away

[HSEUPASSION]

They used to, some of them.

Rutgers have been in it I know.

[DavidP]

Is that even allowed under NCAA rules (I'm asking because I don't know)? It'd be a great idea, if it was allowable.

[HSEUPASSION]

Originally Posted by DavidP

Is that even allowed under NCAA rules (I'm asking because I don't know)? It'd be a great idea, if it was allowable.

Yes because it's not a professional competition, the prize money would go to a scholarship fund or something.

[JoseP]

Originally Posted by HSEUPASSION

Yes because it's not a professional competition, the prize money would go to a scholarship fund or something.

True, but aren't there NCAA rules about when you can play? I'd think games in early summer would be off limits. The only games I see NCAA teams play in off season are for charities.

[jeffconn]

Originally Posted by HSEUPASSION

They used to, some of them.

Rutgers have been in it I know.

That must have been in the days before the NCAA sponsored soccer, way back in the stone age.

i doubt that the NCAA would allow any teams to play in the USOC today. For one reason, the USOC is played in the summer months when the NCAA allow ZERO sports to be played. The NCAA wants their athletes to play in authorized summer leagues, like the PDL. Secondly, there's the whole deal about playing against professionals. Thirdly, the USOC uses game rules different than the NCAA's.

The NCAA will probably not allow their colleges to compete in the USOC, but there are other smaller organizations like the NAIA or the USCAA that might be open to their squads playing together in the summer. These smaller colleges wouldn't attract the media attention like a UVa or Notre Dame would though.

[HSEUPASSION]

Originally Posted by JoseP

True, but aren't there NCAA rules about when you can play? I'd think games in early summer would be off limits. The only games I see NCAA teams play in off season are for charities.

I don't even think they'd do that, NCAA isn't exactly known for being a big hearted organization.

You're probably right about the whole summer thing, Jeff. I also forgot that the best players are already playing PDL in the summer.

[thanatos80]

Originally Posted by jeffconn

The NCAA wants their athletes to play in authorized summer leagues, like the PDL.

BYU plays in the PDL, for the same reason the NCAA won't allow the Men's soccer teams compete in the USOC; Title IX! BYU doesn't have, or want, a womens team, but if they wanted their men to play NCAA soccer they would have to have a womens team. That's why they play in the PDL.
For the NCAA to allow teams to play in the USOC, the USSF would have to come up with a womens USOC, because of the provisions of Title IX.

[jeffconn]

Originally Posted by thanatos80

BYU plays in the PDL, for the same reason the NCAA won't allow the Men's soccer teams compete in the USOC; Title IX! BYU doesn't have, or want, a womens team, but if they wanted their men to play NCAA soccer they would have to have a womens team. That's why they play in the PDL.

Actually, you're quite wrong.
http://www.byucougars.com/soccer_w/
BYU has had women's soccer since at least 1995.

BYU's men soccer has been a club team (not a full fledged NCAA side) for quite a few years. In the years before they joined the PDL, BYU had one of the powers (if you can call any college club team a power) of the NIRSA. For some reason, BYU went the club route instead of having a officially sponsored team. i doubt that Title IX is the culprit in this instance.

Speaking of college CLUB teams, here's an incomplete list of the colleges that have club sides and are part of the NIRSA.
http://www.nirsa.org/sports/soccer/s...b/leagues.aspx
These clubs might be allowed to try out for the USOC, but most of these clubs are operated on a shoestring budget and wouldn't be able to afford entry fees or the travel expenses.