11/4/04: Side Netting

BillQ · Nov 5, 2004

I. Tristeza said:

Hilarious article. The author is correct about one thing, soccer is, and has been for a long time, the dominant youth sport in America. Stress youth. As for taking over the big 3 professional sports...never. My modest hope is that MLS will one day surpass the NHL as a viable fourth option. I think there is a decent chance that will happen in a decade or two.
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I would give it 10 years, since the NHL is going to be a shell of itself when this lockout ends. The bigger battle for soccer, IMHO, is that they have to win the hearts and minds of the sports pundits, who do think the sport is a minor one right now.

Liverpool_SC · Nov 5, 2004

Mr. Knowledge said:

Football is clearly more costly as a sport for a school to sponsor
-more for players equipment (helmets, padding, uniforms)
-more players on avg team (soccer 18-25; football often well over 35)
-more training equipment (sleds, tackling dummies vs cones and bibs soccer)
-more coaches salaries (football often has at least 4 coaches at HS level, soccer often has 2 max)
-training supplies (more players for football , therefore more for tape, ice, gatorade, braces and everything else you can think of)

this is just high school i'm thinking about. if you factor in athletic scholarships at the college level, div 1 football gets 45 scholarships i think while soccer gets around 8. this is a tremendous expense.

football is significantly more costly than soccer. some high schools at the HS level recoup this investment with big crowds on friday nights, sponsors and concessions. At the div 1 college level, the big schools football brings in so much money that it pays for other sports in the athletic department but for mid-major and smaller schools football is a big money loser.
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Don't forget the tons of referees that have to be paid as well.

ElJefe · Nov 6, 2004

nicephoras said:

College football is a huge money maker for most schools. Its often the sport that keeps dozens of others afloat.
What, did you think that new practice facility and the new arena were constructed by boosters looking for the best seats to the next fencing meet or women's volleyball tournament?
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Weeeeeeeeeeeeeell, it's not that great once you look past the big Division I-A conferences.

I'll put it to you this way: SMU football and North Texas football aren't exactly making their athletic departments rich beyond belief.

ElJefe · Nov 6, 2004

Eastern Bear said:

Wow, home team of Peter Gardere, a once loved starting QB for the University of Texas.
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I think Segroves just threw up in his mouth.