American Universities vs. Global Universities

Discussion in 'College & Amateur Soccer' started by ZeekLTK, Dec 23, 2008.

  1. ZeekLTK

    ZeekLTK Member

    Mar 5, 2004
    Michigan
    Nat'l Team:
    Norway
    In other parts of the world, especially Latin America, universities compete right alongside everyone else in the soccer leagues of their country.

    Pumas has their stadium on the campus of UNAM and is one of the most popular teams in Mexico.

    Even the team who won the Copa Libertadores championship and finished second in the Club World Cup, losing by only 1 goal to Manchester United, are a university team: Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito (representing Universidad Central del Ecuador).

    Obviously these teams aren't set up the same as American universities, where you have to be a student to play for them. But they still play on campus and they represent the university, so the teams have a built in fanbase (students and alumni) with massive support and whatnot.

    Could this ever work in America? Looking at college football and imagining those kinds of crowds for soccer... it would be a huge boost to the sport in this country if it could. Some of these schools draw over 50,000 (some over 100,000) easily for football games - if their soccer teams were a big deal they could easily draw the same.

    Just imagine if UCLA was playing against Los Angeles Galaxy for a spot in the MLS Playoffs... or North Carolina was hosting Club America in the Champions League... or the Maryland Terrapins were taking on Manchester United for the Club World Cup... that'd really get the nation buzzing about soccer.

    If Central Ecuador could do it...
     
  2. Dsocc

    Dsocc Member

    Feb 13, 2002
    They wouldn't if they were governed by the NCAA. They have this crazy notion about amateurs and conferring baccalaurate degrees. Other than that, it's a fine idea.
     
  3. UICSoccerFan

    UICSoccerFan Member

    Sep 11, 2006
    University Village
    Professionalizing the NCAA is one of the worst ideas I've heard in a long time.

    Having University teams competing in the pro leagues diminishes the credibility of the Mexican League and is one of the obstruction from them ever joining the elite leagues of the world. Its a throwback to the early 20th century, pre-NFL world, when teams like Michigan and Notre Dame WERE the elite teams of American Football. One theory even says it is not just coincidence that UNAM's colors are the same as Notre Dame's.

    The American model (university as minor league) is superior because it allows more players to be developed.
     
  4. Lensois

    Lensois Member

    May 19, 2004
    Teams like UNAM and LDU Quito have their roots in those universities by they are most certainly NOT university teams competing on the professional level. The original poster is confused as to the true nature of the university connection to the current professional teams in most of Latin America. While there remains a connection or relationship to the university--primarily historical--it is at the very least a gross overexaggeration to say that they represent the university.
     
  5. elgambitero

    elgambitero New Member

    Apr 10, 2008
    Developing more players does not equal better players.

    Professionalizing the NCAA is not a good idea, but it is not as if College soccer is the answer to our player development issues.
     
  6. Soccerfever10

    Soccerfever10 New Member

    Mar 21, 2007
    Pennsylvania
    Club:
    Fulham FC
    It makes more sense to professionalize the existing club system in this country. There should be two tracks...the professional club track and the NCAA college amateur track. And its up to the player to decide which track is right for them.

    In my opinion, while the NCAA certainly has some flaws, the college game mostly has it right. Lots of players have an opportunity to get a good education and play soccer at a decent level. Most go on to get jobs and a select few get to play professional soccer.

    Its the other track that needs major change...the professional club development track. In Europe, clubs identify players at a young age and develop them in their club system and many are to play professionally at 18 and 19 years old. This is where our system is broken, as we have no link between our elite amateur clubs and our professional clubs.

    Yes, I know about the academy program and how some of the MLS teams have youth teams. These are a step in the right direction. But, without a vested interest in youth development by professional clubs, there is a glaring gap in development.
     
  7. Dsocc

    Dsocc Member

    Feb 13, 2002
    Exactly. There's no more reason for college soccer to be linked to MLS than there is for college baseball to be linked to MLB - particularly since both MLS and MLB rely on a heavy influx of non-US impact players.

    Frankly, I think it's taken Garber a while to realize that the collegiate-to-professional product extension that he enjoyed during his years in the NFL doesn't exist for soccer. Adding to that, because the collective consciousness of upper-level US soccer has historically been concentrated at the university level, he's gotten his share of bad advice over the years.

    Baseball had it easy - there was no collegiate sport during the formative years. Hopefully, creating a similar parallel path in soccer won't take nearly as long.

    Bit off topic, but relevant nonethless for those who constantly regard the US intercollegiate soccer system as something other than what it really is.
     
  8. oldguyfc

    oldguyfc New Member

    Sep 26, 2006
    Chicago
    I see this brought up in other forums all the time, the "college player", if you will, going to the pro's and the impact of college soccer.
    It's always amusing to think that college soccer was ever going to be the farm system that college football is for the NFL.
    It certainly isn't college soccer's fault that MLS decided not to incorporate already existing youth clubs into their model way-back-when. They were, evidently, too busy figuring out what the nicknames and the really bad uniform designs of the said franchise were going to be.
     
  9. njndirish

    njndirish Member

    Jul 14, 2008
    Notre Dame, IN
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If NCAA teams were able to play in the US Open Cup it would be interesting, but I think it should stop there because are these Universities in Central and South America are 4 year universities where players play on scholarships?
     

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