The NSCAA announced the finalists for the new, improved and merged MAC Herman Award. As usual, there are a few players who have NO BUSINESS being on this list and a few who got snubbed. Here's the list - Brian Carroll, junior midfielder, Wake Forest Ryan Coiner, senior forward, San Diego Alecko Eskandarian, junior forward, Virginia Ryan Futogaki (sic), senior midfielder, UCLA Sumed Ibrahim, junior midfielder, Maryland Nate Jaqua, junior forward, Portland Roger Levesque, senior forward, Stanford Ryan Mack, senior midfielder, Indiana Pat Noonan, senior forward, Indiana Jordan Quinn, senior forward, South Carolina Damani Ralph, senior forward, Connecticut David Stokes, junior defender, North Carolina Mike Tranchilla, senior forward from Creighton Diego Walsh, senior midfielder , Southern Methodist Chris Wingert, junior midfielder (sic), St. John’s I have no problems with most of the nominations but some of them are just a joke. Tranchilla and Stokes I don't have as much of a problem with but I think they got this a lot on rep. Tranchilla got off to a slow start because of an injury and missing games because of a funeral. But. he has 11 goals and 3 assists and has Creighton in contention for a first round bye in the tourney. Still, there are several forwards having better years this year. Stokes, who had a great sophomore season, got off to a slow start this year as he adapted to being the leader of a UNC defense that lost several players to graduation. He played poorly early in the year but has settled down the past 6 weeks or so, according to the people I've talked to. Certainly on talent he deserves the nomination but there are some defenders that have played better. Now, among the players who got slighted are Coastal Carolina's Joseph Ngweyna, whose 23 goals and 8 helpers lead the nation in scoring and whose team is undefeated. How does the scoring leader, playing for one of 2 undefeated teams, miss this list? Similarly, Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Antou Jallow has 19 goals and 5 assists for a team that is 15-1-1. But he gets no love from the Herman folks. Goalkeeper's totally got the shaft with Clemson's Doug Warren (.870 save percentage) and St. John's Bill Gaudette (0.30 g.a.a) playing the best this year. Also getting screwed were Furman mid Ricardo Clark, who has lead a team through some amazingly hard times, the Cal soph. duo of defender Troy Roberts (0.61 gaa) and MF Mike Munoz (team-leading 7 goals and 3 assists), Clemson's Ricky Lewis, the most talented defender in college ball, UC Santa Barbara mid Memo Arzate (3 goals, and a nation-leadin 14 assists) and San Diego flank mid Matt McCausland (5 goals, 6 assists), the best-kept secret in college soccer. I don't know who picks these finalists but they seriously need to start doing their homework and not relying on reputations. Let's start with Ryan Futagaki, whose name the NSCAA couldn't even bother to spell right. That's somehow apt because this guy is so unworthy. A fifth-year senior, he's been benched part of the season (was a sub for 3 games) and only has 3 goals and 2 assists this year. Granted, stats aren't always an accurate indicator of a player's skills, but Futagaki isn't the type of player - like, for instance, Carroll - who does the intangible things that don't come up in the stat sheet. Sumed Ibrahim is a good player but he's not even the best attacker on his team. That honor goes to Abe Thompson, who is both Maryland's captain and leading scorer. Sumed is a good player but no way does he warrant a nomination, especially since he's disappeared in too many big games, like Clemson and UVa. Ryan Mack is a good player and I admire the way he's come back from a serious knee injury. He's got good numbers but he's not even the best midfielder on his team. Teammate Ned Grabavoy deserved to be nominated over Mack. Jordan Quinn? Are you kidding? Look, forwards are supposed to score and Herman Award nominees are supposed to carry their teams. Quinn has done neither. I like Quinn as a player and think his size will earn him a look from MLS. But he only has 6 goals and 1 assist this year and most of his numbers were put up early in the year when SC was playing well. Not coincidentally, since SC has been struggling, Quinn hasn't been scoring.
Great report Sandon. Now that we know who you think is unworthy, who do you feel is the most worthy to receive this award?
Can someone with a little objectivity please explain how Stokes is on this list and Ricky Lewis isn't. I know Sandon is a big fan, but he is the best defender in the country and if there is going to be a defender on that list it is Ricky Lewis. Absolute crap
what about westfield @ clemson? 17 goals, 5 game winners? not saying he's the best out there, but he ought to be at least considered over some of those forwards.
Just because some crap players got nominated doesn't mean they're going to win the award. Can you think of anyone in the last decade who was undeserving of the MAC or the Hermann and actually won either?
I can say from experience that there is yet to be a list of honorees for post season awards in ANY sport where there aren't a few "unworthy" candidates. Basically, it just goes with the territory. But, as Sandon points out, the player from Coastal is more than deserving of being on this list. That being said, what is Coastal's media relations department doing to promote their player? At ACC schools, Big Ten, Big East, etc., the media relations people actively promote their players in all sports, and let's face it, the squeaky wheel.... If Coastal's media relations folks have been promoting their player, and he still doesn't get on the list with those numbers, then one has to seriously question the validity of this award. I don't know if any college SID's read these posts, but I'd like to hear from them on what they do to promote their players.
Sandon... Good points as usual, but you as well as anyone knows the Hermann is a beauty contest: 1) among players from the "name" programs 2) seldom recognizes great defenders or goalkeepers (should be a separate national award anyway like the Lombardi trophy) 3) downplays underclassman 4) rewards performane vs. schedule strength That said, my comments would be: Mack - Indiana - sentimental favorite - Rule 1,4 Jallow - UWM- sophmore and softest schedule strength among top 30 teams - Rule 1,3,4 Grabavoy - Indiana - sophomore - Rule 3 Ricardo Clark - Furman - sophomore - Rule 3 Lewis - Clemson - defender - Rule 2 Warren - Clemson - Rule 2 (no GK's at all!) Gaudette - St. John's (see Warren) Futagaki - UCLA- Rule 1,4 - (see Mack) Ngweyna - Coastal C - Rule 1,4 (softer schedule than UWM) Roberts - Cal - sophomore - Rule 3 Munoz - Cal - sophomore - Rule 3 Quinn - Rule 1 Ibrahim - Rule 1,4 (Should be Thompson, but Sasho must have had a hand in this one.)
MAC/Herman Doug Warren should definitely be one of the finalists for the Herman. David Stokes should not be on that list. Have watched Stokes play several times this season, and he is absolutely not one of the best defenders in college soccer. He should not even be considered for US National teams. Unfortunately, there are junior/senior defenders playing the college game who are outstanding players (much better than Stokes), but they do not receive their deserved recognition because of the teams they play on who are not in the spotlight.
So who do you think will actually win the award, and why? So who do you think will actually win the award, and why?
Well, if thr most deserving candidate is the player who will make the biggest impact professionally (in fact, these trophies often reflect the OPPOSITE), then Noonan and Eskandarian are your #1 and #2 candidates. I don't think there's any doubt that Noonan will be a Top 5 pick in the MLS draft, barring injury. So, he's a safe pick, and arguably, on skill and ability, a deserving one.
I think Eskandarian wins by a slight edge over Noonan. As someone posted, there should be a separate award for keepers.
I think, in recent years, the Hermann is actually the "kiss of death" when it comes to professional careers. It will go to the player whose been on the list for at least 2 consecutive seasons and plays for the highest ranked team with the most influential coach. Look for Noonan since this is Yeagley's last season.
Yes. And I feel the program couldn't be in better hands. Freitag is the driving force of IUs defense, and does a lot more work with the team right now that one might expect. It should be a seemless transition.
I think politics will definitely influence the vote and I think the voters will want to reward the players who stick around for 4 seasons when they could have gone pro earlier. Thus, I think Noonan will get the award. He's a fine choice but I think strong and justifiable cases could be made for Wingert, Carroll and Esky.
It will be interesting how the chemistry develops between Freitag and Todd Yeagley, as I understand it he will be joining the coaching staff at IU. Stay tuned.........