Yep. The "two year professional contract" thing should set off a bunch of bells and whistles, as would the notion that he might also have been rostered on a team of professionals in the games mentioned.
If the games were friendlies, and there was "no charge" for watching, then he's OK. And maybe he was offered the contract, but did not sign it. Same thing happened to my son who also signed at UCSB. He went over to England, played in a "no-charge" friendly as he was trialing, was offered a contract, but did not sign. Then at another trial he was offered to play in a game where fans were being charged, but the FA said he could not play without a UK work permit, so he didn't, and I'm glad that God was watching his back on that one. Decided to go the college route as he could not get the work permit. Maybe this is the same as this Canadian player?
Charge or no charge, if the event required a roster, and he was rostered with other paid professionals, it's a violation. There's no exemption for non-revenue events. Otherwise, there would be any number of "friendly" opportunities with professional reserve teams, many (if not most) of which do not charge for games - and that includes MLS.
Loyola-Chicago http://loyolaramblers.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/022608aab.html Justin Koehler Defender/Midfielder - 5-10 Overland Park, Kan. (Rockhurst/Blue Valley Stars) Jordan Lewis Defender/Forward - 5-11 Chesterton, Ind. (Chesterton/NWI United) Tanner Nebbia Forward - 5-10 Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West/Blue Valley Stars) Seth Stockley Defender/Midfielder - 5-8 Earlville, Ill. (Earlville-Leland/Chicago Fire Juniors Academy) Scott Waggoner Forward - 6-0 Waukee, Iowa (Dowling Catholic/CRSA) Erik Warren Defender - 6-4 Wheaton, Ill. (Benet Academy/Chicago Magic Academy) J.T. Wiebe Midfielder - 5-11 Wheaton, Ill. (Glenbard West/HUSA Eclipse) Alex Wynne Defender - 5-10 Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Xavier/CRSA) Missouri State http://www.missouristatebears.com/V...9224&SPID=6478&DB_OEM_ID=13800&ATCLID=1398524 Kory Dowell, St. Louis, Mo. David Buckenheimer, Beaver, Pa. Connor Sullivan, Mansfield, Texas Edin Sabic, Erie, Pa. Michael Lapira, Lake Charles, La. Anthony Cantele, Wichita, Kan. Heath Melugin, Springfield, Mo. Cameron Miller, Woodstock, Ga. Thomas Vania, Kennesaw, Ga. Jordan Hoffman, Chesterfield, Mo. Jordan Barnes, Florrisant, Mo. Gerard Barbero III, Marietta, Ga. Nikolas Markos, Hartland Wis. UNC Wilmington http://www.uncwsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92870&SPID=11320&DB_OEM_ID=19800&ATCLID=1398038 Matthew Brown F 6-0 172 Charlotte, N.C./Olympic Adam Cunningham MF 5-11 155 Jacksonville, N.C./Jacksonville Chris Davidson D 6-2 170 Sugar Land, Texas/Strake Jesuit Shawn Guderian * F 5-10 150 Wilmington, N.C./Ashley Brandon Miller GK 6-0 160 Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day
Anyone know the recruits for Florida schools? (FGCU, USF, FAU, Stetson, UT), specifically FGCU since I am going there. So far I know they have signed one player, Christian Radales from the Tampa area, played for Strictly Soccer out of St. Pete and was named to the All-American team, I was very excited by this for such a small school in only its second year of soccer to get a player named to the high school All-American team! I can't wait to watch him play!
I'm pretty sure they wouldn't announce all the things that make you think he's a pro in an official press release, unless they were sure that his amateur status is ok.
Reid Fraser's eligibility status was the first thing that struck me. I hope he's been fully cleared by the NCAA.
not to pick on Elmar again Every year I have been at UNC, we never know who is coming in. Why does Elmar not send out a release seems like everyone does. Does it go back to him not knowing which players to run off to make room? Just asking if anybody knows because the UNC players do not know.
Santa Clara University announced their eight-strong 2008 signing class today. Here they are, with HS and home town. If you know anything about these guys, please feel free to post it here! 1. (MF) Chance Bennett (Branson School, Vallejo, CA) 2. (D/MF) Brian Brungger (Torrey Pines HS, San Diego CA) 3. (MF) Murphy Campbell (Federal Way Senior HS, Federal Way WA) 4. (D) Keith Cowdrey (DeMatha Catholic HS, Hyattsville MD) 5. (F/MF) Peter Fitschen (Villa Park HS, CA) 6. (GK)Robert Kempf (Shattuck-St. Marys HS, MN) 7. (?) Caleb McKee (Chaminade College Prep, St. Louis MO) 8. (F/MF) Conner Mitchell (Bend Senior HS, Bend OR) http://santaclarabroncos.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/030608aaa.html Although all I know about these guys is what I've gathered from the SCU mens soccer website (link above), it seems to be a strong class. Definately more out-of-state recruits than usual for Santa Clara.
I was about to ask the same thing, he must have got a professional offer, should be interesting to see if he goes into a lottery during the MLS season, although a lot of his U-17 teammates have gone overseas.
Fitschen is a strong forward who will make an immediate impact for SCU. Plays for Irvine Strikers. Good player. Nice family.
I will second Proud Mama's quotes on Fitschen. Mama correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't he also on the Celtic team that won national Cup at U-14. Keith Chowdrey is another excelent pick-up. He was playing rec level ball at U-13 when he was discovered by Devin Payton who put him on his DDP team in Maryland. He was very far behind the other boys but was a good athlete and very fast. He was put at defender because of his physical attributes and was beaten like a drum at first. He played futsal and worked hard to develop good skills. Mostly what impressed me was how smart he was. He very quickly learned the game and positioning. After a year of playing at a high level of travel he had picked up the nuances of positioning and the tactical acumen of the boys that had been playing since birth. I also think he is former Maryland player AJ Godbolt's cousin.
Although a quick internet search yielded no results, I could have sworn that Mykell Bates graduated early from Roseville High, in December, and enrolled immediately at Santa Clara so that he could begin spring training with the Broncos. I found numerous articles from 2007 indicating that he had signed with SCU, but I can't find the article indicating that he would be beginning early (and hence, why he was left off of SCU's 2008 commitment press release). Can anyone else confirm this, or am I imagining things?
Did the kids in Florida stop playing soccer? I thought florida and texas were big soccer states? Isn't Florida Central a huge state school?
Cunningham was an assistent at South Carolina which recruits heavily in Atlanta hence his connections with the Atlanta clubs, i don't know what the connection with FC Delco is. He obviously hasn't made much in-roads in Florida. You think he would try with the big difference between in state and out of state tuition in Florida
Straight from his UFC bio: "A native of Philadelphia," I would assume he either grew up playing for or against Delco, hence the connection...
No. They are. Central Florida. It is, but why would the locals want to play for a school where the football coach was a million dollar-plus guy with a phony resume, high coaching turnover, and woefully little committment to men's soccer?
Why would out of state kids attend then? I am sure all of those kids are not walking on? Must have scholarships, commitment............Isn't FCU the same type of school as SFU and IFU in state?
quote Cunningham was an assistent at South Carolina which recruits heavily in Atlanta hence his connections with the Atlanta clubs, i don't know what the connection with FC Delco is. He obviously hasn't made much in-roads in Florida. You think he would try with the big difference between in state and out of state tuition in Florida Cunningham never recruited Ga when he was at USC to be honest his classes were awful there. He left to very untalented classes as his legacy at USC. His asst is a former FC Delco player which is the connect there.
Whats up with a florida school not recruiting their own players. We had 6 in the Fall at UNC and 5 were starters.