OT: Pitt going all in on soccer (Tribune-Review)

[rpost3]

Great article. Soccer is obviously trending up, especially with millennials, and it sounds like the school brass wants to start investing now. Full compliment of scholarships on the way for the new highly paid coach, one of the best in college soccer history. It may prove to be a smart move if soccer becomes a revenue producing sport somewhere down the line.

http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/9657134-74/vidovich-coach-acc#axzz3y0Y2d8fD

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

I tend to think the ceiling for men's soccer to maybe breaking even , with women's hoops type of support .

But never hurts to try

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Great article. Soccer is obviously trending up, especially with millennials, and it sounds like the school brass wants to start investing now. Full compliment of scholarships on the way for the new highly paid coach, one of the best in college soccer history. It may prove to be a smart move if soccer becomes a revenue producing sport somewhere down the line.

http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/9657134-74/vidovich-coach-acc#axzz3y0Y2d8fD

Pretty big move considering it took Pitt 100 years to get its own soccer complex.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

As crazy as this sounds, Pitt soccer, which has not won a conference game in 5 years is probably Pitt's best shot to win a nationa championship in the next decade.

2 reasons:

1. NC caliber coach
2. Most schools dont take it seriously.

Look at Akron. They have invested heavily in soccer and that place has become an MLS, USMNT farm system. It really doesnt take much to get really good in soccer.

2 historically bad teams, Clemson and Syracuse made the Final Four this year. Both teams with no historical track record and poor soccer areas on terma of interest and talent. Yet, they were in the Final Four. Pitt can get there sooner than later.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

IMO soccer will never become a major sport in this country and probably not a revenue producer at the U level.
Its a tough sport and it requires incredible athletes to play the sport at a high level BUT its to boring for Americans.
Watch a soccer match for hours to witness a 1-0 victory with a lot of out of bounds dead time throughout the hours of watching time.
It works in Europe because that's their football.
Our football is way more exciting that Euro soccer.
One way to figure this out is go to a good HS football game in your area and check the attendance. Do the same with a HS soccer game and compare the attendance to the football game.
Bingo not many people in the stands for soccer which translates to its not a mass fan sport in the US.
But the soccer athletes are incredible!

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Soccer as a revenue producing sport? What?

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

IMO soccer will never become a major sport in this country and probably not a revenue producer at the U level.
Its a tough sport and it requires incredible athletes to play the sport at a high level BUT its to boring for Americans.
Watch a soccer match for hours to witness a 1-0 victory with a lot of out of bounds dead time throughout the hours of watching time.
It works in Europe because that's their football.
Our football is way more exciting that Euro soccer.
One way to figure this out is go to a good HS football game in your area and check the attendance. Do the same with a HS soccer game and compare the attendance to the football game.
Bingo not many people in the stands for soccer which translates to its not a mass fan sport in the US.
But the soccer athletes are incredible!

Soccer will never be a revenue sport for Pitt or the NCAA. That's not the point. The point is if Pitt is going to field olympic sports teams, they might as well take them serious. The new soccer coach will probably get Pitt to a Final Four in the next decade and maybe win a NC. How much will that matter? Probably not much as I doubt there will be overflowing crowds at the soccer complex but the ACC is the best soccer league so if Pitt is very good, there may be a nice little niche college soccer market here. A school like Akron routinely sends players to MLS and the USMNT. Wouldn't it be cool to see a Pitt player wearing the red, white, and blue?

As for soccer in this country, its how you define "major." It'll never grow past American football. Thats impossible. However, it has already grown past hockey in popularity (based on NBCSN TV ratings) so do you consider hockey "major?"

The biggest problem soccer faces in this country is even with all the unbelievable strides MLS has made, its still not a very good league. Messi and Ronaldo aren't coming to your town. That cant be understated. If somehow the MLS had the best players in the world, its popularity would be right there with the NBA and MLB.

As for the "boring" argument we always here, I'm not going to defend soccer there. If you think its boring, that's your opinion and I could see why many Americans feel that way. However, lets keep in mind Americans absolutely LOVE to watch GOLF and baseball and nobody can say soccer is any more boring than those sports. I didnt even mention auto racing.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I don't see how college soccer could become a money making sport, but I will point out that two years ago when the defending champion and number one ranked North Carolina women came to Pitt for a Friday night game not only was every seat in the bleachers full but people were standing all the way around the field where that was possible (the places where you can stand do not go all the way around the field). I think clearly if Pitt was really good, the men or the women, that attendance would improve significantly, but I just don't see how that translates into enough revenue to make money on the whole enterprise.

 

[bwh05]

We won't ever make money but our goal should be to win a championship in every sport. This hire means exactly that.

 

[PSU_Nut]

I don't see how college soccer could become a money making sport, but I will point out that two years ago when the defending champion and number one ranked North Carolina women came to Pitt for a Friday night game not only was every seat in the bleachers full but people were standing all the way around the field where that was possible (the places where you can stand do not go all the way around the field). I think clearly if Pitt was really good, the men or the women, that attendance would improve significantly, but I just don't see how that translates into enough revenue to make money on the whole enterprise.

You do realize that the bleachers only hold 735? The game you mention had attendance of 1,419 which is the school record. Even if they averaged that all season that would mean 11,352 a season. You would probably charge $40 a ticket just to cover coaching salaries. In reality Pitt women's team averaged 353 per game and men's team averaged 418. There is no chance in our life time that either become a revenue producing sport.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

You do realize that the bleachers only hold 735? The game you mention had attendance of 1,419 which is the school record. Even if they averaged that all season that would mean 11,352 a season. You would probably charge $40 a ticket just to cover coaching salaries. In reality Pitt women's team averaged 353 per game and men's team averaged 418. There is no chance in our life time that either become a revenue producing sport.

Try rereading his first sentence.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

There is no chance in our life time that either become a revenue producing sport.

Yep. And that's not the point. Penn State fans seem to get off on winning stupid women's volleyball and wrestling NC's, so lets try to win a soccer NC. Maybe we'll even have Pitt players playing in the World Cup one day.

 

[Las Panteras]

SMF......i thought Clemson was a traditional power in Soccer?

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

You do realize that the bleachers only hold 735? The game you mention had attendance of 1,419 which is the school record. Even if they averaged that all season that would mean 11,352 a season. You would probably charge $40 a ticket just to cover coaching salaries. In reality Pitt women's team averaged 353 per game and men's team averaged 418. There is no chance in our life time that either become a revenue producing sport.

Yeah, wow, I had never thought of that.

I don't see how college soccer could become a money making sport

I just don't see how that translates into enough revenue to make money on the whole enterprise.

Oh, wait, yeah I did.

 

[rpost3]

The only way it becomes a revenue producing sport is if college teams/conferences are someday permitted to play in the NASL/USL (ie a step below MLS...think Riverhounds). College coaches would do that right now if they could. They love coaching college but hate the NCAA restrictions like the 9.9 full scholarship limit, corporate sponsorship limits, scheduling limitations, overseas travel limitations, etc. Coaches see the NCAA as doing nothing but holding college soccer back, and US Soccer is on the side of the coaches. They already got the NCAA to cave on the scheduling.

 

[btstimpy]

SMF......i thought Clemson was a traditional power in Soccer?

Clemson was the first ACC school to win a NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. They were dominant in the 1980s. Then they dropped off. They are now back to being very competitive.

The ACC is a very strong conference for both men's and women's soccer. In men's, there are six ACC schools with NCAA Championships (Virginia (7), Clemson (2), North Carolina (2), Duke (1), Notre Dame (1), Wake Forest (1)).

 

[btstimpy]

As crazy as this sounds, Pitt soccer, which has not won a conference game in 5 years is probably Pitt's best shot to win a nationa championship in the next decade.

2 reasons:

1. NC caliber coach
2. Most schools dont take it seriously.

Look at Akron. They have invested heavily in soccer and that place has become an MLS, USMNT farm system. It really doesnt take much to get really good in soccer.

2 historically bad teams, Clemson and Syracuse made the Final Four this year. Both teams with no historical track record and poor soccer areas on terma of interest and talent. Yet, they were in the Final Four. Pitt can get there sooner than later.

This is a great coaching hire for Pitt. As long as he is supported with the full allotment of scholarships, he'll have Pitt winning in men's soccer relatively quickly.

 

[QuitCallingMeWanny]

You do realize that the bleachers only hold 735? The game you mention had attendance of 1,419 which is the school record. Even if they averaged that all season that would mean 11,352 a season. You would probably charge $40 a ticket just to cover coaching salaries. In reality Pitt women's team averaged 353 per game and men's team averaged 418. There is no chance in our life time that either become a revenue producing sport.

LOL, you're a clown that cannot read......thanks for your continued interest in Pitt sports Sanduskyite

 

[pittsoccer92]

He will have the full scholarship allotment, thankfully!

 

[ClarkLotTgate]

The key to winning big in Men's College Soccer is to bring in foreign students who didn't advance through their home nation's Academy system.

Basically you can recruit foreign kids who were "raised" by professional soccer teams overseas. These academy's are like prep schools for kids, and they train and mix in school work, live on site, etc. If they aren't good enough to sign a contract and play as a professional (around 17-19 yrs old) then some of them, get offered scholarships to attend college and play soccer in the USA. Get a college degree to have a non-soccer career, and get a 2nd chance at making it to the pros.

-A large % of Clemson's team were foreign kids...think of them as like High A baseball players.
-Stanford, who won the title, was an anomaly, in that they had mainly USA born kids on their team. This probably isn't something Pitt can do, since the local soccer talent in northeast, isn't as good as the west coast.

With Pitt's international student base, they probably could field a competitive team in a very short amount of time, if they invest the recruiting $ to go abroad.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

The key to winning big in Men's College Soccer is to bring in foreign students who didn't advance through their home nation's Academy system.

Basically you can recruit foreign kids who were "raised" by professional soccer teams overseas. These academy's are like prep schools for kids, and they train and mix in school work, live on site, etc. If they aren't good enough to sign a contract and play as a professional (around 17-19 yrs old) then some of them, get offered scholarships to attend college and play soccer in the USA. Get a college degree to have a non-soccer career, and get a 2nd chance at making it to the pros.

-A large % of Clemson's team were foreign kids...think of them as like High A baseball players

That's certainly one way to do it but those European recruiting trips dont come cheap for an olympic sports program. My sense is since the new coach is well-connected and is a college coaching legend, he has contacts in Europe and can reach out to say, the Everton academy and sign a player or 2 that wont be offered a pro contract in the top 2 or 3 divisions of English football.

Dom Dwyer, who went to USF after spending time in the English club academies is an example of this. He has taken it a step further and become a star and after getting citizenship in 2017, could very well be a starting striker for us in the 2018 WC.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

That's certainly one way to do it but those European recruiting trips dont come cheap for an olympic sports program. My sense is since the new coach is well-connected and is a college coaching legend, he has contacts in Europe and can reach out to say, the Everton academy and sign a player or 2 that wont be offered a pro contract in the top 2 or 3 divisions of English football.

Dom Dwyer, who went to USF after spending time in the English club academies is an example of this. He has taken it a step further and become a star and after getting citizenship in 2017, could very well be a starting striker for us in the 2018 WC.

College rugby in the US has to rely on foreign recruiting which is very expensive.
Luckily its governed under US Rugby not the NCAA and has the help of "rich" donors for support here and overseas. I would guess if it was an NCAA sport this wouldn't be possible.
For example little Kutztown U in Kutztown PA is # 6 in the nation and the Nitters are #16.
Foreign recruiting is very expensive and Kutztown does rely on foreign partnerships to ID and contact prospects.

 

[DruidTM]

Soccer is the fastest growing sport now... With more parents pushing kids to soccer over football I wouldn't sell soccer short in the long term.... Viewing it only from a fan viewpoint is short sited ....give it 20 years and let's see where it's at

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Soccer is the fastest growing sport now... With more parents pushing kids to soccer over football I wouldn't sell soccer short in the long term.... Viewing it only from a fan viewpoint is short sited ....give it 20 years and let's see where it's at

True but it'll NEVER be a revenue college sport and nobody is thinking it will be.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

True but it'll NEVER be a revenue college sport and nobody is thinking it will be.

I agree with the increase in participants over the next twenty years but participants are to small a number to float the boat financially. Most people who watch football, go to games etc never played the game.
Football draws fans! Its exciting! Speed, contact, lots of scoring FGs, safties, TD's, long passes, 90 yd runs, kickoff and punt returns for TD's etc.
Soccer will have it fans most of whom played the game but I doubt it will ever get a large draw from the general public non participant.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I agree with the increase in participants over the next twenty years but participants are to small a number to float the boat financially. Most people who watch football, go to games etc never played the game.
Football draws fans! Its exciting! Speed, contact, lots of scoring FGs, safties, TD's, long passes, 90 yd runs, kickoff and punt returns for TD's etc.
Soccer will have it fans most of whom played the game but I doubt it will ever get a large draw from the general public non participant.

College soccer: yes
World-class pro soccer: its already as popular as baseball

 

[ThePanthers]

I'm just glad this admin is putting more focus not just on the revenue sports but everything.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I'm just glad this admin is putting more focus not just on the revenue sports but everything.

It comes at a cost though. Many probably feel the extra $250K in the soccer budget should be spent on football and basketball.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

It's safe to assume that we wouldn't have this coach if Pitt didn't give him what he wanted, i.e. Scholarships, recruiting budget, etc. I am still baffled at how this happened. This school hasn't produced a national champion in any sport other than football and it's hard to imagine that now men's soccer has as good a shot as any. But I am a soccer guy so I am excited about the hire.

However...

If an investment were to be made in any Olympic sport, wrestling would be the quickest and easiest sport to compete for a national title given the fertile recruiting area in Western Pa and the surrounding area. Pitt should be a major contender every year. But they are not. In a sport that no one cares about.

 

[PSU_Nut]

College rugby in the US has to rely on foreign recruiting which is very expensive.
Luckily its governed under US Rugby not the NCAA and has the help of "rich" donors for support here and overseas. I would guess if it was an NCAA sport this wouldn't be possible.
For example little Kutztown U in Kutztown PA is # 6 in the nation and the Nitters are #16.
Foreign recruiting is very expensive and Kutztown does rely on foreign partnerships to ID and contact prospects.

Rugby has basically no control. I knew guys who played for Pitt who went to Duquesne.

 

[PSU_Nut]

College soccer: yes
World-class pro soccer: its already as popular as baseball

Not in the US. Baseball is still far more popular then soccer. Soccer is a distant 5th even behind hockey.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Not in the US. Baseball is still far more popular then soccer. Soccer is a distant 5th even behind hockey.

Huh?

EPL ratings on NBCSN are better than NHL ratings on the same network.and that's without the benefit of home markets.

"World-class" soccer is far more populae than the NHL and not far off from baseball.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Huh?

EPL ratings on NBCSN are better than NHL ratings on the same network.and that's without the benefit of home markets.

"World-class" soccer is far more populae than the NHL and not far off from baseball.

Yeah. He must be thinking MLS.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

For those still with blinders on and dont want to here that soccer is very close to becoming mainstream in the US, I'd just like to say that FOX, not FS1 is televising the Stuttgart vs Hamburg match today. I was stunned when I saw that. Neither team has a big draw outside of Germany but the Bundesliga is a good level of soccer and Americans will watch it.

The growth of the sport in this country is mind-numbing. I am really starting to believe that within 10-15 years, MLS can take the leap and bring in star players in their prime and possibly be a Top 3 league overtaking La Liga and Serie A. And if that happens, MLS will be right there with the NBA and probably ahead of MLB. The MLS, as bad as it is, is about equal to the NHL now.

I cant believe that someone living in a trailer in Appalachia with no cable can watch today's Stuttgart/Hamburg match. Times have changed.

 

[Saboteur]

The key to winning big in Men's College Soccer is to bring in foreign students who didn't advance through their home nation's Academy system.

Basically you can recruit foreign kids who were "raised" by professional soccer teams overseas. These academy's are like prep schools for kids, and they train and mix in school work, live on site, etc. If they aren't good enough to sign a contract and play as a professional (around 17-19 yrs old) then some of them, get offered scholarships to attend college and play soccer in the USA. Get a college degree to have a non-soccer career, and get a 2nd chance at making it to the pros.

-A large % of Clemson's team were foreign kids...think of them as like High A baseball players.
-Stanford, who won the title, was an anomaly, in that they had mainly USA born kids on their team. This probably isn't something Pitt can do, since the local soccer talent in northeast, isn't as good as the west coast.

With Pitt's international student base, they probably could field a competitive team in a very short amount of time, if they invest the recruiting $ to go abroad.

There is a large contingent of guys from Korea in town who play soccer in Franklin Park. These are enjoyable games to watch...mostly grad students but a high level of play.