They are very young (lost 10 major contributors from last season, I believe) and their record to date reflects that, but yesterday they led #9 Missouri State 2-0 at the 71:59 mark at Brown Field. Unfortunately, MSU scored twice in the last 20 minutes to tie it up. Overall, MSU outshot Valpo 22-9. The Crusaders finally gave up a golden goal in the first OT. Tough to lose like that, but it speaks well for the young team.
Uh...I guess we won't have a Men's Soccer 2020 thread now?
Guess the MVC no longer has an auto bid
Men's soccer and men's tennis are both being cut, we had 21 D1 teams which is larger than any other school in the MVC
Men's tennis has been the most winning program in the last 5 years...
Quote from: ValpoFB60 on November 20, 2019, 05:27:41 PM
Men's soccer and men's tennis are both being cut, we had 21 D1 teams which is larger than any other school in the MVC
CITE SOURCES, DAMN IT! If a statement like that is made it is the poster 's responsibility to document the source of that statement. Anything less is totally irresponsible.
It's true. I was surprised to learn Valpo had the most D1 sports out of the MVC schools. Feel bad for the student athletes but think this probably the right move.
NWI Times article (https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/valparaiso-to-drop-men-s-soccer-men-s-tennis/article_2d77497a-b5a2-500b-9b63-7d7a88d83039.html#tracking-source=home-breaking)
Valpo.edu release (https://www.valpo.edu/news/2019/11/20/valpo-announces-discontinuation-of-mens-soccer-mens-tennis-programs/)
Quote from: VULB#62 on November 20, 2019, 05:41:38 PM
Quote from: ValpoFB60 on November 20, 2019, 05:27:41 PM
Men's soccer and men's tennis are both being cut, we had 21 D1 teams which is larger than any other school in the MVC
CITE SOURCES, DAMN IT! If a statement like that is made it is the poster 's responsibility to document the source of that statement. Anything less is totally irresponsible.
Tranquilo amigo
I think the university needs to show their math on this decision. Because their explanation to the Times seems...iffy. Seems as though money has to be the issue.
@MJ completely agree
I felt like the article made it clear money was the issue. Basically the university losses money on athletics and it can either attempt to support sports in a way where their is resource parity with other schools or we stay as we are and look at sports being unable to compete across the board.
It sucks cause men's soccer in particular seemed to be a positive community and had an impact on the university overall with the One Valpo campaign
https://twitter.com/rwweinstein/status/1197293195421462529?s=21
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Difficult decision for a school attempting to grow enrollment. The NWI article references the strain that all these programs puts on the available facilities. So like every other thread, this puts the spotlight on the schools lack of adequate facilities. Stinks for the kids in these programs, but I assume they'll all find new homes.
This is my email to MLB:
Valpo just lost any support I would consider for anything.
So short sighted. These two teams were two of the finest representatives of the values that Valpo (apparently) fostered. They competed. Swimming? Absolutely not. Bowling ? Give me a break. T&F ? Really?
Oh, and about Title IX? Two men's programs gone and no women's programs?
And you realize, of course, that this move is also the kiss of death to women's volleyball.
And after over 6,000 posts here I am no longer going to contribute to this forum. This freakin sucks and so does the athletic department.
Good bye guys. I really enjoyed the experiences and the dialogue — up till now.
#62 come back we can talk Esports!
Extremely disappointing but not surprising. Stayed away from speaking up here for awhile due to perceived "negativity". Well, hopefully, this is a wake-up call for some of you: Valparaiso University is on the endangered species list. Wouldn't be shocked to see it shut its doors within the next 20 years.
Seems a bit extreme of a response....but you gotta go with what you believe.
Seems silly Valpo was supporting 21 division one sports to begin with. If sacrificing a few makes the rest better I'm all for it. I still think another couple sports will probably fall and that will be ok too. Feel bad for the kids, they will recover though.
60k per year
Middling sports programs
Dying graduated programs
Severely declining enrollment
Limited off campus housing
3 years in dorms
......consider me shocked Vinny
Extreme? Maybe, but I doubt it. Between the law school debacle and now this, I simply don't see VU being able to compete with similar schools for a couple of the reasons listed by valpofb16 - most notably the tuition compared to what a student actually gets.
And I want to make one thing clear: this is an institutional fail. Today's disgrace runs higher than Mark LaBarbera. I'm sure he was just the messenger and not a happy one at that.
But leave it to our tone deaf jackals of campus administrators to launch a video game sports team knowing full well that two successful, real sports programs were on death row.
You couldn't make up this crap if you tried. Just one complete embarrassment after another.
We had YEARS of a great climate to take on debts pre 2008 to take on necessary debts to modernize facilities of all stripes (athletic academic and amenities)... At a time when this would very likely have grown enrollment... We did next to nothing... We had a chance to become Gonzaga BEFORE Gonzaga... They didn't want the attention or the publicity... We had a chance to grow enrollment through basketball and didn't take it... You reap what you sow (or don't sow in this case)... Now we've taken on debts we can't pay and the flagship program isn't performing at a level commensurate with growing enrollment and now our debt strapped university that can't get the students in due to its ever rising prices is cutting sports programs... Forget competing in the MVC I just hope we survive now... Jesus what a comedy of errors and a joke the university leadership has been for decades. Disgusting and sad.
This is embarrassing. Cut the crappy programs, not the ones that have actual success on a yearly basis.
Why did they announce these cuts now? Why not let the new President make this decision?
Also, didn't men's soccer have a lot of international players? Was there any thought how this news might affect Valpo's reputation overseas?
And who all was on this review committee?
What an absolute shame. Someone mentioned it earlier and I agree--this is an institutional fail. Sad day for both programs for sure, but for Men's Soccer in particular. You cut a program that has a varsity history since the early 80's and has represented the University well in general like a thief in the night, in such an amateur-hour-esque manner? This is the treatment, after adding three sports in 2009 to potentially get to this point in the first place? I'm done.
I'll have college aged kids ready to go to school in a few years. The chances of my kids applying to Valparaiso University is now sadly 0%.
What an absolute shame.
FIN
NOTE: EDITED SLIGHTLY, DELETING ACCOUNT.
I would be shocked if the tennis players didn't have any clue this was coming. Coach had announced his retirement a while ago and the job was never posted. I think this is a needed move, and while Labarbera is going to take all the bullets he probably shouldn't have to.
Yep.
There's no way this wasn't a board decision. The arms race to keep up with resources was never gonna come out in Valpo's favor. We need donors dedicated to athletics if we could ever compete. We either can have less teams that can have parity or we can have more and always be last in funding and support. and unfortunately for the other sports, unlike basketball and football there are way less outside ways to help increase you budget and funding through buy games.
As a Member of the Soccer Club in the late 1960's and early 70s I feel sadness for the university this is a loss. It seems the soccer program had grown and added much to the education of many students at a vary low cost .The real mission of sports in Valpo is to enrich the Educational process . :( :(
It's not the same as a division one team but I'd love to see some of the resources go towards maybe establishing a strong Soccer Club that can still provide a rewarding experience to students, much like the Ultimate Frisbee team has provided.
I can't believe some of these posted comments. I guess some people are just short-sighted, uninformed to be sure, and not aware of long term goals and plans of the University, and neither am I. In the over all scheme of things I think these moves were necessary. I do feel badly for the student athletes and coaches. One certainly can not question their dedication to their respective programs. Perhaps, I should say I hope, that we are starting to see some movement to upgrading of current programs that are more important to the School in the long run, like basketball, football, baseball and maybe volleyball. The lon-term success of the MVC and the sports that they support as a Conference should teach us something. I am sure there are schools larger than Valpo who field fewer sports than we do, including those for both sexes.
While I understand the immediate reaction to the news, let's take a step back, take a deep breath or two, and take a look at the overall athletic program. These sports, and some others which may be "on the block" can "nickel and dime" a budget. And while I am surprised and disappointed, I think I can understand after giving it some thought. Let's hope that these moves will spur "Dear old Valpo" on to improving the core sports that can give even greater recognition and success to our School in the future through improved facilities and upgraded programs.
In response to the post of "crusaderjoe", because we no longer have soccer and tennis programs your children will not be interested in Valpo and you would not recommend Valpo to your family and friends? Really? Are you serious?
How many of us here, on the diehard fan forum, have gone to a soccer or tennis match? I haven't, nor has it ever crossed my mind to go. And I live in Valpo. I feel bad for the student athletes, but I imagine these programs dont move the needle much, financially or fandom, for the vast majority of the people who conduct business or have a vested interest at the university. Hopefully by terminating these two programs, the rest will be secure.
Quote from: valpo64 on November 21, 2019, 01:05:21 PM
In response to the post of "crusaderjoe", because we no longer have soccer and tennis programs your children will not be interested in Valpo and you would not recommend Valpo to your family and friends? Really? Are you serious?
Yes, unfortunately, and I say this tragically because they might have been generation #3 to attend VU. What took place, and in the manner that it did, shows an instability within the University, IMO. It's been said that athletics are the front porch of a university, and that statement couldn't be more correct. Two of my kids are athletes and they were immediately turned off by the news. We visited Valpo over the summer actually and they liked the school. It is a shame.
I get the fact that sports have to be cut. Wresting, Men's Golf, Women's Gymnastics—they've all been cut at one time. But there is a right way to do things, and I don't think the course of action taken in this instance was appropriate.
We will root for Valpo from afar. Take care.
EDIT: To '64, I just want to clarify my response to you. I quoted your entire message in my response above, but my first paragraph comments are limited only to a discussion about my kids lack of interest. I did not mean to quote the entire paragraph. Sorry for any confusion.
EDITED AGAIN (TEXT REMOVED)
Honestly asking, is there a good way to cut a team?
I mean you could what you could dangle the axe over their head for longer? Make them desperately try to fund raise to stay afloat?
The University has been begging people for money for Athletics for years and it just hasn't come (17 million for the chapel addition did though). Maybe this will finally make some donors take is seriously an open up their check books but the reality is that, with the exception of the actual athletes and basketball/football fans the culture of Valparaiso University has never been one that embraced it's athletic achievements as part of their identity as Valpo students/Alums.
I mean let's be honest, this is the most action the men's soccer thread has gotten in years. People on here mostly only care about basketball and football.
Quote from: crusaderjoe on November 21, 2019, 02:26:44 PMI get the fact that sports have to be cut. Wresting, Men's Golf, Women's Gymnastics—they've all been cut at one time. But there is a right way to do things, and I don't think the course of action taken in this instance was appropriate
So how would you have done it? Seems to me, when sports are cut at any school, it's done in this fashion.
Right about now I think it would be advantageous for someone with knowledge of admissions and attendance at Valpo to chime in. What % of freshman each year are legacies (related to an alumni)? Also, what % of students do a thorough and pointed review of the school before they attend?
I suppose what I am getting at is that in 2 years I would be willing to wager no more than a handful of students are turned off by recent reduction of mens sports teams that pull no attendance (sorry soccer and tennis, I never attended a match or game and I played soccer up through high school). Emotions are running high and I am trying to bite my tongue.
Frankly, the law school and (2) minor sports are adjustments in the school resources and will likely not be felt mid-term (5 to 10 years). I feel doubtful that any significant contributions from alumni would have come from either of these bases. Again, I welcome good information that says otherwise. I hope some of us can get over the gut reaction that is anything negative as it relates to Valpo sports . . . let's focus on the teams we have and Go Valpo!
THAT MEANS YOU TOO OKLAHOMAMICK . . . .I know you are a soccer alumni but you best start chiming in on the forum again. I'll keep texting you until then!
If this is about money then maybe they should have trimmed the fat, beginning at the top. Take a look at the leadership in the first link and their salaries in the second.
https://www.valpo.edu/president/leadership/presidents-council/ (https://www.valpo.edu/president/leadership/presidents-council/)
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/350868125/201911359349302371/IRS990 (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/350868125/201911359349302371/IRS990)
Quote from: FieldGoodie05 on November 21, 2019, 04:35:57 PM
Right about now I think it would be advantageous for someone with knowledge of admissions and attendance at Valpo to chime in. What % of freshman each year are legacies (related to an alumni)? Also, what % of students do a thorough and pointed review of the school before they attend?
I suppose what I am getting at is that in 2 years I would be willing to wager no more than a handful of students are turned off by recent reduction of mens sports teams that pull no attendance (sorry soccer and tennis, I never attended a match or game and I played soccer up through high school). Emotions are running high and I am trying to bite my tongue.
Frankly, the law school and (2) minor sports are adjustments in the school resources and will likely not be felt mid-term (5 to 10 years). I feel doubtful that any significant contributions from alumni would have come from either of these bases. Again, I welcome good information that says otherwise. I hope some of us can get over the gut reaction that is anything negative as it relates to Valpo sports . . . let's focus on the teams we have and Go Valpo!
THAT MEANS YOU TOO OKLAHOMAMICK . . . .I know you are a soccer alumni but you best start chiming in on the forum again. I'll keep texting you until then!
I don't know if you are implicitly referencing me in your post given my comments to Valpo64, but please understand that it was not my intention to reply to this thread again at all other than to provide my original remarks at the top of this page. I only replied again because Valpo64 created a post directed towards me specifically to address the seriousness of my remarks (and I'm guessing he was questioning the genuineness or saneness of them but I don't know). I am sure that you are probably correct that only a handful of prospective students would be turned off by a reduction of men's athletics. That was not the intention of my comments to Valpo64. Rather, those comments were only meant to provide clarity from where I was coming from. If I have misinterpreted your remarks, I apologize. Anyway, this will be my last comment on the matter.
To "crusaderjoe" and others...while we may differ on our respective approaches to the problems of today and our reactions to decisions made by the University, it is important to the success of the University and its athletic programs that we keep our passion for success focused to the positive direction of our overall success. Dedicated people like yourselves need to have their voices heard. I hope you have a change of heart after the dust settles so that you can continue to contribute to this forum. GO VALPO!
Why do you keep swimming and T&F?
Quote from: usc4valpo on November 21, 2019, 05:34:23 PM
Why do you keep swimming and T&F?
Biased as I am, I think T&F is a no brainer. I am not certain on this, but a sizable balance of their athletes are paying the highest tuition of any of the sports. A small handful of them are recruited with tuition incentives but the bulk walk off the street and into the coaches office guys. This was a simple game of numbers. 21 needed to be 19 or less.
You don't cut the cash cow that is T&F. We had only a handful of overnights and all trips were via coach buses by the junk bus line Cardinal. We ate at Fazolis and simply put . . . I think that the actions the board took are message enough to confirm my belief all those years ago.
Quote from: usc4valpo on November 21, 2019, 05:34:23 PM
Why do you keep swimming and T&F?
I agree with Paul Oren's speculation. Cross Country, Track, and Swimming share coaching staffs between men and women. No real cost savings there because you would still be keeping the same staff to coach the women even if you cut the men. No way they are cutting any women's sports due to Title IX otherwise I could see swim going before Men's Soccer. Just shutter the pool all together because pool's are very expensive to operate.
Some pissed off athletes:
http://www.valpotorch.com/article_265656aa-0cbc-11ea-9d42-0b5372a30d44.html?fbclid=IwAR203SxWlT-APONpA90USzg1VYTy0zHm6t-t5ShEDaoX1wiqtl23TN43gg4
Bdcaus
Quote from: Valpofan2021 on November 22, 2019, 04:29:32 AMWhy not follow fellow MVC schools like Bradley, Loyola-Chicago, and Evansville's lead? Drop football and go "all in" for strong men's and women's soccer programs. Despite the number of non-scholarship athletes that football brings to Valpo, I bet the travel costs of running a program in the Pioneer League that stretches from California to NY to Florida negates any profit made from collecting tuition fees from the kids in the football program. Nothing against the football players, but many top-notch small schools gave up on football a long time ago.
The drop football argument is ridiculous. 110 non scholarship players on roster. Thats 110 extra tuitions of male students that Valpo would otherwise not get.
#2 in ticket sales, eliminates a homecoming game. Most parents who come and spend money at University.
Quote from: crusaderjoe on November 21, 2019, 02:26:44 PMEDIT: To '64, I just want to clarify my response to you. I quoted your entire message in my response above, but my first paragraph comments are limited only to a discussion about my kids lack of interest. I did not mean to quote the entire paragraph. Sorry for any confusion.
In case posters are unfamiliar with the process to quote only part of a post. Highlight the section of the post you desire to quote and then click on the "Quote (selected)" button. Then make sure you type outside of the quote box when including your response to the quoted text.
Quote from: bbtds on November 22, 2019, 06:13:54 AM
Quote from: crusaderjoe on November 21, 2019, 02:26:44 PMEDIT: To '64, I just want to clarify my response to you. I quoted your entire message in my response above, but my first paragraph comments are limited only to a discussion about my kids lack of interest. I did not mean to quote the entire paragraph. Sorry for any confusion.
QuoteIn case posters are unfamiliar with the process to quote only part of a post. Highlight the section of the post you desire to quote and then click on the "Quote (selected)" button. Then make sure you type outside of the quote box when including your response to the quoted text.
Thanks bbtds, trying this new trick out! Bet it fails because, well . . . it's me.
Apparently Valpo isn't the only school feeling that Men's Soccer isn't supportable. The Valley is now down to five schools with a program and Missouri State is the only state school with a team.
On the Women's side both Bradley and Southern Illinois do not have teams.
Given the lack of teams it tells me that there is something about soccer that either is very expensive or too difficult to attract players good enough to win. Our team had players from something like 12 different countries. I presume we had to fly them over to look at Valpo before committing plus the cost of recruiting internationally. Local guys are good but not that good and I certainly know ZERO about what it takes to be a D1 Soccer player. Having said that, a guy Like Jack Eaton, who was Indiana's Mr. Soccer, ended the season coming off the bench. Just a guess why all these schools are not committing the resources to this sport.
Quote from: FieldGoodie05 on November 22, 2019, 06:25:29 AM
Quote from: bbtds on November 22, 2019, 06:13:54 AM
Quote from: crusaderjoe on November 21, 2019, 02:26:44 PMEDIT: To '64, I just want to clarify my response to you. I quoted your entire message in my response above, but my first paragraph comments are limited only to a discussion about my kids lack of interest. I did not mean to quote the entire paragraph. Sorry for any confusion.
QuoteIn case posters are unfamiliar with the process to quote only part of a post. Highlight the section of the post you desire to quote and then click on the "Quote (selected)" button. Then make sure you type outside of the quote box when including your response to the quoted text.
Thanks bbtds, trying this new trick out! Bet it fails because, well . . . it's me.
Success!!!!!! Bravo!
No Quid Pro Quo
Quote from: vu72 on November 22, 2019, 08:56:44 AM
Apparently Valpo isn't the only school feeling that Men's Soccer isn't supportable. The Valley is now down to five schools with a program and Missouri State is the only state school with a team.
On the Women's side both Bradley and Southern Illinois do not have teams.
Given the lack of teams it tells me that there is something about soccer that either is very expensive or too difficult to attract players good enough to win. Our team had players from something like 12 different countries. I presume we had to fly them over to look at Valpo before committing plus the cost of recruiting internationally. Local guys are good but not that good and I certainly know ZERO about what it takes to be a D1 Soccer player. Having said that, a guy Like Jack Eaton, who was Indiana's Mr. Soccer, ended the season coming off the bench. Just a guess why all these schools are not committing the resources to this sport.
I wonder if there are enough alternate opportunities for athletes to train in this sport that they don't necessarily get the best athletes in the sport. I looked on the US Mens National Soccer Team website and it doesn't show any of the colleges that the National team players attended.
Southern Illinois does puzzle me though because they are near one of the hotbeds of American soccer in St Louis. SLU, SIU-E, Missouri S&T in Rolla, MO etc. are all very talented soccer schools.
How many of the players on the soccer team are Hispanic? If the University is seeking to attract a more diverse student body from within this country, it would be wise to take into consideration the popularity of soccer among significant portions of the population.
It is hard to justify dropping soccer on the basis of cost. It is far less expensive than American football. If you are trying to save money, drop football.
Quote from: loschwitz on November 23, 2019, 03:53:36 PMHow many of the players on the soccer team are Hispanic? If the University is seeking to attract a more diverse student body from within this country, it would be wise to take into consideration the popularity of soccer among significant portions of the population. It is hard to justify dropping soccer on the basis of cost. It is far less expensive than American football. If you are trying to save money, drop football.
To run in terms of equipment and travel? Maybe. A lot more goes into cost than those issues. MVC now has 5 members with soccer programs.
Quote from: loschwitz on November 23, 2019, 03:53:36 PM
How many of the players on the soccer team are Hispanic? If the University is seeking to attract a more diverse student body from within this country, it would be wise to take into consideration the popularity of soccer among significant portions of the population.
It is hard to justify dropping soccer on the basis of cost. It is far less expensive than American football. If you are trying to save money, drop football.
This is such an old idea it isn't even worth a further discussion. But, It isn't happening. First, soccer games have few in attendance and admission is free. Valpo picks up between $100,000 and $200,000 for each body bag game at the beginning of the season.
Quote from: loschwitz on November 23, 2019, 03:53:36 PM
How many of the players on the soccer team are Hispanic? If the University is seeking to attract a more diverse student body from within this country, it would be wise to take into consideration the popularity of soccer among significant portions of the population.
It is hard to justify dropping soccer on the basis of cost. It is far less expensive than American football. If you are trying to save money, drop football.
Understand where you are coming from, it's frustrating. But it's hard to imagine increasing the hispanic population at VU by 0.6% would do much for overall trending. I think we would be short sighted in dropping the football program despite its relative lack of success. Again, there are not really any scholarships in football and T&F yet they produce 200 student athletes who are at least covering the cost of their respective programs by paying a healthy portion of tuition and room/board.
Something that is not mentioned much on this forum is the % of donations into the school (sports or otherwise) that the alumni of the football program bring in. Like it our not, I'd imagine a healthy portion of donations come from students who were either athletes or in greek life (something that ties them to VU and brings them back annually or more often). Just going to a University and getting a degree doesn't necessarily give you the life time ties that heavily participating in a reoccurring things like football and greek life might.
Quote from: crusaderjoe on November 22, 2019, 06:30:27 PMThis will be my last post on the forum.
To my MSO brothers, including the coaches, the staff, and also the athletic trainers who so diligently met our medical needs with professionalism and care, wherever you may be, past or present, varsity or club, thank you for the memories. We had some wins, some losses, and some draws. Home games, road trips and neutrals. We had games at Eastgate Field, at Brown Field, on intramural fields, and in the really olden and early days, in the outfield of the baseball diamond, if my younger memory is correct. We proudly wore the brown and gold for our beloved school, win or lose. We were, and still are, and forever will be, the Crusaders.
We had a hell of a varsity run—37 years' worth. And somehow, the program has been reduced from being the active University representative of the world's most beautiful game to just a memory, like an asterisk in a record book, in an instant. Again, this is such a shame, from a number of different avenues and for a number of different reasons.
May God bless all of my brothers. And, may God bless all of you diehard Valpo sports fans on this site too. This site is the heart and soul of VU athletics. I was happy to be a part of it.
I guess I'll shut off the lights on this thread.
Later,
Joe
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://media3.giphy.com/media/3ohhwlIAKiZw5n8naE/giphy.gif&imgrefurl=https://giphy.com/explore/turning-off-lights&h=270&w=480&tbnid=E-0Omxq5_6H5bM&tbnh=168&tbnw=300&usg=K_vB1PqpqqJhEd6vK7GbhKQACuDuU=&docid=xuFIjuodgxLmYM
Well done, Joe, well done. Even Motel Six would agree with this sentiment.
https://twitter.com/rwweinstein/status/1199856667938172928?s=21
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: covufan on November 28, 2019, 09:39:10 AM
https://twitter.com/rwweinstein/status/1199856667938172928?s=21
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Message received, wrong recipient if it was only sent to the AD guys!?!?
Good attempt and I get why they created the letter, but the administration may know something about the future of the sport in the MVC that the rest of us don't, since the conference has traditionally hosted several Associate members, just to keep the NCAA bid.
Wonderful story about Mike Avery. Let's hope he decides to do something local so we don't lose Carin.
https://www.heraldargus.com/sports/we-work-better-together/article_b42115cd-e6c9-5199-a33c-45e6eda86c9e.html
Mike Avery is Valpos Loss, if Education is about life and Sport teaches Life.Then Valpo's product, an Education has lost much.. :(
Quote from: valpotx on November 28, 2019, 01:08:37 PMGood attempt and I get why they created the letter, but the administration may know something about the future of the sport in the MVC that the rest of us don't, since the conference has traditionally hosted several Associate members, just to keep the NCAA bid.
They could always pick up EIU as an associate member... OR the MVC could drop the sport and focus even more on basketball which might not be such a terrible idea...
Mike Avery has been hired to coach the new NPSL team in Fort Wayne.
Very cool and good for him! Hopefully this keeps Coach Avery (Volleyball) around!
University of Cincinnati dropping men's soccer.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cincinnati.com/amp/2988656001
Quote from: NotBryceDrew on April 14, 2020, 11:03:13 AM
University of Cincinnati dropping men's soccer.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cincinnati.com/amp/2988656001
[/quote
This makes sense as it did for Valpo. I just looked at their roster, and like ours, they have many international players--which were needed if there was any hope of competing. All that international recruiting has to be very expensive and in a non-revenue sport. There is a reason why The Valley is down to only five teams.
Quote from: NotBryceDrew on April 14, 2020, 11:03:13 AM
University of Cincinnati dropping men's soccer.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cincinnati.com/amp/2988656001
The telling quote for me is as follows:
The men's soccer program had $907,745 in total operating expenses in the fiscal year 2019 and $181,247 in total operating revenues while distributing 9.66 scholarships, The Enquirer confirmed through an open records request. I don't know if operating expenses would include those 9.66 scholarships or not. (If they are included, that would be about $260K of "expenses" at the out of state tuition rate.) However, what this does is show the net financial impact of soccer at a leading national university.
Seeing UC also drop soccer (and knowing from an interview with AAC Commissioner Aresco I believe) that the program was a concern for them even before the outbreak of COVID-19 and they cut it to focus on other sports much like Valpo did makes me feel a lot better about Valpo's decision to cut men's soccer as well. I wonder how they will use the money they saved.
It is not directly about soccer, yet there were two announcements of other sports getting dropped at mid-major (MAC) schools.
Bowling Green is dropping Baseball:
https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/29179944/bowling-green-ends-baseball-program-part-athletics-restructuring (https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/29179944/bowling-green-ends-baseball-program-part-athletics-restructuring)
Akron dropping men's cross country, men's golf, and women's tennis.
https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/29175195/akron-eliminate-3-sports-cost-cutting-move (https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/29175195/akron-eliminate-3-sports-cost-cutting-move)
The MAC has a lot of schools that are hurting. I think Buffalo just recently dropped baseball as well.
Quote from: VUGrad1314 on May 15, 2020, 04:57:48 PM
The MAC has a lot of schools that are hurting. I think Buffalo just recently dropped baseball as well.
Yes the State University of NY at Buffalo, New York States "unofficial" flagship university cut baseball along with men's soccer, men's swimming and diving and women's rowing in 2017.
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2017/04/04/university-buffalo-drops-4-sports-teams
Speaking of soccer (and the MAC to a lesser extent) SIU-Edwardsville just rejoined the MVC as an affiliate for men's soccer taking our spot. A bit perplexing to me that they would leave a conference with schools as good as Akron are at the sport but it's good that the MVC has now preserved its auto-bid for at least the next few years. I wonder if they will continue to look for regional affiliates to beef up the numbers a bit. I also hope Valpo's lost programs return again.