Quote from: SierraFD3soccer on August 14, 2026, 07:40:24 PMVery interesting article from May, 2026. Worth the read, talking about how irrelevant D1 soccer has become and uses stats. https://www.samford.edu/sports-analytics/fans/2026/The-2026-USMNT-Is-the-Best-American-Soccer-Team-in-History-It-Still-Isnt-Good-Enough

The other issue, and I need to be careful because I don't have any actual numbers on this, is the socio-economic/striving to make your (and your family's) life better aspect.

It's a big factor in a lot of other countries when it comes to football. In America, that cohort is focused on Football and Basketball. Interesting to note that in those sports, college is still an essential feeder system into the professional ranks.

But, when you look at the professional football rosters currently and throughout history, a ton of the best players come from poor, hardscrabble backgrounds.

Quote from: stlawus on August 13, 2026, 04:16:42 PM

Quote from: Hopkins92 on August 13, 2026, 04:08:12 PMCurious if there is $$ angle here that isn't being discussed. Does the proposed new set-up allow for more games? Which could mean more travel cost?

Even without more games it still costs more.  Have to pay game day ops and spread athletic departments thinner than they already are.  The borderline psychotic obsession with college soccer coaches trying to turn it into the premier league will never make sense to me.  College soccer is not a professional development league, it is a niche sport unique to America.

I completely agree with you. Let's start with that. The percentage of MLS players coming from NCAA soccer programs is extremely low. Like... Last time I saw a number is under 2 percent. Some players get drafted and then go to MLS Next or maybe the USL, but still--College is not a feeder system for pro soccer. Full stop.

With that said, from the perspective of the coaches, they need to try and market the college game as a feeder because they are trying to project the idea that it's a possibility to attract top talent. It's not realistic or based in reality, but the alternative (admitting facts) reduces their potential player pool and relegates them to relative obscurity in the American soccer landscape.

Curious if there is $$ angle here that isn't being discussed. Does the proposed new set-up allow for more games? Which could mean more travel cost?

The other thing that hasn't been talked about a lot in all the handwringing reviews of this past World Cup is this...

There is nothing quite like going through the crucible of qualifying in CONCACAF for the World Cup. This iteration tried to replicate that atmosphere with Copa, Gold Cups and the Nations League... But we all know that a) these games were played in the US and b) they stakes just aren't the same.

I'd like to see what Poch could do with the tournaments I mentioned, but also the stress factory of having to play important games in Tegucigalpa, Mex City, San Pedro Sula, etc. etc.

Yeah, the mitigating factor (for me) is that he didn't really have a full cycle to build up to this year's cup.

I also think we have him for another couple of years, and then someone from Europe is going to grab him.

I saw a stat that after ENG scored, their possession was something like 12 percent.

And Tuchel is catching a ton of grief, but the players started backing off before he made any subs. It's a mentality thing with ENG.

Cape Verde is such a cool story. Played one of the all-time best games ever in WC in losing to ARG. Tied eventual finalist in the first game in their WC history.

Epic.

Nerds.

So as not to be redundant, because I agree with most of what has been said... It wasn't just Pulisic who played poorly last night. Jedi and Dest both lost the ball incredibly easily, which resulted in Dest getting subbed out at the half. Weston lost the ball far too many times trying to be too cute with the ball. Even Balogun, who I thought put in a decent amount of effort tried 2 or 3 backheel passes where that just wasn't the right play.

And, yes, as mentioned, when you rely on a 40-year-old MLSer to captain your backline, you are asking for trouble. We got away with it against lesser opponents, but got exposed last night. (And it's not just that he made mistakes that led to goals, Adams had to cover for him and that messed up our ability to move the ball through the midfield.)

I'm to the point in life where I really don't care about growing the game. If a bunch of random folks tuned in last night to watch that and came away disappointed, whatever. But as someone who has followed this team for over 35 years, it's tough not to feel pretty disheartened. Hopefully, there's a wave of youngsters coming through, because this lot can't beat a premium side.

I would think someone might bring him in as a one season insurance plan AND his leadership/personality. Not to mention a little media/branding pop.

Part of me thinks a team like Wrexham pulls him in.

Coming here to type almost a verbatim post, Kuiper.  I would add that the GK they subbed off was having the night of his life. He was on fire and had what was probably the save of the tournament so far.

Coach over-thought a host of issues for the PK, but taking out a guy that was having a HEROIC night was the biggest issue I have.

Sometimes, when you have a plan, the greatest strength a coach can display is the ability to improvise and read the moment.

Huge fail on a bunch of fronts from him.

Absolute dagger re: Flo, but think about this:

The US has crushed its all-time total goals scored, and guess who hasn't scored any of those goals?

Hint: He hails from Hershey, PA.

I'm not minimizing CP's play at all so far. When available, he's been absolute class. I'm just saying he has yet to get on the ledger, and I'm sure he's hungry to step up with Balo out.
 

Some of those hotels... Woof. A Courtyard by Marriott?

I mean, I'm always happy when that's an option when I'm on a road trip, but for a group of highly paid professional athletes?

Yikes.

What's funny is that every time I open this thread, I'm hoping for an update on this guy.

What a curious path. I guess his wife was able to find gainful employment in the Tampa region.

Quote from: BaboNation on April 17, 2026, 07:51:04 PM

Quote from: Kuiper on April 17, 2026, 12:42:36 AMFrench National Team moves home base from Babson to Bentley

https://thewellesleynews.com/23335/news-investigation/french-national-football-team-chooses-bentley-over-babson/

Not a big deal in the overall scheme of things, but it would have fun to have the top ranked team in the world training at a D3 school

"The men's French national football team, Les Bleus, will train at Bentley University in Waltham during the World Cup this summer, despite having previously committed to training at Babson College. According to French football reports, the change was sparked by prolonged financial negotiations and an impasse between Babson, the French Football Federation (FFF) and FIFA.

Les Bleus are the top-ranked team in the World Cup as of April 14.

On March 26, Bentley's athletic director, Vaughn Williams, announced that the French team will arrive on June 10 and train at Bentley for the duration of the World Cup. The university will serve as a training site that the team will return to, no matter how far they travel for their tournaments, which are scheduled to happen across the country."

Disappointing, but we'll probably never get the full story.  I too was looking forward to having a World Cup team train there as they have numerous times in the past, and not just for WC matches.  Babson has been very accommodating in the prior years.
I suspect and expect Babson will still get a team.

Something I didn't know until just now: Bentley is D2 in 22 of 23 programs. I knew men's hockey is D1.