NESCAC

[northman]

I'm admittedly from a previous generation, but I was on a D1 team that won a national championship in another sport.  My prevailing feeling was one of gratitude, not arrogance.  From my perspective, it's fine to feel pride in an athletic accomplishment...individual and/or team...but arrogance is another matter.

[josemourinho]

I reject the idea that there is some universally accepted "right" way of playing the game.

[SKUD]

Jose-If you carry yourself in the "real world" like you do in the Amherst soccer world then I hope your boys-club network is big because the balance of the world will do business with you only once. After they get that first taste they will pass.

[stlawus]

He doesn't need me to defend him but calling SC an incel is definitely a new chapter in Amtics. SC has done more for d3 soccer exposure in the years post-covid than anyone, and has been a pretty invaluable media resource. Resorting to this kind of behavior on a forum that's 99% of the time cordial, well informed and a fun way to feel connected to like minded d3 sports enthusiasts is just more confirmation of all the things I've observed over the past 10-12 years.   You wish you could be considered in the same realm of a program like Messiah.  I've watched that team lose on penalties at home (with championship aspirations) and immediately clap for and congratulate the team that beat them.  You could learn a lot from a team like them.   

Notice that out of the hundreds of d3 programs and dozens of national championship teams, few to none other teams have ever been called out for this stuff at this volume?   I suppose none of this really matters that much, it's not like we're the UN security council, it is after all a game.  But everyone knows d3soccer is just a bit more than a ball getting kicked around, it's a medium to show the uniqueness and prowess of schools, institutions and players around the country in several more areas besides athletic ability.

[PaulNewman]

I reject the idea that there is some universally accepted "right" way of playing the game.

"Incel"?

Towards someone who has done more for D3 soccer than you will in 5 lifetimes?

That snazzy Amherst education is working just the way most think an Amherst education does work.

What is the total number of human beings on the planet who care how many national title games Amherst has been in? 135? More than 10% of students on the Amherst campus?

[Ejay]

Proving once again that class isn't a valued character trait in certain circles.

[Camelparent]

EnmoreCat: Amherst seriously underpaid PR rep waking up this morning.

[SKUD]

Perfectly timed return for PN!  He is always lurking!

Welcome back

[Ron Boerger]

For those interested - to add a poster to your ignore list:

(1) Click the top left icon (if you have a pic, it shows there) and pull down to "ignore list"
(2) Enter the name of the poster you want to ignore in the "Member" box under "Add to ignore list", then click the "Add" button.
(3) Enjoy.

[Freddyfud]

Perfectly timed return for PN!  He is always lurking!

Welcome back

Yes it takes a lot to pull PN out from retirement.  None other than The Special One!    

[complexcoach]

What gets lost in the discourse is the fact that most, if not all, of the behavior that Amherst gets criticized for is harmless.

Harmless?  Sure.  But its also perceived as disrespectful, unsportsmanlike, and contemptuous.

SC.

Circling back to this comment in light of the recent posts. For the record, I don't condone Jose's name-calling, and I think that anyone who has been around the Amherst Men's Soccer program knows that it's certainly not part of the ethos we subscribe to. I will say, however, that 'perceived' is an incredibly telling word choice in the response of 'SimpleCoach'. If you had played a high level of soccer, you would understand that almost every team, ever, engages in some degree of 'unsportsmanlike' conduct. Does this excuse this behavior? No, of course not. But I think it's also okay to understand that it's part of the game. There's a pretty rigid disciplinary code in soccer that defines what's accepted and what's not; If Amherst were as 'unsportsmanlike' and 'contemptuous' as you and others describe them, they wouldn't be able to field a team due to yellows, reds, and suspensions -- that is evidently not the case. The 'Amtics' narrative -- where Amherst is the only/prime perpetrator of deplorable behavior -- is boring, and if I had to guess, is more reflective of the contempt that builds against successful programs.

For 'SimpleCoach' and alike, I do not blame you for your lack of first-hand exposure to elite soccer environments (speaking strictly from a playing perspective here), and I urge you to try and visit Latin America or Europe in your lifetime to watch a game in person. You will see passion, aggression, and heightened emotions (much of what the U.S. is missing) -- and this is what soccer is all about. This is why we care. And this is why programs such as Amherst are a hotbed for radical love and care towards one another. Sometimes emotions spill over, and the agonistic spirit (I can provide you some light reading if you want to get up to speed, @PaulNewman) takes over -- this is a part of competition, and is definitely not unique to Amherst and/or soccer. If you think that heightened emotions, physicality, and aggression cross the line of acceptable morality, I invite you to enjoy a less physical, more sophisticated activity, such as croquet, polo, or yachting.

This debacle has obviously unearthed some 'Amhate' and provided everyone the justification and impetus to satiate their Amherst-hating craving; I think it would be better to redirect the conversation back to the remarkable performance this young Amherst team put up against Conn on the weekend. Beating a national contender this early in the season is difficult, and to do so resoundingly (I could not remember the last time Amherst-Conn was decided by more than one goal), speaks to the maturity and grit of a team that is not even close to its final form.

I, for one, am excited for another season of Amherst Soccer, but given recent history, completely understand why the other 407 teams may not be.

CC.

[stlawus]

"is boring, and if I had to guess, is more reflective of the contempt that builds against successful programs."

Notice how no other program has had this cloud surrounding them over the years? Not Messiah, not Tufts, not St. Olaf, not Conn.  Programs with many more titles and silverware have never had this sort of reaction.  If being a successful program breeds contempt then we would have seen this with Messiah and Tufts.  Don't you find it just a bit curious that we haven't?


"I urge you to try and visit Latin America or Europe in your lifetime to watch a game in person. You will see passion, aggression, and heightened emotions (much of what the U.S. is missing) -- and this is what soccer is all about"

This is not Latin America or Europe.  This is division 3 college soccer.  In Latin America it's not uncommon to need a police escort to enter an opposing team's stadium to watch a game. Forgive me for not wanting that kind of passion in division 3 college soccer. College soccer is unique to the US.  We are not developing professional players in this medium.  This is very much a student athlete driven enterprise.

[complexcoach]

"is boring, and if I had to guess, is more reflective of the contempt that builds against successful programs."

Notice how no other program has had this cloud surrounding them over the years? Not Messiah, not Tufts, not St. Olaf, not Conn.  Programs with many more titles and silverware have never had this sort of reaction.  If being a successful program breeds contempt then we would have seen this with Messiah and Tufts.  Don't you find it just a bit curious that we haven't?


"I urge you to try and visit Latin America or Europe in your lifetime to watch a game in person. You will see passion, aggression, and heightened emotions (much of what the U.S. is missing) -- and this is what soccer is all about"

This is not Latin America or Europe.  This is division 3 college soccer.  In Latin America it's not uncommon to need a police escort to enter an opposing team's stadium to watch a game. Forgive me for not wanting that kind of passion in division 3 college soccer. College soccer is unique to the US.  We are not developing professional players in this medium.  This is very much a student athlete driven enterprise.

Ignoring the fact that you're a professional Amherst hater (Accusing Amherst of pulling a hotel fire alarm 45 mins away from campus in 2022 was insanity, but I understand your frustration as we beat SLU every time), i'll humor you.

a) Conn was literally accused of unsportsmanlike behavior in the NCAA's literally 2 seasons ago (celebrating in front of opposing fans after a pen win)

b) I can't speak to Tufts/Messiah as their success was before my time

c) Amazing job ignoring the other continent I mentioned and reducing Latin America to a lawless place of police escorts. You also don't need to be a professional player to show passion, and being passionate about the sport you love as a student-athlete doesn't detract from your experience; it enhances it.

[stlawus]

"is boring, and if I had to guess, is more reflective of the contempt that builds against successful programs."

Notice how no other program has had this cloud surrounding them over the years? Not Messiah, not Tufts, not St. Olaf, not Conn.  Programs with many more titles and silverware have never had this sort of reaction.  If being a successful program breeds contempt then we would have seen this with Messiah and Tufts.  Don't you find it just a bit curious that we haven't?


"I urge you to try and visit Latin America or Europe in your lifetime to watch a game in person. You will see passion, aggression, and heightened emotions (much of what the U.S. is missing) -- and this is what soccer is all about"

This is not Latin America or Europe.  This is division 3 college soccer.  In Latin America it's not uncommon to need a police escort to enter an opposing team's stadium to watch a game. Forgive me for not wanting that kind of passion in division 3 college soccer. College soccer is unique to the US.  We are not developing professional players in this medium.  This is very much a student athlete driven enterprise.

Ignoring the fact that you're a professional Amherst hater (Accusing Amherst of pulling a hotel fire alarm 45 mins away from campus in 2022 was insanity, but I understand your frustration as we beat SLU every time), i'll humor you.

a) Conn was literally accused of unsportsmanlike behavior in the NCAA's literally 2 seasons ago (celebrating in front of opposing fans after a pen win)

b) I can't speak to Tufts/Messiah as their success was before my time

c) Amazing job ignoring the other continent I mentioned and reducing Latin America to a lawless place of police escorts. You also don't need to be a professional player to show passion, and being passionate about the sport you love as a student-athlete doesn't detract from your experience; it enhances it.

There is literally no comment from me in my post history that said anything about a fire alarm.  You have me confused with someone else.  Perhaps you should get your own ducks in a row before trying to speak with authority.

[Kuiper]

What gets lost in the discourse is the fact that most, if not all, of the behavior that Amherst gets criticized for is harmless.

Harmless?  Sure.  But its also perceived as disrespectful, unsportsmanlike, and contemptuous.

SC.

For 'SimpleCoach' and alike, I do not blame you for your lack of first-hand exposure to elite soccer environments (speaking strictly from a playing perspective here), and I urge you to try and visit Latin America or Europe in your lifetime to watch a game in person. You will see passion, aggression, and heightened emotions (much of what the U.S. is missing) -- and this is what soccer is all about. This is why we care. And this is why programs such as Amherst are a hotbed for radical love and care towards one another. Sometimes emotions spill over, and the agonistic spirit (I can provide you some light reading if you want to get up to speed, @PaulNewman) takes over -- this is a part of competition, and is definitely not unique to Amherst and/or soccer. If you think that heightened emotions, physicality, and aggression cross the line of acceptable morality, I invite you to enjoy a less physical, more sophisticated activity, such as croquet, polo, or yachting.

Pretty sure SimpleCoach is first generation American and lived and played futbol in Barcelona, Spain for close to a decade in his youth from elementary to high school, including being a FC Barcelona youth player in the early 1980s, and speaks both Spanish and Catalan (the language of his father).  I think he knows about passionate fans and has watched countless games in Europe and elsewhere.