College Cup (Soccer Final Four)

[TU_BLA]

Anyone questioning if TU can compete for a national championship in soccer...the men's final four is Vermont vs Denver, and Marshall vs Ohio State (#1 team most of the year). TU can absolutely compete for a national championship in soccer with the right combo of players coming in (Denver and TU are similar universities. Denver is a little bigger with 5700 undergrads). Vermont has about 5 months a year where you can play soccer comfortably. I would absolutely not wish for anyone to have to play outdoor soccer in Burlington beyond October 15th and before May 1st any given year. Marshall has been a strong program and Ohio State...well they can buy whoever they want to come play for them.

It's time to get back and start getting the outstanding players to come to TU. I almost feel like Tom has gotten away from what has worked for him in the past and relied too much on the international players.

 

[HuffyCane]

People want to be in Denver and Vermont for college. They don’t want to be in Tulsa unless we are paying them. Marshall takes academic casualties.

We can and should be competitive at soccer. Mac has taken us up to, and even over, a very high bar of excellence over the years.

And he deserves more credit and recognition for everything he’s done to overcome or eliminate those obstacles.

 

[TU_BLA]

People want to be in Denver and Vermont for college. They don’t want to be in Tulsa unless we are paying them. Marshall takes academic casualties.

We can and should be competitive at soccer. Mac has taken us up to, and even over, a very high bar of excellence over the years.

And he deserves more credit and recognition for everything he’s done to overcome or eliminate those obstacles.

My point wasn't to rail on Mac. I think the last 2 seasons are aberrations. I'm hoping he can right the ship because I absolutely think he's the right coach for TU. He will need to adapt to this changing environment where your best players look to a place like Clemson or Wake Forest because they're going to pay them to be pro-soccer players in college. Hopefully TU's commitment to NIL and the changing landscape of college athletics includes a commitment to soccer in those areas.

 

[lawpoke87]

Has TU changed the dynamics of who we are willing to sign in soccer or changed the amount of money we’re willing to give in sports ships in our Olympic sports?

 

[HuffyCane]

My point wasn't to rail on Mac. I think the last 2 seasons are aberrations. I'm hoping he can right the ship because I absolutely think he's the right coach for TU. He will need to adapt to this changing environment where your best players look to a place like Clemson or Wake Forest because they're going to pay them to be pro-soccer players in college. Hopefully TU's commitment to NIL and the changing landscape of college athletics includes a commitment to soccer in those areas.

No I get it. I didn’t mean to suggest that I thought you might be going after him.

 

[TU_BLA]

Has TU changed the dynamics of who we are willing to sign in soccer or changed the amount of money we’re willing to give in sports ships in our Olympic sports?

With the new rules that there are no scholarship limitations, just limits on roster sizes, TU should be able to compete better for athletes. TUs an expensive place for someone only getting 1/2 tuition scholarship. There's a lot leftover left to fund. But TU needs to fully fund the scholarships and not limit the programs to 20 scholarships when your roster has 24 or 26 slots. And there needs to be some NIL to soccer as well. I know everyone is focused on football and basketball but if schools want to compete in other sports, they're going to need to fully fund them as well.

 

[TU_BLA]

Has TU changed the dynamics of who we are willing to sign in soccer or changed the amount of money we’re willing to give in sports ships in our Olympic sports?

I don't think so but I think there was an emphasis placed upon TU coaches for a while to get a lot of international students because what they didn't get in TU scholarship, they were cash paying customers which is always a plus for TU (and other places). While this may seem good, I think maybe there was an over-emphasis on bringing in international players and maybe TU lost out on some US based players because of the crowded roster....some of the roster over crowding will take care of itself with the NCAA roster limits in sports. You definitely won't see 36 kids on a soccer roster anymore (I think the limit is either 24 or 26).

TU wasn't far off from being a good team this year. A goal scorer for one and a 6 capable of distributing the ball and getting the team moving forward.

 

[lawpoke87]

With the new rules that there are no scholarship limitations, just limits on roster sizes, TU should be able to compete better for athletes. TUs an expensive place for someone only getting 1/2 tuition scholarship. There's a lot leftover left to fund. But TU needs to fully fund the scholarships and not limit the programs to 20 scholarships when your roster has 24 or 26 slots. And there needs to be some NIL to soccer as well. I know everyone is focused on football and basketball but if schools want to compete in other sports, they're going to need to fully fund them as well.

Hope I’m wrong but I would be shocked if TU fully funded 28 soccer ships. Hell….in would be shocked if TU fully funded 24.

 

[TU_BLA]

Hope I’m wrong but I would be shocked if TU fully funded 28 soccer ships. Hell….in would be shocked if TU fully funded 24.

And if they don't then TU deserves it's fate which will erode support for those programs.

 

[HuffyCane]

The tried to fully endow all of the scholarships years ago but there wasn’t much appetite from many of the former players.

 

[TulsaRulzOSUdrools]

Fully fund ? The university will just give them free tuition. No one cares. no need for "funding" . As you said, way better than half tuition, which they were limited to before.

As for board, My softball fullride girlfriend got paid to live in an apartment off campus. I always thought that was insane. If you were on a full-ride, the money should be kept on campus. If you want to live off campus, do it on your own accord. Maybe we have to do that to keep up with the jones. It is still stupid. Our apartments are pretty nice.

 

[HuffyCane]

Fully fund ? The university will just give them free tuition. No one cares. no need for "funding" . As you said, way better than half tuition, which they were limited to before.

As for board, My softball fullride girlfriend got paid to live in an apartment off campus. I always thought that was insane. If you were on a full-ride, the money should be kept on campus. If you want to live off campus, do it on your own accord. Maybe we have to do that to keep up with the jones. It is still stupid. Our apartments are pretty nice.

There are hard costs that have to be accounted for. A waiver can’t waive everything.

 

[drboobay]

There are hard costs that have to be accounted for. A waiver can’t waive everything.

If we can afford all those free national merit kids we can afford more tuition waived for soccer players. Matter of will and prioritization.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

I thought that $30m endowment was supposedly to help TU get close(r) to fully funding scholarships. If Tù has that for assistance, shouldn't it be easier to make up the difference?

 

[drboobay]

I thought that $30m endowment was supposedly to help TU get close(r) to fully funding scholarships. If Tù has that for assistance, shouldn't it be easier to make up the difference?

I thought it was facilities maintenance?

 

[Gmoney4WW]

I thought it was facilities maintenance?

No that was the much smaller figure of 8M that was for that.

Tulsa Receives $8 Million Estate Gift for Athletic Facilities - Tulsa

TULSA, Okla. –– The University of Tulsa retiring athletic director Rick Dickson announced a $8 million estate gift from the late Tom and Betty Johnston on Th...

tulsahurricane.com

 

[HuffyCane]

I thought it was facilities maintenance?

That’s unlikely. The DonRey maintenance actually had a surplus over projected not long ago that wasn’t spent during the Clancy years. Optics I guess. Skelly is fully funded as far as I know. No idea on the Olympics. But that’s maintenance not updates. For instance those 2A high school scoreboards that are original construction when we want to out recruit and beat teams with video boards. Mac needs to spend your money if you got it and he knows how to stretch it.

 

[drboobay]

That’s unlikely. The DonRey maintenance actually had a surplus over projected not long ago that wasn’t spent during the Clancy years. Optics I guess. Skelly is fully funded as far as I know. No idea on the Olympics. But that’s maintenance not updates. For instance those 2A high school scoreboards that are original construction when we want to out recruit and beat teams with video boards. Mac needs to spend your money if you got it and he knows how to stretch it.

I have known him since he was 14 and me 15. If I had real money to give his program would be at the top of the list.

 

[TU_BLA]

Fully fund ? The university will just give them free tuition. No one cares. no need for "funding" . As you said, way better than half tuition, which they were limited to before.

As for board, My softball fullride girlfriend got paid to live in an apartment off campus. I always thought that was insane. If you were on a full-ride, the money should be kept on campus. If you want to live off campus, do it on your own accord. Maybe we have to do that to keep up with the jones. It is still stupid. Our apartments are pretty nice.

I think this used to be what TU did as I know there were several football players who lived in a house just south of 11th St. I do think TU tries to keep the majority of athletes in on campus housing now with some allowances to move into off campus housing depending on circumstances, i.e. married with family as TU doesn't have specific areas within the apartments for married students or students with families.

 

[TU_BLA]

That’s unlikely. The DonRey maintenance actually had a surplus over projected not long ago that wasn’t spent during the Clancy years. Optics I guess. Skelly is fully funded as far as I know. No idea on the Olympics. But that’s maintenance not updates. For instance those 2A high school scoreboards that are original construction when we want to out recruit and beat teams with video boards. Mac needs to spend your money if you got it and he knows how to stretch it.

TU screwed up, IMO, when they installed the new scoreboard at the Track & Soccer complex. As nice as it is, it's still just a scoreboard. They really needed to go big and have a full LED board capable of replays for soccer as well as posting lane and results for track and field. I don't know if there is a plan to refurbish the track itself as I think the surface is still original to when the complex was built 20 or so years ago.

I digress...a video board would have been nice and TU could have really put on a nice pregame show with player intros and such. I mean the field and practice field are as good as any in the nation. TU has shown it can create a crazy atmosphere around soccer, I mean the game they played against SMU 3 years ago that Alex won in OT was stupid crazy....I mean I've never seen a field storming in college soccer before.

 

[TU_BLA]

I have known him since he was 14 and me 15. If I had real money to give his program would be at the top of the list.

Same here. I always say if I win one of these billion dollar lotteries, I'm endowing the soccer program at TU and building a legit pool complex for Union.

 

[HuffyCane]

The track was redone a few years ago. I wasn’t aware they replaced the scoreboard. That’s likely a lease if they followed previous discussions and could be replaced pretty easily … if you win the lottery.

 

[chito_and_leon]

People want to be in Denver and Vermont for college.

LOL, does anyone really believe this?

Denver is kind of an interesting study. They don't do a lot but they're good at what they do, at least skiing, hockey and apparently soccer.

 

[TU_BLA]

LOL, does anyone really believe this?

Denver is kind of an interesting study. They don't do a lot but they're good at what they do, at least skiing, hockey and apparently soccer.

So UVM is literally blocks away from Ben & Jerry's. One of my best friends in HS went to college there. They were way progressive even back in the early 90s. He lived in a co-ed suite which we all thought was crazy. And Burlington is a pretty interesting place, especially if you're a "granola" like he used to call them. But yeah, winter could be brutal up there.

 

[Li'l Eric Coley]

Burlington was always a stop for touring punk bands going back to the early 80s, when a young Bernie Sanders was running the community center.

 

[chito_and_leon]

So UVM is literally blocks away from Ben & Jerry's. One of my best friends in HS went to college there. They were way progressive even back in the early 90s. He lived in a co-ed suite which we all thought was crazy. And Burlington is a pretty interesting place, especially if you're a "granola" like he used to call them. But yeah, winter could be brutal up there.

Burlington is a great place to visit but there's a reason it's population is barely bigger than Bartlesville. It takes a special type to want to live there.

 

[TU_BLA]

Burlington is a great place to visit but there's a reason it's population is barely bigger than Bartlesville. It takes a special type to want to live there.

My grandparents lived in Vermont. They were about 45 minutes from Hanover, NH which was also where the closest grocery store was. They literally lived in the middle of nowhere, so much so that to mail something to them, you put their last name on the envelope, Rt. 113, and Fairlee, VT and a zip code. No street number.

I liked Burlington on the few occasions I visited. Of course one time I went up for the weekend and there was an ice storm that caked my car with 1.5" of ice. A drive back that should have taken 3.5 hours took me like 6.

 

[TulsaRulzOSUdrools]

LOL, does anyone really believe this?

Denver is kind of an interesting study. They don't do a lot but they're good at what they do, at least skiing, hockey and apparently soccer.

They are really good at lacrosse. Don't forget about the lax bros.

 

[chito_and_leon]

They are really good at lacrosse. Don't forget about the lax bros.

Isn't lacrosse just outside jai lai?

 

[TU_BLA]

Anyone who watched the games last night (or didn't)...UVM takes down Denver in PKs, and Marshall took down #1 Ohio State scoring a goal in the first 5 minutes and holding on. So 3 of the 4 college cup participants are from non-power conferences. 1 from the America East (Vermont), 1 from the Summit (Denver), and 1 from the Sun Belt (Marshall). Marshall vs UVM for the title on Monday.

Quality of play was high. Denver is really good, UVM played well and their GK made 2-3 phenomenal saves. Marshall and Ohio State was a slugfest. Just two good teams.

 

[lawpoke87]

Watched both games. High quality and very competitive. No reason why our men’s program can’t reach the final 4. It’s a little more difficult on the women’s side

 

[TU_BLA]

Watched both games. High quality and very competitive. No reason why our men’s program can’t reach the final 4. It’s a little more difficult on the women’s side

There are a ton of good soccer players out there who can be recruited and the men obviously have more opportunity to be selective since there are fewer D1 men's programs than women's programs. And the women, all the best players, seem to concentrate on being part of a select 2 dozen or so programs. I suspect you will start to see it spread out and parity grow in women's soccer much like you've seen in women's basketball the last 10 yrs or so (you used to be able to name your final four each year and Tennessee, Connecticut, and Stanford were 3 out of the 4 and you could pick the 4th from Notre Dame, UNC, Duke, Texas. Not the case anymore as that number has grown to about 20 programs realistically.

 

[TU_BLA]

The Vermont Caramounts are your national champs! 2-1 extra time win on a golden goal. I want to say it's their 1st ever national championship but they may have won one in skiing or something g like that.

 

[lawpoke87]

Felt bad for the Marshall CB who misplayed the striker on his game winning run/goal. Needed to put a body on him much earlier and then panicked when he couldn’t get across the strikers body. Vermont has a lot of speed and athleticism up top. Anyone know how those players ended up playing at Vermont ?

 

[TulsaRulzOSUdrools]

There are a ton of good soccer players out there who can be recruited and the men obviously have more opportunity to be selective since there are fewer D1 men's programs than women's programs. And the women, all the best players, seem to concentrate on being part of a select 2 dozen or so programs. I suspect you will start to see it spread out and parity grow in women's soccer much like you've seen in women's basketball the last 10 yrs or so (you used to be able to name your final four each year and Tennessee, Connecticut, and Stanford were 3 out of the 4 and you could pick the 4th from Notre Dame, UNC, Duke, Texas. Not the case anymore as that number has grown to about 20 programs realistically.

I often wonder how great some of these women's coaches are. It seems like there are many ones that have been there forever. It just becomes a thing to go there. Maybe they are good. But I don't know.