gamecock mens soccer.

[SilatGamecock]

I am a longtime Gamecock Soccer fan. They had a run of 13 + staight NCAA appearances and played in two National Championship matches, but that was too many years ago.

Mark Berson is our first and only head coach, but I have long wondered if it is time for him to step into another role and bring in some new blood.

When USC had no other consistently winning sports there was always soccer. I would love for it to get back to that elite level.

I wonder if Doug Allison would leave Furman and come home.

 

[hampton rhodes]

I think the game has passed him by. He is still trying to play the 1980's less physical, technical style ball, while everyone else has started playing the more physical English Premier League style game.

 

[Bongsummers]

Berson has been at USC for almost four decades. He'll be here until he decides to retire.

 

[#20#]

Kind of reminds me of what happened with Joyce Compton and softball.

 

[AgnosticTrollCock]

Berson has been at USC for almost four decades. He'll be here until he decides to retire.

Sadly, that doesn't mean it's the correct decision. Soccer is becoming and flowing into a Tiki Taka style of play. Berson's old school method of very little possession and midfield boom ball to a forward just dust work anymore.

 

[winloseortie]

This will be a telling year for Berson. He has totally changed recruiting for the last two cycles. The team will have a great deal of European players who are a year or two older than the typical player entering college. They should be more physically mature and have a higher skill level.

Berson has done this because being in the SEC has really hurt recruiting. We have great facilities, coaching and fan support but we are in a crap conference while having to recruit against the best conference(ACC). Let this year play out before judging him. They have been VERY good in the spring scrimmages vs other teams,

 

[SilatGamecock]

This will be a telling year for Berson. He has totally changed recruiting for the last two cycles. The team will have a great deal of European players who are a year or two older than the typical player entering college. They should be more physically mature and have a higher skill level.

Berson has done this because being in the SEC has really hurt recruiting. We have great facilities, coaching and fan support but we are in a crap conference while having to recruit against the best conference(ACC). Let this year play out before judging him. They have been VERY good in the spring scrimmages vs other teams,

Thanks for sharing this win. I will look for more European player this year. I am old enough to remember when they recruiting out of Iceland a lot and when they had two Columbians. I know the conference affiliations is problematic, but other programs have been able to work around it. Connecticut Basketball UNCC Soccer comes to mind. ( maybe not a fair comparison ).

They have definitely had top players at time. Guzman, Clint Mathis, Sonfeld ( maybe his greater talent was elsewhere)

 

[TheRoosterGuru]

This will be a telling year for Berson. He has totally changed recruiting for the last two cycles. The team will have a great deal of European players who are a year or two older than the typical player entering college. They should be more physically mature and have a higher skill level.

Berson has done this because being in the SEC has really hurt recruiting. We have great facilities, coaching and fan support but we are in a crap conference while having to recruit against the best conference(ACC). Let this year play out before judging him. They have been VERY good in the spring scrimmages vs other teams,

I'm pretty positive we are in Conference USA in Men's soccer.

 

[67gamecock]

I just don't understand why the richest conference in the NCAA, the SEC, doesn't compete in men's soccer - as a conference. With two of the three states with the nation's highest Hispanic populations (Florida and Texas) having SEC member institutions, it just does not make sense. Imo, the conference needs to revisit their wrongheaded position on men's soccer Title IX or no Title IX.

 

[winloseortie]

I'm pretty positive we are in Conference USA in Men's soccer.

Exactly my point! UK is the only other SEC school to field men's soccer, we are an orphan program. No rivals, no backing from the conference. Our conference affiliation puts us at a distinct disadvantage

 

[IH8FATBRAD]

That is bonkers that Florida, Ugay, and others don't play soccer. It's the biggest game in the world for Gods sake.

 

[usaguy40]

yes, i think it has a lot to do with the conference were in.....if the sec would field a soccer conference then things would probably change.....in 2014 mens soccer in conference usa combined for a record of 87-74-27....that aint so good

 

[tailgatecock]

I am a longtime Gamecock Soccer fan. They had a run of 13 + staight NCAA appearances and played in two National Championship matches, but that was too many years ago.

Mark Berson is our first and only head coach, but I have long wondered if it is time for him to step into another role and bring in some new blood.

When USC had no other consistently winning sports there was always soccer. I would love for it to get back to that elite level.

I wonder if Doug Allison would leave Furman and come home.

It's the June Raines syndrome. Should have been let go 15 years ago!!!!!