Gameday: Final Four

Got the ESPN2 HD channel on already. (wonder if it will be broadcast in HD though?).

Let's Go... _________

Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron Veron

Lets Go Terps!!!!! Err, uhh .....

Ives is reporting that Veron said no to DCU.

has anyone found an internet stream for the VT-Wake game? Please share.

For those of us who will be stuck in our offices or some other place sans TV, you can find audio links at:

http://www.ncaasports.com/broadcast/schedule/champ-audio

Gametrackers are at:

http://www.ncaasports.com/soccer/mens/scoreboard/div1/2007/1214

The late game (OSU-UMass) will be rebroadcast on BSPN2 tomorrow night. However, the Wake-Tech game will only be televised in real time. For details:

http://www.soccertv.com/espn.cfm

I will probably have the Ohio State v UMass game on in the background while I study. College soccer has never been to exciting to me, but it beats focusing on school.

GO HOKIES!!!!!!!

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO

HHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOKIEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS

The Tech feature in the WP print edition talked about 4 European players who "came to Virginia Tech for only one season". The three Germans are 23, 23, and 25. Edmans is only 20. Similarly, Virginia has Reyering who is 23, though he did play three full seasons there.

My question, does anyone else have an issue with this threatening the integrity of the college game? International players are nothing new and many of the best players in the States look abroad to turn pro, but NCAA soccer is not ruled by money like Division I football so why should it sacrifice reason and fairness in the same manner?

Additionally, the influx of older, more experienced, (and honestly better in many instances) foreign players undermines a valuable development track for American talent.

Goff,

Leave Cary and hit Durham for some "BULLOCK'S Barbecue." Order the family style.

Bring a group as you'll likely be eating all the fried chicken, pulled pork, fried okra, hush puppies, etc you can handle.

All polished off with sweet tea.

Good idea -- I'm outta here! ;-)

"My question, does anyone else have an issue with this threatening the integrity of the college game? International players are nothing new and many of the best players in the States look abroad to turn pro, but NCAA soccer is not ruled by money like Division I football so why should it sacrifice reason and fairness in the same manner?"

Why not go further and eliminate all out-of-state players from playing at a state college? OK, I'm being sarcastic.

Integrity, reason, and fairness were abolished from the college game years ago (not sarcastic). Winning in college soccer may not bring in millions of $, but it's job security for coaches. It's not like they're bringing in Veron or Shevchenko (sarcastic again), it's more like NCAA hockey teams using older Canadians.

(I forgot where I was. Is the possession arrow pointing to sarcastic or not sarcastic?)

Anyway, does it undermine the developmental opportunities for American freshmen, or does it help them by training and playing with more experienced, "worldly" teammates? And, if we're being purists about college sports, is it the NCAA's responsibility to be the developmental league for MLS, EPL etc.? (OK, not EPL, maybe a Scandinavian league). If soccer player is an acceptable profession, then colleges should offer majors in soccerology or socceromics (sarcastic again).

...undermines a valuable development track for American talent.

Posted by: ? | December 14, 2007 04:37 PM

Is college ball really a valuable developmental track? It seems there are plenty of other ways to go for development after high school age, such as the USL or an MLS "developmental contract." That's not to say college can't work for some - sort of like college baseball.

I don't like colleges "renting" a player for a year -- especially if it is VT.

?, how do foreign players affect the "integrity" of the game? It's been happening on the womens side for a long time. For the women it's a step up to come here, and it works the other way round at the college level for the men, but still I see no threat to integrity.

Did these two teams play each other this year?

I couldn't care less if they are foreign -- I just hope that they are student athletes, at a college because they want a degree.

And yes, it happens in other sports -- Matt Ryan and others at BC staying for an extra semester, taking 9 hours of joke courses so that they can play.

Close shot for WF.

College ball has some value as for developing players. Reyna and Olsen aren't dogs. Also it seems any chance to encourage, develop,and even discover, American players would be beneficial...

As long as the player is eligible to play under the current rules, I'm OK.

...Though I wish changes were made to the system.

Eric Wynalda commentating???

NOOOOOOO!!!

I posted about foreign players playing in NCAA programs, blah, blah, etc.

To I-270, Exit 1- I was by no means insinuating that foreign players should be barred. Mostly the age and "come here for a year" nature of the thing bothers me. Other criticisms taken.

Did these two teams play each other this year?

Posted by: RK | December 14, 2007 05:08 PM
-----------------------------------------

In an earlier thread, someone posted a link to an article that mentions a 3-3 draw between these teams in October:

http://journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173353860232&path=!sports&s=1037645509200

hahaha

VT blows an easy one and skies it over the bar after Nyarko stumbled after beating the keeper to the ball

Wow. You HAVE to score on that. Wow.

That was Valentin w/ the miss.

22201 they just happened to bring that game up, actually...WF 9-2-2 in the series.

WF could've put one in on the corner there.

Good game so far. WF is better at building up, but VT is quickly countering w/ those guys at the top (Nyarko and the giant 6'6 guy)

RK- you're not biased at all are you?

Fair and balanced, right? ;-)

Wow VT is way off-target so far.

:)

I'll usually give VT credit, in football, since, well, they are better. But men's soccer is altogether different!

I'm in my office and I can't get the Internet audio link to work. Has anyone else had more success? The play-by-play by people sitting in front of the tube (or who are in the stadium) is greatly appreciated.

Danger flick by Nyarko...he's involved on every play up top.

Marcus Tracy -- impressive so far -- with an individual effort and solid shot. He had a good cross a few moments before.

Did ESPN really just go to a commercial in the middle of the game???

TV timeout? are you kidding me? gay.

A commercial?

Whaddaya think this is, MLS? College soccer's a whole different animal. :-)

NCAA final four they take TV time outs; same on womens side. Price of exposure I guess.

ESPN did a feature on the Dynamo wearing VT jersies and then auctioning them off for charity. No mention of DC doing the exact same thing...

Marcus Tracy is killing it right now.

I've only been watching from about the 28th minute.

Tracy looks good, as do Wake's outside backs. VT has more success attacking down the middle. VT also plays though midfield more than most NCAA teams (which is to say, they play through midfield at all). That miss by Edmans was Albright-esque.

Chico, I couldn't believe that either. How could ESPN not know that? Add that to the commerical in the middle of the first half and this is really making me mad.

I mean its only a couple of internationals on the VT squad. The American players on the team have said it has helped with their development, so I have no problem with these players.

Not a bad half from Wake, but Valentin had his worst defending effort of the year.

Let's get an early goal in the 2nd.

The whole "champions of the league" reference to Houston further aggrevated me. Only in your mixed up, Americanized, distorted interpretation of truth are Houston champions of the league, BSPN.

I can't believe someone was actually sticking up for the ringers at Virginia Tech and elsewhere.

It's not a question of foreigners vs. Americans, it's a question of a level playing field. The guy at UVa played for a pro team; if an American did that, even in the Mexican 4th division, he would never have gotten clearance to play. And freshmen who are older than US seniors? It's a joke.

"Only in your mixed up, Americanized, distorted interpretation of truth are Houston champions of the league, BSPN"

Oh you mean the rules that govern the league? jackass....

Goal unmarked Tracy, header, off of a direct kick near the right corner.

Yes, the rule that's right next to "grandfathered players will eventually have to give up their grandfathered status."

Nice obstruction/pick on the goal...

VT starting to give up more shots...

VT corner off of a deflection that could've gone...

VT great opp but a weak shot easily taken by the keeper.

WF player w/ a great stepover, but then dove in the box for a yellow.

I'll take Valentin at DC....

Valentin or Tracy (he scored a header).

No, definitely Tracy :)

Tracy buries another one WF up 2-0. 7 min left.

Nice goal scored right now...by #9, started and finished the play

For VT, that pouty expression on Nyarko's face isn't a good sign.

WF has really focused on Nyarko this half and shut him down.

NO PK?!?!?!? Edwards was pulled back on that...kept from the ball...

Absolute class performance from Tracy.

Direct kick for VT on the 20.

You can tell that Nyarko is just spent at this point.

VT off the crossbar on a looping header!

Wow, VT a bit unlucky not to draw within one.

WF 2-0 on Tracy's 2 goals.

great game by both sides. tech looked as good as anyone i've seen the deacs play this year. we dominated possession (as we normally do) but every time the hokies got the ball it seemed as if they were going to have a good scoring chance. tracey showed his skill and athleticism (him and our keeper edwards can dunk with ease). i'm getting pumped for sunday...i might make a stop in cary on my ride home from school!

akdeac31: You should check to make sure tickets are still available. Here is the link provided at the NCAA site:

http://www.gopack.com/fls/9200/menscollegecup/?KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=9200&DB_LA

Goff: Do you have information on whether tickets are still available for Sunday?

The Internet broadcast of the late game (UMass-OSU) just started. They mentioned that there is an area outside the stadium where one might be able to get a glimpse of what is going on inside.

thanks 22201. it seems like the reserved seating is all sold out but i'm assuming if we went we could get in either a) buying tickets from vt fans/whoever loses the second game, or b) general admission tickets might still be available. i'll definitely give them a call though...thanks again.

"The Internet broadcast of the late game (UMass-OSU)"

Where???

Check the links I posted near the top of this thread (at 4:09 p.m.).

I totally agree with DC looking at Tracy(WF). Thats what I said when he headed that ball because we need a good second finisher.

Tech STUNK.

They had a couple chances, missed an absolute SITTER, but other than that all they did was spend the entire game kicking long balls straight to Wake Forest.

WFU was clearly the better team, regardless of whether Tech had a game plan, which apparently they didn't.

This UMass vs. Ohio St (all Columbus teams should lose, btw) looks like when United plays an EPL side - one team is like 5'6", the other is 6'2" :-)

What are your thoughts on this view of the supporters groups?

http://kcwizards.wordpress.com/

ron - the deacs just have an unbelievable system. coach v is a great recruiter, but a lot of top notch recruits have sat the bench because they haven't bought in to his system. a lot of teams have come out with good gameplans but this year we've been hard to stop (something like 61 goals for and 13 against coming into this game). i know its "my team" or whatever but it looks like this is going to be our year.

It has just come to my attention that Ohio State has a freshman named Konrad Warzycha on its roster. Do you think he just might be related to a certain retired MLS player (and current assistant coach)?

That's what Wynalda was saying.

I was very impressed by UMass' walk-on keeper, Simmons.

I didn't have the benefit of seeing the BSPNU telecast (which is why I didn't know what Wynalda did or didn't say), although I will try to catch the delayed broadcast on BSPN2 tomorrow night. For those of you who did get to see it, how do you think Ohio State will stack up against WF (apart from the latter's home-field advantage)?

Congratulations to Wake Forest for a fine performance. By college soccer standards, they're clearly quite a special group. Hopefully, both they and the Buckeyes have enough left in the tank to put on a good show Sunday.

akdeac21 - you guys do have a great system, and you have a lot of fast, smart, and skilled players playing that system. dont mean to gush, but wow, WFU reduced my hokies to playing 3rd-grade kickball out there for vast stretches of the match. about 15 minutes into the match, I said to my sons who were watching with me that all tech was doing was kicking it to WF, and despite the chance early on tech was probably going to lose. My guess is you guys need to make soom room on the bus home for a certain trophy...

Hokies game report -

http://www.potomacsoccerwire.com/news/700/1707