UCF joins the Sunbelt for Soccer

Well kind of....

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCF</a> will join the Sun Belt as men&#39;s soccer affiliate, the league has announced.<br><br>The Knights will begin play in 2023.</p>&mdash; Cody Junot (@CJunot) <a href="https://twitter.com/CJunot/status/1539307551401328640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Missing a massive opportunity right now… SBC will be the equivalent of a P5 in soccer..

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

Missing a massive opportunity right now… SBC will be the equivalent of a P5 in soccer..

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Yep. Big miss. Damn shame.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

Missing a massive opportunity right now… SBC will be the equivalent of a P5 in soccer..

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Not equivalent. It will be a major conference.

We should be all over this. Missing a massive, Golden opportunity.

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Originally Posted by CajunNation

Not equivalent. It will be a major conference.

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Major or P5 conference*

Typo

So I looked it up, UCF went 9-4-1 in men's soccer 2 years ago including losing in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament to #2 ranked Pittsburgh.

During that season, they beat JMU #17 in the NCAA tournament. SBC men's soccer is going to be pretty damn good.

Kentucky was #10 last year in RPI
West Virginia was #13 last year in RPI
Marshall was #20 last year in RPI
Georgia State was #32 in RPI last year
JMU was #63 last year in RPI
Coastal was #70 last year in RPI
Georgia Southern was 120 last year in RPI
South Carolina was #150 last year in RPI
ODU was #151 last year in RPI

That is 4 in the top 32 and 6 in the top 70. For reference their are 208 Men's college soccer teams.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

Missing a massive opportunity right now… SBC will be the equivalent of a P5 in soccer..

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I would love to have a men's soccer program.

What men's program do we drop or what women's program(s) do we add and where does the money come from for the new offerings?

I think, and I repeat think, we would either have to add a women's program or cancel a men's program.

Women's Beach Volleyball would be great and add men's soccer. But we probably still need to add some women's scholarships based on those numbers.

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Originally Posted by Rainman66

I would love to have a men's soccer program.

What men's program do we drop or what women's program(s) do we add and where does the money come from for the new offerings?

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Seems to be the question that no one has an answer for at this point. Or, here is my donation to fund a soccer program and begin the movement. Maybe the ominous $125K donor can divert his money to the new soccer fund?

Given fuel and travel are increasing, I don’t see anyone adding non revenue sports.

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Originally Posted by ZoomZoom

Given fuel and travel are increasing, I don’t see anyone adding non revenue sports.

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Women’s soccer Drew 2500 people twice last season. A team that hasn’t been very good over the course of its history.

Soccer is the fastest growing sport in America and it’s not particularly close. If you can break even in G5 softball that plays in a mediocre SBC, you can certainly break even playing in a top conference with a good men’s program. Soccer is also not nearly the albatross, budget wise, that football, baseball or MBB is.

And for people asking about donors.. I would definitely change my commitment to support men’s soccer.

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Originally Posted by CajunT

Seems to be the question that no one has an answer for at this point. Or, here is my donation to fund a soccer program and begin the movement. Maybe the ominous $125K donor can divert his money to the new soccer fund?

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And funding needs to increase for baseball and softball to keep up with increased scholarships and potentially additional paid coaches.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

Missing a massive opportunity right now… SBC will be the equivalent of a P5 in soccer..

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Yeah, it is an opportunity to spend ungodly amounts of money that we don’t have on a sport that might draw 1,000 fans on a good night.

I’m a huge soccer fan, but unless there’s someone willing to put up an 8 figure check to start the program, I think we need to accept that soccer is just not in the cards. And frankly, I’d rather see that 8 figure check go to football/baseball/basketball.

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Originally Posted by CajunRebel

Yeah, it is an opportunity to spend ungodly amounts of money that we don’t have on a sport that might draw 1,000 fans on a good night.

I’m a huge soccer fan, but unless there’s someone willing to put up an 8 figure check to start the program, I think we need to accept that soccer is just not in the cards. And frankly, I’d rather see that 8 figure check go to football/baseball/basketball.

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Most sports don’t draw 1k fans every night. In fact, maybe 3. Baseball / softball / football.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

Women’s soccer Drew 2500 people twice last season. A team that hasn’t been very good over the course of its history.

Soccer is the fastest growing sport in America and it’s not particularly close. If you can break even in G5 softball that plays in a mediocre SBC, you can certainly break even playing in a top conference with a good men’s program. Soccer is also not nearly the albatross, budget wise, that football, baseball or MBB is.

And for people asking about donors.. I would definitely change my commitment to support men’s soccer.

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It may or may not be an albatross, but it is difficult to see it being break even from the beginning, and you will still have to add a non-breakeven women's sport or two to match what is spent.

There is little doubt in my mind that Dr Maggard would love to add men's soccer. Where does the money come from is the ultimate question.

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Originally Posted by Rainman66

It may or may not be an albatross, but it is difficult to see it being break even from the beginning, and you will still have to add a non-breakeven women's sport or two to match what is spent.

There is little doubt in my mind that Dr Maggard would love to add men's soccer. Where does the money come from is the ultimate question.

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You’re right to be concerned about startup costs and the challenges that come with that. I just don’t think it’s cost prohibitive like some seem to. I also think the potential far exceeds the risk.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

Women’s soccer Drew 2500 people twice last season. A team that hasn’t been very good over the course of its history.

Soccer is the fastest growing sport in America and it’s not particularly close. If you can break even in G5 softball that plays in a mediocre SBC, you can certainly break even playing in a top conference with a good men’s program. Soccer is also not nearly the albatross, budget wise, that football, baseball or MBB is.

And for people asking about donors.. I would definitely change my commitment to support men’s soccer.

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Some people will tell you lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the US but that is neither here nor there. I’ve been advocating for a Men’s Soccer team for years and now is the best time to add it!

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

You’re right to be concerned about startup costs and the challenges that come with that. I just don’t think it’s cost prohibitive like some seem to. I also think the potential far exceeds the risk.

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The biggest issue is geography. There are three D1 soccer schools within driving distance of Lafayette: HBU, Incarnate Word, and SMU. If you want to play anyone else you’re buying something like 20-30 plane tickets. And in conference play, every single game would be a plane ride.

It would be brutally expensive — especially if $100 oil is here to stay.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

You’re right to be concerned about startup costs and the challenges that come with that. I just don’t think it’s cost prohibitive like some seem to. I also think the potential far exceeds the risk.

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I think there are short term cost and long term potential and risk to measure. I don't believe a program in it's infancy is going to average 2,000 or even a 1,000 fans in attendance. The product won't be very good and outside of SBC programs, higher profile programs will not want to visit Louisiana for that reason. And there will be literally no budget to pay good programs to come to Lafayette.

Secondly, in our current financial environment, the university will not add two additional programs. One must be added for women's sports because of Title 9 compliance. So, a men's program must be dropped and the question is which sport? Soccer has a much larger roster than golf and tennis.

While there is potential long term as you stated, I believe based upon our current financial status of reduced budgets the past two years and projected cuts this year, your expectations are simply not realistic.

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Originally Posted by CajunT

I think there are short term cost and long term potential and risk to measure. I don't believe a program in it's infancy is going to average 2,000 or even a 1,000 fans in attendance. The product won't be very good and outside of SBC programs, higher profile programs will not want to visit Louisiana for that reason. And there will be literally no budget to pay good programs to come to Lafayette.

Secondly, in our current financial environment, the university will not add two additional programs. One must be added for women's sports because of Title 9 compliance. So, a men's program must be dropped and the question is which sport? Soccer has a much larger roster than golf and tennis.

While there is potential long term as you stated, I believe based upon our current financial status of reduced budgets the past two years and projected cuts this year, your expectations are simply not realistic.

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1) Don’t need to pay good programs to come to Lafayette with this strength of league.
2) Most sports don’t have 1k in attendance, so I’m not sure why we’re throwing around that number.
3) The product not being good is just an assumption.
4) No reason why we can’t add women’s golf (which has a big undercurrent of support already) and/or Beach Volleyball, another very popular sport here. Cost would be minimal. And yes, we could stand to lose a men’s sport or two.
5) I have no expectations because we aren’t, to my knowledge, pursing SBC membership at this time.
6) While the budget concerns are legit, this state just got an ass load of fed dollars and is about to make a grip on these academic advancements. Also enrollment is up. Also the athletic department is about to get a huge boost in momentum once the football stadium is announced and Marlin is fired. I think we’ll be in good shape.

What we can’t do is do what we’ve always done and be reactive. We need to be proactive on this.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

1) Don’t need to pay good programs to come to Lafayette with this strength of league.
2) Most sports don’t have 1k in attendance, so I’m not sure why we’re throwing around that number.
3) The product not being good is just an assumption.
4) No reason why we can’t add women’s golf (which has a big undercurrent of support already) and/or Beach Volleyball, another very popular sport here. Cost would be minimal. And yes, we could stand to lose a men’s sport or two.
5) I have no expectations because we aren’t, to my knowledge, pursing SBC membership at this time.
6) While the budget concerns are legit, this state just got an ass load of fed dollars and is about to make a grip on these academic advancements. Also enrollment is up. Also the athletic department is about to get a huge boost in momentum once the football stadium is announced and Marlin is fired. I think we’ll be in good shape.

What we can’t do is do what we’ve always done and be reactive. We need to be proactive on this.

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Your point of being reactive is a valid one. But, we are reactive because we have had to play catch up for the last decade. Unfortunately, we are still under funded financially budget wise and have yet to renovate the football field.

Unless someone is willing to drop seed money over seven figures, it's just not financially feasible. You can't be proactive with smoke and mirrors, you need actual investments.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

Women’s soccer Drew 2500 people twice last season. A team that hasn’t been very good over the course of its history.

Soccer is the fastest growing sport in America and it’s not particularly close. If you can break even in G5 softball that plays in a mediocre SBC, you can certainly break even playing in a top conference with a good men’s program. Soccer is also not nearly the albatross, budget wise, that football, baseball or MBB is.

And for people asking about donors.. I would definitely change my commitment to support men’s soccer.

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Might want to check the box scores. Never drew 2,500 in Lafayette last fall for women’s soccer. 2,373 v LSU is the only thing close. Here’s reality…

Prairie View 477
SLU 511
GAST 102
stAte 179
LR 212
Texas State 223
ULM 168

Just for S&Gs…road games last year:
McNeese 195 (from MSU site)
Miss State 314
Kentucky 341
Tennessee (17) 312
Houston 100
Alcorn 50
Troy 103
South Alabama 150
Coastal 257
GaSo 156
App 257
LR (tournament) 150

And this supposedly after one of our “best” seasons ever.

https://ragincajuns.com/sports/women.../schedule/2021

We do have a club lacrosse team already, seen their trailer. We can’t get the money for Cajun Field at this moment, don’t see a sugar daddy for any start up program. Just a honest observation.

Playing catch up…heck we haven’t come close in WSOC since the program’s inception.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

1) Don’t need to pay good programs to come to Lafayette with this strength of league.
2) Most sports don’t have 1k in attendance, so I’m not sure why we’re throwing around that number.
3) The product not being good is just an assumption.
4) No reason why we can’t add women’s golf (which has a big undercurrent of support already) and/or Beach Volleyball, another very popular sport here. Cost would be minimal. And yes, we could stand to lose a men’s sport or two.
5) I have no expectations because we aren’t, to my knowledge, pursing SBC membership at this time.
6) While the budget concerns are legit, this state just got an ass load of fed dollars and is about to make a grip on these academic advancements. Also enrollment is up. Also the athletic department is about to get a huge boost in momentum once the football stadium is announced and Marlin is fired. I think we’ll be in good shape.

What we can’t do is do what we’ve always done and be reactive. We need to be proactive on this.

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Which men's sports could we drop?

I hope people realize how big youth soccer is in this state. There is no Div 1 soccer in Louisiana which is mind boggling. This would be a huge get if we can add a UL men’s soccer team.

LC and LSUA have men’s soccer but they are not D1. Anymore colleges have men’s soccer in LA?

Men’s soccer is played in the fall, usually on Friday nights or Saturdays. Therein is the biggest hurdle in the south, direct competition with football.