Deseret News | De-flated: With soccer popular among boys, why only one NCAA-sanctioned men's team in Utah?

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De-flated: With soccer popular among boys, why only one NCAA-sanctioned men's team in Utah?

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Dale Newton | 1:07 a.m. July 13, 2008

An interesting article - but basically - who cares? I don't care if the schools in this state ever offer any scholarships in soccer. I would care - in the negative - if any of those scholarships took one away from men's football or baseball or women's volleyball or gymnastics. I don't care if the professional team wins or loses or even stays in business. I do, however, want them out of the University of Utah's stadium before they ruin the turf any more than they already have - and I hope the "U" is charging them a bundle to play there. Soccer - it's boring and I believe you only run stories on it because the paper feels it is some type of politically correct thing to do. Can't you find more old stories about lawn bowling, poker and checkers and other interesting sports?

Title IX is stupid | 7:45 a.m. July 13, 2008

It takes a lot more players to field a football team than a volleyball team. As much as I enjoy watching women in their volleyball uniforms, football puts more butts in the seats and earns more MONEY.

Real Athletes | 8:39 p.m. July 13, 2008

Baseball players are the most complete athletes period. Think about it. To be considered good you have to run, throw, catch, and hitch a ball with a round object. Hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports. Granted there are some that are better at hitting than maybe fielding or vice versa, but they are above average or wouldn't be in the bigs. Michael Jordan tried to play the game and couldn't get out of AA. The only other real football or basketball player that you could say had success was Bo Jackson. He made a couple All-Star games.

Don't even compare to soccer players. If they traded places, it'd be no match either way. Man, you could play soccer without any arms and still be good. Couldn't do that in any other sport. Leave soccer to the world and keep it just where it is now in the US.

Comments continue below

sports fan | 10:32 p.m. July 13, 2008

being a 5a mvp doesnt mean much because american soccer is weak, and thats why we get blown out at the world cup. This is the usa, and football/basketball will always be king! believe dat.

Jason Bryant | 11:21 a.m. July 14, 2008

To the Comment "I can go on and on, still have wrestling, why didn't title IX affect hundreds of other schools."

Please educate yourself on the topic. Wrestling participation on the youth level is at an all-time high (check NFHS numbers).

Then be aware that college wrestling has lost over 400 college programs since the passing of the law in 1972, but many (if not most) have come after the 1979 clarification.

I tried to post a link to things PROVING it, but this site does not allow URL's to be posted.

It's over 400 college wrestling teams dead since Title IX's passing. Don't kid yourself.

Proof is in the pudding. I'm sure other men's sports are in a similar boat.

Soccer Mom | 2:23 p.m. July 14, 2008

I echo the comment from Laurels. My son just graduated and was offered both academic and athletic (soccer) scholarships to attend Westminster. He, too, had several offers from out of state colleges but they were not near enough to offset the extremely high costs to attend those schools. So he is Westminster bound and I couldn't be happier. My daughter just graduated from there and really enjoyed it.

guru | 4:15 p.m. July 15, 2008

listen....nobody cares about friggen soccer in America. Ok, there might be a few people....about as many that care about karate and lacrosse. America is a football and basketball country through and through. Bag soccer

Ignorant Americans | 3:42 p.m. July 16, 2008

Back to Real Athletes: I sure hope you are kidding. Baseball? Honeslty baseball? The most complete athletes? Come on now. Lets see, you stand in a box waiting for a pitch. I'll give you the fact it is hard to hit, but running? Yeah, a whole 90 feet to first where most of the time the player is exhausted. Ha ha, catching a baseball with those mits is not that hard either. Pitching is hard and so is hitting, but other then that the game is a waiting game. heck, golf can be ten times more exciting then baseball. lets see you go on the pitch (that is a soccer field for you uneducated people) and try and score. Its so easy right? Ha ha, after you get worn out from your run onto the field, i'll be sure to give you a reason to sit down again.
Baseball? Seriously? this guy said baseball?
Oh, and to the rest of you soccer haters. Number of Hispanics in the US is increasing... Hispanics love soccer... UH OH.

If nobody cares... | 3:47 p.m. July 16, 2008

Then why do you soccer haters feel the need to comment on a stroy about Title 9?
Ha ha, you haters are pathetic. Lets see, thanks for the stadium with not your tax money (notcie the word not), thanks for your support of soccer (by commenting on it, you give it attention and publicity, we all know there is no such thing as bad publicity) and thank you for showing how stupid we as americans are (as if our president was not enough proof).
Well done, well done.

More manly? | 4:19 p.m. July 16, 2008

Football is more manly then soccer why? Baseball is more manly then soccer why? Basketball is more manly then soccer why?
Football, you wear enough pads to not feel the hit.
Baseball, you dont get touched, when you do you get rewarded to go to your base.
Basketball, hey these guys bang some, i'll give respect here.
Soccer, well if you havent played you dont know. If all you have seen is your little kids rec league game you know nothing. that would be like me going to a jr jazz game and saying i knew everything about basketball.
Come on now, are we really all this ignorant that we have to use the word manly? The american football ego is a fragile thing

RE: Ignorant Americans | 4:21 p.m. July 16, 2008

You my friend, obviously haven't played the game. I would challenge ANY soccer player to play baseball and then any baseball player to switch and play soccer and I'd be willing to be the baseball players would beat the soccer players at their own game. It wouldn't be close when playing baseball. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that most soccer players wouldn't have the courage to this challenge. Baseball players are in better condition that most other athletes. REAL athletes know this. Not those that play a game where you don't need to use arms are hands. That's not a sport, it's hacky sack. I also have no respect for a sport where you see a participant roll around like he got shot and then miraculasly is 100% to run full speed in the next minute. If the Hispanics love soccer that's great. It's a game for them to play because they can't play baseball. Soccer right, a sport where armless people can play. Get real.

no arms? | 4:24 p.m. July 16, 2008

You could play soccer without arms? wow, did you watch a guy do it once so you figure that at any level it is feasible. I saw a guy play baseball with one hand. I saw a guy play basketball with one leg. I saw a guy play football with one arm... Guess in every sport it is capable.
Idiot

I'll make the switch | 4:29 p.m. July 16, 2008

I had a buddy who played both baseball and soccer. he was a standout baseball player. He was going to be offered a starting spot on the Taylorsville baseball team as a fresman. He was going to ge in their pitching rotation. He also was a stand out soccer player... Guess which one he said was harder? SOCCER. wanna know why, you have to be in better shape, you have to be mentally fit the whole game (not just when the pitcher is going) and you have to be aware of yourself at all times.
Buddy, come on now, everybody knows baseball is a pathetic excuse for a sport. Yeah it is hard to hit a ball, you ever tried bending a soccer ball around a wall into a space just big enough for the ball so the goalie doesnt reach it?

Hey baseball lover | 4:34 p.m. July 16, 2008

Whichever high school it is that you go to, you should try out for the soccer team. Lets see you get through the first day of conditioning with that baseball "fitness"

RE: No Arms (Brain) | 4:37 p.m. July 16, 2008

At what level do you speak of. I can only think of Jim Abbot in baseball. Anyone else? Huh? What you say? Idiot back at you. Yeah, high school level and rarely college. Feel good stories, but how many can play or just play. There is a difference. Idiot back at you again. That's the soccer mentality that I dislike very much.

Mr. Garrison | 9:50 p.m. July 16, 2008

There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

I should take that back. There are both stupid questions and stupid people. Watching grown 'men' play soccer is boring. Dull. It is not a sport for men.

Some of you will claim that I am just bashing soccer. Some of you are right, but consider this; maybe soccer deserves to be bashed.

educate yourselves | 1:41 a.m. July 17, 2008

wow who ever is saying baseball is harder give me a break i play football basketball and baseball and soccer. All of these sports takes different types of strengths but please do not tell me soccer is an easy sport give me a break. For soccer you have to be the best in the world to be considered good not just the US the world. You have to be big fast strong in good shape conditioned and have mental toughness. 90 minutes of intense play. soccer is no sport for people who are not tough or you will just get knocked off the ball i respect people if they say they do not enjoy it but pleas do not say it is easy far from it. watch any body that has not played soccer try to play they look like fools takes finess and skil.

Hey Mr. Garrison | 11:42 a.m. July 17, 2008

Have you ever played soccer? I take it as a no considering your lack of respect for the sport. Why do you think the entire world plays this sport so much...? Come on now
Oh, and the guy who said that he saw the soccer player with one arm play... I'm sure that was a feel good thing too. No one at the high level can play with one arm, but you would have to understand the game to know that. I think that may be a little hard for your baseball filled mind to wrap around

Anonymous | 4:34 p.m. July 17, 2008

Its sad to see that utah colleges aren't taking the opprotunity have NCAA soccer teams when Utah is producing great soccer players. Utah soccer is starting to get recognzied more and more. The RSL U-17 team captured the MLS Cup, now that is a big accompishment. The Utah 89, 90, 91 had many players in the Region pool. The youth players are developing at a fast pace and make a stand at the Western Regionals. BYU is getting great players, but their talent is going to waste in the PDL. U of U has a great valley of soccer players same with Utah Valley. La Roca, Inter, Sparta, Utah Rush and other clubs are developing great players, they are forced to go out of state to get the college play they want because their state colleges can't give them the level of play they need. The state of Utah should take the change in NCAA Soccer and watch the amazing change that will happen.

Re: Hey Mr. Garrison | 6:15 p.m. July 17, 2008

Now read carefully. I know all of you emotional soccer minds can't handle it, but try so that you don't misunderstand or try to put words in my mouth. Deep breath all you soccer people. Jim Abbott was a big league pitcher for Detroit with only a left hand. He was in the league for a few years and had a descent career. It wasn't a gimmick. I didn't say I saw a soccer player. And for the moron that claimed I said that soccer wasn't hard, I never said it wasn't. My statement was it took a better athlete. Competing in a Triathlon is harder than both baseball and soccer, but that doesn't make you a great athlete. Again, you have to run, throw, catch, and hit and round ball with a cylander object. The only thing that can compare with each sport is running. If you gave a group of baseball players and soccer players and gave each group 4 weeks to train and practice, baseball would kill any group of soccer players in playing a game/match opposite each other. Deep breath soccer. Before responding, get rid of your emotions. I'm sure I'll be hearing from you.

Athletes | 12:36 p.m. July 20, 2008

To all those who are claiming soccer is for "the kids that couldn't make the football or baseball team."
On a high school level, US soccer 1) has more Utah kids playing on an international level than other sports 2) is more attended than baseball. 3) many of the soccer players are on a fall/winter varsity team.

As to whether or not soccer is as physically demanding than other sports:
1) It's a contact sport.
2) The average professional player runs 8-9 miles per game.
2) There are no time-outs, quarters, etc. 90 minutes of full play. How much of baseball and football are just waiting for the next play time?
3) Only three substitutions.
4) Have you ever seen the BYU men's team or RSL's work out schedule? The BYU team trains just as much, if not more, than the football and baseball teams in the weight room.

As to baseball vs. soccer. I seriously doubt that a baseball player would have the foot coordination - I mean you don't exactly run with the ball in baseball, do you?

let's be honest | 3:26 p.m. July 20, 2008

to: athletes - get hit with a baseball and the guy runs to first base...get kicked in the shin in soccer and they call for help as they lie around on the ground like it was death...enough said!

Re: Let's be honest | 1:01 p.m. July 21, 2008

the guy that "ran" to first base then stands around for hours on end, and the guy that was on the ground gets back up and runs another couple miles, getting hit constantly (not just once in awhile like the ball hitting the player in baseball).
ENOUGH SAID

Annonymous. | 1:20 p.m. July 21, 2008

Title IX is not the problem, it is an excuse. Title IX mandates EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, NOT EQUAL NUMBERS, and is based on student percentages and interest levels. This is a misconception that people have gotten too caught up in.

Bobby | 4:30 p.m. July 27, 2008

The SEC doesn't have men's soccer and only one "legacy" school -- Kentucky -- currently offers it. South Carolina, which joined the SEC in 1992, stayed in its former conference (the Metro) for men's soccer for a few more seasons before reunification (Metro-Great Midwest reunification created Conference USA) when it wasn't invited, and stayed independent for ten seasons when it rejoined Conference USA, taking Kentucky with them to C-USA.

The US Olympic Committee needs to study the demise of Olympic sports for men because of Feminazi orders.

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