Spring Break
Varsity men's soccer may be just a dream, but there are alternatives
CHRIS ANTHONY
Issue date: 6/10/08 Section: Sports
A Georgia soccer player races up the field, and passes the ball. His teammate spins a defender and unleashes a drive into the upper goal.
They jump into the stands where they are embraced by Bulldog faithful.
A nice moment, but not one seen at the University since there is no men's varsity soccer team in Athens.
Title IX is the main reason, said Tom Camp, president of the Athens United Soccer Association. Title IX dictates there should be equal opportunity based on gender in education, which includes college athletics.
In order for the University to add a men's soccer, another women's athletic team needs to be added. Camp said there are "no more women's programs to add." Funding also becomes an issue, as it is unlikely the University has enough room in the athletic budget to support two more varsity teams.
The University is presented with a similar Title IX dilemma Brigham Young University faced. Despite success at the club soccer level, BYU was unable to add a men's varsity team due to budget issues.
BYU's alternative was the Premier Development League. The PDL allows college-age soccer players to gain experience in a professional atmosphere without losing college eligibility.
In 2003, BYU's club soccer team purchased a PDL franchise for what the New York Times reported around $40,000. The team sought better competition, and found it while circumventing the NCAA.
Despite a rough first year, BYU rebounded and finished atop its division last season.
Although there are similarities between the Title IX issues of BYU and Georgia, it is difficult to determine if the University could replicate BYU's success if the University's club soccer team acquired a PDL franchise.
Georgia's club soccer team has come nowhere near duplicating the success of BYU's club team during the last decade.
However, the University's club soccer team has been on the rise in recent years, with the team reaching the Collegiate Soccer Sport Club Championships last fall.
They jump into the stands where they are embraced by Bulldog faithful.
A nice moment, but not one seen at the University since there is no men's varsity soccer team in Athens.
Title IX is the main reason, said Tom Camp, president of the Athens United Soccer Association. Title IX dictates there should be equal opportunity based on gender in education, which includes college athletics.
In order for the University to add a men's soccer, another women's athletic team needs to be added. Camp said there are "no more women's programs to add." Funding also becomes an issue, as it is unlikely the University has enough room in the athletic budget to support two more varsity teams.
The University is presented with a similar Title IX dilemma Brigham Young University faced. Despite success at the club soccer level, BYU was unable to add a men's varsity team due to budget issues.
BYU's alternative was the Premier Development League. The PDL allows college-age soccer players to gain experience in a professional atmosphere without losing college eligibility.
In 2003, BYU's club soccer team purchased a PDL franchise for what the New York Times reported around $40,000. The team sought better competition, and found it while circumventing the NCAA.
Despite a rough first year, BYU rebounded and finished atop its division last season.
Although there are similarities between the Title IX issues of BYU and Georgia, it is difficult to determine if the University could replicate BYU's success if the University's club soccer team acquired a PDL franchise.
Georgia's club soccer team has come nowhere near duplicating the success of BYU's club team during the last decade.
However, the University's club soccer team has been on the rise in recent years, with the team reaching the Collegiate Soccer Sport Club Championships last fall.
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