College Days

In my brief stint in Spartanburg, South Carolina this weekend, I spent a little bit of time in and around the campus of Clemson University. While to most it's just one of dozens of football-mad southern schools, to USMNT fans it's the place that served as a critical stepping stone in the careers of two important pieces to the World Cup puzzle.

Back in 2000, the Tigers brought in a towering center back out of Washington, DC who looked more like a linebacker than a soccer player; none other than Oguchi Onyewu. After two strong seasons of collegiate play, during which he improved his physique as well as his technical ability, Gooch was drawing European interest. At just 20 years of age, Onyewu impressed enough to earn a contract in one of the top 5 leagues in Europe, as FC Metz of Ligue 1 brought him across the pond. From there, we've seen Onyewu become a star in Belgium before transfering to one of the most storied teams in the world last summer, all while becoming a integral part of the United States' back line for several years now.

Two years after Onyewu traded in the orange and purple for the red of FC Metz, a young Texan made the trip to South Carolina to play for Trevor Adair at Riggs Field (which looks like a great place to play in or take in a game, in my opinion). The young midfielder combined creativity with the tireless work rate typical of players from his birthplace of Scotland; of course, I'm talking about Stuart Holden. Holden's play with the strong ACC program caught the attention of more than a few scouts, with Sunderland signing him in the Spring following his sophomore season.

Unlike Onyewu, Holden's stint in Europe never really got off the ground, after a fractured eye socket that he suffered after being attacked outside a Newcastle bar sidelined him for an extended period and prevented him from getting integrated into the squad that Mick McCarthy (current manager of another American, Marcus Hahnemann, at Wolves) would take back up to the Premier League. The English media, in all their wisdom, have misconstrued this part of Holden's career as a "failed" tour in England, but that's quite harsh in reality given the circumstances outside of his control that cut short his spell before it ever really began. Despite this setback, Holden went on to become a quality contributor (and eventual star) for the Houston Dynamo, earning both a transfer to Bolton and consistent minutes with the USMNT over the course of the past year.

These are just two examples of players currently in the national team setup who spent some time in college before making the jump to the pro ranks. Of the 23 that I currently have heading to South Africa (which I would link to if I wasn't writing this on a phone), 16 spent some time playing collegiately. Despite this ratio, the college game is frequently criticized, with many vociferous fans and pundits decreeing it as an insufficient, incomplete means of player development. To that segment of the fanbase, the academy setup is the only to go, giving players the opportunity to immerse themselves in a year-round soccer center.

But why is it that the college game is so frequently criticized nowadays? Of course, year round play would be optimal, but with the NCAA season and PDL play, top collegians can get a solid six months of competitive soccer each year. Aside from that, they get some time in the classroom, which helps develop cognitive ability to an extent (and since soccer players don't exactly get the star treatment that football or basketball players receive at some schools, players need to put in some academic effort).

Maybe, as a self-described academic, my priorities are skewed, but in addition to a team filled with gifted athletes, I'd also like a team with intelligent players. Even the best of teams can be matched with a perfect gameplan, which ultimately comes down to a player's ability to absorb and implement the information he's given in a scouting report. I might be completely off base, but maybe some of those hours studying for midterms help guys like Stu and Gooch prepare for a qualifier, as they do their homework on the next opponent. Soccer is a game that is played as much between the ears as it is between the lines, so maybe a few years in college isn't the worst thing for a young American player.

Like it or not, the college game most likely will maintain a place in the US soccer picture for years to come, even with the rise of MLS academies. Our culture places such an emphasis on higher education, in one form or another, that the college game will maintain a certain allure because of the built-in "backup plan" that comes with it. While it's role may dwindle, I can't see it fading away completely, and I expect national teams in cycles to come to feature a fair share of former student-athletes.

Further, with American players drawing more attention than ever before, European scouts are scouring the college ranks looking for the next big thing. Whether it's Marcus Tracy leaving Wake Forest for Aalborg or Alejandro Bedoya heading to Orebro after some time at Boston College (and Farleigh Dickinson), talented young Americans playing in college are being noticed (and that's not even mentioning players that latch on in MLS). The college game is far from a dead end, as numerous Yanks have proven in years past and continue to prove today. It might not be as glamorous, but it can still be a very effective rung in the climb up the ladder to the professional ranks.

It's too much of a generalization to say that an academy system or professional contract is always preferable to the college route, or vice versa. It really varies on a case by case basis. While some can make the academy/professional transition seamlessly in their teens, others stagnate due to homesickness, difficult cultural adjustments, or a lack of competitive minutes. College provides an atmosphere that, despite what are often perceived as shortcomings with quality of play and coaching, might be more conducive to developing one's physical abilities, as well confidence and other intangibles. It also gives some unheralded prospects (like Cobi Jones or Jay DeMerit) a chance to hone their abilities and keep careers alive that may have otherwise ended much, much earlier.

Does the college game have some flaws? Sure, but the European system isn't exactly infallible either. Too often the glitz of something European in nature creates the sense that it's somehow "right", and that our Americanization of the process is somehow "wrong". But the bottom line is, the college game has played a significant role in developing nearly 70% of a team that is arguably the most talented one that the US has ever fielded.

Sounds to me like it's something that shouldn't just be cast aside for straying from the norm, but instead should be recognized as another important aspect of our uniquely American soccer infrastructure.

Once again, this post was done without the benefits of spell check, so forgive any typos. If the thoughts are a little scattered, don't think it's the fault of a few flights; it's just my usual level of rambling.