(10-31-2018 05:19 AM)puck swami Wrote:  Some American Football coaches don't want another fall male sport such as soccer competing for resources or attention. And the 85 football scholarships are always a barrier when trying to add more men's sports, due to Title IX and gender proportionality.

That said, there are 206 D-I men's soccer schools, which is more schools than D-I lacrosse (70) and hockey (60) combined. It has a 48-team NCAA tournament that is national in scope rather than regional. The game itself is entertaining and only takes a 2 or 2.5 hours to play.

As the sport grows in America (and MLS now outdraws the NHL and will soon pass the NBA in average game attendance) colleges may find soccer to have revenue potential. It's cheap to run, there are plenty of players in the world and it helps add diversity to enrollment.

Texas and Texas A&M don't have men's soccer and they are two of the wealthiest programs in the country. There is a strong vibrant HS boy's soccer program with a lot of talent, but only a handful of schools playing it in the state, SMU, perhaps Houston. Houston Baptist was actually a national power during their first run in Division I. Don't know if anyone else has played soccer. The issue is what do you offset it with. Texas could add for females- competitive cheer or gymnastics or lacrosse or equestrian. Not really many other options. They already have rowing. A&M already has equestrian. And there aren't many lacrosse players in Texas.

Hmmm, what about curling??? It would introduce a new sport to the NCAA.

(11-02-2018 07:18 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(10-31-2018 05:19 AM)puck swami Wrote:  Some American Football coaches don't want another fall male sport such as soccer competing for resources or attention. And the 85 football scholarships are always a barrier when trying to add more men's sports, due to Title IX and gender proportionality.

That said, there are 206 D-I men's soccer schools, which is more schools than D-I lacrosse (70) and hockey (60) combined. It has a 48-team NCAA tournament that is national in scope rather than regional. The game itself is entertaining and only takes a 2 or 2.5 hours to play.

As the sport grows in America (and MLS now outdraws the NHL and will soon pass the NBA in average game attendance) colleges may find soccer to have revenue potential. It's cheap to run, there are plenty of players in the world and it helps add diversity to enrollment.

Texas and Texas A&M don't have men's soccer and they are two of the wealthiest programs in the country. There is a strong vibrant HS boy's soccer program with a lot of talent, but only a handful of schools playing it in the state, SMU, perhaps Houston. Houston Baptist was actually a national power during their first run in Division I. Don't know if anyone else has played soccer. The issue is what do you offset it with. Texas could add for females- competitive cheer or gymnastics or lacrosse or equestrian. Not really many other options. They already have rowing. A&M already has equestrian. And there aren't many lacrosse players in Texas.

Nearly every Division I Texas school had men’s soccer until Title IX. TCU had a team until the late 90s / early 00s. For a long time, SMU was the only team in Texas. Now, there are a few:SMU, Houston Baptist, Incarnate Word, and UTRGV. TCU has toyed with the idea of bringing it back.