ONLY SOCCER: RICHMOND STILL DID BEST ,,, AFTER 25 YEARS
Believe it or not … Richmond (city of) remains the runaway leader in attendance for the NCAA Division I men’s soccer final four … yet hasn’t held the event since 1999. It’s true.
Starting in 1995, five of the top six crowds for the College Cup turned
out at City Stadium … including a SRO of 21,319 for the ‘95
semifinals, second only to 22,512 that witnessed the 1980 final at
54,692-seat Busch Memorial Stadium, then home of the MLB St.
Louis Cardinals and NFL Cardinals.
In all, Richmond still has eight of the top 12 crowds … including
an average of 20,651 for the top five.
So, tell us, why did the NCAA leave the Capital City, never to return
again? Well, for one thing the governing body decided … if little old
Richmond, Va., could attract crowds of 20,000-plus, bigger venues
could do much, much better. Wrong!
The event went from here to Charlotte, N.C., and the home of the NFL
Carolina Panthers, where 73,250 seats were left mostly empty. After
two years, the Cup was on the move again, in search of Richmond-like
interest. Good luck with that!
We were reminded of those glorious days of yesteryear Sunday while
watching more spectators disguised as empty seats in Louisville for
the final. An announced crowd of 4,449 saw ninth-seeded Clemson
edge No. 2 Notre Dame 2-1 for the Tigers’ second title in two years
(fourth overall). The soccer-specific $65 million Lynn Family
Stadium, which opened four years ago, was site for the first time …
and most likely the last. The playing surface was criticized for not be
up to standard, and no one felt good about the turnout. Capacity is
11,700.
OK, so in fairness to the NCAA, the people entrusted with making the
tournament a success here, wanted no part of another turn even if
asked. When the College Cup first came to Richmond, it was supposed
to be a combined effort, shared by the city and University of
Richmond.
The city’s contribution turned out to be some Welcome NCAA soccer pennants … and little else. The responsibility for 99 percent-plus of the operation was left to UR, most notably athletic director Chuck Boone and sports information director Barry Barnum … and others, of course … all of whom were over-worked trying to keep up with their regular day jobs in addition to making the annual event a success.
After five years, to say they were burned out would be an
understatement. “I couldn’t ask anyone to do it any more,” Boone said.
“That wouldn’t have been fair.”
MATT TURNER was back in goal for Nottingham Forest which
snapped a four-game losing streak with a 1-1 standoff with the
Wolves. Most people wouldn’t have given the result a second look,
considering neither team is one of the powerhouses in the English
Premier League.
But, for Turner, in particular, the outcome – as well as his return –
were BIG … because his prolonged inactivity prompted concern about
the former Richmond Kicker’s fitness to retain his job as No. 1 keeper
for the U.S. National Team.
After a 3-0 loss to Liverpool in late October, Forest manager Steve
Cooper replaced Turner with Greek international Odisseas
Vlachodimos who blanked Aston Villa 2-0 in his first start then lost
the next four. A 5-0 setback against lowly Fulham finally convinced
Cooper he made a mistake. Or, more to the point, he better do
something, and do it quickly, or face the firing squad, with his team
heading in the wrong direction toward relegation. As it turned out, it
probably saved his job.
In his first season with Forest, Turner has a 68 percent save
percentage, winning two games, tying five and losing four. He’s made
35 saves on 51 shots on goal. By contrast Vlachodimos has been
credited with 10 stops while allowing 12 goals (45.5 percent).
Making things tougher for both of them has been lack lustre defensive
play that leaves to many rivals unmarked inside the box. Last time out,
instead of staying with his man, the Forest defender was caught ball-
watching, leading to the Wolves’ goal from right on. Turner never had
a chance.
BRIEFLY TOLD ...
Only goal against Clemson in five tournament games (449 minutes)
was on a penalty kick by Notre Dame in the 90th minute after a
defender was called for a handball in the box … The ACC had nine
teams in the 48-team field. Six were seeded including No. 7 Virginia, making its 26th NCAA appearance in 29 years under coach George
Gelnovatch … Cavaliers bowed 1-0 to Indiana in round of 16 despite
dominating the Hoosiers who got their only goal in the 11th minute
then barely survived. Virginia had one shot clang off the crossbar, and
another, by Stephen Annor, cleared off the line by a defender …
Annor, who led the team with 10 goals, was named All-American,
becoming only the fourth player in U.Va., soccer history to be so
honored as a freshman. The others were Claudio Reyna (1991), Tony
Meola (1989) and Jeff Agoos (1986) … Meola can be heard daily on
SiriusXM (Ch.157), talking – what else? -- futbol … Still no
explanation why former Virginia coach Bruce Arena was suspended
by Major League Soccer … and finally resigned as coach of the New
England Revolution.
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