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Last week I looked at the USC website and saw Zack Jordan (senior) and 2 freshmen as USC's goalkeepers. After the Virginia exhibition game I read about one of the freshmen doing well, but I noticed Zack Jordan and the other freshman off the roster. I'm confused, can somebody help me out here and explain this situation? Thanks

Several players got in serious trouble last week. One would assume that the players no longer on the roster would be those.

Zac Jordan, Robert Rosenberg and Geoffrey Anatole were dismissed from the team last week. USC is down to a roster of 17 which includes only one senior and one junior.

SHOCKING!!!!!!!! The downfall has started! USC is the the fifth best team in sc this year!!!! Behind Coastal,Clemson,Furman and CofC!!!!

I think Quest actually quit the team because his girlfriend was pregnant and having a baby, so he went back to NY. That's the story I heard.

As for Berson being their too long, you may be on to something. USC just hasn't had the dynamics of some of the other regional teams in recent years.

When I see programs like Clemson and Furman excelling on the national stage and the College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina, and Winthrop fairing well in their conference and South Region play, it really makes you wonder why Berson cannot get Carolina back to Top 15 status like in the late 80s and 90s.

I think it really goes back to personality, or as Paul Gardner of Soccer America so eloquently put it back in 1993 while covering the Final Four at Davidson -- "Bersonality". He stated that Berson was dogmatic in his control of the team, while Bruce Arena was intense with his team, but allowed the players to maintain their own identity in the game.

Allison (Furman), Adair (CU), and even Golan (Evansville) were all USC assistants and "players coaches" - whereas Berson seems to distance himself from the players and act somewhat elitist towards them and others in the soccer communities. This never helps sow the seeds of grassroots movements whatsoever and USC has never reached the youth populous in Columbia as other college programs have been involved and supported in other areas.

Also, the lack of players from SC on the team has hurt the local soccer folks who believe that SC has some good players, but when the head coach at the state university doesn't know who they are because they didn't attend his camp or play ODP, people tend to be put off by the arrogance of "South Carolina youth soccer is behind other states, so I'll just go there and get players" say from UTAH -- which is no soccer hotbed itself.

I hope that this year's team can right the ship of the recent decline, but I doubt it!

I know enough about the program that the boys had to do something really dangerous to themselves or the team to get the boot. I'd hate to speculate so I won't, but my guess is one of the existing players would tell you if you wanted to know.

As for the decline of the program...let's just wait and see how this group responds. Berson usually doesn't say how much he likes a team if they're not good.

And for those who say USC won't give instate guys a chance, how many offers from other schools do you think Stoval and Whetstone received?

I'm curious to see some names thrown out of players in the last 10 years that you think should have been recruited to play at USC and weren't at least delt with in some manner.

SC drew a foot in his mouth!!! There are numerous players that SC missed the boat on!

Whetstone had offers from Clemson,Duke,USC,UAB,and PC. He chose SC due to the chance to play as a Freshman. Also Clint was his host during his visits! He wound up being voted MVP by his teammates his SR year!

Some players that Berson missed over the last ten years well here are some mainly from Columbia!!!!!!!! Andy Kwon(Duke and Spring Valley),Jeff Collins(BC/DNP)John Wilson(Clemson),Johnny Tyler(SV/Duke),Robby Fitzgerald(SV/Duke),John Hinds(irmo/Kentucky),Jared Riley(Wando/CofC),David Gregory(better thatn Harmon who quit/BC/DNP),Eric Ozmeck(SV/Maryland/Davidson),Nick Hansell(Ridge View/Davidson) Joe Mosser(Dreher/Citadel),Clint Smith(BC/DNP),Troy Lessene(BC/CofC),Montae Seabrook(Wando/CofC),Randy Owen(Irmo/Coastal),Cody Perrot(Ridge View/Coastal),Jabari Seabrook(BC/CofC)John Cooper(Riverside/Clemson) and Erik Forbes(seneca/Clemson).

I am sure there are more but that should be enough for you SCDREWABLANK. I like I always say,"The only time SC draqws a blank is on USC's roster!"

Shearer missed the pk and Newcastle is out of the Champions league!!!!!!!1

Wow, Shearer...such hostilities (what makes you the USC expert anyway?). Missed means they didn't know about or recruit. If you recruit a kid and they don't come, that's different. Your list with modifications:
Some players that Berson missed over the last ten years well here are some mainly from Columbia!!!!!!!! Andy Kwon(Duke and Spring Valley)--told Berson he wanted to leave the state and he was going to Duke during the in-home visit -- received a full academic scholly (i'd go to Duke too!),Jeff Collins(BC/DNP)--not sure on this one, where did he go?, John Wilson(Clemson--admissions told Berson he wouldn't get in,Johnny Tyler(SV/Duke)--not really worth the discussion, he didn't even make the Duke roster, was on the practice squad and quit (why do you think he could have played at USC?),Robby Fitzgerald(SV/Duke)--same story as Tyler I believe,John Hinds(irmo/Kentucky)--don't know him but I'm sure if Phil felt he was good enough to play for USC, Berson would have taken him,Jared Riley(Wando/CofC)--don't know this one,David Gregory(better than Harmon who quit/BC/DNP)--agian if he didn't play, why would a top 20 program recuit him?,Eric Ozmeck(SV/Maryland/Davidson)--offered scholarship to USC and his mom wanted him to go there but he chose Maryland---proved to be too slow at the major D1 level which is why he left MD, no playing time,Nick Hansell(Ridge View/Davidson)--USC didn't feel he could compete against the big boys and told him so instead of leading him on, Joe Mosser(Dreher/Citadel)--cant speak to this one,Clint Smith(BC/DNP)great kid, not ready for major D1 as evident by his not playing,Troy Lessene(BC/CofC)--probably missed this one as far as projections go, but I know Berson told him that it would be a stretch and it would be in his best interest to look elsewhere...again, better than leading the kid on and then dumping him once he arrives if he didn't make it,Montae Seabrook(Wando/CofC)--committed before an offer was made by USC,Randy Owen(Irmo/Coastal)a partial qualifier out of HS..can't be eligible at an SEC school,Cody Perrot(Ridge View/Coastal)--looked at but didn't offer,Jabari Seabrook(BC/CofC)jury still out on how good he'll be...hasn't even played yet, John Cooper(Riverside/Clemson)--wasn't leaving the Clemson area and told USC that and Erik Forbes(seneca/Clemson) same as John.

Like it or lump it, USC operates differently than CofC and Duke and the like. They keep a small roster 24 vs 35 and don't tell kids they can play only to put them on a practice squad. If you're on the team at USC then you go to everything.

They do look at and recruit instate kids but a lot of times, those kids don't chose USC. Hans did and made great strides become the MVP. What a great story that was and is.

Next???

Interesting read guys! This is the best commentary I've seen in awhile on here. Thanks for the opinions and info.

What about the Suarez brothers (all three went to UNC)?

Any idea who USC is looking at in this years' senior high school class from SC?

Where does USC come off telling kids they are not good enough at his level? it looks to me like alsmost every kid that wasn't good enough was good enough or better! Who is to say what would have happened if the SV boys had been given a chance at USC? Carolina wasn't that strong back then in the mid 90's after Clint/Josh left. Duke was in the thick of things with Josh henderson and Ali Curtis. But any way typical Bersonite response! NEVER WRONG!!!!!

Wilson got in Clemson but not USC!!!!! WRONG USC did not offer. Only Clemson and UAB offered for Soccer. Jared Riley was Gatorade POY in 96 and the son of Wando Coach Tom Riely.As fopr Gregory Berson wanted him till a bad call cost him his season his own fault really but for books USC could have had a good player from COla.

The worst was Clint Smith. My little brother played on the NECSA Comets with him and he single handedly got them inot the finals of the Sun Bowl and Capital Cup(?) DC(?) Would have been twice as good as Brockmeyr(SP) and Jordan( what a joke!!!!!!!!) Plus he was local and would have gone for free. Give him a redshirt year and would have exceled at USC!!!!!!!! Total blunder by Berson Rowell and Golan!~ What makes you such an expert?
I played for the Patriots and was some what looked at by USC.

Now were getting to the heart of the matter.
"Where does USC come off telling kids they are not good enough at his level?"
It's the job of a college or professional coach to make opinions and project a players ability at the next level. That's what makes a good recruiter. National team kids are easy...they're all good. It's the sleepers that make or break you. You have to make decisions based on personel and scholarship available. If you don't want to hear it, don't ask.

"it looks to me like alsmost every kid that wasn't good enough was good enough or better!"
Which of these many that you listed started at a major D1 school which USC is (16+NCAA Tourney bids in 25 years), which Furman has become and Clemson has been for quite some time (Ibraham and now Adair)? Charleston is getting there, but not yet.

"Who is to say what would have happened if the SV boys had been given a chance at USC? Carolina wasn't that strong back then in the mid 90's after Clint/Josh left. Duke was in the thick of things with Josh henderson and Ali Curtis. But any way typical Bersonite response! NEVER WRONG!!!!!"
Your right, who knows, but the fact that they didn't make it at Duke says they weren't major D1 prospects. In the mid 90's (93-97) Carolina was at it's height in recent years being ranked in the top 20 all that time with the exception of '96 (when they beat Duke in Charleston). Rob Smith, Chris Faklaris and co left in 94. Clint and Josh left after the 97 season.

"Wilson got in Clemson but not USC!!!!! WRONG USC did not offer. " USC did not offer because they were told he would not be admitted. He was one of those guys that was easy to see he was good.

"fopr Gregory Berson wanted him till a bad call cost him his season his own fault really but for books USC could have had a good player from COla." Ummm, you answered your own question...his fault really.

Clint Smith.."Would have been twice as good as Brockmeyr(SP) and Jordan( what a joke!!!!!!!!)"
Not sure of Clint's year,one would assume that with Ring, Bachmeyer, and Landman on the roster, you would only want a "free" goalkeeper if you had a roster spot available. They only get 24 spots by USC rules.

"I played for the Patriots and was some what looked at by USC. " I guess this is what makes you an expert.

I never claimed to be one.

What does Randy Owen's (Irmo) academic status have to do with SEC qualification? Last time I looked USC was not a member of the Southeastern Conference in men's soccer since only Kentucky and Vanderbilt offer the sport at the D1 level.

Also, what ever happened to Joel Conkle (Irmo) from Irmo? I remember that Mike Harmon (Dreher) got hurt, but the person up above is correct that David Gregory (B-C) was better than both those players in the Midlands area during that time.

Where did Michael Kozak (West Florence) end up and what happened between David Testo and Mark Berson? One season he was playing for South Carolina and the next year he wins a National Championship at North Carolina. Another good one was Jeremy Ransom (Chapin), who was a D2 All-American at Presbyterian College. Jimmy May (James Island) and Gus Goding (Dreher) were also good players for PC.

The point in this entire conversation is that good at PC or good at Newberry or good at Tulsa or good at Syracuse does not equal a player that can step on the field and compete against UCLA, Duke, Clemson, Indiana, Portland, SMU, Chapel Hill, Rutgers, Maryland, Virginia, etc. which are the teams that USC, Clemson and Furman and Duke and Indiana play on a regular basis. Good at a mid-major or minor does not equal able to play at a high D1 level.

As for SEC, USC has to follow SEC rules, even in men's soccer as far as qualifiers, title IX etc. even though they don't compete in a conference championship (as does Kentucky and Vanderbilt).

Conkle left the program to pursue his academics by doing exchange programs. Conkle was a kid that was given a chance even though it was probably a stretch for him to play there. I know his father was told that Conkle would probably be better off at Emory but Joel wanted to try.

Harmon quit in midseason the day after winning a starting spot to camp and fish.
Testo missed his friends from club ball and didn't get along with team members at USC. I heard through the grapevine that Berson is the one who called Bolowich to take Testo.

Kozak wanted more PT and went to Wofford.

scdrewablank: are you a former player or a coach at USC or something, because you seem to have all the answers. Thanks for the information though. As I said last night about R. Quest, was it true his girlfriend was pregnant or something to that effect? I had a class with him and suddenly he wasn't there anymore.

I never heard the story on Quest. Only that it was for personal reasons.

All you have to do to get information is talk to some of the players or former players or managers or former managers or parents or former parents...they tell you everthing (some of which may be fact some of which may be opinion)!

Try sitting with the parents or the alumni at a game some time. You'll find it enlightening.

When you go to tournaments, talk to the assistant coaches who are recruiting, they'll tell you some stuff too.

When your kids go to camp, talk to the staff ask them questions like what's the story with that Wilson kid, why didn't USC recruit him? Or how did yo manage to get Whetstone away from Furman?

The bottom line for whatever reason is that local kids DO NOT get a fair shake at USC!!!!!!!! Never have never will! And PLEASE do not throw the few exceptions at me! Having one/two kids on the roster from SC is a JOKE!!!!!!!!! I don't care what you say, SC will not be as good as the past! Can't beat Clemson! What's next! the team looks more like the u 0f texas than SC! Two players is a joke. I am not an expert but you know WAY too much for my liking! Is this Berson or just another Bersonite?

The joke is youth soccer in SC. Sure, there is a club or two that make it through open cup regions into nationals, but that's not a true gauge of talent in THE STATE. ODP is a better gauge and for years and years SC teams have gotten drilled in region and subregion play. The fact of the matter is SC is a heavily rural state and soccer hasn't reached those areas to develop better talent from that pool of athletes.
None of the SC colleges are heavy with state talent. This rap on USC is silly. Berson's got more at stake than any other coach/program in the state and he still puts together good teams. He goes where he must to get talent.

I beg to differ with you there soccermaniac, but our ODP teams have done well at region camp the last few years.The 88's were as good as any ODP team in region 3.I think the 85's, 86's and 87's have all done well in regional competetion the last few years. SC might not be as deep in talent as NC,GA.Fla.etc but our top players compare well with most states.

soccermaniac, the last time I looked you can't get any more rural than Williston-Elko, Blackville-Hilda, or Buford (those teams all played in the 1A state championships recently).

Maybe you should take off your garnet colored glasses and recognize that Coach Berson has simply overlooked top S.C. talent recently in lieu of players from Illinois, New Mexico, New York, and Utah and those players aren't involved with Gamecock soccer anymore (all left before completing their eligibility).

So be it for Coach Berson and USC, because he has a responsibility as the head coach to win games for the University of South Carolina regardless of where the players are from. However, I believe if he would have recognized (or at least the USC staff) that players such as Hunter Gilstrap (Lexington), Nick Rivera (TL Hanna), Rob Smith (JL Mann), John Cooper (Riverside), Michael Conway (Wando), Jonathan Delap (Riverside), Jay Bracknell (Greenville), John Robert Foster (TL Hanna), Adam Walker (Bishop England), Erik Forbes (Seneca), Troy Lesesne (Brookland-Cayce), Joseph Mosser (Dreher), Jabari Seabrook (Brookland-Cayce), Nick Hansell (Ridge View), Turner Walters (James Island), Randy Owen (Irmo), Zack Moorer (South Aiken), Sam Moore (Porter-Gaud), Tim Mittmann (Dorman), Jay Orders (Greenville), Michael Gonzales (James Island), RP Benik (Myrtle Beach), Howard Ash (James Island), Ben Hollingsworth (Bishop England), Lionel Boisvert (Sumter), Cody Perrot (Ridge View), Josh Pavlischek (Pinewood Prep), Jeff Haigler (Dutch Fork), Eddie Naugle (Summerville), Ian O'Shea (James Island), Montae Seabrook (Wando), and Wayne Osborne (Wando) could play D1 soccer and contribute in some fashion for little USC scholarship money at all.

Just don't neglect the state kids and think that by jumping overseas or across the U.S. is the way to solve a problem that's existed in USC men's soccer for a long time.

I don't have connections to USC, didn't grow up in SC, never played soccer and have only in the last several years have I developed an interest in soccer. My, what I consider, objective view of this thread could possibly anger some individuals. But here's how I see it. It seems that some members just don't like Mark Berson. He is criticized for only having two players from SC. Clemson has more, but it's only four players from the home state. Why then is Trevor Adair not receiving the criticism Berson receives? Coastal Carolina only has two SC players, Furman only one and College of Charleston has up to seven listed on their roster. There are also many variables involved such as; academic eligibility, whether the special talents or skills of a player are needed on the team at the time, personal characteristics of the player, and probably most important is do all of those players want to play at USC at all.

There just seems to be a lot of anger towards Berson and if he had 11 starters from SC he would probably be criticized for having the wrong 11 SC players. Just go watch their games and look at the talent that is there. It would be just as fair to criticize all SC players who desire to go play out of state instead of trying to stay at home and try out as a walk on if they aren't offered a scholarship. If recruiting information was as widely available for soccer as it is football then you could see who is being recruited by whom. It would then be a lot easier to understand why some SC players go elsewhere.

Hunter,

What you have to consider is that Furman is private; Costal is so small as to be generally off the radar; and Charleston, while a great city, is a featherweight of an educational institution. Though as you observe, CoC is at least pulling its weight in supporting state soccer. The big two state schools are USC and Clemson, and Clemson doesn't bill itself as a feeder program for state soccer the way that Berson does with his youth summer camps.

I don't claim to have the pulse of the people; I've been out of it for a few years. But just from growing up around SC youth soccer, I would say that Berson catches more flack than Adair because of his camps and the fact that SC players are always secondary if not tertiary recruiting concerns.

I hate to hinge an argument on a single premise, but with annual camps that draw players and parent's money from all over the state, Berson's program gives the impression that they are invested in improving South Carolina soccer. For me at least it was highly disillusioning to find that after taking all of this money from the state, that the best players of the state were not then heavily recruited. I mean seriously, you've had a chance to watch these players grow, train them into what you want them to be since they were 7, is there a more ideal feeder program? And make no mistake; innuendo's about spots on the team for the great players are definitely flowing from the coaching staff, right up until about the time you become a second semester junior in high school.

Given the number of people I have heard that from, I don't think that it is a couple of aberrant cases. All that aside however, I think that it angers a great deal of people that the program almost completely ignores its location.

I'm not naive; I've played the state teams of Texas (either half). I know they're better and further along. SC is behind some states in soccer, but hey, the whole country is behind most of the world in soccer. Half of the country probably thinks that soccer is a women's sport between the combination of Title IX and the fact that our women are the least oppressed on the planet which enables them to win "world cups." You think the MLS is ever going to become less than fringe unless they can improve and acquire the star talent of the country?

The same principle extends to USC. Eventually for a sport to have the support of the local people, they have to recruit and land the local stars. Local soccer players feel betrayed by a program that relegates them to a backhand concern after the "real recruiting" is done out of state. No one, after reflection, resents the great local program where they just did not make the cut. But given equal talent, you have the expectation that the local boy is going to be picked. However, at USC the impression is all things being equal, Berson prefers Arizona on the residency card.

Keano - Great post and insight! Looks like you're familiar with the "neglect SC" routine as well.

All things considered Carolina seems to be doing well this year and should figure for another playoff spot this season. Whether McGee lobbies (read - pays for) another home game remains to be seen, but USC does have some tough tests ahead and the meat of their schedule still is in front of them.

USC has pulled major money from SC soccer parents over the years as well as support from several of the state's better high school teams, however you rarely see any of these high profile programs with their players on the USC roster. Being a graduate of a Columbia area school, I can count only a handful of Carolina players from Columbia over the years.

Hopefully, Berson will realize that there are several good players in this area and at least throw the local kids a bone, if for no other reason than to have that kids parents, friends, and family in the stands and the fact that he can tell the local soccer supporters that he does value the efforts of so many in youth soccer.

Talon and Keano and Cola Fan,

WELL DONE!!!!! Keno couldn't have said it better myself!

As for SCDREWABLANK: **** off! USC DOES NOT compete with the Dukes,Clemsons,UNC,INDIANA,UVA's,ETC!!!! They can't even beat CofC!!!!! So just take it like a man and admitt that USC has missed out on a lot of equall talent that would have stayed at USC! Unlike the rosenberg twins the two twins from Maryland and like the other guys from UTAH and ARIZONA!!!!!! Oh well go put your garnet colored glasses back on and put you lips back on Bersons ass it is getting cold!!!!!!

Boy...feel the love and the warmth.
As for the statement that USC doesn't compete with the upper schools, the facts differ.
USC all time vs.
Duke 7-8-2
Clemson 10-19-1
Furman 17-6-3
Indiana 3-3-2
Maryland 1-1-0
North Carolina 10-12-1
Penn State 2-1
Saint Louis 3-1-1
UCLA 2-0-2
Virginia 1-3-1
Wake Forest 10-9-4
and finally Shearer's beloved Charleston Cougars, 15-2-2
goals for 61 goals against 21

As for camps...Clemson and Charleston's camps are way bigger than Berson's. Those guys are doing multiple weeks at 500-600 kids per week while USC is doing 150-200 kids. Partly because Coach Lundy and Coach Adair are much more personable than Coach Berson. Also probably because their camps are in a camper friendly environment and they wear you out (which parents love).

Finally, to this day I have never said that USC missed out on state talent, I mearly said that a lot of the kids USC gets bashed on were not interested in USC and/or weren't good engough to play there and/or they were in a position that was already loaded at the time they were being recruited. I wish they had more in-state kids and I think the next three classes are loaded with in-state talent so we'll see. I don't think talent can be an excuse these next three years.

Personally, thanks for the complements Shearer. I used to think you were somewhat objective and I've always enjoyed your posts. Now I think you've lost your objectivity (sounds like bitterness to me), so I'll put my garnet glasses on and support the University with pride as I've done for most of my life.

No No bitterness here; just the Truth!!!!! And by the by I do not count sub .500 records as competing!!!! Well maybe competing but not contending!!!!

PS you forgot the big boys Like Newberry(1-0), Mercer,Stetson,Adelphi,and Marist,Wheaton,Drury,Emory,Hartwick,Lehigh,and my ALL time favorite Philly Textile!!!!!!!!

Of the anti-Berson sentiments, Mr. Keano does an excellent job of putting his case forward. But I do take exception with the comment about CoC being a 'featherweight of an educational institution.' If you refer to athletic programs, sure, but as far as an educational institution, you may be making a mass generalization, but that's for the 'SCHIGHEREDUCATION.COM' board. But Mr. Shearer, the "TRUTH", not "BITTER"? Then why the '**** off' and 'kiss ass' comments. If you aren't bitter then why resort to vulgarities? Usually that's the result of someone who is not comfortable in the use of the language or someone who is so angry they can't complete a sentence without cursing. You may get more empathy and understanding of your position if you would speak to the message board as you would a room full of strangers at a workplace function instead of drunken Clemson/Carolina fans in a smoky bar.

This topic seems to change issues based on the emotional state of a few. The thread started regarding players who were no longer on the team and quickly digressed to USC being horrible and how Berson is the cause of players leaving the team as well as 'stealing' money from parents of soccer camp attendees by ignoring them when he recruits. I would speculate that almost all programs have someone who doesn't make it and places blame on the coach(es). But to really take a totally negative position, anti-Berson/USC, could anyone give some specific facts. This is what I would want to know: how many scholarships are available for men’s soccer, how many are awarded for men’s soccer and how many walk-ons do each of the major colleges get in our state? How many SC high school soccer players go on to play college soccer? Of those, how many are on scholarships and how many graduate?

So how do other colleges fare regarding players whose home residence is in the state of the school they attend? I was curious so I went to the NSCAA/adidas® National Rankings for the week of September 8 and used those schools for comparison. If you look at each of those schools rosters here’s what you’ll find.

Maryland 6 of 24 (25%)
Wake Forest 9 of 31 (29%)
UCLA 27 of 28 (96%)
Saint Louis University 18 of 27 (67%)
University of North Carolina 16 of 26 (62%)
Santa Clara University 13 of 27 (48%)
Old Dominion University 11 of 26 (42%)
Rutgers 12 of 33 (33%)
Southern Methodist University 12 of 25 (48%)
University of Connecticut 5 of 27 (19%)
Indiana University 9 of 28 (32%)
University of Alabama at Birmingham 5 of 25 (20%)
Hartwick College(NY) 3 of 28 (11%)
UC Santa Barbara 18 of 25 (72%)
St. John's University(NY) 5 of 23 (22%)
University of South Carolina 2 of 18 (11%)
Coastal Carolina University 2 of 31 (6%)
University of Notre Dame 2 of 27 (7%)
Stanford University 6 of 24 (25%)
Oakland University(MI) 10 of 24 (42%)
University of Tulsa 5 of 24 (21%)
Florida International University 14 of 25 (56%)
Cal State Northridge 28 of 29 (97%)
Virginia Commonwealth University 11 of 25 (44%)
University of Pennsylvania 2 of 24 (8%)

The state with the highest number of home-grown players is California; five schools are represented by 92 CA players out of 133 total players on the rosters. Three schools have less than 10% of their players who are their own, USC with 11% is not one of those three. It was interesting to learn that the UCONN roster includes Willis Forko, former USC player from Texas. It was even more interesting to see a large number of players who had transferred from other colleges. I wonder why they do that, does Berson secretly coach at hundreds of colleges and universities?

To argue that we should only compare the two largest public universities is equivalent to arguing that we should only consider public high school players from Class AAAA and AAA as being qualified to play college ball.

As for Berson, I don’t believe I’ve seen anything claiming his youth soccer camps are a feeder program for state soccer. Quite frankly, a coach would be an idiot to sponsor a camp and then tell the participants ‘you will never have a chance to play college ball because you’re not good enough and we’ll never recruit you even if you were.’ The fact is that he and his assistants and other experienced staff interacts with the kids and gives them positive encouragement. Furthermore, any camp that brings young players in and gives them the opportunity to learn and develop skills and interact with college level players IS making an investment in improving South Carolina soccer.

Jon Eggert of Riverside High School is a freshman and one of the two USC players coming from the state. He was also the only player from South Carolina who was selected as a McDonald's All-American for the men's team this year, which featured the top 36 high school soccer seniors in the country. It seems like Berson’s standards are high, maybe too high. And let’s face it, college sports is a business, although some sports are ‘non-profit businesses.’ It’s better to keep your bosses happy than former high school players who didn’t fit a coach’s profile for recruiting.

I was sitting with my eight year old daughter at the NCAA Regional game USC played in Columbia last year. It was an enjoyable game until a group of local high school BOY soccer players sat down behind us. They weren’t as interested in the game as much as bragging about how great they were. All they did was criticize their teammates describing them in such eloquent speech as ‘he sucks,’ ‘he’s gay,’ ‘he’s a queer.’ They then questioned why the coach would let any of those degenerates play. The highlight was when one of them described a conversation they had with a female soccer player from their school, who had won a state championship with her team, telling her she wasn’t any good, just lucky and she would never be good enough to play for the boys team; duh! If this is representative of SC high school soccer players maybe that’s a good reason for not doing much recruiting in the state. If I were a coach I’d look for recruits anywhere else if there were more dedicated to a team than to their own inflated ego.

And lastly, the original post for this thread wanted to know about players no longer on the team. The answer, academic ineligibility. That is the truth of that matter and that lies totally with the individual. It doesn’t matter what sport you play, if you don’t make the grades the NCAA won’t let you play. But of course, doesn’t Berson control the NCAA also????