Coach G. spoke at the Midland A&M Club luncheon today. He is in town for Linsey Johnson's wedding tonight. Linsey's father and grandfather came to hear coach speak.
Coach G. is in his 10th season at A&M. Last year was his best year yet. The team advanced to the Elite Eight.
He started out with an 8 minute video, then spoke and took questions from the floor.
Things Coach G. said as I recall them:
Returns 9 starters from teams of the last 2 years. Eight have earned all conference or conference tournament recognition. Expects this year to be another good year.
Big 12 conference is tough. Nebraska and Texas are very good teams. Conference champions are usually ranked in the top 5 nationally. Considers, Nebraska and SMU to be biggest rivals. Has never lost to t.u. National championship and final four games are in Austin next year. Team has had large-margin victories in Austin.
Last year's team played with a lot of passion and had good chemistry on and off the field. His players are intense and tough; Amanda Burke took a cheap-shot hit during a game, still finished the game despite taking 20 stitches after the game to close a large cut in her leg. She played another game the next day.
He and Coach Stephenson evaluate potential recruits at club-level tournaments rather than high school games. Time efficiency/constraints, better competetion and more concentrated talent are major reasons. Entire summer is spent evaluating potential recruits and coaching Olympic Development teams.
Recruits mostly Texas. Talent level in Texas is very good. Goes out of state when necessary. Speed is the name of the game in college soccer.
Talent levels on all teams for all sports are cyclic. Hard to maintain a high talent level every year.
Soccer has 12 scholarships to offer. Partials are allowed like baseball. Currently has 24 ladies on scholarship. No one on the team has a 100% scholarship but some get close. Uses accounting system to determine scholarship level based on personal contribution to the team. Has proposed scholarship increases the last to years to the NCAA but the "Have Not" and Ivy League schools have voted it down.
Ranked A&M soccer facilities 8th in the conference. Several games rained out, team meetings were held under the softball bleachers, rain or shine. Can't complain now. Wally appropriated $5M for ongoing construction; new field drainage system, sidewalks, locker and conference rooms.
A&M fans are best in the conference. First in attendance, fifth nationally (1800 per game avg, 2500 for big games). Purposely sandwiches football games with Friday and Sunday soccer games so that football fans can attend. Welcomes everyone out.
Heather Ragsdale is now playing professionally. Linsey Johnson made the Under-21 Olympic Development Team.
Coach G. is in his 10th season at A&M. Last year was his best year yet. The team advanced to the Elite Eight.
He started out with an 8 minute video, then spoke and took questions from the floor.
Things Coach G. said as I recall them:
Returns 9 starters from teams of the last 2 years. Eight have earned all conference or conference tournament recognition. Expects this year to be another good year.
Big 12 conference is tough. Nebraska and Texas are very good teams. Conference champions are usually ranked in the top 5 nationally. Considers, Nebraska and SMU to be biggest rivals. Has never lost to t.u. National championship and final four games are in Austin next year. Team has had large-margin victories in Austin.
Last year's team played with a lot of passion and had good chemistry on and off the field. His players are intense and tough; Amanda Burke took a cheap-shot hit during a game, still finished the game despite taking 20 stitches after the game to close a large cut in her leg. She played another game the next day.
He and Coach Stephenson evaluate potential recruits at club-level tournaments rather than high school games. Time efficiency/constraints, better competetion and more concentrated talent are major reasons. Entire summer is spent evaluating potential recruits and coaching Olympic Development teams.
Recruits mostly Texas. Talent level in Texas is very good. Goes out of state when necessary. Speed is the name of the game in college soccer.
Talent levels on all teams for all sports are cyclic. Hard to maintain a high talent level every year.
Soccer has 12 scholarships to offer. Partials are allowed like baseball. Currently has 24 ladies on scholarship. No one on the team has a 100% scholarship but some get close. Uses accounting system to determine scholarship level based on personal contribution to the team. Has proposed scholarship increases the last to years to the NCAA but the "Have Not" and Ivy League schools have voted it down.
Ranked A&M soccer facilities 8th in the conference. Several games rained out, team meetings were held under the softball bleachers, rain or shine. Can't complain now. Wally appropriated $5M for ongoing construction; new field drainage system, sidewalks, locker and conference rooms.
A&M fans are best in the conference. First in attendance, fifth nationally (1800 per game avg, 2500 for big games). Purposely sandwiches football games with Friday and Sunday soccer games so that football fans can attend. Welcomes everyone out.
Heather Ragsdale is now playing professionally. Linsey Johnson made the Under-21 Olympic Development Team.