A BC angle to the World Cup

I love the World Cup. For me it is the perfect sporting event in that the sport is played at a high level, there are multiple, easy to follow storylines, and best of all it comes during one of the traditional slow times in the sports calendar. But despite being the most popular sporting event in the world, there are still plenty of Americans who don't "get" it or worse don't care. If you are BC fan, I offer another reason to get on the World Cup bandwagon: Alejandro Bedoya. The former Eagle just made the final roster for the U.S. Men's Team and should be a critical contributor to the team.

Just by making the team, Bedoya fans can now claim he's BC's all-time greatest soccer player. Charlie Davies' was an exciting USMT player, but his car accident stunted his career and kept him out of any Cup. Other BC guys have had solid professional careers in the U.S. and abroad, but none has made such and deep or talented World Cup roster.

The U.S. received a brutal draw for the Cup, so this whole thing could be over before it even starts. But if the U.S. advances to the knock out stage, it will need Bedoya to have the tournament of his life. He's an Eagle so he knows about excelling at the right time.

BC Soccer and the World Cup

With the World Cup final coming up this weekend, we shouldn't forget that BC has become a very important U.S. soccer program. We know about Charlie Davies but there are some other prospects that could be contributing to future national teams. Alejandro Bedoya was one of the final cuts from this year's World Cup team. If he raises his skills and starts playing in a higher level European League he could continue to be called up by the National Team. Sacir Hot is training with the U.S. U-20 team. The U-20 team will be a great showcase for his talents and will get him notice internationally.

Ed Kelly deserves much of the credit for building the BC program. The U.S. will never be a soccer power if we are dependent on college players but having a few BC guys for depth is not a bad thing. I am encouraged that U.S. soccer is taking young talent and developing it professionally before the guys even reach college age. Ultimately that is the way to go. But our youth soccer population is so broad and our professional infrastructure is still so new, that it is nice to have guys like Ed Kelly finding and developing hidden gems. Enjoy Sunday's game and let's hope that in four years the U.S. is playing in the finals with a few Eagles on the field.

Sample vuvuzelas played over BC's biggest moments

As you know, I am a fan of the vuvuzelas. In honor of the World Cup, Youtube has created a feature that allows you to play the horn over highlights. Just click on the soccer ball icon on the right side of the time box on any Youtube clip to hear it (sorry but the feature doesn't work when embedded). You can listen to the Flutie Hail Mary

Or Matt Ryan at Virginia Tech.

Now that the U.S. is out of the Cup, there won't be much of a BC angle. But let's hope Charlie Davies is a big factor in 2014.

Davies is the US's biggest supporter

Lost in the excitement and controversy surrounding one of the best games in the history of US Soccer, is that the Americans are playing without one of their top goal scorers, BC guy Charlie Davies. Given all he's been through (horrific car accident, hard recovery, followed by disappointing cut from the US team) no one would blame Davies if he chose to keep a low profile and deal with the emotions of this all by himself. Fortunately for us, he's not. He's out in front cheering on his teammates and country men. We obviously miss his skills, but I think the team misses his spirit, hence the flat openings. Hopefully Charlie's cheering section will send positive vibes to the boys for the rest of their run.

If you are on twitter, be sure to follow Charlie during the World Cup and on his continued recovery.

Bringing a horn to the Heights

Watching the World Cup sparked an idea. Next season the Super Fans should start blowing vuvuzelas when the other team is on offense. I know this would annoy most of the stadium. The down in front, whale pants crowd would be in an uproar. But the student section filled with the cheap plastic horns could finally give BC a unique home field advantage. Mississippi State fans bang cow bells all game. This could be our thing...yet with only a more international and obnoxious flair. As the BC's jumbotron used to say "Signal Deafening Noise!"

BC and the World Cup and other links

Tough news on the Charlie Davies comeback front. While he continues to progress, he is not far enough along to make the US World Cup team for South Africa and was left off the 30 man roster. The lone silver lining though is that another Eagle Alejandro Bedoya made the 30 man roster. Bedoya plays in Sweden and getting on the field during the WC would be a huge boost to his career. The final 23 man roster will be decided after the Team USA minicamp.

Here is more on BC commit Brian Mihalic. I like that Spaz is building up the class with big, line prospects. I also appreciate that we are a factor in the Cleveland area again. Given our sales pitch and success with Cleveland guys, we should do well in northeast Ohio.

HD lists Max Holloway as a potential breakout player.