Given the obsession in the world of soccer about identifying players at young ages and deeming them worthy or not, can a story like Joe Burrow happen in soccer in America.
Joe Burrow basically went from obscurity, a multi sport athlete in highschool and a back up QB at Ohio state, to developing for a year at LSU, then getting a new offensive philosophy implemented, and then arguably proceeds to have the greatest season in the history of college football.
Is this possible in soccer? Can your rise the ranks from a nobody at 18 to being potentially the best player in your class 5 years later?
Why is there so much patience with young athletes in basketball and football and zero in soccer? Some of this is patience by "law" - can't enter the draft etc, but there are so many stories of the young under sized player growing and maturing into his body and by his senior year, he is a stud.
The many issues with college soccer is a huge aspect of this problem. The issues with no true soccer pyramid, the issues with USL being a mix of 2nd teams and pros trying to earn a spot. The issues of the MLS and the salary structure. The issue of lack of access to true professional clubs. We seem to be doing ok in hoops and football, yes other countries don't play hoops and football.
Why does soccer require identification of the best players at such a young age, and only focusing on those players. The philosophy at LSU is next man up, you never know when a player might get injured and backup needs to step in an be needed.
Focus on your entire talent pool. The other sports do. Backups learn from the starters etc, players teach other players.
We throw out the term developing etc, thank goodness Burrow was given time to develop and then he ultimately won the opportunity to show his abilities.
edit: And yes, Burrow has done nothing yet in the Pros, could be a bust, but he'll be given the opportunity to show what he can do.
