Topic: Vitor Dias- MAC Hermann

[herdfan129]

For those who don't know the MAC Hermann award is college soccer version of the Heisman Trophy. Dias was a semifinalist last year, and is on the watch list this year. It seems he has had a pretty good season so far so I had a couple of questions for those who know more about soccer and this award than myself.

#1. Does Dias have a legit shot at winning this award? How have do his stats so far compare to the rest of the country?

#2. Is Marshall doing anything to promote him for this award? I remember we used to put stuff together to promote players for the Heisman Trophy back in the day. Do schools also do this for this award, and if so, is Marshall doing anything like this for Dias?

[whf]

In the final evaluation, I think it will go to someone who scores more that Vitor does, can, should.

Does he have a shot, yes.

Is Marshall doing anything; not sure this is like the Heisman, film from the games will do all that is necessary.

[herdfan129]

In the final evaluation, I think it will go to someone who scores more that Vitor does, can, should.

Does he have a shot, yes.

Is Marshall doing anything; not sure this is like the Heisman, film from the games will do all that is necessary.

I got ya. Would be cool if he's even one of the three finalist. That would be huge for the program.

[Daherdboy]

Here is the problem that I see.  Giving press coverage to Herd players that are/should be promoted for national/conference awards will be little if any at all because the MU Sports Information Department is grossly understaffed.  There are only 3 people working in the department to cover all of the sports of the school.  You have individuals responsible to cover at least 3 sports at a time and having time to promote a Dias or an Aly Harrell (should be up for All-American status this coming season) should get extra press but will be lucky to get little or any at all. 

Our previous Athletic Director decided not to replace a SID employee who left mid season some seasons ago.  This department works from dawn to dusk just to get the average work done. 
Sports Information is a very important part of an athletic department but for some reason Marshall does not put much focus that it should for a Division I school.

[herdfan129]

Here is the problem that I see.  Giving press coverage to Herd players that are/should be promoted for national/conference awards will be little if any at all because the MU Sports Information Department is grossly understaffed.  There are only 3 people working in the department to cover all of the sports of the school.  You have individuals responsible to cover at least 3 sports at a time and having time to promote a Diaz or an Aly Harrell (should be up for All-American status this coming season) should get extra press but will be lucky to get little or any at all. 

Our previous Athletic Director decided not to replace a SID employee who left mid season some seasons ago.  This department works from dawn to dusk just to get the average work done. 
Sports Information is a very important part of an athletic department but for some reason Marshall does not put much focus that it should for a Division I school.

Wow. That's sad. Do we not have student's who can do some of this work? We have a Broadcasting/Journalism Program the last I checked. Marshall needs to get creative with this stuff.

[chris88]

IMO not a lot you can do to promote for MAC Herman.  Harder for a player to stand out in soccer and it is rarely on national TV. A player can be a top scorer simply due to weak schedule.  The Indiana player was runner up as a Soph last yr but did nothing much vs us in champ game really. Really good players can also be minimized by defensive strategy and thus hard to compare one player to another. In FB QB is focal point, in BB one player can take over, in baseball it's all about stats, in hockey the playing surface is small and thus magnified with only 5 players on ice at a time....ie easy to see who stands out.  In soccer, a player can be the best player on field one match and virtually disappear for the next two matches. Just the nature of the game.

[svherd]

I find it hard to believe that we couldn't get a student intern from the Parthenon or J School to help in the department to take up some of these type duties. Give them books and meal plan for free or something to that affect. Would be a win-win for all involved.

Is it me or has the J School fallen down in prestige a bit? Seems since we lost WPBY as an on campus TV station, that area of the J school has slid as well. It has a proud history and I have an uncle who is in the J School HOF.

[Daherdboy]

As many people know, Marshall does not think well out of the box.  Also, it takes a seasoned writer to put together good copy for press releases and to provide non biased reporting.

[herdfan129]

As many people know, Marshall does not think well out of the box.  Also, it takes a seasoned writer to put together good copy for press releases and to provide non biased reporting.

Yes, but it also sounds like these three workers are stuck doing a lot of tedious and monotonous things that could be delegated to student interns.

[svherd]

Yes, but it also sounds like these three workers are stuck doing a lot of tedious and monotonous things that could be delegated to student interns.

Exactly.

[whf]

Here is the problem that I see.  Giving press coverage to Herd players that are/should be promoted for national/conference awards will be little if any at all because the MU Sports Information Department is grossly understaffed.  There are only 3 people working in the department to cover all of the sports of the school.  You have individuals responsible to cover at least 3 sports at a time and having time to promote a Dias or an Aly Harrell (should be up for All-American status this coming season) should get extra press but will be lucky to get little or any at all. 

Our previous Athletic Director decided not to replace a SID employee who left mid season some seasons ago.  This department works from dawn to dusk just to get the average work done. 
Sports Information is a very important part of an athletic department but for some reason Marshall does not put much focus that it should for a Division I school.

I am not sure I buy this, Chuck McGill and our SID, Jason Corriher, are both very good.  Associate Director, Scott Hall has SB, MSOC, VB, Golf. Everyone in every organization has more than enough to do.  People work on what is mort important, regardless of what is left to be done.  I'd say don't work on the average work, work on the most important work.  I would think that a person could cover Softball, Men's Soccer, Volley Ball and Golf if handling the most important stuff daily. 

[CoachMaclid]

There are thousands of sportswriters covering college football for hundreds of media outlets.  Mainstream media provides significant coverage of college football and the Heisman race.  Marketing for Heisman makes sense because there's an audience for it and writers constantly creating content for it.

In reality, college soccer does not get mainstream media attention, and outside of TopDrawer and College Soccer News, no one is writing national stories for an NCAA soccer audience, so there's no one to really market too beyond those sites.

[herdfan129]

There are thousands of sportswriters covering college football for hundreds of media outlets.  Mainstream media provides significant coverage of college football and the Heisman race.  Marketing for Heisman makes sense because there's an audience for it and writers constantly creating content for it.

In reality, college soccer does not get mainstream media attention, and outside of TopDrawer and College Soccer News, no one is writing national stories for an NCAA soccer audience, so there's no one to really market too beyond those sites.

Even more reason to do it then. Make a push and help him get the award as it would help our program tremendously.

[chris88]

Even more reason to do it then. Make a push and help him get the award as it would help our program tremendously.

Personally, I think winning in NCAAs and sending more guys to pros will do more for your program than Mac Herman award.  I can't name the guy who won last year and that was a few months ago.  Heck I can't even remember who won the Heisman in FB or POY in basketball.

[MUther]

IMO not a lot you can do to promote for MAC Herman.  Harder for a player to stand out in soccer and it is rarely on national TV. A player can be a top scorer simply due to weak schedule.  The Indiana player was runner up as a Soph last yr but did nothing much vs us in champ game really. Really good players can also be minimized by defensive strategy and thus hard to compare one player to another. In FB QB is focal point, in BB one player can take over, in baseball it's all about stats, in hockey the playing surface is small and thus magnified with only 5 players on ice at a time....ie easy to see who stands out.  In soccer, a player can be the best player on field one match and virtually disappear for the next two matches. Just the nature of the game.

Yeah I was gonna say that while you often hear the candidates' names for the Heisman, whether you watch football or not, I've never heard of the Herman or anyone that's been up for it.  That likely means it's not widely promoted by any of the schools that have hopefuls.  It's not something that Sportscenter would bring up mid-race and might only be said in passing during a game involving that player who has won it in a previous year.  Only schools with legit candidates and their fans would probably know who is on the short list.

[bighat]

If you are associated with soccer you know what the MAC Hermann is about.