UNLV’s Barto deflects shot by Sampson at collegiate programs

Steve Carp

Wednesday, July 1, 1998 | 11:07 a.m.

If ousted coach Steve Sampson is looking for an excuse for the United States' pitiful performance at this year's World Cup, UNLV soccer coach Barry Barto suggests he find another scapegoat.

Sampson, who resigned Monday, cited the college game as one of the reasons the Americans fared so poorly at the World Cup. The U.S. was winless in three first-round matches, scoring just one goal.

The U.S. roster was comprised of several players with collegiate backgrounds.

"College soccer is not the answer," said Sampson, who played at Stanford and San Jose State and coached at the University of Santa Clara.

Along with outgoing U.S. Soccer Federation president Alan Rothenberg, Sampson suggested that talented high-school players consider forgoing college to play professionally (either at home or overseas), so the experience gap between the U.S. and the world can be closed.

"That's a joke," Barto said Tuesday when informed of Sampson's remarks. "I could see if we had sent over a team of college seniors who had no international experience. If that were the case, I could see Steve saying that.

"But we're talking about a veteran team who had long since played college and had international experience. You're going to tell me that Eric Wynalda, Tab Ramos, Marcello Balboa and Casey Keller hurt the team because they played college? Come on.

"These are guys who have played all over the world. They're not the problem."

Barto said if Sampson was saying that relying strictly on college players was wrong, he would be correct.

"College soccer does not provide the total environment needed to develop international players," he said. "It's a good base for players. There's good competition at that level and there's some very good coaching going on. But no, you don't go right from college to the World Cup a seasoned player.

"But Steve had plenty of experience. He had (Tom) Dooley who had played for years in Germany. (David) Regis had been playing overseas. Ernie Stewart was playing in Holland. (Roy) Wegerle. These guys weren't college players.

"So I'm a little confused when he says that college players aren't the way to go."

The USSF, which initiated "Project 40" last year to provide college-age players with a chance to train and compete professionally, has yet to achieve its goal -- producing seasoned competitors who can hold their own on the international stage. Those in P-40 play in the Division 2-level "A-League" in the U.S.

"Is it better than college?" Barto said of Project 40. "It's all relative to the organization.

"From what I hear, the players are being provided the competition, which is probably a notch above college, but not much else. I don't think the coaching's all that superior."

Barto said to besmirch the college game, which for years was the only stable influence on the sport in this country while pro leagues drifted in and out of the public's consciousness, is wrong.

"There are stages of development," he said. "I've always felt college had its place in developing players and the pros were the finishing touch.

"College soccer isn't the answer to the big picture. But I believe it is part of the process of developing talent and maintaining interest in the game."

Barto, who coached against Sampson when Sampson was at Santa Clara, said the debate as to what is the best way to provide the strongest side will rage on.

"You've got MLS (Major League Soccer), which isn't close to being on par with the European first division teams," he said. "But you want the American player to develop. So what do you do?

"Do you keep them in MLS, where the competition isn't as good? Or do you send him overseas to play in Germany or Italy or wherever and then bring him back for the national team?"

Barto said it's a tough call.

"But to say the college game is the problem is wrong," he said.