May 29, 2009
The Penn State men's soccer team recently completed a nine-day whirlwind tour of Brazil, which included stops in the tourist destination of Itu, the sprawling urban metropolis of Sao Paulo, and the beachside paradise of Rio de Janeiro, just to name a few places. The Nittany Lions played four highly-competitive games, took in two professional matches, toured soccer facilities, visited landmarks and attractions, and saw the sights afforded by South America's most populous nation. Head coach Barry Gorman, who has led the Nittany Lions on five international tours during his 22-year tenure, took some time to reflect on the journey and describe what it meant to him and his team in the following Q&A.
What did you hope to gain from an international tour such as this, not only just from the games played but the time spent together as a team?
"The time spent away from the university in a different culture in a country that really eats, sleeps, and drinks soccer was very good for our guys. It was a great maturing process for them. I was surprised how few of them had been away on soccer-specific trips. It was also a good end to the spring semester. They got to get away, relax a bit, and still play some soccer. They were in good shape to play it and they faced some excellent competition."
What was the genesis of this trip? How did it progress from an idea into reality and who helped to make it happen?
"It has always been my philosophy to take the team on an international trip because I feel that it should be part of the collegiate sporting experience, especially for a world sport like soccer. We can go every four years under NCAA rules but it did not materialize last year, so I wanted to make it happen this year with so many players returning. We wanted to go to Europe, but it was too costly. The Brazil idea came up because of the exchange rate of the dollar. Ricardo Villar helped us a great deal in making it financially possible. We had a couple of anonymous donations from people close to the program and the rest was done by fundraising. All in all, it was a collection of people pulling together to make it happen and to make it happen in the time period that it did. One of the good things about going to Brazil at this time of year is that you can go there and get games, whereas in Europe, its soccer season is coming to an end."
For you, personally, what were some of the highlights of the trip?
"Because I have been to Brazil so many times before, the best thing for me was seeing the guys experience something for the first time and taking the group to a new place and seeing it through their eyes. It invigorates you and makes you appreciate what you may start to take for granted. Another highlight was having two alums, Dick Packer and Harry Kline, join us on the trip. They were great with the players and were very supportive. It was also nice to have Brian Parr, Andy's father come along. They were able to experience some father-son moments, which was special. It was nice that his dad got the chance to see him play against the likes of Palmeiras and Santos, especially after coming off the knee injury. That is special and you can't take away those kinds of memories. Also, to observe the team embrace the overall cultural experience and to see them at professional games, to hear them talk soccer, and be in a total soccer environment was great for me."
Diego Correa's family hosted the team for a barbeque at its home in Niteroi |
This tour must have been special for your Brazilian players, Diego Correa and Matheus Braga. What do you think it meant to them?
"When we made the decision to go to Brazil, Diego and Matheus fully embraced it. They couldn't wait to show their teammates their home country. But they also got to experience something new as neither of them had been to Santos or Sao Paulo. Matheus' and Diego's families, when we visited Rio and Niteroi, were absolutely fantastic. They gave us wonderful receptions. Matheus' family hosted the team for a picnic lunch at their house, which is across from the beach. Then we went over to a barbeque at Diego's family's house. His mother and father, sister, and grandparents opened their house to us in a fabulous way and were so friendly. His mom gave a speech, expressing how grateful she was that Diego was able to attend and study at Penn State. It was special because you could see how genuine and appreciative they were. I think Matheus and Diego got a tremendous kick out of it and enjoyed showing off their city and country to their teammates."
How would you describe the level of competition that the team faced in its four games in Brazil?
"Very, very good. We played against Palmeiras U-20 team and its coaching staff pointed out two players who they believed will make it into the big time. We also faced Pao de Acucar, a developing team that is backed from big money from a supermarket chain. They are attracting all of the best young talent in Brazil. Santos U-20 is a fabulous club known for developing youth talent. We played them on a day that it rained and the field was heavy, so it probably evened things out a bit for us. And the fact that they recently graduated six players to their senior squad likely helped us. But the level of play didn't drop. Zico's Academy is a superb academy run by a famous Brazilian international coach. It is also attracting top players. They can make substitutions and the level doesn't drop off one iota. The players are so attuned to the game that every time you play against their teams, your mind spins at the talent on display. But our guys did well against them. If I could get one game a week like the four games we played in Brazil, I would be delighted. The developmental rate for our players would soar."
In your view, how does Brazilian soccer differ from collegiate soccer in the United States?
"It's pure soccer. They value possession of the ball. They value the business of playing constructively, front to back. They instinctively know what to do and when to do it. Their timing of passes and runs is so good. Their first touch is exquisite at times. Their awareness is incredible. They get the ball down and they try to play. They have an unbelievable rhythm with the game and with the sport that you can't describe and you can't bottle, but you know it as soon as you see it."
Andres Casais, with his South American soccer training background, fared well against the Brazilian competition |
Overall, how do you feel the team fared against its Brazilian opponents? Which players stood out to you with strong performances during the tour?
"Overall, I thought we did very well. We were in every game. We had chances to score. We had several good plays and combinations. We got good performances from a number of people. We made substitutions en masse at the half because the guys decided that everyone would see time, so they could go home with the experience of playing against teams like Santos and Palmeiras. I was very pleased for Jason Yeisley, because I thought he did well. I thought it helped his game in terms of a tactical understanding. Andy Parr did well in coming back from the injury. Warren Gross had some very good saves and was generally very confident. Andres Casais was excellent. You could see that his training and preparation in South America served him well and he was able to form a great partnership with Mark Fetrow. Drew Cost, I thought, matured a lot on the trip and became a better all-around player. Corey Hertzog did well; the Brazilians like him because of his unpredictability. But everyone had solid performances and held their own. A couple of guys had to deal with tricky opponents but that was part of the learning process. But I thought that they handled it well as a group and pulled together as a team."
After the spring season and the tour of Brazil, how you feel about the level at which your team is at?
"I am very confident in their ability. I think there is a lot more maturity in the team. The spring season, the Brazil trip, and the extra playing time were good for their confidence. You can practice as much as you want, but you have to play and play as a unit. I think we are very close to having units that understand each other and play with confidence in each other's ability. At this stage, I am very pleased. But there is a big gap in the summer and it is up to the players as to what they do on their own now. Obviously, the biggest key is that people have to stay healthy."
As the team disperses for the summer, what do you hope that they take with them in terms of lessons learned from the spring and the tour Brazil? What can they do to translate those lessons onto the field next fall?
"The one thing that I hope they take with him, especially after being in Brazil, is an understanding of the type of lifestyle needed to be an athlete and a soccer player. This is a game which if you stop working, someone else will pass you by. Hopefully, they will go away this summer and be invigorated, motivated, touch the ball, keep themselves in shape, and come back sharp. They will ideally achieve that balance between proper nutrition, rest, and training properly for soccer."