It is an amazing thing to have over 40 years of Wabash Soccer history all in one place.  And, not only were they all in one place, but they were competing against each other on the same soccer field!  On Saturday, August 30th we hosted an Alumni game and banquet to reach out to our soccer alumni and give them a glimpse of where this program is headed in the coming years.  As cliche as it sounds, it was truly where "old school met new school".  

The events kicked off with an Alumni versus Reserve match at 3pm.  The alumni were very impressed with the gear we gave them and the official presence of referees (no pun intended).  Despite their many cries of fatigue, playing the "old" card, and heckling...they put on a great performance from goalkeepers to forwards.  I was impressed!  Immediately following the game, we gathered in Chadwick Court for dinner and a brief set of presentations from A.D. Tom Bambrey, Dean of Advancement Joe Emmick, and Head Coach Roberto Giannini. The topics of discussion were: the status of the current program, the areas of interest for improvement, and also the newly announced project to renovate an construct a new soccer-specific stadium for the 2009 season.

Over 20 alumni from the classes of 1970 to 2008 joined us to celebrate a new season and join us in our vision for the future.  We were entertained with stories of the "old" program, where the players provided their own gear (unimaginable by our current players' standards), when Mud Hollow Field truly lived up to its name, and when the foundation of Wabash soccer was being slowly built - year after year.  They were (and still are) proud of their reputation as scrappy, physical, and hard working teams...no matter what level of talent they possessed.  Jim Pace '78 shared stories with me of the team "identity" and how every player took accountability for his performance on the pitch, and nothing would stop them from leaving it all on the field.  Hence, "Wabash Always Fights".

In a sense, there is very little that should change from year to year, besides the players.  We need to realize that, as a program, there are many men of character and humility that came before us and allowed us to compete on the stage which we often take for granted.  I know that every time I stand on the sidelines to coach a game, I wish I was on the other side.  I look back at my playing days and realize that there is a lot about the game of soccer that can be taken for granted.  However, I am happy to know that somewhere, someone is carrying out MY legacy and continuing to blaze the trail where I stopped.

Our goals as a program are often focused on the here and now.  What can we accomplish THIS year?  What can I do NOW to help my team?  Where do we want to be when we look back after THIS season?  

After the gathering of alumni took place, I hope that our current players from the class of 2009 to the class of 2012 will take a step back and look at the big picture.  We are small, if you look at the overall history of the program.  Only four years out of 40 are represented.  So, what are we going to do in order to make future generations of Little Giants proud?  What can I do, as an individual, to promote and encourage the program as a whole?

I left many of these rhetorical questions unanswered...and on purpose.  Each person involved with this program must learn to constantly question his role and see it within the larger scheme of things.  It is important that our identity as a team is also representative of those who have come before us and "blazed the trail" up to this point.  As Bob Marley so eloquently stated, "In this great future, you can't forget your past".  As we look forward to the new and promising future of Wabash College soccer, we cannot ever forget those who built the foundation.  We thank you all - from Jesse Paul III (class of 1970), to Gary Simkus, Matt Potasnik, and Jon Miller (class of 2008) - for helping build our foundation and allowing us to live out your legacy!

WAF

-Coach O.