I know football season is fast approaching but college soccer is right around the corner. ORU will open their men’s soccer season with an exhibition match at SMU on Aug. 7, then will play a home exhibition match against NSU on Aug. 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the Case Soccer Complex.
The ORU women will open with a home exhibition match on Aug. 5 at 6:00 p.m.
The TU men’s soccer team will open with a home match on Aug. 6 at 7:00 p.m. and the TU women will play their first home match on Aug. 16 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hurricane Soccer Stadium.
Major League Soccer teams are reporting strong increases in ticket sales since the start of the World Cup, with multiple teams telling Front Office Sports they have seen an increase of more than 150%.
The league debuted several initiatives during the World Cup, seeking to capitalize on the increased fan attention on soccer. MLS launched the “Thanks World, We’ll Take It From Here” ad campaign, which has been described as the largest coordinated marketing effort in league history.
I don’t suppose this type of increase in fan engagement will correlate to the local college soccer teams unless they start some sort of marketing campaign similar to that of the MLS. For instance, both universities have foreign students on their men’s and women’s team. Why not a marketing campaign that presents them as the “International Soccer Stars of Tomorrow?”
Either way, as the P.A. announcer and sometimes play-by-play broadcaster for ORU soccer, I can tell you, if you enjoy soccer, you will enjoy watching the local college players in action. Plus, all four teams mentioned above have been ranked and have been playing well the past several years.
COACH UP LEAVES ORU
“After 25 unforgettable years, it’s time for me to step away from ORU Basketball,” said Coach Steve Upshaw in a press release issued this week by ORU. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to every coach I had the privilege of working alongside, the administration for their trust and support, and most importantly, the Incredible student-athletes who made every season meaningful. Your hard work, commitment, and character made this journey truly special.”
Upshaw is one of the longest tenured coaches in ORU history and has decided to step away from the program to pursue other opportunities.
“I am incredibly proud of all that we accomplished together, including seven conference championships and our unforgettable run to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2021,” Upshaw said. “Those achievements will always stand as a testament to the dedication, sacrifice, and belief of everyone involved in our program.”
Since arriving before the 2002-03 season, Upshaw has become more than just a coach. He has been a trusted mentor, a servant leader, a steady presence and one of the defining pillars of the Golden Eagles basketball program. His fingerprints can be found throughout one of the most successful eras in program history.
“Steve has been the definition of a servant leader,” said Head Coach Kory Barnett. “He never sought recognition-he simply showed up every day to serve our players, our coaches, and this University. His influence reaches far beyond wins and losses, and our program is better because of him. He will always be family at Oral Roberts University.”
Athletic Director Tim Johnson pointed to the impact Upshaw made on dozens of people at ORU over the years.
“For nearly a quarter century, Steve has served Oral Roberts University with extraordinary humility, faith, and unwavering commitment,” Johnson said. “His impact reaches far beyond our basketball program. He has influenced generations of student-athletes, coaches, staff members, and everyone fortunate enough to know him.
“We are deeply grateful for Steve’s 25 years of faithful service,” Johnson continued. “He will always be a valued member of the ORU family, and we pray God’s blessings over him and his family as he begins this next chapter.”
TULSA BEACON RADIO
Tune in to “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” radio show every week, featuring interviews with local and national guests, talking about everything from politics to family issues. This week, my guests will include Rhys Martin of the Route 66 Association, and Mark Lowery from the Gaither Homecoming. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.
[Jeff Brucculeri is a freelance writer and broadcaster. You can contact him at [email protected], or follow him on X @JeffBSports.]