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adidas/IU CREDIT UNION SOCCER CLASSIC TO BE
FIRST MAJOR COLLEGIATE SOCCER TOURNAMENT
BROADCAST OVER WORLD WIDE WEB
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - For the first time, soccer fans worldwide will be able to watch a major collegiate soccer tournament, featuring four of the nation's top teams, thanks to the Internet.
Indiana University's defending NCAA champion men's soccer team will host the adidas/IU Credit Union Soccer Classic September 3-5. This year, the tournament will be presented live and in its entirety on the World Wide Web at http://broadcast.iu.edu/adidas_soccer_classic
For those who can't log on to see the action as it unfolds, the tournament will be archived for rebroadcast for one month on the Web. Although the tournament has a 17-year history, this year it will make history as the first event of its kind to be broadcast over the Web.
"Indiana University has been a national leader in new uses of emerging communications technologies, such as the World Wide Web," said Indiana University President Myles Brand. "We are pleased to be the first university to use this technology to broadcast a major collegiate soccer tournament. As the reigning national champions in men's soccer, it is especially appropriate that Indiana University hosts this great event."
On Friday (Sept. 3), Butler University and Saint Louis University will kick things off at 5 p.m. (Central Daylight Time). IU and the University of Maryland will face-off later that night at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday (Sept. 5) Butler University and the University of Maryland play at noon, while IU takes on Saint Louis University at 2:30 p.m.
In addition to the excitement of the tournament, a number of features will be available only to those who view the event through the Internet. An interactive question and answer forum with the coaches will enable viewers to get immediate feedback and answers to their pressing soccer questions. Also planned are pre-game interviews of the outstanding players and the coaches, as well as halftime shows.
"Indiana University is always looking for innovative ways to use technology to bring
people together and make the education experience more enriching," said Christopher Simpson, IU vice president of public affairs and government relations.
"The adidas/IU Credit Union Soccer Classic is one of three Web broadcasts we are hosting this fall on the Internet that will allow us to share the quality and diversity of Indiana University's people and programs with the world," Simpson added.
IU's men's soccer team is ranked No. 1 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's Preseason Ranking. Coach Jerry Yeagley, now in his 27th year at IU, has led the Hoosiers to national titles in 1982, 1983, 1988 and 1998, 12 Final Four appearances and seven Big Ten titles.
"Men's soccer is one of the most popular sports in Europe and Latin America, but until now, there hasn't been a reasonable way to broadcast American college-level games to a worldwide audience," said Yeagley. "With the assistance of the World Wide Web, we will be able to give collegiate soccer here the international exposure it deserves."
The other teams in this year's Classic are also among some of the nation's best. Butler, ranked 14th in the preseason poll, won the Midwestern Collegiate Conference title last season and finished the year 19-5-1. Maryland, which begins the season ranked No. 3, joined Indiana at last season's Final Four and the team has seven starters returning in 1999. Saint Louis, which is ranked 18th, also made the NCAA Tournament last season and four of the team's top five scorers return to this year's team.
For more information about the Web broadcast of the event, go to http://broadcast.iu.edu/adidas_soccer_classic