Former
soccer great Zech's college career held up by unnecessary red tape
BY ED WRIGHT
Feb. 17, 2010, 2:15
p.m.
Absolutely nothing impeded Scott Zech's quest for success during his
four-year varsity stint as a backline superstar for Canton's soccer
team.
Not super-slick forwards, not two-on-one rushes, not nagging
injuries.
Gifted with a rare combination of incredible athleticism,
remarkable instincts and a knowledge of the game that few of his peers
can match, Zech earned enough honors -- including multiple All-State
accolades -- at Canton to fill a soccer net.
Off the pitch, Zech was just as successful, registering grades
that would make any parents proud.
Not surprisingly, Zech worked his way onto the radar of several
collegiate programs, including Division 1 Oakland
University,
with whom he committed to play during his senior season at Canton.
Zech's future appeared brighter than the Northern Lights; that
is until a series of uncontrollable factors tripped him up like a dirty
slide tackle from his blindside.
The ominous dominos started falling when Gary Parsons, the
veteran Oakland University head soccer coach who recruited Zech,
retired in November 2008.
Eric Pogue, an assistant coach at OU, was chosen to succeed the
ultra-successful Parsons.
The second dagger in Zech's post-high school soccer life jabbed
him during the early stretch of his career at OU when a player whom
Zech had started in front of and outperformed for four years as a
member of the Michigan Wolves elite soccer program was inserted into
the starting line-up ahead of Zech by Pogue, who told people close to
Zech that he had never heard of Zech prior to becoming head coach.
With playing time non-existent during the early weeks of the
season, Zech red-shirted, meaning he'd still have four years of college
eligibility beginning with the 2010 season.
The longer Zech attended OU, the more one issue became apparent
to the 19-year-old who was entering the prime of his soccer life: He
didn't want to be there.
And his decision had almost nothing to do with soccer. The
university didn't offer the major he decided to pursue -- chemical
engineering -- and he wasn't fond of the non-traditional commuter
campus that OU offered.
Prior to the current semester, Zech transferred to Western
Michigan University, whose soccer program was prepared to welcome the
multi-talented student-athlete with open arms.
All Zech needed to get his brilliant soccer career back on track
was for Pogue to sign a simple "one-time exception" release form that
allows student-athletes in sports other than Division 1 football,
basketball, baseball and men's hockey to transfer from one four-year
university to another four-year university.
Without the release, Zech would have to sit out the 2010 season
and be left with just three years of college eligibility.
Sadly, Pogue won't sign a release.
"And they won't give us any answers as to why they won't release
Scott," said Debbie Zech, Scott's mom.
Zech has gone through all of the appeals processes, including
appearing before a board that was supposed to consist of people not
connected with the athletic department.
"But the (Oakland University) athletic director was there,"
Debbie Zech revealed. "In fact, he ran the meeting."
I could truly understand Oakland University's stance on refusing
to release Scott Zech if 1) he was planning on attending a school in
its conference (which he's not), thus, he'd be able to haunt them on
the soccer pitch a couple times a year; or 2) if Zech was a disruptive
influence within the program (which he's far from being) and deserving
of some type of retribution.
But neither scenario is true, which makes the school's blatant
stubbornness confusing while putting Zech's soccer future in limbo.
If the school has an across-the-board policy of not allowing
transfers to play without sitting out a year, than it's a policy that
should be altered; not just for Zech, but for hundreds of other future
athletes who decide they want to move on without sacrificing a year of
playing the sport they love.
Decent, well-meaning kids like Scott Zech shouldn't be forced to
suffer because of some inexplainable red tape.
Life's two short and the window that allows prime athletes to
play at the top of their game against peers with equal talents closes
quickly.
It's closing on Zech and for all the wrong reasons.
Coach Pogue: If you knew Scott Zech like those near and dear to
him, you'd sign that release in a minute.
Reconsider and let him play. It will do your conscience good.
ED WRIGHT COLUMN
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