Never before has a recruiting class brought with it the optimism of potentially being the greatest team ever in UM men’s soccer history and at the same time concern over the time constraint during which that evolution must take place. A picture of contrast, the 2004 Rams has perhaps the makings of the greatest backfield ever in the school’s history, and yet carries with it the stigma of being collectively inexperienced. The men who wear the white and maroon, while representing nine different countries, could truly unfold like a Tale of Two Cities.

It can never be said that for Mobile it was the worst of times as it is just barely removed from a national championship won just two years ago. The best of times, however, could once again be on the horizon.

“I think this is as talented a team, if not the most talented team, I’ve had since I got here,” three-time National Coach of the Year Peter Fuller said as he heads into his tenth season as the head coach of the men’s soccer program at UM. “I think 13, 14 or 15 wins is a realistic number for us. I think an appearance in the national quarterfinals is certainly legitimate. If things fall right and we develop as a team the way I expect us to, I think we’re a legitimate Final Four team. And as I’ve always said, if you get to the Final Four, then it’s a completely different tournament. Then it becomes a matter of who gets hot the last two days.”

It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness

With an exceptional 259-77-20 (.770) career record, Coach Fuller has learned to balance the pre-occupation of the unknown and leverage it against the benefit of thirteen years of coaching experience. However, the prospect of having to orchestrate a winning formula with a completely fresh starting 11 would cause even U.S. soccer coaching icon Bruce Arena to be concerned.

“You always worry,” Coach Fuller said. “But, I think we have enough guys that are going to work hard, put the time in and have the ability to be very, very good. I’ve been in it long enough to know that if you’ve got the horses, which we do, then it comes down to the work ethic and whether they want to give themselves up for the greater good of the team.”

It was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity

With the final arrival of Kenyan National Team defender Robert Ochan, Coach Fuller and the rest of the Rams went to work on another run at the national title. Nearly a year’s worth of recruiting has come to fruition and turning even the most skeptical of pundits now became a new watch word as the Rams prepared for the regular season. Scrimmages against NCAA Division I top-25 University of Alabama-Birmingham and NCAA Division II University West Florida helped the coaching staff piece together the ever evasive puzzle of who will be in the starting line-up and what formation will be played.

And while Coach Fuller will only admit to having a pretty good feeling about six to eight of the positions, it’s the other three to five that offers perhaps the most intrigue into a team that finds its greatest depth in the program’s history.

Moving from the backfield forward, the first name to be mentioned as a sure bet to start is Duelmen, Germany native, Mathias Kruskemper.

“Kruskemper is a very talented wide player that has opened up some dimensions here that we haven’t had in a long time, perhaps since Dominic Shell [drafted by MLS Columbus Crew],” Coach Fuller said.

“Robert Ochan is a different class and will definitely be in the mix,” Coach Fuller continued. “Shane Smith from Arizona, who will play at left back, has been very good. He’s getting more accustomed to going forward. He’s like a young colt out there. He shyly moves his way forward, but when he decides to move forward he can be very dangerous. Sam Bailey has more potential than anyone back there, but Sam has some bad habits that he has to change. His ability to break those habits will ultimately be the difference in how far he goes in the game. But from a potential standpoint, he’s got all the makings of a wonderful defender.”

Another possibility to figure into the starting lineup is Chevis Williams of Trinidad and Tobago. Out with a quad strain, the return of Williams would potentially push Kruskemper up as a wide right player in the midfield, where he would join a plethora of potential starters.

U.S. U-18 national team member, Edgar Morales and U.S. U-23 national team member Andres Rota are the first to be mentioned as potentials to take a starting position in this year’s Rams’ lineup.

“Potentially, we have an unbelievable midfield,” Coach Fuller said. “In the center we have a bunch of guys fighting for spots. Morales has been great, Rota is a different class, Ruben Risco [McGill-Toolen standout] has had a really good pre-season, Mark Robinson has had a good pre-season and Alex Sesto played really well out wide against UAB. That’s not including Dean Logan [Trinidad U-23 national team member] who has been injured. Dean was our leading scorer last year. Johani Koivuranta is also very good. So we have a bunch of guys who can play in the midfield.”

If there was a mystery as to who would start in the midfield, then the quagmire delves even deeper with regards to the starting tandem up top for the Rams.

“If you asked me who my starting tandem up front is, I couldn’t tell you,” Coach Fuller said. “Jason Miniaci has been here and done it for a couple years for us already. He does some things very well, some things not as well as some of the other guys. But, he’s a very hard worker and puts the time in to work at it. Pete Rantala from the beginning of training camp to now has probably been the best front player we have from the standpoint of being busy and creating chances to score. Bjorn Asbjornsson had a great 60 minutes against UAB. He’s got a chance to be a big, big time front player. He’s got the potential to be the best player in the group. Junior Pamponette is gifted going forward. He’ll be an absolute handful. Jason Providence has been the biggest surprise and has done very well since he’s been here. He’s a bit behind the other guys in terms of experience but he’s got a youthful enthusiasm about him every time he comes out. I think he’s got a chance to be in the mix. Another surprise is Travis Bailey. He came with his brother Ben, and he’s been a big contributor for us.”

We had everything before us, we had nothing before us

And so the Rams stand, peering off into a great unknown that comprises nearly three months, potentially more than 20 games, wins as well as possible losses and a pre-season national ranking of 14 which Mobile will seek to improve upon. To do so, a rough road lies ahead and the first stop is a tough Covenant College team that boasts one of the liveliest home crowds in the NAIA.

“There’s still a lot to be done,” Coach Fuller said of his team’s preparation for Covenant. “I’m going to be tinkering with some things right up until the game against Covenant and Bryan as well.”

Perhaps the first big game on the Rams schedule is the lesser touted first game of the O’Charley’s Fútbol Festival against Thomas University.

“Thomas is the most important game of the weekend,” Coach Fuller said referring to also having to play defending national champions, University of Rio Grande. “They’re in our region and when we lost to them last year that put us behind the eight ball right from the start. If you ask me about the first four games, Thomas is the most important.”

However, Rio Grande by no means will be overlooked as they have gone undefeated in regular season play throughout the course of the last three seasons. The game will be a chance for redemption after suffering a loss to the eventual national champions in the quarterfinals of last year’s national tournament.

“They didn’t just beat us last year at the national tournament,” Coach Fuller said, “They waxed us.”

Two other highly anticipated games will come against Lindsey Wilson College at home on Sept. 22 and Auburn University-Montgomery in Montgomery on Oct. 13.

Lindsey Wilson came away with a 2-0 win the last time they visited The Jungle. And while the Rams would go on to win the national title that season, having been denied two championship banners in a row, after winning six of the previous seven, might have only served to make the Blue Raiders hungrier to win.

“That might be what that program needs to get hungry again and starving to win another national championship,” Coach Fuller said. “Ray Wells recruits harder and better than anyone else in the nation. They’ll be incredibly talented and they’re going to be a tough out for anyone who plays them.”

AUM brings with them a seasoned, well disciplined and heavily international flavored squad. Under the guidance of Brett Teach, AUM has been knocking on the door of a national title as they have reached the Final Four in three of the last four years.

“AUM is a great team with a great coach,” Coach Fuller said. “They’re well experienced, regardless of whether they’re freshmen or seniors. They’re a top quality team and they’ll be the same as Lindsey as far as being one of the toughest teams on our schedule.”

It was the spirit of hope, it was the winter of despair

The Rams, who must play three other teams in the NAIA top-25, will have their hands full as they set forth to cram for an exam that is composed of 17 questions each with many different parts. A passing grade will come in the form of a post-season berth. And the Rams won’t have long to get it down right. To fail will mean a lengthy Thanksgiving holiday spent with their respective families and a long winter.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day, so it’s going to take some time to develop and create something,” Coach Fuller said. “Of course the other side of that coin is we don’t have a boatload of time. It’s going to have to happen pretty soon.

2003 Men's Soccer Outlook