Does anyone know if there is going to be a new PDL team in Austin, TX?

Thanks

Contact Todd Saputo manager of D3 pro league operations.

TSAPUTO@UNITEDSOCCERLEAGUE.COM

813-963-3807

[ 12-10-2001: Message edited by: AL ]

Thanks, but the email address given did not work. Has anyone heard anything about a new team in Austin for the PDL?

Thanks

In searching for information on the new Houston Toros, I was giving this division allignment for the upcoming season.

Mid South Division (5)
Austin Lightning
Houston Toros
Lafayette Outlaws
Memphis
Nashville Metros (Provisional)*
Texas Spurs

Here's something i skimmed over about the West Austin Lightning, which appears to be an amateur club in that area.

http://www.teamstats.com/main.cgi?team_nbr=7338

Also, could that aforementioned email be tsaputo@unitedsoccerleagues.com rather than tsaputo@unitedsoccerleague.com (the latter incorrectly singularizing the system)?

Anyhow, good to hear news of Austin getting back into the mix.

[ 01-09-2002: Message edited by: batteryhound ]

As a wild guess, because of the simple notion that thunder and lightning are related, I'm going to speculate that the Austin Lightning are going to be a version of the Austin Thunder Premier League rec team... which are distantly (or maybe even closely, I don't really know Austin rec sports history that well) related to the Austin Thunder team that played in the Lone Star Soccer Alliance back about the same time that the USISL went outdoor.

The Thunder are, as of the winter break, sitting second in the Premier League standings behind the River City Rangers, according to the AMSA website (http://www.amsapremier.com/premier.html).

Back in the Lone Stars last season, the team they fielded was basically a rec league team, so after a couple year hiatus, my first take on this is that we're in for more of the same. Hope they've found a closer-in place to play.

Eric,
Sorry to tell you this, but your theory is far off. There were a lot of other factors that played into the Lone Stars losing season a couple of years back. The team had several great players that played levels a lot higher than the "rec level." I think most of the teams in the country would of had a losing season if they had played under those terms and conditions. I really doubt that this year's team will even have one player from the Thunder team that you speak of.

Jerry

OK. So maybe I should have said "the team they fielded played like a rec league team."

To be honest, I have no idea the ages of the players on the Thunder. I generally assume that they're mostly above U-23, and I'd like to hope that the USL is closer to actually implementing and policing the U-23 intentions they have for the league. So when I think about it a bit more, I'd sure hope that the new Austin team wouldn't have many players from the Thunder.

But I guess I've gotten pretty cynical about the whole USL.

Be that as it may, if I can manage to track down a schedule for the Austin Lightning, I'll be sure to make it to a few games.

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: ERic ]

Eric,
You do have a point saying that the team played like crap all season. However, I would have to say that the management ran the team like a "rec. team." For example, things like not having a place to practice or not paying the players their paychecks, or going on a 3 game road trip with 11 players and play 3 games 3 days in a row. How can a team win under those conditions? I heard that the team is going to be called the Austin Ambush.

All excellent points. It was really disappointing to see things fall apart after such a long time.

Ambush. Gag. Yet one more alliterative throwaway interchangeable I'll not remember it one year after they're gone name.

Any idea where they're going to play?