Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Saad returns from Europe, signs with MLS
By STEPHEN J. NESBITT
Daily Sports Editor
Michigan soccer fans may never
see record-setting freshman strik-
er Soony Saad step onto the pitch
at the U-M Soccer Complex again,
but they might catch him on TV.
According to reports, Saad has
signed a contract with the MLS
and will enter the lottery draft on
Tuesday.
Saad, the younger brother of
Hamoody Saad, a sophomore mid-
fielder for the Wolverines, spent
the past semester testing the
waters of professional soccer in
Europe after carrying Michigan to
its first-ever College Cup appear-
ance in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Reports linked him on trial with
several teams, but most notable
with Belgian giant RSC Ander-
lecht. Soony catapulted Michigan
into national contention with one
brilliant season, leading the nation
with 19 goals and 43 points in 23
games, but his departure after the
fall semester was a major setback
to the program. He set single-sea-
son records for goals (19), points
(43) and shots (152).
After being named Soccer
America Freshman of the Year,
Soony was gone.
"Soony feels that now is the right
time for him to pursue his lifelong
dream of playing professionally
overseas," Michigan coach Steve
Burns said after Soony's January
departure. "We wish him the best
in all of his future endeavors."
Fourteen MLS clubs are cur-
rently eligible to enter the weighted
lottery and bid for the prized strik-
er's services. Soony won't, however
be joining his Michigan teammate
Justin Meram with the Columbus
Crew.
Columbus drafted Meram with
the 15th-overall pick in the January
SuperDraft.
The Crew, along with the Phila-
delphia Union and Real Salt Lake,
have already signed playersthrough
the lottery. The lottery draft is in
place for players who sign with the
MLS after the SuperDraft.
Soony and Meram set a torrid
pace for the Wolverines and tore
up opposing defenses, accounting
for 36 of Michigan's 53 goals in the
2010 campaign. It will be an uphill
battle for the Wolverines on offense
this fall.
Meram and the Saad brothers
combined to make a trio dubbed the
"three amigos."
"At first, I was trying to score on
my own," Meram said after defeat-
ing Central Florida to reach the
Sweet Sixteen. "Now, I've changed
my outlook on everything.
"With Soony and Hamoody on
the attack ... no team can defend all
three of us."
Now the "three amigos" are
gone, leaving Hamoody as the last
lonesome cowboy.
But the sting of losing Soony -
the nation's top prospect and the
2009 MHSAA Mr. Soccer and 2009
Gatorade National Soccer Player
of the Year - will be felt for years
to come. While at Dearborn High
School, Soony broke the state
record as a senior with 76 goals,
finishing his high school career
with a state-record 172 goals. But
Soony's mark will certainly be left
on the Michigan soccer program.
Along with scoring the first-
ever goal in the new U-M Soccer
11
10
Former striker SoonySaad set Michigan records in goals, points and shots in 2010.
Complex, Soony garned NSCAA
second-team All-American hon-
ors, was named Big Ten Freshman
of the Year and to the All-Big Ten
First Team, as well as the Big Ten
Tournament Offensive Player of
the Tournament.
Now Soony has the the opportu-
nity to change Michigan's miser-
able luck in the pro ranks.
Prior to the 2011 MLS season, six
players had been drafted into MLS,
with none achieving regular start-
ing jobs.
The most glaring example of
that is forward Peri Marosevic.
Drafted No. 5 overall by FC Dallas
in 2009, Marosevic has only played
four times in league play for Dal-
las.
Rodriguez moving
on from Ann Arbor
Pair added to rebuilt 'M' staff'
By STEPHEN J. NESBITT
Daily Sports Editor
It's July, and Rich Rodriguez is
officially moving on.
The former Michigan football
head coach, who was relieved of
his coach-
ing duties in First seen on
early January -the ame
by Athletic ih
Director Dave
Brandon, accepted a college foot-
ball broadcasting job with CBS
Sports Network on June 14. Two
weeks later, the Rodriguez fam-
ily home in Saline, Mich. is up for
sale.
The 2006 home was listed on
Julylby Edward Surovell Realtors
- in Saline for a sum of $1,895,000.
The house features five bedrooms,
six bathrooms and a massive 5,683
sq. foot structure.
According to the deed on the
house, it was originally purchased
by the family in May 2008, the
spring Rodriguez moved from his
post in West Virginia to Michigan.
"Distinctive home is the per-
fect choice for the discerning
buyer with an eye for the finest
craftsmanship and amenities," the
online listing states. "The grand
foyer features a breathtaking
view of the 3 story atrium framed
by the sweep of the curved stair-
case. Rooms of gracious propor-
tions open to the private pool with
waterfall for unequaled entertain-
ing."
Just don't expect this one to
come fully furnished - but you
might get a football or two.
A photo of the study shows no
less than five footballs, and two
additional football-shaped tro-
phies. It's no question that a tried
and true football coach has been
prowling the lengths of that study.
A Michigan football helmet peeks
out of a cabinet in the corner of the
study.
Rodriguez lived in the home
with his wife, Rita Rodriguez and
their children, Raquel and Rhett.
By LIZ VUKELICH
Daily Sports Writer
Sean Bormet won't be uncom-
fortable next fall when he arrives
at Cliff Keen Arena to start his new
job - then he'll finally be home.
The Michigan wrestling pro-
gram recently announced the hir-
ing of two new assistant coaches,
including Bormet, a former Wolver-
ine wrestler.
"It's an honor and I am excited to
be heading back to the University of
Michigan," Bormet said. "Given our
extraordinary coaching staff and a
new state-of-the-art UM Wrestling
Center, I am eager to get started
and begin mentoring young men to
reach their full potential on and off
the mat."
Bormet certainly has the creden-
tials to carry on the Michigan tradi-
tion.
During his time as a student-
athlete from 1991-94, Bormet won
two consecutive Big Ten 158-pound
titles and finished his career with
a 125-21 record. A two-time recipi-
ent of the CliffKeen Award for most
outstanding Michigan wrestler,
Bormet also captured the coveted
Gorriaran Award presented to the
wrestler who scores the most pins
at the NCAA Championships.
While the list of Bormet's
achievements on the mat goes on,
his post-collegiate career is equally
as impressive.
In 2001, Bormet founded the
Overtime School of Wrestling,
which has not only shaped into the
top training center in the country,
but also shaped Bormet into a top-
tier coach. Since the opening of the
school, he has instructed everyone
from high school wrestlers and
World Championship silver medal-
ists to Olympic athletes.
With all he's accomplished,
Bormet has a right to be confident
about the skills he brings to Ann
Arbor.
"Over the last decade, I have
gained tremendous insight and
experience at every level of amateur
wrestling as a coach both nationally
and internationally," Bormet said.
Joining Bormet as second assis-
tant coach will be former colleague
Donny Pritzlaff. The two worked
briefly together at Pritzlaff's alma
mater Wisconsin, where as a stu-
dent, Pritzlaff finished his career as
one of the Badger's top wrestlers of
all time. Last year, he was inducted
into the University of Wisconsin's
Athletics Hall of Fame to honor his
contributions to the program.
"I am very excited to be at the
University of Michigan," Pritzlaff
said. "I have always had great
respect for the Michigan program.
(Head coach Joe McFarland) and
Sean are both great Michigan men
and I am positive this staff will lead
our student-athletes to excellence."
McFarland cited winningthe Big
Ten and NCAA Championships as
the primary goals for the Wolver-
ines, something his new staff mem-
bers certainly have experience with
- between the two of them, they
hold five conference titles and four
national ones.
"I consider Sean and Donny two
of the best coaches in the country,"
McFarland said. "Both of them are
champions. They are great students
of the sport. There is no question
that they are going to help elevate
this program to new and great
heights."