Rising Tide in Tacoma

 

Mike Jennings enters his 3rd season as Tacoma Tide GM. (Jenni Conner photo.)

 

Tacoma Tide FC set sail in the PDL for 2008 with a new crest, a new mascot, and a renewed focus. GOALTacoma.com talks with TFC owner / General Manager Mike Jennings about the upcoming season that kicks off May 9th in Spokane and May 11th in Tacoma.

 

Tide Focus: www.TacomaFC.com, www.GOALTacoma.com, http://pdl.uslsoccer.com

 

Who are the coaches for the Tide in 2008? How did you come to those decisions?
 

The Tide coaching staff will be the same as last year with Fran O'Brien being the head man again. Keith Larson and I will assist. Fran and Keith have done a wonderful job for us, being committed to growing a young club. The boys like them both, so it was an easy decision. I have also asked Pete Fewing to be involved as a technical advisor. He will be available in a limited capacity, but his input will be valuable in our upcoming games.

Can you give us a list of players who are returning in 2008, and also a sneak peek at a few newcomers you hope will make an impact?

 

Returning up top we have Rory Agu, Spencer Schomacher, Beau Macaluso. In midfield, Machael David, Raphael Cox, Ruben Orozco, Chase Tangney, Mutanda Kwesele. In the back, Mark Lee, Taylor Hoss, Brayton Knapp, Steve Mohn (returning from a broken leg last season). In goal, Jordan Jennings. Promising newcomers are Taylor Mueller (def. from UW), Dennis Sanchez (def/mid from San Diego State), Daniel Phelps (mid from UW), Dustin Allbery (def. from SU),Tucker Maxwell (def. St Martins), Dan Fadida (mid from Savannah College) and GK Chris Blais (Univ of Michigan). There a few others that will be at training hoping to catch on.

 

Surf Dude hangs ten with Mr. Woo. TFC photo.


The Tide front office has been very busy in the off season getting ready to implement some new features for fans (Fan club, scarves, field seats, etc). Tell us about them and how you hope they'll help the Tide draw larger crowds.
 

As an organization, our priorities have been at giving players, fans and sponsors a great experience. I believe we have some outstanding young players and great sponsors with us this year and hope some giveaways and merchandising will help attract more fans to see them. And as we do not get our players until late, we have introduced our new mascot 'Surf Dude' to help with appearances and promotion. 'The Dude' has been a big hit in just the couple weeks he has been around.
 

What are some of the challenges in getting South Sounders to come out and attend Tide matches?
 

Having only a 8-10 game home schedule and not having players available for appearances, training and matches make it a challenge to get the the word out. The weekly community newspapers have been good at giving us space, but the bigger newspapers still don't carry us much. I think we do a good job with our website and have made it easier to purchase tickets online this year

 

New Tide badge.
 

Tell us about the 2008 kits. Who is making them? Will MVP remain the main sponsor? Are the club still wearing all-yellows at home?
 

I contacted Gary Etherington of UMBRO and he, along with Sporthaus Schmetzer, set us up with uniforms, et al. As you may be aware, UMBRO has been the principle owner of the USL (recently acquired by NIKE). I wanted us in a kit that supported the league's brand. Yes, MVP Physical Therapy will again be the Tides main sponsor and yes, we will wear our traditional all yellow kit at home matches. "Go, Yellows!!"

 

What are your comments on the possible move of the current USL-1 Sounders to Kitsap County?
 

I had a good conversation with Robin Waite about a month ago about his plans to move the USL -1 franchise to the Kitsap Peninsula. I admire his passion and desire to grow the game in the community in which he lives. As I understand, he has made a proposal to the USL and has looked at properties for the teams future home in Poulsbo. There are compelling arguments to have a team there, but I honestly have doubts a USL - 1 team could be sustained there. Perhaps, a PDL team like the Tide, but not a Div 1. I shared my hope to bring the franchise to the South Sound market (Tacoma / Olympia), perhaps as a reserve side to the Seattle Sounders FC. I have been in conversation with Adrian and Chris H. at the Sounders, as well as USL league administrators. I look forward to more conversations with them all.

 

Tide celebrate a 2007 home goal. Photo by Jenni Conner.
 

What are the long-term franchise goals for TFC?


1) To continue to build a stronger fan and sponsor base 2) To continue to create an attractive professional atmosphere for players and get them connected to professional leagues. The overall goal is to do these things well enough, that if a professional league opportunity came our way, we would have the infrastructure in place to make it happen.


What is TFC's reaction to the new MLS club in Seattle? How do you hope to be connected with them?
 

As above. There is a window of opportunity here with the Seattle USL - 1 sun setting to build, I think, a natural connection between the 2 leagues (MLS /USL). Perhaps, the Seattle Sounders and The Tacoma Tide can create a template for other organizations to follow. I believe the Tacoma / Olympia area is just right in proximity to the Sounders training area at Starfire and population dense enough to run a reserve side in the USL -1. There are opportunities to house more players, give them better games than the current MLS reserve schedule, saving on staffing, and opportunities to cross promote and extend the influence of the clubs.
 

The Tide have 9 home matches scheduled so far this season, including a TBA date with Seattle Sounders. Are any other home matches possible?
 

There are chances to play more games, but it is tight. This is due primarily to the black-out dates imposed in the schedule for the Open Cup. Of course, we hope to go a long way in the cup and will be happy those dates are reserved, but it creates barriers in scheduling. In fact, that is why the Sounders game is TBA. It was originally scheduled for July 7 or 8, but those dates are blacked out.
 

Ciaran O'Brien went from the Tide directly to MLS. Who's next? (Jenni Conner photo.)


Which matches will count towards US Open Cup qualifying? Is that going to be a point of emphasis for the Tide this year?


The Open Cup is very important to us. It gets the boys fired-up to have a chance to compete against professionals if they move on. Unfortunately, the PDL is far down in the food chain, so our qualifiers are early in our schedule. Our qualifying games are
May 9 AWAY Spokane
May 11 HOME Cascade
May 23 HOME Ogden
May 24 HOME BYU
 

What is the best part about running a PDL club in Tacoma? What has surprised you the most?

 

The best part for me is training, matches and off time with the players. These are talented young men who hope to move on to another level. They are full of hope and energy and are pulling together the needed disciplines the game demands to go forward. I enjoy these relationships most. The most surprising things are the fans. They are 'fantastic'!! As a coach and owner, I sometimes think I don't enjoy the game as purely as the regular fan because I am analyzing things. But real fans wear their emotions on their sleeve, yelling and shouting their support and disappointment on every call.