[EKUAlum05]

I know some don't like soccer on here, but the kicking game in recent years has changed in the mountains....at least in some places. Merrick has brought kicking to a new high in the mountains in the last four years. Bell will have a great drop off next year in the kicking game. They do not have a soccer program. Merrick moved in from Kansas City and turned to football as a replacement. Bet Bell County and now his parents who won't have to pay for his college are glad! Other schools with soccer programs have found a kicking pool to help the football team out, don't ya think?

I agree that it has helped some programs' kicking games...but on a whole soccer has had a greater NEGATIVE impact on football teams in the mountains.
Soccer teams do take players who would potentially be role players (players who don't start until their Junior or Senior season) or late developers
and given the chance to start as a Freshman in a different fall sport. This doesn't have much of an effect on larger programs who can still dress 60-80 players, but at most schools size 4A or smaller the loss of 8-10 potential players from their numbers has far reaching effects. It effects depth, it effects practice, and it emphasizes the impact of inuuries.

It is possible for soccer players to double as football players...but frankly kids don't want to invvest that time for two sports that occur at the same time of the year.