Full- length Interview with Zack Pope

Zack Pope is a hometown guy from Round Rock, Tx. He just graduated from Duke University, where he played as an outside midfielder. Now he's looking to move on to bigger and better things: Major League Soccer.


Stefanie: Soccer is already popular in Austin, but there is not much coverage when in comes to MLS (as it unfortunately seems to be the case across the United States). How do you think that we can make MLS (and specifically, the teams in Texas) more popular in Austin?

Zack: Team camps- that's probably one of the best ways to get recognition for players and for MLS teams. Players coming to do day camps at a local parks and soccer fields would definitely increase awareness about the game and get their names out there.

Stefanie: Would you consider putting on one of your own camps here, being from the Austin area?

Zack: Definitely! For younger kids, that's probably best thing you can really do. It's one thing to sit around and watch a soccer game on TV or live, but to have hands on experience with players in the league would be awesome. Younger children would definitely take to that and parents would catch on.

Stefanie: What suggestions, if any, do you have about hyping MLS in Austin (player camps, fantasy camps, exhibition games, etc.)?

Zack: Definitely by raising awareness with fantasy camps and things like that. It's not that people aren't passionate about soccer, but they don't necessarily have the opportunity to show it. MLS is still growing, so they need to take advantage of their opportunities by reaching out to the community. Player camps put on in surrounding areas would definitely be good for MLS.

Stefanie: What do you expect from the player combine?

Zack: Basically, you have to be in the best shape of your life. I mean, you've got 3 games in 3 days. You're training for something that's huge.

Stefanie: How are you going to prepare for the player combine?

Zack: Well, I've got a torn MCL right now and I'm waiting for that to heal. There's not much I can do for that yet. After that heals, I'm just going to go running. The combine is held in January so I'm gonna work hard until then.

Stefanie: Do you have any fellow teammates or friends that are off to the combine with you (and if so, who)?

Zack: Yes, two teammates: Mike Videira and Spencer Wadsworth. Two players from Duke were drafted last year, and they actually were drafted to the same team.

Stefanie: Do you plan on going to any college tryouts for specific teams (L.A. just had one)? If so, where?

Zack: I do have one tryout with D.C. United, and possibly one with Chivas (USA), other than the player combine. I'm still working on some others, but it's all about networking. Use your connections where you have them so you can manage everything and hopefully get out there on a team.