Mississippi’s Next Senator Is a Soccer Coach?

Scott Colom is on the verge of becoming Mississippi's first Black U.S. senator since 1881. He also coaches soccer in his hometown. This week, following the tightly contested midterm elections in Mississippi, we examine this candidate’s overlooked relationship with the beautiful game. Plus, we chew on one of the craziest soccer club names we’ve ever heard, look back at when Navy Midshipmen achieved soccer glory, and much more.

This week’s stories:

• 🚢 When the Navy Midshipmen Achieved American Soccer Glory

• 🥬 Kalamazoo’s Celery City FC

• 🏛️ Mississippi’s Next Senator Is a Soccer Coach?

• ❌ New College Soccer Model RESCINDED

• 🗳️ Poll + Last Week’s Responses

• ➡️ And More

OUR HISTORY
When Navy Midshipmen Achieved American Soccer Glory

On a day like today in 1775, the U.S. Marine Corps was born.

I was lucky to grow up in Maryland and visit the Naval Academy in Annapolis quite often, so this anniversary got me wondering if the Navy Midshipmen men's soccer team had ever won an NCAA title.

Turns out that on December 6, 1964, the Navy team captured the NCAA soccer champion­ship, defeating Michigan State, 1-0, on an ice-encrusted turf at Brown University Sta­dium.

Check out the great winning goal HERE!

To date, it’s the only time any of the five federal service academies (Army, Navy, Air Force, Merchant Marine Academy, or Coast Guard) has won an official NCAA soccer national title.

EXPANSION
Kalamazoo’s Celery City FC

Ok, this might be the greatest soccer name of all time.

Celery City FC, which will play in USL League 2 and USL W next season, just unveiled its name and crest last week…

And it’s completely blown us away. The name celebrates Kalamazoo's 150-year legacy as the "Celery City" with a three-stalk celery fan crowning the shield. So awesome!

Here’s how you can become a founding member and grab a once-in-a-lifetime scarf.

COVER STORY
Mississippi’s Next Senator Is a Soccer Coach?

With 97% of the midterm election vote counted in Mississippi as of Sunday night, Scott Colom holds a narrow lead of 2,574 votes over his opponent Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Mississippi has not elected a Democratic senator since 1982, and Colom would be its first Black senator since the Reconstruction era almost 150 years ago.

With many outlets pointing to Colom being on the verge of securing a historic victory, I was curious to see if he had any experience with the beautiful game.

Well, lo and behold, it turns out that Scott Colom—aside from being a successful District Attorney—is the proud coach of his daughters’ soccer team, with this experience helping him learn more about Mississippians and their values.

“I coached my daughter's soccer team,” Colom said in an interview last week, “and when I was doing it, I know there were some parents who were Republicans. The teams I was competing against, I know some of the parents and coaches were Republicans, but honestly, it didn't matter. We were all about what was right for those kids—teaching those kids the right values—and making sure we understood fairness.

And to me, that represented the potential of our state, because I knew that those parents love those values more than they love political parties,” he concluded.

A pretty insightful reflection from Colom, and yet another example of how our favorite sport can unite people across the aisle.

ACADEMICS
New College Soccer Model RESCINDED

Every time American soccer unites to push the sport forward, the general masses try to dig us down man.

The two-semester college season model that’d been passed last month just fell apart after 247 schools voted to rescind it (106 of those schools do not even have men’s soccer programs).

With fake emails, misinformation, and shock votes, here's how it all came crashing down…

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

Let us know your unfiltered thoughts—we’ll feature your best answers next week!

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

Cold: Santi Cazorla can really do anything. Just watch him juggling on the ice at MSG!

Rehab: It hurt to see one of our favorite players at the Spirit go down with an ACL injury, but we’re here for the recovery journey 🙌

Nathaniel Clyne: For some reason, I vividly remember having Nathaniel Clyne on my FIFA Ultimate Team ten years ago. Now, he might be headed to USL!!

Brotherly Love: The most wholesome assist you’ll see. Quinn to Cavan Sullivan. Brother to brother. The future is bright!

The Candidate: No way we lose Poch right after re-signing him, right? Well, he might be on his way to Manchester if Carrick gets sacked…

CULTURE
Brace for Trin

I can feel it. This HAS to be the year.

The Spirit are now close to booking a ticket to the NWSL Final for the third year in a row. The past two finals didn’t end how everyone in Washington may have wanted, but the third time has to be the charm.

With Trinity Rodman firing on all cylinders, things are looking bright in the capital.

Semifinal against the Utah Royals this weekend at Audi!

ODDS
Comeback Kings

And speaking of playoff heroes, the Charleston Battery in South Carolina pulled off a historic comeback over the weekend.

They found themselves 0-3 down to Hartford Athletic in the 80th (!!!) minute and were somehow able to bring things level 3-3 by the final whistle. Then, they defeated Hartford 5-4 in PKs.

You have to see it to believe it…

CLUBELEVEN
Your Takes 🗯️ 

Last week, we asked you: What is the best soccer souvenir you can get at a game? Here are some of your answers:

• “I have over 100 scarves and would love to have between 1 and 2 million more.” - R. Downes

• “A Beach Towel” - J. Aliaga

• “Bobbleheads when it’s a theme night are usually my favorite.” - JD

The poll results came in at 40% for “Scarf,” followed by “Bobblehead” with 30%.

I’m usually a sucker for bobbleheads, but after seeing the Rapids gifting out a sack of potatoes, I now have a new favorite souvenir. I’ll have to make it back to Colorado someday and hopefully line it up with a game when they do that again. My odds are basically zero…

TRAVEL
Catch a Game in Europe ✈️

A special Black Friday deal from our friends at Champions Travel!

If you’re looking to go on a European football adventure this winter, make sure to use the code BLACKFRIDAY26 with Champions Travel to receive 10% off all football packages! (cap of €50 per person, can be used once per person.) Valid until Dec 1st!

UP NEXT
Home-Bound

After driving the Soccer Bus from California to New Mexico, we all headed home to take a bit of a break from the open road. And it was a fun weekend up in Boston, getting to hang out with the Fulham supporters’ group in the city!

Their stickers and magnets are actually some of the coolest I’ve seen during our travels.

It’ll be nice being home for a bit before heading out for one final push this season as USL, MLS, and NWSL all start coming to a close!

Onwards!!

Enjoying This?

Make sure to forward this email to a friend and help us spread the soccer gospel far and wide! We’ll see you next week with even more untold stories of soccer.

Have a great Tuesday!

Pablo