This season is probably Bubonja's last!
Aug 25, 2008 9:41:28 GMT -6
Post by Big D on Aug 25, 2008 9:41:28 GMT -6
Nice article in the chicago flame today about Jovan...
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Though world-class goalkeeping and captioning a national contender are reasonable expectations for UIC All-American keeper Jovan Bubonja, there is one expectation coach John Trask cannot make for his redshirt junior: returning for 2009.
"He's a redshirt junior, he basically graduates in December. I do not expect him back," said Trask.
'If the right opportunities are presented, we're 100 percent behind him. He's gonna be graduating and it's probably time for him to move on. If the right things aren't there for him, then obviously he's got the option to come back and possibly do a graduate degree and compete one more year. But I would never hold a kid back from his dreams and aspirations."
Bubonja sat out what would have been his freshman season in 2005 recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL. Including this season, the 6'2" preseason All-American has two years of NCAA eligibility. But after anchoring one of the nation's top college defenses for two years and playing overseas the past few summers, Bubonja has been hot on professional team's radars.
"When we recruited him," said Trask, "obviously before his injury, it was, "What can we do to help you and you help us? We work together for four years, and then you go on in your life with a degree and hopefully have a tremendous professional career.'
'That was the agreement with Jovan and I, and also the agreement with his parents. His parents wanted the degree. They're just of the persuasion that says you'll never know when you'll get injured. You can go and try to play soccer anywhere you want in the world and have a great time, but you'll always have this degree to fall back on."
And though the most decorated keeper in program history may be able to start thinking of life after UIC, there's no chance, in his coach's mind that Bubonja, one of the team's three captains, will be satisfied with anything less than a College Cup appearance.
"He played a lot of soccer over the summer in Hungary and back in Serbia, and also Germany and Holland," said Trask. "When he walked in the door, all the coaches stated that there was an extra little bit of fitness that it looks like he's put in this year, an extra bit of sharpness to his game.
And he probably more than any player here has changed the culture of the program. So I think for him without going deep, deep, deep into the tournament, he's not going to look at it as a success. He's going to be driving everybody that extra little bit because he knows that it's his last chance. And as much as he wants to do it for himself, for his teammates, for the coaches, I think he wants to do it for the University. I think he wants to leave a legacy of what can happen if you work hard, respect the game, respect your teammates, and push yourself to the highest level you possible can."
Link
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Great article. I would be shocked if Jovan came back next year, as he will be playing professional ball somewhere. I hope that he can lead this team to the College Cup. Jovan is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper UIC, and the HL, has ever seen. So, I'm sure the HL will name Valpo's keeper HL keeper of the year again
(one of the all-time award mess-ups in the HL)...
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Though world-class goalkeeping and captioning a national contender are reasonable expectations for UIC All-American keeper Jovan Bubonja, there is one expectation coach John Trask cannot make for his redshirt junior: returning for 2009.
"He's a redshirt junior, he basically graduates in December. I do not expect him back," said Trask.
'If the right opportunities are presented, we're 100 percent behind him. He's gonna be graduating and it's probably time for him to move on. If the right things aren't there for him, then obviously he's got the option to come back and possibly do a graduate degree and compete one more year. But I would never hold a kid back from his dreams and aspirations."
Bubonja sat out what would have been his freshman season in 2005 recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL. Including this season, the 6'2" preseason All-American has two years of NCAA eligibility. But after anchoring one of the nation's top college defenses for two years and playing overseas the past few summers, Bubonja has been hot on professional team's radars.
"When we recruited him," said Trask, "obviously before his injury, it was, "What can we do to help you and you help us? We work together for four years, and then you go on in your life with a degree and hopefully have a tremendous professional career.'
'That was the agreement with Jovan and I, and also the agreement with his parents. His parents wanted the degree. They're just of the persuasion that says you'll never know when you'll get injured. You can go and try to play soccer anywhere you want in the world and have a great time, but you'll always have this degree to fall back on."
And though the most decorated keeper in program history may be able to start thinking of life after UIC, there's no chance, in his coach's mind that Bubonja, one of the team's three captains, will be satisfied with anything less than a College Cup appearance.
"He played a lot of soccer over the summer in Hungary and back in Serbia, and also Germany and Holland," said Trask. "When he walked in the door, all the coaches stated that there was an extra little bit of fitness that it looks like he's put in this year, an extra bit of sharpness to his game.
And he probably more than any player here has changed the culture of the program. So I think for him without going deep, deep, deep into the tournament, he's not going to look at it as a success. He's going to be driving everybody that extra little bit because he knows that it's his last chance. And as much as he wants to do it for himself, for his teammates, for the coaches, I think he wants to do it for the University. I think he wants to leave a legacy of what can happen if you work hard, respect the game, respect your teammates, and push yourself to the highest level you possible can."
Link
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Great article. I would be shocked if Jovan came back next year, as he will be playing professional ball somewhere. I hope that he can lead this team to the College Cup. Jovan is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper UIC, and the HL, has ever seen. So, I'm sure the HL will name Valpo's keeper HL keeper of the year again
(one of the all-time award mess-ups in the HL)...