Soccer is usually considered an auxiliary sport, something for the kids who can't or won't participate in the holy trinity of football, baseball or basketball.
Even though Major League Soccer has been around since 1996, the league's presence is overshadowed by traditional American sports.
However, soccer is here to stay -- and its popularity is growing exponentially.
Soccer has dug its cleats into the turf of American sport culture and is ready to take the spotlight.
NCAA men's soccer is proof there is a strong foundation of players and fans ready to join the rest of the world.
There are currently 204 Division-I men's teams, but Auburn isn't one of them.
That's a problem. America is on the verge of a metaphorical soccer explosion.
The United States Men's Soccer Team is up to No. 13 in the most recent FIFA World Rankings and has already qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Americans are boarding the bandwagon.
The popularity of professional soccer in America is on the rise, but so is the prevalence of college soccer.
Auburn could set an example by creating what could be one of the best programs in the SEC, and the rest of the conference would have to follow suit.
Of course, no sport will ever be bigger than football in the SEC, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for something else.
In such dire economic times, diversity is key.
It's not a good idea to sit on our husky American laurels and pretend football is the be-allend-all of athletic competition.
Basically, men's soccer would be an investment that would pay off substantially in the long run because we would be establishing our dominance early -- establishing an SEC tradition.
There is already a men's soccer club team, which has had a history of success, so a promotion to a fully sanctioned University sport is not that large of a jump.
Auburn's possible promotion to NCAA Men's D-I soccer could even force the hand of the SEC to include men's soccer under its already expansive umbrella.
Yes, we would have to add another women's sport to remain in compliance with Title IX, but that isn't a bad thing either.
We can't rely on football forever.
It's the money-maker, but it's also a big business that fully embraces all the heartlessness of corporate culture.
Auburn is not the scrappy underdog it used to be; it's a behemoth that feeds off profit.
So why not join the rest world and have a good time while we're at?
Let men's soccer into your hearts, Auburn.
Sure, it may seem pointless now, but it's not our style to follow trends.
We create them.
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