The top tier of Mexican professional soccer has included "college" teams since the 1960's. Currently, UNAM Pumas (the National University in Mexico City) and UANL Tigres (University of Nuevo Leon in Monterrey) compete in Liga MX. They're both historically successful. Tigres has won the league five times in the past ten years and the CONCACAF Champions League. Pumas is one of the more popular teams in Mexico. UAG Tecos (University of Guadalajara) spent time in Liga MX. There are currently two other university teams in the second division, with more further down the pyramid.
Most of the college teams started as teams made up of students. Pumas was the first back in the 1950's, but by the 60's they had become a fully professional teams that "represented" the university. These days their players don't attend classes. They are full professionals whose only relationship with the university is playing for the team.
Each of the clubs is set up a little differently. In Mexico City there is a shadowy incorporated Pumas entity that runs the team and essentially licenses the Pumas name, image, and likeness, as well as the use of the university's stadium from UNAM. Similarly, UANL licenses its team to a cement company that actually runs the club.
As folks talk about the possibility of private equity and the full professionalization of college athletics, it might be worthwhile to take a look at Liga MX.
PS - An unexamined ramification of the full professionalization of college football is that the super league will be an NFL competitor. In particular, I can't imagine why colleges would invest resources in developing talent/assets then at an arbitrary point let them walk for free?
Most of the college teams started as teams made up of students. Pumas was the first back in the 1950's, but by the 60's they had become a fully professional teams that "represented" the university. These days their players don't attend classes. They are full professionals whose only relationship with the university is playing for the team.
Each of the clubs is set up a little differently. In Mexico City there is a shadowy incorporated Pumas entity that runs the team and essentially licenses the Pumas name, image, and likeness, as well as the use of the university's stadium from UNAM. Similarly, UANL licenses its team to a cement company that actually runs the club.
As folks talk about the possibility of private equity and the full professionalization of college athletics, it might be worthwhile to take a look at Liga MX.
PS - An unexamined ramification of the full professionalization of college football is that the super league will be an NFL competitor. In particular, I can't imagine why colleges would invest resources in developing talent/assets then at an arbitrary point let them walk for free?
