Husker Hall-of-Famer a TV Analyst for World Cup

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Forgive Christine Lathamfor feeling a little like the human version of a triple-crown sweep. Nebraska’s all-time leading soccer scorer and a retired Canadian Women’s National Team striker has experienced three magical lifetime moments that keep her smiling, laughing and involved in the sport that defines her and still needs her. First and foremost, Latham and former Husker football player Pierre Allen are proud parents of their 3-year-old daughter, Layla. Secondly, in March, Latham was named to the inaugural class of the University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame, an honor “I will hold dear to my heart forever,” she told me while acknowledging that the third segment in her fast-moving sweep will begin this weekend when she serves as a studio and game analyst for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“I think FOX Sports thought I was a strong fit because I’m not afraid to speak my mind about certain situations during the run of the game,” Latham said.“They were looking for people to have a stance on something and not worry too much about what people are going to think. Obviously, everyone is going to have an opinion at the end of the day on players and teams. FOX wanted people who are confident in what they’re saying and have the expertise to back it up.”

Having played for the Canadian National Women’s Team for more than a decade from 1995-2006, Latham fits the bill. She’s played in the World Cup and scored a team-high three goals against Argentina and Japan, helping Team Canada reach the World Cup semifinals. Canada’s fourth-place tournament finish is still that country’s best showing in the Women’s World Cup. That credential alone will create a comfortable feeling for Latham, who will be an analyst for Friday’s World Cup Opening Ceremonies in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Latham will work Friday’s Team Canada match against China and her home country’s next match the following Wednesday against the Dominican Republic. She also will be a commentator for Sunday’s Cameroon-Ecuador match in Vancouver from inside the FOX studio, plus share her thoughts for Switzerland vs. Ecuador, New Zealand vs. China and South Korea vs. Spain.

Latham: Eager, Well-Prepared to Analyze Her Favorite Sport

“We’ll see how this goes because I’m new and a lot of other girls are fairly new, too," she said. "Some have worked the Olympics and U.S. Nationals. I’m eager and well prepared. If I enjoy the experience, and they think I add value, then maybe I’ll do more. There’s some collegiate work that could materialize, and if it all works out well, I might have a chance to do that this fall.”

Who knows? Latham does not dismiss the possibility of analyzing Big Ten Conference matches. “I think there’s a reason FOX wanted female players with extensive backgrounds to analyze the World Cup,” she said. “In previous Women’s World Cups, the majority of the analysts were men. FOX was looking for women to represent their country at the World Cup…women who had an extensive resume at the professional, national and collegiate level…women with strong opinions and not afraid to point out fundamental errors or being out of position. You’re not in this to criticize; you’re in it to explain. If a team isn’t doing something right, you have to address it because the fans are going to talk about it anyway, during the game and after the game.”

Latham considers herself a versatile representative in an array of internationals. The World Cup panel includes women from Germany, England and several Americans. Last August, Fox producers asked Latham to try out for an analyst position in Los Angeles. “They liked me,” she said, “because they kept bringing me back, so I could qualify for the World Cup. I did a mix, both off camera and on camera…play-by-play and voice only. It was a big test. Last December, they hired everyone they wanted for World Cup, and it’s exciting to be a part of that.”

Professional Coach Led United States to World Cup Title

Latham’s bio reflects her professional experience in the inaugural Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) with the San Diego Spirit. She was named the WUSA Rookie of the Year in her first season. She also was a member of the Boston Breakers team in the Women’s Professional League (WPS) in 2009. Tony DiCicco was her coach in San Diego, and it’s worth pointing out that DiCicco is a FOX Sports game analyst and best known as head coach of the United States Women’s National Team that won the legendary 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Let the record also show that Latham has known Nebraska Soccer Coach John Walker since she was 14 years old and a part of the Canada Youth National Program. “John was heavily involved with the under-20 Canadian National Team,” she said. “He was immersed in recruiting great talent from anywhere he could, so I was lucky to go to camps when I was 14, 15 and 16-years-old. John was at those same camps as an assistant coach.”

Latham calls Walker “a pioneer” in bringing internationals from Canada to compete and succeed at Nebraska. “John kind of started that trend of recruiting players from outside the United States,” she said. “I think there were like 10 of us Canadians at Nebraska at the same time. Other coaches kind of caught on in the Midwest and started recruiting the same way.”

Latham’s Talents a Good Fit for John Walker’s System

Nebraska was a “really good fit for me as a player because of the way I played,” Latham said. “I was very aggressive. John is competitive-oriented and his program is kind of based off that. Nebraska was a battle-style soccer team when I played there. John wasn’t into the finesse style, and that suited me very well because I wasn’t a very good player then anyway. My style fit his program style, so when I came to Lincoln in 1999, it was a no-brainer. I was recruited by other colleges, but I knew Nebraska was the best fit, especially after knowing John for three years.”

Several Big 12 Conference schools, including Texas, sought Latham’s signature on a National Letter of Intent. “I remember getting letters and not even opening them so I couldn’t tell you all the schools that offered,” Latham said. “I just remember my mom saying: ‘Oh Christine, you got mail from so-and-so-university.’ I would just put all the letters in a box because I already knew I wanted to come to Nebraska.”

As a Husker, Latham became a three-time NCSAA All-American. Her 69 goals and 29 assists from 1999-2002 still rank at the very top of Nebraska’s all-time scorers. At UNL, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Master of Science degree in Leadership Education.

Latham Appreciated Husker Fans, Administrative Support

“I loved the atmosphere at the University of Nebraska because so many people follow college athletics,” she said. “Our fan support was like no other. When I played, you’d see cars lined up all the way down the road. All were coming dressed in red to watch us play. It was remarkable.”

Latham was well prepared to compete in the game of life after her ultra-productive playing career was over. “I had the great honor to have Keith Zimmer as my academic counselor,” she said. “His advice and support were phenomenal for me. When you see first-hand the countless hours that are dedicated to support all of our student athletes, you understand why Nebraska is unparalleled.”

An unexpected Big 12 championship in her senior season at Nebraska was Latham’s fondest collegiate competitive memory. “We had a special group of fighters who really laid it on the line, and we won when everyone thought we wouldn't,” she said. “That’s a major highlight when you win and no one thinks it can be done.” Her overall career highlight was the 2003 World Cup when she helped lead Team Canada to the fourth-place finish that was nine spots better than their 13th worldwide ranking entering the tournament.

Bottom line, Latham was a major influence in both outcomes. “My experience at Nebraska truly shaped my outlook on life,” she told me.  “Looking back, you don't really know what you’re doing in the moment. But now I think WOW!! We were really competing, battling, and striving to be great. We were leading, balancing school and sport, and just having a blast the whole time! I hope and I think that through our successes and our failures, we grew enormously. To me, that’s what it means when I tell people that there really is no place like Nebraska.”

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