Brian Farber played with the Oregon State Beavers men's soccer team in 2002 and 2003. Brian helped the Beavers earn their first NCAA tournament invitation in 2002 and the second invitation in 2003. He was a second team All-Pac 10 selection in 2003.

Brian spent the next year coaching youth teams and playing soccer in Corvallis as he finished up at OSU. The California Cougars signed Brian to a pro contract and he had a breakout season last year emerging as one of the most exciting players in the league.

Brian was kind enough to agree to do a Q&A for the Corvallis Soccer Blog. Here you go!

QUESTION: You were named the Idaho State High School Player of the Year in 2000. What other soccer programs did you play in growing up?

FARBER: I played with the Sandpoint Strikers, in Sandpoint Idaho. It’s up north, near Canada. I went to Sandpoint High School as well. Much of my time playing growing up was in ODP as well, I loved ODP it was a fun time for me. I also played for the Coeur d’Alene Sting for U18 and U19.

QUESTION: Did playing at North Idaho College help you prepare for Division I soccer at OSU? Would you recommend going to a small college for a couple of years?

FARBER: That’s a tough one. Being at one place for four years or even five with a red shirt year is probably better for success, since you have a longer time to be comfortable, and learn from quality coaches. As for myself I attended North Idaho College for a few reasons, one I had recently lost two family members on two separate instances over a three month span, this was very hard on my mom so I could no t leave at that time.

Another reason was my coach Bill Eisenwinter was the man, and could have coached Division I easily, but he loved his club the Coeur d 'Alene Sting and his coaching at the college. He was the most influential coach I ever had growing up. He passed away my first year after transferring to Oregon state in a car accident. The hardest part was I had just started to play well when he passed. We talked daily till he died and it was very hard. I still have his emails. So my situation was different then most players. I had a coach who knew I would make the next level and never let me steer different, many junior colleges have good coaches but they all wanna advance to bigger schools, my coach was the opposite, he loved his place and helped more than could have asked, over fifteen players transferred to bigger schools after NIC in only two years.

QUESTION: How did you end up at OSU?

FARBER: I was scouted by Steve Simmons while I was at NIC and he brought me in fairly easy. I had already given my verbal to Sacramento State but had to take that back after my visit to Oregon State. My visit was great the guys were cool and I just thought it was the place I wanted to be. I took back my verbal to Sacramento and prepared for OSU. Dana [Taylor] came to watch a game up in Seattle, and I played really well, I think I had a goal and an assist in a close game, after words I saw them speaking with coach Eisenwinter. They gave me him a packet to pass on to me. I never really considered Gonzaga or anywhere else after that day.

QUESTION: How was your experience at OSU? What is your favorite memory of playing there?

FARBER: My experience was great, I made lifelong friends there and I can’t tell you how many memories I'll take out of going to OSU. My Favorite memory would be waiting with the team to see about our seed in the NCAA tournament. We were all in the locker room watching ESPN and waiting for them to announce the Beavers. That would have to be it because it had never been done in our history, the first year was more exciting, since it was never done, the second year we knew we belonged there was no question, so we went to the locker room knowing were in. My favorite playing experience was beating all my friends who played for Gonzaga, we never lost to them while I was there, so I have that over them forever.

QUESTION: How did you like Corvallis?

FARBER: I loved Corvallis, I wish I could make it back more often, I have a lot of friends there still. I wish I was there for more than two years because it was so much fun.

QUESTION: You played a lot of indoor soccer at the Corvallis Sports Park. Would you recommend that to young players hoping to play in college or beyond?

FARBER: Yes I would, anytime you can get touches on the ball is a good thing, and especially in small spaces, so take advantage of the Sports Park, I never had that option in my home town, I wish I did because that place is awesome. Soccer is soccer anywhere you play it and you can’t do harm to your skills by touches on the ball.

QUESTION: You put in your dues before you landed with the California Cougars. What would you say to a young player trying to land on a pro team?

FARBER: Well you can’t be afraid of failure, you must give it a shot to know where you stand, if you don't make it learn what you need to fix and work on those skills, then come back stronger. If you do make it then make yourself better each day. I have learned a lot since I began to play pro soccer, both indoor and outdoor. You never stop learning. So, my advices is never give up and keep working hard every day, not just at practice, but in the gym and classroom. It’s all important.

QUESTION: You played with the Minnesota Thunder in the USL. Which do you like better, indoor or outdoor soccer? What’s the difference?

FARBER: Well I would say I like outdoor better, because it’s the game I grew up loving, it’s not as fast but it requires more soccer smarts, seeing the field and making sure you finish your chances, they come so much less in outdoor. Don't get me wrong I love indoor because of the speed, but there is more dumb luck in indoor that change a game. Lots of lucky bounces and goals. So that can get frustrating at times.

QUESTION: How was your rookie season with the Cougars? I watched a pretty crazy goal you scored (on YouTube), tell us about that.

FARBER: Well last season was great for myself, I scored 53 points in thirty games putting me fourteenth in the league in points. The goal you are talking about is a bicycle that I scored on Detroit to cap off my hat trick with thirty seconds left in the game. It would have to be one of my best goals ever. I have a few better ones but none on video so that will have to work. My very first MISL goal was a bicycle against Milwaukee but it was called back for high kick, but after the game the ref told me he was sorry and that it should have counted. Refs huh.

The wonder-goal is about mid way through

QUESTION: When the Thunder came to play Portland you did something memorable after the game. Tell us about that.

FARBER: Well after the game which was a 0-0 tie I ran to the locker room to shower real quick. My family was all over from Idaho and my girlfriend’s family was all there since they live in Portland. My girlfriend Kristy had a huge plan to come up from San Diego to surprise me at the game, little did she know I was aware of her plan all along. She organized all of her friends and family to come to the game, I ended up getting them 45 tickets total for the game. She really thought she had me tricked and that she was still in San Diego while her family came to watch me play.

Anyway after the game I showered and came back out quickly and ran over to her like I was totally surprised, and then I asked if she wanted to get a picture on the field with me. We made our way out to the middle of the field, and as my buddy Sam Kenyan, who I met coaching in Corvallis, was taking the picture, the new jumbo-tron in PGE Park had a picture of Kristy and I that I emailed to them up on the screen. It asked her to marry me, as I dropped down on a knee in PGE Park. She was more than surprised, but even more she was mad that I knew her surprise and turned it on her. It was a pretty amazing night. I have to thank the people at PGE Park for helping me with that.

QUESTION: What’s in your playing future? Do you hope to land on an MLS team one day?

FARBER: Well after being robbed last year from the MLS I would like to get back there. Not sure if you know the details, but I was playing with the Houston Dynamo for a few games. I scored in my first minute of my first game in Houston on my tryout. I was offered a developmental contract and said yes right away. I was informed of a senior developmental contract that was open and would not be filled to soon so I may have a chance at it, the next week I went with them to play the New England Revolution reserve team. I scored the first goal fifteen minutes in and assisted the next goal on a diving header of the post, that was finished on the line. Right after the game I was offered the senior developmental contract.

I went home that next day packed up my car, drove to Corvallis to see my girlfriend and say goodbye. Since I would be in Houston for a few months, I was waiting for moving truck to come pick up my car and I was going to fly down as soon as possible. I waited and waited for my release from my indoor team. It never came and I was not loaned out to the MLS from the MISL, and still to this day I have never been informed of why that happened and my dreams of the MLS were ripped away when I was so close.

I now have new owners here on my indoor team and we have a great relationship, and if this opportunity comes up again I will be allowed to go. But it was a hard thing to watch when Houston won the MLS cup and I saw all my teammates there on the bench celebrating. But I have to let that go, even though it’s the most frustrating thing of my career it can’t be reversed, so I need to work a little harder and next time I’ll get there. I do wish I had a MLS ring though.

QUESTION: I understand the pay in the MISL is not bad. Can a player make a living playing in the MISL?

FARBER: Yeah a player can do ok in the MISL but the MISL works with the USL very well. So a player could play in the USL for say Portland timbers and then play in the MISL so that player, makes money all year. The only down fall is there is no time off between seasons, they overlap each other. Personally I have only had about twelve days off in the last two years. And that’s counting Christmas break, so it is hard at times. I have had to miss several of my friends’ weddings, including Ross Duncan’s. I played with him at OSU and he is one of the coolest guys I know, I wish I could have been there, but if I miss games or practice I fall behind.

QUESTION: As far as I’m concerned you are the fasted human being alive. Run into any soccer players faster than you are yet?

FARBER: Not yet. Myself and Beasley of Detroit are considered the fastest in the MISL.

QUESTION: The Cougars play live on Fox Soccer Channel, Feb 15, 22 and 29. I have a request. If you score a goal can you say hi to us by making the "O" with your arms?

FARBER: That should not be a problem at all. But I did just tear my MCL two days ago against Chicago, so I should be returning for those games. I won’t be fit yet cuz my goal at this point is that game on the fifteenth. I had an MRI this morning and I'll know more tomorrow, but hopefully it’s just my MCL, it could also be my PCL, MCL and meniscus. Rehab starts tomorrow morning after I learn what the results are.

QUESTION: Anything you want to say to the folks here in Corvallis?

FARBER: Yeah, To the Sports Park, did you change the rule that the first place team gets the next season free, if not change that. Call it the Farber rule, cuz I don't drink beer, so I never got anything for winning, and I won a few championships too. The appetizers were all grabbed up. maybe reward the team with free season to defend the title ( just a suggestion).

To the Sunday league players, thanks for not breaking my leg, but maybe do your drinking after the game, this may help bring down the level of fights (also just a suggestion).

To the kids of Corvallis, Keep working hard because soccer can help with your college education, at any level Div I and down to junior colleges, either way you’re still playing and having fun. Also your college teammates will be your friends forever, the bonds you build with the work you put in for each other, will never be forgotten. All that starts today, with whatever level you’re at, the Corvallis club is a good one with good coaches so take advantage of that.