Initially titled the WISL Cup, in 1984, the Cup was renamed the Terrill Cup in 1990 in honor of Charles Terrill, deceased brother of WISL founder Chip Terrill. In 1998, the Cup was again renamed the Terrill/Blassie Cup in the memory of Michael J. Blassie, the deceased USAFA classmate of WISL founder Chip Terrill. This Cup is the culmination of the highest level of amatuer soccer competition in the Washington D.C. Metro area.
The Chuck Terrill Nexus to WISL Having run WISL for 10 seasons and having tired of birthing the fledgling league (which had then grown from 4 to 20 teams) and faced with growing work/travel responsibilities, Chip had decided to stop administering WISL and instead just coach his childrens' teams while finding time to maybe still just play himself. Chuck Terrill, who had only just found soccer in the spring of 1984 -- yet played so competitively and gracefully and was so clearly gifted to the game after his fourth season of play was diagnosed as being HIV positive in the Fall of 1985. At that time, the two brothers played together in WISL for Suomi/Finland. When Chuck learned of Chip’s decision, noting that WISL was a great place for players like himself to learn the game and flourish, Chuck asked Chip to keep running the league as a favor to him. Chuck pointedly noted that otherwise the league faced the same prognosis as he. Chip found it difficult to say no to this request and has continued to run WISL in Chuck’s memory.
The Mike Blassie Nexus to WISL During February and March 1968, as a cadet at the USAFA, Chip was ordered to march with his rifle while on restriction (marching a one 4 hour block of “tours” on every Saturday and Sunday afternoon?). For those two months, only one other cadet was also always there marching “tours,” Mike Blassie, a classmate and member of USAFA’s intercollegiate soccer team. On the one 20 minute break between these afternoon “tours,” Terrill would go to his room to sleep; Blassie, on the other hand, would go to the base of the dorm, and on the small grassy area there, either juggle or kick a soccer ball against the wall right below Terrill’s room. After 6 weeks of heated disagreement between them over the booming sound from Blassie’s soccer ball off the dorm wall while Terrill was trying to sleep, Chip consented (dressed in his black Chuck Taylor high top tennis shoes & USAF T-shirt and shorts) to join in the kicking during their break. Presto a soccer addiction was created over the next 2 weeks -- with Mike encouraging that Chip play intramural soccer that spring and even try out for the soccer team later that Fall. The two would never serve together in the same squadron and never became close friends but when they both would pass in the halls or see each other, they both could not help but smirk remembering their “tours” together and Chip’s embryonic play. On May 11, 1972, on an air mission in South Vietnam, First Lt. Mike Blassie was killed in action as a forward air controller. USAF First Lt. Blassie was originally entombed in the tomb of the Unknown Soldier but was disinterred and his remains buried in his hometown in St. Louis, Missouri. When Lt. Blassie’s family came to Pentagon in 1998 to collect their brother & son’s remains, Chip (by then a USAF Col) met with the Blassie family and together they shared a true “soccer”moment. Without question, Mike Blassie the first person ever to get Chip to touch a soccer ball -- passed the torch of his passion for soccer to Chip and as a result, Mike Blassie lives on through Chip’s commitment to making this a soccer nation.
