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I don't agree, but I respect the opinion you state here. Two years is too short to prove or disprove your statement in my opinion. I believe a minimum 5 years is required for a person to show what he can (or cannot) do unless he's totally incompetent. Who is on your list of "elite" coaches that you wanted to come to Akron? Have any of them done as you expect to see at Akron? How do you know they would have lived up to your expectations? How long would you have given any one of them to meet your expectation in the standings and recruiting? I also disagree that Akron lost its chance to lure some other "elite" coach to our program. The evidence is there that Akron cares about its soccer program and that large crowds can be expected if they like the product they see. We have achievements to which to point to show what we want/expect and, although not as spectacular as a few others, we have one of the best soccer stadiums in NCAA D-I. Many schools larger than Akron still play on artifical surfaces and/or in the middle of their track. Our fans sit close to a beautifully maintained grass field specifically for soccer. And, we show respect for our soccer teams by not letting just anyone use it. We can also point out that Ohio's MLS team has played a US Open Cup match on our field, and was planning to do so again had they been awarded the home game. That is the type of relationship we need to have and or maintain to continue padding our resume.

Pity should be reserved for those who make themselves perpetually miserable obsessing over unmet unrealistic expectations. Even the best teams have up and down seasons. My realistic expectations are for Zips soccer to be a top 25 program season after season, top 10 some seasons, top contender for the national championship some seasons and an occasional national championship. I would be disappointed if they went on a long slide in competitiveness with no end in sight.

2-0 Zips. Richie Laryea

https://rabble.tv/broadcast/55ee15eeae19c76a22c44878/view#.Ve4Wl0OW7zU.twitter you can listen to game on maryland radio (link above).....if you did not pay for Big ten video

I spent $55 on that PPV.

There will always be questions about Coach Embick until he produces the kind of season his predecessor did as head coach. That's a tough challenge that few coaches in the country could take on, and the few who've proven they can do it are comfortably locked into contracts at major schools with soccer reputations as good as or better than UA's. The head coaches who haven't yet proven themselves would be at least as big a gamble as Coach Embick. While I have questions like most everyone else, one thing I have confidence in is Coach Porter's knowledge of the game and the people in it. If he thought Coach Embick was the best option to lead the Zips program, I'm willing to give him more than two years to prove himself. This is light years from the iCoach situation where even those who most wanted to give him a fair chance to turn around Zips football knew at some point in the second season there was no chance.

Reading this thread makes me want to kill myself.

For those of you wanting to watch for the first time, or re-watch the game:

Akron will beat Pitt. As terrible as our offense is, it'll look different next week as Bowden makes a committment to Pohl for most of the game.