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Following the Zips excellent 2-0 win over Santa Clara, I returned home to see the 2nd half of the US U23s vs Panama and was rewarded with 4 goals between the 50th and 71st minutes for a final score of USA 4 - PAN 0. 9 points and an all-out win of Group A for the USA! Onto the game that really matters. Defeat Honduras or Mexico (loser of tonight's MEX-HON match) in the semi-final Saturday afternoon at Rio Tinto, and the USA secures Rio2016 CONCACAF qualification. Best wishes to Captain Wil Trapp and the US U23s getting it done.

Thank you, LeBron!

I continue to like what I see from Goncalo Soares. Victor is an outstanding holding midfielder and the combination of Soares/Belana...gives Akron a top notch duo at this very important position. I hope that Akron can have a 3-0 or 4-0 lead after 60 minutes in an upcoming game...so coach Embick can rest Victor a little bit.

I'm ready to see that "top level, major" program this season.

Anyone still have any questions on whether LeBron has any impact on the program?

LeBron Resurrects Akron's Program (click link for entire article) --By Joe Vardon, Northeast Ohio Media Group "He's coaching me now," Dambrot told the Northeast Ohio Media Group. "I'm smart enough to ask him, because, like, he's a brilliant guy. So I ask him what he thought was some of the best ways to attack that. James spent nearly 30 minutes chatting with Dambrot and his assistants off to the side of Cleveland Clinic Courts. "He's resurrected our program (at Akron), and then obviously what he's done with the Cavaliers," Dambrot said. "He's just got a knack."James did not attend college and has close relationships with multiple collegiate athletic programs. But his presence around Dambrot's program is apparent. "The connection with LeBron allows us to get players we wouldn't normally get," Dambrot said. "Just the presence of him in this community has helped our program become a top-level, major program. For the entire contract, click here.

Santa Clara is definitely tougher than their record shows.

Comparing to their game stats vs Ball State (stats from EMU football site) 1. Ball State seemed to control the ball on the ground (85 offensive plays to 61) and total yardage (472 to 319) 2. 61% running plays for Ball State and 278 yds. on the ground........ EMU run defense seems weak 3. First downs were BSU 26 and EMU 12 4. Passing was about even in yardage with BSU (24-33-0) and EMU (19-39-2) 5. EMU is 15-17 in the red zone (88%) with 13 of those scores being TD's (76%) - season stat I'm not positive, but I would rate our defense as much better than BSU's (correct my opinion if needed) so: If we ESTABLISH THE RUNNING GAME and STOP THE DUMB A$% PENALTIES, I think we should have a good day .... Open for constructive criticism