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I wish I could capture the excitement of being in Santa Barbara, but here's a feeble try. The team is at a level now that few teams can appreciate, yet alone duplicate. We are rested, confident and extremely well coached. I thought Jared was two steps ahead off his Mich State counterpart all match long. Maryland has strength in its center backs, but we can score in so many ways that will create havoc for them. Our team believes in itself and that is all because of Jared. Today we walked down State street in SB and you wouldn't believe how people would smile at us and say "go Zips" when they saw our Akron Soccer T's. This final match should be a huge spectacle but the NCAA does not give a damn about marketing this weekend. They bid out who wants to host the event and how much they will guarantee the NCAA. Once the event is awarded the NCAA puts all the promotion and marketing on the shoulders of the awarded host. If attendance is poor the NCAA doesn't care, they got their guarantee. The risk is all on the host and it appears UCSB will only break even at best. The Zips and the other three teams deserve better. The Akron following is good, but not great as far as numbers. That's understandable duet the cost. One thing that strikes me is the support of former players and families. Akron is known for the almost fanatical support the former players give the program. So many were in the stands and it was great to renew friendships with them. I don't know if it is well known, but every year Jared asks the former players and friends of the program to help him grow the program. This year it was a new camera system for game /practice review. In past years it might have been for financing trips to Brazil or Europe. We can be proud of our soccer alumni. I wish every sport had this heartfelt support. FWIW not all DI elite programs can claim this level of support too. Well it's low 70's during the day. The field is in beautiful shape and we are ready to win our second star. Please let us know what it's like at the JAR.

@UA1987 & @zipsoutsider I respect both of your opinions & can see all sides of the argument & that is what this board is about. I have trouble when people start disrespecting others opinions, we had a few last year that made the board difficult to enjoy & the moderator’s handled it, I believe @zipoutsider has taken some of our opinions personally or the firing of Bowden personally like we fired him & saying we live in a fantasy land or not in reality & I’m not a wussy, I’m just saying I have said I have mixed feelings, he has pulled us out of the basement of NCAA football & I appreciate that. I was for keeping him & getting rid of Milwee. What I have heard is Milwee lost the guys & there was issues & disrespect with players that had gotten obvious & disruptive. I say I heard because I did hear that, I’m not in the locker room, meetings or practice so I have not witnessed it & Im always hesitant to say things I’ve heard because I really don’t know if it’s true People have been saying for a long time fire Milwee & get a new OC & he didn’t & it ended up costing him. Now, I’m discussing coaching candidates from here on out. Hoping for the best. We can’t save Bowden so let’s move on. I maybe unrealistic but I do believe we have the ability to be a successful football program. Winning helps make all our issues manageable. We have facilities, good recruiting grounds, we need a coach to get us there & spark some energy in the community & I do believe we can put butts in seats, we may not sell out but I do believe we can put a real 15-25k in the stadium This is just my opinion I’m throwing out there. I loved President Wilson because he was everywhere supporting everything he could. He may have been a terrible President but I thought he was the best I had seen because he was positive & was selling the University all the time. I would like a coach like that. Sell your football program all the time everywhere you go, know your players names & promote promote promote, the University needs to help

Not nearly enough folks, even Akron natives, are aware of the length and the depth of Akron Soccer. In short, not many know all the soccer things contained in Stu Parry's head. Soccer is part of Akron community, even beyond our proud Zips program. And we Zips fans are So. Very. Proud. But truly, our soccer roots trace way back, before WWI, maybe earlier. That rich lineage is vibrant and healthy today in NEO. Soccer is not new here. This is not a revolution; this is a renaissance. Someday this history must be told.

My contact at UTC (well-placed but with little sports knowledge) says that this isn't a done deal or even a deal at this point. As for their message board, I think they are being typical southern football fans who want Alabama-style success or a head on a platter.

Less than 2 hours. #JourneyToThe2ndStar

How about some Win for Akron!

The Zips new athletics motto under the the zipsoutsider administration- "Aim Low." "Accept mediocrity" was already taken.

With all the anger you have, I just don't understand how a 4 win team that could not compete in the MAC and was frequently unwatchable gets a full pass from you. I have stated TB did some good things and took over a terrible program. After 7 years, the fact is he wins 40% of his games and only wins about 1 out of 3 against FBS teams. Next year looked like more of the same. Why are you not upset about that? Why are you not upset that we never had a running game, never had a back up QB ready to step in, never had any depth on the offensive line, never recruited well, etc. We all want the Zips to do well and we can disagree about how they need to move forward but you have a level of venom for other Zips fans that should be reserved for PCCC.

Now it’s the AD’s job to “advocate changes in the way the MAC does things”....which MAC AD do you know of that has done so? He could have knee-jerked o the women’s soccer coach after the last two seasons but didn’t...and this season the program turned it around and made the MAC tournament. Swimming and diving have thrived and have won 5 straight MACs, nationally ranked, and can recruit globally, and he supports that program. Track and field has only gotten stronger since his arrival, and another case of global recruitment. 3 of the last 4 College Cup final fours.....yeah, nothing really notable. I know you hate that Bowden’s gone, but lashing out to try to blame others is not the answer....

PLEASE ... stop the constant injuries excuses!!! You honestly don’t think there’s reasons within Bowden’s control that led to his dismissal? What blind loyalty, but terribly misguided...

Which deal? I'm with Florida AD, Scott Stricklin, who said “People are going to say things when they don't know what they're talking about and that's what happening there."

I envy you guys and gals out there, but someone has to stay here and keep the bar open at the JAR Watch party! I can't believe the excitement level I'm feeling with just 3 plus hours left. In 2010 it was excruciating nerves, but tonight it just seems like excitement....not over-confidence. I just feel good about the level these guys have been at ever since the power-outage match didn't happen. It's been so positive, so disciplined, so....Zips! Fknbuflobo and I will be sat the JAR (won't we?) and I just watched the Browns win a big one, so bring it home, Boys, and bring it home ZN posters....we'll be waiting when you return, with the Cup!

I am glad that to see that Stu Parry is mentioned in this article. Stu Parry is a gigantic reason that soccer has been so important for this university. Thank you, Stu Parry. When the history of Akron soccer is written (Soon, please.....hint, hint....to our most knowledgeable frequent poster !!!), Stu Parry will merit many chapters.

#MACaction Ahem. Cough. En Route to 4th Ever NCAA Title Match? That 1986 squad was also unseeded.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/12/09/darlington-nagbe-wanted-provide-atlanta-united-fans-heartbreak-fix nice video....with Darlington being his super nice self...and his young kids being cute

Let me say first that I am not a big soccer fan. Even from that perspective, the NCAA men's soccer final deserves better than ESPNU. Instead, on ESPN and ESPN2, we get something called "Bowl Mania" and a repeat of last night's boxing card. Awful. The men's lacrosse final gets more attention.

Seems like their board is hoping he takes the job & our board is hoping he doesn’t. Doesnt make you feel warm & fuzzy about Arth

I’m just curious, are you really a Zips fan? What is your tie? mine is obvious in my name, I am a 1994 Akron grad. You seem like your just a Bowden fan, your name is Zipoutsider. Like it or not the Zips are in the College Cup National Championship under is helm rather he had anything to do with it or not it goes on resume.T&F doing well, swimming & diving doing well, all on his watch, Groce hire seems pretty strong & he will be better next year when all transfers & his recruits are all in. I dont want any personal info just what brought you here, you are so negative & thought I remember you saying in a post you only had one more year to watch this football program.

I suggest going to WIll Call. I think the Akron staff will be handling our tickets there. They may have extras to sell. They also have the wrist bands that get you into the Akron section and may be able to provide you one even if you have to buy a ticket from the event staff or if you already bought one online. See you tonight! Go Zips!!!

Well said. I would only add ... UCSB deserves better [from the NCAA], too. They are GREAT HOSTS. Many THANKS to them!!!

Any candidate Akron hires is going to have something about them will create some worry. All the guys who check all the boxes already have jobs at the big time programs. Personally, like you I'm going into it with an open mind and will support whoever we get.

He claims to be an Akron fan, but is afraid to actually see the team succeed

Nagbe is MLS champion for 2nd time in 4 years.

He has no accomplishments po lishments as far as I can see. I 100% agree with @UAZipster...WilWilliam's is all about himself.

You always beat me to the punch. Damn it!

I know everyone’s attention is in California, but kickoff just started the MLS Cup, with two Zips facing off against each other....Darlington and Zarek....anyone else watching?

Yes, absolutely. No chance it will sell out. Tickets are $25 + $1 service fee if bought in advance (print at home). (There is also a will-call option but I do not recommend it.) You can also buy tickets at the venue. Seats are general admission. (The ticketing system will show something like BLU9, but it doesn't mean anything.) Here is the link: https://www.ncaa.com/tickets/soccer-men/d1 Hope to see you there!

Thanks. We turned the penn state match on when we were up 2 matches to none and we ended up winning 4-2. He loved it cheering loud “zip go the zippers, da, da, da, zip go the zippers”! I had to record him as it was hilarious how into it he was.

They don’t deserve another opportunity unless they pay full price; otherwise they can take the corn cob and....

My point exactly. I feel this decision was made more towards personal gain than the University's and program's best interests in mind.

And no one is talking about being National Champions, it’s not possible as set up now, you can’t get in final 4. LW doesn’t want to fire a whole stuff during the holidays. It just needed done. I’m sure he knows things none of us know. Let’s just compete for MAC championships first. And before you say it, we didn’t compete.

TB did win the East and get a us a bowl victory. It was a fun season and he was probably the best available coach we could have hired to follow Ianello. But taking an close look at the past Zips DI coaches, TB's legacy is being greatly over-hyped by some on this site that did not like his firing. Gerry Faust and JD Brookhart both had better records than TB at Akron. JD won .417 of his games and Gerry .447 to TB's .402. Gerry did it while taking us from DI-AA OVC to DI-A Independent to the MAC which may not have been as bad as following Ianello, but was not an easy road. Gerry also did not get a free win against a DI-AA opponent every year as he played an 11 game season. Lee Owens did not get the free win either for the first part of his tenure. The yearly stomping of Howard, Morgan State, etc. inflate TB's winning percentage from .350 to .402. GF (.438), LO (.432) and JD (.458) all had better MAC records than TB (.411). All the prior coaches also played in an era where a 7-5 team did not get a bowl bid. If you wish TB was still here I get it, but please be honest that you are arguing to keep a coach that won 35% of his games against FBS opponents.

Wouldn't the definition of insanity have been to keep Bowden and expect a different outcome next year from the past 7 years?

I’m not trying to be a D***, but do you hear some of you guys? If you struggle in life do you just give up & say I guess this is how I’m destined to live? No, I believe you keep picking yourself off the floor until you succeed. Sorry but some of you sound miserable.

Very new to this soccer thing but my observation: this is what a culture and tradition gets a team and a school. Like the Dukes and Gonzagas in BB, when the Zips are in the tourney the magic happens and can never be counted out even if the regular season was nothing special. A culture like this takes a generation to develop. It's an intangible, a confidence that every Akron Zip soccer player must have when he walks on the field. I'm sure our AD is thinking about that while he looks for our new "football" coach. I know budgets, recruiting, available scholarships are part of the mix. But this is a world class program right in the heart of our city.

A little "Blue and Gold" would be great after a goal. I agree there are fewer opportunities for cheer teams, but they can fit a few game action Z-I P-S cheers in. Plus how about some pregame hype rather than watching ESPN2 talking heads on an unrelated show? A game host would help, too. (Is Willy in Santa Barbara?) All I heard was a female voice on the PA after the game thanking us for coming. I don't want to be too critical, but this could be much more of an event with a little more effort. That's how you grow a fan base.

It seems like every year we release a new 3 year plan. How about we actually follow one of these plans through? Personally, I feel the college system is broken and needs to be fixed. All the Ohio public schools are trying to compete with one another to have the nicest facilities which in turn drives up the costs which in turn makes it so more people can't afford college. If the public schools actually worked together we could drive down costs making it so more people could afford it. Akron and Kent are separated by 12 miles. It doesn't make sense for both to have engineering & liberal arts programs. Akron does engineering better. We should focus our attention and resources on that. Kent State does liberal arts better. They should focus their resources on that. By doing this NEO both universities could shed costs while also improving what they're best at already. I'm sure there are other programs that can be divvied up one way or another. I just used this as a quick example.

A user on the FCS message board AnyGivenSaturday.com is reporting that Arth has accepted the position, for whatever that's worth. As good as any other source we've had in this coaching search.

Bro, nobody was really discussing anyone 20 hours ago.