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Just a reminder to ZipsNation to please keep Diogo Pacheco in your thoughts and prayers. He will be undergoing his radiation treatments while back in Portugal before returning to UA this month. I hope all goes well.

WKYC's Jim Donovan reported (Wednesday evening) that Tom Lombardo (St Eds) was considering an offer to be coach Arth’s OC. Jim repeated Akron's new mantra about the commitment to recruit neo.

Marty Bezbatchenko (1976 Akron QB, Tallmadge, OH) is Tim Bezbatchenko's uncle. Tim's grandmother was a UA professor and is a current season ticket holder for Zips Men's Soccer, Men's Basketball, and Football (I believe). Another uncle of Tim's is a Zips Men's Soccer and Men's Basketball season ticket holder. I sat with both of these great Zips fans at the College Cup in December just like at First Energy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field...felt like a home game. With Captain Wil Trapp, Head Coach Caleb Porter, Assistant coach Pablo Moreira, and President Tim Bezbatchencko, the 2019 Columbus Crew has significant ties to UA. --- the reason I started this thread.

I'm so thirsty for some news. Recruiting, coaching staff, anything....................

I really, really like the idea of adding a prominent NEO high school HC to the staff, especially for recruiting purposes. When a sports team or program makes a personnel move, whether it be coaching or player, it's always good to take a step back and look at the big picture - what is the plan here? i.e. The Indians bringing back Carlos Santana has to do some with contract/age, but a lot to do with patience at the plate and rebuilding a patient lineup. Williams identified a problem - lack of NEO recruiting - and is putting together a plan to solve it. I guarantee Arth has had dreams since his days at JCU of recruiting NEO at the DI level, especially with Akron's facilities. This area is ripe with talent, and it's a bout damn time we started targeting it. Heck, even the soccer program has recruited NEO more than the football program - and the soccer program is a destination/desirable landing spot for worldwide.

Darlington gets an "A" from the Atlanta soccer blog https://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/2019/1/2/18150532/atlanta-united-final-exams-darlington-nagbe

I have NO idea what you all are talking about? Who is the guy in the hoody? Who is the guy from Samoa?

Steve's suggestion would never work. It makes too much sense. But I applaud him for thinking creatively and coming up with a novel solution. Wish I was smart enough to think of it.

After 16 years, mediocre talent isn't an excuse; it's a flaw. I have nothing against Steve, and am thankful WMU has kept him around for so long as to guarantee their ceiling is beatable by the Zips. Just incredible that he has been with WMU for 16 years.

As a full member of the MAC, I don't believe Akron can pull out of the conference for a sponsored sport. The MAC would have to drop Men's Soccer first. Steve1982's solution is interesting if both conferences would be open to it.

The fact that Terry Pluto is excited about Arth is perhaps the most concerning thing to come out of this whole coaching change.

Tyrell might see the move from Hoban to a MAC school as beneath him. Can't say I disagree.

Should have made my post clearer. I meant akron beating northwestern was our greatest. Maybe would have been debatable at the time, but looking at end of season results I don’t think it’s debatable.