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There will be a large pool of Power 4 conference players looking for homes next season when the 28 roster limit is imposed. Many schools have 35-40 players on their roster. There are already a large number of Class of 25 players announcing on social media that their verbal offers have been revoked and they are looking for a new school. It’s likely a safe recruiting pitch to say to them, that they could come to Akron and “heavily contribute” immediately. It would take some financial creativity because Akron will definitely not fund 28 scholarships, but finding enough for 2 or 3 power four level, attacking players would be worth the investment and effort.

From that video it looks like the Pacers players and coaches are starting the appreciate what we had in Enrique. I couldn't be happier for the kid.

The timing of our current coach being hired needs to be considered as part of her recruiting problem. She was hired late summer with no staff and not enough players to field a team regardless as to the quality of the players. My layman's memory- with no inside information- is that she only had 16 players including goalies. I believe she hustled to find 4 additional players in the two weeks of training she had before the season started. I do not believe any of those players are on this season's roster. Given that most good players commit before the start of their last year of high school meant that she was already behind for the recruiting of 2023 freshmen. The freshmen on this year's squad represent the first year on which she should be judged. Many are starting and/or providing major minutes. The publicly announced commits for the 2025 class are all three star rated players by Top Drawer Soccer- consistent with those of other MAC schools. I agree that next year is the time to make an assessment of her recruiting ability. She does need to get some goals- I'll bet she knows that!

Back up North, and visited First Energy Wednesday night for the Men's big win, and it was glorious, although there are many empty seats where past neighboring season ticket holders used to be. Don't know if they're not using them, or didn't renew. Anyway, last night went to Dix Stadium and watched the Women Zips play Kent State. Boy, do the Zips Defense play rugged, tough football, and the keeper is pretty brave, facing lots of shots. Unfortunately, no goals, and we know you can't win if you don't score. 9 MAC matches, 7 scoreless losses. 3 total goals scored, and 1 was a penalty kick. If they could only find a scorer or 2, they would be in the thick of things with this Defense. Their style of play is too cautious, and they don't press forward. I read the comments on the Men's team, and the criticisms of their coaching decisions earlier this season, but the style of the Women's offense isn't questioned. It never changes to meet the conditions of the game. I want them to succeed so badly, but there doesn't seem to be a strategy. No playoffs again, for the 13th straight season.

We should do a football promo: If the Zips football team cannot beat a division one team, you get a full refund on your season ticket price.

One of my brothers is a physician in NE Ohio. He says Akron nurses are the best in the region by far.

Agreed. The difference for me is that my expectations for the Men's team are high because of their history...championships are expected from them. I don't expect them to go undefeated, but to have gone since 2018 without an NCAA Tourney win is repugnant. I believe in our players. The talent and chemistry are there as we've seen in this current winning streak, but anything short of an NCAA Tourney berth and late November games is not the standard and should not be acceptable at Akron. Unfortunately, not so with the Women's team. I agree with your comments and am equally frustrated with the seeming lack of strategy. I've been patient knowing this is Jen's 3rd season, and she really only has had 2 seasons to recruit. Next season, her 3rd year recruiting, is when I expect to see results.

Speaking of IUP, I casually follow them because all my relatives are from Indiana, PA. A significant number of good players and coaches have come out of that area. Cignetti is only one. Getsy was there for a while and moved up. The head guy now is Paul Torterella. Has IUP a consistent contender in the PSAC which is a tough DII conference. He has been HC since 2017. He has a nice situation at IUP. But a guy like that might be willing to take a shot at a lower level DI program if presented with the opportunity. Speaking of DII, a guy by the name of Brian Kelly did OK up in Michigan before moving on and up. Whether Moorehead leaves voluntarily or otherwise, Akron has to finally look at someone who can bring some discipline and recruiting ability to the program. Lets see what happens with the last few games.

Quite the promo.

Saturday, November 9th. Home tournament game! Nothing better than November akron soccer

The power four conferences are required to fund up to the roster limits for all sports due to the NCAA lawsuit agreement. I can’t see a world where Akron can do that, remembering that Title IX still exists. 28 for men’s soccer means 28 for women’s soccer. This will greatly impact the ability to recruit against these schools. When every school was 9.9, you had a chance against big schools. Now it’s full ride in ACC, Big 10, Big 12 and SEC, which includes men’s soccer schools UCF (Big 12), Kentucky,(SEC) South Carolina (SEC) West Virginia (Big 12), and any other soccer school (Portland, James Madison, WMU, St Louis, etc) willing to invest. I guess Akron could possibly go to 12 or 15 and then cobble together depth players. I would also guess that some of the Akron players that were recruited by big conference schools prior to this, can hit the portal looking for a better financial deal. This, coupled with MLS Next Pro deals for 15 and 16 year olds, will be quite a challenge.

FCS schools are still tehnically classified as division one. I wouldn't want to see you lose out on your refund due to a loophole.

He's a Kent guy, not trusting that

Z.I.P. has a good post .... I certainly did not understand the process of how the Hermann Trophy winner is selected. Emil sadly was not on the pre season watch list https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/2024-mens-hermann-trophy-watch-list-announced/ here is a good article about the selection process Sadly, the Akron soccer SID Sean Palchick did not energize the Akron Fans to nominate Emil. https://www.machermanntrophy.org/selection Timeline Mid-August – Men’s and women’s Preseason Watch list is released (Approximately the top 40 males and top 40 female Division I college soccer players from the previous season) Early October – The “Candidates We Missed” campaign. College SIDs can energize their fans to nominate a player who did not make the Preseason Watch List to make the ballot in November. Mid November – The semifinalists (top 15 men and top 15 women) are announced. The voting of Division I coaches begins. Mid December – Top three women’s finalists announced at NCAA Women’s College Cup; Top three men’s finalists announced at NCAA Men’s College Cup. Early January - The men’s and women’s winners are announced at press conference and honored at MAC Awards Banquet. I sure hope that Sean Palchick is very active in mid November.......in making the various Division 1 coaches aware of why Emil should be the Hermann Trophy winner Near the end of the collegiate regular season, 15 players whom the committee considers the best in Division I soccer are announced as semifinalists for the award. That list is then voted on through an online voting process by men's and women's Division I soccer coaches whose teams are current NSCAA College Services members.

Two years ago Creighton's Forward Duncan McGuire won the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy. With Jaaskelainen being head-and-shoulders ahead of anyone else for Big East POY, I would expect him to receive support from within the conference. Hopefully the UA athletic department will/can work with the Big East to help promote our conference's candidate.

Sublime!

Gaulmin's pass on the 3rd goal was expertly weighted and executed. That's the kind of pass that can be the difference in a game. Hopefully many more of those to come!

Game ball for his first NBA points.

A Big East Champs banner would look nice.

Or Curt Cignetti at Indiana. He started at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Elon before getting a larger job at James Madison.

If they played South Carolina, Ohio State and Rutgers to begin the season, and dealt with all the budget cut related issues we have I doubt they would have 6…5…or 4 wins. They are maybe 1/10 of a notch better than Akron, but with a table much better set for success.

It is. It's also completely real. Most people in the United States should expect their career and income to decline after 50. It's why people who delay retirement savings until after their kids leave the house will never able to retire. In addition to not be able to take advantage of compound interest, their incomes decline so they can't save as much. Most countries revere and hold up older generations as sources of wisdom. The United States discards older people. It's gross.