zippy-claws

To @TennZip and @Zip_ME87, or anyone else for that matter, when these players play for an academy team like the Crew or IMG or one of the other MLS team's academies, are their matches against other academy teams, and does anyone attend their matches? I'm sure the caliber of play is very high, but didn't know if the "experience" was the same as if they had played for a HS team? Just curious.

After watching the Zips destroy this team before, I was counting on a laugher, but after seeing their results vs. WMU I'm intrigued.

If the MAC were to drop men's soccer, yes, the Zips would be free to participate in another conference for that sport. The Big10 might be the best fit, as they only have 9 teams playing mens soccer. WVU played in the MAC when their conference didn't offer soccer, and waaaay back Kentucky was part of the MAC when the SEC did not offer soccer. And we are competitive with the Big10 year after year...

As what?

And their pitch isn't exactly great either, if I recall....didn't we lose a MAC Championship match there in a virtual mud pit a few seasons ago?

Was Pittsburgh ranked when they came here a few years ago? Can't recall....

TennZip, I was very nicely surprised to see the women's result from NIU, a very nice win on the road! And I fully acknowledged the roster was not the blame of the new staff. And as you said, I am giving the new coaching staff a chance. But my first impression of her style of play worried me knowing the game as played in the better MAC schools, and if she is a good coach, she'll realize this at some point and adapt. As far as the previous coach doing "the Zips dirty", who among us, knowing they were going to lose their job, would not be beating the bushes and applying for new positions now, and if offered one, wouldn't take it? I can't see someone saying, "oh gee, get back to me with that offer in three months when I get fired from my current job." Bird in the hand, as they say....

While the men were away, I decided to go watch the women vs. BGSU. OMG! They are absolutely, stunningly terrible! You can blame the old coach for the talent-less roster and rightly so, but the new D3 Coaching staff doesn't seem to have a clue how to play MAC soccer, which truth be told is more of a D2 level than D1. I know, give them a chance, but won't be wasting 2 and 1/2 hours on this anymore this season.

Does the MAC have restrictions against this type of match-up? Can anyone tell me of any other MAC schools who have scheduled a MAC opponent that the result doesn't count in the MAC standings, say for the last 20 to 25 years? Just curious if this has been done before?

Agree Clark. Hubby and I at the game and when the punt debacle occurred, we both said, "Last two seasons this game would be over." And we were proud the way the Zips came back and made a game of it. Like you said, they kept fighting, kept trying to find a way to win. Small victories, indeed.

Do yourselves a favor....go to GoZips.com and click on the Menu tab, and pick "staff directory". Go down to "Communications and Marketing". Three people total. And rumor has it one of those three is not actually working, just sitting home collecting a check due to being let go. Go to a D2 college website and check out their Comm and Marketing staffs. Guaranteed triple that number. Or go look at any MAC school's staff, at least 8 to 10 admins, plus Grad students. Then, throw in the fact that new management at the U decided to not use PEG to produce and manage football "game day experience", you will see why there will not be "creative things to do" during the agreed-terribly long time out breaks....New Admin has been hitting home runs with coaching hires, but losing the game admininstratively, IMHO.

Went to Opening Day for softball on Saturday. Anyone know why Megan Pettipeace is not coaching? Did she get fired? They announced the two assistants as the coaching staff, and MP wasn't there....

Just playing around while watching TV, I see the baseball schedule is posted! The usual home MAC Friday - Saturday (DH) - Sunday series, and a few games with Malone and BW. One interesting note - they're scheduled to play Georgia Tech on a Monday night in May at Canal Park.

The game-day experience is a very scripted one. It's a production, and what Kennedy says and when he says it is all laid out ahead of time by Marketing or the PEG people, and the timing includes not just him, but the dance team, when the band plays and doesn't, when graphics are displayed on the Jumbotron, so not all his "fault".

I just saw that Van Shyka, from Stow HS, is now going to YSU. "The lineman formerly known as Van Shyjka changed his last name to Keen on his 18th birthday in honor of his stepfather. Keen originally committed to play at the University of Akron, but had his scholarship offer pulled when the Zips coaching staff changed. "Once the things happened with Akron, I figured I'd go with YSU there was a relationship I had with them since my sophomore year," Keen said. "There were the first programs to show interest in me." Seems like a nice kid, was never sure he was D1 though.

Thanks everyone for the appreciated effort y'all are making by including schools of prospective transfers and signees, I really do appreciate it! @LZIp @94zipgrad, @Captain Kangaroo

I've started to have a sneaking feeling that "John Ward" is a different screen name for "DRE22"

I enjoy you all posting the "I am thankful" tweets, but i am an old lady that does not tweet, so I don't know these players from Adam. when you post one, would you mind giving a little more info on the individual, like HS or College he's curently with or leaving? Thanks!

A corrupt High School hosts two college teams that nobody gives two 💩 about, on Sunday…the epitome of 🥱

Kinda like our Tart Cherry Bowl attendance??

Wow….I guess all our purests who didn’t want Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State in the MAC may be right…they’re both too good for the MAC!

I need some “educating, please. Who schedules the non-conference teams/games? The AD? Does Coach Groce? A collaboration of both? And how far out (years) are they scheduled? Thanks in advance for your expertise.

Holding HIS party at ICS is one thing. What did the U do for getting Zip fans involved, or even to the ceremonies? Tickets?, a bus down and back? A watch party?? The majority of fans, non-well-heeled fans, non-administrators, non-insiders, who weren't invited to HIS party were offered absolutely zilch. Oh sure, we got a nifty $3.50 quality tee shirt from Bryant Heating and Cooling at JT's "Day" at Info, but for those who wanted to show support, admiration and appreciation...crickets.

What Coach Joe and others of the G5 coaches can do to improve their teams, in my humble opinion, is figure out a way to convince moderately talented recruits that are being courted by P5 teams that, being here and being a #1 or #2 at your position and playing every game is better than being the #6 through #8 at the big schools at their position, (especially QB!) where their going to run the scouting squad and get their brains handed to them every day by the first team offense in practice, and the chances of them starting, or even playing minimal minutes is non-existent. And I think the transfer portal is proving that, like @94zipgradsaid above, regarding moving down.

My thoughts exactly. But I’m sure Fla a& m travel plans may already be set