UAZipster0305

Seremba is speedy and attacks directly, but very often loses the ball. He is effectively used as is. I agree with Embick bringing him off the bench to give the game a different flavor and the player consistent but not overwhelming experience.

Respectfully, Z.I.P., I do not think you have seen this team play. Embick was hired to continue Porter's attacking, possession style of soccer. Even with the continuity and talent, it is not there (especially the attacking part). See my above post. I will continue to support the team and Embick, but as a fan, I believe I am being fairly objective in my assessment. To sell recruits, fans, and administration on the new regime, the play on the field MUST improve.

All good points by others. I was at both the VCU and OSU games. Here's my take: 1) GA tickets for VCU were $10 but they were $15 for OSU. Don't be surprised if this difference in ticket price contributed (in part) to a lower attendance figure than prior OSU games. Operating on a supply-demand curve to maximize revenue is good business but terrible for building or maintaining a fan base, especially during a transition period. 2) The enthusiasm of the crowd reflected the excitement of the play on the field. The Zips started off strong with possession and chances on goal throughout the first half (except a ten minute stretch near halftime that OSU dominated), and the crowd was vocal and involved. The second half was completely different. The Zips were content to have possession by moving the ball across the back four, into the center midfielders, then back again. It is what every American non-soccer fan uses as an excuse to bash soccer. It was lethargic, boring, and not purposeful. Other than one particular chance on goal by the Zips and warding off the OSU attack at the end, the crowd was dead and rightfully so. 3) At times, the Zips and OSU played soccer like two basketball teams: content with setting up the half court offense. OSU did not have the talent to possess the ball for long stretches and often could not get the offense set up, but they had no opportunities for or interest in counter-attacking. OSU wanted a magical goal like VCU got. The Zips on the other hand had several opportunities to counter-attack and were either hesitant or uninterested and content with the 1-0 score. There was lots of possession play in our offensive half and especially on the perimeter away from goal. Let's hope this type of play does not continue because a shot clock would ruin the game of soccer. 4) The possession was not effective as what we are typically used to because the team's shape was poor (especially in the second half) and the passing was relatively short and often imprecise. Good player spacing and intermittent, accurate longer balls open up the field for attacking runs. Longer balls and attacking runs were non-existent. Passes were short and in tight space resulting in few or no lanes to shoot and often, loss of possession. 5) This was not the exciting purposeful, attacking, possession soccer that Porter branded. At times, the possession was there, but this team expects to walk the ball into the goal. The only stretch where there was some hungry attacking, OSU were chasing the ball and very disorganized. We scored. However, that type of play only accounted for 1 of 4 halves that I have seen. I am still very much a supporter, but if Embick cannot maintain Porter's style, why is he here? Embick does not have to be Porter in character or personality, but he was hired to maintain the style and quality of play. So far, it is not there. 6) Brenes does not have the attacking drive of Zakuani, Bunbury, or Mattocks. Though he is a respectable goal scorer, Brenes does not have the pace to stretch the defense and does not make the slashing runs that the others did. He does not look to score every time he touches the ball like a determined striker does. Instead, he is often content playing the team game by making passes to assist teammates. In this sense, he plays more like Nagbe. Both have the potential to assist as often as they score; however, Brenes does not have a goal scoring partner. Scottie Pippen with no Michael Jordan. 6) The positive: we won and have a respectable record along with significant clout in the national polls. We have done this without several starters due to injury. Also, except the lack of a go-to goal scorer, all the issues are correctable with coaching and practice. AND there is not a clearly superior team(s) in the country this year. Indiana won the National Championship last year with a lack-luster record and regular season. The team needs to keep this in mind. The overall talent is there. 7) Prediction: Without improvement, we get beat in a few more crucial games by a team content with packing it in defensively and getting a break as VCU did. (The upcoming game at WVU is going to be tough.) OR the team stays healthy with Brenes carrying the goal scoring burden but a few of the midfielders sporadically pick up some of the slack and the Zips again win the MAC regular season, MACC, and a game or two in the NCAA Tournament.

I agree. However, like DiG points out, it comes down to heart. Imagine falling from a prospective 1st round NBA pick to being cut by a second rate European team without even playing. And it is not like any of this is due to injury as may be the common case. Can you imagine the blow to one's ego? That is a lot for the most head strong person and it seems this is one of Zeke's biggest limiting factors. I hope he can get things turned around. Could Zeke's body language and overall professionalism be telling scouts and coaches that he's not into it? I find it hard to believe that his talent and play is not sufficient to at least play in Europe.

Confidence and positive energy are extremely important...I think we keep it rollin'...34-28 Zips.

The rankings you cite are subjective and rely on recruit rankings and numbers, which have no direct bearing on on-field performance. Besides, how many times have we seen a Big Ten recruit downgraded when he signs with a MAC school? If you want a more objective comparison, use the Sagarin rankings: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/2013/team/ Sagarin suggests there is significant overlap in quality between the Big Ten and the MAC. I agree. #15 OSU #16 Wisconsin #27 Michigan #35 Penn State #36 Northwestern #40 Nebraska #45 Michigan State #55 Indiana #57 Northern Illinois #59 Illinois #61 Iowa #65 Minnesota #67 Toledo #72 Bowling Green #84 Ball State #85 Ohio #93 Purdue #111 Can't #116 Buffalo #139 Western Michigan #140 Akron #142 Central Michigan #161 Miami #168 Eastern Michigan #176 UMass

I like the Zipper on the helmet. It visually explains what "Zips" refers to, which is something half of our own alumni probably don't even know. I liked the concept and generally how it was execute. Others on here have made a few subtle suggestions (i.e. the underlying color) that I agree with. Without any prior knowledge of the change, my dad noticed the zipper on the helmet from TV and thought it was pretty cool.

I don't usually comment much about officiating, but in this game, I think they were extremely biased and it unfavorably influenced the outcome of the game for the Zips. Instead of complaining or going through all the specifics, I'll simply ask, how do Big Ten officials end up working an OOC game that a Big Ten team is hosting? I didn't think this ever happened, and isn't it a conflict of interest? That is precisely why third party officials are utlized for bowl games. For future OOC games, I recommend that it be written in the contract that officials from a neutral conference be used.

Does the great showing at Michigan encourage the staff to recruit any players from Michigan who may have otherwise been considered unattainable?

Why would we not want SIU? It is a great rivalry for NIU and they have a strong basketball program. Like I said, they help balance the divisions too. Missouri State and Arkansas State bring little and are poor fits geographically. If not SIU, I would support adding Stony Brook, JMU, and Old Dominion to get the MAC to an even 16 without UMass. UMass needs to join as a full member or be shown the door.

The reason OSU is so vulnerable to criticism of their SOS is the overall weakness of the Big Ten. The OOC schedules are similar for Oregon, OSU, Alabma, etc. regardless of conference. However, OSU may only play one Top 25 team all season whereas members of the PAC-10 and SEC could play 4-6 Top 25 teams. The SEC alone could have 4 Top 10 teams. The disparity has gotten to be so great that I question the Big Ten's right to an automatic BCS birth for its champion. In terms of quality, the Big Ten is comparable to the Big East from about a decade ago when its automatic qualification was first being brought into question. An undefeated OSU team will have a tough case for justifying an opportunity to play for a National Championship in place of any one loss PAC 10 or SEC teams. I look forward to their non-alum fans whining if/when the time comes. No offense, Buckzip. Nothing I said here was intended to draw a response from you.

And rightfully so. Unlike Zips teams of the past decade, this one lacks a go-to goal scorer. Zakuakni, Bunbury, Nagbe, and Mattocks...it's not so much disappointing that we don't have a forward to continue this lineage as it is amazing that Porter was able to always have another player waiting in the queue. Brenes is capable of scoring, but I do not think he is a go-to type guy. Will someone step up or will a current bench player emerge? I honestly don't know. This will be the difference between the Zips just making the NCAA Tournament vs. deeply advancing. Without a scorer, the defense has to be tight. That hasn't been the case thus far this year. Case in point was the VCU game...one chance, one goal, one loss. I expect the defense to progressively gel throughout the rest of the season.

The MAC needs balanced divisions and hence an addition to the West Division. I strongly prefer the addition of Southern Illinois OR Western Kentucky in that order.

Anyone have a free video link for streaming the USMNT WCQ @ Costa Rica?

Good post, CK. I'll chime in... This is a must-win for the Zips and Bowden. If we lose this game, nothing differentiates Bowden from iCoach on paper. Though I can see the improved performance and recruiting under Bowden, and I will support him unconditionally until after his fourth year, we desperately need the W to move the program forward. However, that is not what this game is about. This game is about a loss potentially moving the program backwards when we are already as far back as a D-1 program can get. If we lose, we are not even worthy of a playoff spot in a lower division! Think about that. The UMass game is also a must win because they are only a couple years removed from D-1AA. Prediction: I think we win a close one this weekend and get UMass and The Sweaters for 3 wins. Nonetheless, because it is the MAC (thanks, GP1), another 1-3 wins are possible.

Yes, the schedule featuring Malone as an exhibition after the start of the season is a bit weird. However, I find it to be an improvement over playing a D-III school and counting the W towards the 20-win count. At least this way, it is acknowledged that this is not a real competition because in terms of rules, scholarships, etc. such a program is not on our level. And to be clear, that is not a backhanded insult. It is merely a reality of the hierarchy of divisions. In general, I really like this year's schedule. I can see such a schedule as evidence for the program advancing. Get an NCAA win or two under the belt and we will have achieved everything I dreamed of during the Hipsher era.

We only kicked off to start one half too...progress.

I didn't think the article was balanced at all. It is a puff piece, and the slant is evident from the title. Tressel has a brand that is popular in Ohio. He also has some valuable leadership and communication skills. I think he would be great at recruiting major donations. JT also has my vote for Athletic Director to replace Wistricill. However, Tressel knows nothing about working with faculty or running a University. He also has no knowledge about research. As an alum, I would be embarrassed to have him as President. To me, it would reinforce the idea that sports are the primary focus at UA and that it is a party school. It would undermine the great academic programs and dramatic increase in research productivity that has occurred during Dr. Proenza's tenure.

Anyone have a link to a site that is streaming tonight's Gold Cup matches for free? Please help a fellow Zip in need!

http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index.php...-preseason-poll

There is no way a school like Akron cuts men's soccer, but what if so many Athletic Departments did that those left were no longer enough to provide competition to one another and didn't attract the top players as a feeder system to MLS as is the case now?

Amen. I would list the ZNO annual beer list as a pretty strong recent tradition. Though not a contributor, I am sure there are many envious fan bases.

As people of the older generation say DiG, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades (and to make a generational update, corn hole ). You could probably make the "close" or "potential" argument for most players in the Summer League...that's why they are there. The box score does not lie, and the competition was not full NBA caliber. Zeke was not offensively productive but played good defense...that's an objective conclusion. He's not yet NBA ready, but still has that potential. With hard work and passion, I hope he gets there.

I didn't comment on the draft or Zeke's play in the Summer League. However, I think it is now clear that Zeke would not currently be an offensive threat in the NBA and this greatly diminishes his prospects. His defense is clearly NBA caliber, but how many NBA players typically only contribute at the defensive end of the court? I can think of three: Ben Wallace, Dikembe Mutombo, and Dennis Rodman. These guys were all game changing / All-Star players based on their defensive merits in the NBA. Fair or not, I don't see Zeke getting a legit shot at the NBA until he dominates in Europe for a couple seasons. Good luck to the Big Guy!

I don't know about the rest of the league, but I think we finish above UMass, Buffalo, and Miami. Though we lost just as many games last year, the improvement was tremendous. I expect that to continue this year and think we will end up with 4-6 wins. As GP1 says, it is the MAC and other teams will try to give away a couple wins every season. A disciplined team like the one Coach Bowden is building will be prepared to seize such opportunities. The table will be turned on the "Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory" mantra that we have all become too accustomed.