UAZipster0305

Yep. So much for the beautiful game. But when we're so out of sync that we can't possess the ball and move it through the midfield, what's left? Now our defense is looking terrible up the middle. I don't know what's going on.

I thought the exact same thing. Everything about this game is flat! Yet there are 2100 fans there, and the announcer calls it a "great crowd"?

I spoke too soon. Big save by Meves. I thought we were done for sure.

And even as poorly as we're playing, I still feel like we are the better team. Charlotte scored on their only chance of the game. Soccer can be insanely frustrating or beautiful in that regard. Depends on which side you're on.

We are playing poorly, but one goal changes the entire dynamic of this game.

The corner kicks have been garbage. We play short to draw the defense out but then don't even end up getting the ball across. We've wasted about three of those now.

+1.

We're doing great holding possession in our defensive third but lose the ball in midfield and up top. Charlotte seems content packing it in defensively and not pushing forward. I feel we got robbed on the goal being called back, but without replay, we'll never know.

We look really flat. We aren't playing dominant soccer. Down 1-0. Mattocks and Holmes need to step up. Without their spark, we are in trouble.

How many goosebumps will you have if we lose to two bcs teams next year and our ooc foe, in say the first three weeks of the season next year? Short term, Faust sold tickets for UofA. Short term, Tressel will sell tickets. Long term? How fast will people turn on Tressel if the team goes 3-9 next year? I would still support him. 3-9 is a definite improvement over 1-11 and 0-11. And I would expect an improvement in the number of wins in subsequent seasons as well.

Tressel was in Tommy Evans Lounge yesterday, spotted by several people. This is Tressel's job if he wants it. He's been to several athletic events this year including the Zips soccer game against OSUcks. Who knows if he'll accept, but we should get everyone in this community behind a Tressel hire. Spread the word that Akron wants him. Put some pressure on him to say "yes" Maybe he was here talking up his man Fickell. Maybe not. That's not something that needs to be done in person.

Let's be honest, the only hire that is going to breathe life into the program for next season (or the next few) via a good recruiting class and enthusiasm from fans and alumni is Jim Tressel. He also brings potential stability in that he's been there and done that at a big name school and may just want to settle down somewhere for the remainder of his career. Are others capable? Sure, but it would likely take years for someone else to do it, and then they'd probably be skipping out of town for greener pastures as soon as the program has recovered. (I know, great problem to have, right?) You know, five years from now, we may look back at the iCoach era and be thankful because it allowed the stars to align for Tressel to be brought in. In other words, iCoach provided a buffer until Tressel was available. Time will tell. Given the current state of conference realignments, you have to realize that the window for moving to a bigger/better conference is potentially limited to the next five years. We're a good football program and a basketball arena from making that transition. LP and TW are no doubt aware of this. The stakes for the hire couldn't be higher.

We were 1-22, Keener! And +1 about the beat-down by Can't being so convincing and worthy of sympathy that the Can't fans didn't even feel the need to gloat. That's when you know we've hit rock bottom.

Zach, you were on the money back then, from the get-go. Funny how many other 'experts' here had the blinders on and were filled with false-optimism. There were people who knew this was a bogus hire right off the bat and called a spade a spade. Others, it took two insufferable years to reach that conclusion. Some of us documented here that Ianello was so obviously NOT the needed leader Proenza had to have to lift this program to new heights. I, like others, questioned TW's motives and credentials to make such a ridiculous hire. How either guy got past the roadblocks at Buchtel Hall is a real mystery. The entire process deserves an investigation. As has been pointed out, TW was not even in the AD Search Committee's top three picks, but Proenza overrode their choices and gambled with TW. Luis has no doubt been kicking himself every day since for the trail of failure that decision initiated. I was against iCoach since the third or so game of last season. His treatment of currently (at the time) rostered players was ominous. I'm confident my posts from the time reflect this.

You mean 1-22.

+1. My dissatisfaction with iCoach is purely professional. I wish him the best during this difficult personal time.

Rutgers wins on PKs. What is the NIU score?

Dear iCoach, Being down 27-3 with :03 left in the first half and Buffalo in position to kick a 20ish yard field goal and taking two consecutive time outs to "ice" the kicker is not what I had in mind when I wanted you to be more competitive. Thanks, trimmy10

More like making us look like the '07 Dolphins. And this is coming from a Miami Dolphins fan.

14-0. It's so comforting to know that we have a process in place.

Down 7-0 :19 into the game. With our offense, this is likely enough for the game to already be over. If we can't beat EMU and Buffalo, what D-I program can we expect to beat?

After MSU's win over Top-25 Texas A&M, the Zips are now ranked #4 in the RPI. And check out the Top-10: 3. OSU 4. Akron 5. Cleveland State 7. Can't State http://www.realtimerpi.com/rpi_Men.html Let's hope it stays this way! Great for NEO especially in the vacuum of the NBA.

The comments are hysterical. Physical game and then Mustangs speed takes over ? I wouldn't talk smack about our defense when their GA is about twice what ours is. Sounds like they are trying to convince themselves about a win. This season, the only time the defense has looked vulnerable is in the last ten minutes of the game or in OTs when we've lost or tied.

We just beat and dominated the Big Ten Champions because we played to our potential!!! And we have a coach who knows how to make adjustments!

Are you at the game? Wondering how the attendance is.. Watching online, but looks relatively sparse.