UAZipster0305

The MLS will likely never be one of the top 4 soccer leagues in the world due to the investment this country puts into the four other major professional sports. However, I could see us growing to be in the top 10 and perhaps even the top 5 soccer leagues in the world behind the EPL, the Bundesliga, La Liga, and Serie A. Best in the hemisphere and top 5 in the world isn't bad for a league that may never be in the top 4 professional sports leagues in this country. Because of this, the MLS Commissioner has a very difficult job.

Demonstrates a really distorted perception of reality too. Pot meet kettle.

Please provide pictures for us out-of-towners when the construction is finalized. Thanks in advance to anyone who obliges.

Is DiG Terry Bradshaw?

+1

I agree, ZtZ. We don't have to submit to OSU because they are the biggest BCS gig in the state. If there is ever a time that their programs are consistently down for a few years, they will lose the casual fans...especially if there is another BCS school doing well. That's just how it works with casual fans. And with all the crap going on now with the football program, this could be one of those times. There was no buzz for OSU football throughout the state with John Cooper at the helm when they'd finish in the top 20 after losing to Michigan and another Big 10 school every year and go to a non-major bowl game. That's why he was fired. He had a season or two in the top 5 and still managed to lose to Michigan. And how many of you would have said that we'd never win a National Championship? Especially given the poor men's soccer seeding in 2005 and the game against Northwestern being moved? I was pissed, but I don't think I said never. Some alumni didn't buy into Coach Porter's plan to get the top recruits to Akron either...and it happened. Cincy being in C-USA before the Big East carries very little weight. C-USA is a mid-major just like the MAC, albeit slightly better but still a mid-major. And Captain, your evaluation of the quality of their basketball program is inflated...they had some good years in the '90s with Nick van Exel and regularly made the Tournament with Huggins in the early and mid part of the last decade. How is that any different than us now? They won a few Tournament games?...Okay maybe, but I feel we are now on the verge of doing that ourselves. And if we do the next two seasons with Zeke, are we comparable? No? Oh, that's right, the arena issue...would the Big East overlook that if it were on the drawing board or there was a timeline to replace the JAR with a downtown arena? I think so. Cleveland is dying for a winner...hence the lingering bitterness about Lebron leaving and fans interest in the Indians when they are barely competitive for a playoff spot. Being competitive in the Big East would give us the Cleveland media market...40 miles away or not. How many times has the argument come up about Akron and Cleveland being contiguous? Although I disagree, the consensus here is that when it comes to the media and sports, Cleveland is Akron-Canton and Akron-Canton is Cleveland. I feel most of the negative arguments about the Big East prospects are due to the stigma of our athletic history as a university and of northeastern Ohio sports in general. Snap out of it. This is hardly the same university any of us went to (and I graduated fairly recently in 2005) thanks to Dr. Proenza. I think we've turned the corner.

Amen, Reverend DiG.

What does Cincy circa 2005 have that we don't? Answer: Medical and pharmacy schools and corresponding large grant money and research, a mediocre football team, and a great basketball arena. Cincinnati is a slightly more-attractive market than Akron-Canton too. Do you not affiliate NEOUCOM with Akron? I would think our lack of a direct Medical and Pharmacy school is pretty low on the list of reasons we'll never get invited to the Big East? Other than the few items I've already mentioned, Cincy circa 2005 had no more to offer than we do now. And no recent National Championship to brag about either. Yes, Cincinnati is more attractive than Akron-Canton, no doubt. But, there is no BCS school in Cleveland making that our territory too. Just as Detroit is part of Michigan's market. The Cleveland-Akron-Canton area is a megalopolis that a BCS conference should be salivating over. It would also take the two population dense diagonal corners of the state on either side of Columbus and make them Big East territory. Natural geographic rivalries with Pitt, WVU, and Cincy should also be obvious. And if you want to talk about stimulating the local economy, think about the fans from those schools who actually travel in mass to follow their schools (unlike most MAC fans) who would make regular trips to Akron. The bars, restaurants, and even potentially the hotels have a lot to gain from this and should be supporting UA in a bid. The lack of medical and pharmacy schools per se is not a big deal, but the NIH and big pharamceutical research dollars that we can't attract without these affiliations is huge. And no, I don't count NEOUCOM...it's in the middle of a corn field with no direct interaction with the hospitals or UA for research. I'm currently a medical student, and my talks with Dr. Proenza lead to the creation of the Bioinnovation Institute, so I know what I'm talking about. While the Bioinnovation Institute is a strong step in the right direction, the medical and pharmacy schools need to be in Akron and part of UA. A Big East committee would also not consider NEOUCOM as part of UA. The Big East for UA isn't as far fetched as most of you think. You had better believe that it is Dr. Proenza's goal (not that he ever told me though).

What does Cincy circa 2005 have that we don't? Answer: Medical and pharmacy schools and corresponding large grant money and research, a mediocre football team, and a great basketball arena.

Isn't he the guy that played Irkel? That was Jalil White I think.

I do more thinking when I'm drinking. I think Rodin's The Thinker has a beer in his hand. Was GP1 a model for this?

The Big 12s days are numbered. Those schools are going to break up and go to other conferences and the Big 12 will go away. 5 16 member BCS conferences is now a real possibility. The key remaining piece is Texas. If they move, the remaining members of the Big 12 have no choice. C-USA is a possibility for us, but I think a 16 member Big East with all members participating in football is more realistic. Our size and growing research profile fit the institutional requirements, our Akron-Canton-Cleveland media market is a good fit, we've had a lot of athletic success on the national level in the past 5 years, and our facilities are great. The only limiting factors are (maybe) the lack of a medical/pharmacy college, success on the football field, and our basketball facility. If there are plans for a future arena, the basketball facility issue could be overlooked. Just remember, UC was not strong in football when they joined and have ever only won 2 national championships 30+ years ago in basketball. We are a much better fit than most of you realize. Look for the Big East to take 5 other schools: UCF, UMass, East Carolina, Memphis, and Akron in that order. And if we don't get the call from the Big East, there will definitely be openings in C-USA, and I have to think we are a front runner for one of those. I have no doubt that the Big East will split based on football though.

Typical. You keep the booze for yourself and share nothing with the rest of us but words. This must be how GP1 maintains His greatness.

I didn't start it this time!

Sheesh! UCLA, #21? They bring in the best new goalkeeper in the country (Earl Edwards), the star of the U17 team (Kelyn Rowe) plus all-everything Victor Chavez and Munoz (sorry for the lack of a tilda), the Real Madrid youth, and they're #21, because they had "limited needs"?? If Jorge Salcedo can't take this team to the Final Four, he can't coach. But he can definitely recruit. Eder Arreola, pre-season Hermann favorite. Maybe they're downgraded (word of the week!) because they failed to get any Akron transfers! Not sure what you mean Z.I.P. Every kid you named except for the transfer was part of last year's recruiting class. They only brought in 3 kids total this year. Which of the following has Z.I.P has been exposed to too many of? A) spiked fruity drinks sun C) radiation from being in front of his computer monitor too much D) all of the above Come get a piece of reality in Ohio at the end of November as part of another NCAA Tourney run. I'd love to see us play UCLA at home then! Check last year's threads...I picked a lot of our great opponents as ideal match-ups including Louisville!

I never did say that. However, the mob here notices only where I defend and not where I agreed. I have said multiple times that Tressel lied and covered up and needed to go. They only noticed the posts where I said the media went overboard. Which, to anyone that listens to facts rather than opinions, knows I am correct on. But hey, because 1 poster says over and over and over and over how dirty OSU is, but can never provide a single bit of proof, I am wrong and he is right. Some of us live in the world of facts and proof and some live in the world of believing what they hope is true. Pretty typical. CK has it nailed when he says they always end the same way. I can still say that I have never, ever started an OSU thread here yet when I respond to others, I am the bad guy. Laughable to be sure. Thanks, BuckZip. I didn't follow every post on this thread. I read the initial few after asking for your opinion. My apologies if it was given at some point and I missed it. Again, I am not going to perpetuate this insanity.

Misinformation about injuries will not be tolerated. It's for hacks. That was sarcastic.

While I could choose to respond to the above post, I am not going to perpetuate this any further. I am done.

Sounds like he's going to put the Alabama equivalent of ZNO out of business. What's the fun of a message board if it isn't all about speculation and rumors? By the way, I heard the next program to be added at UA is men's tennis in 2014, and we are to have indoor and outdoor co-ed tennis facilities on campus before then.

Good for him. I love to hear about our student-athletes graduating.

So in light of his responses on the topic, what is your opinion? You knew...EVERYONE knew how BuckZip would respond the the topic. "Zips fans are jealous...Ohio State didn't do anything wrong, etc, etc etc." But worst of all, everyone KNOWS the guy never lets it die. Hence the enless "I know you are but what am I?" Pee Wee Herman responses above. If you are taken aback by my mention of your posts, you have my apology. I meant nothing personal. But asking for BuckZip for perspective on an OSU/Akron issue? Why? Why would he respond any differently than any other similar thread over the past 15 years? It always turns out this way. My opinion is that BuckZip should just say tOSU is guilty as hell and so far the NCAA has gone light on them. Anything less than USC-level punishment is because of the power, prestige, and influence that they wield. All the other defenses of personal attacks from other board members should be let go and we should stop attacking his love for tOSU. Some things will never change, and that's one of them. Why would he respond differently? Because unlike every other debate that can't be settled on the field between the two schools, this situation is as cut and dry as it gets. There is no way Tressel/tOSU are in the right (or anywhere near it) on this one. If BuckZip can't admit that here and now, he never will and has zero credibility. Hence, it is not worth my effort to debate anything he says in the future. For all the OSU gear that is worn on campus and all the MAC Conference alumni who don't support our schools but cheer for OSU instead, it would be a small consolation to hear a hybrid alumni member at least be objective and say tOSU is wrong. And that's not a personal attack on BuckZip.

Believe it or not, I didn't intend to stir a shit storm. I truly wanted to know what BuckZip's perspective was on this. I was wondering whether BuckZip could be objective about tOSU in light of all the undeniable evidence of Tressel's problems or be the typical brain-washed apologetic OSU fan. If objective, he earned my respect. If not, I could tune out every past, current, and future comment he makes about tOSU, especially when the topic involves tOSU's relation to UA. BTW, thanks for calling me out as a trouble-maker, CK...your reference is quite over the top. If it was made in typical CK sarcasm, kudos. I didn't do anything to perpetuate the OSU hatefest beyond my original inquiry to hear BuckZip's perspective. The only topic I have been consistently negative about on ZipsNation is iCoach. I've said my peace on the subject, and am hoping (but not expecting) to eat crow. Go Zips!

I think Matt Dagilis will get playing time as a center back. We need his size in there. If not, we are highly vulnerable to being attacked in the air.

http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/Page424.htm #1 - Louisville: Could be the potential for a great rivalry with Ken Lolla. Does he have the guts to schedule us or are we gonna have to rely on NCAA Tourney match-ups? #2 - UCLA: I'd love to see the Zips on the pitch with these guys. #3 - UNC: Should probably be at least one spot higher. #4 - Akron: A fair assessment in my opinion. Lots of talent, but unproven as a team.