UAZipster0305

http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/Page413.htm It's a big surprise to me that Darren Mattocks and Michael Nanchoff were not given the nod. Otherwise, pretty fair.

http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/Page1515.htm

Yes, Ken Lolla is a decent person and made the move to UL for purely professional reasons. I can't fault him for that. A match-up against UNC would arguably be a higher profile match for the sake of national TV and exposure. Nonetheless, we have already beaten UNC this season and faced them in the College Cup last year. A win against Louisville would be more memorable to the casual fan because of the back story with Ken Lolla (if the announcers discuss it) and really makes our program look like ground zero for men's college soccer. I also like the notion of beating the "#1" team and that we trail in the all-time series against UL. That being said, it would make a loss that much more bitter. I say, bring on Louisville! Let's get past UM first though.

I wonder why the UVA goalkeeper was left off the list? Z.I.P., any thoughts?

It's great to see opponents from our schedule on the list including Cleveland State, U of Miami-FL, Minnesota, UALR, and Temple. Temple just knocked off #1 Georgetown tonight too. Dayton will likely climb the RPI ladder by season's end, and the BracketBuster game should help as well. The MAC East is respectable in terms of RPI, but the West will kill us. Overall I think our schedule is solid. Way to go KD! That's how you build a program.

http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/Page2245.htm

I would even go so far as to say negligent. Wow!

It’s a challenge, but I’ll give it a shot 1. How many downs will Ryan Bain play this year? 2. Will the next hoops arena be built downtown or on-campus? 3. When will the Zips finally win by 14 so that Zipmeister can start up his long-desired gambling web site? 4. What’s going to happen if the MAC only has 5 soccer playing members left???? 5. Can we fix the blasted audio on these ZTV reports already? 6. Will we begin the 2011 gridiron campaign in the infamous “Bottom 10”? 7. Hey, what’s with the band taking up all of the seats on the lower portion of the JAR? 8. Did you hear LeBron is refusing to urinate or defecate in the Q during his 1st game back, instead preferring to “hold it” until his armada makes its way to the Summit County line? 9. When will Zips and Buckeyes ever learn to “just get along”? 10. When is the NCAA going to enforce the attendance clause on us and send us back to 1-AA?? I'd say that's a pretty good effort!

Agreed. And I love your additions of Army and Navy. I really like Southern Illinois though too...perhaps in place of ECU?

I love the idea but the new conference is unbalanced with 9 members. I would prefer 12 members that include Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, and Dayton (moving to FBS). I am curious, where might this leave Can't? Dayton doesn't offer any football scholarships as it stands now...how would they jump from 0 to 85? I was thinking Dayton because of their strong academic, soccer, and basketball programs along with the potential rivalry with Miami. I know nothing about their football. As an alternative 12th school, I'd consider Western Kentucky.

+1

I love the idea but the new conference is unbalanced with 9 members. I would prefer 12 members that include Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, and Dayton (moving to FBS). I am curious, where might this leave Can't?

I love UMass as an addition but only as a full member. Same for Temple or kick them out. Balance the divisions and gain some real commitment and credibility for this conference. However, we don't need the MAC to be an automatically qualifying bid for the NCAA Tournament in soccer. If we don't win the MACC, we are strong enough to enter as an at-large.

As Paris Hilton would say, "Wow, that's hot." I love that there is a UA player on the face of one of the tickets. So much for not being recognized as a power program by the NCAA.

I stand corrected. Then again, UA isn't much of a threat to OSU, and its presence is so dilute that it is aseptic.

I for one would love to see the ad.

Only the great, GP1.

For those of you looking for holiday gifts... http://www.zipssoccerjersey.com/ I'm not involved in this business at all. I just saw the link posted on Facebook and thought I'd share.

We might be on their list, albeit pretty far down. They would look at LA Tech first, based on geography. Maybe one of the Sunbelt schools from Florida to replace UCF. NMSU as a travel partner for UTEP, or they could go after MTSU and WKU. MAC schools just aren't in the area they want to be associated with. UC is outside of the typical C-USA footprint but were there before entering the Big East. Also, Marshall is still a current member and could use a rival. We offer that in addition to some solid programs. I don't associate any of those things with the schools you just mentioned with the exception of WKU in basketball.

If the Big East takes UCF that leaves a void in C-USA. I could also see the MWC inviting C-USA schools. If so, who could be showing up on C-USA's radar? I think we must certainly at least get some consideration. The facilities along with soccer and basketball success should be enough by themselves.

Any other school in Ohio. The Buckeye infection is everywhere. I've seen tOSU gear in every MAC school in the state. Well, we aspire to be different than those other Ohio schools. So, the Bucks should stop (end) here. Pun intended.

FYI - Northern California is not San Diego. They also don't play in Tahoe. The Bay Area is very mild relative to Saturday's forecast in Akron. The 25 degree difference (relative to Bay Area averages) and potential wet conditions are a huge advantage for us.

Thanks, UAZips0510. Though, I see it as almost intentionally inflammatory to wear OSU gear to a Zips game. And it shouldn't be too much to ask them to leave the OSU gear at home even if they don't have Zips equipment. At what other school would this be common and tolerated? Certainly not at one that aspires to be at OSU's level. That's just how I see it, and I will no longer debate the issue. Go ZIPS!!!

but expecting them to stop wearing OSwho crap to Akron games/events, is perfectly reasonable. +1. When this happens, the Rowdies should ridicule the guilty person with chants to the point of utter humiliation. Perhaps that would curtail it from happening again. Yeah, because then they'd want to come to another game for sure... Who cares what they wear? They are a PAYING customer who, on that night, made the decision to go to an Akron Zips game over other forms of entertainment. If they have a good game experience, they'll probably come back. If they're ridiculed for wearing a shirt of a school that isn't a rival, isn't in our conference, and never plays us because some of our fans have an inferiority complex with Ohio State, they will probably say screw it and go to the movies next time. When we start selling out games, you can start being concerned with what fans wear. If it's not graphic or vulgar, who cares? Good God...it's no surprise our fan base (especially student fan base) has trouble growing with short-sighted, ignorant attitudes like this. Our fan base has trouble growing because of the short-sightedness of allowing people to think they can get away with wearing the colors of a school we actively compete against for recruits and TV time. How can you be taken seriously when nobody cares that half the fans are wearing the gear of another team and not the one they're watching? Complacency kills. You are on to something here. I have always felt that there are too many people attending Akron sporting events that should not be allowed to attend. Something must be done about this problem before it goes any further. You are brilliant. I'm going to try once more to get some points across... Attendance - Akron was 6th in the conference last year. For this program to grow, more people need to go to games. Publicly ridiculing people who wear OSU gear (or anything else you may not like) to a game will not increase attendance. The irony is that growing the fan base is essential to reaching the goal you (and I) want to reach - Akron being on the same level as Ohio State as far as basketball programs go. If you're going to alienate fans, get used to 2,800 at the JAR every night, which hurts the program going forward. Recruiting vs. OSU - We very rarely compete with Ohio State for recruits, unless I missed Jared Sullinger's visit to campus. Take a look at OSU's recruiting targets for the next three years (http://ohiostate.scout.com/a.z?s=145&p=9&cfg=bb&c=4&yr=2010). ZERO of them have Akron listed as a school of interest. Aside from a rare case, we just don't go after the same players at this point in time. Competing with OSU - Different conferences...never play each other in the regular season...the only time we'd see them is the NCAA Tournament. Aside from a very rare occurrence, we don't and won't directly compete with OSU on the court. Look, I'm a die-hard UA sports fan, but anyone who thinks our program is on the same level as theirs right now is delusional. That's not to say we can't get to that point. But for that to happen, increasing attendance and expanding the fan base is a must. Simply put, to get this program to the next level, we need more fans...and if you're pushing them away because you can't get over them waring an OSU shirt to a game, you're hurting the program. Let them have a good time at the game and enjoy our wonderful basketball team in action, and I won't just guarantee that they'll come back, I'll also guarantee that they'll eventually trade in their scarlet and gray shirt for a blue and gold one. The fan base will grow, which helps the program grow, which helps Akron eventually become a major college basketball program. Or you can be petty and childish, ridicule these people, push them away, and we can keep the status quo. Up to you Zips fans... Your points are valid and your passion true. However, I am not going to perpetuate the argument because it really is political in that neither of us will ever be proven correct. I would appreciate an apology for being called ignorant earlier. I am far from it. Let's not make this personal. I think we are both above that.

The band is not a soccer thing either, but I enjoyed having them at a few of the bigger soccer games a few years ago. It added energy to the atmosphere and demonstrated a higher level of University support. Cheerleaders are no different, but give me the band any day.