Z.I.P.

Thus speaks Zara Shaka: "BracketBusters was clearly beneficial to teams like us over the years," VCU coach Shaka Smart told ESPN.com. "It allowed us to play a top-50 or top-100 game and gave us the opportunity to gain an additional high-quality win that may not have otherwise been available." And his wisdom doth speak for itself. I suspect the Big Boys found this created too much pressure on their ownership of professional college sports.

From the comments -- and not mine, but right on: If I were a young player in the Crew system, I'd be worried about how Aaron Horton and Ben Speas have seen precious little time on the field. Is Trapp going to see much time on the field?

Oh Great One, Are you suggesting that the coach should not be playing his best players? I admit, I have had issues with some players not reaching what we perceive as their potential under Dambrot. However, at this time the rookies are getting playing time because of their prowess on the court, not because of their future potential. Interestingly, next season I would look for another very young playing rotation as I definitely look for BJ Gladden to have every chance to get serious PT at the 2-guard from the start. And a senior center will be replaced by a sophomore. At the same time, I look at Jake K as the best all-around shooter/wing player Akron has had since at least Joe Jakubick. Akron's lack of a "go-to" scorer could be over for the next three years if Kretzer is used according to his talent. Wonder if that jybes with Keith's style/strategy of sharing the wealth? Also, I was not disappointed as the rest of you seem to have been by Sunday's game. Akron played one of their best games of the year -- except for shooting from beyond the arc. Walsh has got to find his range, or we're in real trouble. Or his playing time is. Do not forget to respect the opponent. Creighton is clearly the best team we have faced -- Oklahoma State was ripe for the picking, we really layed an egg in THAT one, not at Omaha.

It's Indiana versus Georgetown for the trophy. Indiana in their first Final Four in eight years; Georgetown in their first...ever. Go Hoyas! We certainly don't need another Yeagley trophy in our region! As for the clock management problem, I sort of think that the NCAA idea is acceptable, if they can just have the monitor replay as in basketball. Frankly, for both the hardcore footy fan, and those who don't get the game, center ref timekeeping is the most hard to explain rule in FIFA's book. Even the international media write and talk about a "91st minute goal" in regulation time. But the clock only lasts 90 minutes! (Insert head-shake icon

OK, those of you still awake... Georgetown REALLY exposed Maryland's defensive deficiencies, but still had to rely on penalty kicks (winning PKs 4-3) to make it to their first title game (in their first College Cup) after a 4-4 draw in semifinal game one. In game 2, still under way, Indiana is fairly dominating Creighton. However, what appeared to be a goal just a tenth of a second before the halftime (there isn't a buzzer like in basketball is there?) close was denied the Hosers. If the NCAA is going to use this Americanized version of clock operation, then they are going to have to come up with a better, or more conclusive way to determine late-on-the-clock goals. It appeared that the goal passed over the line with still "1" on the clock, however the assistant ref told the center that it was late. Creighton is not marking closely enough (first half at least), and not making much of the opportunities they get -- especially the freshman who scored the tieing goal against Akron -- Pitter. Here's a question that immediately came to my mind: How long has Eriq Zavaleta been playing at striker for IU? Is that something Yeagley Jr came up with? He was an all-everything center back as a junior US U-17 team player. I believe Caleb did not recruit him because of off field and possible academic questions. He will be a star in American soccer in the future.

Damn! I might fly in just to see Dicky V's toupe.

Generally speaking (and especially so for elite programs), as soon as a player makes a college decision he conveys that to Top Drawer Soccer and or other recruiting sites. I have to assume we actually do have only ONE recruit. Yikes.

There were very good reviews for the Nebraska net broadcast of the Creighton soccer game earlier, FWIW. Better luck this time around for Zippy. Maybe the Bluejays'll be preoccupied by the goings-on in Hoover AL. Of course they have to win on Friday or it'll be irrelevent.

Their big decline began when Big Sky schools Montana and Portland State turned them down. That's was rough.

That's the spirit psc2009! If we reach our goal, we can be a 6-6 team like Central Michigan, and meet a team like Western Kentucky in the Pizza Bowl. Dream big dreams!

I think AKronMaction could gain some traction. Now how did I not think of that??

Well, if there are no tickets in rainy Portland, how about the Arizona desert? There MUST be someone from this list who would travel (even a short distance) to see teams from Portland, Seattle, KC and Colorado play! All of them could well have ex-Zips players.

Cal: ESPN's Brett McMurphy is reporting that Cal will interview Can't State head coach Darrell Hazell, today. Interviewing at Berkeley, yet he's giving Purdue or Wisconsin a shot? Now I see why he's working at Can't State!

Got crushed by Middle Tennessee, but took a very good Colorado team to double overtime.

Latest tweet: My Dad and the Akron team got their rings today... Stay tuned.

Makes me want to find out when Opening Day at JeldWen Field takes place in 2013. I've spent time in PDX in March-April while at PSU, so cold and rain won't phase me. Just wonder on ticket availability. Go Timbers

Indiana...is Indiana! I hate to see them get back to a Final Four (especially at the time of our coaching transition). However, the name "Yeagley" on the roster may be what brings them back to immortality. I will be rooting for a semifinal loss, and you should too!

Thank you Go Zips for your fecetious solution! Now here's something I've picked up on from being a season ticket holder for a commuter school six thousand miles away in the middle of the Pacific: Winning DOES make all the difference. That's the reason Hawaii volleyball with four national championships outdraws basketball with few winning seasons. Hawaii started their student Manoa Maniac cheering section only a few yrs ago after they instituted a mandatory student athletic fee (administrative guilt?), and never drew more than a couple hundred students to games. This season, I noticed from game one that the numbers grew to several hundred -- nearing 1000 for Illinois. I also noticed that many of the students seemed to be wearing T shirts printed with Hawaii tennis, waterpolo, swimming and diving, etc. on them. Yes! They came up with the incredible idea of having coaches actually encourage their own student-athletes to attend the games for once. They also have instituted competitions for them, like sign contests, basket shooting contests, etc. It didn't take any great investment ($$), it only took someone in the AD actually being interested and bringing coaches together for one step to a bigger solution. Don't know how long it will last, but the arena is the loudest its ever been.

Very interesting to learn the MTSU head coach is Kermit Davis! My first experience with him was when his Idaho (or Id St.?) team defeated Akron in the 3rd place game of the tournament at Hawaii's Klum Gym in 1990. The Vandals scored a bucket with .1 to play in OT for that win. That's what you call a last (split) second shot.

Hmmmmm...Very interesting side article I found linked from this one: http://www.portlandtimbers.com/blog/post/2...ere-lot-emotion Apparently, Louisville senior outside back and former Hawaii high schooler Brock Granger is the property of the Portland Timbers Academy. I have to ask around, as he played for Honolulu SC Bulls here, and might be the first Hawaii-grown player on a mainland MLS academy team. Hmmmmmm x2. (As Brian Ching prepares to join Dynamo coaching staff or front office, we look at who might be the next Hawaiian MLS player -- Zach Scott from Maui is on Sounders side.) edit: Brock played on the Timbers PDL team this past summer. Not sure if that gets them "homegrown" status over him.

The Red Bulls on Monday pulled the trigger of their first deal of what is expected to be many this off season when they acquired defender Kosuke Kimura and a natural second round 2013 MLS SuperDraft choice from the Portland Timbers. in exchange for allocation money and the MLS Homegrown rights for defender Bryan Gallego. Kimura, who was out of contract in Major League Soccer, has signed a new deal with the Red Bulls. Terms of the deal were not disclosed Well, apparently Gavin Wilkinson or someone in Timberland thinks Gallego's rights are pretty valuable -- or the club is unwilling to spend $, as Kosuke Kimura has been a big part of defenses in Portland and especially with the Colorado Rapids for several years. Started 28 games this year for both clubs after being traded in the summer. Wonder how much "allocation money" is involved. Maybe they figured they couldn't resign Kimura, so they're spinning the wheel, hoping to get a good deal for a youngster who may or may not be available for 2013. Aside from that, I have to question how MLS can allow clubs to trade rights to homegrown players. It surely devalues the purpose of the entire program.

Only Question: Will we ever see any #AkronMACtion on the gridiron?

Hey! Thanks for the inside info girl8! As far as the back line goes, I think if we keep Gallego, and with Souders getting a chance to show the prowess that made him a USA captain we will be fine. I wonder whether Gallego will stay at left or become the "attacking defender" right back (also, who else will start at CB?). I'm more concerned over scoring -- Brenes can probably get drafted first round after this season. I don't think Koroma can do it alone.

If you were as old as me, you would still be blaming Bob Wiley!

WOW! Shaq Stokes transferred from Hawaii after last season, and he was really well-liked by fans as well as teammates and coaches. The coaching staff cleaned house, cutting several players at the end of the season, and Shaquille announced like the day after the team banquet that he would not return. He was the only returning point guard, so they had to replace him quick. Fortunately, he has not been missed much as Hawaii looks like a better team for the substractions. That may carry over to the dorm security situation now. Aloha Shaq!