Z.I.P.

Four wins from this team could put Bowden up for dadgum national coach a da year!

I hope my memory's not deceiving me -- I am getting to that age -- but, I seem to recall Drew Souders playing the Right Back for the US in the 2011 U-17 World Cup game 1 (where he also wore the armband). I don't think he played at all in the other two games. It's possible I'm confusing his international comp with Perry Kitchen, who had a very similar story. He too was at RB two years earlier I think. Does anyone else recall Souders' WC tournament, or seeing Drew elsewhere? Unless he can fit in along with Barson in the center (with Gallego moved to LB), he may be the nation's best sub, since I don't see him taking the place of our current RB. Now Chad Barson -- there's a central defender!

At one point prior to last season, one Akron staffer gave Sporting News insight into the culture and lack of identity at Akron. “The kids would come to workouts wearing Ohio State gear,” he said. And were the coaches wearing ND gear?

Someone please remind me -- the voters in this poll are a select group of D-1 coaches only, correct? You would think they would have heard about new bodies...

Pratt is a true freshman IIRC. Is he fighting for playing time this fall? At least there IS some fight on the field this year!

When does the NSCAA pre-season poll come out? I can't wait to get after star #2.

For anyone who has not yet heard the news, the captain of North Carolina's national championship squad passed away after the Crew's victory last night in Columbus.. Here is the tributory tweet from Tarheel and Crew teammate Ben Speas.

Just so he doesn't become John Edwards on the campaign stump. Rielle Hunter could cause yet more problems.

Chivas USA defeated the sliding-into-oblivion Portland Timbers on Saturday night at Jeldwen Field, PDX. Portland was pretty much controlling the pace of action with their fine young attackers, but was unable to put away multiple chances. Then Ben Zemanski, the Goats' undeniable new playmaker up to the head of captain Danny Califf, putting Chivas into ecstacy. Timbers never recovered. Could Zemanski be the most improved player in MLS?

From my experience watching the Region IV tournament twice, the U-18 and U-19 comps were always sort of "all-star" teams put together expressly for this tournament. That may have changed with the establishment of MLS youth clubs. The Honolulu Bulls FC won the U-18 tournament (could have been U-19?) around 2005, and half the players had played together up through U-17 on the same Bulls team, the rest were mostly local former Oahu HS players.

Hmmmm! As soon as I saw that last name I had to figure out where I remembered it from. As it so happens, Dick Kortokrax is Ohio's winningest all-time boys HS basketball coach at Kalida HS in Putnam County. And Alan Kortokrax was a 6-9 forward for OSU back in the early 80s. I wonder if Ryan is Alan's son or nephew.

Final Score: Galaxy 3 Chivas 1. Blair Gavin's substitute in MF, Paolo Cardozo scored for the Goats in the second half to make it 2-1, before Donovan scored his second for the final. Ben Zemanski was one of the few lights for Chivas again.

Blair Gavin is subbed at start of second half. Not a good night tonight, but hopefully he gets another shot soon. Also, Ben Zemanski received an undeserved yellow card late in the half, so is on minute-to-minute probation. Ben had CDCUSA's only shot on goal in the first half. And Landon Donovan puts the Galaxy up 2-0 very early in the second half with a breakaway goal -- looks like a failed offside trap by Chivas. Did I tellyou I HATE LAG?

What time is it in Los Angeles? It's Superclassico time! And for the "visitors", Chivas USA, the central midfield consists of former Akron Zips #18 Blair Gavin and #21 Ben Zemanski. Unfortunately, Blair gave away a ball in his defensive third, and then Ante Jazic gave Robbie Keane more room than he could have dreampt of, as the Galaxy have taken a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute. Ben looks good! Looking for him to break the scoring ice tonight. Wow! As I type Gavin provides another ball to L.A., and Keane puts the ball in the net again -- but the OFFSIDE flag is raised. Thank you!

Chivas USA defeats Portland Timbers in a matinee game at HDC today by 1-0 on a first half goal. Fox West Corona Extra Man of the Match: Ben Zemanski! (Second time in last three games). Zemanski is rapidly becoming the Goats offensive sparkplug. Had a couple scoring chances -- you have to think the one that he puts away is just around the corner. Darlington Nagbe started and played until around minute 75 for Timbers. Nagbe had one header opportunity that was held onto by keeper Dan Kennedy. He saw the ball very rarely before taking a seat.

Pardon my premature speculation disorder, but IMHO (not to take the position of HC from KD, but I haven't heard a word out of our head man on this subject), I can see no reasonable argument for not seriously considering Forsythe at power forward (as well as moving him to the 5 when Zeke sits). Having two MEN of 6-11 or above on the floor would throw contortions into opposing coaches (especially in the MAC) attempting to find a way of defensing either by himself. And it would make Zeke a better player, I think. For those who fear Harney or Tree getting fewer minutes, I would counter with the threat of Akron winning more games.

Based on the little I know about Pat Forsythe at this point, I still can surmise that he has the capacity to not just provide an impact first season, but to seriously upgrade one of Akron's biggest problems -- lack of rebounding! Let's all admit -- Zeke has been a monster defensively, and changed the style of virtually every opponent. but his play away from the rim doesn't allow him to get the number of rebounds we once assumed he would gather. Forsythe's presence will allow Zeke to be, if possible, an ever bigger defensive asset, and I expect his scoring to pick up in his final season as we all do. But a 6-11 Big Man to help out will be like still having the Serb on the floor -- but more so, as Cvetinovic (sp?) was smaller and not that consistent. Well on the other hand, Pat's just a freshman... Can we pencil him in for MAC Newcomer of the Year yet?

What I really loved was the look on the face of the Toronto coach. I believe he was "taken to hospital for evaluation"!

Hopefully...OK potato chips are still alive in Akron...no? I forgot to look last time I came "home".

Wow! Surprised to see John Spencer gone after all he's given to Portland football over the years in USL and now MLS. But the other reference on the artice was even MORE amazing!: Eric Wynalda taking a manager's job in whatever the USL is now called (Atlanta Silverbacks, a franchise that has already gone administration once). That is a real loss to Chivas USA, and those who have loved hearing him do their games on Fox West the past two years. Frankly, he's the best soccer/football broadcaster out there. Hopefully he can get his nose on the screen still, somehow.

Regarding Michael, I contacted Eric Bovaird the coach at Chaminade about his transfer. It appears that Akron was Green's only Division I offer out of Dublin Coffman, and had it not been made, MG would have likely ended up playing for Bovaird when he was the assistant coach at West Liberty College in Wheeling. Kind of makes you wonder just what Keith saw in this kid. I look for him to be a good D-II baller who will make a difference with the Swords. Watch for him in the Maui Invitational in 2013.

"Get that Big O to Lawsons in 40 hours!" I was shocked to hear just ten or fifteen years ago that Lawsons had closed all their stores in Ohio back in the 80s! Well, I guess this is proof that what goes around, comes around, if you just wait long enough. It's hard to believe -- Ten thousand Lawsons (Stations?!) in Japan!! And they're talking about eventually having over 100 in Hawaii. Anyone want to take bets on when it will return to Akron? More than 40 hours I bet! I worked at their warehouse on Kenmore Blvd. the summer before my freshman year in 1977.

Thanks for the warning. Now I won't have to go to the store for something to kill the roaches in my kitchen. I'll just toss that cover in there!

Back when the Sounders were in USL, Kitsap Pumas were essentially their "youth team", as they had no MLS Academy. Has Kitsap Pumas become a Class AAA version of the Sounders Academy squad(s)? Also noticed this on the site: Schmid also said the availability of midfielder Steve Zakuani (leg) remains week-to-week.

Somebody wanna let the rest of us in on who this character is?