Z.I.P.

I would pick Harney as Most Surprising Player (MSP), simply because MAC COY GoZips said before the season that he might not be a contributor.

Bobby, this ol' fut Boomer is on to the younger generation's social and political transformation (even if I have absolutely no need for electronic gizmos). Football/soccer's growth is one part of what we can call a positive globalization of the US' cultural and sporting marketplace. This is one of my favorite threads to read in the history of Zn.o! And I haven't even mentioned the political transformation of the country. That would get the thread booted to that forum at the bottom with the big discussion of Ron Paul.

Ummmm, I think you mean the West Coast Conference. Gonzaga and St Mary's are both 8-10 seeds. BYU has about a 50/50 chance of an at-large. San Francisco or Loyola Marymount will make the NIT, the other the CBI. AND, Congratulations to Shaka Smart from Districtballer's team for getting back to the Big Dance. Now, you just gotta get back to the Final Four! (like Butler) I wouldn't put it past 'em.

I still give the prize to Reghi (Irie, brah)'s partner in crime, Jim Chones, who during an OU-Akron game on ESPNU about three yrs ago stated that Ohio was getting beaten on their home court. The game was at the JAR!

GP1, my friend, be glad you don't have kids who are young soccer players with college potential. The coaching fees and travel expenses required to play on a top-flight soccer club (unless the kid is good enough to latch on with an MLS Academy, where he (but not she) would receive complete scholarships) are easily heavier than the cost of a top private education! That's one big reason why the game has for so long been dominated by kids from places like Rancho Santa Margarita in the OC. Hopefully the growth of $$$ in the sport will spill down more to provide more opportunities for those kids who grow up kicking the ball on dirt fields. And hopefully there will be more Wilmer Cabreras who rise to leadership spots in the US Soccer infrastructure.

Heartwarming.

You write concisely and know how to make a point. A+

The NIUradioguy@aol.com has been there for a looooong time. He always did a great job when I have listened. Nice guy too.

The shirt with the black shoulders looks like a European auto racing (Formula V?) get-up. Through the internet maze of BigSoccer I found this article about Chivas-Montreal's early exhibition at Home Depot Center. Four ex-Zips saw action. Also, I'm glad to see Peter Vagenas (formerly "Mr LA Galaxy") coming back to the Tool Box with CDUSA. Hope the Goats are competitive this year.

Jay Peters! Now THERE's a story! Best player in Ohio as a senior (circa 1978), but refused to be recruited for basketball due to his (family's) religion. Went to a tiny church school in PA. Hope I'm not steering into the land of political incorrectness...

I will pray it lasts as long!

Dateline Columbus, Ohoho. Consultants have recommended that Ohio State University hire a Vice President to oversee a new office responsible for monitoring compliance with rules and regulations in the wake of its football program's NCAA infractions scandal. The trustees' audit committee accepted the recommendations, and they head to the full board today. So has anyone seen the University of Akron's new Vice President for Strategic Engagement today? If I just hated OSU, I would be laughing my ass off. Now I'm laughing it off, and shaking my head, simultaneously.

You can find this out by checking past schedules, but I believe IU plays in the Bertecelli Tournament every year. My memory is that every time UA has been in it (probably close to double-figure times over past 15+ yrs), Indiana has also been there. HAR -- do you know if the teeam will visit the West Coast at all?

This was an interesting addendum placed on the BigSoccer thread in question: If UCLA/UCSB wants to pony up some $$$, the game will be on TV. That is all it takes is $10,000 and you too can be the Fox Game of the Week. [uCLA sked to play in SantaBarbara] Hmmmmm...

I think this could be our best recruit!

Setting my 2012 schedule! See you, Bisbee and all, hopefully at Drake Stadium in September! It might be a few months still, before the full schedule is known -- unless we get someone to give us inside info. Wink, wink.

Sounds like TeBow got some advice from Akron's soccer coach about how to expand the scholarship roster with academic riders. It can never hurt to have Ivy League type StuAth's hanging around your program. Can you say "Kofi Sarkodie"?

You won't want to miss the opportunity. Try to arrive early for the parade! Awesome experience -- Oh, and one more thing: Don't miss out on the Mexican torta (sandwich) truck in front of the stadium. Comida fantistica.

Congratulation Caleb Porter for having the #1 recruiting class of 2012. And congratulations to Alfred Koroma for being a member of the #1 preseason men's soccer team in 2012!

Thank you Johnny. Grant Wahl is one of the best sportswriters around -- he captured the emotions of the circumstances very well. Let's just hope that Steve can indeed be 100% again! Go Sounders!

Sounds like anakronism, if I ever heard one!

Zach, you hit the nail on the head! He's being hired to whore for $$$, which is all he's either eligible, or capable, of doing at this time. Personally, I'll send my money to the school in Portage Cty. before I'll send a dollar to a school that hires this disgraced ex-Suckeye.

The two receivers who Harding throws to most often are the Bridgeforth twins, Adam and Andrew. I can't find anything about where either are going (they're seniors), but the two accounted for over 2000 receiving yards!

"I don't have six classes every day. I have two that I can focus on." So, Nicholas, how many classes are you NOT focusing on? (What's the minimum # of credits you can take in a semester and remain eligible?)

Quote: Akron assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Chuck Amato is an Easton Area High School graduate. "Having Rusty Amato as our AD, Chuck’s nephew, certainly doesn’t hurt things," Melosky said. "Chuck has always been a true Lehigh Valley guy." Harding threw for a Nazareth record 3,749 yards and 32 touchdowns this season, while rushing for 199 yards and 13 scores. Also, the video states he's 6-4, 205... AND -- at 5:40 on the replay, watch how he completes the pass, then runs 20 yds downfield to throw a block for his receiver!