Z.I.P.

Like their coach -- physically talented, but ethically tainted.

Enrollment of +32,000 and an endowment of +$223 million is nothing to sneeze at. The football program has been in the toilet historically, but Wayne St has always had pretty decent academics. I think this is the result of a conscious decision to not put too much emphasis on sports, as evidenced by their leaving the MAC shortly after being one of its charter members. It could have very easily happened that Wayne State and Akron U could have changed positions -- and I'm not saying that would be a positive or negative occurence. If Dr William Muse had not made the decision that Akron should be a larger player on the intercollegiate athletics front, we would likely still be looking at YSU, Northern Michigan and Wayne State as our equals (again, without any value statement) -- and in football, we basically ARE their equals today. I've known a number of Wayne State alumni myself, and they are all well educated and smart people, every bit as glamorous and marketable as a grad of Akron or K ent State. And, to my friend Bobbyake (who I believe I spent good times with in Santa Barbara a year ago), when I was a student at the U of A, everyone looked at K ent as the yuppy, more conservative of our two brother institutions (notwithstanding the two sociology departments). The University of Akron has a history as deep in the history of America's working class as any university in America. We should all be as proud of that as we can be. It's what makes our university what it is -- part of our nation's story of working people struggling to improve themselves by fighting for opportunities (as OWS is doing today) and succeeding. Merry Christmas to all.

Source? Dave, Dave, Dave, afootball is the source. Has afootball ever sold us down a river before? Oh...nevah mind!

Absolutely agree! Look around and tell me which GK ever received a GA contract, or left early to the pros. Goalies are a different animal from field players. I know, I was one!

Let's not quibble with Akronyms here. The fact is, Akron football (or most of MAC football for that matter) is not significantly above FCS status -- and never has been. When Akron was "College Division", and then in Div I-AA, they were able to defeat MAC teams occasionally. Since joining the MAC, it took until the Mack Rhoades era before the athletic department began making any serious commitment to playing sports besides soccer at the D-1 level and succeeding. The difference between being a mediocre MAC football team (i.e., a team that might be a contender for the playoffs in FCS -- a level we are not at now, obviously, but teams like K e n t and Buffalo are) and a MAC title contender and bowl team is not a very large distance. If we could get serious people in charge, who can just instill some pride and coaching competence, I believe we could build (Oh, Holy Cow, Sorry GP-1!) a contender in 2 or 3 years from the hole that's been dug. So, IOW, talk about "downgrading" the program is irrevevant -- we're already there! We have the physical plant to win -- we just have to find the intellectual and moral leadership. Can anyone disagree with that?

You had me (and ZW) at "juvenile sense of humor"!

Is there any info on whether Narduzzi is still a contender?

Unfortunately, the best man for the job is busy coaching the U23 national team to London.

Is there specific info that MJ is off the board now? That would be a shame, because I just spoke with DJ (Derron Johnson), his receiver-combo from 1987-88 to let him know he would be getting the WR coaching job! DJ is now back home again coaching the boys basketball team at Kahuku HS. He won the state title last year in his first year back since he coached bb in the early 90s. He was HC of Kailua and Kaimuki HS football on O'ahu from the mid-90s to mid 2000s, if anyone's looking for an island pipeline.

Strange that I am the first to convey this news. Was told by my coaching friend across the pond that former Wigan Latics LB David Mayer is now the former Akron Zip LB David Mayer. David asked for and received his walking papers from the program, and I believe has written on his Facebook page that he expects to be enrolled at another school next month. That's quick! Couldn't locate his Facebook, or I'd link it here..

We could also be helped by the number of players we now have in the professional ranks. I noticed that Pina is in the Dynamo Academy. I wonder if he's asked Kofi about Akron (like Yedlin with Zakuani). If Pena is as good as his reputation would have us believe it's going to be interesting to see whether he starts over Meves. The kid is supposed to be just ridiculous. First things first. It's P-i-n-a. Apparently its an ene, not an enye. (i.e., No tilda included). Bienvenido a Akron, Fernandito (the diminutive is no mistake). Perdone me, esto requires mas que un edito. El nombre es Pina con un enye. Pero, no tengo ninguno aqui'. Tambien, he's grown to 6' (seis pies).

We could also be helped by the number of players we now have in the professional ranks. I noticed that Pina is in the Dynamo Academy. I wonder if he's asked Kofi about Akron (like Yedlin with Zakuani). If Pena is as good as his reputation would have us believe it's going to be interesting to see whether he starts over Meves. The kid is supposed to be just ridiculous. First things first. It's P-i-n-a. Apparently its an ene, not an enye. (i.e., No tilda included). Bienvenido a Akron, Fernandito (the diminutive is no mistake).

Okay, I give up. Who's Scot Loeffler?

Folks -- a question from the Mid Pacific (so obviously I've seen the team play a grand total of once, but it was NICE!). The team is shooting approx 50% fewer 3-pointers this season than recent seasons (maybe more). Is this a sign of their earning higher percentage shots, or a lack of confidence from the coaching staff, or just some coincidence? Zeke's offensive improvement I'm sure has a lot to do with it.

Hey -- see that guy? He's in my seat--the one I sat in for the Barca game! I'm talkin' about the guy with the "11" sign!

It's not just Pine Bluff playing a lot of games far from home -- North Carolina A&T plays @St Mary's tonight I think, then heads to Maui to take on Hawaii this weekend, then takes on Akron and Ohio (on the road of course) next week. Can I get some Willie Nelson background music?

I didn't read the stories about gang members in college athletics. But I might now -- and I sure hope coaches and ADs are paying close attention. Will be interesting to see where this story falls on the sports story spectrum campared to e.g., jerseys-for-tats and child molestation stories. Is it just me, or does it seem these things, when they occur, are much more likely to involve BB or FB players than any other sport? Especially the latter.

Regarding Julian Valentin's reference to now being in baseball, I had to find out what that meant. Apparently, after leaving the Galaxy, he spent some time in USL at Tampa Bay, then took a job managing the Colorado Rockies web and social media. And, somehow I didn't realize that was HIM who got stomped by a Suckeye in the NCAA Championship game. Thought it was Balc or some Sucker.

One of the best pieces I've read in a long time. Thanks for sharing! Come to think about it, when I talked to Julian during the Galaxy tour of Hawaii in 2006 (7?), he had oreos on his breath, just like Z when I met him in Northridge.

Lets help the WPS and add a club in Akron. Then make a deal for Alex Morgan Saw her play for UC-Berkeley here. She's great! Ummm, we were talking about her play, right?

So they did such a crummy job, they've been given a do-over. Now I'm starting to understand the NCAA. And that's scary! Did they do a crummy job? I haven't heard anything, positive or negative, about the venue. Neither have I, but its in a Minor League Baseball park, that's crummy enough for me. With the amount of soccer specific stadiums today, I just don't get it. Where the Women's College Cup was played this year, the place would be perfect, although I don't know if its big enough. Did anyone catch the attendance at this year's Men's College Cup Final? EDIT: I found the attendance for the entire weekend, but not the final. 18,400 The Final was 8,777 and 9,623 for the game against UCLA Alright, so the crowd was larger than it appeared on TV. That's a testament to the growth of the sport. Weather should be a factor in site nomination (obviously it is, but it should be a bigger factor). The stadium really looked crumby, with the wall behind the goal and seating mainly along the one sideline. On-camera I assumed maybe 5-6 thousand for the final. Still, I look forward to attending next year's NCAA Women's College Cup in San Diego, where I expect it to be at least in the 60s. The announcer before the game said the recorded temperature in the upper 40s was MUCH warmer than it felt. And as much as I love PDX, I would not want a College Cup played in the cold rain that is endemic to that city from Nov-May.

I was going to say Keith Dambrot, but I caught myself. There is a possibility that scenario will be taking place much closer to myself -- about ten miles away in Manoa Valley, O'ahu where the favorite (many are saying "strong favorite") to replace outgoing Hawaii coach Greg McMackin is long-time position coach, and most recently Associate HC, Rich Miano. (ok, he wan't a coordinator, but read on) If he gets the job, it will be based almost entirely upon his position as a local boy who made good, and the feeling among diehard fans that the coach must have local ties. Now where have I heard that before? BTW, he's never called plays.

My understanding is they never make their first contact directly -- they contact their manager, agent, lawyer, etc. BTW -- is UA using the same search company involved when they ended up with the last guy?

Yes -- the disagreement was that the player wanted a guarantee that he would start this season. No coach in his right mind sets that precedent. Period. I salute Caleb for sticking to his guns.

Biscuits, gravy and footballs...