Z.I.P.

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...

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!

My considered opinion on the final: Best NCAA final I can remember watching. Both teams seemed to be playing to score goals. No question that Charlotte was the better and more aggressive squad on the pitch. I was disappointed to see them lose a game they deserved to win. However it was good to see the story in this morning's paper start with the sentence that the Cup MVP played for the Akron Zips a year ago and was defending his own title. That said, I can understand somewhat the controversy over the referreeing. However, you have to understand that Mr Kennedy, the center ref, like every championship game ref in recent years, is a MLS ref. He called the game the same way he would an MLS game -- he allowed contact that is usually whistled in US college soccer. I happen to prefer that style of officiating. On the possible penalty call in the first half that coulda/would changed the result, I at first felt that he should have pointed to the spot as it appeared there was a tug of the jersey. But when I watched the replay, there didn't appear to be as much contact as it first appeared. I think if it were an MLS contest, it would have been a 50/50 call. Those often are let go. So, for those upset with the officiating, you should tell the NCAA to get college-only officials, as MLS refs should be expected to call an MLS-like game.

Hooner, do you know something I don't? I didn't think next year's Cup Final site had been announced yet. Two weeks ago, NCAA anounced U of San Diego as site/host for 2012 Women's College Cup. Unless something got past me (I've been watching for the site announcement for months), I am anticipating the 2012 men's CC to be back on the West Coast. There seems to be a general consensus that the East and SE sites have been too cold and underattended, compared with for example UCSB. I would support anywhere West of the Mississippi, where a big crowd is assured and is unlikely to have a home-team host.

Okay, back to the subject at hand, namely the Beautiful Game as it's played in the capitol of American Collegiate Soccer. Those who have observed Akron strikers over the past four or more years, please provide me your opinion of how Darren Mattocks stacks up against the other recent Akron MLS-graduated strikers, namely Steve Zakuani, Teal Bunbury and Darlington Nagbe. Of that group, I must put Mattocks in fourth place. He has great pace, and has proved he can score versus US college opposition. However, he lacks the physicality of Bunbury (or frankly the other two -- this is his biggest weakness, IMO), the touch of Nagbe, or the pure football instincts and on-ball grace of Zakuani. Mattocks may be the best available forward in this year's draft, but IMHO this is the weakest draft overall in the past at least five years. Please discuss amongst yourselves, as I've become verklempt.

LOL Paul Winters is the odds on favorite to be the new HC. He played here in the mid to late 70's Everyone referred to the school as "Akron U" back then. It was in the late 70's to early 80's that there was a push to get people using U of A as it was considered more respectable. The idea was to improve the image and reputation. So......if Winters is hired...don't be surprised if he makes a slip once or twice GUYS, GUYS! Look at the top heading...this is the "Soccer" forum. If you want to have a debate about semantics and solely American sports, please PM In The Zone from across the pond. And BTW, as a born-and-bread Akronite, I can testify, it was only when the number of non-Akronite graduates of UA climbed to near the number of Akronites that this subject became a clamor. Akron U is not the proper name of the university, it's just what we locals call it. If I were a former Massachussets businessman I might bet something like 10 grand that RfR44 gradded from a HS outside Summit County. Anybody wanna take me up on that -- I mean anybody want to back me with house money?

Stick to soccer little man. Thanks Big Guy! It's people like you who make this board what it is! What it is...

Holy Cow! I can't believe the Cap'n hasn't chimed in yet to defend his favorite ex-Zip! edit: Oh, all right! Sheesh! Even the Great Z.I.P. can't keep a straight face over that one. I don't know who Andrew Clayman is, but I suspect he got a LOT of feedback (and very little positive) on this list. Tarver was perhaps the most, or highest recruited Zip ever (well, OK, perhaps Zeke took his place, barely), and the only JC All-American, but MAN, nobody who ever saw his selfish play could confuse him with a guy who made his teammates into a better team. I'm disappointed to not see that little guard from Ohio, circa late 90s. He only played a year, maybe two after transferring from Wyoming, but he was as quick a guard as the league has ever seen. Anyone remember his name?

Well I guess we were both wrong. Arizona is blowing out Detroit at the half 38-22. Holman is doing his part for Detroit with 7 points, 5 boards and a block though. Never heard a final on that one. How did Arizona do?

Thanks for posting the link! That's a nice Q&A they did with him. If he really tries to learn some French, he'll have it made in that city. I'm looking forward to seeing the new jerseys. Here are some photos to the new Montreal Impact Jerseys with your former Akron Zips. I couldn't find these same photos on the website. Does EVERYTHING in that country have to be sponsored by BMO? They look like Toronto FC's AAA farm club!

Who was the only one to mention Narduzzi in the Wheel of Fortune thread? The idea that they would hire an only-recently-successful small college coach over a guy with Narduzzi's resume? That's laughable, and predictable.

He has turned around the worst FCS program. Would not be a bad guy to go after. However he failed to get his VERY talented team in the playoffs this year. I don't see another 6-5 season for his team next year. Aha! Another guy with a Hawaii connection! (coached here in mid-90s). And another chance to undo LO's take-back of the promise to play at Aloha Stadium. Although, at this point, I'd just as soon see Coach Pfau's team as the other footballers.

Or Ben Speas somehow manages to lose 2 NCAA finals in the span of 3 years. Seriously, that matchup is what I have on my bracket, but I have Creighton winning. “Our mindset is UCLA, UCLA, UCLA" And that's who I have playing Creighton Sunday afternoon. (I'll be rooting for the mid-major, as usual!)

Thanks Yaz! These are always good! I requested he add Bobby Wood while in the U-20's over the summer. As my request, Wood was co-host in one of the recordings and supposedly it got deleted somehow. Haha Unfortunately, it appears Bobby Shou Wood, "the next Brian Ching" was deleted from the Florida U23 camp by Coach Porter. Can we ask Zarek to put him back in? Bobby Shou Wood suffered a knee injury a few weeks ago as he was just starting to get back into playing time with 1860 Munich first team. Because of damage to the lateral meniscus in his knee. Expected to be back to training after the winter break. Thanks for da info, Crew8! Hawai'i needs another US international badly. With the growth of Academy League (and impossibility of Hawaii ever having a team in it), the only way we'll get players to the top of the heap is for them to grow elsewhere, as has occured with Wood and the UCLA freshman (forget his name, Grandfather owns a VW dealership!) who left Hawaii (Kailua, Oahu) for Orange County and became a Development Academy League all-star, touring Europe last Summer with Gallego and Yedlin.

Anyone find an answer to this important question? I'd like to buy a couple for Christmas. Are they available? Or is there a talented screen-printer who could make a couple on the fly? just wondering, thanks. Try contacting SKN Athletic Gear in Akron. I bought a 2010 Away SS #8 from them last December. Looks like they haven't updated the website much, but if they're selling and have available the 2010 shirts for $30, I'm buying another one. Its not Adidas, but its still a quality jersey and you can customize it. Thank you Mr Crew8-ive! Santa arrived early! Wonder why they don't sell these on campus -- they'd sell out in no time.