Z.I.P.

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?

Koroma may well be the best US striker in this age pool. He expects to start, he expects to be an impact freshman of the Zakuani/Bunbury class. Porter, however will make him earn his spot in the lineup. There's no doubt that the recruiting for a new top line is just beginning. I'm expecting some international flavor once again to appear on the horizon. Here is Koroma's bio from the U17 World Cup team: Note his favorite basketall team. Is LeBron recruiting for Caleb now? While on the recruiting and youth classification subject: I didn't notice anyone writing about the incredible job of the US U17 club in last weekend's Nike Int'l Friendlies. I watched the Turkey and Brasil games, and long story short, "Holy Crap"! I've never seen a US youth squad look more skilled or creative than what that team showed in Florida. I've not been a big fan of how Wilmer Cabrera has used his talent on the international stage, but somehow the USA has grown an incredible surplus of age group stars -- as this team had very few players remaining from either the 2010 residency group or the last World Cup squad. Would others who watched care to deliver their opinions? Frankly, I can't wait to see the future development of the remarkable striker Junior Flores. This kid comes from the DC area I understand. And I hear he's just fifteen now!? He could be the next big American star. I don't expect any collegiate coaches to have a shot at his talents.

The Seminoles have three players from Northern Ohio (which accounts for the scheduling of this road game), including Cierra Bravard, who had no problem tossing away her promise to play for UA when the ACC came a-wooin'. Hope the Rowdies will "welcome" her in their best fashion. Also, for those unfamiliar, Coach Sue Semrau I believe holds the NCAA record for technical fouls collected in a year, and possibly all-time among women's coaches. Her personality -- and not-so-great-won-loss-record -- was reportedly why USC canned her in her last position. See if you can make her get hot under her collar. Go Zips!!!

Also, the WPL is on the brink of going under...again.

Zips USMNT I can't bring myself to loyally follow a team across an ocean or continent. I'm 100% behind this comment! That's why I only root for Lanikai Tuesday (for the unenlightened, they play in the Men's Island Soccer Organization - MISO), and the American Samoa National Team (WE BEAT TONGA, WE BEAT TONGA!!). They are on the same continent as I -- Oceania. Secondarily, I can tell you that if and when La Liga gets the coverage in the USA that's due, Spainish futbol will gain much more popularity in the USA. How many people have GolTV, anyway? Whatever happened to ESPN's coverage from the past couple seasons, will it return in 2012?

It's too bad that NIU lost their best defensive linemen against OU, because Arkansas St is playing very well right now. I agree, these should all provide opportunities for wins, but without checking any odds I believe Temple and WMU might be the only two MAC teams who will be favored heading into these games (Toledo and Air Force should be close). All in all it's been a pretty decent year for any MAC team who wasn't coached by a guy whose name rhymes with jello. I'd like to see the entire conference come through in these bowl games for a change. Okay, with the pay-off fluff. I just wanna know how in the world Western Michigan is going to be favored over Purdue??? That's the one we have the least chance of winning. I'd say NIU and Ohio have the best chances. Wyoming is a very underated team. Air Force is a tough opponent. Too bad none of them get UCLA this year.

Then please just tell me you weren't one of the people campaigning for Tressel. He's like the entire baggage claim area at Hopkins airport compared to Pellini. ++ Phew!!!! I was afraid no one would raise that "baggage" claim.

+1 I expected the men to struggle early on with all the new parts coming in. I think the MSU victory got all of us a little too excited and made our expectations a bit unrealistic. This team has crazy potential. Hopefully that is shown Saturday. I know I'll be in Cleveland. Also, it's not a competition between the men and the women. The ladies aren't going to draw as well as the men, because that's the way our culture is. Men's sports outdraw women's everywhere, not just in Akron. I wish the ladies all the best and hope they can beat FSU this Saturday! Well, let's see. The women's NCAA volleyball regional on Saturday night drew 8600 to Stan Sheriff Center in town. The Hawaii men's team is lucky if they can draw 1/4 that total. But then again, I've been in the house when it was packed with over 10K for the volleyball (men) Warriors. Now THAT's a fun atmosphere! p.s.: Doug, Have a safe trip back to the Land of the Gods. Do you surf Legian? That's a left break, isn't it?

Beating the Bruin drum consistently, aren't we ? Not sure, did you unintentional omit the ? Also, Coach Salcedo may still need more swag to keep his position.

I like the idea, having watched FSU in the WAC for 20+ years. He's a "really nice guy", which may explain why he lasted as long as he did without achieving goals such as a top-25 ranking. However, He didn't take FSU to the top from "out of nowhere". They have been good for a very long time. I'd like to think he might consider it.

From what I've seen and heard, it would seem Hoffmann is the favorite. Anyone hear otherwise?

Mate, are you referring to the VFL or the AFL? Fear the Roo, Baby!

I don't know if this has ever happened in any sport before. The MAC received four (4) bids to the NCAA women's volleyball tournament -- Ball State, Western Michigan, Central Michigan and Northern Illinois! (WOW!) However CMU was forced to play on the road @Illinois in the first round, and the other three lost on neutral courts. So now the MAC is out of the event. That was quick! Will Akron ever come close to qualifying? Will anyone notice? Too bad none were able to make it to the sub-region here in Honolulu. We had over 8000 for the two matches, er, uh, games as they now call 'em. A lot has changed since I coached HS (boys) volleyball in the mid-90s. Bring back the side-out!!!

They're returning to Cali for the first time since...1997? I was there, at the NIT tournament in Sunnyvale. That was the beginning of their slow fall to mediocrity and beyond. About time they started the rise from the dead.

Well, he has D-1 HC experience, unlike your favorite. Nothing personal.

Sounds like 'Z' is already taking nicely to his new home. I remember what a blast he had taking his ex-teammates to the Santa Monica pier in September. I hope he can convince Brian Ching to be so open-minded about the city. Can imagine the languages on the club, besides Anglaise and Francaise there could be Spanish, Bosnian and Hawaiian!

Damn man, you ARE an addict if you actually watch the A-League! That's the one hour each day when I turn off FSC and come on the ZN.o BTW -- to correct ZIP_ME87, my previous post was not meant to be facetious. Sarcastic would be a much better word. And to g-mann17, you need to get out more often dude! The USA is a small part of where you live -- but the only part for which Am football is king (even in Canada, possibly including Buffalo, hockey is #1!). Maybe the best thing about Akron U. being a soccer school is that we are so far ahead of the American curve. Consider the possibilities if Akron becomes a capital of US cosmopolitanism. Soccer/football's rise is globalization from below (despite the impact of AEG), which is what #OWS exists for. Whoa, hope I didn't belie my politics there...

Better than Mike Johnson? Played pro QB for several seasons. UA alum. NFL coach for many years. Kids want to hear that they can get to the pros. Even if they have no chance of doing so. Mike's NFL connections could be HUGE in getting a higher-caliber athlete to the UA campus. I agree. If I'm not mistaken, Johnson was Michael Vick's qb coach in Atlanta. Despite how most people feel about him, Vick is still very popular with the young football players. Connections like that could definitely impact recruiting here. I agree -- Mike would be a great OC at Akron. That is what you meant isn't it?

Here's about the only interesting thing from this column -- the comment: Hey EA, Did you happen to notice that CSU has a game today?! Oh wait...Urban Meyer just stopped at the local McDonald's...I guess you've got "more important" things to cover...my apologies (NOT). LOL! BTW -- I'm entirely with GoZips on the above...Tree's had his one-off. Now knock it off.

He doesn't -- but he's so much better than we are at diagnosing what's wrong with Akron: That it wants to escape Cleveland's shadow.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! How cute. Sounds like someone's still upset that they had their toy coach taken away from them! And I don't know where akzipper comes from, but on the planet where I live, football (or "soccer" as he terms it) is the biggest sporting and cultural event in the lives of most of our people. At one time religion held sway over the lives of common men, but we have now replaced that with football. Still, we seem to have maintained a certain magnanimous humility about our sporting/cultural lives, at least compared to those civilizations for which sport still is a proxy for warfare. We were surprised that when we eliminated our armies, our athletes actually began to exhibit less hostility to opposing teams, and sportsmanship has overflowed. Now our sporting clubs are exemplars of the cooperative attitude that underlies our international trade alliances. Sports has become a tool for maintaining peace and sharing in our planet's sustainable prosperity. Just kidding. Ahhhhhhhhh! How I would love to live on THAT planet. If you're referring to Tressel, I said from the day Ianello was fired that we had ZERO chance of getting him. Well then, I apologize! You have to excuse me, as I've been doing everything in my power to avoid the American football coaching discussion. Those minor sports can really get in the way of supporting the best and cleanest team in NCAA men's soccer. Have a nice day!

I think the story may be accurate, Cap'n. Those dancers look just like heads of Hartville cauliflower to me.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! How cute. Sounds like someone's still upset that they had their toy coach taken away from them! And I don't know where akzipper comes from, but on the planet where I live, football (or "soccer" as he terms it) is the biggest sporting and cultural event in the lives of most of our people. At one time religion held sway over the lives of common men, but we have now replaced that with football. Still, we seem to have maintained a certain magnanimous humility about our sporting/cultural lives, at least compared to those civilizations for which sport still is a proxy for warfare. We were surprised that when we eliminated our armies, our athletes actually began to exhibit less hostility to opposing teams, and sportsmanship has overflowed. Now our sporting clubs are exemplars of the cooperative attitude that underlies our international trade alliances. Sports has become a tool for maintaining peace and sharing in our planet's sustainable prosperity. Just kidding. Ahhhhhhhhh! How I would love to live on THAT planet.

8 for 8? But the coach didn't trust him enough to let him win the (Eastern?) game? We coulda had TWO wins!

Thanks guys. We can dream, can't we?!