Z.I.P.

Disagree wholeheartedly. There are not enough seats in nursing programs to fill the need already (good for me, bad for NEO) It's highly competitive to get into BSN programs, and AD programs who take anybody have 18-24 month waiting lists after you finish your prereq's. There aren't enough graduates to cover the retirees, let alone all of the expansion. The last thing we need is to combine those programs and further limit those graduates. There are few growth industries in NEO, and Nursing is one of them. I'm already being recruited and I have two semesters left.What would make more sense is dropping state funding of BS programs that have no need in society. Interesting idea. When you see CSU cancelling their baseball program, Can't State not sponsoring soccer, none sponsoring hockey, imagine what a combined budget could build...That's a fascinating contribution from Spin! When I was a student, the school offered to essentially pay the full-load of any MALE who was willing to study nursing for four years. Not sure how that worked out 30 yrs ago, but I still hate the sight of blood! Finally, I have to comment on the political science of my friend Gozips comment: A state administrator -- from one of the most conservative administrations in the state's history has a vision which only includes cutting, privatizing and consolidating university programs, while doing nothing to stop tuition and fee increases. To use the 'S'-word to describe that should make a huge contribution to understanding how Cold War ideology has set the nation back more than half a century. Far from some sort of 21st Century Eugene Debs (1914 Presidential candidate who won over 10%), Mr Fingerhut (I assume he must be the kingpin of the private security guard biz?) sounds like the sort of opportunistic capitalist whose "free-market" vision is to drown public education in the bathtub of self-service/special interest politics. Stepping off the soapbox, I return you now to your regularly scheduled ZN.O programming.

My friend Geno is at the game. Will get a report later. Sorry -- he's a UoP Pilot alum!

Gotta have those pix, Z.I.P.!!!!!!!!!Hey, if you go to my gallery, you can see three shots I took last weekend in Northridge, including one of Zemanski and Valentin. I tried to insert it here, but the gallery doesn't have a 'copy' link. I have some more but having problems downloading. For some reason some pix on my camera won't download to my pictures file. Anybody have that problem before?

Wish I could say you should buy a 12 pack....but I think you will at least need a 6 pack.Cooler is already packed with the Sam Adams Fall Sampler, plus an emergency 12 of High Life. I'll be sure to post as I open each variety. I hate to divert attention from the high point of tomorrow's event, but about how many people are expected to show up for the football game (that minor diversion after the bottles are all dried)? Is there a shot at 20k? 15K? Okay, will the students fill the grass?

So he should have tweeted formally, "..."The University of Akron has a great one"? Idon'thinkso

This looks like a pretty challenging schedule to me. Outside of the major programs, there is YSU so the fans will have fun. CSU is a good program and it should be a fun game to attend. Detroit has history as a good program. We have MTSU for a trip down memory lane in Tennessee. We all know what VCU can do. WVU is a good program....too bad it is on a weeknight so not many will get to see the Zips play in a really good college arena. Three road games in a row to start January will provide a good challenge as well."Challenging" is the word I would use to describe this schedule. Some say it isn't any good because of Hiram and JC...everyone plays those types of cupcakes and two games don't make an entire schedule weak.I wasn't speaking so much to the overall schedule (which looks fine and actually stronger than you've had in a while), as much as I was referring to scheduling non D1's in the regular season. That is not something everyone does. D1 transitional teams do that and weaker D1 squads, of which the Zips are neither. I'm sure Dambrot could have gotten a sub 300+ RPI squad that the Zips could beat on just as easily. It's one thing to want national recognition and respect for your achievements, but IMO you set yourself up to be disrespected when you play squads like that. Your home slate stinks...but there are some very good road games on the slate and an opportunity to build a decent resume should you win them.Marian?? http://www.butlersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/2010-11/scheduleI would prefer we play cupcakes like Gonzaga does to get into rythem http://www.gozags.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPS...p;Q_SEASON=2010 Most good teams play cupcakes to get the rhythm going, lose the jitters of first game and to correct flaws without jeopardizing the season. I think KD likes to schedule local teams because it is good for their program and good for us. He is from the area and is big on loyalty....I can't find fault with his approach. So...we schedule a lower level local team every year. It does not affect our RPI so who cares.Who's better -- Lewis and Clark, or Hiram?

Just read the news. Very sad, as Shaun was not just a All-American player at Akron, but one of the most successful coaches after leaving. Here's the story from Gozips.com. Team will wear black armbands as memorial vs New Mexico. Sending our sympathy to the family, and soccer family of Shaun Pendleton. His legacy was great.

Any player who has the surname of Wood is bound to excel in a Zips uniform.Welcome aboard, Jasmine Wood.And if it doesn't work out he/she can always try Kearney State.

Yes. This should have been easily researched.It all began when Soccer America called him the Hermann winner in their season review of 2008. I think it's an indication of how much reporters rely on the first thing they hear or read, and fail to get the most reliable (or official) source. Shabby journalism.

Did I tell you people -- Temple is VERY overrated! Now THAT's denigrating! Win #1 on Saturday...or a very long season...

Would you believe, there were no MSU fans at the game? All that noise was being made by Dave in Green! I'm sure if I had been there, this Bulldog would have cheered for her -- to transfer!

I wondered about Mayer as well. He was kicking ball around with other subs at half time of CSUN game and appeared to be OK.We talked with David after the game. He wasn't injured, though he's not quite 100% yet from his foot injury.

My question would be....would you really want to add to the negative stigma of soccer in American as an insignificant Euro-sport? As I've run around bragging about Akron being national champs in soccer since December, this is normally the response I get from people outside of the Akron soccer community. Wouldn't european flags just add fuel to that fire, and place a major obstacle in front of our efforts to make the sport, especially at the college level, more appealing to American sports fans?Let's all give Skip-Zip a break. He thinks the term "Becks" refers to a TV actor bloviating in front of a blackboard, rather than an over-the-hill Chelsea footballer (Edit: Whoops, make that Man United. Both hated, but Beck jus' seem smore "Chelsea, doesn' he?) Not the best example, but it does give an idea of what futbol is up against in the USA. The Univ of Hawaii men's volleyball team normally has players from several differrent counties, and fans bring flags from all the counties to wave. I once brought a flag to wave for a Serbian. Ended up getting in trouble that way -- seems they had sold me the flag of Yugoslavia, pre-1990. That'll teach me.

Just returned from Cal South, so it will take a few days to get over the freewaymania disorder. Interestingly, the C-SUN-Akron game was L.A. Galaxy night in Northridge. They apparently paid former Matador Sean Franklin to come back to toss the coin or something, after which he disappeared. On the other hand ... Los Tres Chivos de Akron were seated five-ten feet from the Zip in Paradise. Will try to download my pix of the group tonight or when I have a chance.What you didn't hear in the broadcast was that after scoring, Scotty through off his jersey and immediately ran around the corner to in front of the stands, pointing up to Zarek and Ben. Funny Valentin jumped over the railing, and threw himself up on top of the track fence around the stadium, from where the Akron players lifted him up on top of the pile. At least that was what appeared to be happening in front of me during the melee. I think the one security guy from CSUN had his hands full, as he had no idea who the guy was that jumped out of the stands!Ben and Zarek were at both games. Blair showed up a few minutes into the Northridge game -- I thought he disappeared before halftime, but I think I see his face in the bottom of the frame I took of Zarek celebrating after Caldwell's winner. Ben was accompanied by a lovely looking blonde. That's the celebrity news section of the ZN.O for today.

Akron's Canadian newspaper wrote a story this week on our team and attendance!Thanks to Marla Ridenour for providing this week's AK-Rowdies chant! "We want steak! We want steak! No more burgers, we want steak!" See you Yedlins, and other Zips fans in the Valley manana. Temps only in the low-mid 90s, down from as high as 107 last Friday. Caleb's Crew will get things heated up again.

Appreciate it! Mayer is "mayor". Nice to know.

Yep.. very impressive... looked like a practice for most of the first half... Pass the ball around and wear out the defense... draw them away from the goal. Funny assessment from Porter too... named almost everyone but Balogun and Portillos... and Balogun had a great game... much improved as Porter said... must have been a hell of an off-season. They should have tried some own goals to keep Meves awake. Here's an interesting tidbit: Game next Thursday will be a homecoming for Michael Balogun. He was a member of Cal-St Fullerton -- but doesn't seem to have ever played for them. So his last real experience was three yrs ago -- I don't think he played at all for Akron last year -- did he (red shirt)? He played last year. He was the main replacement when Kofi Sarkodie went down. He played in 18 games and started four. Thanks David! The all-knowing Z.I.P. just proved his vulnerability trivia-wise. I don't remember him playing in the College Cup -- but I'm sure someone will show a box showing he did!

Walsh and Gilliam have yet to play even a minute of basketball for the Zips, and you're already thinking about their replacements? That's hard-core. Did we find out for sure how many years Walsh has to play yet? He said he was a junior, but web said 3 yrs remaining.

Yep.. very impressive... looked like a practice for most of the first half... Pass the ball around and wear out the defense... draw them away from the goal. Funny assessment from Porter too... named almost everyone but Balogun and Portillos... and Balogun had a great game... much improved as Porter said... must have been a hell of an off-season. They should have tried some own goals to keep Meves awake. Here's an interesting tidbit: Game next Thursday will be a homecoming for Michael Balogun. He was a member of Cal-St Fullerton -- but doesn't seem to have ever played for them. So his last real experience was three yrs ago -- I don't think he played at all for Akron last year -- did he (red shirt)?

UNC defeated UNC-Wilmington on Saturday. They play Louisville @home next Sunday 9/4. Winner could be #1.

Also, in MLS play, Chivas USA plays Real Salt Lake Saturday evening in LA -- game televised on Fox Soccer Channel (1030 EST, I believe). Huge game for both teams as they battle for playoff spots that neither team is guaranteed. RSL especially has been on the rocks of late. Chivas desparately needs three points to keep their hopes alive. Robin Fraser continues juggling lineup -- Ben Zemanski returned last game @ Portland, with Gavin coming off the bench. Zarek Valentin should make the start again.