Z.I.P.

The way they've been talking about Blair the past couple games, it appears his injury is more serious than the "game-to-game" type watch. It sounded like they're not looking for him to return anytime soon. Shame too, as they're short-footed in the middle. That's one reason why it's a good think Ben has advanced beyond expectations.

The US Goats make their annual visit to Crew Stadium on Saturday night. Ben Zemanski (alternating between center mid and wing) and Zarek Valentin (central back) have started together for Chivas for five or six straight games now, including the big win two weeks ago at the New York Red Bulls. I hope we can get some of the Nation to attend on behalf of our Zips Crew. If you go, take your Akron scarves to wave -- especially to the cameras from Fox Prime Ticket who are broadcasting the game back to So Cal and to the 50th State. Christian Miles and Allen Hopkins will be in the broadcast booth tomorrow night. I'm sure they will mention the "home" match for the ex-Zips (# 20 and 21, I think), but make all the noise you can for our guys.

Our new coach is bringing in two players from Russia and/or Ukraine (hard to tell from the write-up). And one of them is just fifteen years old (15). Imagine the social difficulties this could present -- she could be dating students over 18, but guys, be aware! Makes you go, "Hmmmmmm". Shkundina, a native of Ufa, Russia, is currently ranked 635th by the ETA (Tennis Europe) among women of all ages in limited playing time, but saw her ranking climb as high as 36th. Her resume includes reaching the doubles semifinals and the singles round of 16 at the Eddie Herr Championships, and victories over eight players ranked in the top-800 in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) world rankings, including three over top-300 players. "Olga has had minimal opportunities to travel for tournament play since 2008, and her ranking has shown this; however, her level of play is outstanding, as seen by her impressive resume," Padgett said. "We expect Olga to come in and add significant depth to our line-up, with the strong possibility of playing fairly high in our lineup as a freshman." Shkundina is the younger sister of Vera Shkundina, who played for Padgett at Kennesaw State and is that program's current No. 1 singles player. Olga, who is 15, will be one of the youngest student-athletes to ever compete in women's tennis at the Division I level. Padgett just completed his first year as coach at Akron after spending the previous three-plus seasons as head coach at Kennesaw State. "Olga will be, what we believe, is the youngest-ever collegiate student-athlete to play a match,'' Padgett added. ''She is only 15, but with her ability, she can come in and play with anyone on our team right now.''

He wouldn't be able to play until 2012, correct? I think that for soccer you can play immediately so long as you've never transfered previously. Zach speaks the truth. The "One free transfer" rule applies.

First time I've seen Fenlason's name. I think this is the first Cali recruit! We are sure becoming a national program -- from FL to WA to MA to SoCal. edit: Thanks Tank, just saw your post, above. Here's a little bit more on Jake. Small but good numbers/experience.

First time I've seen Fenlason's name. I think this is the first Cali recruit! We are sure becoming a national program -- from FL to WA to MA to SoCal. edit: Thanks Tank, just saw your post, above.

Interesting. Anything on Navarrete? Seems weird to show up for Spring semester and leave before that's even finished. Is anyone else going crazy with excitement about this upcoming season. I cant wait for it to start. I find this odd, why would you show up for Spring to leave for UAB? UAB - Diego Navarrete It does seem odd, but looking at that roster, there is another player from Santiago, Chile at UAB. Perhaps Diego needed someone else to help with his transition. I think you meant translation!

And they all seem to have some connection to direct marketing. I guess that 'do not call' list hasn't stopped 'em from raking in the cash.

Well it is good to hear Speas will keep playing. As for future pro signings. Trapp and Souders will at least play one year at Akron. I know for a fact that Barson will be at Akron this year. He was offered a Pro Contract with the Crew right after the National Championship game and he turned it down. I believe he wants to get his degree from Akron, or the majority of his classes (isnt the kid a 4.0 pre med student?). None of these guys are going to turn pro until at least 1 year at Akron. If you look at the payscale of HGP's vs. GenAdidas kids, it makes zero financial sense for someone to take the HGP contract if they think they can get a GenAd deal. Trapp and possibly others are definitely GenAd candidates. Jack McInerney I think they can get signed to a GA contract without even doing a year of college. Looking back on previous GA contract recipients, not all of them even made it to college. Yeah but that is saved for incredibly special cases...Jack McInerny, Luis Gil, Omar Salgado and Zach Herold were the only ones signed in the last two years and prior to that everyone has been in Residency. If they aren't signed to a GA by now they won't be signed until after a year of college. Oh WOW! I have been wondering for a while now, whatever happened to Zac Herold? He reportedly had signed an LOI with UCF. Didn't know he was drafted by TFC. What a shame -- he was a great prospect, with international class moves and pace.

To where is Speas transferring? That's the $Million question. Transferring, or going pro? I just hope he doesn't show up in Cowlumbus, Bloomington, AnnArbor. I'd actually rather see him go to another MAC school -- one we could still beat, but whom would/might have a chance at an at-large berth with an all-America caliber attacking mid.

I thought when UA signed Ben that he was Top Drawer Soccer's #1 in his class. (Edit: I just read ZIP's post which makes more sense given that Ben missed his final year playing at CVCA due to injury.) I hope he left because he found a way into the pro ranks with the Crew (as a homegrown), but I don't know if that's possible at this time. I believe Top Drawer's decision to move Speas to the top was based on his offensive exploits and potential, shown with the Crew Academy. He was playing a defensive mid or center mid with the national team while at Bradenton. His athleticism is strong enough that he still has the potential to be a real threat as an attacking mid/winger. It will be very interesting to find out where he lands. I hope he does not try to go overseas professionally, as that is a route shown so many times to be a dead end for young Americans. Hope he can find a way into MLS. Can't imagine why he would transfer, unless CP's scouting is different from what we've seen. I think he woulda/shoula been a starter this season.

Hopefully this class pans out better than last years' recruiting class. That group looked to be really good, but now look what we have left from them: Reinaldo Brenes - hopefully can produce a lot this year Richard Diaz, Jr. - gone Gabriel Genovesi - gone Perry Kitchen - got a great year out of him, but gone Darren Mattocks - kinda concerned how he'll perform without the service around him he had last year Andrian McAdams - I understand the desire for three GKs on the roster, but surprised he's not gone, he's not going to play Martin Ontiveros - gone McKauly Tulloch - gone Maybe Porter knew that class didn't need to be good because of how many returners he had. I'm expecting a lot from Trapp, Gallego, and Yedlin though. Here's a little fun fact: There was a point (not sure if it was when he graduated, or maybe earlier) that Ben Speas was ranked as Top Drawer Soccer's #1 player in his graduating class. Still shocked that he is leaving. It wasn't even a month ago that I was pieing him in the face Top Drawer put Ben at #1 before his senior year of HS, after a year at Bradenton, and before he suffered the final season-ending leg injury during Development Academy Finals that prevented him from playing that senior season at his HS (Stow?).

Ben's departure comes as a shocking development. He could start for any university in America. Does anyone have confirmation of Beaven's story? I know we have a couple folks close to the Speas family. Give us your piece.

Good thing you held off the notice, in case his intended reads the Nation!

Also, the U-17 World Cup is coming up from Jun 18 to July 10 in Mexico. Andrew Souders has been wearing the armband the past year. He's the only Akron-associated player, though there could be more under 17s who have offers. I hope to see a TV schedule come out shortly. ESPNU has broadcast the FIFA TV pix the past two U17 WCs (when the US captains were Kofi Sarkodie and Perry Kitchen). The US team dropped a 1-0 warmup to the host Mexican team earlier this month.

If you take him up, GP1, be careful! Lots of neocons up there. 'specially in the far north, militia country. And they can see Moscow from their front porches.

+1 Louisville would be a great rival too, if Lolla had the guts to sign on the dotted line. Lolla's got some drug arrests to worry about right now... Whoa! Now I see why Brock's lil brother didn't sign with the Cardinals. DeLeon and Granger, both returning starters. Lolla won't be easily able to handle this internally.

I plan to be at Harder Stadium on October 5th as well as at the Home Depot Center on Oct 2nd for Chivas USA vs the Philadelphia Union. Going to the Irvine Tourney doesn't work for me because I want to catch a Goats game while I'm out there to make the trip more worthwhile. The Goats game around the time of the Irvine Tourney would mean I couldn't attend the CSU game at home. I won't give up a Zips home game for a road game (or 2). It's too bad the MLS teams don't play the following weekend. That would be easier for me. I guess I could stay in LA over the weekend and then head North. I guess that'll have to be the plan. The LA Galatasaray play Real Salt Lake on Saturday night at HDC. As a fan of RSL, I'd like to see that one.

I can confirm -- Fox Soccer Channel intends to change their normal Friday night NSCAA Game-of-the-Week schedule to be @Harder Stadium for the "Tortilla Invitational" return of the Zips to the scene of the crime. I propose a marketing vehicle in which our schools would meet annually for the Firestone Cup. Anyone with access to the corporate halls of either Bridgestone-Firestone or the Firestone wine/beer peddlers on the Left Coast (the family only brews ale these days) should put the businesses in touch with the universities. It's also looking more than likely that I will personally show up for the weekday game on the Central Coast, rather than the early Sept tourney in LA (Irvine, isn't it?). I have to research whether Chivas, LA Galaksy, etc are intown (LA). Anyone else going, let me know.

Major League Soccer is offering a free weekend of MLS Match Day Live, internet broadcast of every MLS game played this weekend. I don't know much of the schedule, except Chivas USA travels to Utah to play Real SL. Toughest trip in the league, but the young US Goats are playing very hard, motivated football. They have a chance.

I just noticed this. Thanks for sharing. He still has the eyebrows -- that's about the only way I would recognize him. When he showed up as a freshman there's no way anyone who didn't know would have suspected he was a player. Six-five-and-a-half, and a hundred forty-something. He was the "Sneaky-fastest" player I ever saw. His rebounding ability was amazing. But he happened to miss free-throws at the worst times. I only wish we could have had better coaching. He deserved a lot more than he received at Akron. After his senior year (1984), the OVC coaches had to write a letter to US Olympic team coach Bob Knight to give Joe a try-out. I think he looked at him for ten minutes, and sent him packing.

Desmar Jackson, Wyomings leading scorer from last year is transferring to Southern Illinois. http://siusalukis.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl.../041311aad.html Jackson went to Harding not St. V's. Daylen Harrison went to St. V's but I can't find where he is transferring. I just don't get this Ohio-Wyoming recruiting pipeline (if you can even call it that). The Buckaroos had a starting point guard from Youngstown during Joby Wright's era -- and that incredibly quick guard who transferred to OU. I've been to Laramie. Spent a week there one day.

Akron may not be doing very good in the sport, however the next school over is. Baseball America's top-30 poll this week has just one school North of the Mason Dixon line ranked: Can't State @ #27. Good news for the MAC at least.

The Michigan tennis program probably receives more $$ than Akron basketball. I believe their men have three full-time coaches.

There is no way of knowing if this player is actually a player. Notice the poster did NOT mention Steve Zakuani, so he might not be familiar with Akron -- and so vice versa. Let me assure you, if this kid is Akron material, Oliver Slawson and Caleb will do all they need to provide him am opportunity. Otherwise, I would wish him good luck at Fort Lewis State, a really nice program and location to attend college. But he DID mention Zakuani in post #7 and #8. Thanks for pointing that out Zach. I read Mike's original post, and then scanned the rest of the thread. I probably missed it -- but I may have looked at it before those were posted, not sure. I'll edit my own post there. Does anyone remember this thread? It took me a while to find it, but I can tell you now that the player who was being shopped on Bigsoccer was the most recent Akron recruit -- David Mayer. Hey -- I have to correct myself (belatedly, been knocked out with sinus infection this week) about this player. The English coach I was in contact with told me that I had made the wrong guess. The player he wrote about -- who attended the February camp @Akron did not get 'picked-up' by the team. David Mayer is another prospect, and I believe a VERY good player, even by UK standards.