Z.I.P.

Please keep "Andy" on retainer. I think, personally, that Akron can use a Brek Shea look-a-like. But that's just me.

I'm sure coach Porter will be pleased. Might help recruiting. Is the game on ESPN or Fox Soccer Channel?

Well I can tell you personally that our camps are nationally known as my high school freshman cousin from Tallahassee, FL is coming up for two sessions this summer. The even crazier thing is, he committed to going before even knowing that two other teammates from his high school team were going as well. Now THAT is impressive! PORTER PORTER PORTER, Along that same line, I was watching the brother of Louisville's #16 play in the Hawaii HS state tournament yesterday, and talking to another player's father, he said his son's dream was to play for Akron. Of course he has no chance to do that, but he can at least learn from the best by attending the Akron Soccer Camps! I bet he better get his app in quick though!

I know others are going to disagree with me, but the NIT, CBI, CBA, etc., etc., etc. just don't do it for me. We've been there, we've done that. The games are kind of interesting, and it is nice to have at least some post-season action, but the final 4 of the NIT doesn't have the excitement factor of even a play-in game in the big-dance. NCAA's or bust for me. I've had enough of the consilation prizes. That's only becase you knew I would read this! I HATE the NCAA tournament! It is a suckers' dance where teams like Akron have their girl stolen away by a bully wearing a BCS varsity jacket. The best potential thing that could happen to Akron is that they get into one of the "other" post-season tournaments, and get a chance to beat multiple "Creightons" -- Northern Iowa, Virginia Commonwealth, (maybe Dayton) type teams that are our equals and rivals. That is the next stepping stone, before this program has a realistic chance to get into and make a real run in the NCAA tournament. Maybe THEN I will get excited. But PLEASE, don't make me watch Villanova play Wisconsin!

Geez, don't be so nice, people are going to think all Zips fans are! But seriously, who would we contact at Akron to make these available? I already am a fully paying member of Zipzone...seems a bit much to buy season tickets when I live in Boston!!! Season tickets are actually quite reasonable. I only got to use mine once last year but I buy them to help support the team. They want to keep these scarves exclusive to their season ticket holders, but as I think has been mentioned before even buying the cheapest ticket to support the ladies ($40) will still net you a scarf. Mildly expensive scarf but dirt cheap support of the teams. Isn't there a different soccer scarf that can be purchased in the team store as well? I'm too close to having graduated to worry about giving back to any kind of school. Student loans are my charity right now :-) I am bidding on that Ebay scarf, however. Ha, ha! Seems like my plan to make a killing is getting started, now that the bidding has begun. Now I should be able to put my other scarf on the site starting at $100.00 and should make double that. And to imagine, people are GIVING away stuff to Texans! For shame.

Thank you Zips for giving me a reason to start paying attention again! If the Bracketbuster were being announced over again, Akron would get one of the feature TV games. Strong finish guys...then...maybe another West Regional appearance? Sorry, but with the Portland regional and soccer tourney in Cali, we're becoming used to the Zips on the Left Coast.

I know next to nothing about the Premier Development League, except that it is dominated by college-age players -- kind of a soccer version of the Cape Cod League, I guess. The Chicago Fire Premier is also mentioned on the web. Does that mean MLS Academies have teams playing?

I don't get it. Everyone who purchased a season ticket (men's or women's) got a scarf. I expect the tradition to continue in 2011 -- hopefully with a "National Champions" reference emblazoned thereupon. I'd just wait and buy the tix. Women's tickets only cost $40 I think -- or maybe it was 50.

Monterrey? I thought it was to be in multiple venues. I'd go if I had a team of bodyguards. Of course, you're correct Z.I.P. I don't know why I said Monterrey. It is in Mexico at multiple venues, and I agree about the bodyguards. US Qualifies for FIFA U-17 World Cup Without confirmation, I'm confident it will be televised in the USA. The last two U-17 WCs have been rebroadcast on ESPNU from the world of FIFA-TV. On the one hand, it's marginally professional content; Excellent camera work; adequate commentary. On the other hand, you have to suffer through the beginning/end/segues that remind one of TV on The Prisoner's island.

Who wants to meet May 14 or July 10th for the BIG derby? I think I might be headed to PDX. Zakuani vs Nagbe. BTW -- Where is Ubiparipovic? Back to Bosnia? I don't think he has played for them internationally before, so I suspect he was trying to become a US national. Anyone heard? Strange.

Monterrey? I thought it was to be in multiple venues. I'd go if I had a team of bodyguards.

Nice article. Nice to see the deference/respect shown to the grandparents for raising this kid as their own. And: “[Porter] said ‘We are excited for you to come in at right back,” Yedlin said regarding the text message the coach sent him. “Just keep working on your defending one-v-one and attacking one-v-one.” It's so good to see we have at least one coach who understands how texting works!

GP1 Buddy, the only "smart" comment you are going to get on this issue is liable to sound like a smart alecky one. The idea that you give up constitutional rights by working for the democratic sector is laughable. Unless there is some national security/public safety context involved (which is the reason why I as a military civilian worker and health and safety workers are prevented from striking -- not from collectively bargaining pay and privileges) it's unbelievable that some hot-headed pol like the newly enshrined Gov of Wisconsin would use budgets as an opportunity to destroy basic rights and responsibilities of government. Period.

PAY ATTENTION. We are talking about Akron WBB!!! I dare anyone to find a D-1 program with fewer wins over the past 30 yrs.

GAZip11? Is that you Steve-o? You don't get to go! Sigie says.

Guys, I'm as big a Zip fan as you'll find in the MidPac. But having seen Creighton and followed the Zips, I think the RPIs can be thrown out the window for this one. BOTH teams are playing MUCH better over the past two weeks. Why is ESPN showing Cannot vs Drecksel?

Wow! Sure brings back the memories from my own soph season Where does Ricky Brown sit on the list? He was my favorite Windex man.

Right on. That's what my old anthro prof, JP Marwitt used to call "sympathetic magic".

So there is a bright side to this hire. Smart aleck comment of the year (so far). Gotta give credit when it's due. One of the bright spots for the Gophers in 2009 was the improvement of the Gopher defense. This improvement was in large part to defensive co-coordinator, Kevin Cosgrove who joined the staff last off-season and made an immediate contribution to the Gopher program. When I spoke with Coach Cosgrove a year ago, he was one of the most controversial Gopher coaching hires, but in a short time, he has earned the respect of many fans. In the 2007 season, the Gophers had the worst total defense in the nation and ranked #119, Ted Roof turned that around in 2008 to finish #73, and Cosgrove was able to improve upon that even more to a #62 ranking. Cosgrove himself admits there is a long way to go, but it is certainly moving in the right direction. It IS good to see that there are some positives in the guy's resume'. Evaluating a coaching hire is a lot different than evaluating (or trying to evaluate) a recruiting class. Cosgrove certainly has enough of a track record to peruse. I'm curious about the portion of your response that I put in bold. Did you personally speak with him? Or is this copied from another article? BTW, Football Scoop finally has the scoop But as a side note, this link also has Tom Stacy taking the TE/RB job at Ashland. Holy cow! He sure wore out his welcome in downtown Greensburg in a hurry. Dave, can you keep us up to date on the situation on Boettler Road, please?

This is interesting! I remember back in (was it?) 2005, the year Akron was the only bowl eligible team left out of a bowl game, I checked it out then and as I recall we had 75 sophomores and freshmen on the roster. The only FBS school that came close to that was UCF with 72. Are we starting all over again? Do I need to ask this question?

Well THIS is certainly a surprise: Coach John Spencer envisions using Nagbe primarily in a center midfielder role where he can take advantage of his ability to hold the ball and support the forwards. Courtesy of Portland Timbers “He has super technique and has a great soccer brain,” Spencer said. “We’ve seen some glimpses where he moves the ball and his first touch is immaculate. But he’s coming from the college game to the professional level and it’s a massive jump.”

Sorry, I just saw this thread after posting the following to the Bracketbuster thread: back to the topic of the Blue Jays. Did no one else see this team take apart S. Illinois last Saturday on ESPNU? Watching the game, at first I thought it was just a conterpart to Akron disecting Central Michigan. However, SIU even missing about five players with injury or suspension is a much better team than what the bottom of the MAC West can offer up. This game should now be on TV -- too late for ESPN I'm afraid, but it should be one of the top BracketBusters matchups. The BlueJays center, Echineque (sp?) goes 6-8 and 270. It's going to be fun watching Zeke battle with THAT! I frankly have to think it will be a matter of whether Akron can stay hot from the perimeter (Hello, Nitro?), and then whether we can get offensive rebounds against Creighton's athletic post players. If I had to bet, I'd go with CU straight up, and I imagine the Vegas line will favor them by 3 or 4. I sure wish I could see it though. I envy those of you who get to plow your driveways to get to the JAR. Well, maybe not. Surf's up!

My congratulations to the Cap'n for his ability to psychically transform the UA Marketing Dept. However, back to the topic of the Blue Jays. Did no one else see this team take apart S. Illinois last Saturday on ESPNU? Watching the game, at first I thought it was just a conterpart to Akron disecting Central Michigan. However, SIU even missing about five players with injury or suspension is a much better team than what the bottom of the MAC West can offer up. This game should now be on TV -- too late for ESPN I'm afraid, but it should be one of the top BracketBusters matchups. The BlueJays center, Echineque (sp?) goes 6-8 and 270. It's going to be fun watching Zeke battle with THAT! I frankly have to think it will be a matter of whether Akron can stay hot from the perimeter (Hello, Nitro?), and then whether we can get offensive rebounds against Creighton's athletic post players. If I had to bet, I'd go with CU straight up, and I imagine the Vegas line will favor them by 3 or 4. I sure wish I could see it though. I envy those of you who get to plow your driveways to get to the JAR. Well, maybe not. Surf's up!

I wonder if any of Caleb's players (i.e., Zips) are part of that team.

At the half: 41-23 Zips. We need to win this by 40, send notice to the rest of the East. I'm starting to believe in Keith Dambrot's team. With tongue in cheek, I think they can now climb up to my 4th place pre-season prediction. But, I'll be watching the regular-season finale on ESPN2 with the hope it can still be for the regular season crown. Go Zips! P.S., can we petition the MAC to play @BG (Anderson Arena i.e.), at least twice a year?