Z.I.P.

It'll be very interesting to hear what the ESPN broadcast team mentions about the CMU roster and recent moves. And will they try to rehash history by bringing up Keith's story. Let's hope at least they don't go there.

Interesting, to say the least. Since both Mattocks and Saad were not offfered GA contracts, did this mean MLS thought them inferior?

Ampaipitakwong is easy to pronounce; it only looks intimidating. However, the San Jose announcer could have a mouthful with Ampaipitakwong to Wondolowski. Damn! Could that be the reason Ampai fell to the second round -- opponents discovered he was less intimidating than they thought?

Awesome read that provides great insight as to why Nagbe justly won the Hermann! Thanks for posting it, Zip_ME87! I've been thinking back to two-plus years ago. Darlington Nagbe was not as heavily recruited as most of Akron's players in his class. He had not been a US Youth Residency player, not even as far as I can recall in any US international youth pools. The two Cleveland area strikers who were highly regarded that year were Darlington, and at the time I thought a bit above him, Michael Green, who ended up at New Mexico. How much of it is "the system"? In other words, if Darlington had gone to Albuquerque, and Green to Akron, would Green be the Hermann winner now in MLS? Makes you think, doesn't it?

Ah, an old Suburban League reference (which looks nothing like it did when I was there - think we have maybe five teams left that were in it back then). Green never did much in basketball, but always used to have Hudson's number in football. Actually had a year where Hudson and Green with both 9-0 and ranked 1-2 in the ABJ poll. Then we went to Green and got our butts handed to us. I know more than once Green was chosen by Canton McKinley as their first-round district tournament opponent. Do they still have it that way, where the #1 seed can pick who they want to beat up on? Green had a first round Bye last season. They won the disrict title. Awesome! Go Bulldogs! I know the gym is nicer too.

I hope 2014 gets here soon!

Ah, an old Suburban League reference (which looks nothing like it did when I was there - think we have maybe five teams left that were in it back then). Green never did much in basketball, but always used to have Hudson's number in football. Actually had a year where Hudson and Green with both 9-0 and ranked 1-2 in the ABJ poll. Then we went to Green and got our butts handed to us. I know more than once Green was chosen by Canton McKinley as their first-round district tournament opponent. Do they still have it that way, where the #1 seed can pick who they want to beat up on?

As I mentioned earlier, ex-Zip Cameron Knowles is also in the Timbers' camp.

TB I just caught the replay of the match on ESPN3.com. Shameful that ESPN did not carry a live broadcast on an otherwise slow TV sports night anyway. Our boy acquitted himself very well. He is maturing rapidly and will press for a spot on the full national side. I dare say that had Teal been the player in 2009 he now is, Akron would have scored a goal vs. Virginia in the CC final. At any rate, we should all be extremely proud of how TB represents Akron. Unfortunately for Teal Bunbury, he and Jozy Altidore play the same position and are essentially the same type of player. Juan Agudelo is more of a compliment to Altidore. Therefore, I do not see a forward line consisting of Altidore and Bunbury ever occurring in a FIFA qualifying match. Teal will likely need to beat out Altidore in order to start. This is possible. Hey, I know this is a long way from Rio 2014, but when Bob Bradley is in the coaching box, it IS the full US National side! I don't know for how long BB will continue to play the youth, but if it continues for much longer, you have to wonder whether Jozy will maintain his past role. Does the first round of qualifying (vs Turks and Kaikos) begin in one year? Agudelo seems to be very impressive, and Teal is developing as well as could be expected -- probably beyond.

Okay! I thought I knew who Nance Sr was. But I had to check it out to find his avocation after the NBA!. Thanks, Johnny. BTW -- seven victories in one season by Green! Is that a new record? In my day we were fortunate if we could beat Woodridge twice in a year.

This is an Awesome Idea, 44! I did wonder who the "we" mentioned above were, though. I've had the honor of meeting Stu Parry more than once, and he's a great guy, with obvious credentials at the Pouch. That said, I have to ask: What the heck is a "rooligan"? I would say it should be something that sounds like a real word! I happen to love the "_______Croo", since it rubs our popularity and honors in the face of the team from Down South which has failed to win any silverwear. I would vote for "Caleb's Croo"! And that comes straight from an "oldie".

LOL! I loved this statement: "Two sports however, women's professional basketball and women's college basketball, are not favorites for any sports fan." It's certainly good to confirm what I am not. I wonder how many people who said they did not follow any sports reported they love soccer. Anyone in the know knows that football (i.e., "soccer") fans know their game is much more than any mere "sport".

I dont think porter needs accolades to know he's the best college soccer coach right now. Numbers dont lie. ++ Post of the young year, right there, Baby!

Yes, Marty, we all wish you could have taken Caleb Porter to the District. NOT! Is Ben Olson making any new commercials? Maybe he can get his new players to replace Brian Ching and Co. as co-stars now. How are the plans for that new stadium going, anyway? Good luck to Chris and Perry on your grounds. I give you guys at least a 50-50 shot at the playoffs this season.

This is a pretty fair assessment. I've said all along that I don't like our chances when Nik and McClanahan are trying to carry the load, and you've mentioned some of the reasons why here. I think we'll be a better team this year if the burden find it's way back to guys like McNees and McKnight. And I also believe we could be better with Egner and Diggs taking more of McClanahan and Nik's minutes. How has Dakotah Euton looked, in his minimal minutes? Is he a possible recipient of time -- from Nik I suppose?

After the MLS Superdraft, a reporter sat down with coach Porter to discuss the impact and how the program will go forward in 2011. Beside the poor grammar and word usage (what is a "common stigma" anyway?), the author gets Porter to state that he will bring in two new players beside his 2010 recruiting class to supplement what returns. I have a strong anticipation, that those two players will be at the Stiles Center for the College Prep Camp coming up -- this coming weekend, I believe.

Yes, it's wide open, and there's still an outside chance Akron will beat my pre-season prediction, and finish higher than fourth. That said, when do we start the "new coach" thread?

Correct. I read the Sports Illustrated article last week about Steve Lavin's St John's turnaround and they mention Jakarr among six top-100 players joining next year. So he must be academically qualified.

If you read that article again, you'll see, he's (considered by one writer) the top JUCO QB in Mississippi. Although Mississippi may have more JCs than anywhere outside Cali.

From looking at Rivals recently, I think only one or two MAC schools (CMU/Toledo?) had more verbals than Akron. Now, if we can get some more three*s.

I think you have your balls confused Cap'n! Nothing here but (real) football. Don't think they have American footballs in Irieland.

Yeah, well I'm still trying to find out how much of the "salary" includes the GA bonus $$. If the 170k is his total compensation, how much then is the bonus? When Steve Z. signed his GA deal, it was reported that the GA bonus was $160k as I recall. Or was it $170/175? The interesting thing here is the "modest base salary" part. My belief is that Don Garber is the best friend any club owner ever had. His clubs get their best young players' salaries paid for by sponsors -- what could be better than that? No wonder so many players sign GA deals, and no wonder why MLS loves their relationship with Adidas. MLS has a long way to go in this regard to become truly Major League .

Interesting! Compare that list with the Top Drawer Soccer recruits. Carly Pimm vs Danielle Reymann. Same club, different names...

______________________ That's a beautiful argument fknbuflobo, and I'm tempted to agree with you as the biggest Akron fan in the 50th State. (Who's #2, I wonder?) But I had to ask myself, "what would Caleb say?" The biggest reason Akron is able to play "Caleb Ball" is because he has players at every position who have played at the highest level in the USA for years, and in most cases (see what happened when MLS found out Ampai is both small AND slow?) are superior athletes to what Akron put on the pitch before his coming. How much credit should go to the US national youth coaches who tutored the players before Caleb got his hands on them? I would put the largest part of Caleb's success on the fact that he is far and away the greatest college soccer salesman in America. His teams DO play the game beautifully, and in an entertaining format unlike any other university team. I don't believe however, that Caleb Porter was fully responsible for teaching them the short passing possession game is superior to "boom ball". Imagine how much they'd look like Barcelona if Sep Guardiola would share Messi for a season. They surely knew what was the best and most exciting game before they stepped onto the University of Akron (Akron U. to locals) campus. Caleb deserves every dime in his new 10 year extension -- but I will wait and see whether the next Jack McInerney comes to Akron or Wake Forest. As long as the pros can dangle mucho dinero ($$$$) at young kids, and caress their young egos with flattery, they will continue to be attracted to pro soccer. But, as Caleb said today on FSC, the GA contract from Adidas can help persuade players to give college ball a chance. But, as I recall, McInerney took the GA without attending a day of college. Also, I disagree with you that Caleb sees himself as some sort of historical revolutionary. Caleb's interest is in winning as many soccer games as he can. Changing the development of the game is just frosting on the cake -- not his primary goal.

Yes, I think it was this. That name Zach the Zip rings a bell too. Hmmmm!