Z.I.P.

One of the top searches on Bing too. Thanks for all who cheered from cold and blustery Akron. Those of us inside Harder Field were feeling your presence about the time the singing of "I Believe" got into high gear. Mahalo from one of those on the scene for your support back "home".

I've got a litttle secret for you pal -- I love Santa Barbara! Although the seats were a bit disappointing, everything else about my first trip to the Central Coast and the College Cup was enjoyable -- particularly the ending !!! Thanks to each and every one of the Gaucho Locos who chose the Akron Zips as your "Team of the Week". If I can make it back in Sept '11, I'll buy you guys a pitcher at Gio's. Hell, it's only six bucks. GauchoYoungin, you guys do it right. We'll be rooting for the Gauchos whenever they aren't on the same field as the Zips. Mahalo nui loa, me ke aloha pumehana.

Hey guys, good news! I just came from the Fess Parker Doubletree Resort, NCAA Championship home of the Akron Zips. I managed to confiscate materiel from several Akron players, and they will be showing up for sale on the webs very shortly. Does anyone know how much I can get for a lovely mahogany NCAA Champions trophy? Just wondering. Zip in Paradise When anyone gets the info on championship merchandise, it will be posted on www.zipsnation.org, I am quite sure. I will recommend to Caleb that there be a title winners scarf. edit: Thank you Akronnnnnn... You JUST beat me to it, by one minute.

Thanks for the post Zip37. Barb's spirit is in Harder Stadium today. Go Zips! On to our challenge

Tickets are GA -- and that realy p%@#*s me off, since the teams' fans were supposed to have designated areas -- but the UCSB/security appear clueless about seating. On Friday we were given special wristbands to enter our designated seating area, but before the first game even started they moved the CalSouth ODP teams in for the benefit of ESPN cameras. Then they decided that Akron's designated area was at the other end of the field after we'd all crammed in with the footballers. By that time, all the seating in "Akron's area" was muddy benches. We were supposed to get chairback seats, but get crummy 1960-era wooden benches, ala the Rubber Bowl. Elephant bar in Goleta (I think near Hollister) is supposedly the gathering place for brunch. Unfortunately, it doesn't open till 11:00 I'm told. Bad scheduling, frankly. But, we should have plenty of time to (knock on wood) celebrate after the match. Please, it's Sunday

I've heard there are 30 former Zips players here this weekend. Hope to meet some of them tonight if there's a Zip Fiesta. I did see the former GoZips blogger -- damn, I apologize for forgetting his name -- from Tucson. Good guy to say the least. GO ZIPS!!!! On to

http://ucsbgauchos.yuku.com/sreply/24088/t...he-weekend.html Zips fans, there were an equal number of Akron Rowdies and UC-Santa Barbara Gaucho Locos behind Akron's bench during the game. Someone apparently brought Rowdies T-shirts for the Locos -- I didn't realize how many of them there were (at least 30, nearly all plastered!) until well into the second half, when I noticed they all had yellow shirts under their Rowdies shirts. The Locos carried out their traditon of throwing tortillas on the field after goals by their favored teams -- Louisville in game 1 and Akron for the final. I gotta go to the store -- somehow I think cooking or toasting the tortillas would make them sail better. At about the 25 minute mark of the second half, the Rowdies (ours, that is) moved behind the Meechigan goalkeeper. The two sectons, started a "Z-I P-S" chant across the field a few times. All in all, I would say the Rowdies fairly held their own. I think it was the Locos who were largely responsible for the NCAA rep coming up midway through the first half and asking that we "restrain the rhetoric". I think maybe something about how when the UM keeper hit his place kick each time they would yell, "YOU SUCK", and then something about "Once a doosh bag, always a doosh bag", etc. etc. I imagine that that Gauchoyoungin will be reading this -- if he and his minions regain consciousness today, and can provide their perspective on events. Now, I gotta find out where the Final party is taking place tonight. If anyone here or in Akron finds out, please post it here!

I got to meet Anthony's mother and father and brother, and shake hands after the presentation. Hopefully I can send the photo(s) when I get home (no camera cables with me here).

Are you/the Buchtelite in Santa Barbara? Can you wear a kangaroo outfit?

First chant of the day Friday; WE WANT ZIPPY. WHERE'S OUR ZIPPY. WE WANT ZIPPY. WHERE'S THAT ROO? This is really unbelievable. Twenty years ago, the basketball team flew to HAWAII -- 3000 miles further -- and brought six cheerleaders AND Zippy. Well, you may have heard this story before: The girl who dressed as Zippy was outside the room where I was sitting with the SID, when we can all hear her shout to the cheerleading coach -- "I got Zippy's head, where'd you put his tail?" Of course she had, as all realized, left the tail in the closet at JAR so she could spend more time with her "pal" who was the trainer. Call me Wisty -- I'll throw a hundred bucks in the pot for your mascot to be at an NCAA championship tournament. Sheesh!

Que viva los Zips! Bienvenidos a la Costa Central. Estamos los Gauchos del Este, aqui' para ganar la Copa del Mundo, or por los menos, de NCAA.

Zips and Gaucho Locos, The Roo has landed! I will be in touch with the Loco contingent. Hope I can make it to Anacapa tomorrow night. About to head out to discover the California Condor at the Santa Barbara Zoo, and look for a secret entrance to Bellosguardo, the palatial estate of Huguette Clark, the 104 y.o. copper heiress. My first trip to the Cali Riviera, but certainly not my last. Plan to visit with Hawaii-born winemaker Mikael Sigouin, Chief Winemaker at Beckmen's Wine in Santa Ynez tomorrow. Love his "look Me In the Eye Red".

Will Zippy be joining the Gaucho Locos on the Loop Beer Trail of Isla Vista? Isla Vista? (think George Costanza's father) You can't keep Zippy outta Isla Vista!

Z.I.P. I won't be going out. My wife is very sick and this is not the time to leave. Wish I could join you and I'm holding you responsible for bringing home the Cup to Akron. You can do it pal! Put a Hawaian war chant on our opponents and the Zips will take care of the rest. Hope she is well, and you can both attend the victory party through downtown Akron. Maybe I could bring some lucky ti leaves. I know that Louisville #17's family will be there from Hawaii, so it may be a ti-off. See you sometime soon.

The NCAA assigns a Site Manager, usually a rep from the host university or their conference. The SM's job is to ensure the field is set-up properly, teams are attended to, and the assigned referees and alternates are there, all have appropriate uniforms, etc. etc. Do we know who the Site Manager for this game was? I hope they didn't have to go looking for an alternate AR in the stands. That eventuality, in case of injury or other event, is supposed to be taken care of days in advance. BTW -- one more question, after attending a D-2 Regional tourney here in Hawaii -- Did they allow Vuvuzelas in Akron? I started playing mine, and the AD of the host school tapped me on the shoulder and told me no noisemakes are allowed at the venue. I'll probably leave mine home IAC, but I wondered if D-1 worked the same.

Got a e-mail from ZipsFund with the attached UA NCAA College Cup website: http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_...TCLID=204844318. At least they're prepared! So far I know of seven or eight from this board who are going to the finals. And that doesn't include Root4Roo who I'm sure is getting rich from the media biz. I leave at dawn Tuesday, Hawaii time, arrive in Santa Barbara late PM. I'm staying at Best Western South Shore Inn in Goleta, which with AAA discount is about $160 nt for two. Two or three of us are staying at the Hampton Inn in Goleta, very near the Best Western, and about 4-5 miles from campus. There is much to do on the Central Coast. Scott Ditzen may bring his surfboard if he comes, but he won't be joined by Z.I.P. -- I don't have a wetsuit, and its TOO COLD. Thursday, I'm planning an all-day Santa Ynez Valley wine tour with MD Zip and Co (the Sideways Soccer Tour). Would like to get some more bodies to show off the Zip Pride at Firestone Winery where all the money from Akron's tire industry ended up. Hope to get a reservation at a really nice inn in the area for dinner. My other interests include the Santa Barbara Zoo, which has a fairly new exhibit for their California endangered species, including the 9-foot wingspan condors. Would make a good battle for Zeke! You can drive up the coast to places like San Simeon and Pismo Beach and the even better wine country in San Luis Obispo County, Edna Valley and other appelations. I'm looking at a pregame meal either Friday or Sunday at Woody's Barbeque a famous location in the area. Anyone who's interested in getting together sometime before the games, just PM me, and I'll add your name and # to the list.

Hey 32! Look forward to meeting you. Santa Barbara's gotta be warmer than Oregon in December. Best I can offer you is advice that there are a few motels in the area that run less than $100/night. The Sandpiper on State St. outside downtown SB is maybe the cheapest ( I recall seeing it at around 70). Also, check out UCSB's tournament site, because they have student discounts on tickets, and I believe also on hotels. Go Zips!

That's because UA tries to neuter anything that resembles big time college sports. UA can't stop us next weekend in Cali. Here's the Box Score for the Louisville-UCLA NCAA quarterfinal barnburner. I love the description of the winning goal for the Cardinals: Dribbled past a slew of defenders, shot past charging goalie

That's some lonnnnnnng game!

I have never heard anything like this! Here is what Razor's blog has to say on the matter: OK. Here is the unofficial word about the referee. The head referee and the linesman were alleged to be arguing. The linesman marched off the field, taking his flag. The game was delayed while the impromptu lineman searched for a backup flag. I can't vouch for this being 100 percent accurate, but it's some version of the truth. Only in soccer. Sheesh! And this follows the debacle in Berkeley, where the game was reffed by a center ref considered unfit for duty, and who gave out like four red cards to UCSB players after the end. Gaucho players encircled the CR, at least one bumping him, forcing security to take him away in a golf cart. NCAA is not looking good right now.

Big mahalo for all who joined in. And way to go to our team! Akron brings back wins in NCAA quarterfinals, and a huge comeback road win in men's basketball. See you over on that board.

Is it 3-2 now? Go Cards. Go Brock Granger (former I'olani HS player). Louisville win will bring more from the 50th state. And I want to play you know who!

Sarkodie saves the season, and his career from ending in Akron! Cal's final tweet: Cal ends its season with a 14-3-3 record. less than 20 seconds ago via web .Sarkodie converts despite Bingham getting a hand on the ball. Akron advances to the College Cup on penalties 3-2 after tying 3-3 regulation half a minute ago via web .Avalos makes Cal's 5th kick 2-2 2 minutes ago via web .Caldwell missed wide left...Cal still alive, but down 2-1. That would've won it for Akron. 2 minutes ago via web .Davis Paul's shot saved 3 minutes ago via web .Valentin converts...2-1 Akron after 3 rounds

Sarkodie made the game winner in I think, inning six, after Caldwell missed a potential game winner the previous Akron shot. On to Santa Barbara. I believe that we have won!!!!!!!!!!!! I believe the job is not done!!!!

Have to take advantage of these opportunities!!! Por ejemplo: With less than 1 minute, Akron had a great chance to score. Bingham made a save, ball rolled into the path of a Zip, but Scot VB cleared it. Might be the final chance. Did I ever tell you how much I hate PKs? Re-tweeting: Hector Jimenez takes the first PK for Cal...missed wide left. Nanchoff fired Akron's 1st to his right, Bingham's left, and Bingham dove to save it! 0-0 PKs. Kitchen converts his shot for Akron, and it's 1-1 after 2 rounds of the shootout. less than 5 seconds ago via web .A.J. Soares next. He converted one regular PK i nthe regular season...A.J. converts! 1-0 Cal in shootout 1-1 after two PKs... STOP BY MEVES! Servando next...Meves stopped his shot. Servando had made 2 regular pks this year. Valentin converts...2-1 Akron after 3 rounds AND THEN AKRON CONVERTS. Akron needs another stop or make, and we win! Avalos makes Cal's 5th kick 2-2 If Akron makes...we win. I think. AKRON WINS!!!! Avalos makes Cal's 5th kick 2-2