Z.I.P.

Just from watching the games on FSC, the Columbus Crew has about the poorest fan following in MLS, rarely getting over 10,000 in attendance. However, every team in the league has a hardcore following of maybe four or five thousand who attend every game and are part of the organized fan section that stands and chants most of the game. Exception being Seattle, where about 15-20,000 stand and cheer for 90 minutes. Only thing I've ever seen approaching a U-2 concert.

Folks, looking in from EL Norte de Nuevo Mexico. I'm afraid you failed to read the note at the top of the page on Cleveland.com: Editor's note: This story first appeared in The Plain Dealer on July 21, 2007 This is not news, it is left over on the web/server from the original posting. The developers went to the legislature to get them to provide half of the funding for the portion that would be paid for by a sales tax increase, I think. Don't think it got out of committee, so the developers dropped the plans entirely. In any case, it is NOT going to happen. MLS has no plans to expand beyond next year, when it goes to 20 teams. That is the max teams that a soccer league can stand without relegation. There is still a possibility of Cleveland getting a franchise in USL when it is reestablished after this year's USSF takeover. On another front, I saw the Boys from Labatt's Blue, UBuffalo play over the weekend. They have a couple of midfielders who are decent, but they can't compete against top flight teams, being overwhelmed by New Mexico (1-0, outshot about 14-2) and UC-Santa Barbara 4-0. Adios de Tres Piedras, NM. Sadly, I'll have to miss the Tulsa game as I'll be camped at 10000 ft in Carson NF.

Ask and you shall receive. This is accurate to the end of the 2008 season. Men's Soccer 2009 media guide, page 36 Interesting historical insight I noticed -- Akron lost to Michigan State in the NCAA tournament three straight years '66-'68. All at Akron. Is it time to schedule the Spartans for old time sake?

Doc Z, as Caleb tried to say, that's not "cocky", its just a matter of fact. No one in college soccer can deny it, and the only way to argue otherwise is on the pitch. But the other reality I read was this: "This is the flagship program in the MAC, and on campus." Of course that has been the case for a generation, and its about time the rest of the athletic programs began to compete and set higher standards (including the administrators). Akron needs to be more than just a soccer school. Also, I can't help noticing the by-line. Is this Elton's first venture into soccer? Maybe not, but nice work, I don't mind saying. With the one exception -- I think the UA began the reference in the schedule release of calling Cal State-Northridge "Cal-Northridge". I would expect the Plain Dealer to be able to know there's no UC-Northridge, but I guess I have a (far) West Coast bias. Well, actually, I'm on the South shore right now.

Next year the team WAS supposed to play in UC-Irvine's tournament. However, with Cal-St Northridge coming to UA this year, I suspect the Zips may go to the Valley instead. See you in 2011, LAZip?

The First Energy GP-1 Phase Change Coliseum.

This has been discussed a bit on here, but I think it's pretty likely that Valentin is gone. Sarkodie, ditto. I keep thinking -- maybe the guy with the highest ceiling, who has only begun to scratch the surface of his talent, is Ben Speas. Speas and Caldwell will be the Gavin and Zemanski of 2011. Ben and Perry Kitchen are capable of scoring goals from the midfield, no doubt about it. As good as this team is this year, 2011...Mmmmm, mmmmm, Good!

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soc...D=10800#results I'm not sure what these are based upon, frankly (pro potential??). The thing that amazes me, from the Akron perspective is how Chad Barson can be ranked that far down - #64. The two guys just in front of Chad (Luthy and Restrepo) aren't too shabby either. Barson and Valentin are pretty much inseparable in ability if you ask me. I think Korb and Nanchoff are ahead of some other Akron players just because of their experience as senior/junior, but the others behind are liable to pass them -- if they stay long enough. What do people think?

Read the last sentance. Couldn't stop the impulse to bring this to Zipmeister's attention. However, the award for misappropriated statement of the week goes to the football coach from James Madison. I turned on ESPNNews after the VaTech-JMU game, just as the JMU coach was being interviewed. His analysis of what went wrong for the opposition: "Virginia Tech was just not firing on all syllables."

Be careful what you wish for. As Bull-In-Exile stated, this is most likely not a good thing for the MAC or Akron. A split like this has been coming for a long time, but the most likely scenario has the BCS conferences fractioning off from the NCAA. This would leave the MAC, C-USA, the Sunbelt, etc. somewhere in college sports purgatory between the BCS and the NAIA. You could pretty well kiss any kind of significant TV deals goodbye, the BCS schools would be taking those with them. The NCAA basketball tournament would be a shell of its former self. The soccer team would probably take the biggest hit as the College Cup would be stripped of top competition like North Carolina, Wake Forrest, Virginia, Indiana, etc. thereby dilluting the significance of future tournament runs by Zips soccer. As much as the NCAA deserves its criticism, and needs to make some changes, this kind of harm to the organization would be akin to cutting off one's own nose to spite one's face. Didn't listen to the CBS-CSTV, but I find the whole scenario quite hard to believe. But then I never thought the Tea Party would go and blow up the Republican Party either. I was surrounded by anarchists as a student organization director at Portland State a decade ago, but somehow I never imagined anarchy would overtake the establishment. This is truly a whole new world we inhabit.

Do we have Youtube footage of that? The fist-pump? Would love to see it!

Carli has other talents: (From the Ohio State Fair site) Junior Fair Horses - Horses - Pole Bending- pony (9-18 yrs) 1st - Smith, Aryn, Lucas, OH 2nd - Pimm, Carli, Plain City, OH We old timers can't help wondering how she'd look riding a near-mascot from Put-in-Bay.

Coming back on point as much as I can in this smoke-filled room, here I go: We have now had two coaches and recruiting leaders leave the program in the past year -- both of whom improved the program's recruiting stance -- we were, for the first time, going toe-to-toe for High Majors, on the back of our NCAA appearance in 2009. Over the past year our recruiting position has gone back to where it was BEFORE our tournament appearance. I guess it goes to show, you have to strike while the iron's hot. We didn't. Now, as far as Quickzips' "apples and oranges" argument goes: We are able to recruit against anyone in the country in soccer because we have a long history of success in a number of different areas , please try to remember back to the age of Coach Ken Lolla. The reason why we were a good, but not great soccer program was because we COULDN'T compete with the top-10 teams for US international youth players. Now we not only compete, but normally win those recruiting wars. We long to be the Gonzaga of the East in BB. But first we have to be the Beast of the MAC. Pardon my skepticism, but I don't hear any roar from the JAR. It's up to Keith to make that jump, and legacy or no legacy, it's time to hold his hand to the fire. The time is now, not in three years -- the soccer team has just one goal -- a national title in 2010. Likewise appropriate goals to demand from the other programs are a competitive football team -- and a MAC champion in basketball. That's putting all our fruit in the same basket, and coming out with Jamba Juice. Do they have that in Green yet, Dave?

Anybody ranked in the top-10. That's the only acceptable build-up to a MAC conference season. And, after a , teams will learn that they have to come to us, if they want a shot at #1. That's why the two wins on the road over Top 5 ACC teams was Sooooooo important. There is no longer any reason why we should have to travel to play these teams -- except maybe every third season. Is that the ding-aling you were looking for? --edit-- After thinking, my best answer is: Anybody -- so long as it's in Santa Barbara and in December.

What they mean is the last four AT-LARGE teams. This is just another way to screw any possible Mid-Majors that might sneak in, while not touching Northern Arizona or Alcorn State. They don't have the balls to do this to their vaunted automatic qualifiers, a dozen or more of whom are worse than any at-large selection. Am I not correct, that the "bottom-four" at large teams will get stuck with 16 seeds? The bottom four at-large teams will likely be 11-13 seeds, or wherever they would be have been seeded. Then explain why they are being forced to play an extra game -- just to wear themselves out before taking on the BCS Boys? I may be full of Okolehau, but I trust the NCAA Selection Committee about as far as I can throw 'em. Well, if you add 3 teams to the dance, someone is going to have to play an additional game. Might as well include the 3 teams that wouldn't have gotten in otherwise. This only affects the team that would have been the last team in under the old format. And my point is that if anyone is forced to play additional teams, it should be the LOWEST RANKED teams -- not the lowest ranked AT-LARGE teams. As I've been saying, the lowest-seeded at-large team is usually a 12 seed. That leaves about 16 automatic berth conference champions who are lower seeds. Let THEM play in Dayton!

Maybe a former player for the Director of Basketball Operations position. I would love to see Cedrick Middleton come back if playing in Europe doesn't work out for him. Any chance Dials would change his mind about working for the Sweaters? I know I'll get hammered for this, but it looks like the rats are abandoning the ship, like ASAP. Don't look outside your portals Zips fans, but that thar is an iceberg! One assistant coach moves on to a better position and a kid who graduated from the program 2 years ago and was never reported as having been offered a position on the staff takes a job with another school and the rats are abandoning the ship? Not sure I buy that. We've lost assistant coaches before (Shaka Smart and Jeff Boals both come to mind). I actually take it as kind of a compliment. Tells me that Dambrot is surrounding himself with good people and theres some recognition out there for the quality of program that we have been running here. Unless you are privy to some information that I'm not, I don't see how this is really an indication of a larger underlying problem. Not talkin bout one assistant coach Qz. Talkin about wholesale "changes", none of which at dis time appears mo bettah. KD is one of my favorite Akronites, no doubt, but my view from da i-lawns says da nex'two years are make or break time for UA BB. Unless Gamechanger's li'l one becomes a MAC POY type in the off season of one season, I don't see things gettin any better than last year. 4th place is not an unrealistic pick, given the circumstances. What does Dylan Ennis know that you don't? This may be your opinion, but I'd like to see guys like Euton, Gilliam, Egner, Abreu, Treadwell, etc, actually play together before I'd draw that conclusion. JohnnyZip, I wish I could share your confidence -- and, I'm hardly giving up on this team, but my analysis is, we've gone from competing with and at least once beating Big East and ACC teams for recruits, to being satisfied over taking "late-bloomers" and "hidden gems" recruited by the Wisconsin-Milwaukees and CSUs of the world. I think Dylan Ennis agrees with me. Outside of Zeke I can't think of one time where we've went up against Big East and ACC teams for a recruit and had any chance of winning out. A quick review of our history of recruiting on rivals bears that out. In fact, going back to 2004 I can only find a couple of recruits that the Zips even offered who had Big East & ACC offers. Brian Walsh-SG-2008 had offers from Maryland, West Virginia, Pitt & St. Joe's. Signed with Xavier, ironically recently transfered to Akron. Mike Shanahan-SG-2008 had offers from Pitt, Duke and West Virginia. Signed with Pitt. Zeke Marshall-C-2009 had offers from Pitt, Virginia and Virginia Tech. Signed with the Zips. Reality just doesn't line up with your line of thinking. Even the point about Dylan Ennis is invalid. Yes, Ennis decommitted from the Zips. His current list of offers, Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Rice, UIC, Creighton, and reportedly UW-Green Bay. Not a Big East or ACC school among them. People need to stop looking at Zeke's committment as some sort of sign that we are ready to consistently steal top talent from the power conferences of the college basketball world and see it for what it is. An outlier situation where all the stars lined up for us to nab a talented big man away from some very good programs. I think the main difference between my thinking, and that of Quickzips and Daveingreen is that they are readily able to ACCEPT that Akron will never be able to compete with and secure High Major type recruits, and that therefore KD and staff should not waste their time on future Zeke Marshalls and get in line with the mediocrity of the MAC, while I REFUSE to accept that reasoning. I guess I've become infected with Porteritis, while the rest of the ZipsNation has gotten your shots to prevent it from taking effect. I only hope the bug is strong enough that it is immune to KD and Co.'s vaccine. And the smoke around my head? It's a screen against the nurses of mediocrity.

By this time, I'm sure ITZ has been told this on a nearly daily basis, so let's make sure we don't overburden him with the facts. Zips (American) football fans are having enough trouble these days. But, in three years they can start all over again.

It's what many of us wish could and would happen to amateur athletes (Getting a life after college). But, I'm not sure what your point is GP-1 -- and come clean, did you marry a sweater girl?

What they mean is the last four AT-LARGE teams. This is just another way to screw any possible Mid-Majors that might sneak in, while not touching Northern Arizona or Alcorn State. They don't have the balls to do this to their vaunted automatic qualifiers, a dozen or more of whom are worse than any at-large selection. Am I not correct, that the "bottom-four" at large teams will get stuck with 16 seeds? The bottom four at-large teams will likely be 11-13 seeds, or wherever they would be have been seeded. Then explain why they are being forced to play an extra game -- just to wear themselves out before taking on the BCS Boys? I may be full of Okolehau, but I trust the NCAA Selection Committee about as far as I can throw 'em.

Maybe for football. Wasn't he all-state in volleyball?

Maybe a former player for the Director of Basketball Operations position. I would love to see Cedrick Middleton come back if playing in Europe doesn't work out for him. Any chance Dials would change his mind about working for the Sweaters? I know I'll get hammered for this, but it looks like the rats are abandoning the ship, like ASAP. Don't look outside your portals Zips fans, but that thar is an iceberg! One assistant coach moves on to a better position and a kid who graduated from the program 2 years ago and was never reported as having been offered a position on the staff takes a job with another school and the rats are abandoning the ship? Not sure I buy that. We've lost assistant coaches before (Shaka Smart and Jeff Boals both come to mind). I actually take it as kind of a compliment. Tells me that Dambrot is surrounding himself with good people and theres some recognition out there for the quality of program that we have been running here. Unless you are privy to some information that I'm not, I don't see how this is really an indication of a larger underlying problem. Not talkin bout one assistant coach Qz. Talkin about wholesale "changes", none of which at dis time appears mo bettah. KD is one of my favorite Akronites, no doubt, but my view from da i-lawns says da nex'two years are make or break time for UA BB. Unless Gamechanger's li'l one becomes a MAC POY type in the off season of one season, I don't see things gettin any better than last year. 4th place is not an unrealistic pick, given the circumstances. What does Dylan Ennis know that you don't? This may be your opinion, but I'd like to see guys like Euton, Gilliam, Egner, Abreu, Treadwell, etc, actually play together before I'd draw that conclusion. JohnnyZip, I wish I could share your confidence -- and, I'm hardly giving up on this team, but my analysis is, we've gone from competing with and at least once beating Big East and ACC teams for recruits, to being satisfied over taking "late-bloomers" and "hidden gems" recruited by the Wisconsin-Milwaukees and CSUs of the world. I think Dylan Ennis agrees with me.

Look bigzipguy, we know you like to show your talent for finding gametracker scores that you think no one else has. You win! Now how about showing your humility by providing the link. You'll certainly win my vote in this election. My name's Z.I.P. and I approved this message.

Maybe a former player for the Director of Basketball Operations position. I would love to see Cedrick Middleton come back if playing in Europe doesn't work out for him. Any chance Dials would change his mind about working for the Sweaters? I know I'll get hammered for this, but it looks like the rats are abandoning the ship, like ASAP. Don't look outside your portals Zips fans, but that thar is an iceberg! One assistant coach moves on to a better position and a kid who graduated from the program 2 years ago and was never reported as having been offered a position on the staff takes a job with another school and the rats are abandoning the ship? Not sure I buy that. We've lost assistant coaches before (Shaka Smart and Jeff Boals both come to mind). I actually take it as kind of a compliment. Tells me that Dambrot is surrounding himself with good people and theres some recognition out there for the quality of program that we have been running here. Unless you are privy to some information that I'm not, I don't see how this is really an indication of a larger underlying problem. Not talkin bout one assistant coach Qz. Talkin about wholesale "changes", none of which at dis time appears mo bettah. KD is one of my favorite Akronites, no doubt, but my view from da i-lawns says da nex'two years are make or break time for UA BB. Unless Gamechanger's li'l one becomes a MAC POY type in the off season of one season, I don't see things gettin any better than last year. 4th place is not an unrealistic pick, given the circumstances. What does Dylan Ennis know that you don't?

If Huskies are any good, they should win this -- where are they playing?

What are we talking about here?? Is there a link I missed?