Z.I.P.

Well, I've tried giving this lady all the room she needs to provide a winner. She keeps giving away -- or throwing out, the resources she needs to win. Was Kyle Baumgartner not MAC Rookie of the Year? Akron would be MAC favorites in 2010-2011, if the team had all the players that she has shoved out the door. I'd can't wait to read the Great GP One's "Get rid of all those troublemakers. Winning is all that matters" reply. The program has, without question, gotten progressively better since JK took over the team at the expense of our long history of miserable WBB teams. I would argue she has performed the best turnaround in school history and there is still a long way to go. I would also argue she is the best coach on campus because of her results....winning, and where the team came from....look at past records. At times, there will be a bump along the road. We'll see if this is a bump or if it is nothing. I wouldn't be too impressed with post season awards in the MAC. We don't really know why these players are leaving. I would like to know. If they are problems, goodbye to them. If they don't like it at UofA, goodbye to a potential malcontent. You can't let the animals run the zoo. Hey, it's a rainy Saturday night in Honolulu, so what else is there to do but reply to my bud GP-1? The number of players who have departed coach Kest's program over the past three years is fast approaching double figures. No, we don't know the exact reasons behind the departures (some of them at least). But regardless of the reasons, in no way can it be other than a black mark on the team and its leader. Who is the one who recruited these players? I believe in nearly all of the cases, it was Kest who brought them to Akron (the W Va guard was a freshman on Kest's first team, maybe one other). Seems that if these players cannot somehow live up to the standards set by Akron Athletics, then Kest has to take the blame for bringing them here in the first place. If the players are departing because they prefer to play for another program and coach, that also reflects on her coaching style. In either case, it is a repetitive problem that is preventing the team from reaching it's potential. Kest has doubtless turned the program around, and deserves credit for that. The program is on a stronger footing than before her arrival. I think, however, that any objective observer would have real concern over the high number of players who have been unable to continue and graduate from UA. I think that according to the NCAA graduation rate formula, the program will end up losing scholarships on account of these departures.

Has ESPNU ever shown college (men's) soccer? I don't think so.

Are you talking local, or national TV?

Yappi goes way back -- but I didn't know it had become Ohio-centric now. It started up, as I recall, in the mid-90s as one of the very first bulletin boards for high school and youth sports teams, but after the first two or three years, there was still almost nothing -- it was like the white area on the AT&T map (Verizon?). I hadn't seen it in years, and looks like it finally developed into something. A great outlet for Dave to find out about the Green soccer teams!

Here's my favorite line: SMU is, as the name suggest, a Methodist school, though not overwhelmingly so. So that means boys and girls are allowed to dance together?

Skip-Zip, I've been reading your comments, and trying hard not to get drawn into what to me sounds like trolling, but I would really like to understand your logic. I don't personally think Ohio is a very good market for sports in general --with obvious exceptions like Bucknutz FB and BB, which gets tons of free publicity and the belief that failing to support it is "unpatriotic". However the statement about how many attendees at a game are "soccer fans" mystifies me. Are you trying to say that the sport can only draw if it is successful? Well, duh! Maybe UA could average around 20,000 in their new football stadium, if they were MAC champions or contenders. Does that mean most of those wouldn't be "real football fans", just bandwagon joiners? I'll try to keep as objective a perspective on this discussion as I can, considering I have pretty much given up on any football game that isn't The Beautiful Game. Sorry about that. Maybe if alma mater becomes a force worth paying attention to, I'll come back. No, not "successful". i'm not sure how long you've been around, but our soccer program has already been "successful" for decades. But last year, we had the ultimate honor of being undefeated and ranked #1 in the nation. If you go back, you'll see that I participated in this thread to dispute the point that NE Ohio is full of soccer fans just "waiting for a team to get behind". And I don't see that. I see the spike in attendance last year being mostly attributed to people just wanting to be a part of a possible national championship run by a Zips athletic team. Don't worry about putting off old Z.I.P. I've been listening to people who don't "get" soccer (including my own family) for as long as I've been watching the game -- near 40 years now. And I've been listening also to folks who just can't "get" those who don't get the game. That's the amazing thing -- it's like they live in parallel universes -- across the street from one another. One thing that soccer non-fans don't realize, that I've found (this is part of my response to what Dave from Green said in another thread in response to my statement that soccer is "more than just a game" or words to that effect), most soccer fans I know ONLY or just about exclusively follow that sport, and don't have time to be spectators of other sports. That may not be the experience of others, but it's the case where I live. I have been around club soccer for about twenty years, and can only think of a couple of top boys players who played other games. They and their families are completely devoted to the sport. Now in girl's youth soccer, I can think of more girl players who play other games -- mostly basketball, but the top players, when they're ID's as future stars -- ODP level players for example, they concentrate on soccer as #1. Now back to the earlier matter: Skip you wrote -- "I see the spike in attendance last year being mostly attributed to people just wanting to be a part of a possible national championship run by a Zips athletic team." Now how does that differ from fans "Just waiting for a team to get behind"? That's what I don't get. I'm just waiting for a Akron football team to get behind. But if I watch them, I still won't pay much attention to other college games, let alone the pros. But then again, my mirth for pro football is no different from other pro sports -- I only watch MLS (and overseas leagues) and when possible, NHL. And I'd probably prefer for things to stay the way they are. If soccer became as "mainstream" as the other sports, it would have to become a tool of TV and merchandising like those other games. We have enought "Becks" in American soccer, without a "Decision" Hour for Landon Donovan.

339 minute scoreless streak! Three games and 69 minutes without a goal. I wouldn't expect KC to suddenly become a title contender -- or likely even a playoff contender -- but I'd sure look for Teal Bunbury to get a lot more playing time in the next weeks, if the KC coach wishes to keep his job. the only other real goal scorer on their side is Kei Kamara, and there aren't many defenses that he scares. By the way, would FSC and other announcers please learn his name -- it's pronounced Kay, not Kai! Oh, well. Way to go Buns. Now if Seattle can just win a game -- think they're on ESPN2 on Thursday. Columbus takes on NYRB on Saturday -- will Thierry Henry be in uniform??

Welcome aboard. Even if its from down in Carolina, we are glad to find more knowledgeable discussion of the Beautiful Game on ZN.o. And I guess since we let your neighbor, The Great GP1 expound his vast libertarian worldviews, we have to let you try and balance the image of the Win-Sal area. Don't be shy come August-Dec. We need news from the ACC, and I for one would like to have some of the talk move from BigSoccer board to ZN.o

The Cobras!!! My first exposure to the world's sport. Who was that???? Benny Dargle? Conrad Earnest? It wasn't Schlothauer, he went to CSU. That one has me thinking!!! Cleveland Cobras! Right. Thanks. The name of the English striker will come to me, probably as I'm falling asleep tonight. He was about 6-6 and rail thin. Played for Coach Parker I think in the early 80's. The ASL went under about 1984 or 85 as I recall. I think he played a season in Jacksonville, and I recall hearing years ago that he was coaching in Fla.

Skip-Zip, I've been reading your comments, and trying hard not to get drawn into what to me sounds like trolling, but I would really like to understand your logic. I don't personally think Ohio is a very good market for sports in general --with obvious exceptions like Bucknutz FB and BB, which gets tons of free publicity and the belief that failing to support it is "unpatriotic". However the statement about how many attendees at a game are "soccer fans" mystifies me. Are you trying to say that the sport can only draw if it is successful? Well, duh! Maybe UA could average around 20,000 in their new football stadium, if they were MAC champions or contenders. Does that mean most of those wouldn't be "real football fans", just bandwagon joiners? I'll try to keep as objective a perspective on this discussion as I can, considering I have pretty much given up on any football game that isn't The Beautiful Game. Sorry about that. Maybe if alma mater becomes a force worth paying attention to, I'll come back.

Well, I've tried giving this lady all the room she needs to provide a winner. She keeps giving away -- or throwing out, the resources she needs to win. Was Kyle Baumgartner not MAC Rookie of the Year? Akron would be MAC favorites in 2010-2011, if the team had all the players that she has shoved out the door. I'd can't wait to read the Great GP One's "Get rid of all those troublemakers. Winning is all that matters" reply.

Good for LeBron. We can only hope that he continues to do good things for his hometown. Going back to Jason Whitlock's Fox Sports column expressing distaste for Jackson's remarks, here's why I agree with Whitlock: Slavery happened. Slavery was bad. Slavery is distant history. Prejudice happened. Prejudice was bad. Prejudice still happens. Prejudice is still bad. But if a white man treats a black man the same way he would treat a white man (or vice versa), it ain't prejudice, and it's not remotely connected with slavery. The only way Jesse Jackson is right is if Dan Gilbert would have reacted any differently if LeBron were white. Given identical circumstances, I personally don't believe that Gilbert would have reacted any differently if the player was Larry Bird, and if Larry Bird had been born in Akron, and if Larry Bird had done exactly the same things that LeBron did. That's just my personal opinion based on all the data I've seen. Different people with different perspectives will see it differently. I admit, it's difficult to use the term "slavery" in America without reference to race -- and yet harder for many to look beyond it when it comes from the mouth of a black civil rights activist, however, there is the use of "slavery" in sports solely referencing ownership of an athlete by a team owner. That sort of "slavery" supposedly was put to rest by Curt Flood 35 + years ago. However, it sure sounded like Dan Gilbert felt he somehow "owned" LeBron James, and should have been compensated for his "loss". Sorry, Dan. That's the way pro sports works. Maybe you should buy another franchise, like Tosu, if you want guys who can't be free agents.

Mahalo! Austin Aztex. one of the best names in sports!

There were a lot of bandwagon jumpers there, for sure. Just looking for a winner. But judging by what a lot of fans were wearing to the games, what they were talking about there, their demographic, I have to disagree. I was there (a common theme when we talk about soccer here, if you haven't figured out yet). The Caps (short for Whitecaps) were owned by retired pro player Mike Sweeney. They played in 1997 and 98 in what was then "D3", now the USL's Second Division. In 1997 they played at Byers Field. The led D3 in attendance, breaking single game and season attendance records. They played an exhibition against the Columbus Crew and packed the place. I had season tickets. (See, there it is again). In 1998 the league threw down a rule that teams could not play on artificial turf. Mike tried to find a natural turf stadium to play in, the team bounced around the county, and attendance plummeted. Unable to secure a suitable venue for 1999, Mike decided not to field a team. This was the first D3 team in Cleveland the league screwed up. So if the soccer program wasn't limited in the number of tickets it sold last year, you don't think they could have gotten 10,000 people for the NCAA Tournament and outdrew the E Mich game? The Force use to draw 20,000 for INDOOR soccer. They drew that many to the RB for an EXHIBITION game. Been there, saw that, still got the T-shirt. I've been watching soccer for 30 years, at the local level and world wide. You better bring more than chest pounding to get something like that past me... You go Spin! I gotta admit, I never heard of the Cleveland Whitecaps either, but I know I would have been in the stands with you if I hadn't moved before ITZ & RFR were born. Where is Byers Field, and what is capacity? Hard to imagine the Force playing to over 20k at the RB -- who was the opponent? The only Cleveland team I remember playing outdoors was the Stars (or Comets?) in the 70s. Was that the American Soccer League? The big red-head English striker from Akron was the Rookie of the Year in the league -- then it went into oblivion and took the entire US pro soccer game with it. I do know, because I followed a team in probably the same league (Hawaii Tsunami), that what you are calling "D3" was when minor league soccer was ruled by the United States System of Soccer Leagues (USSSL). The USL only came into existence sometime after 2000. And who knows what they call the minors today. So, how many people do you think would show up to watch an American football game in Nottingham? That's a real lol!

I'm sorry, but that might be one of the worst ideas I have ever heard. By letting every team in, you destroy the 4-month regular season in favor a couple week tournament. If the regular season wasn't meaningless enough, you want to reward bad teams with home court advantage? That certainly doesn't make any sense. Actually, you could conduct the tournament the way overseas football (i.e., "soccer") leagues (e.g., England's Footy Association - F.A.) conduct their league cup competition. The F.A. Cup (or the US Open Cup in the US/Canada) is played throughout the season, with teams taking maybe one week a month off from regular season games to participate in cup competition. Their is a random draw to determine home-away, until later in the tournament. You could even do it with Div's 1 & II combined -- how about rather than George Mason being the dark horse, it's Findlay or Indiana PA (it's Sweich time!). And this way, the season can actually be shortened. Of course, the league championships would be determined by regular season records rather than playoffs, so Dan Gilbert won't get his check. Aaahhhhhhh!

This isn't going to effect the MAC. I think you misread the article. The last four at-large teams will play each other for 11-12 seeds, while the last four automatic qualifiers will play each for 16 seeds. Neither of those will affect the MAC since we aren't getting at-large bids or 16-seeds. Well... if the MAC ever DOES get an at-large team, they can be certain they'll be playing in the play-in game. This not only sucks, but is completely irrational. The last four at-large selections are usually better teams than half the automatic-bid conference winners. Wait, Captain Stats taking off from Green, in 3,2,1...

Akron is a football city. Are there enough people who like football to fill a small stadium? Yes -- once a season...maybe.

USL folded, but I think MLS bought it up and has transformed it into some kind of farm system. I could be way off, but that's the vibe I get and the teams are still playing so they must be getting sponsored from somewhere. My understanding is that because there weren't enough teams left to field a legit league after the USL split, that the USSF intervened and brought clubs together under their brand. BUT -- FSC is still running their "USL Live" highlight/PR show, so maybe there is still a second minor league still under that title? However, FSC has not televised a single USL or whatever minor league game this season, and likely isn't going to.

Actually, it rings true -- to an extent. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blo...away-slave.html

This one is pretty sobering. Over the entire country, the Zips did not appear in the most popular group even once (Can't appeared twice). The only other MAC teams not to appear were Buffalo, WMU and EMU. We have a loooooot of work to do. Actually it was just UB, EMU and Akron. WMU was a might third in the Pacific! We love our Broncos out here. Interesting info: Rutgers is the most watched Big East team?!? And Marshall is #1 in the CUSA?! Randy Moss lives!

Pardon my ignorance...I haven't seen a "minor league" soccer game since the mid-90s, when it was called USSSL (The Tsunami here made it to the league semis with Billy Thompson and a couple of the Cameroons Indomitable Lions). I thought that "USL" had ceased to exist after the league folded last year. Do PDL teams make money? I guess since they don't pay their players, it makes it easier. lol. regarding the City Stars, I think they would have done better in USL-1 if they hadn't lost their manager and best players before the season.

Dan Gilbert called LeBron James "narcissistic". Isn't that like PT Barnum calling his tightrope walker "light-footed". Dan, I'm sorry when you took over, they didn't tell you you're paying a teenager a hundred million dollars to entertain your clients. This ain't the opera here Dan, it's much closer to WWE. Thought you would have gotten used to it by now. When Cleveland hosts Miami next year, I expect as many heat jerseys in the house as Cavs'.

How much time did it take you to post this thread showing just how peeved you are at your rivals for accomplishing something you don't give a %#@* about? Kind of reminds me of soccer haters going on ESPN's World Cup site, and declaring, "that isn't a sport, cause they don't score enough. And they have TIES! TIES!" I guess since it bothers people enough to write, they must care after all. Frankly a simple would have sufficed. Can we get a SOCCER SUCKS sign for ITZ & Co.?

Unfortunately, the "scholarship situation" in soccer cannot be determined by looking at the roster and finding how many seniors there are. With 9.5 schollies max, teams have to spread the wealth. Well, I guess that's another example of Obama's impact on sports! You'd have to get inside info to find out who is on an athletic scholarship, versus academics, versus paying their own way. You can find my PM box, if you want to share. And you know I am discreet with your insider info. Soccerboy414, where are you?

I think it should be live on WAKR, Channel 23, with Jerry Healey hosting. Has to be on Friday, though. Otherwise, KingKron is a total sellout!!!