Z.I.P.

I'm amazed no one over there remarked about what happened to me -- in the middle of the second overtime, I think, ESPNU suddenly, without warning switched to professional bull wrestling (or whatever the heck it's called -- I don't tune to Versus that often!). I just switched back to the Deuce, and the game was over there -- but I knew people would scream bloody murder.

To my knowledge -- though my memory may have gone the opposite direction of my cholesterol count after all the fried food I've eaten -- the penalty kick rule has been the same as it currently is, as long as I can recall.The point to understand is this (I'll try to explain it as easily as I did to David Lee Morgan in 2005, when he game Akron two more losses than they actually had): Penalty kicks are NOT part of the game that precedes them. It's just that simple. When a game goes through regulation and two overtimes with the score even, it is recorded as a draw (with the exception, I suppose of the final, in which case, perhaps just to avoid confusion or contradiction, you cannot have a 'draw' for reasons that make we soccer purists shrug). The only reason that penalty kicks occur is for the purpose of determining which team advances or is champion in a tournament. I'm always dismayed at how Americans fail to understand these rules that have been around since the dawn of time . And it provides we soccer snobs yet another excuse for looking down our noses at the non-Guinness drinking world where "football" is something you run with in your hands. The boys at Where Are Ya Designs have a sticker and T-shirt with an American football above the word "Throwball". I think it started when someone suggested it should be called "handball", not football, and some fan of the other football said, "well , nya nya, yours should be called kickball", etc, etc...

For the record, I'm predicting Bunny. If he scores on Sunday, it's a wrap. I sure hope however, that that doesn't convince the young man that he should bolt for greener grounds. I must honestly point to the scouting reports, which properly point out the lack of touching ability 'at pace'. In MLS, you must not only be blazing fast at that position, as Teal arguably is, but you must have the softest of touches and the ability to allude defenders and goalkeepers at full run. Even Steve Zakuani -- who everyone will say was ahead of where Teal is today a year ago, is still learning that skill. A year of further 'finishing' will result in Bunbury becoming a prospect on the same level as Steve-o. And it will provide me one more chance to view Teal and his mates in Blue and Gold before he wears the pro kit.Okay, at the risk of going overboard, I will provide the briefest possible of reviews of the semi-final game #2, Akron vs North Carolina. UNC was both the fastest, and the best defending team that Akron has faced this year. They will face a similar opponent on Sunday, and I am confident they -- meaning both the players AND the coaching staff, have learned from the game what needs to change in the final. First, if they get the same type of domination at the outset of the championship that they had on Friday, they must bring more numbers up earlier. Sarkodie's skill and pace on the right side should frighten the Hoos out of their shoes. Next, I'm pretty sure from listening to him at halftime yesterday that Caleb will not place Nagbe in the defensive center half spot he sank to vs UNC -- stay up high if you want to create more pressure. Quite frankly, I have to feel the game will be decided in the first half. I think the team that scores first will have a major advantage, not because they will sit on the lead, but because it will force the opponent to take chances that could lead to a second goal on the counter. Friday: Did everyone notice who did NOT line up for Akron on the penalty kicks? Bunbury and Nagbe of course. While that may be a pre-conceived strategy, I'm afraid that our two stars let us down -- and I think they know it and are going to be more ready and concentrated on the goal that can secure the team's goal on Sunday. From my view over here in the sunny Pacific, the Zips who showed best on this occasion were the very young defenders -- Kofi along with Barson -- very steady all around as well as flushing the offensive mentality especially in the OT. And young Ben Speas made a couple of crosses from his left flank that were of professional quality -- sad that no one was running to the spot or the result might have been quicker. The only player who really looked nervous to me was Ben Zemanski, who made a number of errant, overly long passes in the first half that were entirely unnecessary. Blair Gavin, despite having his body screwed in the wrong direction on his SOG, was his usual self, unacclaimed but crucial cog in Akron's play on both ends of the pitch. I think he could be the most underrated player in the nation, certainly Zips Nation. You know, for that matter, it was unfortunate that the ESPN announcers, who overall did a fine job (I've always been a Dellacamara fan), failed to mention that only four starters are older than sophomores, and the same number are freshmen. Also, no mention at all of Nanchoff being off. They might be surprised if Akron starts a different lineup and uses fewer players -- Caldwell probably got his most PT of the season, for example on Friday. I thought that Alex Preuss the MLS referee did a brilliant job. He did not call the game as he would an MLS game -- properly. The first yellow card on (was his name 'King'?) he just knocked over the ballhandler from behind -- a more often than not booking at the college level -- though not in MLS. The second time, as the announcers clearly pointed out, he was the last defender between the ball and the goal and took his man down. That second yellow was more clear than the first -- and the offender put up little argument. The total fouls were I believe 15-8 Carolina. I DO think Akron will need to be a bit more physical off the ball against Virginia, though there is no need to foul people. Haven't seen any mention of the broadcast showing the fans. They often showed the Rowdies and Akron fans -- not just after the final PK. It appeared that Akron's section was better organized than Carolina's -- if they even had a student or cheering section. Were they really the "home team"? My hat's off to the Rowdies, but they must put on another stellar performacne on Sunday against one of their favorite opponents -- the potty-mouth keeper they've already run up against. Let's rebalance the score sheet on Diego Restrepo. Strap it on, and let his ears flame out as the ball flames past him into the net!Sunday December 13, biggest day in UA athletic history? No pressure though, with a group as confident and poised as we have. Just one more makes 24, and that spells V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.

Message to the Akron Jerkin'Banal: Please put Mr. McManamon on the Cleveland Browns, or Indians, or any subject about which I don't care. He clearly knows so little about the University of Akron athletics program, that all he can offer up is an endless array of retread cliches. Oh, my eyes!

What was the problem with him in the second half???

Anyone notice the things being said about Notre Dame, e.g., "The cupboard is not bare in South Bend" sound familar to Zip fans? Is Akron the Notre Dame of the MAC?

I think we should give Terry Pluto more appreciation than he ordinarily receives here. For example he's determined how the new coach's wife is going to help revive the dormant football program:His wife, Denise, is a former assistant women's basketball coach at Wisconsin -- so she will be an asset in recruiting. My eyes sure are getting tired

I too believe that rumor is fallacious. But I enjoyed how the reaction deteriorated into something akin to a ZNO thread:Will RFK be called the Porterhouse? I'll steak my reputation on it.

I'm starting to get eye strain from their rolling around in their sockets every time I read about North Carolina's "storied program". Prior to 2001, North Carolina's MEN had been to fewer Final Fours than Akron - 0. This, I believe is their fourth - with one national title in 2001. Let's not get the Tarheel Gentlemen confused with Anson Dorrance's ladies who have won a total of twenty NCAA Championships! I firmly believe Akron will equal NC's final four total in 2011 -- when they could be going for national title #... Whoops! No jinxes allowed! Let's put it this way: UNC is one of the up and coming men's programs, along with Akron, UC Santa Barbara, South Florida, Creighton, etcetera. Have a good day. I'm looking forward to a very good weekend myself.

Where the #@%*'s the poll?

We can pretend we're with the Zips in the Sun and Fun Capitol of Central Carolina.http://www.ncaa.com/graphics/champpage/Men...chure_FINAL.pdf

Blooper Day: Heels Preparing to take on Red Star Belgrade and their well-armed fans, lead by the the dreaded Arkon.http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/view.gal?id=59902(Hint for background: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinamo_Zagreb...r_Belgrade_riot

I go back and repeat my oft-repeated comment: It's a crap shoot. Cordelli or Meyer? You DO have to wait and see (though I voted Good Hire). But one way of looking at this is how the process does change each time we make ANOTHER FB coaching change. Hiring Lee Owens I think took a couple months of BS to get a HS coach. It was over a month to get Brookhart, during which time the media broke stories about which BCS coordinator Akron had been turned down by today (remember Browning at Minnesota). This hire was done very quickly and cleanly. That in itself Tommy Dub deserves credit for.I'll be on the horn today with the Manti Te'o and Roby Toma families at Punahou to urge their kids transfer to follow the guy who recruited them! And finally, while we're on the subject of Notre Dame... There's another school in that state that is on the verge of becoming the "Notre Dame of collegiate soccer", if they don't make the correct hire in the next week or two. And everyone should know that there is only ONE answer to who that hire is... Let's turn our attention to keeping the best college coach in America on our campus!

You should email Tom and notify him of him of the error in his ways. Here's a template from a few years ago. You write a letter like that, to keep a coach that's 17 - 95?!No thanks...I'll trust the AD on this call.Thank you Captain. I'm sure everyone loved this touche' comment: Are you an idiot? It was a women's basketball coach. Its not like he just fired JD because he had a friend who needed a job.Bring back Balki Bartokomous! Where'd he go anyway?

It's Ya-nellow. Ya know? And Elton Alexander is pronounced "Zack the Zip". Ya know? Have faith Zips fans. For all we know, there may BE enough talent on the team to win -- but I'm not that concerned with a boring "secondary" sport like American football when we're getting ready to play for a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! Do you think Ya Nellow will ever have a shot at that? Seriously

I would recommend Ianello consider trying to keep Fleming as a Zip. He's proven himself to be a fine coach. That fact notwithstanding his son's high prospects.

Down to a Mooney guy and an Ursuline guy. Although I am an Ursuline guy, I want the Mooney guy lol.Either way, YSU football is in better hands.Thanks!I recommend the Guinis look at Sunseri. He would fit in great in Y'Town.

I hope that those who are fast to jump to a conclusion will at least wait till after the press conference and introduction and give the guy a listen before you start piling on to his lack of executive leadership experience. I also had the interest in seeing that change from the previous HC. But I am VERY excited on hearing this name. I have heard that he had a bigger part in recruiting most of the Notre Dame Big Name prospects (take, e.g. Hawaii's Manti-Te'o, national #1 LB in 08) than Charlie Weis himself. I'm ready to open my arms to the guy, if he shows promise of bringing in serious prospects who are good people and students as well.

Don't look now, but Cleveland (Bedford??) just lost its one pro soccer team with the demise of Cleveland City (of Bedford).

Now the guy spends so much ink exposing Akron's defense to the fastest striker in college soccer, then ends up...picking Akron to win! I'll take PKs, though I don't think the #4 team in the event can take it that far. Akron 2-0

Amazingly -- I've found the most prolific Tar Heel poster in my own neighborhood. Let's see if he/she's willing to put a frosty Long Board porter on the outcome of the contest Friday. http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=78&f=3778&t=5255458 Yes, Virginia and Carolina. Akron has a soccer team!

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=192&f=1118Gee. The Wake fans seem pretty confident. UVa is a solid fave in the first game. BTW -- that MLS GA (Generation Adidas) list is good, but should include the name "Blair Gavin" as one of the top defensive mids in the NCAA. IOW, add him to the list of "could be gones" for the year 2010. I can only imagine how good the team could be if everyone stays (I'm talking players now...)

I'll be there for Friday and Sunday. Riding down with three others that I am pretty sure aren't ZipsNation afficianados. Staying at LaQuinta Inn Cary.I hope those who are going can share your travel experiences -- outside the tourney itself. I want some College Cup experts to learn from before I buy my tix to 2010's College Cup in beautiful Santa Barbara. I'd love to see the host school get a shot at stopping the defending champs. UCSB is noted for the top student rooting section in the NCAA. Do you hear what I'm sayin, Rowdies? http://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/051409aaa.html

Anybody remember from last year -- does the Missouri Athletic Club name the Hermann Award winner before the Final Four? Looking at the contenders, the national scoring leader, Teal Bunbury is right up there among the favorites. Others are Bone and Schilawski of Wake, Akpan from Harvard, and a number of others, but making the College Cup is a first step toward winning it. I suspect if Bunbury doesn' win, that the guy from Soccer America will write that he did win it anyway.

Dad has been speculated on the coaching scoop board as under consideration by Mark Richt at Georgia. I'm not sure Will could fit in, unless as a walk-on. I don't think he seriously considered going away -- never took any recruiting visits. That tells me we could keep him.