Z.I.P.

Thanks -- this is a great list for girls' recruiting (how does St Mary's manage a 15-member class?) Is there another one there for boys?

Can we talk about the game, please? What happened on the foul of Nagbe, that led to the goal? The O.Com blog says they were awarded a "free kick" from inside the box. I thought that could only happen when the GK handles the ball outside the area, or something very similar (don't tell me the rules of football are simple) . Then it is supposed to be indirect. W00t or Zach or someone who saw the play -- what the heck happened?As far as Olive Garden (can't resist!), I TRIED to go to one in Albuquerque last fall, but there was a line going half way around the building. They must have awfully good food, huh? Or was it the TV showing the Lobos football game that was being played next door? Hmmmm.

Here we go again!

There are already too many "it's too dangerours" BS penalties like Horse Collars, Helmet to Helmet, etc...Of course helmets are going to touch, and they already made leading with the helmet a penalty a long time ago (spearing), so if defenders were leading with their head into another head, that is still spearing and you call it.Have to disagree with this statement!While I do see plays when a tackler grabs the ballcarrier by the shoulder pads that is not injurious and a penalty nonetheless occurs, there are far too many helmet-to-helmet hits in college football that are not penalized. One ESPN announcer stated that because of the advances in helmet technology, players feel impervious to injury. But that is a move that can result in serious injury, and it is supposed to be illegal. A defender hitting under the chin with the crown of the helmet deserves more than 15 yards, yet I've seen it not called.

Schedules for which seasons - I assume you mean future years? How far out?

It's all in the MAC family! BTW -- How's his back?I'll give Hawkins Hell when he comes here in two months.

Ken+ fans decided to wear bags over their heads too. But no one told them not to use plastic bags. That's why there are so few ken+ fans left.

Hey! I'm glad that I could liven things up a bit over here, via my post to Razor (which makes me wonder -- why the heck don't we ever see him on this site anymore?). I didn't see this thread till just now -- somehow I had forgotten that UA still has an American football team. I will skip the Akron to the Missouri Valley Conference gig for now, but won't promise not to raise it later. And I haven't looked at Razor since I posted my soap box rant there. I know at the University of Hawai'i, you have to pay about double what the University of Akron charges -- and they're offering a walk-on, never-played-a-down-of-college-football QB for my money too (at least the Zips QB is on scholarship!). I just might go to the Navy game after Thanksgiving, but stopped my regular patronage when prices went from what Akron's are today to about 50% higher in the middle of June Jones' tenure. But even then the argument goes against the "prices are too high" argument, as attendances have stayed mostly in the 30-40k range at their games.One thing that has been barely touched on here is quite simply this: Akron is a crummy, crummy place to do business, no matter what you're selling. Can anyone argue otherwise? And I suspect most of the people who are arguing that they should cut prices are those with long histories in the city/area. This might seem illiberal, and out of line from me, but it's a fact that over time, a sense of entitlement has grown regarding the university and its products. People expect a decent product at a very cheap price, certainly below market price, because that's the way they've always been treated. Of course that product has always been an inferior one (athletically speaking at least). But that is the legacy that Dr Proenza and those who care are trying to reverse. They're working to create a higher class of student at the UA -- something I cringe at (having earned my open admission entrance to the university thirty + years ago the hard way -- by basically not caring about high school or college), but which is absolutely necessary if Akron is to ever become something beyond the CCOA. Getting more out-of-towners is just the first step in this effort, but before it there was no AK Rowdies or anything like it. That's a demographic marketing program that takes years, if not decades. One thing that the University of Hawai'i has is youth groups (booster clubs for kids) with give-aways and parties for kids before games in most every sport -- I bet no one at Akron has ever thought about that. It's another method of building support over years -- you have to start that process as soon as you can with potential customers, no matter how long it takes.Now about those attendance figures. Everyone I've heard and read -- off this board at least -- has said that the actual attendance at the Indiana game was significantly less than the 18k (was that the announced?) we read. On TV the cameras showed the upper deck less than half-full. I think Steve French last Saturday (thanks to MD Zip for the link!) mentioned to the effect that a large part of the 16,000 homecoming crowd came dressed as empty seats. I hope those no-shows don't simply allow the admin to "earn" their predicted pre-season attendance figure. Parking and concessions make up a large part of profits in the entertainment industry, and having phony #s doesn't sell popcorn or whatever new gourmet delicacies are for sale at the Info (No Roo Brew in GA, we know that). Bottom line is, Akron football prices are not out of line for the product offered (well, this season is a fluke, we can hope!), nor for the economy. There are still 80-90% of people in the area who are still able to afford what they could afford before the recession.Here my suggestion to Wistercill (it will take time to be sure of the spelling, so I apologize for probably misspelling it). Next season, when a new football staff comes in, make believe that 2009 never took place! Have a NEW Grand Opening of Infocision Stadium. This time, hopefully the guy whose company name is on the place can attend in person (best wishes to you, sir) You can hire some people from the Sociology Dept or somewhere to figure out what makes Acme Zip games and Morgan State games such a magnet for people who really don't care about college football, and find out how to get them back at least once a year. Why do some people only come to basketball games on Credit Union Night? Go figure - and repeat it as often as possible.Or, hire Caleb Porter to coach every team on campus.

''We liked not only the artistic design, but it was a well-balanced design. The center of gravity was such that it was stable in a sitting position.''Amazing! That certainly beats most of the students over there.

36:33 Goal, Akron Bunbury. 10th goal of season.Akron 1 Va Tech 0

Akron vs Virginia Tech:34:04 Akron substitution. Caldwell, Scott M for Gavin, Blair M.First substitution.

Thirty minutes. One third played, no score. Shots Akron 4 VPI 1. Shots by Nanchoff and Gavin in last two minutes.Question: I see they're using this five-man midfield formation. Does that look like a 1-3-1 on the field? Who plays up, who plays back -- if the shape is sustained?

Twenty-five minutes in, no score. Shots 2-1 for UA.

It's a good thing someone told them we were coming. Their largest home crowd this year is 875.

Z.I.P., not quite sure where you're getting your information from, but Scott hasn't started a game this year, let alone played all 90 minutes. He has gotten some significant time in a few games, but not very many. Are you sure you are not confusing him with Chad Barson? (also a freshman, but a defender whom we don't hear a lot about, who almost never comes out of a game).I bet you are thinking of Chad Barson. From what I hear, he is the "captain" of the defense. Also, one of the nation's top recruits. Looking up stats he had a goal this season and two other headers from corners against cincy and w mich that goalies made great saves. From watching games and hearing Porter talk about him he is one of those players who does everything correct, rises to every occasion, can take on any forward, yet receives no glory. My bet is he notches a game winner against V tech! Interesting note, I believe Barson and Sarkodie are best friends and I believe they played club soccer together since age 13. Barson, Sarkodie, Caldwell, Valentine, and Speas were all in Florida together. Talking with those guys, Barson actually began talking with Porter first and decided on Akron. The way high school and graduation worked out Sarkodie graduated a semester earlier than everyone so was at Akron a year sooner. Soon after Barson decided on Akron, Kofi committed, than the rest of the freshman crew followed. Goes to show how influential a couple of players can be!You see! I managed to scare up a couple of new "insider" posters, just by posting some provocative language. Roo Gang is exactly right about the way the recruiting went down. I believe Ben, Chad, Kofi and Valentin are all in the '91 birth class -- probably true of Nagbe, Bunbury, Meves, Schmitt, Dagilis and maybe Caldwell as well. We OWN 1991! I did think though that Scott was a starter at midfield. Thinking about it now, who would he replace?! Maybe Caleb would consider going to a 3-man back line and placing Caldwell up at Holding Mid. Can anyone tell us where he played while at Bradenton? Is his game similar to Blair's, or is he even more possession oriented? He HAS to be the nation's top-ranked "12th Man". He should be another in the long line of future MLS/international professionals off of this team.

We have "Live Stats" Play-by-play -- might be better than the Gametracker gadget. Voila:http://www.hokiesports.com/msoccer/live/

A. I read Razor regularly (can't get his blog at work because the fed govt blocks it!), and while he admitted that JD will be gone next season, I didn't see him call for his head THIS week. B. Everyone raise their hands who thinks the guy who went 9 for 23 for 98 yards and lost badly to a less than mediocre team can now be annointed by the Holy See. St Paddy O'Nicely :bow:Apologies to anyone who's offended by the above.

I'm impressed by your faith in the team! Now, if they manage to pull this off, it will go down as one of the greatest comebacks and coaching accomplishments of this, or most any season -- and will lead to a contract extension for JD Brookhart. Did you thing about that before you made your prediction? In all seriousness, however, three wins from this group is as much, or more than I can expect -- but then I predicted 6-6, 7-5 at best before this began, while everyone was researching the possibility of a MAC school in the BCS Championship Game. Keep the faith!

Some of you might remember this -- two years ago I had to ask on this board if freshman Blair Gavin was getting any playing time with the team. Blair was arguably the highest ranked recruit in school history, being the first US U-18 or U-17 player to put his name on the paper for Akron (along with Tony Ampai). But, Blair received little if any mention in game descriptions because the spot he played -- was he at center midfield, or holding mid? -- he didn't come foreward offensively often. The response I got to my question was that Blair had started all or nearly every game that season. And he was a crucial cog on the team that became Akron's first #1-ranked team. Well, this season, the highest-ranked recruit is Massachussetts native Scott Caldwell, who's been a member of US national youth teams for at least three years before Akron (wore the armband for the US U-16 and U-17 teams as I recall), and I think was in the Bradenton national youth residency program. Scott was the #6 ranked recruit by the best-known website that ranks recruits (TopShelf?) -- at least, after Ben Speas' injury which knocked him out of the #1 spot he held before his senior year at CVCA. Well, guess what? Scott Caldwell is this year's Blair Gavin! Starting and playing nearly 90 minutes every game of the season. He's apparently that same type of block of stone at the center of the formation, who helps hold the shape of the team together with his play. At least that's the view from here in the 50th state. Can anyone who's seen the team in person share any feedback on what role (and position!) Scott is playing on the consensus #1 team in collegiate soccer? With Blair now becoming more of an offensive threat, that puts the pressure on someone to be a ballhawk in the center. I suspect that's the role of Scott.

I watched a portion of the Indiana-Michigan game (won by the Hoosiers 1-0) this afternoon on CBS College Sports. I was impressed with the individual skills of the Wolverines but their organization was less than stellar. Still, given the game is in Ann Arbor I could see this being a tough one.Worst case: 0-0. And that's if we go there unprepared. Akron? Unprepared? Unlikely!

Yeah a lot of their fans seem to have some sense of entitlement. I can't understand why. They haven't won anything of note, period. And anywhere on either coast people will think they're wearing a green buckeye shirt when they have on any Ohio gear.I have a couple friends from high school that go to OU. Both are die hard OSU fans, and graduated with sub 3.0 GPAs. I can't talk trash to them about Akron-OU match ups because they are indifferent to it. It's all about Ohio State. I guess we aren't alone.I am going to fire our intern from ou when he comes back this summer. He was a little slow anyways.OUch!

I'm not giving up on my alma mater. I'm going to keep swinging for the fences (is that the appropriate metaphor?). However, the team just lost to OHIO for Pete's sake -- at home. On Homecoming. Frankly, the only way I see this season ending successfully is if baller4life gets the start at QB this week, and throws for 800 yards, and runs for 400. With our luck, we'll probably have 22 turnovers, and go to overtime.

According to the scouts, "he's a legit 7 feet".And as I recall Gamechanger posting, he's up to about 230?

I'm on the bus with ya Betch. But I'm not behooved by it yet. Check your dictionary!

looks like the Can't game will be the battle for the basement...They can still make a run of it. The d is looking pretty good and the o should be able to move the ball. I still have hope that they can make a respectable showing by coming on strong.Nahhhh. I thought they would win one yesterday -- even made it onto ESPNNews. Then BG came from nowhere to kick their in the final seconds. What can I say? BTW -- Isn't Miami still in the MAC East?