Z.I.P.

Thanks Charlotte. But you aren't suggesting there's no correlation between money spent and the success of a basketball (or any other athletic) program, are you? I suspect they do teach statistics and probablility at UNCC.BTW -- I was the guy who when UNCC played at the Rainbow Classic three years ago, shouted "Put in Cornbread, coach. We want Cornbread!" Remember me?

At 6-8, 255 the coach in Tucson who might be interested is named Sean Miller.

Two words - Klaus ZollnerI think our "local" recruiting base is more within our budget, and seems to be working very well. St Mary's has made a living off Australian players as of late, so going overseas is definitely an alternative strategy. But I think we should leave the overseas recruiting to Caleb Porter.Good idea. I hear Caleb is currently recruiting a 6-7 PF/Holding Midfielder out of East London. That's the tough side of town. The docks.

I was afraid when I got to work today that I would have bad news facing me. But heaven forbid it would come in reading the ZipsNation. I can't express my sadness. There's really no way to underestimate how great a loss this is for the Akron athletic program, for university athletics depend on people like Barb to do -- without pay -- what cannot and will not ever be done by paid staffs. This is like losing a coach, or a superstar athlete. Zeke's Mom, and many other future Zips' family may not have met Barb, but you would have, and you would have enjoyed her company, as so may of us did.I believe I first met Barb in 2000 in Portland (and later in Seattle, Cleveland, Albuquerque, and even amazingly at McKinley High School in Honolulu). I walked up the grandstand stairs at Harry Merlo Soccer Field, and she called out to me, as soon as she saw my "Akron" T-shirt, to join the cheering section for the game against the Pilots. Barb never met a soul she didn't like, and I'm pretty sure that went both ways. Some tried to compete with her, but no one ever surpassed her love and spirit in being the top Zips fan. I hope that I can meet more of the Zips Nation on the road, and I will be thinking of Barb as we travel that road together.Go Zips!

It's interesting to see your point on the arena's size Zip Fan. KD actually said the same thing when we talked about the size. He cited CSU's lack od atmosphere because they can't put a crowd in the Wolstein Center. He thought Xavier's Cintas Center (10,000) was a perfect fit. He also said our attendance was too low for a university and city our size. We talked about all the new dorms and he agreed they would help. He also said that we shouldn't need on campus residents to boost the attendance. He tought the locals should be clamoring for tickets, like the old days of Memorial Hall. He ended it by saying he wanted to play a more exciting brand of BBall that he felt the community, students and locals, would respond to enthusiastically. I gpot the feeling he believes he can do it and he will succeed. What a positive guy!All hail King Keith! In all seriousness folks, Keith Dambrot has changed everything about the basketball program (as many of us predicted when he was sworn into office), but I think he would also be the first guy to put the Kybosh (not being a New Yorker, I don't know the proper spelling of that one) on the smarmie attitude being generated toward him personally. Keith knows he is not the "owner" of the program, the University community is. To put it in other words, Keith is just keeping the seat warm for his replacement. Let's hope the seat stays warm for a long, long time. More to the subject, many of you are probably too young to remember that when the JAR was planned (and before it bore that awful name) the powers that be campaigned for it to be more "realistically" sized, at 4,000 seats. That the powers now think 10,000 seats are necessary is a sign of how things have changed in the Rubber City. All hail the change!

My mistake. There is no U-18 World Cup, yikes! The FIFA events this year are U-17 in Nigeria and U-20 in Egypt. No Akron players are on the U-20 roster. Looks like Caleb got his timing just right on recruiting. The only Akron "player" participating in the World Cups will be 2010 recruit Perry Kitchen, Capt of the U-17 squad.As far as the U-18 camp at Home Depot goes -- it ended on Sunday with a scrimmage vs the LA Galaxy reserves. Not much to provide, except Kofi played very solid at central defense all camp, which included three or four scrimmages by A and B squads. A-Team got to play Hollywood United. Wonder if one of our guys got Anthony LaPaglia's jersey? Wow!

Well, they should have played to win -- they still don't have a win against pro competition this season. What a disappointment to lose the 2-0 lead versus Chicago on Saturday.Yes -- Teal Bunbury is for real, and COULD be this year's Zakuani. Wouldn't a reasonable resemblance be GREAT? Was a very interesting, and no doubt beneficial Spring campaign for Caleb's troops. On another issue, those with questions about the appearance of non-appearance of our youngsters will have the same questions when the season gets under way. I have to look up the dates, but the U-18 WC I think is in September in Nigeria. So the team won't be together fully till late in that month. At least that's my understanding.

Holy spumoni! This deserves a thread of its own. Never heard about M Thomas' decision in Bearcatland. And at BG, soccer could be dead! (not to mention hockey) You all should know what THAT means -- the MAC will have to find another pretender (is there another Florida Atlantic, or Hartwick out there?), or not be able to compete in a sport where it has a favorite to win a national title. Does the MAC have a Commish yet??

Thanks Cappy. The author tries to fill in some of the holes that haven't been covered, at least in the Seattle press. Not quite on target however, as far as how Stevie left Arsenal at 15. Previously it was reported that the club decided to eliminate the birth year team Steve was playing on, and at 15 he was placed with 16 y.o.'s. That's not the player's lack of ability, but the club's financial decision that sent Steve to London Academy to play. While there, he was noticed by I believe by coach Slawson (who was actually interested in Steve's teammate -- how many times have we heard this story?) and offered the famous "sight-unseen" scholly by Caleb. Well, that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.As far as the playing time issue goes, Zak is one of a small hand-full of MLS rookies to have played in every game this season. He's made the move from forward to attacking MF with his typical alacrity and if the only question is whether he starts or comes on in the second half, then he's certainly one of the top new players in US soccer. I expect him to continue to learn and improve while growing more comfortable with the pace and physicality of the pro game.

Most historic event for Akron on this day may have been the debut of Yoram Mwila. GoZips.com says he had two SOG. Did anyone on the board attend this game?

Rick Chryst s_cked as the MAC commissioner...Good riddance..."When Rick Chryst arrived, the MAC actually had to pay to be on television."And now they don't pay anything -- but every other conference GETS PAID for their ESPN contract. Nice PR Rick!

I don't know about the travelling opportunities (I won't be visiting any venues), but I can tell you that the trips to Va Tech and UIC will be the toughest games the Zips will play this year. Two nationally ranked teams on the road, during the week. Michigan will also be a tough one, but perhaps easier to be motivated? This is not a scheduled designed for a "team of destiny". Of course we would never be so arrogant. Would we?

Hilarious! I wish I had the scarf to wear at the Michigan State - Hawaii game in 2004. Might have warded off the killer refs!

Obama high, i'm guessing everyone gets the same grades regardless of effort and your lunches are paid for as well.I have no idea where this thread's going, but if this is an effort at humor, hows about "and every player on the basketball team plays five minutes and is met with cheers of "Bom-mer, Bom-mer" when he enters the game". That was supposedly the scene at Punahou gym back circa 1979.

Anybody have any idea about this at all?I hadn't heard about Alex Kellogg transferring to OU -- that's news. Has his brother committed yet? I thought he was headed to Provo too.

As much as I would hate for Geno to get a guy who can make a difference, and as much as I'd like my local school (one of my alma maters) to have that difference maker...well, I'll believe this story when I see it in the flesh. Sheesh. http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbc...1#pluckcomments

What? She swore she'd love me forever.I'm... I'm speechless. I'm sorry, but it was just one wild and crazy night in Malawi. And she thinks she'll get her love child from THAT?Anonymous

Just to let you all know in the Kingdom of the Kangaroo:It is a go! The scarf is on its way. We'll have to wait to find out the design, but it looks to be a soccer-specific scarf. And we can thank Coach Porter, who pushed it.

Think back, folks. When Jeff Boals was introduced as assistant coach, did any of you know anything about him? He was a young guy with little experience at that level. He has developed, under the tutelage of Keith Dambrot, into a coach who is being considered as top assistant at the next step up, a high-major non-BCS type program. If he was able to grow into the position that well, I have to believe KD will find another fine young coach who can do the same. It might be considered a feather-in-the-cap to coach Keith to see another assistant move up in the profession. The next stop for JB would be a HC job at a spot in the high-mid-major area, like Shaka received. Or he might wait a few years and be in line to take over at XU. Given past experience they do change coaches a lot -- especially compared to Akron! BUT, on the other hand, if coach Boals could be kept under wraps at the JAR, that would be a small coup. It appears that X is interested at least in large part because of the immediate relationship Jeff has established with specific recruits Xavier needs in order to keep their spot in the pecking order. If we can keep him, it could be a sign that we have a better chance at the Paynes and Weatherspoon than is suspected by many. It might be Akron who moves UP in the pecking order.We need you Jeff. Now if we can just reward you for your work...

It's interesting that Colorado is trying to poach players from NE Ohio. I think they also offered the RB from Garfield HS? Is there a coaching connection?

Good timing Cap'n. Last year the announcement came out in early-mid April. I know cause that's when I made my reservations. I know of one road tournament we play in early Sept -- at Tulsa. We play SMU and the home team in our two games. Haven't heard about other OOC games, but wouldn't it be nice to play Wake again? Or Carolina? Or Mary Land? And personally, I'm hoping for a game on Fox Soccer Channel College Friday.

Man! Would that ever throw the fear of the Roo into the Who's-theres. A mad visiting Rowdie crowd at a PRACTICE GAME! Hoowie. I can imagine there being a recruit or two present -- if we haven't signed or gotten verbals from all of them yet.

I tuned in to this game with about a minute and a half remaining in regulation. I guess I jinxed 'em. 2 goals in 42 seconds. 59 seconds and 17 seconds to play. I think this just showed how good BU was -- they refused to lose.Bowling Green won the NCAA title in hockey back about 1985 or 86, I think it was. Not sure if the MAC has any other team titles, but I feel one coming on at the men's soccer cup.

I've been looking into the topic of football club scarves, and here's what I came up with. It looks like this company has a near monopoly over the field -- but they seem to do a great job, marketing-wise at least. For those who didn't see the pictures of opening day of the Seattle Sounders' season/franchise at Qwest Field, check out the fan scene, #8 in the gallery (and #7 -- did EMU drop men's soccer?). The Sounders gave away a team scarf to every season ticket holder (about 22 thousand I think). Wouldn't this be a FAN-tastic way to inaugurate Infocision Stadium in September? I will be sending this to the AD, but you might want to add your encouragement. Pittsburgh has its Terrible Towels. Why can't Akron have their Roo-Scarves? I'll once again give up my residuals, as I did when I failed to trademark my "Fear the Roo" line, in exchange for just one scarf. Take this and run with it, Akron. Wouldn't it look great over the bar where they sell the RooBeer? Go Zips! Future Sign of Zips Football (or Soccer if You Will)

Dwain hates to leave any coach hatin' on him. So he verbally commits to every school that offers. And, while most of America's CBB coaches wouldn't touch this guy with the proverbial ten foot pole (can you imagine Keith having more than a "Good day, how ya' doin'?" conversation with this kid?), there are some who are so desperate to become competitive they will snuggle up with a porcupine, if he can make a basket from outside the 3-point circle. I can vouch for you about how desperate Hawaii's coaches are. They didn't have a single jump shooter on the team last year, and might have averaged three made treys per game. A guy like Williams (if he were to show up for games, rather than continuing his world tour), could add two or three wins for the Bows -- from 12 to 15 wins in 09-10. Would he make K-ent a 20-win team again? Maybe, but that program is struggling, nonetheless.And WinZip, we might be willing to trade weather in say, August or Sept, when its 90 degrees and humidity over here. It's still Winter here now -- only in the 70s. Brrrrr! One thing that's true around the globe: