Zip_ME87

Pre-game press conference streaming. The questions will start flying from downtown Columbus at 3:30 pm ET, and will feature head coach Gregg Berhalter, captain Michael Parkhurst and star attacker Kei Kamara from Crew SC and their counterparts Caleb Porter, Liam Ridgewell and Darlington Nagbe from the Timbers.

http://www.timbers.com/post/2015/12/03/portland-timbers-travel-columbus-mls-cup-dec-3-2015

Ben Zemanski, Michael Nanchoff, Darlington Nagbe, and Pablo Moreira ready to board the TimbersFC plane headed to Columbus yesterday. Michael Nanchoff: Just the 4 brothas from Akron heading home to Ohio for @MLS Cup! @KingJames with a RT would be Akron, North Royalton, Lakewood, and Brecksville-Broadview Heights well represented.

I love this. The Timbers' Victory Log is on its way from Oregon to Ohio. #PTFC Should be fun with Timber Joey & Timber Jim in Columbus. http://www.timbers.com/post/2015/12/03/daimler-trucks-north-america-transport-timbers-victory-log-columbus-conjunction-mls

Just realized the first picture was taken at a game that Wil Trapp and his mother attended. Looking head on, they're seated in the front row next to me in Section 105, to the left of the "This is Akron" banner. Good picture choice.

Outstanding article. Glad Jared took over our program. He has done a great job, and it's fantastic for our program to maintain such an outstanding connection with Caleb Porter.

Yes and Richie Layrea currently wears it very well.

As we get closer to the weekend, it seems to me that this thread and the Creighton Blue Jays thread should be at the top of the list, so to bump this one... Who else is going to Columbus on December 6th?

Looking at that list again, I'll add to TennZips's comments with how impressed I am by our soccer stud from Brazil, Victor Souto / Junior / 3.829 / Business. English is his 2nd language, and he's in the USA with family back in Brazil. WOW.

CONGRATULATIONS to the 13 Zips Mens Soccer players who made this list. 2015 Men's Soccer Academic All-MAC Team Akron Zips (13) Robby Dambrot / Junior / 3.933 / Marketing Management Jake Fenlason / Senior / 3.469 / Political Science and History Jesse Garcia-Aguilar / Sophomore / 3.229 / Business Administration Ezhana Kahsay / Sophomore / 3.328 / Sport Management Anthony Macchione / Sophomore / 3.360 / Communications Adam Najem / Junior / 3.686 / Marketing Management Danilo Radjen / Senior / 3.691 / Health Sciences Brad Ruhaak / Senior / 3.733 / Mechanical Engineering Tyler Sanda / Junior / 3.933 / Biology Sean Sepe / Senior / 3.474 / Finance Nate Shultz / Sophomore / 3.406 / Accounting Andrew Souders / Senior / 3.710 / Economics Victor Souto / Junior / 3.829 / Business

The Zips used to have it on our schedule, too like UCSB, but we didn't pencil ourselves into it like Creighton shows it.

Yes, he will. Best wishes to Oliver and Ashland University Mens Soccer. I'd love to see another powerhouse Collegiate soccer team in Ohio, especially that close. Go Eagles!

@fknbuflobo, when I bothered to actually click the link you provided, I found it interesting that Creighton has already penciled themselves into the College Cup December 11th when you look across the scoreboard at the top of the page.

I hope that it is the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit. I already have plane tickets and hotel to join Zips Mens Basketball in Vegas Dec 21-23. The Quick Lane Bowl is the only option that works well.

Absolutely this team is exciting to watch and they work darn hard. They deserve HUGE crowds. I can't understand how people in Akron and NE Ohio don't take notice. One thing that UA Marketing seems to have right ... "Are you out there?"

I have an extra ticket right up front with your name on it if you want it. Section 105, Row 1, Seat 10.

+1 I also ran out of likes.

I suspect those who are not on their teams' roster for MLS Cup may show up if they know in advance they won't be on the game day roster. Would be sweet. We'll see. On the Scotty Caldwell note, Scotty's dad, Larry, emailed me immediately following the Zips victory ... Go Zips. Great stuff. Elite 8! ... I love hearing from our former players and their families. Feels great to know they're still invested and watching. DeAndre's tweet about the Zips being on fire immediately following the goal barrage during the match vs Rutgers was awesome ... knowing he was watching the stream in New Castle England. Go Zips, wherever you are!

It is my dream MLS Cup matchup and it is only 1.5 hours from home. I will go to Columbus wearing my Zips #6 jersey (Darlington Nagbe era) honoring two great Zips' #6's ... Darlington Nagbe & Wil Trapp. I will tailgate with the Trapps, and then I will watch and cherish every second of seeing the former Zips greats on the field and on the sideline. In the end, I will be happy for the winner and sad for the loser, but it will be an AWESOME day to be a Zips Mens Soccer fan! Go Zips!

I don't see those guys coming to Akron the night prior to MLS Cup. They're all professional unlike a certain QB of a local poorly managed American Football franchise.

I expect a tough match, but I share MarkS' confidence in our guys to focus on this game and get it done.

So sad that no one in a crowd in Akron was "fired up" about the Zips beating the Flashes in a season in which the team is Bowl eligible.

You are right a-zip. I'm as frustrated as anyone. I know how hard our team works to do what they do, and they deserve better. They are a team of which we can all be proud. These guys are great on and off the field and definitely represent "This Is Akron" well. Go Zips. Let's get that 2nd star! Happy Thanksgiving all! EDIT: I still want Darlington Nagbe, DeAndre Yedlin, Caleb Porter, et al bobbleheads!

They can do Jason Taylor and Charlie Frye bobbleheads. How about Darlington Nagbe or DeAndre Yedlin bobbleheads for the first 5,000 through the gate? Maybe they could do a National Champions bobblehead series or a Zips in the Pros series.

Shawn is up for Air Canada Athlete of the Year. Vote here.