Zip_ME87

Prior to 2009, the largest crowds we would get were ~1000, with most < 900. Marketing got better because Caleb Porter pushed for it along with his promise to deliver a National Championship with the support of the Athletic Dept. They became more engaged because they agreed to do so. Once the National Championship was accomplished in 2010, the AD support dropped off. Add that the Rowdies have not had a really engaged leader since Ian graduated and LeBron's return to the Cavs, getting fans attention became more difficult. With LeBron back in Cleveland and folks still committed to the Browns (no matter how dismal the outlook and management), there are no simple answers. I still think that many miss the "gem" that we have in our Mens Soccer program. However, with all of that said, the crowds that we draw are still respectable. Just not what they should/could be.

Just an interesting coincidence that our former head coach and the Timbers will play FC Dallas in Dallas while the Zips play SMU (from Dallas).

SMU won in OT. So, Zips v SMU next Sunday. Ohio State packing their bags for a trip to Palo Alto. Stanford defeated Santa Clara 3-1.

Thanks @TennZip. I like the picture in the link where Caleb is holding that photo and apparently remembering fondly that awesome moment as well as the one below with the key to the City of Akron and his 2010 National Championship ring, I believe.

U.S. national team newcomer Darlington Nagbe is all smiles — and so is Jurgen Klinsmann...Darlington thrived on the soccer field, starring on the youth scene before accepting an offer from Akron, an NCAA titan. ... In his third year at Akron, Darlington won the Hermann Trophy as the nation’s finest player. He skipped his senior season to sign with MLS and was chosen second overall in the 2011 draft by the Portland Timbers...

I just played it again. Same video should be on GoZips.com.

Well done Zipsnation! UPDATE: Congrats to Akron’s Victor Souto, who lapped the field with 75 percent of the vote this week. We’ll see you next week with NCAA tourney golazos. The tastiest.

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/the91stminute/2015/11/college-goal-of-the-week-championship-form/

Yes the other teams in the MAC play crap schedules + Akron. Russell Cicerone and Co. at home playing FIFA on the sofa. Adam Najem, Richie Laryea, Victor Souto and Co. at home playing real opponents on Cub Cadet Field.

I probably shouldn't gloat but I'm going to anyway... A former Zips Coach once remarked something like It can't be done in Akron which proved to be wrong. Well, it hasn't been done in Louisville, and won't be done this year.

That was excellent. It's really a shame that more people in this area don't recognize the gem that is Akron Zips Mens Soccer. 23 men representing 300+ Million people and 2 of them played for The University of Akron.

So excellent to see Darlington and DeAndre playing together last night in the USMNT 6-1 win. Also appreciated hearing The University of Akron mentioned a number of times relative to having 2 players for USA. Can't wait to see the next one. U S A !!!

“Beautiful pitch. Fantastic weather. Now f'ing get better,” bellows Caleb Porter with a wry smile during a training session the next week.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/13/darlington-nagbe-soccer-enigma But I’m also reminded of something Nagbe said in August about his time at Akron in college. “I won a national championship at Akron with my best friends, and I’m still friends with all of them, and I remember it,” he said, hovering on those last three words, his eyes lost in memory. After a brief pause, he continued, the idea seeming to coalesce from fragments into words as he spoke. “And you can win a championship, but if you didn’t have fun all season, I feel like you don’t remember it,” he concluded. In a similar vein, Nagbe said in our follow-up phone call, “If I’m not enjoying the game, then there’s no point in me playing.” No matter what happens, Nagbe is certain of one thing: he wants to end up back where he feels most at home. “I’d like to be back home playing professional soccer in Cleveland,” he says. “I consider myself a Cleveland kid even though I was born in Liberia. Ohio is my home.”

I just have to shout ... WHAT A GREAT DAY to be a ZIPS MENS SOCCER FAN 2015 Post Season Journey begins at home with MAC Tourney semifinals tonight.Darlington Nagbe and DeAndre Yedlin playing for the USA in a World Cup Qualifier.I wonder if anyone in Buchtel Hall or the AD's Office is aware? Maybe, if everything goes well, someone at the ABJ will notice tonight. So far seems crickets are chirping.

Totally agree about Victor. What a travesty. Of note: in 2010, Scott Caldwell was not on either All MAC team. Moron MAC. Cicerone player of the year. Over Richie Laryea, Adam Najem, Sam Gainford? Yeah, right. Also, Coach Embick not MAC Coach of the Year? Who else in the MAC had the balls to put together such a tough schedule and then navigate through it so well? These Zips have come a long way from what we saw in 2014. Others hope and dream. AKRON DOES! Go Zips!

A win vs UCLA may have helped us, but this is exactly why I stated in another thread that I didn't believe even that would get us a top 4 seed. Too many top teams playing each other with this scenario possible. Our out of conference schedule helps us tremendously, but our conference hurts us at the end. The Zips only hope of a top 4 seed is to be perfect (2009) or almost so (2010).

Thank you. Revenue-generating (sells tickets) at Akron as opposed to free at other schools, such as W Michigan, Buffalo, etc

It's different times at UofA. I saw President Scarborough at 1 Zips Mens Soccer game ... Ohio State. He seems enamored with the Buckeyes and comparing Akron to tOSU. There is absolutely no marketing of our best team. UCLA came to town and I saw nothing. If anyone saw the AD or Prez in the stands for that matchup, I'd be interested because I never saw either of them. Coach Embick's job is to coach and win games which I think he's been doing a damn good job. Winning games should help the AD do his job of filling the stands. Northeast Ohio has a gem in our Mens Soccer Team, and with the sports' growing popularity in the USA, our attendance numbers should be much better. That they are not is a BIG FAIL on the Administration's part. [They continue to throw good money after bad at the pathetic excuse of a D1 Football Program. They'll likely have to do that through 2018 (last year of Bowden's contract). If there's no improvement at that time, for how many more years does UA continue feeding the albatross? It's too bad they didn't flush that program in 1986 in favor of basketball.] Yedlin in the Premier League and with the USMNT. Trapp and Serna with the U23's trying to qualify for the Olympics. Now Nagbe with the USMNT. Caleb Porter coaching the Portland Timbers and now in the MLS Western Conference Finals. Multiple Zips in MLS and lower tier professional leagues. An absolutely awesome 2015 Zips Mens Soccer Schedule. Holy Shit...what the Hell more do you need to market Zips Mens Soccer, which by the way, is a revenue-generating sport at UoA. COLOSSAL FAILURE of our AD. Venting over, for now.

Good news is that the MAC Tourney counts as post season. So, Caution Accumulation before sitting out a game has increased to 8. Bad news is Richie has 6. Three other Zips have 3. So, they now have 5 to give. Richie went through a stretch of 6 matches, Georgetown through UCSB, this season with no yellow cards. Let's hope he can at least match that starting this Friday.

12.11 Accumulated Cautions and Game Suspensions 12.11.1 Regular-Season Games. Any player(s) or coach(es) who has received a total of five cautions in one season shall be suspended and shall not participate in the next regularly scheduled game, including postseason games. Three additional cautions shall result in additional one-game suspensions. Each two additional cautions shall result in additional one game suspensions. 12.11.2 Postseason Games. Caution accumulation will carry over into postseason play, which includes conference tournaments and the NCAA tournament. Players or coaches participating in postseason play will receive a one game suspension when a total of eight cautions have been accumulated. Further, each three additional cautions shall result in additional one-game suspensions. Moreover, if the total is reached in the final postseason game of the season, the player(s), coach(es) or bench personnel shall not participate in the first scheduled game(s) of the next season.

Looking forward to seeing Darlington and DeAndre playing together on the same team. U-S-A U.S. Roster By Position: GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Everton) DEFENDERS (8): Ventura Alvarado (Club America), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC) MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Miguel Ibarra (Club Leon), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland) FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Alan Gordon (LA Galaxy), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

I know. I shouldn't have commented just because I'm trying to get beyond the woulda, coulda, shoulda stuff myself. First, I can't change it. 2nd, I don't really know what it would have meant. RPI is supposed to mean something, but I don't think I've ever seen any NCAA Selection Committee apply it the way it should be used. There seems to still be backroom deals, smoke-filled or not. The "power" conferences seem to watch out for each other. So, I just ignore it until it happens, then bitch. I can't change that either. I'm more concerned that the guys learned something positive from the UCLA match and use those lessons going forward.

I thought the same thing before reading your post.

We still have 3 to play before the NCAA Tourney. I hope the players aren't lamenting UCLA. There's nothing to be gained in that.