Zip_ME87

The facts as you see them. I referred to your remarks as a-hole, not you. "took a pay cut and sacrificed job stability" is a fact. That he did so "to leave us" is not. He took a pay cut and sacrificed job stability by leaving us to pursue his ultimate goal of coaching the USMNT. Before he left, he told me not to accept the "mid-major mentality" because U of A can be so much more. We had a number of conversations while he was at UA and a few text exchanges since he's been gone. EDIT (because I didn't finish my statement): He continues to believe in UA because of the caring fans he knows are here.

You don't know Porter like I do. So stop making assumptions. That's exactly the kind of asshole remarks that have no place on ZN.o. If you can't respect someone else's opinion/answers, don't ask or comment.

Someone who has this guy's passion and belief in U of A.

Your leaving doesn't make me happy or sad. I don't know what you expected of this thread. You asked for our opinions and you got them. Sorry if we didn't all agree with your point of view. None of us are making the decision anyway.

Exactly.

Too bad you miss the point. I just provided you another example of things that are lacking. UA Ath Dept. MARKETING SUCKS. Just giving you an example of how poor it is ... People who are on the payroll can't even update an existing website.

Perhaps you should visit this other ZipsNation thread.

@a-zip I've got 1 for you: How the f hard is it to update your own freakin website, GoZips.com, to inform Zips Soccer fans of the Spring Soccer schedules. 1. The Zips Mens Soccer team was supposed to play the Riverhounds and Wright State in Akron. On March 9th, the Riverhounds website informed that the game had been moved to Pittsburgh. GoZips.com did not provide that information until March 12th. It would be nice for Zips fans to have as much time as possible to adjust plans if possible. 2. It seems GoZips.com can't post the Women's Spring Schedule at all. 3. Apparently, the Mens Spring game in Columbus this Friday is closed to the public per @ZipsMSoc twitter. Nothing has shown up yet on GoZips.com. I realize Spring games are just exhibition, but there are a lot of Zips soccer fans who like to go and support our teams and see how they look just like Zips Football fans enjoy the Spring Practices and game. How rinky-dink can you get that you can't keep your fans informed timely on your own website. Why the H&ll does the Ath Dept have Sports Information Directors? The AD should be on top of this. UA is already paying for this marketing. USE IT!!!

Perhaps we should all e-mail him. Sean Palchick spalchick@uakron.edu Sean Palchick was named the Assistant Director for Athletics Communications at The University of Akron in November 2014. Palchick handles the public relations efforts and gameday management for the men's soccer and cross country/track and field programs...

That sucks.

I've e-mailed the Akron Ath Dept to try to confirm. I thought the original Spring games announcement on GoZips.com stated the match was at the training facility in Obetz, but looking back at it, it does not. I can't remember how I originally knew it will be there, but I did confirm that with one of the Zips Mens Soccer team assistants in Pittsburgh. He did not indicate that it wasn't open to the public, but I didn't specifcally ask. Although, I did say "see you Friday vs the Crew"... edit: ...and he gave me no indication that I couldn't be there.

For those planning to go to the Zips v Crew Spring match this Friday (March 20th), my understanding is that it is not at Mapfre (Crew) Stadium, but at Columbus Crew Training Facility - 4153 Alum Creek Dr, Obetz, OH, 43207.

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/the91stminute/2015/03/the-mls-grinder-the-walking-shea/ Caleb Porter is changing About 16 minutes into Sunday’s Timbers-Galaxy game, there was an instructive moment of interchange between John Strong and Alexi Lalas on the Fox broadcast on Caleb Porter and possession soccer. This came after the Timbers coughed up another quick burst of possession on the near sideline. Lalas: “We’ve also mentioned three or four times the direct play of the Portland Timbers. In talking to Caleb Porter, it’s a very different type of Caleb Porter than we’ve seen in the past. The way that he thinks about this team and how this team is going to get results this year. Very pragmatic. Almost humbled, if you will. I’m not sure I like that type of Caleb Porter.” Strong: “You two had quite the conversation about that idea, of the way the Timbers want to play. And Porter, his philosophy right now is basically whatever gets us to win games is the way we want to play.” Lalas: “We had a long conversation about possession and just possession for possession or purposeful possession and all the things people talk about when they talk about possession. I think he’s recognized that being direct right now is the way to go. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to possess the ball. It doesn’t matter how much possession you do or don’t have, you still have to do the little things right. Like defend set pieces.” Sad words, all of them. If we’ve established already that the “long ball” (aka “diagonal ball”) is not in itself bad, then we also acknowledge that Porter playing for wins through the conduit of any means necessary (and not an aesthetic one) isn’t itself a negative. But Porter isn’t that kind of coach. The sadness in it revolves around the fact that over the top ball and playing your most dangerous soccer on the break isn’t who Porter is. He wants to dazzle through the midfield. With this team, on turf (I SAID THOSE WORDS) it isn’t possible to do it and win in MLS. So he’s adapted. As good coaches do. We’ll touch on exactly what the Timbers are doing differently in later Grinders. But as you saw in Portland’s wild 2-2 draw with LA, the Timbers got almost all of their most dangerous attacking moments through quick-burst soccer. Porter will play this way as long as he has to, but wow… I want the old Caleb back. At Peak Porter, there’s nobody in American soccer coaching quite like him. I don't understand why Portland has turf rather than grass. It's a soccer only stadium. With the drainage systems available, I can't believe that they cannot have grass.

I think the limit is 2 likes in a 24-hour period. I agree there shouldn't be a limit or at the least, the limit should be more reasonable.

Yes. I remember being set against hiring TB. After experiencing the 2nd worse hire in D1 history, and meeting TB, I admit I was wrong at the time. I'm still skeptical given last season's disappointment, but I'm hopeful he'll get it done this season or next. He'll not be able to point back at others' mistakes.

With the excitement surrounding the new stadium at that time, I wonder where our football attendance figures would be had UA hired TB in the first place rather than digging the iCrater. Zipsnation will never know.

So you say. If Dr. Scarborough agrees UA Athletics are on the right course, then TW will remain. Personally, I think we should expect more. Difference of opinions. I admit that I cannot forget the iCoach debacle. Add to that the apparent lack of a decent marketing strategy and the frustration that Caleb Porter felt when he left (even though that didn't drive him away), and I'm steadfast in my opinion.

Dude, you didn't fully read my post. Not renewing someone's contract is not the same as firing them. So, I would imagine that Dr. Scaraborough, being the thoughtful leader that he is, is reviewing TW's performance record at UA. I imagine he's looking for reasons to keep Tom as opposed to reasons to let him go. Lack of substantive performance warrants going in another direction. And, I'll add, especially when you're looking at a position with a $200k+ salary. I've asked you for 1 reason why UA should retain TW; I'm sure Dr. Scarborough is looking for more than that. The iCoach DEBACLE is probably moot as far as TW's contract renewal even though it still pisses me off. What has TW done that warrants retaining his services? That is the question.

UA has made many a bad decision in hiring coaches in the past, but the iCoach hire goes above and beyond a bad decision. iCoach had minimal to NO qualifications to be a Head Coach. That hire was BLATANT STUPIDITY based upon a friendship and little more. I have no idea how many potential fans were driven away due to that BLUNDER. I do know that I had finally convinced a former alum and friend to buy season tickets, with the new stadium and all. He did and was rewarded with 2 years of the absolute worst football and the most moronic face anyone could have put on our program. He will not return as a season ticket holder unless the Zips get to a real bowl. The iCoach hire is not a broken record. IMO, TW should have been fired along with iCoach for being even less qualified as an AD than iCoach was as a Head Football Coach. TW has done nothing to improve Zips Athletics in his tenure. He survives off of others' accomplishments (Porter, Dambrot, Kest, to name a few) and others' connections, namely KD with LeBron James. Please provide me 1 solid thing that TW has done in his tenure at UA. Something that benefitted UA athletics and you have solid proof/knowledge that it was TW's accomplishment and not that of someone else. BTW, not renewing someone's contract is not the same as firing them. TW's contract is up for renewal. So, I would imagine that Dr. Scaraborough, being the thoughtful leader that he is, is reviewing TW's performance record at UA. I imagine he's looking for reasons to keep Tom as opposed to reasons to let him go. Lack of substantive performance warrants going in another direction. I've asked you for 1 reason why UA should retain TW; I'm sure Dr. Scarborough is looking for more than that. The iCoach DEBACLE is probably moot as far as TW's contract renewal even though it still pisses me off.

Tottenham Hotspur ‏@SpursOfficial 25m25 minutes ago U21 squad v Norwich: McEneff, McEvoy, McQueen, Miller, Ogilvie, Paul, Winks, Yedlin. Preview - http://spurs.to/OoH3vX #COYS 2/2

You say that as if that was a simple f up. How much money did UA waste paying iCoach? How idiotic did Akron look with iCoach representing us? How many potential fans were driven away in those 2 years? How many high school football coaches were pissed off by iCoach? How far back did iCooach set UA recruiting? How many other holes can be mentioned that resulted from that hire. I don't know how TW kept from being fired. iCoach should have been fired by Tom's replacement. That one MORONIC decision cost UA a LOT.

Agree. Looking forward to seeing the Zips matchup with a pro team on Friday.

I'm leaning toward the Zips skipping postseason. Three 40-minute games in 3 days is like playing 1 OT FIFA soccer match in 2 hours. Given the difference in the sub rules, perhaps not quite. Couldn't expect D1 basketball players to be that well-conditioned; might actually accomplish something. No, it's good just to come and play for Akron, get 20+ so-so wins during the regular season, go to the Q as whatever seed, and win a number of games, perhaps even the MAC and get the AQ to go dancing. Very satisfying. Who needs to get to the NCAA and win any games or continue playing and pick up more experience. Let's stay home, rest, and pat ourselves on the back at the post-season banquet. --- end sarcasm for today ---

Nice run Zips. Congrats on getting to the MAC semifinals.

Tottenham HotspurVerified account ‏@SpursOfficial Here's @yedlinny aiming for the bottom corner in training today #COYS