Zip_ME87

It's the Rob Ianello effect. Once you've experienced a boneheaded blunder like that, you start believing all kinds of boneheaded blunders will happen. Edit: My understanding is that the only truly effective cure is removal and replacement of the root cause.

I agree on both. I hadn't thought about Sean moving back there, but I think your idea and reasoning are excellent.

Sean at Left Back. Interesting. We haven't tried that yet have we?

And, under the Ohio Public Records law, I will request a copy from UA of any agreement, including financial terms, with the Browns that allows them to practice at FE Stadium-CC Field to aid you in that endeavor. They had better be prepared for transparency as is required of a Public Institution under Ohio law. I don't see how Browns training camp at UA for 2-3 weeks per year can be a lucrative deal for UA. http://www.uakron.edu/ogc/legal-policies-and-procedures/records/frequently-asked-questions-regarding-public-records.dot

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024518529_soundersyedlin16xml.html Even though I've become friends with Ira and Vicki, I've always been hesitant to ask about how they came to be DeAndre's guardians and to raise him. This is a tremendous story of some really awesome people.

Ken Lolla left mostly because the powers that be would not upgrade our soccer facility. Thus, he felt that he couldn't lure the best soccer players to Akron and consequently he would never win an NCAA championship at UA. When Caleb Porter was hired, he told the powers that be if they upgraded the facilities, he would bring UA an NCAA Men's Soccer National Championship. He almost did it before the upgrade, but the facility we have now only dates back to 2010, the year the Zips were National Champions. You cannot maintain the Mens Soccer Program at the level that Caleb Porter had it without keeping the competition field pristine and ensuring your Head Coach that his team is important. Caleb would have slept on that field if he had to in order to protect it. Any Head Coach that has the passion it takes to win a National Championship is not going to come to Akron or stay at Akron if his sport is disrespected by allowing another team in another sport, especially an outside team, to damage their facility. Although it is not why he left, Caleb was frustrated with the lack of support when he left. Yes, he had a great contract, which I still think was driven by Dr. Proenza, but there was no marketing whatseover for Zips Mens Soccer in 2011 and 2012. Not that marketing of UA sports is good for any sport, but it was mostly limited to Football with some to Basketball. He felt unimportant in the eyes of our AD and his staff. There is no way he would have stayed if UA allowed the Browns on Cub Cadet Field. Why would another dedicated coach allow it? I wasn't close friends with Caleb, but I traveled to numerous away matches and talked with him after games at home and on the road. I knew him well enough to understand the mentality of a truly dedicated and focused head coach. That's why I'm sensitive to even the mere mention of using our pitch for other than competition soccer matches. Having the Columbus Crew come to Akron for a USOC match was awesome. They're a professional soccer team playing in a competitive match. That kind of activity promotes soccer and Akron's standing as a premier NCAA soccer team that an MLS Club would be interested in coming to our campus.

It is alarming, but it is a young team. We lost recruiting ability in 2012 when Caleb announced prior to the season that he was leaving, and we didn't know for half the season who the new coach would be. Then we lost Gallego, Brenes, Quinn, Stevenson, and Dershang, and a number of last years' recruits didn't work out. Add to that, Souto's suspension and Seremba's 2nd season-ending injury. Consequently, we have a lot of Freshmen, and this team needs time to recoup and gel. Hopefully, Victor will help immensely. I wish fans could be a little more patient and supportive, and see how it plays out.

We certainly won't get that success back by f'ing up our soccer facility. Ask Ken Lolla why he left. I'll choose to spend my time on what I think is important rather than follow the advice of someone I don't know. Don't bother to read my posts if you think they're a waste (not waist) of time.

You're overstating it just a little DiG. I said that I also have some connections and know that they [university officials] have considered offering the competition soccer field for the Browns, not that they conceivably could.

There it is in print finally... The NCAA suspended Souto for actions after his red card in the Zips’ 1-0 loss to Marquette in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The penalty was three regular-season games, plus two NCAA games. Why can Marla Ridenour publish it and Paul Warner cannot? I thought it was actions that led to his red card, though, not after his red card. EDIT: Marla did not mention Seremba's season-ending injury. That hurts the Zips up front. EDIT2: It appears that Paul Warner is gone. "TBD" is listed for Men's Soccer, Cross Country, Track & Field on gozips.com

I do appreciate creative criticism. Oh well, I'm passionate about my Zips and especially my soccer team. Browns, Reptilians, or Clowns DON"T MESS WITH THE FIELD THAT CALEB PORTER BUILT!!!

I agree with you that they do, but don't bet that they know that. Just because you're a "president" or among his "ranking officers" doesn't mean you know what you're doing and can't also be a bumbling boob. Just look to our nation's capital for unending proof of that.

I don't know what you mean by "highest", but yes, Caleb recommended Jared as his replacement as did some of our former players. In our limited discussions, I never got the impression from Caleb that he was saying that Jared would definitely continue the success but that he had the knowledge to do so and should be given the opportunity. I'm of the old school where first impressions are lasting. My first impression of Tom's hiring ability was a dismal failure as we all know. I was too afraid of getting a soccer coach like our previous football coach to want Tom to open it up. I support Jared. I still think he can do it, but I don't accept that we can't recruit the same caliber players at Akron that Caleb did. That takes extra effort which must remain the standard at Akron. In Florida, i saw some fire in Jared that I hadn't seen before. He still has and deserves at least the one additional year (2015) that I believe he has on his contract. Some people take a little time to grow into their new roles and responsibilities. He has a hard act to follow, and 2013 wasn't much worse, if any, than 2011 or 2012. I really think he needs to get a handle on the recruiting & yearly player transitions and Zips Mens Soccer will be fine. I also believe these players have the skills and heart necessary to be successful. Our captains need to step up more and motivate their fellow players. The captains are used to a higher caliber skill and drive because so many of our past players knew they had what it takes to go professional and they were working to get there. I think some of our current guys need to be called out by their teammates when they're screwing off and screwing up. That can be more effective sometimes than the coach getting on them.

I hope you and ZZZips are correct. I have no issue with the Browns coming to UA as long as: 1) THEY STAY OFF THE FIELD THAT CALEB PORTER BUILT (American football and soccer on the same grass don't mix) and 2) the university doesn't end up with additional financial burden. #1 for me is supporting the Zips and UA. If this can benefit UA and not harm one Zips sport in favor of another, so be it. EDIT: By the way, just because ZZZips hasn't heard it mentioned by university officials that they are considering our competition soccer pitch as a possible practice field in their proposal to the Browns doesn't mean they haven't. I also have some connections and know that they have, or I never would have raised this here. I likely would have thought that it was a goofy idea that someone wrote in an article. Given some of the questionable decisions in the past, I would have still thought it possible but not worthy of bringing up on this forum.

It's National Day of Encouragement tomorrow. You're supposed to be encouraging.

We have a young team who have been working very hard to be successful. Victor Souto is available for our tournament. The Zips are celebrating 60 years of collegiate soccer, and Friday (September 12th) is the National Day of Encouragement. Let's show up in large numbers to celebrate our program and support our team. GO ZIPS! THIS IS AKRON!

I'm with you, let's strive to be like Can't State from 1975-81, NOT!! I think the Browns should move their camp back to BUGS where it was from 1946-51. They won the AAFC Championship in 46, 47, 48, & 49, and the NFL Championship in 50. The original Browns started at BUGS (the reason for their colors). The new Browns should have started there, too. They should have a redo.

As I questioned in the other thread (link), is there a cost-benefit analysis to show this would help UA's bottom line? I've heard that it may actually cost the UA Athletic Department. If we have to redo/repair the competition soccer pitch, who pays for it? You're making a lot of assumptions. I posted my concern because it is absolutely ridiculous to even consider for a nanosecond using our soccer-only competition field for football practice, especially that of a questionably-professional team with an unknown, if any benefit. No serious D1 athletics program would consider this. I thought "Hill Top High" went away some time ago, but I guess that was only when UA had an intelligent, thoughtful leader.

I know. I put it here for effect. I created this thread in response to a totally irrelevant thread created to do nothing but criticize me. However, in writing the above, and really thinking about this more, UA has financial issues and should concentrate on education and overcoming those issues. The budget won't be fixed by a gimmick of bringing a 2-week NFL training camp to our campus, as has been pointed out, with evidence cited, by several posters in my original thread (link provided by Balsy above). If UA is really interested in rising from a mid-major to a major sports program, I think they have already done what we needed by hiring our current football coaches and supporting them as they work to improve our talent and on-field execution. Start consistently winning games, and once the Zips can do that, then I think UA needs an Acme-Zip type promotion to put butts in the seats. If Zips Football can show these people a great product, I believe many will return to watch games at our relatively inexpensive normal ticket prices. There’s been a lot of debate about a new arena. Will it really help? Should it be on campus or downtown? Whether or not the JAR is sold out, I still agree with those who believe that it keeps our basketball program from reaching its full potential. The JAR is an uncomfortable, glorified high school gymnasium. If UA is going to put any more funding into facility modifications, it is time to take care of basketball. To me, the downtown arena is the way to go not just because of the funding issues, but think of the possibilities if Akron had a nice downtown arena. Some that I can think of include: Now that LeBron has returned to Northeast Ohio, the CAVS could play some of their pre-season games as well as the Wine and Gold Scrimmage in Akron, thus bringing LeBron home to Akron yearly and expanding the CAVS fan base. The JAR could remain intact and be used for UA practices and other UA events and purposes. The combination of the JAR and downtown arena could lure the Nike LeBron James Skills Academy to Akron. The Charge could move to a nicer venue in Akron, tying the CAVS D-league team to Akron. A nice arena and the attention that LeBron and the Cavaliers/NBA could bring might help UA lure upper D1 teams such as West Virginia, Pitt, Michigan, etc. to play the Zips at home. Akron would have a venue for concerts year round.I’m sure this list could grow with some of the great ideas from other UA students, alumni, and fans.

I know some folks are just going to pay no attention to this assuming it could never happen. Unfortunately, that is not the case. And, to say that a bunch of Clowns masquerading as a professional football team practicing on our pitch would not damage it is crazy. You don't see circuses held and Association Football played on the same grass field on any kind of regular basis for a reason. Successful D1 NCAA soccer programs don't even practice on their competition field. Proenza is gone, and Clowns masquerading as university officials have made questionable decisions in the past: a glorified high school gymnasium for a basketball arena, money thrown at a move to D1-A football when UA D1 basketball could have more easily taken off, hiring a head football coach who didn’t even know to “defer” and had to kick off in both halves, not working with the city/county to properly market a new downtown arena as an entertainment venue for Akron rather than UA’s basketball arena and thus having it removed from the ballot are just a few examples. Then there’s harlequins disguised as intelligent UA students, alumni, and sports fans who say things without really knowing of what they are speaking. Cleveland sucks when it’s sports fans are bashing LeBron for going to Miami, but it would be awesome to have their so-called professional football team come to our campus for 2 weeks each year because it will do great things for UA. Have we seen a cost-benefit analysis? Has one been done? I’d like to see it. In my opinion, working with the City of Akron and Summit County on a downtown arena would be a much better pursuit than trying to bring a “circus” to campus for 2 weeks a year. I don’t have an economic impact analysis to back me up, but Akron seems like a great place to build a moderate-sized arena for concerts and other events as well as UA Basketball. The Akron metro area (Summit & Portage Counties) population is 700k+, Canton city is 72k+, and the Dover-New Philadelphia area is 92k+. Add to this $173k+ in Medina County, and you have 1M+ people within 50 miles of Akron without counting Cleveland. Many of the people in these areas don’t like going into Cleveland, but would come to Akron for events. I live in Medina County now and grew up in Tuscarawas County. I much preferred and still prefer coming to Akron, and I know there are many folks south of Akron who’d prefer to not drive all the way to Cleveland. But, hey, why seriously look at something when you can pursue gimmicks? UA has a history of sinking a lot of money into football at the expense of other sports and pursuits that seem to make more sense. History could easily repeat itself. UA students, fans, and alumni who really care, please don't ignore this. EDIT: Canton-Massillon Metro Area (Stark & Carroll Counties) has a population of 400k+. Thus, about 1.3M+ people within about 50 miles of Akron without counting Cleveland. The contents herein are my opinion formed over about 30 years.

That's what I thought for awhile, too, about the drainage, but it's not true. Unfortunately, there are drainage issues mostly on the east side, especially near the goal. In 2012, we had a Spring game moved to the practice field. Last season they had to delay a game and squeegie the field to get the excessive water off of it after a mediocre rain. There was still water splashing up under the players' feet in the first half of the match, and the ball was slowed by the water. By the 2nd half, it had significantly improved. Sorry, but the Browns will F it up. It's what they do. Why does anyone want the worst organization in the NFL to come to our campus?

Really? Rob Ianello. Enough said.

What would you think if UA paid the Browns rather than the Browns paying UA?

I know some folks are just going to pay no attention to this assuming it could never happen. Unfortunately, that is not the case. And, to say that a football team practicing on our pitch would not damage it is crazy. You don't see American Football and Association Football played on the same grass field on any kind of regular basis for a reason. Successful D1 NCAA soccer programs don't even practice on their competition field. Proenza is gone, our AD has made questionable decisions in the past, and our new president is a big football fan. UA has a history of sinking a lot of money into football at the expense of other sports. History could easily repeat itself. UA soccer fans don't ignore this.

Sorry, not pristine like a soccer pitch. There's a reason why MLS has been going toward soccer-only stadiums.