Zip_ME87

By the way, having been there, that shot looked like it hit the crossbar and bounced down and into the goal. It did not appear to be touched by anyone on a rebound. Should have been scored as a goal.

It's a Zips sports (not Zips Football) blog. They should get some other writers then like Michael Beaven used to do for Mike Rasor.

I don't see any of you stating that any of these coaches you've mentioned would run the same style we currently enjoy. I'm still in favor of Jared Embick.

That's why I quit reading George Thomas' blog. Rasor at least touched on soccer occasionally and allowed Michael Beaven to post on his blog about soccer.

It was a very good, solid win for the Zips vs PSU and the referees. Should have had a pk early on and the 2nd yellow should definitely have been a red for an elbow to the head. EDIT: The Zips left for Akron after they showered. Should be practicing at Akron today, I believe. I hope some folks show up and congratulate them. They have a quick turnaround heading for DeKalb tomorrow for the Saturday noon (CT) matchup.

I agree. That was fun, and I plan to be there again this Saturday. GO ZIPS!

I agree it's not horrible, but it should be better. You know me...I love this team. We won 4 - 0, and I congratulated the players afterward. I just want to see more well-deserved support for them. The last 2 Marches to the Match were NOT. There were only a handful of dedicated students/fans there. Our team deserves much better.

If this is true, then we (UA fans) are very sad. How can we expect to have NCAA Championship winning teams if we, the students/alumni/fans, aren't willing to get off our @sses and support our teams. This is sad not just for Men's Soccer but football and basketball as well. I can't believe that folks can't show up on a beautiful Saturday like September 29th and fill the hills inside Infocision and First Energy Stadiums. As far as Men's Soccer, I hope folks aren't using Caleb's impending departure as an excuse. My reaction to that is to attend every game, home and away, this season. I know we have an awesome team that should be supported like there is no tomorrow as none of us know what next year will bring. GO ZIPS!

I agree we need to win and get on a roll. A loss is still a loss, but it was entertaining. I certainly never considered leaving early even though I didn't have time to eat before meeting up with the Mens Soccer team on Vine Street.

+1

Believe me, "Fear the Roo" resonates ... just ask the Michigan Wolverines Men's Soccer team about their last visit to Akron. It could resonate again if the students would start showing up in huge numbers at Men's Soccer games and for football games. What happened to the student section next to the band? I thought it was filled at the UCF game, but for the past 2 games, it hasn't even been 1/4 full.

The Zips passed that one with "flying colors"; too bad the fans didn't. Where is everyone? Attendance: 2,536. Are you kidding? The Zips are #7 in the NSCAA poll (the one that counts); we should have 4000+ a game. Is there any other Akron sports team that has ever been ranked in the top 10? This team has more than a legitimate chance of getting to Alabama in December. We have 4 outstanding seniors, 3 of whom played in our National Championship winning game. They deserve massive support in their final season as do all of our returning players and outstanding freshman.

Next year would be my prediction if VCU is following Caleb's plan. ('06, '07, '08, ... '09 College Cup) Giffard at VCU --- '10, '11, '12, ... '13 Although, thinking about this as I type, I believe we could have been there in '08 had we not had our home field advantage taken away from us. If I recall Mich St had lost, and we were the top remaining seed in our bracket. EDIT: UNC promoted an assistant and was rewarded with the National Championship in his first season as head coach (last year).

My suggestion would be to do a pre-game band show in the field house. The players and coaches could then walk through that crowd with Terry Bowden addressing the crowd and then heading over to the end zone facility. By doing this in the field house, it could be done rain, snow, whatever.

I could see the team possibly walking through campus (Zips Fest) but not through Lot 9. Personally, I LOVE the experience of greeting our Soccer players prior to their games and letting them know I'm there to support them. No walk is too far for that or for doing the same for our Football players. I'm proud of all of them and will take the time to let them know I appreciate them and their coming to the University of Akron. GO ZIPS!

I will try to be there. It's going to be a very long, but FUN, Saturday starting with the Roo Walk at 11:45 am and ending with the Men's Soccer match in the evening. I encourage Zips fans to take the time to show our support to our players. I know how much the Men's Soccer team appreciates the March to the Match. I'm sure it means a lot to our Football players to see the fans take the time to support them prior to the game. EDIT: I just clicked the link provided by NewZipsFan...be there at 11:45 am the team arrives between 11:45 am and noon.

That link is to old information. Try: http://www.gozips.com/zfund/compliance The University of Akron Compliance Office at (330) 972-6857 The Directory on GoZips.com has more current information on whom to contact about Compliance rules. http://www.gozips.com/athletics/staffdirectory/index

Yes, I was an undergrad from 1982 - 87 (5-yr co-op program), and I wholeheartedly agree with the statement in bold.

Specifically this...do not fully realize how perilously close this program is to slipping from the elite, returning to the ranks of the very good also-rans, a position we have occupied for most of the program’s existence. This next hiring is monumentally important. I cannot over-emphasize that point. Seriously, you don't think we realize this? BTW...I happened to be a student at UA the first time UA Men's Soccer played for the National Championship. I'm not sure if that makes me a "youngster" in your book or not. EDIT: This is a good, healthy debate. I really don't have a problem with any of this discussion or anyone's opinions here. I've not been a soccer fan as long as ZIP or you; when Caleb says that it's a goal of his to "grow the sport", he can count me as someone whom he has turned into a fan of the "beautiful game". My fear is not just of Akron Men's Soccer slipping from the elite, but also turning away from the beautiful style we currently enjoy.

And I know at least one of our current players thinks highly of Brian Maisonneuve. I do see your and fknbuflobo's (as well as others') points, I just don't want to see Embick overlooked, which seems to be the Akron way in most things. [At least UA didn't do so when hiring our Men's Basketball Head Coach.]

I disagree with and am insulted by this statement here and it's alternate phrasing in your letter to TW. All of us have posted here because we are very much concerned about this. It is not your concern alone. Like you, I will support whomever is chosen as Caleb's successor because our Soccer Program means a lot to me.

Nice. Interesting how they referred to Penn St, Michigan, blOSU, and Michigan St as "some Big 12" matchups.

Yes, Porter is the reason recruits come to Akron. What I mean is that currently Akron (with Porter) recruits itself. We can possibly continue that for 1 more year if Embick is selected by showing that the Akron system is not changing. That would change for the following season if Embick is given the chance, but is not successful. I still think that Embick is the best option at this time. Give him a year, if he would agree, to prove himself. Making a wholesale change, even for another successful head coach, seems like a bigger risk to me. As far as the process in 2006, that AD IS GONE. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN as much as you wish it could. EDIT: By the way, I realize there is no perfect answer to replacing the best Head Coach that Akron has ever had. There is risk in any approach that is taken. Our Men's Soccer Program means a lot to me. My opinion is that what we have works, and we should try to continue it. Caleb Porter was relatively unknown when he came to Akron. I don't think we have to hire a "name" in order to continue our success. I think Jared has put in a lot of hard work helping to build what we have and should be at least given an opportunity to show that he can continue it if he wants it.

If Embick were named head coach, Porter and he could continue to recruit for next season now. Also, thanks to Caleb, Akron recruits itself. With Embick named as the head coach, that may still continue because the system would not change even though Caleb is leaving. No guarantees, but this would be my preferred approach.

The only known is that Caleb Porter will not be the Zips Head Coach next season. Hiring an existing head coach brings no more guarantees than hiring a well-qualified assistant.