Zip_ME87

A stop and chat with new Timbers coach Caleb Porter This is over a month old, but a nice read for an Akron alum/fan. One excerpt... (You’ve talked about Zakuani and Yedlin, will you take the time either before or after the game to appreciate the influence the Akron program is now having in MLS?) “There are a lot of Akron guys around the league, and there are going to be a lot of games that we play where there are Akron guys on the other side and on the other team. I think it’s one of those things where I’ll be so focused on the game that I really won’t take a step back to maybe appreciate the fact that there are some guys on the other team that used to be my guys. I’m a competitor and, again, I think when the whistle blows, I don’t care who we’re playing against. I want to win. And yes, these are players that I coached, that I care for, and I will be rooting for — except for when we’re playing them. After the game, I’m sure we’ll share a moment and a chat. But prior to the game, I don’t think there will be much discussion.”

Commentary: Timbers coach setting new tone It's taken Porter exactly one training camp and five regular season matches to instill his will and install his system. And you know what? It's working. This team is displaying a toughness we didn't see in its previous two Major League Soccer seasons. The players have a grit about them, which allows them to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat. That's something they did in three straight games after losing the season opener. Now they've won two in a row, while earning at least one point in five straight matches. "One of the things I told the guys," Porter said following his teams most recent win on Sunday night over San Jose, "teams that have the winning culture, and the intangibles, and the belief find a way to win games."

VALENTIN OPTIMISTIC FOR PROMOTION Valentin's loan to Bodo/Glimt is for 2013 and it also happens to be the final year of his contract. He doesn't know what lies beyond this year but he is open to the idea of staying in Norway; especially if the club earns promotion to the Tippeligaen next year. Perhaps Zarek can join the Porterland Timbers next season.

Timbers Reserves defeat Earthquakes Reserves 2-1 Nanchoff brace against San Jose helps Timbers Reserves to third win in four games High pressure by the Timbers Reserves helped set up the game’s opening strike. Nanchoff and midfielder Ben Zemanski were able to win possession of the ball in the Earthquakes Reserves’ defensive third. Nanchoff then set up for a shot from inside the box and hit the ball past Bingham, who was off his line, and into the left side of the goal.

Boys commitments: From Chelsea to Akron “I love getting on the score sheet to put my side ahead, so I’ll be doing all I can to do so when I get started in August with the Akron Zips.”

I thought he said they were looking at the Hawaiian Tournament in the Christmas timeframe.

Timbers team up with Make-A-Wish Oregon to grant special wish "... Timbers players, including Darlington Nagbe, Will Johnson, Jack Jewsbury and Mikael Silvestre, at JELD-WEN Field. Timbers head coach Caleb Porter and assistant coach Sean McAuley will coach the teams. ..." Very nice.

Words With Ross: Honing the Homegrown Player "It is one of the most eye-catching statistics from the first eight games of this season. A statistic normally reserved for midfield powerhouse Ozzie Alonso or one of the other experienced members of the squad. At 639 minutes, 19-year-old DeAndre Yedlin has been on the field for longer than any other Seattle Sounder, and he became the youngest player to score a goal and record an assist for Sounders FC – striking stuff for the local kid from O’Dea High School, the rookie who is still getting used to his new surroundings. Yedlin is the Sounders’ first Homegrown Player, signed in the offseason after coming through the clubs’ Academy system, under-23 side and two college years at Akron. "...

Anatomy of a goal (set up by Darlington Nagbe)... EDIT: GOTW

I just thought this was an interesting/ fun read ... I think I joined some time ago. 6) I cannot tell you how optimistic I am about the rest of the season. You can accuse me of joining Caleb Porter’s cult if you want (and, by the way, does he have a cult? Because if he does, I’d totally join…), but I think this new playing style has finally clicked, I think Porter is very close to figuring out what lineup works best, and I’m no longer questioning if we can make the playoffs. We will. There’s no doubt. The only question is whether we’ll be the number one seed.

It was great to see Robbie back in the line up. Good job by all today. I believe Saad, Foldesy, and Stevenson scored the 3 goals.

Yedlin's Rookie Season off to a Great Start

Soccer by ives show Episode 22, featuring interview with DeAndre Yedlin. EDIT: DeAndre's interview starts around 11 minute mark. Nice accolades to Caleb & Akron. Very nice interview by DeAndre.

Nice. I've seen all of the Sounders games thus far this season and know this is well-deserved.

Your forgot "panicky".

I agree that somehow the insanity of big money college sports should be stopped, but not by paying the players. You're going to create even more insanity. How about capping coaches salaries and the amount of money that can be put back into sports. Then take the remaining money and put it into academics and lowering the cost of tuition.

E-mail or call him and ask. http://gozips.com/athletics/staffdirectory/index

So, how many times did you corner Caleb Porter and demand information? Actually, Paul Warner is the Sports Information Director for Men's Soccer and is therefore responsible for press releases. Perhaps asking him would be the thing to do, but I know, in this day and age of texting and posting to message boards, it's much easier to complain and have no common courtesy than it is to actually talk with someone and request something.

@TennZip and fknbuflobo - I agree about the needed press releases. Can you please use the "Ask the AD" feature on GoZips.com and politely request that information if you have not already done so? I did awhile ago and was told they weren't ready to release yet. I think it would be helpful if more of us asked. Thanks in advance. EDIT: They may not be able to announce anything about the forward from England. They may still be in the process of getting him cleared. (Totally a guess on my part...no inside info on this.) However, they should be able to put out a release on the others who have signed NLIs, including Victor, who played in the Spring match vs CSU, and then follow up later with an additional announcement of others as they have in the past.

If this is true that the University is trying to get the other sports caught up to Mens Soccer by ignoring Mens Soccer, then our Athletic Department's leaders are even more pathetic than I thought.

You guys read way too much into things. I was seriously asking why Shaun Docking was considered a top flight coach and not belittling him in support of Jared.

Have you guys really thought about this? I absolutely agree that a player who is injured while participating in an NCAA sport should have medical expenses covered by the NCAA/school. However, when you start talking about paying players, how do you level the playing field between big schools/conferences like the Big Ten and the MAC? Where do MAC schools get the funding to pay their players the same as the Big Ten. Players in the Big Ten will claim they should be paid more than those in the MAC because they generate more revenue. The higher pay then creates another reason for recruits to not want to play for MAC schools. How do you make this fair?

First, thanks for a good exchange. I take none of this personally. Just a good discussion. As far as #3, it is shameful. When I pushed on TW via e-mail last Fall about the lack of marketing for Mens Soccer, I believe his reaction was to get Scott Caldwell and some of the other players to go through the dorms talking to students. There's nothing wrong with that, but I expected more. We were a top 5 (ugh, should have been higher) seed in the NCAA Tourney, hosting games, and the Athletics Dept/Marketing should have done more. Yes, you'll see me Saturday. I hope we're still "friends".

Why do you consider Shaun Docking "top flight". He is an alum, but what has he done. Has he won a D-I National Championship? Is he involved in US Soccer. He's been at Coastal Carolina for 15 seasons, I believe. How many College Cup appearances in that time? Zero, if this is accurate. I won't dispute the others you mentioned, but we don't know they, or even Shaun, were actually interested. I never said there weren't others besides Jared interested in the job. I was just picking on your "facts". My question to you is why are you so against Jared before he's had the chance to prove himself? If you think for a moment that recruiting wasn't going to be off some this season then you don't live in reality. A program doesn't change head coaches without there being questions as to where it is going no matter who is hired as the replacement. Also, when you say that Jared "has inherited a program in fine shape", that, in my opinion, is totally due to Caleb Porter and staff. The Mens Soccer Team has basically had to do all of their own marketing by winning and by Caleb, staff, and players talking with the students and fans. Do you see Tom W and the marketing staff doing anything for Men's Soccer like they have been for football and Mens Basketball? Last season, we hosted 2 NCAA Tournament games, and what signs did you see all over campus..."Bowden Ball" and "Think Bigger". I don't have a problem with those signs, but where were the signs for Mens Soccer given that we were hosting NCAA Tournament games as a top 5 seed (out of 200+ D-I programs). I hate to admit it, but I'm not certain other "top flight" coaches wanted to step into a program with that kind of support from its Athletics Department.

No, I don't know differently. There's only 1 name whom I heard for certain expressed an interest, and I'm not sure he is a top flight coach. All the others I heard mentioned were wishful thinking, but no confirmation any of them were actually interested. I was absolutely calling you out on saying that you know something for a fact when you don't have facts. You have rumors and someone else's opinion. Without knowing names, how can you say "top flight coaches" were actually interested.