Zip_ME87

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.

Without knowing the names, how do you "know for a fact"?

That's too bad. I really like Fred and was hoping he would settle in and have a great year for us. However, I understand that he may need the family support, and feel the need to be closer to home (especially given his unfortunate situation last Fall).

Feature: Perry Kitchen

Congratulations on Shaka staying put at VCU.

+1 Absolutely Jodi deserves the commitment from UA.

I love that picture of Darlington and DeAndre "battling". Before that game started, I saw DeAndre and Darlington and Darlington and Steve embrace each other in the tunnel before walking out onto the pitch at Century Link. It's so cool to see our professional players together even if they are competing against each other.

Well deserved call up. Seattle Sounders' DeAndre Yedlin says he's been called to US Under-20 camp

Complaining about specifics is still complaining.

Why do you believe that's more productive? Who is going to listen to specifics from a bunch of "Monday morning wanna be coaches"? I personally don't think that it's more productive to start blaming any one or anything. It is, however, our right --- as season ticket holders, casual fans, alumni, students, and donors --- to let the powers that be know that we're not satisfied with just getting to the NCAA Tournament. We can all Think Bigger, but It is their job to find a way to make more happen. That is what they get paid to do (regardless of amount). When I was younger, it was easier to say "wait 'til next year". As I've gotten older, "next year" has come and gone a lot without additional results. I'd like to see more in my lifetime. Am I happy for us to get to the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament? Yes. Is it unfair of me to want more for my Alma Mater? No. I think most of us know how great it felt when the soccer team won the 2010 National Championship. I'd love to have that same feeling for basketball with a run to the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 or further. [before anybody goes off on my mentioning soccer, I'm not comparing sports or teams. I just want a similar "high" for Akron basketball.] PS: I sympathize with you Dr. Z.

Disappointment. You can try to guild this season any way you want, but it was a disappointment. I think most of us expected this to be the year that we would take the next step, and win at least 1 game in the NCAA Tournament. Instead, we lost by the largest margin of any of our NCAA Tournament appearances. We were in the game for about 6.5 minutes. We looked completely unprepared for a team that we knew. As has been noted numerous times on this board, we are in a "crappy" conference. I just can't use a MAC Championship (actually 2) to say we did well. Yes, we had player issues, but part of being a good team is to not have those issues. Sickness is different, but that was really only 1 player. The other 2 don't get significant minutes anyway. You can say I'm being negative, but in my opinion, I'm just stating reality.

Sounders releasing Johannson.

I am so proud of our Zips and how they handled so much adversity. I couldn't be happier for them. These Zips are a special group. I know someone posted the article about Jake Kretzer's heart issue in another thread, but I missed this article on March 13th on Ohio.com. I apologize if it was posted elsewhere, but I hadn't realized what Jake has had to deal with over this season. GO ZIPS!

The U20 WC takes place in July 2013. I've forgotten the cut off birth date, but I'm almost certain DeAndre is eligible. He should have been in the qualifying, IMHO. However, I think it's better that he's been with the Sounders. He's certainly making great contributions. Perhaps he'll be noticed by Jurgen Klinsman.

It was an absolutely AWESOME goal , and the Sounders make it through to the semi-finals with 3-1 victory. Aggregate 3-2. Edit: DeAndre's goal between 3:00 - 3:05

DeAndre Yedlin scores Sounders' first goal in 2013 vs Tigres.

74 yards x 110 yards according to this article. If I remember correctly, that's approximately 4 yards narrower than our Cub Cadet Field.

If you're also going to the Tigres match on March 12th at the "Clink", you might run into Caleb in the stands. The announcers stated during last night's Timbers match that he had attended the Sounders-Impact match on March 2nd (one week prior to playing the Impact).

Yes. One thing about that dome at Krenzler Field is that the sound carries well across the field. Quite easy to make out Jared giving direction.

I agree with your takeaways. Robbie and Aodhan were both there, but not dressed. I talked with Robbie following the match. He said he would be ready in April. I remember reading (on twitter, I think) that he had surgery during winter break. I said "hi" to Aodhan, but didn't get to ask him how he was doing as he was talking with others.