Zip_ME87

You're right. UNC will be listed as his college, but I'll still know him from supporting him and talking with him when he was a Zip.

That's the part I've been trying to figure out. Hard to believe Coach Porter miscalculated Speas' potential to contribute to this year's team, but it's possible. It could also have been that he didn't fit Porter's style of play, could have been that he left with a chip on his shoulder and used that as motivation to get better, could have been that whoever Porter pictured playing ahead of Speas this year just didn't live up to expectations, could have been any number of things that aren't obvious to anyone who wasn't part of the decision. But the new recruiting class and thoughts of next year's team helps to erase memories of the guy from last year's team who may have made a difference this season but who "got away." What a great position to be in to "only" be a sweet 16 team after losing someone who might have made a difference. I don't think it's that difficult to understand how Ben could end up at a school that did better than us. He had the credentials - highly rated coming out of high school, played in every game while with the Zips, and experience in 2 previous College Cups. Any coach who was looking for just that 1 piece with Ben's abilities to complete his team would have been interested...UNC, in this case. That Caleb thought Ben didn't quite fit his style of play easily could have been why Ben left. Caleb said several times that former players who didn't fit his system were doing well elsewhere. At any rate, I don't share the animosity toward Ben that some seem to have due his leaving. Sometimes a person has to be a little selfish and put himself first if he wants to achieve his dream.

Darlington's MLS GOTY (approx 1:45) and 2nd goal (approx 3:11) are included. Portland Timbers 2011 Goals

EDIT: MDZip already covered the Creighton/UNC connection Nice picture of former Zip Ben Speas on front of this MLSSoccer.com article --- http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011...-north-carolina? Ben has been getting a lot of press in UNC's post-season run.

ESPNHS (was ESPNRise) has Koroma and Souders, #2 and #3, respectively.

I don't think so. He's started the few games that I've watched. EDIT: I checked 8 box scores at http://www.tarheelblue.com/sports/m-soccer...ccer-sched.html, and Ben was listed as a starter in all of them. I didn't check every box score, but I'm convinced he is a starter for UNC as I thought.

I agree with you that Ben could have been the difference between sitting home and going to Alabama next weekend. But, I also understand his decision to leave given that he came in with high expectations of starting and was mainly a sub for 2 years. I believe he's very interested in playing in the MLS. It's tough to get noticed by the pros without being a starter.

You don't have to. I try to talk to as many of our players as I can each season, and Ben was always very friendly to me. He's no longer a Zip, but was for 2 years and had one great header save vs UNC in the 2009 semi-final game to help the Zips get to the final.

I'm with you on both points. If/when the Crew someday picks up Chad Barson or any of the other Zips in their academy (yes, including Ben Speas, even though he went to UNC), I will follow the Crew.

Zips Sporting KC Portland Timbers upcoming season's Montreal Impact (hopefully fans will rival Sounders' fans) Seattle Sounders (best fans in the MLS) USMNT Every MLS team that actually plays our former Zips

The fact that they paid Parker Executive Search of Atlanta $50,000 plus expenses to recruit Ianello is also sickening.

No. He was an assistant coach at Central Florida right before coming here. He also had served as an assistant at Ohio State and West Virginia early in his career. Yes, you are correct that Huggins spent 1 year as an assistant at UCF after Walsh, before coming to Akron. He also had other D-1 experience as you mention. I never said that he didn't. I still hold that a lower division head coach can be successful in D-1. There's no perfect answer to who our new head coach should be. There's risk in any candidate who is chosen, but I prefer someone who has been successful actually being a head coach.

Although it wasn't football, Bob Huggins came to Akron from Walsh, where he was quite successful. He went on to take Akron to our first NCAA Tournament appearance in our D-1 era. Then he moved on to Cincy, Kansas State, and WVU and throughout has been to the Final Four several times. A successful lower division head coach can definitely be successful at D-1 if the coach is a winner and is driven to be a winner.

The only strikers Montreal have are Brian Ching (not going to happen) and Justin Braun. That is probably the position where they have the least depth. According to Ives, he would be their top choice. FOUR former Zips in Montreal would be awesome!

I was watching when Stanford scored their first 2 goals. That Kennesaw State University Stadium is gorgeous. I wish they'd hold the Men's College Cup there; however, I haven't checked the seating capacity. But, it looks sizable on television. Also, cool that Ohio Wesleyan is playing for the D III Championship. Thanks for pointing that out.

I don't know how much he makes, but I sure hope no one tries snatching him from us. At this point, he might be the most important associate head coach in the country. The Olympic gig seemed to work out perfectly for Porter because it won't interfere with this season or next season, but in between now and then, I think a lot of duties of the head coach are going to be relegated to Jared and the other assistants. We still have Spring season, and although it may not be extremely important, it shouldn't be written off as no big deal. Also, Porter will probably not be able to be as hands on with recruiting in the off season. We need this team of assistant coaches now more than ever. +1 Our Mens Soccer assistant coaches are all AWESOME. I'd hate to lose any of them. Also, I don't see Caleb Porter going to another college soccer program. He has too much invested in the Zips and is getting well-deserved opportunities due to his success at Akron. His family is settled here, and he has a good contract with UA. He also has a great fan base, and his team is the most successful on campus. (Have we commissioned the Caleb Porter statue yet?) Moving to another college soccer program seems like a lot of upheaval with little, if any, payoff.

DarNag moves to MF in that lineup. WOW! I disagree. Zakuani is more of a winger. He moves to MF. Nagbe - Bunbury Zemanski - Gavin - Ampai - Zakuani Korb - Valentin - Kitchen - Sarkodie Bush

If we consider lower Division head coaches like Winters, what about Greg Debeljak at Case Western Reserve? 52-22 through 2010, and I believe Case was 9-1 this season.

Ok. Bad choice of words on my part.

Meet Zarek Valentin Q: What are your plans for the off-season? A: I took a week off, first time in two years, and relaxed…spent some time with my family. After the jersey unveiling event, I’m heading back to L.A. to pack up and organize my things. Later, I’m hoping to get an invite to the U.S. U23 National Team camp in March in preparations for Olympic qualifying.

Wow am I with you! Can't wait until the GA offers start flowing in December (so we know who is most likely leaving/staying) and the MLS draft in January. Followed by MLS in March, US U23 qualifying, and Zips Soccer Spring schedule.

Thanks CK. As I said in another thread, these guys need to make restitution (including apologizing to their teammates for letting them down), learn from this, and not let it happen again. Hopefully, Tree's day in court will work out for the best.

Ok, since I don't want to be misinterpreted...I took ZIP's statement "Those minor sports can really get in the way of supporting the best and cleanest team in NCAA men's soccer." in the way I believe he meant it, facetiously. I root for all Zips' sports. I'm not able to attend them all, but I certainly don't root against any of them. I love it when any of our athletes/teams are successful. Yours or anyone's opinion on soccer's popularity in the US vs American Football doesn't matter to me. Thanks to our Mens Soccer team, I personally have come to appreciate and love soccer more than American Football. That's my opinion and that's all it is. Go Zips!

I understand your concern, but it will definitely set the program back 5 or more years if we make the wrong decision again.

+1 As I've told Caleb Porter, I have front row seats to the GREATEST show in college sports!