Zip_ME87

Nice assist for Darren on Prime's 2nd goal. I missed their 1st goal. Final AdiPure 4 - 2 over Prime. (Darren only played the 2nd half.)

Luke scored AdiPure's 2nd goal today. Currently 3-0 Adipure over Prime.

Many thanks. I bet Caleb was there to check out prospects for the U23s. U-S-A!!

Yaznasty or Crew8...did either of you happen to see any of the second Combine match today? I just wondered how Luke Holmes looked? Thanks also for the U23 release. I've been looking daily for that since Christmas. I watched most of the 1st Combine match today and heard about Wenger the same way as Yaz. Mattocks was discussed quite a bit during that match. They also did a run down of recent #1 draft choices which included Steve Zakuani and talked a little about Kofi (perhaps because they knew he was on the U23 roster). [EDIT] I hope to catch the Combine matches [online again] on Sunday.

Combine Rosters announced Mattocks - Prime Holmes - AdiPure Match Schedule (watch on MLSSoccer.com) Friday, January 6 2:45 pm ET: adiPower vs Prime 4:30 pm ET: adiZero vs adiPure Sunday, January 8 2:30 pm ET: adiPower vs adiZero 4:25 pm ET: Prime vs adiPure Tuesday, January 10 10:00 am ET: adiZero vs Prime 11:55 am ET: adiPower vs adiPure

Wow, this schedule sucks! The March 24th match vs the Impact conflicts with USA v Canada U23 Group A qualifying match in Nashville and NO Nagbe, Zakuani, or Ampai in Columbus this [regular] season!

Nice article and billboard.

Crew8, thanks for this information. I wasn't aware of the different homegrown deals either. I'd think we could lose Chad Barson this way if the Crew comes across with the right GA homegrown deal.

When he gets inducted would be excellent.

Configure the arena to include seating that is removable for the ice rink and comes down to the edge of the basketball court when in place. It can be done with the proper sight lines. I think it's short-sighted to build an arena that cannot support hockey and have more flexibility than permanent seating up to the edge of a basketball court.

I disagree with using argument #2. Yes, it is true that we're not filling our current gym, but IMHO it's a self-fulfilling argument. We're not filling our current gym because it's a crappy place to watch basketball. The chairback seats are minimally acceptable, the wooden bleachers are uncomfortable, and the track is unacceptable. I hate sitting in the upper sections with people constantly walking in front of me doing whatever instead of being in their seats watching the basketball game. Also, the sight lines from Sections A, E, I, and M are atrocious, cutting off the view of the corner at the far end of the court on the same side as the seats. We're never going to fill the JAR for any game other than Can't and possibly OU, and we'll never get a big name opponent to come to a gym that can only seat around 5500. The atmosphere for VCU was awesome, but it was still about 1500 under advertised capacity. We were very fortunate that our payback from a Bracketbuster game was delayed a year and that opponent made the final four in the off year. It's time to replace the mistake called the JAR with an arena befitting UA and a city the size of Akron. An arena which includes an ice rink would be preferable IMHO, so that our club hockey team could play there and maybe become a full team someday. If Akron's King of basketball really gave a crap about his hometown, perhaps he could support fundraising for the arena. "LeBron James Arena" would be a nice legacy if he could significantly help to get it done.

I totally agree. Thanks to my friend, I sat 2 rows behind the students at WVU (across from the WVU bench) with Harry Huggins and his wife. The view and atmosphere (from a WVU perspective) were great. I personally see no issue with sitting behind our students as long as I have a good view. (I bring up Harry Huggins as an example that it's acceptable for a coach's brother to sit behind the students. I don't see any reason as a season ticket holder to not do the same. The biggest donors can still have the seats behind the benches.)

+1 Why are we being so "cheap" with basketball. It's time to correct the mistake that was made in the 1980's and replace the JAR. I don't understand why anyone would be against going in with the city and getting an arena downtown if it could be done. Campus has already expanded into downtown and more student housing continues to be built there. The basketball Zips deserve a real arena, with all chair backs, that holds about 10k. Don't waste any more money on the JAR.

Now that you resurrected that thread, I must say I've changed my mind as well. At that time, I was concerned about spending so much money on a football coach that the AD might damage our other sports. Unfortunately, he further damaged Akron Football. None of us know how this will play out, but I now think Terry is a great hire and will totally support him. I have confidence in his head coaching ability and love his enthusiasm. His introductory press conference was great, and I loved his energy at the VCU game. GO ZIPS!

+1 on everything you said. Great atmosphere last night; would have liked to have seen a better play called at the end of regulation. Nik had a great game, but I don't think he's the go-to guy in that situation, especially with the amount of time available. Coach Bowden is awesome. I don't ever remember that much energy from a Zips Football coach. I know patience will be required, given where the football program is, but I'm willing to be patient with a guy who's happy and excited to be at Akron. I have a good feeling as well. I lived in Huntsville, AL from 1991-1998 and vividly remember what he did at Auburn. (All but 5% of the sports section of any Fall Sunday paper was devoted to Alabama and Auburn Football.)

+1 I totally agree, CK. I'm excited about basketball season, especially the Final Four opponent at the JAR Thursday evening and the upcoming football season. I don't expect Terry Bowden to be able to fix all of our football woes in one season, but I think we'll see significant improvement. Beyond basketball and football, I'm very hopeful that the U23 Men will qualify for the Olympics and we'll see at least 2 former Zips on the USA Men's Soccer Team as well as our head coach leading them

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2011122...ts/sports3.html

Studio 90: Caleb Porter at U-23 Camp 12/21/2011 8:20 AM

Good point! I agree. For some reason, Korb has been an underrated player throughout his career. Whatever his deficiencies are, speed is not one. DC United protected Chris for the expansion draft. I wouldn't consider that being underrated.

Crew8 - Since you've been there before, can you verify that the team benches will be on the West side of the stadium? (I'm assuming so given the placement of the VIP Midfield and VIP Midfield Front Row sections.)

Wow, it is too bad that Paul Winters was turned down several times for the Football HC position by the University of Akron. What a great man that he would take the time to respond like that. Thanks for sharing ITZ.

Thank you again. Ives did a mock draft for Fox Soccer, and it appears that New England does indeed have the 3rd pick (as opposed to having traded it to Toronto FC).

Thanks. I guess I was too tired to find the key to the *. After looking at it again, that site is a joke. Speas can't be drafted without a GA deal, I believe, and I doubt that he gets one...which means Crew or UNC. Did that site even get the draft order correct? Given the other issues you pointed out, I'm unsure of the trade they claim that New England made with Toronto FC back in April. Unfortunately, the MLS site doesn't seem to have the draft order unless I overlooked it.

Which makes no sense. Why would he not sign a homegrown contract if he wanted to leave early? He will most more and be more valuable to the Crew if he signs a homegrown contract. A difference between $10-15k a year. A $30k salary or a $45k salary with the possible bonus money. I agree, which is why I found it "interesting". I couldn't find the explanation for the * on Ben's name at that site either.

Looks like the Canadians have the 1st 4 picks. Toronto has New England's pick, which is 3rd overall plus their own pick, which is #4 overall. Congratulations to Darren. I hope Montreal picks him #1 overall. Four former Zips in Montreal would be excellent. EDIT: Interesting that the website I linked projects Ben Speas being drafted #34 by the Philadelphia Union.