Zip_ME87

I thought this was an AKRON board. WRONG This is a UA Board, not an Akron Board. Sorry, I'm from Northeast Ohio, not Cleveland or Akron.

Just as I said this morning in my agreement to your post...this would not end at 10 pm. This will go on and on and on. Take comfort, GP1, in that you are a Steelers fan...I know you've had to deal with the Roethlesberger crap, but LeBron's announcement has now become "The Decision" so that they could dredge up "The Fumble", "The Drive", yada, yada, yada...forever and ever! F LeBron and F anything with which LeBron is associated! LeBron can say his heart is in Akron/NEO, but that is BullSH*T! If that were true, he would understand the ramifications of making such a huge spectacle on national television of crapping on NE Ohio.

They are stupid so I'm surprised they didn't have something like this. How much ass kissing is enough? Half the expected crowd showed up to LBJpprecitation Day. Why waste the time and effort on a guy who didn't attend UofA and his only connection to UofA is the coach he played for his freshman and soph years of high school? What would be in it for UofA? On my way home from the gym this morning, a couple of DJs on Charlotte radio were blasting how obnoxious this whole thing has become. It was really funny too because they were discussing how in addition to declaring his team, LBJ is going to explain the origins of the universe during his ESPN special tonight. This whole thing is completely out of control and sickening. I will be glad when 10:00 PM hits tonight so I can turn the TV on without having to listen to it. Good luck LBJ. Stay in Cleveland. You won't find a fan base as willing to kiss your ass as this one. +another 1 Except, it won't end at 10 pm. If he signs with a team other than Cleveland, then the media will be all over the sad fan base in NEO and harping on LeBron about what he did to NBA fans in NEO. If he signs with Cleveland, then we'll hear all the "woulda, coulda, shoulda..." ..."had a championship, more endorsements, a piece of Madison Square Garden, followed in Jordan's shoes, yada, yada, yada." Please make it STOP!

Many thanks sportsfan!

2nd goal of the season for the man from The University of Akron

Roogangs, I will say that I heard rumor of the Jamaican recruits (from someone inside UA Athletics) well after Coach Gifford was announced as the VCU Head Coach. I also believe that Caleb was in Jamaica on a recruiting trip just prior to the Spring Game with CSU (arrived home a day or so before), which I think was after Coach Gifford went to VCU. I'm hopeful this means that Caleb did indeed recruit these players separate from Coach Gifford. 5 hours to USA v England!

LOL. Did I mention in my earlier post that I'm one of the ZNO members who knows nothing! K. I thought I was missing, or misreading, something.

k.su sucks, What is the difference between "2009 Men's Hoops" and "2009 Men's Basketball". I thought they were one and the same, but according to your signature, they are not =. "-------------------- 2008, 2009 Men's Soccer= MAC champs! 2009 Men's Hoops= MAC champs! 2009 Men's Track and Field= MAC Champs! 2009 Women's Track and Field= MAC Champs! 2009 Men's Basketball= MAC runner-up! 2009 Rifle= MAC Champs!---->It Still counts!"

Wow MDZip. Nice response. I admit, I needed that! (I just can't help having some doubts.) And, I wholeheartedly agree with "I have, however, sent in my Z-fund donation and will continue to support my alma mater." I wish I could get some new UA soccer gear, with the World Cup gearing up. Perhaps that would help some, too!

Unfortunately, I'm with you GoZips, in that I also have uneasy feelings about our sports teams. Football: I agree. I have major doubts about iCoach that he will have to prove wrong. I would feel so much better if UA had hired a successful Head Coach from FCS, Div. II, or even Div. III...at least a coach like that would have proven experience at being the head guy. Also, going 3-9 last season, then kicking folks out of Lot 9 and doubling the parking prices for the upcoming season doesn't seem to me to be a great way to sell season tickets. Soccer: I'm astounded by the transfers. I hadn't thought about this possibility, until it happened, that those players may have been more loyal to coach Gifford than to Coach Porter/UA. Also, I had heard rumors of the Zips acquiring 2 additional non-US players for this Fall. But, I cannot verify that from any 2nd source, and I see that Coach Gifford picked up 2 players of the same rumored non-US "background". We still have a great team with awesome and dedicated players who should have another great season; it's just disconcerting to see players transfer from such a seemingly good situation. Finally, why is it taking so long to start selling season tickets and finalizing prices for soccer...why the indecision? Basketball: I also agree that posters on this forum should be more careful about how they choose to post their conjecture.

Thanks for the pictures Zach!

It was a good watch. Too bad Sinisa got hurt and had to leave. The FSC announcers sure gave the "Akron Zips" and the "Akron connection" much more love than those morons who announce Crew games on ONN.

I'll be tuned in, too, unless I decide to drive to Pontiac to see a number of our current Zips play as the Cleveland Internationals face the Michigan Bucks. Since the Bucks play indoor, the weather will be of little concern. I agree that the Red Bulls vs Chivas crowd will likely be <10,000.

Sounds like a great plan.

Weren't the reserved parking passes $25 last year if you didn't have priority reserved or "higher" priced seating? What happened between last season and this season for the price to double to $50, other than fewer people showed up as last season progressed? Did the product get better to a point of folks being willing to shell out twice as much money for reserved parking? Why is it the new guy (AD) has no issue with mucking around with pricing but doesn't really do much, if anything, to improve the experience?

I think the Lot 9 should be for the "die hard" fans who will be there no matter how good/bad the season is going. When I drive down Exchange Street, seeing the tailgaters gets me pumped up for game day. UA should be interested in showing off its fans' support. Wouldn't Lot 10 be a better option for high paying donors? It's paved and an easy walk between the stadium and field house to reach the press tower.

Thanks Z.I.P...great read. I watched Columbus and KC yesterday play on the Ohio News Network. Teal started and played the entire game...I believe that was his first start. Lots of chances, but KC couldn't come through with a goal and lost 1 - 0 to the Crew.

As I told Steve at the end of year "banquet", I wish him all the best and much success in whatever he chooses to do. He's a great guy, and even though he didn't get to play in many games while at UA, I'm confident the Zips were a better team for having him as a teammate.

As I understand the plans, the soccer field is moving north to make room for the soccer stands, i.e., "fix" the space problem for soccer...the team that drew over 4100 for it's final home NCAA playoff game last season. I'm not saying baseball doesn't deserve decent facilities, but I'm not sure the new soccer stadium helps baseball much, if any.

They don't need to make much money when they don't have to pay the players. And if their home field is anything like Pinnacle Sports, 100 fans would be pushing max capacity. The Zips played a Spring Game at the Buck's "home field"...Ultimate Soccer Arenas. It's a great indoor facility. I can't find a quote of the capacity, but from what I remember, I would say it seats at least as many as UA's Stile Field House. BTW Zach...THANKS for this information! Given the long, dismal summer of Indians baseball and the early Cavs' exit from the NBA Playoffs, I can't wait to watch the Zips. A drive to Pontiac, MI on June 5th (if that's where the game is played...currently TBD location) would help fill my need to watch our Men's Soccer Zips.

Awesome talk by coach Porter! Go Zips soccer! It was great seeing Blair Gavin and Ben Zemanski in Columbus this past weekend. I can't wait until Fall to see the best men's collegiate soccer team and the best collegiate soccer fans, as Blair noted on his twitter page "just touched down in LA after a long flight that was made even longer by the result yesterday .... Thanks for all the support from friends...and family and a huge shout out to ak rowdies for traveling up to the game ... Hands down best college soccer fans in the nation!!" BGav18

I suspect the Indians and Browns sell their tickets with a warning in the small print, such as..."Buy at your OWN Risk. Ownership not responsible for the level of performance, or lack thereof."

Thanks. I hadn't seen that story, but I did see Zakuani's comment on his twitter page apologizing to the fans and that they should have their money refunded. Perhaps someone should forward that story to Dan Gilbert.

TealBunB (Teal Bunbury) SteveZak_11 (Steve Zakuani) BGav18 (Blair Gavin) Zmnsk21 (Ben Zemanski)

Lookin' good 'til they ran into the Dynamo. Hopefully, they'll have a better game in Columbus Saturday. I'm hoping the weather will be good for Blair's and Ben's return to Ohio. The last few weekends have been pretty crappy. I'll be there regardless. Anyone else planning to see Chivas USA in Columbus this Saturday?