Zip_ME87

It's a good question MDZip, but I choose not to choose. All 3 are possible and not mutually exclusive. I happen to love supporting all 3 sports. I wish I had enough time to add Women's basketball to the mix. Jodi Kest is doing a great job. Go Lady Zips!BTW, I understand if someone doesn't like soccer and chooses not to follow it. But, that doesn't make it unimportant. As I posted in another forum, I had similar experiences to zippyrifle this past soccer season. In one instance, I encountered a friend from work at the OSWho game last season...he said he was at the game and other Zips games because he loves good soccer, which the Zips play. When I spoke to him a few days ago, he said he was thinking about getting season tickets this year. (He is not a Zips alum nor do any of his family attend UA.) In another instance, I told a friend at work that if he liked soccer, he would love watching the Zips. He took his family to a game and followed that up with 5 more, and he had 8 tickets to the Tulsa game in the NCAA Tournament. Again, not a UA alum and no kids at UA (kids are too young). Numerous people at work also asked me about the Zips once the Cleveland news stations finally reported they were going to the College Cup.

Agree. What I dislike more than losing to Can't is Zips fans who crap all over their own team or other Zips' fans/teams.

I can't believe any true Akron student, alum, or Zips fan would say that...for 1 regular season basketball game? You can't be serious. You live way too much for TODAY and TODAY ONLY, or perhaps, you are only a Zips' Basketball fan. That is an absolute HORRIBLE message to send to a great group of guys who accomplished so much and brought significant achievement and attention to Akron. Maybe I'm misreading that; maybe you really mean this year, 2010, since they haven't done anything in 2010, yet. (I know the Hermann and Coach of the Year were given in January, but they are 2009 season awards.) I have personal friends who are not Akron students or alumni, but came to Akron soccer games in 2009 based on my recommendation. They came because they love soccer and they kept coming back because they love the brand of soccer the Zips play. Unfortunately, I have yet to be able to say the same for Akron basketball or football.

Too bad 95% of the people (me included) dont give a crap about soccer.I'm glad you don't really speak for 95% of the people even though you think you do!I kind of agree...Soccer is not very important. Football and basketball matter most. You yell "at least we have a soccer team!" and most Can't people will say "who cares? It's soccer."Giving heed to Can't people...isn't that grounds for having your "Zip card" revoked?

Too bad 95% of the people (me included) dont give a crap about soccer.I'm glad you don't really speak for 95% of the people even though you think you do!

Call the soccer office, maybe they can order you an official jersey (That's how I got my Official Football Jersey). Also, from my understanding B&N Bookstore now operates the Athletics Team Shop.Or maybe we can all get together and order them at one time from the athletics equipment manager.Thanks for the suggestion.

I would love an Akron Soccer jersey. They should also consider selling the soccer scarf to everyone now. I have one, but I personally would like to see everyone who wants one be able to buy it and wear it proudly! GO ZIPS!

Good find CK.

Some news from the MLS Combine.Second Day at Combine"...Duka's words were a common refrain among the players, even from ones considered to have enjoyed good first days. One of those players was forward Teal Bunbury, who admitted to feeling a bit jet-lagged having flown into South Florida the day of the combine after winning the Hermann Trophy on Friday night in St. Louis, Missouri."Coming back from my flight my legs were a little heavy, but I went out there and tried to enjoy it and have fun," said Bunbury. "It's difficult the first game, you don't know everybody, but you go out there and do your best."Bunbury was among Day One's best, and despite being a lock to get drafted, the Canadian-born forward is looking to shine on Day Two."I'm just keeping in perspective that you got to go out there and prove yourself, nothing is given to you, so I'm going to go out there next game and prove myself," Bunbury said.Bunbury and Duka's team, Jabulani, play F50i at 3:45pm today, with the first game between Predator X and Condivo scheduled for a 2:00pm kickoff at Central Broward Regional Park."And for those of you who love being referred to as "Akron University" ...Paving the way to MLS...from AkronNear the bottom of the article ..."Paving the way to MLS...from Akron: Akron University hasn't had to worry about this much about MLS scuttlebutt since, well, forever. Two Zips – Bunbury and Gavin – comprise one-sixth of the incoming Generation adidas class and both could go in the first round. One more Zip – head coach Caleb Porter – could have joined them if he had accepted D.C. United's overtures to make him its next head coach.Both Bunbury and Gavin heaped praise on Akron and the job Porter has done to transform the Zips into a national title contender. As for all of the interest in Akron products from the American top flight, Bunbury said the suitors arrived as a byproduct for the type of program Porter has constructed since taking over in January 2006.“That's what happens when you have such a successful year, such a great team and such a great university,” said Bunbury, who also collected the Hermann Trophy as the nation's top college player on Friday."

Can someone add one of these with more horses and bats, specifically for this topic?

I agree Z.I.P. that I think Zakuani's overlook last year helped Teal this year. I also think Teal was helped by Akron being #1 in the NSCAA poll starting in week 1 (all but pre-season)...My understanding is the NSCAA, rather than the media (in the case of the Heisman), votes for the Hermann Trophy. I had a good feeling about this year because of Teal's performance, first and foremost of course, and these 2 factors. Best wishes to Teal and Go Zips!

Inside Minnesota SoccerAt the College Cup Final, there were a number of guys from Minnesota sitting in front of us cheering for Teal & the Zips. Also, talked to soccer coaches from Teal's high school in the hotel that morning. They saw our Zips Soccer shirts and were wishing us well in the game that afternoon.

What's debatable about the progress made in MAC football. Doesn't 1-14 in the last 15 bowl games indicate where MAC football is. The MAC was 1-4 in this season's bowl games, and the Zips only had 2 MAC wins...Akron should definitely keep pouring money down the football hole while ignoring hoops; perhaps we'll achieve 5 MAC wins again and get into a $750k bowl through a convoluted tie-breaker. So much better than the money that could be earned by getting to the sweet 16 or elite 8, NOT.

Nicely stated MDZip. Anyone who doubts Akron's academics should visit the lobby of Auburn Science Center and look at the numerous awards won by the engineering students as one example.

AWESOME. Congratulations Teal, congratulations Coach Porter, and CONGRATULATIONS ZIPS MEN'S SOCCER on a great season!

+1, 2009 was a good year (sorry, I guess this is off topic since it wasn't a good year for Zips football)...The trip to Cary for the College Cup was my main Christmas present.The trip to Portland in March was my main birthday present (my birthday is March 20). And, by the way, I made a good friend in meeting CK on that trip. Thanks to CK and the other moderators for setting up ZN and keeping it going. Merry Christmas!

You're a Ken Dorsey fan?Ken Dorsey was #11, and I think #5 was garcia, or more recently ratliff...charlie was #9 while he played with clevelandThat's what I get for being a smart*ss. (I knew Charlie was #9 in Cleveland.)

You're a Ken Dorsey fan?

That leaves plenty of time for ACC lobbying for Corben.http://www.nscaa.com/articles/20091211133417536.phpI think the Hermann voting was done before the top 15 were even announced. So lobbying now is pointless. The link below is for last year's voting process (No "Wednesday, Nov 30th" 2009), but the timing is similar every year.Hermann voting

Both teams bunkered for the second half of the games because they knew they were toast if they didn't out number the Zips in the box.This with the Zips 2 best playmakers (Ampi & Nanchoff) not playing or not at full strength.2 ACC programs played the Zips and didn't score a regulation goal. And the Zips didn't come close to bunkering in either game.I'd take my chances with the Zips playing an ACC schedule. They clearly outplayed both UVA and UNC in regulation & overtime. Do they run the table? Who knows .. but they'd have a better chance of running the table in the ACC than anyone currently in the ACC or in the NCAA for that matter.Go Zips!! B) +1

The College Cup was played at Crew Stadium in 2001 and 2003. In 2001 North Carolina defeated Indiana 2-0 and in 2003 Indiana defeated St. Johns 2-1.Yes, and as cold as it was in NC, there's no reason the College Cup couldn't come back to Columbus. Go Zips!

NOT ENOUGH. Not when you turn away fans, make fans (and students) pay money to sit on the frozen ground or stand for 2 1/2 hours.With a halfway decent facility, soccer could be another revenue generating sport, benefitting ALL programs. When's the last time the basketball team brought in nationally ranked teams in the non-con, and sold the place out?The soccer program hosts HOSTS conference tournaments and early rounds of the NCAA tournament and that sorry excuse for a high school soccer stadium is inadequate.We need to sell tickets right up to game time, and give those people a place to sit. We need to have lighting that will allow games to be on TV. You have a chance of building something BIG in northeast Ohio, and this crap of slapping more lipstick on the pig, while catering to the traditional revenue sports is going to bite the U in the ass.As good as we are and have been at Soccer, it is NOT a sport with a national following. It adds little to the prestige of the school.Football and BBall are THE college sports. AND, the BBall team has been going to the post season, so there is hope for a national program.I say put the money into basketball. Last year they were on national TV a few times, and do add to our prestige.I guess it depends on which nation you're in! (What, no shoulder shrug emoticon?) I've gotten several comments from friends and colleagues about Akron playing for a national championship last weekend. I got only one remark -- from my friend who was visiting Portland at Big Dance time last year, about the first round NCAA game. In my book, Caleb deserves as much, if not more $$ than my classmate Keith. When BB makes a Final Four, we can reassess. +1 I've heard from numerous colleagues at work about the Zips Men's Soccer team before and after the College Cup. There are many more soccer fans in Northeast Ohio than the football/basketball crowd are willing to admit. There are a lot of kids playing soccer here, and consequently, it is easy to get them and their parents interested in our Zips. A colleague of mine (not a UA alum) took his kids to a regular season game on my advice; he and his family enjoyed it so much, they returned for 4 more regular season games and the 3rd Tourney game (Tulsa). His 12-yr old son became so hooked that he couldn't sleep after the Championship game. IMHO, we haven't yet seen the crowds that our soccer Zips can draw and the merchandise they could sell. Northeast Ohio media really only jumped on the bandwagon after the Zips made the College Cup.I love KD and our basketball team (fortunate enough to be a season ticket holder there, too). But, as KD said, the new arena can wait for the new soccer pitch.

They were $50 in person and $55 with the handling fee by phone. Best decision that I made in 2009! GO ZIPS! I'm looking forward to the spring exhibition season. These guys are so much FUN to watch.

I heard that on ZipsLive also. AWESOME!

I didn't see Ampi getting any treatment on the sidelines. He was jogging along the sidelines in front of us like he was trying to work it out and keep his muscles warm to come back into the game. Then he stopped and stood at the end of the bench nearest the goal watching the rest of the game.