Zip_ME87

Can someone who was at the game estimate how many Zips fans were there? Thanks in advance. EDIT: When GP1 returns from the mountains, I'll bet he'll wish he liked soccer and was in Chapel Hill rather than the Smokies, or whichever mountains he's visiting.

Go Zips!

That article is awesome.

I don't know that I really had anything to do with it, but Tony Zarella was very responsive and supportive all along. Those were only the first & last e-mails I sent to him. There were 2 others, and he assured me they would do a story. Getting him interested in the Zips Mens Soccer team, I think, was easy. Hopefully, he'll continue to at least mention scores throughout the season as long as he knows there's interest.

Link doesn't work. (due to "flush" word conversion on ZN.O) Try this one: http://tinyurl.com/2v5n5so "Forget the former King of Akron, this guy's (Kofie Sarkodi's) a legitimate prince of a village back in Ghana" "Here in championship-starved Northeast Ohio, this team is your best shot." Go Zips!

Awesome. Thanks Zach. I've been e-mailing Tony Zarella several times in the past month to do a story on the Zips. I don't know that he did it because of my e-mails, but kudos to 19 Action News ---- "Zarrella wrote: > Definitely > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: ----------- > To: Zarrella, Tony > Sent: Sat Jul 24 19:44:48 2010 Subject: Akron Zips Men's Soccer > > Tony - > > Could you or Chuck please do a story on the Akron Zips Men's Soccer Team and the upcoming season? You remember, the Zips Men's Soccer Team played for the Div 1 National Championship last December and were undefeated throughout the regular season and up to the final game (lost to UVa on PK's). Although, there are no guarantees for this season, Coach Porter appears to have reloaded. He just recently added 2 players from Jamaica in addition to a great recruiting class that was announced in the Spring. Here's an article about one of those Jamaican players, Darren Mattocks, http://jam.live.mediaspanonline.com/sports...cks-leads-Bport > > Thanks for you consideration. From today: ---- "Zarrella wrote: > My pleasure. It's a nice piece, and coach is great. Hopefully there will be access to footage this wknd, but trust me, we'll stay on 'em. It's a great program. > Tony > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [deleted] > Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2010 03:40 PM To: Zarrella, Tony > Subject: Thank you > > Tony - > > I just learned from gozips.com that you will be featuring a story on the Zips Mens Soccer Team tonight. Thank you for doing so, and I will be tuned it at 6 pm to catch the snippet on the early news and again at 10 pm to catch the full piece on WUAB. > > Thank you for doing this. I respectfully request some coverage, especially this weekend, when the Zips take on 2 ACC soccer powerhouses, N. Carolina and Wake Forest.

Great article! Thanks. Go Zips! Be safe (I'll be feeling a little more at ease once Earl passes N. Carolina)

I really hope you're wrong about the attendance being under 20k. The game is "free" for students. We don't even have Cowlumbus State to compete with for attendance...their game is tomorrow (Thursday) night.

That's good to hear. I think a lot of soccer's popularity with students is due to Coach Porter really getting the Rowdies involved and reiterating how important they and the other fans are to the soccer team. A huge part of the fun of soccer games is watching and hearing the Rowdies give grief to our opponents. The "March to the Match" and the team interaction with the Rowdies at the end of a game help make the students part of the game.

ME87, I am with you. The bickering needs to stop. I also regret that I made a snippy post toward you in the past. I totally understand your golf analogy and I feel the same way about golf as you do. However, I don't have a beef with golf fans. My beef with soccer fans is that it seems as if love for the sport is not enough. A lot of soccer fans feel the need to proselytize, promote their sport and marginalize mine. College football is number one. It is not debatable. Men's Basketball is a distant second. Thing is, no fans of the basketball, baseball, track, volleyball, cross country, softball, swim, field hockey, rifle, or tennis teams make posts on the football board to promote their sport at the expense of football. I think that is part of the huge bias against soccer fans. But let me say that I have a new found respect for you with your post and I hope you can understand my point of view a little bit as well. Let's go zips! No problem Keener. My posts on the football board were in reaction to football fans posting negative items on the soccer board. You may not read the soccer thread, since you're not interested in it, and may not have realized how many negative posts were put there first. Actually, I take very little of these posts personally (unless personally attacked as I was in one post, not yours), but it bothers me that any of our student athletes might read negative posts on this board from people who are supposedly their greatest supporters. BTW...I had a related discussion with George Van Horne...as he said, you can't talk about a sport to a donor who is interested in a different sport. You will quickly lose that donor's interest. Go Zips!

What is to be gained by continuing the pointless bickering between soccer and football. If you don't like soccer, don't go to the games. I hate golf, but I'm not on here saying we should get rid of the golf team or that it's irrelevant. Many people like golf even though I'd rather watch my lawn grow than watch or play golf. I hope the golf team has a great season, when it comes around. I won't be there to witness it, but I hope they are successful. (Yes, I've made comments about the upcoming football season...I regret those; I wish our football team every success, and I'll be there for most of their home games. But, I'll probably go to BGSU to watch our soccer team play a MAC rival as opposed to watching our football team play G-W. My choice; not necessarily a choice others would make.) Go Zips! (All Zips)

The bandwagon jumpers will lose interest and the die hard fans will remain as with any other sport. I have to believe 20k+ will show up for the football game this weekend, or TW should take his talents (read lack thereof) to South Beach where a marketing department is no longer required.

Syracuse isn't the New York flagship university, Buffalo is. I thought it was Army. Since Syracuse and Army are private they can't be a state flagship university. BTW...since the US Military Academy is operated by the US Government, I wouldn't consider it "private". But, yes, it's not a State of New York run university.

Syracuse isn't the New York flagship university, Buffalo is. I thought it was Army. Since Syracuse and Army are private they can't be a state flagship university. Since "Buffalo's in Canada", it can't be a flagship NY university.

Syracuse isn't the New York flagship university, Buffalo is. I thought it was Army.

South bleachers were open for today's women's game. View from the top row in front of the press box (in the shade) was great. I think the folks who purchased mens soccer season tix in the reserved bleachers are going to be happy with their seats! Go Zips!

I also find it disappointing. Our Athletic Dept. is probably too busy kissing the backside of someone who never played basketball at UA (and changes with the wind) to concern themselves with an NFL star who is one of our own. I think it is more complicated than that. A problem we have is the constant turnover when ADs change every 3 years. A positive about George Van Horne working in Athletics is he is committed to UofA and should develop a lasting relationship with JT. Even if George takes another job in Development, he should always maintain the JT "account". I agree with the LBJppreciation Day nonsense was just that...nonsense. What good came out of it? I'm sure it's more complicated than I was making it. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to poke at "NBA Player who never played for UofA"-Appreciation Day. I agree George is a good man who is committed to UofA; perhaps he will work something with JT.

lost 2-1 i believe. Unfortunately, yes.

I also find it disappointing. Our Athletic Dept. is probably too busy kissing the backside of someone who never played basketball at UA (and changes with the wind) to concern themselves with an NFL star who is one of our own.

I agree...Best wishes and thanks for all you did here at Akron!

Our upgraded soccer stadium is beautiful. But, what really makes it better than others is the fans, especially the AK-Rowdies, and the awesome team that plays in it. I defy anyone to match the atmosphere we have! Go Zips!

In addition to the game result, the atmosphere was awesome last night...especially for an exhibition game. It was amazing the number of Rowdies who showed up and packed the east goal. The new stadium is great, and I also give kudos for the team's entrance. Sitting in the chairbacks, I could hear the Rowdies "march to the match" chanting as they followed behind the team. The music, like the South Africa World Cup music, was a great touch as the Zips entered followed by the huge mass of Rowdies. BTW...I loved the "Akron Rejects" cheer, and it was great to hear "...........You SUCK!" Looking forward to September 17th when the south stands are open and filled. Go Zips!

The Great GP1 will not be attending. Going to the mountains for the weekend. To be honest, I wouldn't drive across the street to watch a college soccer game let alone 70 miles to Winston-Salem. Go to downtowon WS and start at the Mellow Mushroom. It is kind of in the center of the "things to do" area of the city. Pizza is good. Walking distance from Marriott and Embassy Suites. If you want to go to a really good BBQ place, go to a place called Gadzooks (I think). It is on the street that runs between the basketball arena and the football stadium up the hill on the same "block" and side as the football stadium. You will have to drive there as the bb arena and fb stadiums are off campus a few miles. Jim Noble has a great place to eat in WS as well. Eat a good dinner and go to the Fox and Hound across the street to watch sports after dinner. Thanks for the info. Sorry we won't be meeting, but have a great time in "the mountains"...Smokies? Obviously, I would go much further than across the street to watch Zips Mens Soccer, but no problem if you don't "get it" or "get into it". Just not sure why the sarcasm was necessary. Apparently you've never read any of GP's other posts on this board. Don't take it personally, and don't be such a pussy. You're feeding our stereotype of soccer players and the boys that admire them. Obviously there are enough A--holes in the world. I don't need to join that crowd!

Awesome! Thanks for the great pic!

I think in order to fall as far as #5 (based on just the UNC game), the team would have to lose -- on the road -- by at least 3 goals. Maybe if they lost to both UNC AND WFU by a total of 3 or more, then maybe #5 would be reasonable. But remember both opponents are themselves ranked top-5. In my opinion Carolina and Wake should each be between #2-4. Two draws would quite possibly keep us in #1 -- depending on what Maryland and whoever else is in the top-5 does. But that's spoken like an Obama-voting futbol fan. We could, on the other hand, just go 2-0 and not worry about the election season. You're right...lets just win the games so we don't have to worry about that. I would hope that we'd still be in the Top-5 if we lost. I respect you if you love soccer, but I might really have to question your choice for president. Choice? Was there a real choice?