72 Roo

Our moving to C-USA makes more sense than appears at first. The TV revenue for C-USA is enough to cover any increase in cost. In 2008 C-USA distributed to each member $1.4 million in TV money. That same year the MAC distributed to each member $0. It is also reasonable to think we will draw more more at the gate for C-USA members than what the MAC offers. Let's face it, the local fan is not going to come out for MAC teams. Only Can't draws. All other opponents don't draw or bring a following. Even when you consider minor sports the increased revenue from TV outweighs any increase in travel costs.

When you coach a stunt like this you are sending a message to your team that you really don't trust or believe in them. Martin is pathetic. I like coach I more and more, especially when compared to Dougie boy.

Adding Nevada and Fresno State stabilizes the MWC as far as numbers, but with Utah and BYU gone (or going) the dream of an evidentual BCS qualification is dead. The WAC now becomes weaker than the MAC, if that is possible. We need to get our football program at the top of the MAC so when other conferences have change we are positioned to take advantage of those changes. Make no mistake about it, we need to get out to achieve our potential. I hope the future brings opportunity and we are ready to seize it. The MAC simply can't support the type of athletic dept and budget we are building. And never will. <- MAC

If treadwell does redshirt it will be for one of two reasons, maybe both. First, he needs time to learn how to study and keep his grades up, and second, he will need to learn how to play defense the way KD wants it played. KD may also want a year to see if he is serious about paying the price to be a D-1 student-athlete before KD gets his hopes up. I guess that makes three reasons. Just my two cents, but I think for a change they make sense.

This is a hell of a team. The best Coach Pfau has ever had. They may stub their toes along the way, but at the end of the season they will stand as an elite program in the MAC. They are on their way to a top 25 ranking. If not this year, then soon. This voting either shows ignorance or jealousy. Either way, we don't give a damn. It starts this Friday against Illinois State, who has been picked to win the Missouri Valley. I hope all the nation comes out for the first regular season game ever in our new soccer stadium. It's a great chance for us to let all opponents know that when you come to our field you are going to lose. Go lady Zips. Kick some ass!

There was another guy in Akrons' past who had some HS "difficulties" and ended up with the Zips. His name was Len Paul. The rest is history. (And anyone who ever saw him play knows he could have played ANYPLACE). Great point 71. I absolutely loved watching Len Paul play. He humiliated everyone who tried to stop him. One of the greatest Zips ever to wear the colors. Find as many like him as you can KD.

Zach, I may have missed something, but I didn't see what Reno was doing these days. How about some help? Did you read who was in charge of the web site? I missed it completely. Thanks for setting me straight. I hope he gets back into coaching some day.

Well said. I hope he does well in whatever he pursues. Maybe he can run track for us if he is at the highest level of collegiate competition, 'cause we ain't chopped liver in our program. Coach Mitchell has his sights set very high.

Zach, I may have missed something, but I didn't see what Reno was doing these days. How about some help?

Thanks Zach. Do you know who offered him following the Pitt camp he attended? Were we one of the two offers he received following that camp? I enjoy your posts. Keep us out-of-towners informed.

Any time a player does not want to be with your program, you are better off cutting ties with him. In this case Mike realized we were not the place for him so he did the right thing. Both the team and he will be better off for it. I do not know how he was handling the competition, but at this stage his departure is no loss. Let's wish him well. Having been skeptical of coach I earlier, I am more and more impressed with his handling of his first camp. Getting players who are passionate about wearing the blue and gold is a fundamental building block of success. He is doing that. I don't think we will break .500 this season, but again, I like want I see and hear from the pre-season. If coach I can build a team that competes, that doesn't hide behind excuses and that plays with intense pride, I know better days are ahead.

I would think Tulsa and Creighton would be more challenging than UM or UC. But, never take any opponent for granted. I agree that Tulsa and Creighton will be the best two (regular season) visitors to the newly renovated Jack this year. You got my second on that. Tulsa will come wanting revenge for their loss to us in the quarter-finals and Creighton will have a lot to prove under a new coach. Both teams are very well regarded and want to play at the highest level. They just aren't as good as we are ................. on paper. We will have to come to play on those days. Luckily, the boys know it. They will not look past these two opponents. They learned from last year, if you take 'em one at a time, the Zips are damn near impossible to beat.

Got to agree with the esteemed Z.I.P. Only Indiana qualifies as a rival. They are the only team on our schedule who has the commitment to excellence that we have, who has also made us play at the top of our game to beat them and wants to play us every year. OSU has a nice team, but they are not committed to being a top 20 program. They can't recruit with us and they are amazed at the rabid following we have. Within the MAC and Ohio there are no other rivals, just teams that want to be, like Cincinnati.

I love the soccer team and the football team. I can not seperate my feelings for each program. Nothing tops a day at the Info with a winning outcome. I hope coach I can deliver a good team this year. I'd settle for 7-5. That being said I can't get too excited about the prospects for the football team. There are just way too many question marks for the team this year. Whenever a team has so many unsettled issues it rarely, almost never, surprises its fans by working them all out. That is why I can't get too "up" for this football season as a whole. I support them. I've renewed my season tickets. But I'm not seeing too many objective reasons for hope that we can compete for a championship. I want to be wrong on this one. I don't think I am.

Interesting thing is that one of the posters thought that UA played for penalties in both Cup games last year. I saw the exact opposite. I did too. At the final national championship game against Virginia i had my watch on the game. In the 22nd minute the Virginia coach stopped playing attacking soccer and had his team hunker down with only one attacker. The rst ofthe team got behind the ball, no matter how deep we penetrated. he clearly had abandoned trying to play to win, but rather he played for PK's in OT. It worked out, but i lost all respect for him and gained more for Caleb. Caleb at times defended with only three players and sent the rest up to attack and hopefully win. I respect a coach like him who told the team we will win by playing to win, not by playing only defense. You are damn right in seeing it completely opposite to the ACC snobs. Because we play the way we play our program will surpass theirs. The players love the style of ball we play and we are getting better recruits. Our attendence will surpass theirs also. The Zips are here to stay at the top.

I heard Can't had a secret strategy this year, but I never would have guessed it was the old carpet ploy. Damn, that Doug martin is brilliant. I didn't see that one coming. We got a new stadium last year and Can't gets new carpet this year. They sure know how to compete. No wonder the Captain hates 'em. But I will do all I can to keep Martin there. He's our best chance to win because ...

I also believe in undefeated football seasons in 2010 and 2011. Other beliefs I have are that BigFoot lives in Ellet, Doug Martin is a genius of a football coach and the Great Pumpkin will visit my most sincere pumpkin patch this year. You betcha!

Can we do better than fight over a small PG who has offers from the likes of Illinois State, Western Illinois, UNC-Asheville and IPFW? We aren't going anywhere with this type of talent.

If he truly goes to TE that can't be good for him or us. Seems to indicate a non-fit. I liked his height and athleticism and still feel if he can put on weight he will be the type of LB we need. Now most of our LB's are small and cannot handle blocking from FB's or O linemen. They all need to take their nastiness up a bit too.

Couch's dad used to be on the board regularly and had many interesting posts. He was a very positive guy. I hope things work out for his son. He seemed to be a good find for the Zips.

Quins... You got a good player so enjoy the recruiting victory. I just have a hard time understanding him turning down offers from Syracuse or Indiana. Both schools are on the rebound much like you said YSU is. They both play at a much higher level with greater exposure and competition. I think the need to be closer to home was stronger than anyone thought.

Guys and Gals, don't think for a minute that we don't play a part in this. Akron soccer has risen from the depths of a maligned "small" school because you and I kept supporting the growth of the program. We have had great coaches, but that's not enough. The support for Akron soccer is superior and many Big 10/11 schools drool over the backing Akron has. I can tell you OSU is one. My source is a member of the OSU athletic administration dept and the coaching staff. If we keep filling the stands we have, we will see more development. The demand you have created is not lost on TW and Dr. Porenza or the board of trustees. They know they have something that puts Akron in the elite of the country. Caleb will take this program to the perenial ranks of the top 5 in the country. Last year I sat with six people. This year I have 20 buying season tickets. That is not due to me but rather a buddy who has done a super job in calling our friends and inviting them to join us. Let's keep it going. One final note. the AK-Rowdies are super. God bless all of you. You set us apart. You are the envy of many D1 programs. Many D1 coaches know they must play us while they hate to play us because of our home atmosphere. It will only get better for us. See you in Santa Barbara for the final four! It's great to be a Zip! Coach I, give us something to believe in with the other football ... please!

Folks let's add a little perspective here. It was only this summer that a major utility came through with enough money to put up a scaled back grandstand and facilities under it. Still that wasn't enough to put up the full 3,500 seat grandstand. Additions are planned for each end of the under-construction grandstand. Originally only phase one of the stadium project was to be completed this year. That was the new undersurface, grass, irrigation, drainage, utilities and fence. We got far more than that and more is coming as the funds are pledged. So let's give some credit to the development office for getting us this far. Funds for athletic facilities are very hard to come by in this economy. Yet we are getting them. Just not as fast as you and I want. We will have a better facility when the grandstand is expanded at each end. It will be in the top 10 in the country. It is feasible to see that in the 2011 season. So keep supporting the program. Bring your friends out and make the place an absolute madhouse for our opponents to visit.

Bottom line is we are getting what we deserve. Don't fault the beat writers for telling it like it is. We kept JD on longer than we should have and respect for the program eroded along with his lack of effective coaching. Now coach I inherits a program in transition. He has too many question marks. Vertually no area of the team is a proven commodity, even the D line. With that in mind some areas will improve, but others will disappoint. I see us going 5-7. Please prove me wrong coach I. I want you to succeed. We all do!

Folks, Get ready to party all you want, but it won't be because we win the MAC East. We have way too many unsettled issues to think we will win it. We have a coach who has never run a team, a staff that thinks they are better than they are and have yet to think as one, no winning tradition, a new O scheme, a questionable O line (don't buy the crap that they were so good last year), questionable kickers, no depth at wide out, small LB's, A QB who has never been under center now getting used to a new center, and a D backfield that needs rebuilt. C'mon let's get real. I want to win as much as anyone, but we are not prepared to do it. It's just wishful thinking with no substance behind it. I give us a shot at 6-6 at best. I hope I'm wrong.