72 Roo

These kind of issues will always plague the MAC because there is not a commitment to raise the quality of play. BG is preparing to open the Stroth Center on campus. It is a brand new beautiful replacement for Anderson Fieldhouse. The only problem is the seating capacity is 5,000. That speaks volumes about where their administration wants to be with athletics. Nothing like setting the bar low and thinking small. Also OU had a directive this year in which they had to cut $600,000 from their athletics budget. They also wanted a varsity fieldhouse for teams to practice in, especially football. Their solution: put an inflatable dome over a track. I don't know if it got built, but it points out the trouble they are in. The MAC will evolve or die. There can be no in between. I look for Akron to work more closely with the schools who want to improve like CMU, UT, Buffalo, Temple and NIU. They all have similar interests and most want a new or better league.

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! It only looks better than ours in that it appears to have restrooms and concession areas. In our place those are yet to come. They copied our berm seating and I wonder if they will try to get a Rowdies-type group together. Nice place all in all. Ours will be better and bigger.

Lil, Thanks for setting some idiots straight about coach Jeff. Now what you, me and all who care about Akron athletics need to do is build on what Jeff has done. TW has to find someone who has the same vision and talent to keep tennis going in the right direction. I'm not much of a tennis fan, but I support all things Akron so I want to see the program grow. I bet I speak for most, if not all, who are on this board. Since you know the program, keep the pressure on to move ahead and also keep us up to date on what tennis is doing. Thanks and Go Zips!

I appreciate the fact that he took us to heights we never even dreamed of before he arrived. He rebuilt the program and left it far, far better than he inherited it. He is leaving for the number 14 ranked program. Wake has better facilities, resources, pay and a better commitment to playing at the top. I can't blame him at all. Look for a player or recruit to follow him. We were lucky to have a guy this good considering the state of our program. Good luck coach and thanks for your time with the Zips.

Funny you mention tennis, since Coach Wyshner is starting his new job at Wake Forest on Monday. I didn't know he had left. Damn! He was great for the program.

Unlike W00t, I liked the first half. The early adversity of the own goal challenged the kids to reach down and pull themselves up. They responded well as they repeatedly took VCU to task. The first half was "all Zips". It was, at times, sloppy with weak ball movement. However, most of the half was played on the VCU side. Akron controlled, or better still, dominated. Several Zips suffered from footing slips. Is this as before, due to short cleats? Short cleats give better speed at the price of making it difficult to cut. Which is exactly what happened to Meves. The newcomers quickly showed that they belong. I agree that the AK-Rowdies were out in force and plenty loud. As for berating them for busting Gillard and the two former players, I say to the Rowdies, go for it. Its soccer, not high tea or cricket. Personally I thought the 2,835 count was a tad under the actual. Not many schools can charge five bucks to watch a non-counting exhibition game and draw more than flies. I sat in the high row of the east bleachers for the first half. Unfortunately, I could not see either goal scored because the balls were low and the view blocked by the Rowdies. Still, a commanding view of most of the pitch. I moved to the new northwest SRO embankment just west of the Zips bench for the second half. A really good view of the action and goal scored. Of note is the influence passed on to Gillard and his charges. Playing VCU was very much like playing the Akron reserves as their style on both offense and defense looked all the world like Akron's style. Which, of course, came from Mike Freitag, the former, great Indiana coach Caleb Porter played for. Thank you Mike. Gillard will have VCU among the top ten teams in the country with in three years. What a great legacy for Caleb and his charges. Zips, Didn't Caleb play for Jerry Yeakley and was on the staff of assistants at IU that included Freitag. Freitag succeeded Yeagley and was later fired with the behind the scenes orchestration of Yeagley. It was termed philosophical differences and Yeagley flexed his retired muscles. Jerry's son Todd then left Wisconsin to return home to IU to take over. We ended up with the best coach of all of them.

I heard it was just a rumor...I've seen her on campus in the past week, and it doesn't make much sense to walk-on at Toledo when you have AT LEAST a scholarship at Akron, if not, then a full ride... I was holding my breath too, but it looks like it's gonna be a very great year MES102, I checked the roster on the Women's Basketball site and she is not listed. The whole thing doesn't make sense to me. She seemed to be the center we needed to build a team around. With her I think we have a hell of a team. I hope this is miscommunication or something. I hope she stays a Zip. Thanks for your info.

Nice idea to send some love to the athletic dept! I am impressed with their commitment to moving the entire dept forward. That's damn hard to do, but TW has a plan and he is executing slowly but surely. In the times I have talked to him I have been impressed with his grasp of the issues and his assessment of what we can do about them. Needless to say, there will always be fans who take a contrary opinion. That doesn't bother me because I love their passion. They want the Zips to get better and sometimes assume things can easily be changed. Most of the time they can't. If they could they would have been changed earlier. Akron has a lot to be proud of: - Coach I is bringing strong leadership to the football program - Soccer had an exhibition today and drew 2,835, we could be top five in attendence this year - Tennis is a kick ass program now - Womens soccer could crack top 25 this season - Track and field is the best program in the state - Womens basketball has a chance to rule the MAC (please tell me Kyle Baumgarter didn't transfer) - KD has retooled basketball with the potential to be a dominant mid major - Our facilities tell the world we have lofty aspirations and our President will demand we get there If that doesn't get you pumped up you need to go to Can't and prepare for a slow death. I don't think it's too patronizing to thank the athletics staff for giving us a lot to believe in.

UofA spends around $25 million the last time I checked. They bring in around $15 million in revenue. The last time I checked, $1.4 million in TV revenue wouldn't make up the difference. My point is that we potentially could cover the increased travel costs, not make up any deficit spending. It's inaccurate to imply that was my assertion.

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 ...