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Dear skip-zip, Please advise the Akron Riflery team of how insignificant their sport is. Or perhaps the Swimming team. Unfortunately, that dialogue would reside on a different forum than this. Nevertheless, I am sure they would love to hear from you. Don’t go changing for me! Sincerely, Everyone Else.

Yes, soccer is growing ever so steadily. It has never grown by leaps and bounds in the US, but soccer has grown steadily over the last several decades. It is a grass roots movement if there ever was one. Interest continues to rise because people play the sport. The real error is to perceive that our relationship as fans to any of these sports is in stasis. These relationships are in constant flux, as are all other cultural factors. Talk to someone from a previous generation. Baseball was once everything; horseracing used to out draw basketball by a large margin. Sixty years ago, professional boxing was much more popular than American football. Look at the rise of NASCAR over the last 15 years. How far have the X games come in a very short time? Things change. My job forces me to converse frequently with folks from all over the world. The pervading and derisive sentiment is that Americans invent sports no one else plays so that they can proclaim their supremacy. I constantly defend basketball and American football to non-Americans, only to turn around and defend soccer to fellow Americans. Each defense is equally foolish. I recognize this even if I cannot help myself. These are just sports, which are essentially war substitutes, a non lethal competition. Soccer is one the most popular cultural phenomenon in human history. It just is. That alone is the best defense of soccer. Many Americans are quietly and fundamentally disturbed that soccer does not appear to need them. Soccer will flourish, at least in the short term, whether America embraces the sport or not. Soccer does not need the US.

A fine day had by USMNTs!

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!?!? I hate taking more than my share of the discussion. But if none of you will step forward, I feel I must. Akron is one of the oldest Soccer programs in the NCAA. What is the Zips inception date, 1956? Zach? Where do they get off depicting us as some JohnnyComeLately? Memo to OSU: You keep trying to figure out if Soccer is like Bowling, or, not – whatever! Meanwhile, we will keep beating your scarlett asses, on the field, in the classroom, and on signing day. I can hardly wait to travel to Columbus. When is that schedule published!?!?!?

This was the same site that led us all to believe that Alfred Koroma was not coming to Akron. Top Drawer Soccer is a much better indicator. Sorry to say it, but College Soccer News has really gone down hill during the past decade. It is probably more accurate to say that they did not improve while so many others did. Oh, and their unabashed ACC bias in nearly intolerable.

+1 I will not attempt to say that any better.

I wonder if Crew players will be permitted facial hair.

If WVU comes to the MAC, Porter had better issue the big shin guards, along with mouthpieces, to entire roster.

Porter's soccer career @ Akron parallels Coach K's basketball career @ Duke. The analogy holds, including international assignment/experience.

She can take me to goal (or anywhere else, for that matter)!

I realize that it is still early, but I think that Yedlin kid shows real promise.

So, an official announcement is imminent? Hit the books, Yaz! Time for study. EDIT: Nevermind, I see it now.

Great updates; keep it coming! This spring will present the opportunity for some returning player to seize more playing time. It is reasonable to think that at least one of these will start in the fall. We just do not know who that will be. Stevenson has a good shot to start at LB, even though that is not his best position. I think Brenes will push for time at holding MF. I would also like to see Chiu play some, just to see what he can accomplish. Should be interesting! Here is to a speedy rehab for all the injured!

If that is the case, I potentially will see all spring matches. Great!

I am ready right now! Cannnot wait! Thanks for the update.

Really? That is not what I have heard. I heard that Mattocks got a full ride, and Koroma looks to do the same. You definitely would know better than I. Please elaborate.

Thanks! That is more than we had before. There are numerous sites having Koroma coming to Akron. I cannot see all those sites being wrong. I am starting to feel fairly confident about it.

If everyone on TDS's commitment list materializes, we do not need further addition. There are less than 10 full scholarships to dole out. Koroma will likely command a full ride, as did Mattocks. The program can support only so many full-ride, soccer-only, scholarships.

Supposing Koroma signs and comes, I do not think we need to add anyone else. I want to see more carry-over and continuity in 2012 than we did last year.

I am keen to see Akron's signed LOI list published.

Andy, please link the GW article you reference.

I did not realize Stevo had further complications. Thanks for the post, Johnny.

Who is Omari Morris?

Arsene Wenger has signed nada! At this point, young Zarek Valentin would be a welcome addition.

Great analysis Yaz! I have been watching very closely.. well, for a long time. The breakout sophmore seasons of Zakuani and Bunbury were not surprises at all, at least, not to me. Barrett scoring double digit goals in 2012 would be a very pleasant surprise. Do not count on it.