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I cannot open your link from work, Mike. Where is David Murrow going? He is a fine player; I watched him play several times during his high school career. And I always pull for the local talent. However, the arrival of Robbie Derschang pretty much sealed Murrow’s fate. Does anyone else fully expect Derschang to start, as do I? Pretty crowded out there in MF (as usual)!!!!

The Porter/Cagliari analogy is legitimate, with one glaringly huge hole. John Calipari has never claimed the hardware. For the short term, we all need to step back from Porter. He is just another coach who has won an NCAA Championship, a preciously short list to be sure. Nothing more! Nothing less! I am as culpable as anyone in generating the cult of personality surrounding Caleb Porter. Therefore, I direct much of this at myself. I wholeheartedly agree with TopDrawer that USNT should stay the course. We have a plan; we should work the plan. Porter is integral to that plan. He should remain coaching the U23 USMNT, despite this disastrous result. I am anxious to see how Porter responds to this adversity. I, for one, am buying the Porter stock.

This is good for MAC Soccer.

It truly pains me to say the following: If it was ever true that coaching the U23s was going to advance Porter’s career and tangentially advance Akron Soccer, then it is conversely true that this epic failure hurts his career and thereby hurts Akron's stature. Given a Ferrari, Porter failed to get it out of second gear. This was a tailor-made opportunity to catch the international spotlight, on the home turf. All of US Soccer is reeling. Porter may never gain such a chance again. Insult to injury is that a large part of the defense that was so disappointing was comprised of Akron alumni. I did not catch the match vs. Canada, but I saw the others. Against El Salvador, the back line played worse than the decent Goal Keeping deserved. Agreed? We have all foolishly anointed Porter as soccer messiah. I recently compared him to Duke’s Coach K. Porter and we need to return to earth and re-examine what has brought his Akron success. Reality has checked back in! I do not know the man more than to shake his hand, but I have observed Porter extensively and intently from afar. If he is who I perceive him to be, NCAA Soccer be served Fair Warning! He will dedicate himself with renewed ferocity and vigor. There is but one way for Porter to redeem himself, and that is to win championships. I believe in the man. Which of you will bet against him?

Hell, what happened?!?!? I did not catch the match. Beat Mexico 2-0 and then lose 2-0 to Canada? Really?

Yes, Tank, that is the lineup I expect to see in a few weeks.

Yes, he has extraordinary balance.

Hard to believe he is only 24.

This D-Line must have had some game too! True, not likely to run a full 90 minutes though. http://www.unionathletics.com/news/2006/12...x?path=football

Hence the Tank moniker? Where you a Defensive Linemen? That speaks to one of Bobby's previous points. Different skill sets are suited to different sports, just as different positions within any given sport require different skill sets as well. I switched from Free Safety to soccer because, at the time, my new school did not have American football.

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.

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!