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I am glad that Mattocks is with us another year. Whew! Suppose freshman Yedlin starts @ RB, bisbee. That creates a problem because I definitely want to see Genovese play. Gabe did scrimmage quite a bit @ RB last year. Perhaps Balogun would be the 12th man. Luke Holmes is not transferring to Akron with one year eligibility left just to come off the bench. Revision 3: Mattocks Holmes Speas Caldwell Brenes Trapp Genovese Yedlin Gallego Barson Meves

EAS FIFA 11 XBox

Genovese Holmes Speas Caldwell Brenes Trapp Balogun Yedlin Gallego Barson Meves

During several practices last year, Genovese was playing wing back.

Mattocks Holmes Speas Caldwell Brenes Trapp Genovese Balogun Gallego Barson Meves

Yeah, well I'm still trying to find out how much of the "salary" includes the GA bonus $$. If the 170k is his total compensation, how much then is the bonus? When Steve Z. signed his GA deal, it was reported that the GA bonus was $160k as I recall. Or was it $170/175? The interesting thing here is the "modest base salary" part. My belief is that Don Garber is the best friend any club owner ever had. His clubs get their best young players' salaries paid for by sponsors -- what could be better than that? No wonder so many players sign GA deals, and no wonder why MLS loves their relationship with Adidas. MLS has a long way to go in this regard to become truly Major League . I understand Generation Adidas the same way as you, Z.I.P. Well, at least, I think I understand it. The weakness is that the individual team is not supporting its own roster. This is a warning sign of financial instability when salaries are subsidized by corporate sponsors. I agree; the MLS must improve to become a truly “major league”.

Yes, Barson has the personality of a center back. He is rock solid and conservative. May all our defenders be such weak links! I agree with meatwad. Valentin is more naturally a wing back where he can take more chances. Zarek will likely play wing back for Chivas. Is it possible that Porter erroneously played Zarek Valentin out of his natural position these past two years? Valentin sure looked like a poor center back when up at Cleveland State.

If I may correct myself, the NAIA Player of the Year was announced last month. My bad. I agree with Zach; there are players in all divisions of college soccer that have pro potential.

trimmy, when you're good, you're really good. The NAIA Player of the Year award was anounced just today, at the same NSCAA convention. Caleb (Houdini) Porter probably met the guy for the first time today. Porter is unreal!

So I guess that means Luke Holmes of Notre Dame (Ohio). http://www.notredamefalcons.com/news/2010/...1208103501.aspx

All due respect, but I don't think Caleb Porter needs to "save college soccer". The number of MLS players (or for that matter, USMNT players) going the college route, rather than turning pro before 18 is, I'm willing to bet (does Dave in Green have time to research this?) the same as it was a decade ago (MLS began in 1995). As long as university education continues to be a major institution in the US, American footballers are going to continue attending colleges and universities, and playing soccer there. And the college game will continue to -- rightly -- earn a large share of criticism for holding back the US' game at the international level. College soccer's contrast from the pro game -- substitution rules, limited playing time, lack of international-level competition does hold back many players, who in Europe, S. America, etc would be playing versus older players with lots of national and international playing experience. But, kids who have both out-of-the-box athleticism and soccer skills will continue having opportunities to play abroad (or in MLS) at age 18 or sometimes well below. Will Akron's exper(iment)ience change the historic trend of US soccer over the long run? I would love to imagine Caleb's coaching tactics becoming the default for major college soccer programs. But there is still a limit of 9.9 scholarships per DI program. Maybe the best thing Caleb Porter can do is bring attention to the game as a major college sport, deserving of attention from Dave and SkipZip. But can we get those two to a Crew match in 2011? Z.I.P., I respectfully disagree. Did you hear the Glenn Davis interview last night? Thanks Crew8. The relevance and influence of collegiate soccer on the American game has steadily diminished over the past 20 years, reaching a low about five years ago. Reasons for this are ones that you cite - and more. Collegiate soccer has historically failed to consistently prepare players for professional play, and by extension, international play. Needless to say, the ultimate goal of all American soccer fans is for the U.S. to win the World Cup. Open substitution allows for the resting of oversized players who after a 5 minute blow, re-enter the match to tackle hard, kick it far, run fast, elbow someone in the head and hopefully pound in that single goal to win. Generally speaking, this direct style does not translate well to the next level even though it may see limited success in college. The athleticism of the average professional player easily negates such tactics. Even so, this style of play will occasionally prevail in the pros, as exhibited by the 2010 Colorado Rapids. But increasingly, the trend has been for extremely talented players like Jack McInerney to skip college and go straight to the pros because the college game has little to offer them. That is all changing right before our eyes. Though certainly not solely responsible, Caleb Porter is the current standard bearer for the beautiful game. Attacking, short passing, possession soccer is his sermon, and many are converting daily. Porter does not cite the influence of Inter and Bayern; he prefers Arsenal and Barcelona. Thursday’s MLS draft will serve as proof that revolution is in the air. The pros have taken notice of this stylistic shift in collegiate soccer, and the national team soon will follow. College soccer is regaining its relevance and influence on the American game. Shockingly, the epicenter of this movement is Akron, Ohio. The notion sends chills down my spine. Caleb Porter is attempting something greater than simply winning championships with my beloved Zips. He intends to change not only collegiate soccer, but American soccer as a whole. My fear is that his scope is too ambitious and that Akron will suffer because of it.

Count me for one.

Truly inspiring to hear Porter talk about the state of American soccer as a whole. His vision is much greater than collegiate soccer.

Right! All the people I tried to convince into buying season tix last year now want them. UA can sell all additional grandstand seating.

Certainly, graduation is significant. Ampai is/was an A student, correct? Has he already graduated? Or is he scheduled to graduate in the spring?

Does phase 3 also include additional grandstand seating?

When will players' names be placed on back of jersey? We would be the first collegiate soccer team to do so. What a statement THAT would make! No worries; Ampaipitakwong has exited the program.

It's Caleb Porter and his incredible coaching. That's why my grandson is coming here from Seattle. bisbee, Yedlin is your grandson? Are you from around here?

I simply mean to echo that Zakuani deserved the 2008 award. Leave it to me to find something to bitch about.

The award is well deserved. Darlington has been, is, and will be an excellent overall asset to any side. He was the best and most consistent player on the 2010 Zips. (A nod must also go to Perry Kitchen.) Teal Bunbury’s winning the award last year is open to greater dispute, in my opinion. Nagbe will play offensive MF (in the hole) in the pros, similar to Ampai’s role with on the Zips. It will be exciting to see how he fits into the national team picture. Congrats, Dar! You will never pick-up the check in this town. To MDZip’s point: I cannot immediately recall who beat out Steve Zakuani for the 2008 Hermann Trophy.

I invited Drew Carey to an NCAA match (Indiana) via Seattle Sounders website email. No surprise that he did not reply.

According to this mock draft, 7 Akron Zips are to be taken in the first 25 picks. Wow! Caleb Porter has managed to do more than win Akron’s first national (team) championship. He has revived the significance of collegiate soccer as a whole. The pros are watching Akron closely and the National Team will soon follow suit. The center of amateur soccer in America is currently Akron, Ohio.

I beg everyone’s pardon for how corny this sounds, but I am serious (for a change). Outback Steakhouse should buy the naming rights for Lee Jackson. Imagine the marketing possibilities of an Australian restaurant chain matched with a kangaroo mascot.

Someone please research NCAA position on Generation Adidas. Is GA regarded in same manner as simply leaving before graduation?

Yeah. $90k is not nearly enough for me to play soccer for a living. No way.