Louisville VS UIC TV Broadcast

[Z.I.P.]

I'm surprised no one has written in yet about last night's game on FSC (that's Fox Soccer Channel -- does everyone get that in Ohio?) at Louisville, which featured the 17th ranked Cardinals versus unranked UIC. UIC may have been unranked, but they really looked like the better team. UL scored first early in the second half against a packed-in defense, but as soon as the goal was allowed, UIC started to loosen up their offense, and had a lot of good runs and attacks on the Cards goal -- the Flames scoring within 10 minutes after the first goal. Both teams had some scoring opportunities the final third of the game, but UIC on the road came out looking like the better of these two as they fought to a 1-1 draw.Now, for the part that Akron fans are most interested in! From the start of the game the announcers (who frankly, though unknown, did a better job than the FSC announcers on MLS games!) talked about Louisville coach Ken Lolla being the ex-coach of the current #1 team in the nation: Akron. Then only 10 minutes or so into the game, they brought the UL Ass't AD into the booth to talk about how they managed to get Lolla away from such a top program to build their own. She told a story about how when they started to recruit Ken, "everyone told us we could never get him (!) -- but after just one day at Louisville, showing where we wanted to take the program, and what we were willing to commit, he quickly decided he wanted to be a part of what we were starting." Unmentioned was the fact that the wheels were already in motion at Akron to make an equally multiplying jump forward! Louisville had connections across the midwest to gain ground, but Akron had connections built over half a century across the entire nation -- with help from former US WC coach Bruce Arena (ties build at UVa by Mike and Mike) to put UA in a position to bring in the best and brightest of all collegiate soccer coaches. And if there's a better one than the coach we reeled home, no one is venturing a suggestion.The discussion of coaches -- and coaching connections -- gained ground from there, as the talk went to Indiana as the source of Akron's Porter, UIC's John Trask, and Louisville assistant coach Brian Maissoneuve. So, who steps up to the microphone? None other than "the Godfather of all college soccer coaches", Hoosier Daddy himself, Jerry Yeagley! Yeags goes into a stream of consciousness run of stories about his former assistants, and their families (apparently Yeagley's daughter also lives in Louisville so more incentive to be at this game). In the midst of this, the subject of Caleb Porter arises, and Godfather spews forth some strange words about how Caleb was his only three-time team captain -- "And I always called him Billy Big Boy." (What??) I guess they do have alcohol sales at Cardinal soccer games after all.With all the talk of how Akron jumped into the nation's #1 spot in college soccer, the only thing left for FSC was to announce when they would be broadcasting an Akron game. Wouldn't this Friday night be the perfect time? Too bad they didn't think this out in advance, as I think that game would bring in a good TV audience -- and increase the noise at the asylum that will be Lee Jackson Field -- especially behind the visitors' goal! Go Rowdies. Go Zips! Secure our House!

[zips4ever2008]

I did see that game on FSC. It's channel 467 or something like that that I have. It was interesting to see a college soccer game being televised on that channel. Usually when I come across that channel they're doing international play. I hope we get a televised game. Don't know how many people would see it though. I guess some mention of Akron is better then none. This upcoming weekend is going to be huge for Akron. Our #1 men's soccer team takes the field Friday night for a huge game and then Saturday our football team takes on their first Big 11 team in Akron. Fans need to be out in force for both. GO ZIPS!

[72 Roo]

Ken Lolla left Akron when he became convinced he could not win a national championship at Akron. Louisville's asst AD was full of crap in saying he was blown away by what Louisville offered. Akron matched everything, but Ken still went because he didn't feel he could the respect, seeding and recognition necessary to win a national championship. U of A was rocked by Ken going, but decided to do something about his concerns rather than run from them. We recruited Caleb after Sanchez turned us down to go to UNLV and Todd Yeagley wanted too much money. Boy did we hit the jackpot. It is ironic that Ken's position is no better than what Caleb has now and if we get a new stadium Ken will have actually downgraded his status.Since hiring Caleb we have increased his travel and recruiting budgets, gave him more money to guarantee top teams expenses for coming to campus, funded two full time assistants, created a soccer support group and recently taken the new stadium issue to the board of trustees. We all know how Caleb has responded.All we need to do is fund the new stadium and get us into a better conference. There is no timeline on either, but you got to believe if we win it all this year, the pressure to have a first class facility will cause the university to find the money to fund the project. I always liked Ken and still feel he is a good person. Caleb is our coach now and I can tell you firsthand he is as fine a man as you will ever want to meet, a great coach and a fantastic recruiter. We stepped up with him.