UAZipster0305 Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story...caa&cc=5901"There's no question the Zips are the team to beat. However, despite the Zips' 20-0 record this season, there are still those who have reservations about Akron because of its Mid-American Conference background. A team doesn't go undefeated and receive the tournament's No. 1 seed based on luck and a weak schedule. The Zips are the real deal, but favorites have fallen in the NCAA tournament. Everyone will be gunning for this team, and it's up to coach Caleb Porter's squad to answer the skeptical once and for all. If not, it will be an even longer winter in Ohio." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 I just think we need to focus on winning the MAC, and going undefeated in the MAC. If we win a game in the NCAA tourney...great. If not, oh well... Nice to see a UA program "built," rather than "building."Nice to see a UA program that can legitimately say they can "think beyond the MAC," rather than saying it with their fingers crossed behind their backs.I heard Gonzaga soccer saying they wanted to be "The Akron of the West."All hail the mighty soccer Zips! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip_ME87 Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 I just think we need to focus on winning the MAC, and going undefeated in the MAC. If we win a game in the NCAA tourney...great. If not, oh well... Nice to see a UA program "built," rather than "building."Nice to see a UA program that can legitimately say they can "think beyond the MAC," rather than saying it with their fingers crossed behind their backs.I heard Gonzaga soccer saying they wanted to be "The Akron of the West."All hail the mighty soccer Zips! I will 2nd that... ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY SOCCER ZIPS!For anyone who may not have already seen it, Elton Alexander wrote a great article on Zips' soccer. Elton's Article on Nov 19th"But Akron soccer is anything but an overnight success story, and the sport's profile is unlike any other sports program at the university. In fact, the Zips have won or shared in 12 regular-season MAC titles, including each of the past five seasons." ..."Akron soccer has been in the NCAA's top division since 1966. Not only have the Zips been competitive, they have built a reputation as being among the nation's best programs.Under six coaches since 1955, Akron has had just two losing seasons and none since 1965. That's 44 straight seasons of winning, anchored now by coach Caleb Porter."Stu Parry set the path for the program and laid the foundation the program has followed ever since," former Zips coach Ken Lolla said of Akron's first soccer coaching icon.Lolla left Akron for Louisville, where he is in his third season. He has the Cardinals in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season."We ended up doing it differently than how Caleb has done it," Lolla said. "We did it with players that were somewhat overlooked. Caleb has done a tremendous job of bringing in some of the top players in the country."It always starts with good people, and when you look at Caleb, it starts with him -- very driven, and Stu Parry was the same. Then what you do is first sell a vision, a dream of what you expect the program to achieve. The kids come because of that belief. They believe in your dream."Akron sophomore forward Teal Bunbury, the 2009 MAC Player of the Year, said he knew about the Zips program while growing up in Minnesota. But it wasn't until Porter recruited him that he realized the place soccer holds at the school."I was looking at New Mexico and UCLA," Bunbury said, "but the thing about those schools was that soccer wasn't the biggest sport there. They have football and basketball, and those are looked at way ahead of soccer. At Akron, soccer is important."When Caleb recruited me, he made me feel like I was going to be part of a family, and when I came on my official visit, that was when I understood it was the place for me." " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalapeño Zippy Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Akron sophomore forward Teal Bunbury, the 2009 MAC Player of the Year, said he knew about the Zips program while growing up in Minnesota. But it wasn't until Porter recruited him that he realized the place soccer holds at the school."I was looking at New Mexico and UCLA," Bunbury said, "but the thing about those schools was that soccer wasn't the biggest sport there. They have football and basketball, and those are looked at way ahead of soccer. At Akron, soccer is important."When Caleb recruited me, he made me feel like I was going to be part of a family, and when I came on my official visit, that was when I understood it was the place for me." "Right there shows the importance of attendance. It makes a difference when recruiting these kids. Absolutely the Rowdies and the die hard fans brought Bunbury here and now that he as well as the rest are here, we need to show how important they are on the university side by getting them a stadium they deserve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zip37 Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 A drive has begun for donations for a neww or improved stadium. $ talks, Bravo Sierra walks! TIME TO PONY UP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 The USF goalie doesn't know what he's in for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spin Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 A team doesn't go undefeated and receive the tournament's No. 1 seed based on luck and a weak schedule.OK, but unlike the basketball program, the soccer team doesn't play cream puffs in the non-con. We took on nationally ranked teams.I got my ticket, and am counting the hours... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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