Interesting Pictures of Title Game

[Z.I.P.]

Take a look at the shot of our favorite guy, Hunter Jumper taking out Speas on Sunday, and in the linked article on Caleb, see the boot to the head of Ampai. Would you say there was a strategy involved there? Nothing like "professional fouling", eh?http://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/...to_win_nca.html

[skip-zip]

Take a look at the shot of our favorite guy, Hunter Jumper taking out Speas on Sunday, and in the linked article on Caleb, see the boot to the head of Ampai. Would you say there was a strategy involved there? Nothing like "professional fouling", eh?http://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/...to_win_nca.html

I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk about this.On two of the occassions where we got a yellow card, there was no contact and the Virginia players TOTALLY flopped. The replays on tv were excellent in showing this. Where these supposed to be the best officials in the country? They should have been for a national championship game.

[ZachTheZip]

Where these supposed to be the best officials in the country? They should have been for a national championship game.

They were NOT the finest NCAA refs in the country. In fact, they weren't even NCAA refs. They were MLS refs, and they conveniently forgot that the rules on tackling and what constitutes a cardable offense are different in college from what they are in the pros.

[Z.I.P.]

Where these supposed to be the best officials in the country? They should have been for a national championship game.

They were NOT the finest NCAA refs in the country. In fact, they weren't even NCAA refs. They were MLS refs, and they conveniently forgot that the rules on tackling and what constitutes a cardable offense are different in college from what they are in the pros.

Against North Carolina, Alex Preuss who is considered perhaps the best center ref in the US/MLS called an excellent game. Not a lot of contact in the game, but the guy who got the dos amarillos got what he deserved. The first one was arguably borderline, and wouldn't have been called in MLS or pro ball, but (forget his name) the Carolina player jammed the Akron player as he was receiving the ball, and that is asking for a card. The second yellow was unquestionable -- took the opponent down when he was he final player to goal. The final was a different animal to referee. First half, and into the second it seemed Akron got the benefit of the close calls, but Virginia was playing closer to the line than the Zips, and got whistled more often -- fairly. You can always look at replays of specific calls and say that this or that one was on the other side of the line from what was called. Of particular importance is that the center ref is close enough to see play and make the call when required, and the ref moved well and was close enough to see what was happening on the pitch. He could have actually called more fouls on both teams, but thank heavens he didn't -- the final 30 minutes were slowed down so much by UVa's defensive strategy and Akron's inability to move the ball forward that more whistles would have made the game truly ugly. The guy who called the final was also an MLS ref -- I've seen him call a few games and have never complained about him.I doubt that anyone on the Akron team is owing their team's loss to the officiating. This is a very classy bunch, and I'm going to stick with them, and look forward to next year's schedule to see how far we should expect to continue this year's undefeated campaign. I certainly don't look for Akron to take any steps back from 2009 to 2010. Caldwell will step into Zemanski's spot and add another US international to the starting lineup. We just have to find more ways to put the ball in the net against the type of human curtain that opponents throw up. If there's anything I'm going to miss next year, it will be CJ's blogs.eat your vegetables God bless

[Z.I.P.]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk about this.On two of the occassions where we got a yellow card, there was no contact and the Virginia players TOTALLY flopped. The replays on tv were excellent in showing this. Where these supposed to be the best officials in the country? They should have been for a national championship game.

The BigSoccer board has a quite well developed thread on the subject -- complete with details about our great cheering section. I wanna know about Hannibal Lector! http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread....941&page=21

[RootforRoo44]

Take a look at the shot of our favorite guy, Hunter Jumper taking out Speas on Sunday, and in the linked article on Caleb, see the boot to the head of Ampai. Would you say there was a strategy involved there? Nothing like "professional fouling", eh?http://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/...to_win_nca.html

I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk about this.On two of the occassions where we got a yellow card, there was no contact and the Virginia players TOTALLY flopped. The replays on tv were excellent in showing this. Where these supposed to be the best officials in the country? They should have been for a national championship game.

There's been plenty of talk about it...in a different forum. Though most of ZN doesn't think this game was officiated unfairly in any way.

[RatherBeAZIP]

Were there anymore pictures from this game?And what is up with the Plain Dealer not even sending a reporter to the National Championship?The Beacon Journal sure did.

[ksu sucks]

Were there anymore pictures from this game?And what is up with the Plain Dealer not even sending a reporter to the National Championship?The Beacon Journal sure did.

The Cleveland Media is too infatuated with a 4-7 Cleveland State basketball team who just lost to Robert Morris.

[WinZip]

Were there anymore pictures from this game?And what is up with the Plain Dealer not even sending a reporter to the National Championship?The Beacon Journal sure did.

This should keep ya busy...Mike Wise Photos