Bunbury forgoes final two years, signs with MLS

[Roo]

via CNNSI by Washington Post.

Caleb Porter isn't going to MLS, but one of his star pupils is. Teal Bunbury, a sophomore forward who helped Akron to an unbeaten regular season and a berth in the College Cup final, has decided to forego his final two years of college eligibility and sign with MLS, the Insider has learned.

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/soccer

[Captain Kangaroo]

He's a great player, but I don't think he's as good as Zakuani. It will be interesting to see where he goes in the draft.While it sucks to lose him, it is a great recruiting tool to have your team as "the fast track to the MLS."

[skip-zip]

For years, we've all certainly watched as the best college basketball and football programs lose players to the pros. So, this is something we'll have to live with as well. I just hope that others don't follow his lead. We survived when Steve Z. left. I hope I can say the same after 2010. I'll assume that other soccer programs may lose guys to the pros as well, and it will all even out.

[Let'sGoZips94]

This disappoints me. Don't get me wrong, he's a great soccer player, but there's unfinished business here at Akron. Let's just hope this doesn't mean that a few others leave.

[Zipmeister]

He's a great player, but I don't think he's as good as Zakuani. It will be interesting to see where he goes in the draft.While it sucks to lose him, it is a great recruiting tool to have your team as "the fast track to the MLS."

You can't really blame a kid for wanting to move on especially with the chance of earning hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

[UA Fan]

I consider it a good thing. We wouldn't be as good as we are if we didn't have players who are good enough to advance early to the next level...if that made sense. And CP can recruit good enough new talent to minimize the loss.

[Z.I.P.]

This disappoints me. Don't get me wrong, he's a great soccer player, but there's unfinished business here at Akron. Let's just hope this doesn't mean that a few others leave.

Rumors have Nagbe leaving also. We'll have to wait and see. Maybe it will entice unsigned talent to bring their skills to Akron.Big Soccer board has a thread on MLS and Generation Adidas prospects. Zakuani supposedly got $175k to go -- Teal won't draw that much, and will not be a top pick. Probably first round, however.

[ziptrumpet87]

Is there a scholarship penalty for non-graduation in futbol also? That could be the only bad side to this that I see.

[meatwad]

This disappoints me. Don't get me wrong, he's a great soccer player, but there's unfinished business here at Akron. Let's just hope this doesn't mean that a few others leave.

Rumors have Nagbe leaving also. We'll have to wait and see. Maybe it will entice unsigned talent to bring their skills to Akron.Big Soccer board has a thread on MLS and Generation Adidas prospects. Zakuani supposedly got $175k to go -- Teal won't draw that much, and will not be a top pick. Probably first round, however.

Hey, Z.I.P., where did you find this "rumor" about Darlington? I've looked around but haven't seen anything on him. I hope a mass exodus doesn't start!

[skip-zip]

This disappoints me. Don't get me wrong, he's a great soccer player, but there's unfinished business here at Akron. Let's just hope this doesn't mean that a few others leave.

Rumors have Nagbe leaving also. We'll have to wait and see. Maybe it will entice unsigned talent to bring their skills to Akron.Big Soccer board has a thread on MLS and Generation Adidas prospects. Zakuani supposedly got $175k to go -- Teal won't draw that much, and will not be a top pick. Probably first round, however.

Hey, Z.I.P., where did you find this "rumor" about Darlington? I've looked around but haven't seen anything on him. I hope a mass exodus doesn't start!

Or...lets hope we really are the best program in the country, and our incoming freshman are darn near as good as everyone else, and we can still compete nationally every year.....like the North Carolina's of the college basketball world.

[Z.I.P.]

This disappoints me. Don't get me wrong, he's a great soccer player, but there's unfinished business here at Akron. Let's just hope this doesn't mean that a few others leave.

Rumors have Nagbe leaving also. We'll have to wait and see. Maybe it will entice unsigned talent to bring their skills to Akron.Big Soccer board has a thread on MLS and Generation Adidas prospects. Zakuani supposedly got $175k to go -- Teal won't draw that much, and will not be a top pick. Probably first round, however.

Hey, Z.I.P., where did you find this "rumor" about Darlington? I've looked around but haven't seen anything on him. I hope a mass exodus doesn't start!

According to Buzz Carrick at the 3rd Degree (FC Dallas) Blog, updated: Blair Gavin is likely to Join Teal Bunbury. Nagbe and Valentin also possible departures. Yikes. Is that what you call a "mass departure"? --edit--You know what's interesting? Just yesterday I e-mailed Buzz, saying I thought Blair and Ampai were potential Generation Adidas picks. I guess he picked up on that.http://www.socceramerica.com/index.cfm?fus...amp;art_type=85http://www.3rddegree.net/ga-tracking/Gavin likely to join Bunbury: http://mlsinsiderblog.com/?p=579

[RootforRoo44]

Well i guess they will have fun playing Minor League Soccer here in America when they could be becoming legends at the Pouch. If such a mass departure does occur, it is a stab in the back to the fans.

[Buckzip]

Well i guess they will have fun playing Minor League Soccer here in America when they could be becoming legends at the Pouch. If such a mass departure does occur, it is a stab in the back to the fans.

And the coach that just showed true commitment to this team.

[ZachTheZip]

You don't think the coach is the one telling them they should go for it, then? Because I think he is.

[meatwad]

Well i guess they will have fun playing Minor League Soccer here in America when they could be becoming legends at the Pouch. If such a mass departure does occur, it is a stab in the back to the fans.

Have to disagree with you here. What a fantastic recruiting tool. Come to UA and you can be Generation Adidas just like at any other school, or a first overall pick. And I agree that Caleb at the very least has some input with the guys before they leave. Regardless, this team will still be great next year and the year after. The future is still bright!

[Valpo Zip]

Unlike the rest of you, i am not freaking out and i don't see any stabs involved. Caleb had a lot of talent that was sitting on (or coming off) the bench last year (Mwila, speas, and Caldwell). With the departure of Bunbury, Gavin, and Nagbe (if true) those guys will step up and become starters and the team will not miss a beat. This is part of being a top 5 team so get used to it happening. I also agree with Zach that Caleb wants the kids who are ready to go out and reach their potential, he can use that when recruiting. What other school can say that they sent 3 underclassmen to the MLS in one year?

[mes102]

I was shocked when i heard this;however, not much. I figured that they would want to come back and get a national championship after being so close this year. If it wasn't for that, I was 99.999999% sure that 1 person would at least leave after this year...Does anyone know much about our 2010 recruiting class? I heard we got aa couple midfielders and forwards in this class. I'll look around, just didn't know if anyone was on this topic already...

[Zip Watcher]

Well i guess they will have fun playing Minor League Soccer here in America when they could be becoming legends at the Pouch. If such a mass departure does occur, it is a stab in the back to the fans.

This is foolishness. These guys played their hearts out for Zips Fans, including you. And you begrudge them the opportunity to realize a dream of being paid to play the game they love?I don't get it.Go Zips! B)

[mes102]

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives...version-20.htmlthey have Teal #4 on the MLS Draft Big Board and say he can go #1 overall pick.this site has Bunbury going 9th to the New England Revolution: http://www.draftsite.com/mls/2010mock.htm

[ZachTheZip]

I know that there were four seniors on the roster, and we have three verbals so far. Looks like we'll need a recruiting class of seven or so.I actually want to see lots of Zips in the MLS. I want to see Teal go as a top 5 pick. I want to see these players make an impact as rookies, like Zakuani did. Having a couple Zips playing in Columbus would be nice and would really help with getting the attention of the local media.

[mes102]

I know that there were four seniors on the roster, and we have three verbals so far. Looks like we'll need a recruiting class of seven or so.I actually want to see lots of Zips in the MLS. I want to see Teal go as a top 5 pick. I want to see these players make an impact as rookies, like Zakuani did. Having a couple Zips playing in Columbus would be nice and would really help with getting the attention of the local media.

+1 you have to keep an open mind,not for you, and let them have their dream. People always come and go whether it's at your job,school,team, or a brother or sister moving out to college or their own house or apartment. It's just a matter of life and what we get as a top 5 team in college soccer. This will do wonders for our recruiting.... Why do you think year in and year out, that the Florida's,USC's,etc. recruit top classes because their players leave early and have great success right away in the NFL...I also believe that making it to the College Cup national championship and being on both days on a ESPN network channel, some recruits might changed their thinking towards a certain college or may even change a verbal if they see the team play with the best of ACC down to PK's, and especially if this is whole story(Nagbe,Gavin,Valentin...)true since they may get a lot of qualtiy playing time.Thanks for the info, Zach.

[meatwad]

I know that there were four seniors on the roster, and we have three verbals so far. Looks like we'll need a recruiting class of seven or so.I actually want to see lots of Zips in the MLS. I want to see Teal go as a top 5 pick. I want to see these players make an impact as rookies, like Zakuani did. Having a couple Zips playing in Columbus would be nice and would really help with getting the attention of the local media.

I'm not certain that all of those Srs. were on scholarship. I think Zemanski might have been the only one actually. Soccer scholarships are not like other sports. They are only given a certain amount and they sometimes end up splitting them down and things like that I believe. Regardless, I think a class of 4 or 5 would suffice (depending on Blair and Darlington's status), and we already have 4 (?) lined up. Plus, keep in mind that we are not the only team losing players to the MLS.

[Roogangs]

I know that there were four seniors on the roster, and we have three verbals so far. Looks like we'll need a recruiting class of seven or so.I actually want to see lots of Zips in the MLS. I want to see Teal go as a top 5 pick. I want to see these players make an impact as rookies, like Zakuani did. Having a couple Zips playing in Columbus would be nice and would really help with getting the attention of the local media.

+1 you have to keep an open mind,not for you, and let them have their dream. People always come and go whether it's at your job,school,team, or a brother or sister moving out to college or their own house or apartment. It's just a matter of life and what we get as a top 5 team in college soccer. This will do wonders for our recruiting.... Why do you think year in and year out, that the Florida's,USC's,etc. recruit top classes because their players leave early and have great success right away in the NFL...I also believe that making it to the College Cup national championship and being on both days on a ESPN network channel, some recruits might changed their thinking towards a certain college or may even change a verbal if they see the team play with the best of ACC down to PK's, and especially if this is whole story(Nagbe,Gavin,Valentin...)true since they may get a lot of qualtiy playing time.Thanks for the info, Zach.

I highly doubt Valentin will leave. Where was this info from? He is a talented player no doubt. But equally talented or surpassing (talk of people at college cup) is Barson the other Center Back who for some unknown reason has not gotten his due respect! So if people believe Valentin will leave why not Barson, which would also bring up Sarkodie. My guess will be Teal (which we already know has left) and Gavin will leave. Everyone else will stay. This team is so talented and deep. Others think we are not that deep because Porter does not sub much, boy are they wrong about our talent. Another player one the bench this past year is Matt Mason (forward), D2 player of the year and Developmental Academy Columbus Crew player. The future is very bright for the Zips and MLS!! Like everyone else, I cant wait till next season!

[zip37]

When is signing day for Soccer?

[Let'sGoZips94]

I mean honestly, these guys are 1 injury away from not having a career. Caleb is the best coach and one of the best recruiters in the nation and if you think that this is the end of the beginning of a dynasty then you're wrong. I'm not that worried. I think we'll be better next year (somehow, I mean 23-1-1 is a heck of a record). Let's Go ZIPS! Don't lose sight of that