Future of Akron (U) Soccer

[Z.I.P.]

Let's talk a little about what might be upcoming this year and in the more distant future as a result of the success the team has already had and a potential long post-season run.

A year ago New Mexico maintained the consensus #1 national ranking through a long-period of the season (3-weeks or longer I believe), and even though I think they lost a regular season game at the very end, UNM coach Jeremy Fischbein won national Coach of the Year honors from the NSCAA. While no one on the team is paying attention to this at this point, you have to feel that if UA beats Michigan and has no losses going into the regular season finale in Bloomington, that our chief Ken Lolla deserves the same.

Even thought this year's squad is one of the youngest in the MAC, this season's performance has GOT to have a positive impact on recruiting. There are three Northeast Ohioans, and Cleveland Soccer Academy clubbers who earned All-Star honors at the Adidas ESP (Elite Soccer Players') camp, the nation's premier camp for HS seniors-to-be this past summer. I have no knowledge of recruiting in the Midwest, so I don't know if any have verballed, or what their academic status is, but if you want to google them they are fullbacks Mark Blades, from Lakewood and Barry Rice of Parma; and Wickliffe MF Ken Walker. After losing super players the last couple of years like Medina's Israel Jones to SMU and the Walsh kid to Tosu, we can hope this is our year to set the program on a top-10 course for several years to come.

Finally, since it's already been mentioned by a roo on this board, I know more people will speculate about the future of our head coach. There will be schools making inquiries, and dreaming of stealing chief away, but he's expressed his deep feelings about being a member of the Akron-Canton community for about 20 years now, with an interlude away. Nope, Mike Thomas has 0 chance of taking him to the Queen City (Cinci has a respectable program, ranked in the top-20 earlier this year, which tied #4 St Johns at home this month, but they've never been a national power), however, if a top ACC program were to have an opening, no doubt talk will begin. Probably even more dangerous to the university will be the number of MLS expansion franchises due to start up over the next couple years. Lolla does have national team coaching experience, and the pros have Moolah no university can compete with.

Go Zips! Sweep the Big-11!