Beating Ken Lolla makes it that much sweeter

[ZipRoo]

Enjoy Louisville, Lolla. We're more than thrilled with your replacement, a guy who's loyal to Akron.

[GoZips]

Reading the Louisville Courier-Journal I discovered that according to coach Lolla,

“On a day where clearly we were not at our best, we found a way to hang in there and at the end of the game (have a chance to) equalize it,” U of L coach Ken Lolla said. “It's unfortunate, but it just didn't go our way today.”

What kind of an excuse is this for a team playing in the national championship game?

Caleb Porter had his team prepared for this game eleven months ago.

No wonder you are at Louisville, Kenny. You belong there.

p.s. coach, man up and admit your team got beat by the better team and offer your congratulations.

[skip-zip]

I always enjoy disecting these coaching situations. Why do you leave one of the most successful programs in the country? In any sport? Was it the school's lack of financial commitment at the time? Lack of facilities?

But it is rather difficult for me to question his loyalty when he spent 13 years here. As I said earlier, fortunately we had the history and reputation to attract a replacement.

[zip37]

As I understand it, K.L. was promised a new facility when he signed on, it never came to be, and the U built Infocicion/Summa, and sent him a message. I don't begrudge him moving on, any more than I rag on LBJ. It's still a semi-free country.

However, KL moving on took our program to elite status.

[tbozeglav]

Like LeBron, Ken Lolla leaving was probably the best thing that could have happened to this place.

[RootforRoo44]

I always enjoy disecting these coaching situations. Why do you leave one of the most successful programs in the country? In any sport? Was it the school's lack of financial commitment at the time? Lack of facilities?

But it is rather difficult for me to question his loyalty when he spent 13 years here. As I said earlier, fortunately we had the history and reputation to attract a replacement.

I've always heard that the lack of quality facilities was a big reason he left. If that's the case, that's great because Louisville's field is a dump. It's a multipurpose/bad grass/next to a major highway dump.

[Buckzip]

Reading the Louisville Courier-Journal I discovered that according to coach Lolla,

“On a day where clearly we were not at our best, we found a way to hang in there and at the end of the game (have a chance to) equalize it,” U of L coach Ken Lolla said. “It's unfortunate, but it just didn't go our way today.”

What kind of an excuse is this for a team playing in the national championship game?

Caleb Porter had his team prepared for this game eleven months ago.

No wonder you are at Louisville, Kenny. You belong there.

p.s. coach, man up and admit your team got beat by the better team and offer your congratulations.

That really struck me the wrong way too.

[Quickzips]

As I understand it, K.L. was promised a new facility when he signed on, it never came to be, and the U built Infocicion/Summa, and sent him a message. I don't begrudge him moving on, any more than I rag on LBJ. It's still a semi-free country.

However, KL moving on took our program to elite status.

Funny because as I remember it the Info project wasn't announced until well after Lolla hightailed it out of here. Not that it matters, he's at Louisville now and Akron has moved on with Caleb Porter. The results yesterday speak for themselves.

[zips4ever2008]

I guess we should remember that Lolla helped build the Akron soccer program. When he left, I wondered how the program would do. Boy did we get a gem of a coach in Porter. He's taken Akron soccer to a whole new level. Bringing in top recruits, a new facility (finally) and competing on a national level. Akron Zips soccer is in good hands. I hope Porter stays around for a while and he seems to want to continue building the program. I will say that beating our old coach to win the national championship is beyond sweet. Man I love saying National Champions.

[bisbee]

I guess we should remember that Lolla helped build the Akron soccer program. When he left, I wondered how the program would do. Boy did we get a gem of a coach in Porter. He's taken Akron soccer to a whole new level. Bringing in top recruits, a new facility (finally) and competing on a national level. Akron Zips soccer is in good hands. I hope Porter stays around for a while and he seems to want to continue building the program. I will say that beating our old coach to win the national championship is beyond sweet. Man I love saying National Champions.

I hate to bring this up at this point but the rumors ofPorter moving on are coming to the surface again. It is now being said that he is heading to NC State. What do you guys who are close to the program think about all this stuff? I am concerned every time I hear this stuff as my grandson is a verbal commit for 2011.

[ksu sucks]

I hate to bring this up at this point but the rumors ofPorter moving on are coming to the surface again. It is now being said that he is heading to NC State. What do you guys who are close to the program think about all this stuff? I am concerned every time I hear this stuff as my grandson is a verbal commit for 2011.

Porter wouldn't leave for another college team. He makes as much as he would anywhere else in the country, and he already has a championship caliber program here in Akron.

[zip37]

Bis-- last year at this time it was DC United that was throwing $$$$$$$$$$$$$ at him. He's stated pubicly that he is VERY happy here, he loves the area and the people.

[meatwad]

I hate to bring this up at this point but the rumors ofPorter moving on are coming to the surface again. It is now being said that he is heading to NC State. What do you guys who are close to the program think about all this stuff? I am concerned every time I hear this stuff as my grandson is a verbal commit for 2011.

Porter wouldn't leave for another college team. He makes as much as he would anywhere else in the country, and he already has a championship caliber program here in Akron.

True. Caleb will not coach anywhere else in the college ranks. If a position opened up somewhere in the USMNT however, he might have to jump on that. Regardless, we are

[ZachTheZip]

In addition to coaching at NC State, Porter will be heading up the Washington Huskies, DC United, and Chivas USA in an attempt to move unto the USMNT spot for the 2014 World Cup. He will be a very busy man next season.

[Quickzips]

I guess we should remember that Lolla helped build the Akron soccer program. When he left, I wondered how the program would do. Boy did we get a gem of a coach in Porter. He's taken Akron soccer to a whole new level. Bringing in top recruits, a new facility (finally) and competing on a national level. Akron Zips soccer is in good hands. I hope Porter stays around for a while and he seems to want to continue building the program. I will say that beating our old coach to win the national championship is beyond sweet. Man I love saying National Champions.

I hate to bring this up at this point but the rumors ofPorter moving on are coming to the surface again. It is now being said that he is heading to NC State. What do you guys who are close to the program think about all this stuff? I am concerned every time I hear this stuff as my grandson is a verbal commit for 2011.

I'm admittedly a newbie when it comes to the soccer side of things, but logic would tell you that if he turned down an MLS deal after last season to stay at Akron (as has been widely reported) he probably isn't going to be taking another college job somewhere. Now what happens if the MLS comes calling again or if the USMNT comes calling again is anyones guess. I personally have no idea if Caleb would take the "we've won a championship here, time to move on to another stage" philosophy or if he would rather build a dynasty in the college ranks. I think the quotes in ESPN's article indicate that he would rather stay here and build a dynasty, but he certainly wouldn't be the first coach to come out with quotes like that and then bolt.

[bisbee]

In addition to coaching at NC State, Porter will be heading up the Washington Huskies, DC United, and Chivas USA in an attempt to move unto the USMNT spot for the 2014 World Cup. He will be a very busy man next season.

HAHAHA...forgot about the stuff after last season too.

[ZipRoo]

Whatever happened to the days of coaches staying in one place and making a LEGENDARY NAME for themselves? I speak of men like Joe Paterno, Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Tom Landry, Bobby Bowden, Bobby Knight (until forced out), Gene Keady...and women like Pat Summit.

Why is it that, nowadays, whenever a coach has any type of success, other schools are lining up to steal them? I respect and admire any coach who turns down those poachers in favor of building a dynasty right where he/she is. Wandering nomad coaches are always looking for ways to promote me, me, me...and they are not examples for anyone. (Bobby Petrino, Nick Saban, Bill Parcells, et al...)

[jem101]

I don't get how people could be so dumb as to think that Porter would go to NC State. That is asinine. He turned down his alma mater last year for goodness sake. And it's not like it was any school either, it was the most storied school in NCAA soccer. If Porter leaves, it will be for the MLS and the hopes of coaching the USMNT. To be honest, if he does so in a couple of years then I will be fine with that. All I ask for is another national championship before he moves on to the next level.

Porter: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

[tbozeglav]

I think the 1 main point some are missing right now is that all this talk about Porter being lured to "supposed" greener pastures are all purely rumors. This exact scenario played out with DC United offering Porter a job there. Porter knew he'd make more money there than he would here at UA, but look at the decision he made. Not only did he turn down the job, he signed a 5 year contract extension. As a reward for his loyalty to our program, we built him a beautiful new stadium he can be proud of. Porter has made it clear countless times that he absolutely loves where he is at with the support of the students, fans, and the University. In fact, if anyone cared to read a post I made last night quoting an ESPN article, Porter said the following:

"Also, my mentor [Jerry Yeagley] stayed at Indiana his entire career. He had other opportunities, but in the end, he got so attached he could never leave it. And right now, that's kind of where I'm at."

If thats not an indicator of where Porter intends to be for the foreseeable future, then I don't know what is.

You can always make more money elsewhere, but you can't always be happy and comfortable there too. Porter has a GREAT gig here and I believe he'd be hard-pressed to even consider going anywhere else.

[GoZips88]

Any idea when bids will be going out for new "Porter Stadium" signage?

Get that place named NOW while he and his family are here building the dynasty, not after his work is complete.

[RootforRoo44]

I think the 1 main point some are missing right now is that all this talk about Porter being lured to "supposed" greener pastures are all purely rumors. This exact scenario played out with DC United offering Porter a job there. Porter knew he'd make more money there than he would here at UA, but look at the decision he made. Not only did he turn down the job, he signed a 5 year contract extension. As a reward for his loyalty to our program, we built him a beautiful new stadium he can be proud of. Porter has made it clear countless times that he absolutely loves where he is at with the support of the students, fans, and the University. In fact, if anyone cared to read a post I made last night quoting an ESPN article, Porter said the following:

"Also, my mentor [Jerry Yeagley] stayed at Indiana his entire career. He had other opportunities, but in the end, he got so attached he could never leave it. And right now, that's kind of where I'm at."

If thats not an indicator of where Porter intends to be for the foreseeable future, then I don't know what is.

You can always make more money elsewhere, but you can't always be happy and comfortable there too. Porter has a GREAT gig here and I believe he'd be hard-pressed to even consider going anywhere else.

+1...and can you imagine what the crowds are going to be like next season?! Ya know because we have the NATIONAL CHAMPIONS playing in Akron

The place is going to have an unbelievable atmosphere, and is going to be rockin' for every home game.

[Buckzip]

Is the stadium finished?

I remember hearing that there were more seats to be added to the grandstand.

[ZachTheZip]

Is the stadium finished?

I remember hearing that there were more seats to be added to the grandstand.

Depends on how many donations they received. The expansion was funded quite a bit through alumni support.

[ZachTheZip]

I think the 1 main point some are missing right now is that all this talk about Porter being lured to "supposed" greener pastures are all purely rumors. This exact scenario played out with DC United offering Porter a job there. Porter knew he'd make more money there than he would here at UA, but look at the decision he made. Not only did he turn down the job, he signed a 5 year contract extension. As a reward for his loyalty to our program, we built him a beautiful new stadium he can be proud of. Porter has made it clear countless times that he absolutely loves where he is at with the support of the students, fans, and the University. In fact, if anyone cared to read a post I made last night quoting an ESPN article, Porter said the following:

"Also, my mentor [Jerry Yeagley] stayed at Indiana his entire career. He had other opportunities, but in the end, he got so attached he could never leave it. And right now, that's kind of where I'm at."

If thats not an indicator of where Porter intends to be for the foreseeable future, then I don't know what is.

You can always make more money elsewhere, but you can't always be happy and comfortable there too. Porter has a GREAT gig here and I believe he'd be hard-pressed to even consider going anywhere else.

The rumors originated HERE. My guess is the series of six hints refers to one of our assistant coaches.

[bobbyake]

I think the 1 main point some are missing right now is that all this talk about Porter being lured to "supposed" greener pastures are all purely rumors. This exact scenario played out with DC United offering Porter a job there. Porter knew he'd make more money there than he would here at UA, but look at the decision he made. Not only did he turn down the job, he signed a 5 year contract extension. As a reward for his loyalty to our program, we built him a beautiful new stadium he can be proud of. Porter has made it clear countless times that he absolutely loves where he is at with the support of the students, fans, and the University. In fact, if anyone cared to read a post I made last night quoting an ESPN article, Porter said the following:

"Also, my mentor [Jerry Yeagley] stayed at Indiana his entire career. He had other opportunities, but in the end, he got so attached he could never leave it. And right now, that's kind of where I'm at."

If thats not an indicator of where Porter intends to be for the foreseeable future, then I don't know what is.

You can always make more money elsewhere, but you can't always be happy and comfortable there too. Porter has a GREAT gig here and I believe he'd be hard-pressed to even consider going anywhere else.

The rumors originated HERE. My guess is the series of six hints refers to one of our assistant coaches.

I think we should be more worried about losing one of the assistants. I remember listening to one, I think Jared Embick, on 1350 before because Porter couldn't be there. He was very interesting to listen to and knows a lot about the game. But both Jared Embick and Oliver Slawson are probably going to get offers from other schools. Jared Embick is building an impressive resume here at Akron, give him a raise!!