7 starters to leave soccer team

[MaxZIP]

Ohio.com article on the 7 starters set to leave for the MLS.

"Zips standouts Darlington Nagbe, Kofi Sarkodie, Michael Nanchoff, Zarek Valentin and Perry Kitchen signed professional contracts with Generation adidas and will forgo their remaining college eligibility to enter the 2011 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, sources have confirmed.

The five players are projected to be first-round draft picks along with UA senior midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong. Zips senior defender Chris Korb is also receiving interest from MLS teams."

[ZachTheZip]

As much as I wish they would stay, I can't begrudge them for leaving on top. They accomplished the impossible. If you're virtually guaranteed to go in the first half of the first round (GA signees rarely fall below that) then why not go?

If I remember correctly, prior to this Zips team no school has ever has more than 3 GA players in a given year. We have 5. That is insane.

Good luck to all of them and may they be wildly successful in their pro careers. The better they do, the better it is for Akron and the more college soccer looks like a legitimate way to develop pro prospects.

[johnnyzip84]

It's hard to lose all of them at once, but it's not hard to understand their decisions. Best of luck to all of them. I think they all have a great chance to succeed professionally. While Nano may be a bit of a late surprise to some, I actually think his service skills (especially coming from the left foot) may make him the most in demand over the next few years. In fact, I should have included him in my EPL survey in retrospect.

Now it's up to us fans to step it up next year and hang in with this team early in the season, when they might still be getting their collective bearings. Go Zips!

[MDZip]

It's hard to lose all of them at once, but it's not hard to understand their decisions.

But what a great way to go out. This must be what it feels like to be say, a UK in basketball (but without the associated NCAA violations ).

[bobbyake]

7 more players representing the UA in the MLS, this is wonderful news. Especially with 5 of them getting Generation Adidas contracts, recruiting has never been easier for CP.

[ZachTheZip]

At last check, we had 6 incoming players for next year. I expect to see at least two added to that.

[zips4ever2008]

While I wish some of the underclassmen would have stayed, I understand their decision to go pro. It will be awesome to have 7 more Zips represent MLS. To have that many guys likely to go in the first round from one school just speaks volumes of what an incredible job Porter has done. I don't care what sport it is. To have 7 guys likely going in the first round of any pro draft is just amazing. Looks like Porter is going to have to recruit more guys to replace the 7 we'll be losing.

Next year is going to be very interesting and might have to be a rebuilding or reloading year. This team is going to need everyone's support next year. I still believe they will do well, but there might be some struggles as this team comes together. GO ZIPS! Congrats guys and good luck with your pro careers.

[Let'sGoZips94]

Dang it Caleb Porter, why do you have to be such a good recruiter?

[zip37]

Zack the Zip--- 'Accomplished the impossible'?????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think NOT, because they did it, and I saw it comming 4 yrs ago!!!!!!!!!!

[skip-zip]

That's a downer. Having them here winning more championships is to our greatest benefit, by far. Really, what value are we going to get out of the occassional mention during a pro game that a player is from Akron, when nobody watches pro soccer anyway (comparatively speaking....so relax soccer nuts)?

[yazan07]

I was really hoping Kitchen would stay another season, but really he didn't need to. I remember when he came here last Spring, there was talk about how he could have gone pro immediately but instead chose to come to Akron to polish his skills. He will be tough to replace, but what sucks the most is my friend and I are going to miss shouting "If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen!" after his name gets called before the matches.

[Zipmeister]

Together these guys will be making thousands and hundreds of dollars (way more than most WNBA players).

http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/august_12_...lphabetical.pdf

[skip-zip]

Together these guys will be making thousands and hundreds of dollars (way more than most WNBA players).

http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/august_12_...lphabetical.pdf

Good Lord. I had no idea. Is it worth giving up your college career for that?

[RootforRoo44]

Together these guys will be making thousands and hundreds of dollars (way more than most WNBA players).

http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/august_12_...lphabetical.pdf

Good Lord. I had no idea. Is it worth giving up your college career for that?

What you're forgetting is that each team can sign three players that can go around the salary cap because of some "Star Rule". So if one of the bigger players like Kitchen/Nagbe/Sarkodie were likely candidates to leave for overseas, they could pay them a million$+ to stay.

And yes it is worth giving up your college career when you can just go back to school for free because of GA's contract and because you get to live out your dream as a pro. Well worth it, i know i would have made the same decision as every player this year. Now last year, I wouldn't have left like Gavin did, he had unfinished business (winning a title).

[ZachTheZip]

Together these guys will be making thousands and hundreds of dollars (way more than most WNBA players).

http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/august_12_...lphabetical.pdf

Good Lord. I had no idea. Is it worth giving up your college career for that?

What you're forgetting is that each team can sign three players that can go around the salary cap because of some "Star Rule". So if one of the bigger players like Kitchen/Nagbe/Sarkodie were likely candidates to leave for overseas, they could pay them a million$+ to stay.

And yes it is worth giving up your college career when you can just go back to school for free because of GA's contract and because you get to live out your dream as a pro. Well worth it, i know i would have made the same decision as every player this year. Now last year, I wouldn't have left like Gavin did, he had unfinished business (winning a title).

Exactly. The GA contract makes it worth it, because it pays all your tuition when you decide to go back to school. So you lose nothing by leaving early.

[Zipmeister]

For 9 out of 10 guys the money isn't much. A different honey in every town - priceless.

[fknbuflobo]

Kitchen is the one that hurts most. I suppose if his goal was to play collegiate soccer, he would have gone to Indiana. His goal was to turn pro, so he attended Akron instead.

[skip-zip]

For 9 out of 10 guys the money isn't much. A different honey in every town - priceless.

Please, someone tell me what we're not understanding. I see all of the Akron guys making somewhere around 50K.

[acstorfer]

With five GA selectees, the most ever chosen from one team, is there an argument to make for, 2010 Zips Soccer, best team ever?

Yeah, I went there.

[MaxZIP]

For 9 out of 10 guys the money isn't much. A different honey in every town - priceless.

Please, someone tell me what we're not understanding. I see all of the Akron guys making somewhere around 50K.

50k is a hell of a lot more than most fresh grads will make in their entry level first jobs. 28-35k is the norm.

[meatwad]

For 9 out of 10 guys the money isn't much. A different honey in every town - priceless.

Please, someone tell me what we're not understanding. I see all of the Akron guys making somewhere around 50K.

50k is a hell of a lot more than most fresh grads will make in their entry level first jobs. 28-35k is the norm.

GA contracts are higher than the "league min." Look at Zakuani... his guaranteed 2010 is over $160,000. I would expect that the GA guys will be making around $100,000ish.

[MaxZIP]

For 9 out of 10 guys the money isn't much. A different honey in every town - priceless.

Please, someone tell me what we're not understanding. I see all of the Akron guys making somewhere around 50K.

50k is a hell of a lot more than most fresh grads will make in their entry level first jobs. 28-35k is the norm.

GA contracts are higher than the "league min." Look at Zakuani... his guaranteed 2010 is over $160,000. I would expect that the GA guys will be making around $100,000ish.

$100k is a hell of a lot more than most college grads will make. I think they were wise to sign a GA contract when one was on the table. It keeps all of their options open and gives them an boost when entering the MLS. They can always come back to school in 3-5 years if they are not offered a long term deal after the GA contract is up.

[Z.I.P.]

For 9 out of 10 guys the money isn't much. A different honey in every town - priceless.

Please, someone tell me what we're not understanding. I see all of the Akron guys making somewhere around 50K.

50k is a hell of a lot more than most fresh grads will make in their entry level first jobs. 28-35k is the norm.

GA contracts are higher than the "league min." Look at Zakuani... his guaranteed 2010 is over $160,000. I would expect that the GA guys will be making around $100,000ish.

Okay, time for a little lesson on the subject of Generation Adidas contracts. (lesson plan made from Z.I.P.'s memory)

#1. The contract is a "bonus" payment -- which I imagine can be paid in one lump sum, or paid out over a term.

#2. Zakuani's G.A. payment was reportedly $175k -- by far the biggest ever to that point. Frankly, I would expect Kitchen to get more than that, whether he goes #1 or not.

#3. G.A. players do receive a annual contract beyond the G.A. bonus check, however, in most cases, I believe the Adidas contribution is intended by MLS management to allow clubs to pay far less than what should be the going rate for talent. I wonder how much of the annual payment shown for Stevie Z is part of his G.A. deal.

#4. The MLS minimum salary is set at what -- $45k now? Believe it or not, that is a vast improvement from just 3 years ago when it was the massive amount of $12,500. Although most of those receiving the bottom rung of contracts are guys who are not on the roster for a full season.

I'm naturally disappointed that we will lose these seven stars. But it also helps contribute to the mystique of Akron Soccer. So let's get on the recruiting trail. As I have said, I'm told a January by-invitation-only camp at the Styles Ctr will be a large contributor to the 2011 roster for international talent. Can Root4Roo sneak in for an upcoming article?

[fknbuflobo]

Yeah.

$90k is not nearly enough for me to play soccer for a living. No way.

[Z.I.P.]

$100k is a hell of a lot more than most college grads will make. I think they were wise to sign a GA contract when one was on the table. It keeps all of their options open and gives them an boost when entering the MLS. They can always come back to school in 3-5 years if they are not offered a long term deal after the GA contract is up.

Or they could come back and be a placekicker for the Zips American football team. There's a former Columbus Crew player doing that for Tressel.