ZachTheZip Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 Considering that we're going to at least double the number of Zips playing professionally in a short while, this seems like a good time to begin a thread to follow the successes of those who made it to the next level. Let's start off with some good news: Teal Bunbury named MLS breakout player of 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip_ME87 Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 Considering that we're going to at least double the number of Zips playing professionally in a short while, this seems like a good time to begin a thread to follow the successes of those who made it to the next level. Let's start off with some good news: Teal Bunbury named MLS breakout player of 2011 Nice... MLSsoccer: When you decided to leave Akron, did you have any idea what would be happening for you just one year later? Has all this taken you by surprise at all or did you expect this to happen? Bunbury: After coming out of Akron, I wasn’t necessarily expecting to play with the national team, go on these trips and be pretty successful with all that in my first year. Obviously, I wanted things to happen, help my team play well and be given opportunities like this so I could prove myself. In a sense, it kind of came out of the blue. For the most part, I was just expecting to be able to improve my game as the year went on. MLSsoccer: Speaking of Akron, I’m sure you took a lot of pride in seeing them take the national championship. Bunbury: Without a doubt. Caleb Porter has been amazing there over the last five years and transformed that school into a powerhouse. When I was there, he always talked about dominant soccer. Watching the team, you can just tell how passionate they are when they play, and that comes from Caleb Porter and the other coaches. It’s great to be a part of that, and I’m very happy for the guys to win it. It was very much deserved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crew8 Posted January 5, 2011 Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 Considering that we're going to at least double the number of Zips playing professionally in a short while, this seems like a good time to begin a thread to follow the successes of those who made it to the next level. Let's start off with some good news: Teal Bunbury named MLS breakout player of 2011 Here is another fantastic interview from former Akron standout Teal Bunbury Shooting it With Teal Bunbury..... Son of Kristi Bunbury Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted January 5, 2011 Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 Considering that we're going to at least double the number of Zips playing professionally in a short while, this seems like a good time to begin a thread to follow the successes of those who made it to the next level. Let's start off with some good news: Teal Bunbury named MLS breakout player of 2011 Here is another fantastic interview from former Akron standout Teal Bunbury Shooting it With Teal Bunbury..... Son of Kristi Bunbury That link did not work. Hopefully, this one will do the trick. BTW -- how about that name: The Shin Guardian. Outstanding! One of the trends that needs to be seen by soccer skeptics is the explosion in soccer/football websites over just the past three or four years. It would not surprise me if there are now more websites devoted to the Beautiful Game than there are devoted to the American version of the world's favorite sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crew8 Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 Considering that we're going to at least double the number of Zips playing professionally in a short while, this seems like a good time to begin a thread to follow the successes of those who made it to the next level. Let's start off with some good news: Teal Bunbury named MLS breakout player of 2011 Here is another fantastic interview from former Akron standout Teal Bunbury Shooting it With Teal Bunbury..... Son of Kristi Bunbury That link did not work. Hopefully, this one will do the trick. BTW -- how about that name: The Shin Guardian. Outstanding! One of the trends that needs to be seen by soccer skeptics is the explosion in soccer/football websites over just the past three or four years. It would not surprise me if there are now more websites devoted to the Beautiful Game than there are devoted to the American version of the world's favorite sport. Sorry about that, haha The Shin Guardian is one of my favorite blogs and big supporters of the US National Soccer Supporters The American Outlaws. Here is another article I came across last night with possibly #1 MLS Draft Pick Perry Kitchen Kitchen Leading U-20s Into 2011 If that doesn't work, http://www.yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=7235 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxZIP Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 From the article on Kitchen... "As a top professional prospect, Kitchen attributes his high standing in large part to the University of Akron head coach Caleb Porter whose teams are playing a more attractive and more skillful style of soccer than most observers feel has ever been played in NCAA soccer. "Playing for Akron, we want the fans to be able to enjoy the game," Kitchen said. "We want it to be attractive. It's not always like that, don't get me wrong. But that's what we want to accomplish. Caleb has done an unbelievable job in that. He's one of the greatest coaches I've ever had." "He's very intense," he continued. "We never take a light day in practice. If you watch Akron play and then watch the average soccer game, we are on the ball and we have fun. I don't think there is another coach that has brought in the style that Caleb has." Kitchen will now hope join a growing list of players that has come out of Akron only to immediately fit into professional and international soccer. The list includes Sporting Kansas City's Teal Bunbury who is now part of the US national team and Seattle Sounder Steve Zakuani who is on the national team for the Democratic Republic of Congo. This year Kitchen is not alone as four other players will also leave Akron early to turn professional and all are expected to be drafted within the top ten picks. When Kitchen and his teammates announced their intention to leave, they found encouragement from Porter who met with each of the players. "Look, he is in it for the players. He's not in it for himself," Kitchen stated frankly. "He's encouraged five underclassmen to go pro. He wants us to do what is best for us. He'll look at our options at the end of the season like he did for me and all the other guys. He told me this was a really good opportunity for my future. He said I did some great things for the school but that it was time to move on. "He's never going to hold any player back if they are ready," he added. "But if they're not ready, he'll say that they may need to come back another year. He wants what's best for the players and that's really important."" Nice work Caleb! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip_ME87 Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 If that doesn't work, http://www.yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=7235 Thanks for another great article Crew8. Caleb Porter is awesome, and I really appreciate reading a player's (Perry Kitchen's) perspective: This year Kitchen is not alone as four other players will also leave Akron early to turn professional and all are expected to be drafted within the top ten picks. When Kitchen and his teammates announced their intention to leave, they found encouragement from Porter who met with each of the players. "Look, he is in it for the players. He's not in it for himself," Kitchen stated frankly. "He's encouraged five underclassmen to go pro. He wants us to do what is best for us. He'll look at our options at the end of the season like he did for me and all the other guys. He told me this was a really good opportunity for my future. He said I did some great things for the school but that it was time to move on. "He's never going to hold any player back if they are ready," he added. "But if they're not ready, he'll say that they may need to come back another year. He wants what's best for the players and that's really important." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zip37 Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 WOW, isn't it too bad that all coaches aren't as interested in their players like Caleb is? What an amazing coach/gentleman we have! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxZIP Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 WOW, isn't it too bad that all coaches aren't as interested in their players like Caleb is? What an amazing coach/gentleman we have! and he loves Akron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crew8 Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 WOW, isn't it too bad that all coaches aren't as interested in their players like Caleb is? What an amazing coach/gentleman we have! Caleb is truly a great coach, I'm glad we have him here in Akron. He's not only trying to win championships, he's growing the game of soccer, and growing the talent here in Akron. Does anyone know if he'll be the assistant coach again this year for the US U-18 squad? Here was another good article with Valentin last month http://yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=7201 I'm looking forward to seeing Teal Bunbury playing Jan. 22nd for USA vs. Chile and look forward to more Akron players joining the ranks in the future. If ever anyone is interested in watching USA matches and former Akron standouts, a group of us have been trying to put together a USA supporters group in Akron. We watch all the games at the Barley House with Sound. If we're not in the main bar area, we're in the banquet room(usually on Fri and Sat nights) We have people of all ages, young and old. And we have something for FREE Jan. 22nd http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181830911845612 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yazan07 Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 Soccer by Ives has been doing a few players spotlights lately. Here is one on Kofi, and here is one on Perry. Also, MLS did a piece on the possibility of Perry going as the #1 pick to Vancouver. Additionally, they also had an article about Zarek the other day. I have been checking up on these two websites pretty frequently, they have been regularly mentioning our guys as the MLS combine and U-20 camp goes on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crew8 Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 Soccer by Ives has been doing a few players spotlights lately. Here is one on Kofi, and here is one on Perry. Also, MLS did a piece on the possibility of Perry going as the #1 pick to Vancouver. Additionally, they also had an article about Zarek the other day. I have been checking up on these two websites pretty frequently, they have been regularly mentioning our guys as the MLS combine and U-20 camp goes on. Thanks Yaznasty, I was about to post those for everyone to see. Caleb Porter will be on Soccer Matters tonight at 9:40pm with Soccer Analyst Glenn Davis http://www.sports790.com/mediaplayer/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yazan07 Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Article about Teal in the New York Times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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