TennZip Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 http://www.gozips.com/sports/msoc/2012-13/.../2012112543170p I just watched the press conference. I am sitting here crying. I want to thank Coach Porter for 7 wonderful years. He has put his heart and soul into this program. He has positively affected the lives of so many young men. Akron has been blessed to have Coach Porter and his family as part of the University community and also as part of the city of Akron. As an alumni, Coach Porter has brought great pride to the University that Akron U. can compete and defeat the best teams. As someone who grew up in the area, I greatly admire Coach Porter for repeatedly saying that Akron is a great place to live and raise a family. Coach Porter has been unbelievably generous in his support of the AK rowdies. Caleb Porter is a champion on and off the field and he is a classy human being. I wish he and his family much happiness in the next stage of his career. I would be very remiss if I did not also thank the 4 incredible seniors on this year's team. Their success in the classroom is outstanding and I want to thank them for staying for 4 years and giving this Akron fan a lifetime of memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbyake Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 so many wonderful memories this year. Porter has created something very special at Akron and I look forward to seeing him succeed as a professional coach. The Timbers are now my second MLS team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fknbuflobo Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 http://www.gozips.com/sports/msoc/2012-13/.../2012112543170p I just watched the press conference. I am sitting here crying. I want to thank Coach Porter for 7 wonderful years. He has put his heart and soul into this program. He has positively affected the lives of so many young men. Akron has been blessed to have Coach Porter and his family as part of the University community and also as part of the city of Akron. As an alumni, Coach Porter has brought great pride to the University that Akron U. can compete and defeat the best teams. As someone who grew up in the area, I greatly admire Coach Porter for repeatedly saying that Akron is a great place to live and raise a family. Coach Porter has been unbelievably generous in his support of the AK rowdies. Caleb Porter is a champion on and off the field and he is a classy human being. I wish he and his family much happiness in the next stage of his career. I would be very remiss if I did not also thank the 4 incredible seniors on this year's team. Their success in the classroom is outstanding and I want to thank them for staying for 4 years and giving this Akron fan a lifetime of memories. Well said. This really hurts, and it will for a very long time. Caleb Porter represents everything that is good about the University of Akron, and of Akron OH. We are forever indebted to him. He deserved a better ending than last night. Soccer is truly the cruelest of sports. I also echo your comments about these four outstanding seniors. They will succeed at any endeavor they choose. God knows they will never be able to pick up the check within Akron city limits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AkronZip54321 Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Still remember when he signed ampai. who would have known what a chain reaction of talent coming in would follow after that for the next 6 years. incredible. I think the 3-0 win at notre dame to start the 2008 year was when this team really turned a corner. Lets hope that things keep going as they have since then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 The NE Ohio soccer community has been awarded an incredible gift these past seven years. Has it really been that long? It's not easy looking back and knowing what the future may hold, but no one can say that we're not far advanced because of where we've been placed by this leader. He has hardly left any cupboards bare. Best wishes to Jared Embick and those who stay to carry on the new tradition of a team that plays for championships, every year, every game. Two stars in '13. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soccershins Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Great coach and a great man. Wish him all the best in Portland. Here's some more fan reaction: Fans show support as Porter leaves Akron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Still remember when he signed ampai. who would have known what a chain reaction of talent coming in would follow after that for the next 6 years. incredible. I think the 3-0 win at notre dame to start the 2008 year was when this team really turned a corner. Lets hope that things keep going as they have since then. For me, the real defining moment for the program was the back-to-back shutout road wins at Wake Forest and North Carolina to start the 2010 season. It showed that we had some guts to go and challenge ourselves on the road, and leave no doubt that we were here to stay, and our 2009 run was no fluke. There's alot of coaches in alot of college sports that take the whimpy way out with their non-conference schedule. We didn't do that. To be the best, you have to beat the best. And as a coach, I have so much respect for him for taking that route to grow the program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpsjugglerdude Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 For me, the real defining moment for the program was the back-to-back shutout road wins at Wake Forest and North Carolina to start the 2010 season. It showed that we had some guts to go and challenge ourselves on the road, and leave no doubt that we were here to stay, and our 2009 run was no fluke. There's alot of coaches in alot of college sports that take the whimpy way out with their non-conference schedule. We didn't do that. To be the best, you have to beat the best. And as a coach, I have so much respect for him for taking that route to grow the program. I still don't remember any of the ACC schools coming to Akron...chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AkronZip54321 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 For me, the real defining moment for the program was the back-to-back shutout road wins at Wake Forest and North Carolina to start the 2010 season. It showed that we had some guts to go and challenge ourselves on the road, and leave no doubt that we were here to stay, and our 2009 run was no fluke. There's alot of coaches in alot of college sports that take the whimpy way out with their non-conference schedule. We didn't do that. To be the best, you have to beat the best. And as a coach, I have so much respect for him for taking that route to grow the program. As good as the 2010 team was, the 2009 team was actually better. Being better doesn't always mean winning the national championship. The 2009 team is the greatest college team I've ever seen when they were fully healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fknbuflobo Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 As good as the 2010 team was, the 2009 team was actually better. Being better doesn't always mean winning the national championship. The 2009 team is the greatest college team I've ever seen when they were fully healthy. 23-0-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigzipguy Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Wake Forest did come to Akron in the 2011 season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fknbuflobo Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Wake Forest did come to Akron in the 2011 season Right. And as a BIG team, expect to see Maryland here soon and often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip_ME87 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Right. And as a BIG team, expect to see Maryland here soon and often. This would be nice but won't necessarily happen. When is the last time that Northwestern or Wisconsin visited Akron during the regular season? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jem101 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 Incredible turn out tonight for the Thank You Caleb event. Seeing Proenza get choked up was probably the moment of the night. We're losing a great man here in Akron. Also telling was seeing the players who came back to say thank you. Zakuani, Nagbe, Ampai, Korb, and Kofi all returned for the evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 Incredible turn out tonight for the Thank You Caleb event. Seeing Proenza get choked up was probably the moment of the night. We're losing a great man here in Akron. Also telling was seeing the players who came back to say thank you. Zakuani, Nagbe, Ampai, Korb, and Kofi all returned for the evening. I can only hope the rest of our athletic programs try to model themselves after the program Porter has built. Much respect to him and wish him the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fknbuflobo Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 Incredible turn out tonight for the Thank You Caleb event. Seeing Proenza get choked up was probably the moment of the night. We're losing a great man here in Akron. Also telling was seeing the players who came back to say thank you. Zakuani, Nagbe, Ampai, Korb, and Kofi all returned for the evening. It worked out well because Nagbe is getting married this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip_ME87 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 I can only hope the rest of our athletic programs try to model themselves after the program Porter has built. Much respect to him and wish him the best. We need to keep reminding ourselves and our athletics department to break the "mid-major" mentality. Caleb did it. He believed that Akron could compete with anyone, and he made it happen. Also, for those who weren't there, Caleb made it clear last night that he's happy that where he will be, he will not be competing against Akron. He would never have left to go to another university. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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