Do not dance, go directly to recruiting.

[Z.I.P.]

The NCAA men's soccer selection "show" is at 2PM EST on ESPN news (I think). But don't bother watching, if you're a Zips soccer fan. Our team's only chance of making the post-season was to beat Northern Illinois on Sunday. I said in my post last week that I thought we had about a 40-60 shot of an at-large NCAA tournament spot. That was before I saw the team's ranking in the RPI (available on ESPN's soccer page). Akron is at number 68, which gives them absolutely Zip chance of dancing.The key to this program's progress will be determined in the next three months, as Caleb Porter and staff corral their first full recruiting class. If they can get some of those sensations from the Dallas Texans -- America's top youth program, and do well in the Midwest and Eastern US, look for the team to be back in the top-10 as soon as 2007. I am very high on this club, but the next months will provide the first major indication of whether Porter is indeed able to make UA a persistent national powerhouse.

[UAZipster0305]

Not true! We're projected to get an at-large bid to the tournament. Once there, this team has the potential to beat any other school in the country. Whether that can be done over the course of the six or so games it would take to become national champions is another story.Please see my source:http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/page0475.htm

[Zipgrad1990]

Well unfortuntely they don't dance:http://www.ncaasports.com/soccer/mens/brac...t64_dyn/2006/DIHopefully the basketball team will though.

[a-zip]

Ouch!!Glad to see Gardner Webb get in at 9-7-3!! Oh yea, Bucknell at 8-7-6!!At least Louisville did'nt make it .........this year.

[UAZipster0305]

Gardner-Webb and Bucknell probably won there conference tournaments. I'm really surprised and disappointed that we didn't make it. There doesn't seem to be any respect within the selection committee for Akron's Men's Soccer program. Remember last year when we got screwed when it came to the seeding?You laugh about Louisville not making it, but give Lolla a few years to build the program and I'll guarantee they're a perenial qualifier for the NCAA Tournament as Akron was for the 4-5 years prior to this won.I hope this doesn't hurt recruiting and your prominence on the national stage.I'll still give Coach Porter another season before judging his ability to coach and recruit. The transition is never easy and this is yet another example.I'm cautiously optimistic that we'll be back strong next year! Go Zips!

[w00t]

It's a travesty that UA wasn't given an at-large bid. They didn't perform as well as last year's team, but I can't believe they aren't thought of as one of the top 48. This was Porter's first year and I am very optimistic about what next year holds for this team. McClain, Kozicki, and Ubiparpovic are the only significant contributors that will be lost (interestingly, all three of three were transfer students who only played two years at Akron). Hopefully the return of nine starters, a good recruiting class, and the return of Cory Sipos from injury will be enough to take the team to the next level.

[ZipAlumn]

It's a travesty that UA wasn't given an at-large bid.  They didn't perform as well as last year's team, but I can't believe they aren't thought of as one of the top 48.  This was Porter's first year and I am very optimistic about what next year holds for this team.  McClain, Kozicki, and Ubiparpovic are the only significant contributors that will be lost (interestingly, all three of three were transfer students who only played two years at Akron).  Hopefully the return of nine starters, a good recruiting class, and the return of Cory Sipos from injury will be enough to take the team to the next level.

I agree that it is a bummer that the Zips didn't get a bid. I don't understand why, but in all the years I've followed Zips soccer they have never been shown any respect. I agree that they should be one of the top 48 teams in the nation despite our RPI, but last year we had a much higher RPI and look at the tournament seeding we received. As for Coach Porter I will wait to see what happens next year and I will do the same before getting my hopes up for the 2007 team. Remember we will "only lose' three significant contributors, but this year we only lost two and look what happened.