GoZips Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 While I enjoy soccer and have a rudimentary understanding of the game I still get puzzled about the intricacies.I think that others are like me. Not fully understanding the game. But, as a Zips fan our interest grows because the Zips are a high visibility winning program.The attendance appears to be growing year by year. Some home games, especially Ohio State and Indiana pack the house. In general, marquee names draw.The Zips seem to play a fair number of quality out of conference opponents.I speculate that while soccer probably does not generate sufficient money to "run in the black", men's soccer must be fairly close to covering. A new stadium andcontinued success on the pitch should lead to financial success. Thus, economically speaking, a new or improved stadium is a cost/benefit plus and should be built.Obviously the Mid-American conference is teetering on losing more schools willing to invest in men's soccer. Thank Title IX for this mess. Also, the long term continualsuccess of Akron dominating the conference is influencing other schools. Akron looks to them as a mountain they can not afford to compete with. Thus, the MACas a soccer conference with an automatic bid is likely to soon be a thing of the past.Currently only five MAC schools participate in men's soccer. The conference's automatic bid is hanging by a thread. Hartwick joined as men's soccer only participanttwo years ago. How long they will stay is a matter of some speculation. An opening in an eastern region conference may find Hartwick a past member of the MAC.The University of Kentucky joined the MAC in men's soccer only a few years back. Kentucky reasoned that the MAC provided an easy way to get an NCAA bid yearafter year. But, Kentucky ran into the Akron mountain. Success eluded Kentucky. So, Kentucky opted to move to C-USA where the opportunities to get an NCAAbid are vastly easier than what they found in the MAC.How long will the MAC have enough teams to retain their automatic bid? Time will tell. The Zips need to be looking to a new conference for men's soccer only. With the recent demise of men's soccer at Western Kentucky an opening now exists in theMissouri Valley Conference. Akron's options are not limited to just the MVC. The Big Ten is powerful soccer conference. Akron frequently plays four to six Big Tenteams annually. Akron offers a powerhouse team that would improve the Big Ten's chances of getting multiple bids, ala the Big East. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valpo Zip Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Honestly i don't care what conference we play in. We have a great schedule anyways and playing the 4 or 5 other mac teams is not hurting us.Also, i will not loose my night sleep if the MAC loses the automatic bid. With the current teams coach Porter is puting on the field, we will get an at large anyways.I was never more excited about college soccer as i have been now. A new stadium is a must. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 I kind of agree that it's not a big deal whether the MAC maintains an automatic bid as long as the program stays at the level that it's at. Things can change pretty quickly, though, so it is in UA's interest to consider other possibilities. The Big 10 would be nice, but I don't see that happening. The MVC is an interesting possibility. Why not possibly join Kentucky (and South Carolina) in C-USA? Right now C-USA has 9 soccer members. Other possibilities include the Horizon (9 current teams) and Summit (6 current teams). One other idea that just struck me is trying to put together a new midwest soccer league, taking the best from the MAC (Akron, NIU, Buffalo), a few from the Horizon (Loyola, UIC, UW-Milwaukee, Cleveland St., Detroit) and perhaps Oakland from the summit?As an aside, I knew the SEC didn't have Men's soccer as a conference sport, but I didn't realize until researching it that these are the ONLY two SEC schools that sponsor Men's soccer.....bizarre! I realize that the SEC has long been "college football country", but with the growth of soccer AND the population growth in that region, how are schools like Tennessee, Georgia and Florida NOT sponsoring Men's programs? How long can the SEC watch as the nearby ACC continues to basically dominate college soccer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally B Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Honestly i don't care what conference we play in. We have a great schedule anyways and playing the 4 or 5 other mac teams is not hurting us.Also, i will not loose my night sleep if the MAC loses the automatic bid. With the current teams coach Porter is puting on the field, we will get an at large anyways.I was never more excited about college soccer as i have been now. A new stadium is a must.Found this schematic drawing for the new stadium on the web, looks similar to but smaller than the one at UNCGreensboro, sorry if it's been posted before.UA - http://www.osborn-eng.com/sports_akron.html UNCG :blink: - http://www.uncgspartans.com/ViewArticle.db...amp;SPSID=34694I really enjoy watching two top tier collegiate teams battle it out locally in a great atmosphere on a regular basis, especially sinve one is my Alma Matter! GO ZIPS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbyake Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 it would be nice if they could add more seats to the soccer field. You have to go early to get a good seat or else you'll find yourself standing for most of the games.Btw, can our girls soccer team start doing this? Euro 08 Austria vs Germany girls.If they did, they would have to build a soccer stadium that seats around 40k.Maybe the WNBA should be taking notes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-mann17 Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 Btw, can our girls soccer team start doing this? Euro 08 Austria vs Germany girls.If they did, they would have to build a soccer stadium that seats around 40k.Maybe the WNBA should be taking notes.I cringe at the thought of anyone of the WNBA players doing this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w00t Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 I cringe at the thought of the WNBA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 it would be nice if they could add more seats to the soccer field. You have to go early to get a good seat or else you'll find yourself standing for most of the games.Btw, can our girls soccer team start doing this? Euro 08 Austria vs Germany girls.If they did, they would have to build a soccer stadium that seats around 40k.Maybe the WNBA should be taking notes.German porn star girls conjures up images ofNo thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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