Is Akron re-shaping the college game?

Glenn Davis seems to think so. Read the link to his blog from the MLS Combine, as well as an excerpt of it below.

Some might believe that the University of Akron could be re-shaping how we see the game of college soccer. Others may not be so quick to support this theory but one thing is for sure, Zips coach Caleb Porter is definetly clear on the philosophical way his team will play the game and is stirring the pot directly and indirectly with his peers. All for me is healthy.

Check out the interview that I did on Sports Talk 790 with Porter, go to http://www.sports790.com, click podcasts, click Glenn Davis.

It is clear that certain coaches both at the college and youth level take the easy way out by playing direct soccer and just recruiting athletes. It is less risk, less work. That is fact!

It is refreshing to see teams like Akron, Wake Forest etc. playing soccer at the college level that is about more than just pressure on the ball and direct play. That clearly comes from coaches that are visionary and set their standards beyond wins and losses. A purpose of play that values the ball and build-up only can help to produce more rounded individual soccer players that will be capable of more at the professional level, how many ill equipped athletes have we seen fail in MLS?

We need more Donovan’s, Ramos, Reyna, Holden and Dempsey’s.

I don’t know how you can argue against this point especially when most are clamoring for more technical invidual players at higher levels that many seem to say we are lacking in the United States.