By Harold
I need everyone to root hard against UNC Friday — and it’s not because I went to Duke. The Tar Heels are playing the Akron Zips in the NCAA men’s soccer semifinals in nearby Cary, and I’ll be covering the game for the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. Basically, if Akron loses, I only get paid for that one game. If Akron wins, I get three days worth of stories (previewing the final on Saturday and covering the finals on Sunday).
Considering my parents met there and I grew up rooting for them, I never hated the Tar Heels like most of my classmates at Duke. But now that hundreds of dollars are at stake, I say Go To Hell Carolina Go To Hell.
If you need any additional motivation, you will be rooting for history — Akron (23-0) will set the record for longest win streak in a season if it beats UNC. Plus come on, they’re called the Zips, their mascot is a kangaroo and their fight song contains the lyrics:
Zzzip! Zip go the Zi–ips!
Zzzip! Zip go the Zi–ips!
To bring this full circle, this will be Akron’s second-ever trip to the College Cup (the Final Four of soccer). In 1986, it lost in the final to Duke.
You can watch the game live on ESPNU at 7:30. Zzzip!
Laura
Harold
