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December 10, 2007
Glinton's school spirit plus an update from Awipi
We usually like to start these posts with a witty comment about, well, anything, but the only thing that comes to mind now is this: Is it Monday already?
Yes, it does seem to be Monday, but there's good news: the Salinas Californian has published another Quakes update from Embele Awipi. Awipi gives an update on season ticket sales and the rescheduled home opener, including quotes from David Alioto, and even passes along a suggestion for the Quakes' Thursday, April 3 trip to Home Depot to play the Galaxy:
After a hiatus of 888 days, a rematch against the last team the old Earthquakes faced is just as good as a season opener. I'm sure fans are planning a "blue flu" of sorts to be able to take a midweek road trip.
Sounds like a brilliant idea to us.
Speaking of the Galaxy, the thing we like best about them is how well their former players have performed once they've donned the blue and black of the mighty Quakes. Brian Ching, Brian Mullan, and Craig Waibel come to mind immediately, and we're sure we're forgetting some others. In any case, there's some news about forward Gavin Glinton, the latest LA to SJ convert, in the papers today as well.
The Peoria Journal Star offers up two stories on Bradley University's run to the NCAA quarterfinals and their match this past weekend in Columbus, where Bradley was shut out 4-0 by Ohio State. Glinton was one of 20 former Bradley players who attended the match.
Gavin Glinton is a former all-American forward for the Braves and current member of Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes. He was one of almost 100 Bradley supporters who gathered in the Jesse Owens Stadium parking lot two hours before Bradley faced Ohio State, which won 4-0.This was Glinton's first trip to see Bradley during its postseason run. From their California home, Glinton and his family used the Internet to follow the Braves' previous game, a 3-2 overtime victory over Maryland.
As soon as Chris Cutshaw netted the winning goal to send Bradley into the Elite Eight, Glinton said it was a no-brainer he was going to Columbus to see his alma mater in its first NCAA quarterfinal.
"It's a family,'' Glinton said. "This means a lot. I don't know if these guys really understand what this means to the guys who came before them. I hope they do."
Sounds like a guy Frank Yallop would want on his team, doesn't it? There's more. Columnist Kirk Wessler writes about the incredible support of Bradley's fans, particularly in the light of a tragic death of a team member earlier this year.
Marchegiano is a former Bradley soccer player - a member of DeRose's first recruiting class, in fact. When the clock began ticking off the final minutes, Marchegiano made sure those moments wouldn't be silent."Everywhere we go!" he sang, and the crowd joined him in that echo. And when Marchegiano's voice ran out, former Bradley all-American Gavin Glinton, now playing for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer, picked up the slack, and the sing-song cheer kept right on going.
When we see these stories from the Midwest, we have to be impressed with Glinton's character. And we hope everyone who scoffs at soccer's bright future in the U.S. takes note: It already plays in Peoria.
Posted by Jay at December 10, 2007 09:00 AM