I was one of the forty or so brave and loyal souls (read: obsessive nutters) who made the almost 500 mile trek from Philadelphia to Greensboro, North Carolina for the Philadelphia Union's first game in front of fans, against the UNC Tar Heels, who made last year's NCAA final four. Here are some of my impressions, observations, and predictions about the trip and the Union:

• People below the Mason/Dixon Line can't handle their snow, but the firearm maintenance tips and romantic comedy reviews on the local news more than made up for it.
  
• Carolina Dynamo must have the nicest stadium in PDL.
  
• The Union started slow, but after ten minutes, it was pretty apparent which team was getting paid and had been in intensive training camp for two weeks, and which team had been studying for mid-terms on a diet of pizza and Natty Light.
  
• Piotr Nowak is laying down the law, and imprinting his ethos on the team. Rumors reached us of hard practices and strict curfews, and the Union players were not given real Union jerseys, shirt numbers, or their names on their backs, instead playing in blank practice gear. The goalkeepers wore orange mesh tops over their training tops. It seems like every player is having to earn his place.
• Sebastian Le Toux is one man who shouldn't have to worry about his spot. Already known for his work-rate, his first half hat-trick will have done no harm to his bid for a starting spot. (See his penalty goal here)
  
• Speaking of starting spots, neither Brad Knighton nor Chris Seitz did anything to make Piotr Nowak's job easier. Not that either keeper was really troubled, but both were tidy and composed when called upon. Hope Brian Perk likes his clipboard.
• I will be very surprised if Danny Califf isn't wearing an armband in Seattle. He lined up as captain, and was impressive throughout, reading play and shutting down attacks before they got going.
  
• Toni Stahl was the most impressive of the Draft picks, playing in defense and being about as penetrable as the Korean DMZ. Easily the most MLS-ready rookie.
  
• Amobi Okugo showed plenty of energy and willingness to go after the ball, but he needs to work on his decision making and first touch. Too many times, he gave away the ball in situations which better (professional) teams might have turned into scoring chances. But his attitude and work-rate must be praised.
  
• Danny Mwanga's left foot could have had cobwebs, it was used so sparingly. Despite his lethargy, he nearly redeemed himself with a shot from outside the box which only just went over the bar. He's got plenty of talent, and if Nowak can get more out of him, he could have a real impact from the bench this season and in as a starter the future.
  
• Jack McInerny is a player. Full of energy, constantly on the attack and willing to run with the ball, the Union's youngest player bagged the most spectacular goal of the match, catching the keeper off his line from midfield. But even without the goal, Jackie Mac was impressive, and with time and experience, he could become a force to be reckoned with. (McInerny almost scores on a breakaway here)
  
• The last time I saw Fred live, he was playing in the Open Cup with the DC reserves, getting schooled by a USL-2 defender. That was not the case Saturday. He played with confidence, and generally asserted himself well, picking up an assist on one of Le Toux's goals.
• We should see plenty of Shea Salinas next season. Defenders will see plenty of his heels.
  
• There were plenty of trialists on the Union bench, and considering that their names weren't announced or printed on their shirts, it was difficult to tell who was who, but I can confirm that former Drexel player Dan Zajac and recent Temple grad J.T. Noone, both from Pennsylvania, were there.
• Piotr Nowak is known for grit, determination, and hard work, and all those qualities were present, but there was plenty of possession football and individual flair on display. The purists can breathe easy now.

And finally...

Chant of the night: UNC's a safety school/You couldn't get into Duke.