Captain Kangaroo

Give @Hilltopper and @clarkwgriswold a 2 million dollar accordion and tell me how melodic the tunes are when they squeeze it. Getting 2 million dollars in NIL money can be easy. Finding players that are worth a damn is a different story. The Mets had a massive payroll and stink this year. The Browns threw a bajillon dollars at a QB who couldn’t possibly have had more red flags. The Zips have gone 0-11 when they were playing with the same budget as the other MAC programs. Today we’re actually better than some teams that are outspending us. Joe is looking at a very realistic 6-6 season, where he’s had an on/off trading table to feed his Division 1 athletes, he was not allowed to travel and recruit this spring, he lost his on-line recruiting subscriptions, has the smallest staff and budget in D-1, allowed 25% fewer practices than his competition…one could argue this season is as miraculous as any in Zips history. This staff is here because they believe in Akron. Brookhart’s kids were born here. Moorhead is from less than 2 hours away and really values being close to family over a fat contract. Ferri is a local guy who loves being back in NE Ohio. Tibesar is a wizard when in comes to scheming to outwit opposing offenses with a random assortment of mercenary talent. Hope the AD doesn’t blow this and tell Joe he needs to win 7 games or he’s out next year. Support this staff who’s worked miracles in 2025 and see how it plays out. If we lose to Kent this week I have no problems accepting ridicule. But we won’t. Football is interesting and fun again. Go Zips! 🦘💪🏽

Akron 27 Kent 15

Toccoa already off to a rough start this year at 0-7. Not looking good to break the streak tonight against 0-1 Charleston Southern. On the plus side, they only lost to the UMass football team 10-9.

Chapter 2 of the prophecy is fulfilled.

That stuff won’t happen under Tim Tyrrell’s watch.

Groce mentions Big Dog a lot as far as Akron greats go. If I had the Sophie’s Choice I’d pick Zeke over Big Dog.

The worst thing about BG’s collapse is - they’re going to beat us to Tim Tyrrell.

If there is a subpoena involved I think it’s safe to assume Justice was served.

I believe he played for Marshall and started a game off against the Zips going 11-11 from the three point line at the JAR?! My memory is fading, but still accurate on this one.

If he inherited the sack of crap team that he did, and beat BG last week, I'd sign him up too. That's Saint-level, verified miracle work there.

I don't know that I'd want this Zips team to go to a bowl game? We've improved from last year...we're better than the dregs of 1-A and even mediocre 1-AA teams...but if we were matched up against a decent G5 team I think we'd get smoked like Bowden's 6-6 team did against Lane Kiffin's FAU squad. Something like 50-3. A 5-7 or even 6-6 season would make me happy.

YSU was a basketball desert for a half century. I spoke to the late Dan Peters (former YSU HC and Zips assistant) and he said it was virtually impossible to win there. It was a football school in the hood, and any decent players went to MAC schools. Low and behold YSU has won some games lately? They've cleaned up their campus and actually recruited some talent. And, their arena is basically a "red JAR". It gives me hope that someone could one day turn the Zips football program around. Our FB is nowhere near the loser program that YSU basketball was for 50 years. They even lost a serviceable big (7' 3" center) to USC, and apparently haven't skipped a beat. Having mob money to pay NIL doesn't hurt, I'm sure. 🙃

If we beat UMass, and Kent continues to play well, I think the Wagon Wheel game at Infocision in 2 weeks will cause Joe's (Akron) left big toe to wiggle. Will there be a ticker tape parade down Exchange Street and tickets being scalped for $1,000 on Stub Hub? No. But there will be a palpable buzz and perhaps a "bigger than just friends and family" weekday crowd. Hopefully UA gives away a bunch of tickets. If the Zips blow a home game November 4th against this shitty UMass team, I'll personally go to Sully's Tool Rental, drive a rented bulldozer up Exchange, flatten Infocision and commence construction of a 40 foot tall bronze tribute to Charles Guthrie.

Game story and extended highlights

Oh no...a prop bet on college sports. Guys in FBI windbreakers are racing towards Clarke's house as we speak!

At home, versus a hapless Minutemen team. coming off a MAC road win at Buffalo, this is a "must win" game for the Zips. Should they win, the Zips are poised to force the locals to pay at least a little attention to the program as the Kent game approaches. They absolutely cannot take a step backwards with a home loss next Tuesday. A win would go a long way in securing Joe Moorhead's return in 2026. That is...should he want to return. But that's a story for the offseason. The Zips have done a good job of handling their business against lesser teams. Relatively healthy, at home, and coming off a road win, I see a 41-17 Zips beatdown of UMass next Tuesday, setting the table for a fun, intriguing Akron/Kent match up the following week. I think I saw Joe Akron's left big toe move a little? Could he be emerging from his coma?

Chapter 1 of the prophecy is fulfilled. if the Zips go 4-0 to close out 2025 and ruin it, I’ll be pissed. 😀

And it was…

Our offense couldn’t be more inept if it tried. Holy helll…

If I had a freight train of 6 defensive linemen sprinting unabated at me, I’d look like a deer in headlights too.

Had a Great Lakes Oktoberfest in the hot tub, then moved on to a French Rose’ to go with dinner. 🤘 I huffed some airplane glue after lunch, but I can’t believe that caused any issues?

Akron 31 Buffalo 24 I will go out on the mother of all limbs and predict the Zips go 3-1 to finish the season.

YSU-Akron Scrimmage

CMU is pounding BG 27-6, and Kent is up on Toledo 10-7 in the 2nd quarter.

Can the Zips give me a reason to give my wife a freaking high five at some point during the game. That's all I ask. Zips games have been like a Nick Saban VRBO commercial for years... I can envision President Nemer looking at the Zips player: "As your President I have some rules. No post game showers longer than 2 minutes, we have a budget...the locker room isn't a spa." "The digits underneath "Akron" on the scoreboard...don't use them. We cut the scoreboard operator from the budget and can't change them from 0" "To the fans...no high fives, no fun...the kids aren't allowed on the endzone grass." "There's a great loge and food spread upstairs...don't touch that." "To anyone that wants Zips gear - the team shop opens at 3pm." Fans: "But it's 2:45 and I want to buy some hoodies". Nemer: "I know."