Captain Kangaroo

I know nothing about Lolla's departure. However, I have to think he screwed up by leaving.Yes, he's a great coach and he'll likey be a winner wherever he goes....but he had it all going for him at Akron.It seems like he made a rash decision based upon his anger over the tourney seeding snub. But I swear that would likely have been a one-time "screwing." I guarantee next season, if the Zips were again highly competitive, he would have received his better seed. Furthermore, he now aided the very cause he despised. He had the ability at Akron to change "the system." Akron could have been the little guy to crash the big guy's party. There's no way the NCAA denies the Zips again. Instead of staying and fighting, he left to join the big guys. Too bad, because before he threw in the towel, he was ahead on the scorecards. He needed only to win one more metaphorical "round."The next coach that takes over gets the best soccer job in the country. He's inheriting a Top-5 program. He'll get a great salary (if we matched Louisville's offer, we can obviously offer identical coaching money as any of the "big boys.") The students love the sport. Community interest couldn't be higher.The only thing missing is the fact we're stuck in the MAC. MAC soccer blows goats. It is like Duke basketball playing in the MEAC. However, Akron only plays 5 MAC games per year + the MAC tourney. We have such program respect that we can get Big 10 and ACC teams to come to our own field! While our situation in the MAC is not ideal, I think the next coach should still be expected to field a top-15 team on a yearly basis. And we should still be able to schedule great non-conference matches. And, we should still expect and annual NCAA bid.I hope we beat Louisville every time we meet. The sooner the better. Lolla - dare you schedule the Zips?

BTW: If you can suffer through a women's hoops game on the radio, you're a better man than me.

I don't think "people" are down on Frye. I think one person is...and that person likes to type alot...so it looks like many are.

If Bubba thinks he'll get more minutes at a school of Akron's "level" (mid-high D1) he is getting bad advice. Yes, he was a dead-eye shot that could bury a team in a minute with his 3's...but the way the Zips will win a championship is by playing tough D and rebounding. Bubba's strengths don't apply here. He's a good role player...a weapon...but it definitely appears that we have enough guys on this year's Zips squad that can both drain 3's AND play D - He will hardly be missed. In fact, with increased minutes Rybek and Linhart's development will probably accelerate and Middleton will be less erratic. We may end up a better, more rounded team.I wish him well, but it is no big loss for this team.

If we have poor attendance next season it would be because:1.) The team stinks (which I highly doubt will happen)2.) We play on horrid weather (in NE Ohio, certainly possible)3.) We have unattractive games scheduled on unattractive nights (ie. Buffalo on a Tuesday night in November)Bad attendance will have nothing to do with the crappy Rubber Bowl.If the MAC office is smart...debatable since these are the same guys that invited Temple into the MAC...but if they are smart, they will schedule our key games next season in November. Assuming the Zips are again in the hunt come November, Miami and BG will pack the Rubber Bowl regardless of the weather or date.Zips attendance will be strong in the early season and the opener will sell out. It would also be nice to play a crossover game vs. Toledo in 2006. We haven't played them in about 8 years.

The "old Akron"...the one everyone lumped in with Can't...is dead. Deal with it. Fear the Roo.

FYI: It is a done deal that the new stadium will have dorms incorporated.

* The game environment was awesome. It vindicated everything us die-hard supporters had screamed for years: Build it and they will come! * For years the University was content with sticking a coupon on the side of an Acme grocery bag calling their Marketing job "done" for the season. For years the University neglected to pursue corporate sponsors to help fund a Championship Division 1 athletic's program. For years everyone claimed the University of Akron was simply a commuter school and it was impossible to generate student support. For years "people-in-the-know" said the fans of the program should be satisfied with .500 records...that that was really the best that should be expected of the Zips. The culmination of 5 years of tireless work was seen on Monday December 26th when the MAC Football Champion Zips and their 15,000 fans showed the nation what the potential of Zips football truely is. There no longer is any doubt, and things are only going to get better. * We have a championship, a top-flight staff, the best training facilities in the MAC, the best Marketing group...the only thing we are lacking is winning tradition. I think over the next few years that tradition will be solidified. Can you imagine the crowd at the Rubber Bowl home opener next year? A sell out is guaranteed. Bank on it. Get your season tix now. * After the game there was an awesome party thrown at the Hyatt for the players, fans, staff and families. It was great to have the opportunity to thank everyone for their hard work and show some appreciation for a jobe exceptionally well done. * Memphis fans were great. It would be fun to play them on a home-and-home series. A special thanks to the Tiger fans that stopped by the board to educate us on their team and program! * How did the Zips get so lucky as to face two of the top 3 college running backs in successive games? DeAngelo is a hell of a back. It was tough to appreciate him because he was killing us, however. He'll be fun to watch on Sundays. * It sucked to have the game end on the fumble controversy, if for no other reason than the Zips fans were pissed. When it came to announcing Memphis as the champs the Zips fans roundly "booooo'd." That was a shame. Had that fumble controversy not happened, I KNOW the Zips fans would have appropriately given the Tigers a round of applause. * How nice must it have been for the seniors...who had played in front of 100's at the Rubber Bowl many times during their career...to see 10,000 Zips fans directly behind them in Detroit? They should take a lot of pride in building such a following. * People thought the departure of Marshall would hurt the MAC. My Physics classes told me that "nature abhorrs a vaccuum." The Zips seemlessly filled the competitive slot vacated by the Herd. It remains to be seen now if the Zips faithful will start travelling to away games in the 1,000's. * Rumor has it there will again be a November filled with oddball night games in 2006 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, etc.). * Jabari really busted out in Detroit. He is for real. Look for a HUGE 2006 season from him. * Biggs was awesome in 2005, and the offensive line was much better than expeted. However, we need more speed at the running back position in 2006 and bigger holes for that back to exploit. I hope some of the redshirt OL's push the incumbent OL's for their jobs in 2006 because we really struggled to get one or two yards when we needed it. Memphis didn't struggle when faced with the same situation. I hope Tuzze can also clear some holes for our 2006 RB. We sorely lacked a physical FB in 2006. * How do you bench a QB that threw for 400+ in the biggest two games of Akron's Division 1 history? You can't. However, the caliber of our back ups next season will be much higher than 2005. I am very interested to see what Jackson and Jacqmaine have to offer in the spring game. Hakes is also enrolled for the spring. * We waited too long to throw down the field...especially down the middle. Too many short, sideways passes. We waited too long to get Kasparek into the flow too. * Build a 30,000 seat stadium that's expandable in the future. Anything less is admitting you aren't committed to Division 1 football. * Mike Thomas wanted grass seating in the endzone of the new stadium (like UVA's). Now that Thomas is gone, I wonder if that affects the design? * Hey, the Zips basketball team is pretty good. People will start to notice pretty soon. * Mack Rhoades made a short speech at the post game banquet. I wish it were more impressive, but I will cut the guy some slack. It has been a whirlwind for him as of late. The people "in-the-know" that I spoke with at the banquet had nothing but good things to say about Mack. * Fear the Roo fever is insane. Everyone loves it! * At game's end our defense was gassed. The fact that we were so pass-happy really put a strain on them. Too many short (minute-wise) offensive possessions. To be fair...we couldn't run the ball very effectively so we pretty much had to pass. * We rarely substituted on defense. We didn't all season. Next year we'll have the depth to do so. That depth will make a dramatic difference in our 2006 defensive productivity. * Memphis' best play, aside from handing the ball to DeAngelo, was winging a jump ball 50 yards down the field. Theire WR's made some great plays to pull them in. * Take a look at Memphis' stadium on their web site and tell me how, with our Rubber Bowl as a home field, our team played Memphis within 7 points. There's no logical reason. Only heart and good coaching. Now, tell me what we'll be capable of doing once our stadium gets built. The sky's the limit. * We officially now have bandwagon fans. I was told by a guy behind me wearing an OSU ball cap to stay seated in the 4th quarter because he couldn't see. F Him in the skull. But that's what we now will have...dingy broads yapping on their cell phones, showing up to Zips games only because it is "THE place to be seen" not to watch a game. Oh well...the price you pay for success. Thanks again to all for a great season. As several players told me at the hotel after the game, "It is only going to get better!"

Butler divided by Motor City Bowl By Mike Prisuta TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, December 26, 2005 Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler's mind will be on the Detroit Lions today, but his heart will be in Detroit. That's where Memphis and Akron are scheduled to square off at 4 p.m. in the Motor City Bowl. Butler's son Blake will start at right guard for Memphis. Another one of Butler's sons, Brandon, can be found on Akron's roster as a reserve at linebacker and defensive end. "It's gonna settle a lot of arguments in my household, because there's been some the last two years," Keith Butler said. "Who had the better conference, Conference USA or the MAC (Mid-American)? Who was a better team, Akron or Memphis? "They've argued that for two years now. We'll get some arguments settled, for sure." Blake Butler, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound junior, has also started at center this season for Memphis, which happens to be Keith Butler's alma mater and one of the elder Butler's four stops on a 16-year coaching career that began following 10 NFL seasons as a linebacker with the Seattle Seahawks. Brandon Butler, a 6-foot-2, 242-pound redshirt sophomore, has resumed practicing after a bout with mono but isn't expected to see any game action. "I tried to get him to walk on at Memphis and he would not do it; he wanted to go his own way," Keith Butler said. "I kind of admire him for that. "I think he would die to get in this game if he could." It's just as well that he won't, his father suspected. "If they played in a game against each other, I would guess they would probably both get thrown out for fighting," he said. He meant for fighting each other. "They almost get in a fight when they come home," Keith Butler said. "And it's hard for me to break them up now." Both Blake and Brandon aspire to follow in their father's footsteps into the NFL, but they have been cautioned against the dangers of taking such a transition for granted. "The thing I've told them is, you can chase your dream, and there's nothing wrong with having that dream," Keith Butler said. "But, at the same time, you have to be realistic, because that dream could be gone in one play. My thing with both of them is, make sure they get their education and have something to fall back on, other than being a dumb, old coach like their dad." Those coaching responsibilities preparing for the Steelers' regular-season finale on Sunday against the Lions will prevent Keith Butler from making it to Ford Field this afternoon. "We'll be game-planning and all that stuff," he said. "My wife (Janet) will go up. It's good for her because she only has to go to one place. I don't know who she's going to pull for. I told her, 'Remember, you went to school at Memphis.' I'm kind of down the middle a little bit, but my heart goes to Memphis. It's tough for me to say which team I'm for; I'm for my sons. "I'll definitely get the film. I like the film better because I can run it back and see who's making mistakes. I look at it from a coach's view, probably too much. My wife tells me, 'Hey, you're their dad, not their coach.' I kind of have to guard against being too critical of them."

I have a couple billboard pic files. I'll get them posted as soon as I can.

Someone told me there is a "Detroit Roo City" and "Fear the Roo" billboard outside of Ford Field! How cool is that??!!

July 2004 - Click Little did anyone know it would become "The Phenomena that Swept the Nation" in 2005!

Former Tygers help drive Zips to Motor City By Larry Phillips News Journal MANSFIELD -- As high school juniors, Brian White and Mike Donaldson were key contributors to the first Mansfield Senior football team to win a playoff game. As seniors, they spearheaded an Ohio Heartland Conference championship team that became the first in school history to reach the playoffs in back-to-back years. It only stands to reason they would make history in college, too. Donaldson, a redshirt junior, and White, a senior, are both starters for the first University of Akron football team to win a Mid-American Conference championship and qualify for a bowl game. On Dec. 1 in Detroit, the Zips beat Northern Illinois 31-30 with a thrilling, last-minute TD drive on national television. "When we got fitted for our (championship) rings, I think that's when winning that game sank in," said Donaldson, who was part of a stalwart offensive line that allowed just 18 sacks this year. Both former Tygers overcame a series of injuries to play crucial roles during the championship season. It was well worth it when the Zips earned the automatic bid into Monday's nationally-televised Motor City Bowl against Memphis. "(The MAC championship game) embodied our season, it was up and down. It was just a heckuva game, especially the finish," said White, who plays a number of spots along the defensive line. "We've taken time to celebrate it. Now we're not just going to a bowl game, we're going there to win it." Donaldson is a 6-foot-5, 280-pound left guard who has lost 50 pounds over the last two years. He's also overcome a number of foot injuries, including a broken bone, that have kept him out of the lineup for huge chunks of the past two seasons. "I never thought about (quitting)," Donaldson said. "Injuries are just part of the game." The burly lineman has another year left and hopes to improve more next season. For White, Monday will be his last collegiate game. A linebacker in high school, plans called for him to redshirt his first year, too. But when injuries decimated the Zips defensive line in 2002, then-coach Lee Owens moved White onto a special teams unit and played him as a backup on the defensive line. He started six games as a sophomore before being sidelined by a sprained ankle. It took him four games to impress a new coaching staff as a junior, but he started the final seven games last year. This season, although a bit undersized at 6-2, 265, he's been playing at tackle and end, earned the Captain's Award as chosen by the coaches, was in on 56 tackles, and was a leader for a 7-5 squad that was 6-3 in the MAC. "We got close last year, and then lost some big players like Charlie (Frye)," said White, an All-MAC Academic pick. "This is really a statement game for us and for the MAC. "We want to represent ourselves and our conference and come back with a win." Donaldson agreed, adding the Zips began two-a-day practices this week in preparation for the bowl game. "People always remember your last game," Donaldson said. "We've been riding the wave a little bit. Now we have to get back to business."

Terry Pluto is a complete low aiming a-hole. If you aim low, you hit low. Just ask ZipsRifle about that kind of stuff because he knows the bullet typically goes where you aim. Like everyone else in the media, he is to arrogant to admit mistakes. I have no idea how a man of such limited intellect, foresight and knowledge is so respected among his peers. I guess we should all expect that from a graduate of Can't State though. and so does Terry Pluto. Speaking of Pluto and low-aiming...he's the same guy that wrote "I feel Akron's new stadium should seat 20,000." That was only two months ago.

MAC Attack By John Grupp TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, December 18, 2005 At this time last year, Bruce Gradkowski was coping with a broken hand. Luke Getsy wasn't broke, but he was sidelined, frustrated, and there were bills to pay. "It was a trying time," Getsy said, "but I had to be patient with it." Gradkowski and Getsy have overcome different hurdles on their way to becoming record-breaking quarterbacks for two Mid-American Conference schools. The two Western Pennsylvania-born players -- who combined to throw for more than 5,000 yards along with 43 touchdowns this season -- will lead their teams into bowl games in a six-day span beginning later this week. Gradkowski, a senior from Seton-La Salle High School, will direct Akron (8-3) against Texas-El Paso (8-3) in the GMAC Bowl at 8 p.m., Wednesday in Mobile, Ala. Getsy, a junior from Steel Valley, will guide Akron (7-5) into its first-ever Division I bowl game when it meets Memphis (6-5) in the Motor City Bowl at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26 at Ford Field in Detroit. Both games will be televised on ESPN. Getsy, who paid tuition at Akron last year after transferring from Pitt, and Gradkowski, who had a steel plate inserted in his hand following post-season surgery, are among five Western Pennsylvania products who were quarterbacks this season at Division I programs: Panther junior Tyler Palko threw for nearly 2,400 yards along with 17 touchdowns in Pitt's first losing season since 1999. Junior Matt Bonislawski threw for 836 yards and six touchdowns in an injury-shortened season at Connecticut (5-6). Sophomore Anthony Morelli played in three games while backing up Michael Robinson for Orange Bowl-bound and No. 3-ranked Penn State. The GMAC Bowl will conclude a golden collegiate career for Gradkowski, who rewrote 19 school records since arriving as an undersized freshman at the only Division I school to offer him a scholarship. Driven by the perception he couldn't play D-I football, Gradkowski matured into a 6-foot-2, 220-pounder, adding 45 pounds. He threw for 2,171 yards and 24 touchdowns this season to earn first-team all-conference honors. He also shared the 2005 Vern Smith Award to become the first Toledo player in 10 years to be named the MAC's MVP. Next month, Gradkowski will play in two college all-star games, the Las Vegas All-American Classic on Jan. 14 and the Hula Bowl on Jan. 21 at Aloha Stadium. "When I came here, I wanted to be the best quarterback to ever play at Toledo," he said. "I feel things have gone very well. I'm happy and satisfied with my career. I'd like to end it on one last note, winning on a bowl game." Cool Hand Luke Akron had never earned a Division I bowl bid -- or even won a football conference title -- before Getsy sealed them both with one stunning, last-minute comeback in the MAC championship game Dec. 1 at Ford Field in Detroit. Playing in front of a nationally-televised audience, Getsy directed what is being tagged the greatest comeback in the history of Akron football. The unflappable first-year starter drove the Zips 81 yards in 1:41 without a timeout, and beat Northern Illinois, 31-30, on a 36-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds to play. "He's got a lot more friends than he had before," Akron offensive coordinator Jim Pry said. "He's pretty special." Getsy finished 30 of 50 for a career-high 413 yards, as the Zips clinched their first football conference title since joining the Ohio Athletic Conference in 1915. The Zips will play in their fourth post-season game in 105 years of football (one being the 1968 Grantland Rice Bowl against Terry Bradshaw-led Louisiana Tech). "It was kind of like a dream," Getsy said. "I dreamt so much and prepared so much, it's like it was supposed to happen. It was great moment for everyone." The automatic bid to the Motor City Bowl was a sweet redemption for Akron. Last season, the Zips (6-5) were the only bowl eligible team to be denied a bid. "There were 50 spots," Getsy said. "We were 51st. ... This year that was the goal I wanted to achieve coming in; I wanted to get this team to a bowl game. Everyone is real proud of us." Getsy, who has passed for 3,000 yards -- the second-highest in school history -- and 19 touchdowns this season, deserved some good news. He missed last year, paying roughly $8,000 per semester for out-of-state tuition. The third-leading passer in WPIAL history lost his scholarship after leaving Pitt following his failed 2004 training camp battle with Palko. "It was crazy," Pry said. "He jumped ship and (Pitt coach) Walt (Harris) wouldn't release him, and everything was history." Getsy practiced with the team, but he couldn't dress for games or travel to away games. He gleaned knowledge from former Pitt assistant and current Akron head coach J.D. Brookhart and the best quarterback in Akron history, current Cleveland Browns rookie Charlie Frye. "I appreciate everything I've gone through," Getsy said. "I wouldn't be where I am if I didn't take the road that I did." Getsy wasted no time at Akron. He won the starting job during training camp, and threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns in his first start, a 49-24 loss to Purdue. He also passed for 406 yards and a school-record five touchdowns in an early-season 48-42 overtime win against Northern Illinois. After a mid-season slump, he recovered to reach 3,000 passing yards in 12 games, faster than any quarterback in Akron history. "He's had some up and downs throughout the season," Pry said. "Somewhere in the middle, he took a dip. His confidence got hurt. It took him a couple weeks to get back. But the last four games, he has taken charge. ... He's not blessed with a great amount of talent, but he makes up for it in other ways. He's an unbelievable student of the game." Getsy is a regular breaking down film in the coach's office. He and Frye became good friends last year, before Frye, who holds 54 school records, went to the Browns in the third round. Getsy this season maintained the tradition of late-night film study. "We talked about making him a key," Pry said. Bruce Almighty Proving himself over and over again is part of Gradkowski's code. His hometown school never offered him a scholarship. Pitt had no interest in the 6-foot-2, 175-pounder who was suspected to be more a product of Seton-La Salle's pass-happy offense than the owner of any special Division I skills. So, in his fourth collegiate start, Gradkowski led Toledo to a 35-31 victory over No. 9-ranked Pitt in 2003. He completed 49 passes, breaking Ben Roethlisberger's MAC record, and set school records for attempts (62) and passing yardage (461). "Once guys start doubting me," Gradkowski said, "that drives me more." He became the only quarterback in NCAA history to complete better than 70 percent of his passes in back-to-back seasons. On Wednesday, Gradkowski wants to peel away the memories of last year's bowl-game disappointment. He watched the second half of a 39-10 loss to Connecticut in the Motor City Bowl with a broken right hand. "It was frustrating," Gradkowski said. "I wasn't anywhere near 100 percent. Now, I have an opportunity to be healthy to practice and prepare." Gradkowski underwent off-season surgery in which a three-inch plate was inserted in his throwing hand. He said the six screws and steel plate have not affected his passing. "It's my bionic hand," he said. "I get a little more zip on the ball." Under Gradkowski, Toledo ranks 14th in scoring offense and 17th in total offense in the nation. He led Toledo to a 44-41 double-overtime victory at Bowling Green on Nov. 22, completing 23 of 36 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns. Gradkowski is projected as the No. 4 quarterback in the 2006 draft and a probable third or fourth-round pick, according to NFL Draft Scout. "I think I have the college experience and credentials to get me looked at," he said. "It's what I do in the all-star games and combine and pro day workouts. I'm very confident as long as I get my opportunity, I'll be somewhere."

Toledo Rockets at UTEP Miners TOL (9-3) 7 21 3 14 45 FINAL UTEP (8-4) 3 10 0 0 13

I like that thought. I hope it pans out for the long term.

When I get some time I'll weigh in on this one. Things are too busy right now. Sufficive to say I feel for Mike because he's been a phenomenal, tireless supporter of everything that people frequenting this boad care about. I wish I could take people back in time 6 years to see our team shop, web site, team apparel, game environments, student support etc. to realize the quamtum leaps we've taken under Mike's leadership. That said, Mack has the job. Proenza doesn't hire losers, so I am confident we are in good hands. I wish Mack the best and look forward to meeting him. More later.

The Beacon is making money, huh? Oh, then I stand corrected. Obviously then, they made the right decision to ignore Zips athletics over the past decade. Somewhere I thought I read that the Beacon was struggling just to make ends meet for...coincidentally...the past decade. I also thought I heard they lost a ton of subscribers. I must have been misinformed. The Beacon obviously identified a great recipe for success.

Giants Rookie LB Handling the Pressure By DAVID PORTER Associated Press Writer Posted December 20 2005, 5:28 PM EST EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- With a division title one tantalizing victory away, Chase Blackburn is the man in the middle for the New York Giants. Injuries to Antonio Pierce and Carlos Emmons thrust the undrafted rookie from Akron into the starting lineup last weekend against Kansas City. Filling in for Pierce at middle linebacker in his first career start, Blackburn finished with nine tackles in the 27-17 victory. The trial by fire continues Saturday at Washington for a player who came to training camp 4 1/2 months ago with no guarantees. A victory will clinch the Giants' first NFC East title since 2000 although they can do that with a win at Oakland in the finale even if they lose to the Skins. "I've given myself a little confidence boost knowing that now I am able to perform in the NFL," Blackburn said Tuesday. "Now I just need to continue to do so." At least this week Blackburn has some advance notice about his assignment. That wasn't the case last Saturday when he didn't find out he was starting until an hour before the game. That's when Emmons told coaches he had aggravated his strained pectoral muscle, so Nick Greisen, who had been moved from the outside to the middle, had to go back outside.. That development necessitated some last-minute cramming in the film room next to the Giants locker room with linebackers coach Bill Sheridan. Then it was out the tunnel and onto the field in front of 78,000 fans and across the line of scrimmage from one of the NFL's better offenses. Blackburn acknowledged to being a bit lost at first, but gradually found his footing and was in on six tackles on the Chiefs' second-quarter drive that stalled at the Giants' 1-yard line. He and Greisen combined to stop Larry Johnson on third down, forcing Kansas City to settle for a field goal in one of the game's crucial sequences. "I watched the film a couple of times and it was an average performance," Blackburn said. "I thought I was a little tentative at first. I think I was more nervous about being in the right spot instead of making something happen. There were a lot of things I could have done better: filling my gaps properly, taking a little more physical approach to the game." Blackburn's play caught the eye of coach Tom Coughlin in the first preseason game against Cleveland, a team featuring Blackburn's college teammate and friend Charlie Frye, currently the Browns' starting quarterback. After making the final cut, Blackburn began to make a name for himself on special teams and through 15 weeks was second on the team in special-teams tackles with 15, one behind James Butler, another free-agent rookie. His big moment before last Saturday came when he recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff against New Orleans on Sept. 19, a play that jump-started the Giants' 27-10 win. "I've definitely come a long way," he said. "I've worked hard over this past year to get myself ready to play at this level. It's a joy to be where I'm at and it's exciting to have the opportunity to play." Coughlin said Pierce, whose sprained ankle is still in a cast, would not practice this week and that Emmons and DT William Joseph (ankle) were doubtful. He said offensive tackle Luke Petitgout, who dressed but did not play against Kansas City after suffering back spasms the previous week, would practice

The last news I heard was "no" "maybe" and "yes." Hight may not even have his high school diploma yet. Odds of him becoming a Zip appear to be 9999-1. I asked a friend at the University about Garner a few weeks ago and he seemed to think he was not going to be a Zip. The "friend" isn't a coach, so he's still got a fighting chance, I guess. Marshall is still in the fold and expected to play next season. If anyone else has more up-to-date info, please feel free to post.

AMEN, Brother! FINALLY...a win vs. a "marquee" team! Great team effort by all the guys! That win could be HUGE come March. Now let's put the wood to Clemson!! BTW: Was this win the greatest in Syracuse history?

We didn't skip a beat without them. I hope they get their collective act together because they're both big contributors...but if they don't it seems there are some capable players on the bench that can make curfew, attend practices and win games.

Thanks to our friends out west for the scoop. GoZips.com Link - Click

In an unrelated note, I saw the PD mention a few days ago that Ken Lolla went to join Zips former AD Mike Thomas at Louisville. To see the Beacon hop on the bandwagon now is like seeing LeBron's birth dad pop into the picture once he became fameous. Personally, I just can't take the BJ seriously. They've thumbed their noses at Zips fans for too long. You know what would get be to re-subscribe to the BJ? If Terry Pluto wrote a retraction of his column decrying the firing of Lee Owens (you remember the epic "...Akron isn't Ohio State...this isn't Notre Dame..." column. Admit he was wrong and I'll resubscribe. Until then I can't even bring myself to click on their web site.