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I am going to assume the "only been around for a few decades" comment was aimed at me. I am only 35 but, I live and breathe Akron Blue and Gold and have done so since 1986. My dad started taking me to games and I have never looked back. I have missed 3-4 games since then at home, and 2 are regrettable. I missed the comeback at the Rubber Bowl on a Friday night in the early to mid 00's, and I missed the 66-0 win over Howard when they had the Battle of the Bands. I have seen so many games they are starting to run together. I support the Zips as much as possible. I have 2 degrees from the University and I will do everything I can to ensure my children go there. I have my bleacher seat from the Rubber Bowl and I will forever hold that as one of my prize possessions. I know the history as well as I have read up on the old OVC days. My dad who bought his season tickets in 1966 has stories of taking a train to watch the Zips play in the Grantland Rice Bowl only to lose to Terry Bradshaw and Lousiana Tech. in 1968 and of the only Zips "bowl" win in 1976 vs. Northern Michigan. I love talking Zips football! Go Zips!

I eagerly away Jeremy Guy's response:

The Big SBNation Akron Zips Preview

Yes, they can.

I'd much rather have our side of the bracket as it is.. But even then, UB waiting on a week's rest vs. us on our 4th game in 5 days just seems like too much. Last night was a big blow.

If Dambrot wants more foul calls, he needs to trade his 3-balls for shots in the paint. Simple as that. Then, he needs guys that can hit their free throws.

I'd say all the loose ball fouls and screens, etc. are probably even over the course of the year. Your difference comes down to the perimeter vs. paint. 116 FTs seems like a lot, but like I said, it's 5 per game. That's less than 3 extra fouls every game. The other side is that the refs screwed us over the entire course of the season and that's a little much for me.

Small part? Offensive fouls don't generate free throws, so we're strictly talking fouls against with the ball. I'd guess a large majority of the fouls are committed in the paint vs the perimeter. We've been a perimeter team and that's part of the deal that comes with it. 116 FTs is about 5 per game so far, I don't think it's as bad as it sounds.

Antino stepped UP!

I watched the game and the refs were no worse or better than usual. We had the Miami announcers and they were shouting when the refs did not call fouls against the Zips. The guys who take the ball to the basket, Big Dog, Pat and Deji, have been getting to the line the whole season. The guys who stand on the perimeter and shoot the 3 ball are not going to get to the line. The 2nd half we had some really bad turnovers and shot the ball poorly. Miami made an adjustment of double teaming Big Dog as soon as he got the ball and we had no answer. It had nothing to do with the refs.

How can a team with such immense talent, as I've been told, lose to lowly Miami twice? Oh, I've got it. Another coaching debacle by KD. It's not a fault of anybody. It's just been a year where virtually everything possible that could go wrong did go wrong. I'm probably the only one here that thinks this team did well this season given their youth and all the crap that's gone down recently. It happens to just about every program on occasion. I'm not about to be critical of anybody right now.

So, we're in the Bonus with about 10 min. left in the half, and we spent the rest of the half shooting jumpers?

The stats on the GoZips.com can be misleading. During our 4 game losing streak we had leads with less than 5 minutes remaining in the Miami and Buffalo game. We were tied twice in the Toledo game under 5 minutes. We did not finish close games during our losing streak in 3 of our 4 losses. Gozips. com also indicates that we are 2nd in the MAC and 11th nationally in made 3 pointers. Reading that stat would make you believe that we are a great 3 point shooting team. However, we are 3rd in the nation taking 3 points shots but ranked 160th in the nation in 3 point made percentage. None of our guys are even close to being in the top 50 for 3 point percentage. We are at best "average" in shooting the 3 ball even though it seems to be the emphasis of our offense.

I'll wait until after the spring game to guess at a few early games. It's impossible for me to make any kind of educated guess at this juncture. I've never been a fan of guessing an outcome of a game in October/November/December before the season starts, unless you can tell me all the starting lineups, what team beat what team earlier, and injury lists. I have to see both teams play, to have any kind of opinion. I'm no Phil Steele. If I have to guess now, I'll second LZip, and say we go undefeated. But I really don't think we will get into the College Football Playoff for the National Championship.

Thoughts on renaming UA? 1. Must be a joke. 2. One of the most asinine things I've read in ages.

Listed below for ZN members. All practices are 8:30 am - 11 am. If you decide to attend, please call 330-972-7466 or email sbutler@uakron.edu and let them know. Practice 01 – Mon March 16th Practice 02 – Tue March 17th Practice 03 – Wed March 18th Practice 04 – Thur March 19th Practice 07 – Fri April 3rd Practice 08 – Sat April 4th (Scrimmage TBD) Practice 09 – Tue April 7th Practice 10 – Thur April 9th Practice 11 – Sat April 11th (Junior Day TBD) Practice 12 – Tue April 14th (Scrimmage) Practice 13 – Thur April 16th Practice 14 – Fri April 17th Spring Game – Sat April 18th (1 pm - 3 pm)