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Thanks for the kind words. Somewhat off topic. but something I have noticed on this board is that there sometimes seems to be some politics between supporting one sport over another and fans who stick to or stay out of one forum altogether. I hope with the success of all of the big Zips programs this year, we can all support each other. I realize some people just favor some sports, but we're all we've got and we need to stick together. Go Zips and Merry Christmas Zipsnation!

No doubt. This is by far the best overall athletic department in the MAC. UA has overtaken Can't (which is also way above the rest of the league) a couple of years ago, and Akron is further distancing itself from Can't this year, with the gap growing larger.It's a good time to be a Zip! Edit: for some perspective: Soccer: NCAA final four (best MAC program, period). Men's track: top 10 national finish; a national champion (Barber); a top 3 finish (Clayton Murphy); Pan Am gold (Barber and Murphy!); World Champion (Barber) and world semifinalist (Murphy, 800). And Murphy was just a sophomore... Too bad Barber went pro or this year's track team had an outside shot at the NCAA title. ... The women are also very good (both teams were top 25 nationally in the rankings at one point last year). Men's basketball: currently no. 49 in the KenPom rankings (7 MAC title games in the last 9 years, 3 titles); women won the MAC two years ago and are still one of the best in the league. Swimming: Two-time defending MAC champs, right? And favorite to win again. Now even football is creeping in the mix.

I looked it up yesterday and there is a possibility the Zips could have the fourth longest winning streak in college football heading into next season. Need Cincinnati to beat San Diego State (tonight) and TCU to beat Oregon. There may be one other team we need to lose (can't remember). That happens and you'd have: 1. CFB champ 2. Western Kentucky (6) 2. Tennessee or Northwestern (6) ... They play each other 4. Akron (5) Looking a bit further, there is a slim chance Akron could have the longest streak in the nation early next year. Here's how it happens. 1. Anybody but Michigan State wins the CFP. Then lose the opener next season ... Bama against USC (in Dallas); Clemson at Auburn; or Oklahoma at Houston. MSU plays Furman in the opener, then has a bye. 2. Akron beats VMI. 3.Tennessee or Northwestern lose their openers. Tennessee against Appalachian State or Northwestern against WMU. I'm rooting for Tennessee over Northwestern, though, because if Tennessee wins their opener, they have Virginia Tech in Week 2 in what will be a crazy environment at Bristol Motor Speedway in front of 150,000. Northwestern has Illinois State in Week 2. So Tennessee has a better chance of dropping an early game. 4. Western Kentucky has a week 1 bye, meaning if the Zips beat VMI, they would be tied with WKU at 6. WKU opens Week 2 at Alabama (same day Akron plays at Wisconsin). So if the other teams all lose their openers, the Zips and Hilltopers would be tied for No. 1. And I think Akron has a better shot at beating Wisconsin than WKU beating Bama. A big if, but if Akron can shock Wisconsin, there definitely is a decent shot that their 7 game streak could be No. 1 in college football. Even if it doesn't happen, just talking about a scenario that isn't too far fetched is something that would've been so laughable, no point of even trying to think of some off the wall scenario, even a year ago. But we are actually at that point where it is no longer laughable to think about it. BTW, as for Bowden, I think the fact that all he has to do is look at what his father did at Florida State, is reason why I think he COULD retire as a Zip. Of course if WVU or FSU come calling (or any of the 20 can't turn down jobs), he will leave. But that is pretty unlikely. Plus, the Bowden family seems to place a high value on the legacy the name has on the history of college football. What is better for the family lineage than to say that "Bowdens" were responsible for two of the biggest turnarounds in CFB history? Look at where Bobby took FSU. Doak Campbell was a 15,000 seat stadium when it was built. It was still only 25,000-40,000 early on in Bobby's early years. He turned it into an 80,000 seater, and FSU into a power. Here is a good site that shows the transformation of Doak Campbell. http://stadiafile.com/2012/08/31/7-doak-campbell-stadium/ Bobby built FSU along the same lines Terry could build Akron. 1. FSU was a large public school that was transforming from a women's college to a full-fledged state university. Akron is a large public school that is transforming from an open-enrollment public to a polytechnic focused school. 2. FSU was in a talent-rich area for HS football players. Akron is in a talent-rich area for HS football players. 3. If you took a time machine back to 1963, I'm sure Florida, Alabama, Georgia, etc., fans were laughing at the thought FSU could be a power. In 2015, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame fans are laughing at the thoughts Akron could be a power.

2nd year, which is why they could go to a Bowl Game, and you are talking about two of the most storied FCS programs, but continue with your football ignorance.

Was this comment necessary in a sports column "They seemed genuinely excited about the cross-country trip that filled three planes, at a cost of $200,000 per plane, with 120 players, a 250-member band and the traveling party."

I would like to see it as well. Everything I have seen from him makes me think he has kept a good attitude, which would be hard to do given his situation, He's a heck of an athlete, I think he could find somewhere to contribute if he doesn;t want to be a back up the remainder of his career.

Great stuff to carry us to 2016 Spring Practice ............. Now let's please put together a 2016 recruiting class !!! And some OLmen to enrolling in January 2016 !!!

AND...Temple still can't hang with the MAC...

ESPN has a page of highlight that also include some of the post game stuff.

I'm not sure how much I agree with this, but I'm also not sure its worth the time to debate. What we both can degree on is that he has brought in some nice local talent and they seem to be the cornerstone of the program.