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It doesn't have to be a violation. If the "adoption" is limited to picking a player and showing up and cheering for them, making signs, etc there is no violation. If you have ever sat near the parents section, it's fun to watch a small group go crazy when their kid makes a special play. You can always tell when Brock Boxen makes a great play - the Boxen clan goes wild. I remember watching Chuck Amato escort a kid on senior day once (might have happened more than once) and I wondered if that kid ever had anyone cheering for him and IIRC, he was a starter or a regular.

Cheering and coming to a game and supporting a kid from out of state, in state, or where ever is probably not a violation, Introducing yourself outside the gate after games, and say great game ,or hello and making some feel welcome and feel not so far away from home.... probably not a violation. Having friends in the area from the military after 22 years of service and meeting people in NEO probably not a violation. Maybe Adoption was a bad word.... Sorry not wording it correctly..... cut me some slack i am from the south,how about passionate fans who genially care.

I sort of feel like this game will be a signal of whether the season is slipping away from us or if our level of talent has come far enough along to be able to win, despite adversity.

In Nick Hinds defense, he made a beautiful entry pass to Stuart on the 2nd goal. There was Stuart and 4-5 nittany lions in the box and Nick hit a beautiful cross into the box.

This will be a watershed game for the Zips. From here the Zips' season can either go in the crapper, or be a springboard to a strong finish. If the Zips are to win, Woodson needs be the QB. Chapman can win a game when the opponent is weak, but Ball State is 4-3, at home, and has some momentum. They aren't WMU, but they aren't Miami either. They're about at the Zips level. Ball State's defense is "ok" (I'd kill for the Zips D to ascend to "ok" status), and they have a beast of a running back. Ball State seems to be coached well enough to run, run, run if the Zips can't stop it. And we haven't stopped the run in 2016. That doesn't bode well. The Zips OL is healthy as a horse. Woodson/Lane/Natson/Wolf/Ball(?) can outscore Ball State. That's the only chance the Zips have to win this, or probably any other game remaining on our schedule. If WMU has "Row the Boat," the Zips mantra is "45 Points or We Lose." Which is fine, as long as they score 45+ points. While the Zips will be sporting a new defensive line due to the injuries...that might not be a terrible thing, as the DL hasn't exactly set the world on fire this year. Mabye a kid like Camara, at 6' 3", 285 makes a name for himself Saturday? Woodson's presence changes the entire complexion of the team. I know Jerome Lane can't get Woody back fast enough. He's gotta be behind center on Saturday, or we're at 0.500 come Saturday evening.

I was tempted to think the same thing but remembered, he is trying to get a NY Day bowl bid. Stats play a huge role in rankings and selections these days, so coaches have to compete for all 4 quarters, now. I don't disagree.

You don't tug on superman's cape / You don't spit into the wind / You don't pull the mask off that old lone ranger / And you don't mess around with Jim. - Jim Croce Don't go publicly busting oars when you're a 12 point underdog and starting your second string QB. - Me

I miss Andrew Souders now more than ever. Can we sneak him back on the field for a few games?

There is a poll at the bottom of the article asking, "Who should the Chargers move forward with at linebacker? A. Jatavis Brown, or B. Manti Te'o" Jatavis has 97% of the vote.

http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/university-of-akron-football-zips-looking-forward-after-controversy-clubbing-from-western-michigan-1.720231 Story still focussing on the Breaking an Oar Incident. I was perplexed why anyone could care less the Zips broke an oar before the game. With the way WMU uses the "Row" mantra, it seemed to me like an obvious thing to do - almost too obvious. But the article points out that, "Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck, however, started using the saying to honor his son who died as an infant." Oh, okay then. But do people know that? I didn't know that. I doubt any Zips knew that. Is this common knowledge in the football world? I don't think so. This has turned into a strange situation, all-around. This is what Fleck said about the Zips breaking the oar: “When they go low, we go high,” he said. “It was tacky. A little bit classless,” he said in his Tuesday news conference with WMU media. Okay, again, dude, you gotta make it loud and clear where the little mantra came from. I don't think anyone knew it was to honor your son.

Here are a couple of observations from last night: Some of the problems with the back line have to do with inexperience. For as talented as NH4 is, (like many FR) he is not always the calmest of characters when the situation dictates. Their 2nd goal is a case in point. I would REALLY like to see JL11 pass the ball a lot more when he is making his deep runs down the side. The one instance when his shot went WAY left of goal, AN10 was WIDE open in front of the net just begging for a chance. This is not the 1st time I've seen that this year. I am really glad to see SH9 get off the schneid for the season. That could be HUGE coming down the stretch and into the tourney. BL1 probably saved the Zips from a likely defeat last night. Hope his confidence can remain in tact for the rest of the season. It looks like we'll need him on the road to come up big time after time. Don't get me wrong - I love having NH4 and JL11 on this team and playing big minutes. I just hope they can work on a few things for their individual improvement and for the sake of the team. Go Zips!

No matter the lineup, it seems that we see the same over and over in the final 3rd...the Zips look dangerous getting there and then they slow their play down until the opposing players get there and cut off the lanes to the goal. Rarely does there seem to be urgency with this team. I must say though that I'm not as worried with the attack on the road as I am the defense. Shut outs at home...but only 1 on the road. WTF is wrong with the midfield and back line on the road?

I liked the lineup at the end of the game. Zajac was dangerous. I would like to see more of that lineup.

Ruhaak and Radjen had better remove their heads from their respective asses!

Players are entitled to privacy on medical issues until they want to disclose them, and the team is entitled to secrecy, if they choose to do so. I respect that. I'm not the first one on this board that's held back on disclosing too many details. Rumor? You mean that fact that I refuted someone's statement that Brock's situation was "doubtful...probably a knee", and told you that you'll find that it is something much more significant? That's spreading "Rumor BS"? I already knew it to be incorrect, and wanted to let everyone know without saying more than I felt comfortable disclosing at the time. This isn't directed just at you, but if some people on this board would pull back a bit on wanting to be argumentative about everything that's posted, and would just listen a little more, you might just realize that you're getting some tips on some things that are on the horizon that might be pretty valuable.