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...and if the Troy WR would have dropped the ball on their 4th and 5 play, we'd have won instead of lost...and if my aunt had nuts she'd be my uncle... The Zips earned their wins against Buffalo and WMU. The D made some awesome stands at the end of those games. Hopefully we beat Miami in convincing fashion. A simple 3-point win where the Zips defense holds the opponent under 21 points isn't quite enough to keep some fans from focusing on how they might have lost, rather than how they won.

Several fellow zn.o members have texted me asking about the corner board in the back ground of the picture. The corner board was full of numbers just to check for placement. The board is set to show the following "team" stats going from top to bottom. Both teams stats are shown side-by-side: FG FG% 3FG 3FG% FT FT% BLK AST STL TO D-RB O-RB Score

Everyone on this forum (including me) has complained for years that "things never bounce our way". Some of that is clearly happening this year when we really need it. We'll take it. And let me point this out. Injuries are very unfortunate, but they happen to every team. And just stating that they happened to guys that are chosen to represent the team on the field does not mean that they are any more, or any less of an impact on your team. We wouldn't have been any better than 4-1 over the last 5 games without those injuries anyway. So, for both of those reasons, our injuries are really a non-factor to me at this point. I hope I can still say that after 3 more games too. But without having in-depth knowledge of each of our opponents injury situations, it would be impossible to compare whether ours or theirs had greater impact.

This is what we do is banter back and forth on what is and what could of been. The part about the plays being out of our control doesn't sit well with me though. We had defensive stops and key first downs in both the WM and UB wins. You can also 2nd guess some of the opposing coaches decisions but we have taken advantage of their calls by not making bad decisions ourselves. We are not dominating anybody but we don't make a lot of mistakes and hang around pressuring the other team into make mistakes. Then we take advantage of them. The kids still have to make a play for any of this to work out though.

I disagree. In the fantasy world where we are 3-6 instead of 5-4, we would have a different coach and players. Because the ones we have in the real world are 5-4. That's inarguable. They made winning plays that the fantasy 3-6 team didn't make. No better or worse fortune than anyone else. Ball and Guiser are our two team captains, and they didn't make it half way through the season. How fortunate is that?

I wouldn't be as concerned as previous seasons. We have a reputation now as a big boy program. We have a handful of marque wins and have been on a tear since the third game of the season. The team that should be concerned is WMU, particularly if we beat them in the MACC. They have no reputation or history, few big wins (vs. us at home and vs. Michigan at home, and maybe at Butler), a bad loss (4-1 at Portland), and a bad tie (at Eastern Illinois). If we win out, we will get a Top 8 seed and have an outside chance at a Top 4 depending on how the rest of the field closes out. On the other hand, if WMU loses to us in the MACC, I think they will be luck to be seeded in the Top 16. Conversely, if we lose the MACC, I think both WMU and UA get Top 12 seeds. Beating us twice in one season would carry A LOT of weight and give them the benefit of the doubt.

I wouldn't think so. They beat us head-to-head giving them the tie breaker. If the shoe were on the other foot, I wouldn't want to be co-champs. We'd have earned the MACC outright as they did. I don't see them beating us twice in one season though. They can have the regular season. The MAC Tournament and NCAAT seeding are much more important. We are hot at the right time of the year.

I've been absent from the board for a while, but have been following consistently ever since. I was a bit shocked to hear KD was leaving, but I am not disappointed or upset. Our program rose to new heights because of him, but it certainly plateaued many years ago. Even he knew that. It was time for him to move on while he was still respected in the profession and young enough to start a new tenure elsewhere. That said, the timing was ideal because Groce was available and interested. Aside from being my doppelganger, Groce is young and has experience winning in the MAC and the NCAAT with a MAC team. New pinnacles await! I think in five years or so, we will find that John Groce is to Keith Dambrot as Caleb Porter is to Ken Lolla. No more excuses about the MAC being a one bid conference or P5's not scheduling us. The bar has been raised.

Needed to start an official game thread.

Nor is there a need for fans to bring halogen bulbs with them to plug into the end zone boards.

I respectfully disagree a little on this one. The committee has shown us some kindness in the past. I've forgotten offhand what the Zips RPI was in 2015, but I'm fairly confident it was not 1-4; however, the Zips were the #4 seed.

Oh, heck no. Let me rephrase that. PLAYING at home vs. PLAYING on the road. "Home Field Advantage" probably made you think I was indicating that Miami will pack their place with a raucous crowd. My bad.

You just proved what UAZipster was illustrating.

Did a quick spreadsheet but it won't translate copy/paste wise. We should know a lot more after this weekend but as of today: 39 eligible teams (50% of 78 Bowl berths) 76 teams could become eligible 15 have been eliminated from contention (barring the need to take a 5-7 team)

Great post. That's exactly my point. We've been very fortunate to be the recipient of opponent mistakes in some key wins this year. I'd like that to continue, but you certainly can't expect it. It's crazy, isn't it? If we were 3-6 (2-3 conference) right now, instead of 5-4 (4-1 conference), the Bowden Bashers would be out in full force. He'd probably be in danger of being fired. Instead, as a result of some fortunate circumstances, we're looking at everything much differently right now. Evaluating everything as successful vs. unsuccessful really can be a very slight difference in the world of sports.

There's not a video screen on the bottom?

Central sucks. So does the weather in Kalamazoo apparently.

Happy to say I was there for every minute of the contest. COLD AND RAINY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good to see her ruining the game experience of other MAC fans besides me.

And also going from past MACs at Cub Cadet, the second match scheduled first touch has been 3 hours after the first match’s...

Looks like you were the only one in here, Z.I.P. Kudos on that passion. At 2PM in Hawaii, you shoulda been out on a surf board and watched the game on replay rather than live. Marshall played with heart, but just couldn't hang talent-wise. If not for some very solid play by their keeper, it would have been 4-0. I haven't posted in a long while, but have been following closely all season. Zips are in full form: composed, confident, and a complete team including the subs. Not a single opponent has scored more than one goal on us. We have only allowed 8 goals in 16 games, if I counted right. That's outstanding. The first two games were enigmas, and I don't think WMU can beat us twice in one season. Three more wins and we could be looking at a top 3-6 seed. I really wish we had those first two games back.

Just looking at that guy you can tell he's a douche bag

Stuart knocks it in. 2-0

Gooooooaaaaaalllll!

But note they are only in the 3rd half!

The only pic DrZ missed was Icoach with his "how to lose at football" folder stuck in his fanny pack

Glad to see the zips winning, but also hate to see them losing at the same time!

I'm not sure how ESPN's Football Power Index arrives at their numbers. Somebody get Condi on the phone and see what she thinks our chances are.

All you need to do is send a PM to Dr Z and he can make it happen.

But seriously, there's probably at least 10 teams every year that are capable of winning 2 games in January. Probably more. So, looking back in hindsight and seeing who actually won the games doesn't change anything in terms of making sure that the 4 most deserving teams are the ones that get to play. Actually, I even cringed when I said "most deserving", because we all know what happens with a group of people in a room. Some will have more knowledge than others. Some will be able to exert more power over others. And some will have motives that nobody else would be able to easily detect. For those who spend time in board rooms and meeting rooms way too often, you know what I mean. And I actually laughed hysterically when the chair of this committee tried to demonstrate their integrity by saying that the Suckeye Athletic Director (yes, he's on the committee) leaves the room when they are talking about them. So, I feel very reassured that he's not influencing any of those people when it comes to the school that pays his bills, and will stand to make a lot more money with a playoff appearance vs. no playoff appearance.

These are all awesome pics, but this is an especially great shot. Guess I should caveat that with IMHO. Thanks for your time and commitment. Go ZIPS????

So glad there's a new video board. I recall all those times (0) that I said a new video board was needed to keep my interest in Zips Mens Basketball and to put new butts in the seats. It's nice, but really. Close beside Cuyahoga’s waters, Stream of amber hue, O’er old Buchtel Summit’s glory, Waves the gold and blue. Hail we video board! Sound her praises, Speed them on the gale, Ever stand our new video board, Akron hail, all hail!