bryanschapiro

If the Zips turn the ball over just 11 times again, they will win the game. Nate Linhart will again be the key against UMass. His length can redirect passes, and not allow them to get the ball in to their big three. Free throws will be the end of our season, but I don't know which game it will be.

All fans are different. Rivalries are heated, there is no doubt about that. I will not say that Akron fans are angels. They are not. But, I have never heard a collective Akron crowd chanting profanity like Can't State sometimes does. I was told by a person that works at FSN that the Akron/Can't game that took place in Can't this past season had to be put on audio delay half way through the game because of the crowd chanting profanity. FSN could have received fines because of the fans at the game. Some people cheer and boo like normal people. Can't fans, collectively, work in profanity when they chant, and that is classless.

I work for a local television station, and when I was at the OU/Miami game I took video of Bubba crying like a baby with his head between his knees on the bench at the end of the game.

Is anyone other than me concerned with the fact that this new tournament is just another ploy for making money. Don't get me wrong, I am not against watching the Zips play ball, or making money, but at what point do we end the basketball season? Is it with the conference tournament for those teams that aren't good enough for the NIT or the NCAA's. Do we need a tournament for every team with every type of record (winning or losing) to make it in to? And what will the quality of basketball be like in a tournament like this. Granted, there are plenty of good, competitive teams, with great players on them, but at some point the season must end, and I believe that the conference tournaments, NIT, and NCAA's are the way it should end for every team. Win or lose.

He has had a lot of personal issues. Andy Alleman has said to me that he will return eventually, but there is no timeline. These are the same issues he has gone through for a while now, but it hasn't been this bad. I was told in confidance, so I can't give any information out, but he should be okay and back with the team soon.

I do like Charlie Coles, but it just hurts to much to imagine a team winning in a position that we rightfully should be in. Miami won't win, but just the fact that they are there already stings.

I am not a Duke fan, but I did predict VCU to be a sleeper team in the sweet 16 on Sports Powertalk (88.1 FM Sunday Call In Show). Maybe I'll be right.

Perfect...one of the first totally correct things I have heard in a long time...from anywhere.

You guys all make valid points. I will assure you that the players know that we hurt as a lot too from the problems at the end of this season. They want it for us as much as we want it for them. The red shirts will step up. Nate, Nick, Ced, and Woody will play out of their minds. Look for Jimmy and Officer Robot to be leaders off the bench. The point is, although we hate to look to next year while other teams are still playing, I'm sure Rome and Dru would be proud to know that their teammates came through, and made it to the big dance in 2008.

Doesn't that encompass the whole controversy. A bad call, a raw deal, another raw deal, and then everyone seems to be against us. What is this world coming to?

It's a thought, but I don't think you can do that to the city. I am a young guy, and have been coming to Zips football games since I was a baby. I waited for 20 years to see the MAC championship, and I got to see it. If you remove this program, you take what could be a vital part of the pride of the City of Akron away from it's people.

....we have to get the NCAA bid. Do you think Jeremiah Wood will forget his MVP like performance, and nothing to show for it. Do you think Cedrick Middleton will forget his missed free throw. Do you think Nate Linhart will forget the fact that he had to ride the pine because he was turned into a cyclopse by Quade Milum's elbow. The Akron Zips men's basketball team will not forget what happened this season. They will return to MAC play next year, and they will do well. On paper, they may not stack up well, but anyone who knows these players and coaches personally knows that they will be ready. For anyone that doubts this team, don't. You can't begin to imagine what a healthy Jeremiah Wood can do over the course of a season. Nick Dials, believe it or not, still is battling with that knee. He won't be next season. Cedrick is already the hardest working guy on that team. I saw him today. I spoke to him. If he misses another free throw in his life I will be surpresed. Jimmy Conyers can play, and he has shown that. John Rybek (Officer Robot) gave us quality tournament minutes that had to raise some eye brows. This is not a team that missed it's last shot to go dancing. This is not a team that will rebuild. Like so many good programs, the Akron Zips will simply reload.p.s. Coach Dambrot is discouraged right now. Give it time. Don't jump to conclusions. He will not leave Akron any time soon. He knows it, I know it, you know it, he has come to far with this team to leave it where it is right now. These are his guys. He is like a father to them, and they are his children. You don't disown your children because they lost a championship game.

Email is a wonderful thing. I personally will send mass emails to radio stations around the country. Newspapers, and TV too. Nobody outside of Akron will remember this great team if we don't do something. Maybe if they listen to what we have to say, they will realize all of the things this team did, and then in the future things might be different. Signed, Insulted (and sad)