ZipsVoice

Why do we keep beating this dead horse? Is there ANYONEon this form that ever...EVER... argues that it’s real? Sheesh...

Someone pick me up off the ground. I died after the second redhead save. Then...wow. Outstand soccer match and both teams went after it, didn’t play pack ‘em in...and the refs let ‘em play the last 15 minutes plus ot....wow....philadelphia. HERE WE COME! Fear the Roo Dammit!

I think the “writer” must have got a journalism degree from Portage County Community College. Can’t State STILL sucks...

Kumbayah, my lord, kumbayah.....ommmmm, ommmmm....

Then come over to Ocacek and smell some chlorine with me....

You are correct on the "youthful inexperience" thingy...also the "lack of situational awareness". No excuses, but in the past, the PA system was manned by a member of the A/V staff, but with budget-crunching it's now done by Sports Marketing GAs, who are also trying to do their marketing stuff. Also, it used to be that the fight song was played after a goal. Now, it seems the players...or staff...have asked for more upbeat stuff. And there doesn't seem to be a Tradition or Historical vision taught or discussed before season begins. Also, the athletes for the most part are picking the pre-match warm up music, and are always demanding it be LOUD. They forget that there are actual patrons who pay to get in to see the match and it might bother them. There is just such a turn-over, year after year, of the GAs and facility manager jobs that I don't think the students who take the jobs know the rich tradition and history of all our sports like us "old-timers" do, and no one bothers to teach them. Heck, a lot of them got their undergrad degrees elsewhere, and this is their first or second year here. The volume thingy, I think, will be taken care of, as time progresses and moneys are available. Think back to 2009....shared pressbox with baseball and 1 little speaker pointing down the long low bleachers. 2010....new stands and a portable PA system on the roof, that was only just sufficient. 2012....new sound sytem, a little better, but not quite there yet. 2015 permanent mounted speakers, and more VOLUME. 2017....too much volume. Things get tweaked eventually. The Ocacek Nat sound system SUCKED until 2 seasons ago. The Stile Field House system was terrible! and now it's pretty decent. The outdoor track system was the one used on the roof at Cub Cadet, and finally got changed last season to the old baseball system. The softball system was the same portable one used for soccer and track until they got a new one in 2014.

I always hit the Fourth Street Live area, a couple of city blocks blocked off from traffic, with about 6 great restaurants and another 10 great bars, and live music out the ying-yang. Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse has about 60 bourbons that you can try as flights, Guy Fieri has a great restaurant there...

7 out of 8 is sure impressive, in my book....but it's a small book!

Lots going on in Zips sports, with the Football program's winning the MAC East, Men's soccer going to the Elite 8, and men's and women's basketball starting up. Easy to overlook our 4 time defending MAC Champion swimmers and divers. The women went to Cleveland for the Magnus Cup and dominated, with Maddy Myers cleaning house in the 100 back, 200 IM, 50 breast and the 100 IM, where she is now the fastest in the nation NCAA. Paloma Marrero, Ellie Nebraska, Sadie Fazekas, Paulina Nogaj, Brooke Lamoureux, all winners. Relays dominated. Carly Krail won both 1 and 3 meter dives. I know all eyes will be on Cub Cadet field Friday eveing and Ford Field at noon on Saturday and the JAR that afternnon, but this weekend the Zippys host their own Zippy Invitational for three days/nights Friday thru Sunday, and these women deserve some attention. Stop by Ocacek if you get a chance, you'll be amazed.

Still recovering from Saturday p.m. Just a few random thoughts. Great crowd on hand, given all the particulars around the weekend - T-Day, OSU-Mich, school closed, etc...Huge walk-up attendance, and the entire reserved seating sold out. (No kidding!). Mueller is an outstanding athlete and a great player. Their coach is a class act. Dave Bacon and Otto Orf have become fixtures at Cub Cadet, and that's a good thing. No sales of merchandise...either U of A or NCAA College Cup - disappointing. Gorgeous sunset. I was getting a little cocky in my attitude, and I needed this match to knock me down a few pegs. When Sam scored his first, my attitude was "This ones over!" Stupid, I know. Came crashing back to earth with the Badger equalizer, and it was a thing of beauty in its own right. Then was SURE it was over when Sammy hit his brace. "Afterall", said mt brain, "no one has scored more than 1 on us all season!" BAM! back to earth. Now I am a lot more wary going forward. Always great to see the interaction between the players and the Rowdies post-match, but for those of you that leave right away or watch on TV, the player-fan interchanges are heartening to watch and to eaves-drop on once in awhile. Anyway, wish we had one more at FES/CCF to enjoy. GO ZIPS!

So! Round 3 - the round of 16 - is now in the books, and we're now down to the Elite 8. And we have a new November Numbness Leader! SBZipfan had 4 correct picks with Wake Forrest, Stanford, Akron and Indiana. ZipsVoice (that's me!) had 6 correct picks in Wake Forrest, Akron, Louisville, North Carolina, Michigan State and Indiana. Zip_ME87 weighed in with 6 correct picks as well with Wake Forrest, Akron, Louisville, North Carolina, Michigan State and Indiana. lilroodude was right 5 times, with Wake Forrest, Stanford, Akron, Louisville and Indiana. fknbuflobo came in with 6 right - Wake Forrest, Akron, Louisville, North Carolina, Michigan State and Indiana. Z.I.P. picked 7 of the 8 Elites, with Wake Forrest, Stanford, Akron, Louisville, North Carolina, Michigan State and Indiana. and Zippyfan34 had 4 correct teams, Stanford, Akron, North Carolina and Indiana. All correct picks were worth 3 points. Here are you standings: Leader - Z.I.P. 30 points + 21 new points = 51 2nd (tie) - fknbuflobo and Zip_ME87 31 points + 18 new points = 49 4th - ZipsVoice 29 points + 18 new points = 47 5th - Zippyfan34 33 points + 12 new points = 45 6th - lilroodude 29 points + 15 new points = 44 7th - SBZipfan 25 points + 12 new points = 37 WooHoo! Quarter-finals this weekend!

Mueller made that goal...he is talented...header by Egbo shoulda went in...

Oh yeah???? Well, our women’s swimming and diving team is gonna beat yours by over 100 points next weekend, in the Zippy Invitational, so there!! Think you can troll us, do ya? HAH!

Just watched the Cavs game and they showed that the Dayton - Akron game was going to be on Fox Sports Ohio...FSOH? Anyway, on my Direct TV it's like channel 660

Detroit isn’t that bad anymore, really. Wifey and I spent last Saturday night atthe Marriott at Renaisance Center and had a blast, and completely safe. Wonderful rooms, great bar and restaurant. Walked to the Christmas Tree lighting, the walked to Greektown....great area there...bars, restaurants, casino. Don’t let the past rep scare you off, downtown D is having a real rebirth.

I thought Kent's pants looked like the players just got home from their day jobs working baggage at the airport!

Hadn’t thought of that....good point, sorry I just got one so waaay after ypur point.

HEY! We’ve got a game in less than ah hour! Leave us alone! We don’t have time for the Cyclones right now...

If we want to get out by 11:15 we need to boo the guy in the red hat that comes on the field and stays there until the TV timeout is over....GET HIM!!!!

Not sure there are any recruiting targets at either school, but Friday night The U is hosting an OHSAA Division IV State Championship semi-final between #1 ranked Steubenville (13-0) and #5 ranked Shelby (also 13-0) at 7:30, if there's anyone needing more football this weekend.

Moral victories, lilroo, moral victories....

Results of November Numbness after round 2 SBZipfan had winners with Wake, Akron, NC, Duke, MSU, WMU and Indiana - picking up 14 points. ZipsVoice (me!) had wnners with Wake, Butler, Stanford, Akron, Louisville, NC, SMU, Duke, MSU and Indiana - picking up 20 points (YAY!). Zip_ME87 won with Wake, Stanford, Akron, Wisconsin, Louisville, NC, Duke, MSU, WMU, Indiana for 20 points. Lilroodude picked Wake, Butler, Stanford, Coastal Carolina, Akron, Louisville, SMU, WMU, New Hampshire and Indiana, picking up 20 points also. Fknbuflobo had Wake, Stanford, Akron, Louisville, NC, SMU, Duke, MSU, WMU and Indiana for 20 points as well. Z.I.P. had winning teams with Wake, Stanford, Akron, Wisconsin, Louisville, NC, SMU, Duke, MSU and Indiana - total of 20 points. and Zippyfan34 came in with Wake, Butler, Stanford, Akron, Wisconsin, Louisville, NC, SMU, Duke and Indiana for 20 points. Seems like almost everyone got 10 winners this weekend. So...going into the Sweet 16 it is: SBZipfan with 25 points ZipsVoice with 29 points lilroodude with 29 points Z.I.P. with 30 points fknbuflobo with 31 points Zip_ME87 with 31 points and our leader is ......Zippyfan34 with 33 points. And to answer TennZip's questions: Not one of us Brainiacs picked Fordham, nor Colgate, but lilroodude did pick New Hampshire! Zippyfan34, fknbuflobo, Z.I.P., ZipsVoice, and lilroodude each had SMU. Zippyfan34, ZipsVoice and lilroodude each picked Butler. Zippyfan34 and Zip_ME87 each had Wisconsin. And special shout out ot lilroodud for picking Coastal Carolina!!!

I tried to findan answer on the NCAA website and interactive bracket, but couldn’t....

I am still thhhhhhhhaaaaawwwwwing out. Can just now feel my fingers! It really wasn’t all that bad really. Stopped on the way home for a couple adult beverages with fellow zippies who drove up from Dover amd coshocten. I made em chose a designated driver.