zippy-claws

Hey there @ZipsBBjunkie, thanks for your response. I appreciate your teasing, really. I agree the "jousting" part is all in play. And I agree, all of these athletes deserve their due and recognition. They did accomplish something major, and a win is a win no matter when or where. They are truly champions. Thanks for reminding me of that. Please remember when Coach Mitchell won many, and also lost a few MAC titles there were 8 teams competing, which made it a little harder. And your point on XC is well taken as well. Coach Lab and Scotty were the XC coaches in reality but none the less, it was under Mitchell's watch. I don't "have anything against" the head coach as a person, and I admit I am biased because of the stature and respect that the Akron program had for so long in the 21st century. I've had some "up close and personal" time with her, and I scratch my head in wonder afterwards. When Coach Mitchell left, there were plenty of his coaches that were more than qualified to take over the program on a seamless basis. But then-Ad Guthrie decided to gut the staff and went this route. She was touted on her experience producing 'multis" champions, combined-event athletes, decathlon, pentathlon, heptathlon. During her tenure so far, Akron has not had a single combined-event athlete. Not one has competed in the Outdoor or Indoor MACS, and to my knowledge not one at the Akron Invitational. Her biggest accomplishment, IMHO, was to hire Randy Overby as her sprint coach. His success was followed by Tom Bojalad being hired for throws. These two are the driving force behind the recent successes. A good manager knows how to hire good assistant managers, I get it. You are right, my negativity should not gravitate to the fact that these athletes have won titles, both individually and as a team, in an NCAA DI program in a good solid Conference. They should be applauded and should get the recognition they deserve. I stand corrected, if it came across I was anti-Zips Athletes. It is, as you said, always a good thing when the Zips Win! Go Zips!

I'm right here. You can post all the glitzy photos on Instagram you want, but winning the men's MAC T & F title, which is a good thing, isn't as prestigious as you might think. Beating 3 other full-roster teams and a team featuring only distance runners is like winning the NEO Quad meet. I respect the athletes ad their accomplishments, but let's face it, Bismark, Garretson, a few throwers. That's it, and Garretson was a Mitchell holdover. Go on out to the TFFRS page and check out how the UA men's times and marks correspond to national ranking. Bismark is at #7, Garretson is up there. But there is only 4 marks/times in the top 150. Not saying the title isn't an accomplishment, but if you really believe this coach is the way to make T & F the Gold Standard it used to be, with 14 to 20 athletes qualifying for Nationals every season, then you are delusional.

I'd hate to see Markus go, but since he was either not considered for the AD job, or interviewed and didn't land it, I wouldn't blame him. Candace had already left for a better gig at the end of basketball season. I certainly hope we see a move as far as Women's Administrator goes. Someone who takes a full-time job then dedicates herself to getting a law degree on the U's dime is not needed. An administrator who actually shows up at women's events would be refreshing! And I agree with @72 Roo, Camden was the driving force towards some marketing efforts at the end of the basketball season. Meanwhile the marketing department of 2 was "out to lunch".

Now we're talking! The Sun!!! The old "original" B-Dubs was a great place after they tore up the Sun's side of Exchange. I. Am. Ancient.

I don't think there's a single coach currently on campus that would allow themselves to be "poached" by Chuck. Not. A. Single. One.

And remember, Friday night's game will be up against the Al Campbell Invitational Track meet in Stile! That'll knock attendance down by about 20 people 🙃

Well done! Looks like they picked up Ellen Kinnaird from the volleyball team, she got 60 seconds PT at EMU according to GoZips.com (isn't that 1 minute?). So we're up to 8 on the available roster. Winning with 7! Wow.

How ‘bout dem Zips?!?! What a HUGE win for our women in the MAC opener on New Year’s Day! Beat OU after a “ehh” first half. The Big Lisa is really starting to play her style and dominated the paint today. Way to go Zips WBB!

The "system" has drained whatever interest I've had for NCAA football completely from me. I'm hanging on by a thread to NCAA DI basketball, men's and women's. Two threads for college soccer. @Blue & Gold is right, how do you do your job as a head coach - why do you want to do the job of a head coach - even at a MAC level school? I've always poo-pooed the comments made here regarding dropping football, dropping back to lower level football, etc. But maybe there's a point where you say, "why not?" Especially while we are in the "budget crisis" we've been in since God knows how long? Maybe there's a point where you just say "Enough!", tell the MAC see you later, and explore dropping down? It's not like it's going to hurt attendance at games, maybe season tickets and sponsors money, and seat holders that want to say they belong to a DI program. Maybe the Good Ol' Days of seeing your team in a FCS or DII, DIII Championship race would bring in at least the same number of fans and make it fun again. This post-season of NIL and Transfer portal news is simply insane and unsustainable. When it all collapses, and it will, where will the Zips stand? Just like @Blue & Gold, this is just my humble opinion....

Ran into former Kent State track coach at the airport this week. He mentioned the MAC Indoor Championships had been moved from Akron to Eastern Michigan? I know it shows on GoZips.com that it is at Stile Fieldhouse on Feb. 28 and March 1, but the MAC website says it's to be hosted by Eastern. EMU website says it's in Ypsi. Anyone know what's going on here? He thought it had something to do with Akron not having an AD yet.

@Hilltopper is correct! This piece of punt lint is and should always be known as an opportunistic slut. What he did at/to U of A should have been a bigger deal, but the Press as we know it doesn't exist around these parts. Too "anger-inducing" to re-visit. Hot Dog Thrown!

It was a case of fatigued D at the end, but the striker showed great patience on the winner, Catamounts!

May not be a match or moment, but decorated our "tree" today, and hung this beauty our daughter cross-stitched/needlepointed for us way back in 2016...

I agree Clark, but what about their "other" alma mater? Why not schedule a home/home with the Zips in the future?

That is so cool! Where did you find all of that info? Like @72 Roo, I thank you for this. I think we need to do a better job of publicizing this for next season, great story.

Glad to be back in chilly FLA, but not freezing in Akron. Saw the results on-line of the Zips first home meet, and a few standouts popped up. Joy Nwokike, I'm assuming the sister of Adaeze,, popped the 3rd fastest indoor time in school history in the 400 and the 5th fastest in the 200, and this is really early in the season. Can't wait to see how she progresses as the year unfolds. Also Brook Boes had the 5th best weight throw in school history. Coach Bojalad and Overby producing results so far. Looked at the schedule, and just like my un-answered question about who the Haynes Lancaster Open is named after, I ask this question: No dual meet on the schedule with Kent State? That's a first....

Where is this "Akron University" he speaks of? If he doesn't know the proper name of the institution, I don't want him!!! 😉🤪

I concur with both of these posts. Being retired from the plastics and polymer business as a chemist in my "previous life" I have witnessed a steady decline in the original intent of this department and program. What was originally designed to train not only PhD candidates but undergrads and associate degree seekers to help populate a need for engineers, chemists and technicians slowly changed to a highly PhD driven program with most candidates from overseas. My company, as well as several other prominent Polymer companies donated cash and equipment, plus co-op opportunities and internships, hoping to see a return in employable, polymer science trained candidates for our industry. Even the American Chemical Society and it's Rubber Division, as well as the local Rubber Groups professional societies endorsed the programs and also provided financial support. But that supply dwindled as did support, as a lot of the rubber, plastics and polymer companies left the area. When we attended our daughter's graduation 5 years back the Polymer Science doctoral stoles were awarded, and reading the abstracts of their doctoral theses I was bemused at the subject matter and research, and thought how far away from the original intent they had strayed. And Hilltopper is right, it was a school top-heavy in Profs.

And the clock is ticking on what programs will have a shortfall for 2025, so don't count on saving a XC runner.

@csims0917 and @Spin, either of you have any idea of the 2025 baseball schedule yet? I know it will be like pulling teeth getting it from the Athletic Department. Just curious, as we're going to be back from FLA in March....

Trust me, The MAC has no desire to re-add Men's soccer, and I believe Men's Swimming and Diving and probably Track will be "un-sponsored" real soon. Wrestling too. I have a hard time with the affiliate teams on the wone's side for Lacrosse. This season Championship match featured two non-legacy teams. And why would we leave a solid conference with great competition and a dozen teams, which gets multiple NCAA bids for a 5-team league, where we either have to play 4 home-home matches to fill the schedule or find 10 out-of-conference matches. It's a blessing, as @ZippyRulz and @Reslife4Life mentioned above, that the MAC dropped men's soccer.

It appeared like the NCAA tried to take away some of the home team excitement at the match, as even the announcer's introductions were very muted and no excitement shown on the goal. No "GOOOOAAALL Akron!"

My take on tonite is that the coaching staff did a marvelous job in game prep and game plan. Most I’ve seen the fullbacks push up all season. Kamden and Josh were a presence offensively. And Wan Kuzri and Matt Dreas haven’t been this aggressive all season. I believe Jared knew they’d be keying on Emil, so he changed the look and style. They seemed more direct and centered rather than wide and crossy (is that a word? 🤪).

I agree with @fknbuflobo regarding Langstaff. Tough competitor and young. She will grow in to a solid CB and could play CDM as well, I believe. Ad I agree with @TennZip on their stats, mainly pitch time. The other 3 women were not factors in any game I saw. They got some pitch time early during non-conference play. I hate to be brutal, but will not be surprised if they end up anywhere, let alone a D1 program. If they could have contributed, I think Coach Jen would have played them in a heartbeat.

This guys seems like a decent guy to me....