Big Zip

Character issues aside the kid sounds like a great pick up. If the kid can learn his lesson Can't will have grabbed a great player with quite a few years of eligibility. I would have loved to see him go somewhere not in the MAC.

I thought UCLA was going to be a home game - wasn't that in a different thread?

Just checked the weather for Saturday...are you serious? 70 and Isolate T-Storms on Friday and 42 and showers for the Spring game.

@Hilltopper -- go back and read your question I was answering. Do you really believe that we don't play to win those out of conference games ? Are we just looking at them as some kind of practice scrimmage?

@Hilltopper KD has repeatedly said the Bracket Buster games don't matter if they win because they have to win the conference. Also, on the radio interview KD did and Trimmy is talking about he was not talking like this interview at all relative to winning NCAA tournament games -- he was talking about the unrealistic expectations of the fans. Sounds like someone got to him. I'd really like for GT or another writer to listen to the interview he did with Kiley and Booms on 92.3 the fan (it was archived on their website) and ask him why all of a sudden the change from him.

I would still love to see a stadium across from Canal Park and really take up that area as University. One key item in making that happen would need to be the demolition of the Mayflower. I know there is an issue with where to put the tenants, but that is not my job to figure out what to do with them. Move them into the YMCA building.

Of course because your guy couldn't even get on the field and quit. CK your love for PN7 was beyond odd last year.

Wow glass half empty because I was pointing out the facts of the situation? I'm happy he is staying but I can't believe there is a single person on this board that would forgoe a $250,000 raise. By the way I've watched this team since the Huggins era. We've made significant progress since then, but I'll continue to say they haven't met expectations lately. We've already had that discussion.

Why is the $250,000 extra in pay not a factor for you guys? Keith is not Shaka Smart (34) or Brad Stephens (35) he is 54 and I don't know if he is going to get a lot of opportunities at that age. If the contract is for seven years -- we are talking $1.75 million dollars extra (minimum) over the next seve years. By the way what makes you thnk if Keith were at Duquesne McNeese doesn't stay at Duequesne? I'm not sure if McNeese transfers if five of the kids on the basketball team weren't shot around the time he was supposed to arrive. Wasn't he already committed to Duequesne? Does Zeke end up there too if KD was at Duequesne? Heck does Zeke even end up here without Boals?

A-10 is a better basketball conference than the MAC. KD wouldn't have football sucking up his funds and if the pay is $600k that is quarter million dollar raise! The arena is worse than th JAR. The location of the University is terrible. He would be starting from scratch. I would lose sleep if the offer was made to me. Money and multiple-bid conference would sure make it appealing.

You don't have to try to be a negative nancy....you simply are being a negative nancy in this case. After the Zips won the MAC Championship the coverage was never this thorough or well done. To give credit to Bowden is patently dishonest. The ABJ didn't have to cover this program and didn't have to change the way they covered this program they did they deserver credit.

I'm weirdly happy to see kids leaving the program. If you don't want to be here, if you don't think this fits you then please go. The players we'll have left will be guys who want to be a part of this program and turn it around. My only concern is what impact does it have on graduation rates.

I took a look at this string from awhile back and wanted to revive it so others might be able to offer a differing opinion after 5 months. George's coverage of the Zips has been what I've always wanted from the Beacon Journal. I would like to thank the ABJ and GT for their work and I'm going to look forward to it as we move through the rest of the year. Articles like the one posted today on Dylan Brumbaugh are the articles that allow a fan base and community to get to know players and develop a deeper connection to the team. They are the type of articles you should get in a city covering a school of Akron's size. I look forward to reading GT and I'm a little disappointed when he doesn't write anything. I'm not sure I ever thought I would say that about the ABJ. Thanks again George and keep up the good work!

Zach was playing with the ones and twos at practice and from what I understand pretty excited about the opportunity. I heard about this Saturday morning. If I remember right Zach separated his shoulder at the end of basketball season and this is the other one. Heard he will be back for the fall.

Although I disagree with zip403 regarding his assessment of the coaching staff I do find it quite interesting to see a non-starter from a lower level school show up and be in the mix for the starting job. We can say it is talent or system regarding the current QBs but consider Moore was recruited by other Big Div. 1 schools originally and landed here because he was kicked off his HS team during his senior year. Nicely on the other hand played in a similar system at Willoughby South zipped the ball all over the field. I actually think the complete ineptitude of the previous coaching staff may have stunted their growth considerably. Nicely may be done career wise at Akron and I don't think that would be a bad things for all parties involved. With all this said and done I would love to know what GT has seen at practice from the QBs and what he believes the different among the quaterbacks is. I'd actually love to get this input from the QB coach, but I don't think he will be willing to be nearly as specific as a member of the media watching practice. Does Moore look much more comfortable in a system he is more familiar with, does Dalton simply understand what the team is trying to do and does Nicely just look lost? Your insight is appreciated GT.

"The spread offense that JD Brookhart ran was the "look/look" offense that although the team never huddled they always seemed to use all the time between snaps. Does TD's offense have a desired speed to operate? Do they have an expectation to get a play off every "x" number of seconds? What is that time frame?"

From watch ZD play basketball in HS I always thought he had great hands. I'm glad to see that appears to translate to football. At 6'2" that is a decent size WR and with him being a 21 year old freshman he should be able to provide leadership to the unit.

Dave this doesn't sound like the NIT Cheerleader we heard from a few weeks ago. Funny how perspective changes in a few short weeks.

Wow Cap'n watch out you're going to get nailed for this response. They will call you ungrateful and a hater. Where is Dave in Green - I'm sure he will respond to this and I'll look forward to his respone. Not to mention a certain players's mom.

Chima Travel (the sponsor of your Akron ticket office) would be your best bet. Z.I.P. every time the Alumni Association tried as you suggested the participation by alumni was an utter failure. Don't blame this on the Alumni Associaiton. If I understand correctly the Alumni Association is not in this type of business any longer the Athletic Dept has taken it over. I was on a charter flight to Purdue with the team and alumni -- barely had enough participation to fill half the plane and the price was quite reasonable. A trip of this magnitude would be an extremely difficult sell with the apathetic sports fans Akron has. The Alumni Association has a hard time getting people to show up for events on campus.

If you are Groce are you happy and sad at the same time. I mean you are the third choice at this point. Still surprised Shaka turned Mike down...I thought that would be a good fit. If Akron wins the Championship game and takes the Zips to the sweet 16 is he the third choice instead of Groce?

Z.I.P. your love of the non-mainstream sporting events has me picturing you as the guy from Dodgeball that got the Average Joe's Gym in the Dodgeball Championship. Do you have a subscription to Obscure Sports Quarterly?

Love the attitude and just the way Bowden carries himself. 180 degrees different than the last guy. On a side note: Got a call from the ticket office yesterday asking me if I was excited....what a weird conversation. I've got my materials in the mail. I'll send them back with my check soon enough they don't need to call me. The price is still cheap but the PR is horrific when you raise ticket prices after forcing your loyal fans to pay for your mistake. Wistricill made one of the worst hiring decisions in the history of College football and thanks us for paying for tickets during that abomination he raises prices. I hate that guy and hope Bowden makes him look like a genius just so he will take his carpetbagging ass out of here. What is funny is I was content paying for the tickets and the increased prices. I wasn't happy about it, but the phone call yesterday asking me if I was excited made me angry. I don't know why. I guess giving me a venue to voice my complaint actually brought it all to the surface.

I was watching Dan Patrick today and this topic came up with the local Cincy writer. He said the people in Cincy don't really think they are from Ohio they think they are from Cincy. He also said the rest of the state really sees them as from Kentucky.

The Zips have the opportunity to win every game, they have the opportunity to win the NCAA championship...opportunity and reality are the not even close unfortunately.