MDZip

Coaches had these guys ready to play, Williams has looked very good at QB, we need better receivers. They're killing us.

At that age we were playing flag football. Certainly gave you a good taste for the game to see whether you were interested in going to the full contact version. Seems like a good compromise.

GAME DAY!!! 12 hours and 45 minutes. I just saw an ESPN vignette on the new season, they mentioned it was a new chance for 26 FBS coaches and highlighted a half dozen, only one of whom was not a BCS coach. I'll let you guess who it was. I am so jealous of those of you who will be there tonight. Go Zips!!!

I'm disappointed, but he has given seven great years to a University to which he had no official ties and he didn't leave for another school, he left for a job in the pros. Can't be unhappy with any of this and good luck to him. The good thing about this timing is that it allows a search to start right now, so recruits may still know who they are going to be playing for soon. If this had all waited until December, it would have really put a crimp in all that. Caleb is a class act and maybe he recognized that as well which is why he is staying through the end of the season. The first person I'd have on the search committee is Caleb Porter.

And "We need to get better".

Nope, ESPN already has their game at that time South Carolina at Vanderbilt. Doesn't look like any of their other channels are going to be used. Toledo, BGSU and Ohio all got "real" ESPN games this weekend. Still happy it is on ESPN3.

1 day, 21 hours and 15 minutes, getting dadgum close now!

And nobody is going to mention that coach Bowden somehow managed to go 29-9 in his TWO years at North Alabama? Must have gotten some sort of special NCAA dispensation. I'm sure these guys try to get this stuff out as quickly as they can, but there are an awful lot of things that an editor/proofreader would catch. Or perhaps, its just not worth the time for an Akron article.

Here is what it said about Zeke. And for those of you who didn't think Zeke was a potential NBA talent, there are apparently several folks who would disagree with that. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Zeke Marshall is a video gamer by heart, a computer information science major at Akron. He didn't start playing basketball until he was in eighth grade, and only then it was by his mother's prodding. Some people learn quickly. Both NBADraft.net and Draft Express currently have Marshall as a late second-round pick in their 2013 mock drafts. He's already Akron's all-time leader in blocks, ranking in the top 20 nationally in that category the last two seasons. Offensively, the Zips have a balanced system that saw seven players average at least seven points per game last season, so Marshall isn't likely to blossom into a 20-PPG man overnight. Still, games like his 17-point night against Northwestern in the first round of the NIT suggest that the potential is there. Marshall made a strong improvement in his shooting stroke last season, evidenced by his free-throw percentage increasing from 58.1 to 70.6. Akron opens the season in Puerto Rico against an Oklahoma State team that is long on talent but short on size. Marshall could have a chance to overpower the smaller Cowboys and open a few eyes on an ESPN network. By season's end, he may be more than the MAC's best-kept secret.

That price is wrong - b***h! - paraphrased from Happy Gilmore.

After the last two years (and we really need a catch phrase for that time - "The coach who must not be named"?, "The Unwonder Years"?, "The time of disease and pestilence"?) if we can get to three wins, I think that is cause to rush the field. I really do think this team will be better, just don't know how many wins that will translate into, but for now I trust Terry Bowden about the same as I trust Caleb Porter, Dennis Mitchell and Keith Dambrot.

I guess this pretty well confirms it. Welcome Pat!

College Soccer News has the Zips at #6. NIU at #26, WVU in the ORV category (would be #35 based on their position).

Caldwell 1st team, Barson 3rd team on College Soccer News Preseason All-American list. Former Zip McKauly Tulloch also named to the third team.

A little surprised not to see Andrew Pratt as one of the 2nd teamers since he was reported to catch everything thrown his way, but he is still a freshman. I am pleased to see Hudson freshman Quaison Osborne worked his worked into the backup LT spot. Way to go, former Explorer.

Or perhaps the shame of knowing he undeservedly won it over Keith Dambrot finally got to him.

Nice article on Terry. If we had "lucked" into Paul Winters, there is no way the Zips would be getting this kind of publicity. As they say, sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Also on the same CBS sports site Tom Fornelli has a good article on the MAC and he predicts the Zips will finish 5th in the East. I think that's the highest I've seen anyone publish yet.

He won a national chmapionship and actually played in that game with the Zips. I don't see how he could not be counted as a former Zip. Perry Kitchen only played one season and then departed and I don't see the same discussion about him. And Z.I.P, of course Barson is a natural center back. I believe his parents named him that to give him the initials C.B.

I saw a suggestion about moving the Paterno statue in front of his Library to remind people to keep quiet at all times. Ouch.

I just signed on - also going to run over to the Virgin Islands the next couple of days following the tournament. I signed on by myself but would not be opposed to sharing a room if someone else is going as a single and wants to save a little cash. Preference given to attractive, single females first. ;-) Originally I thought my son would be able to join me but he probably can only join me for the Virgin Islands portion.

I know lots of Penn State graduates and they are really hurting right now. Here was a piece written by an ESPN employee for CNN by a Penn State graduate that sums up some of those feelings. Here is a little telling excerpt: "And weeks ago when my son received his very first college acceptance letter from my alma mater, Penn State -- a moment I thought would be one of the pinnacles in my life -- we both tossed the letter aside and prayed that he'd get accepted into a "better school." (Our prayers were answered.)"

George, ignore the whining minority, most of us love what you and the BJ are doing for Zips sports right now. Interviews with recruits now? Heck, before we were happy to get an occasional interview with the head coach. Love what you're doing. Keep it up.

After going back and looking at this one again after seeing George's second interview with the new QB, I remembered also being impressed by this: "The facilities are top-notch,” said Guiser, a 6-foot defensive back who intercepted 16 passes at Greensburg Central Catholic during his career. “They really don’t get any better than Akron. The campus is gorgeous.” For those of us that remember the campus as just a bunch of large concrete blocks dropped in the middle of the city, bisected by the four lane Buchtel Avenue, this is truly amazing. We had Proenza's vision to remake the campus and now we finally appear to have the right architect to have some football success, you have to be excited about the direction things are going.

I think we have a new contender for the title.

I believe Csonka (the article got his name wrong) wrestled for Stow High School. And I'd never want to face even a high school aged Ray Lewis on the mat.