MDZip

This the revenge tour - we can take out South Florida and then possibly finish off Northwestern in the regional final. Its not a bad draw there are a lot of other teams I'd be a lot more worried about and we avoid all ACC teams until the College Cup. This is the tournmament, we're going to face good teams every game.

That answers that - no Akron conspiracy!

Anyone seeing anything? I just have NFL talking heads on ESPNews.Edit - I just heard them mention it is coming up.

One particular game comes to mind!Now that's just mean!

Nice to meet you at the championship game. Seems like you are among the few who understands thatour seed is not about the Zip's record or who we beat. It is completely about how the NCAA operates.The field is composed of forty-eight teams seeded one to forty-eight. The number one seed gets thetheoretically easiest path to the national championship. Virginia is going to get the number one seed.The odds against the Zips getting a top four seed are astronomical. We are not a BCS school.There are NOT four number one seeds. Seeds one through four get home field advantage up to theFinal Four. Go back and look how I built the Elite Eight and see how the teams will face each otherto get to the Final Four.A fair number of posters on ZN were not around a few years back when the Zips dominated the polls.For more than half the season the Zips were a consensus number one. How surprised were we whenthe lofty NCAA relegated the Zips to the ninth seed. That forced Akron to go on the road in the thirdround to face eighth seed UCONN. After dispatching UCONN in a shoot out (at one point the Zips ledthat game 3-0) the Zips played number one seed Maryland and lost in a shoot out. Maryland breezedthrough the Final Four to claim the championship. Oh, did I mention that Maryland is an ACC school?I strongly hope that I am wrong in my assessment. Until I see it with my own eyes I will hold the NCAAas suspect. The NCAA screwed us last year, remember?While I do suspect that the NCAA is certainly biased for BCS type schools, this year will provide an interesting test. We did very well in those other years you mentioned, in 2005 we did indeed hold the top spot for four weeks, but in the final coaches poll before the tournament started we were ranked 8th. I can't find the RPI number but as I remember it was right around that same value and we were seeded ninth. Seems reasonable to me. Last year our RPI was 7 and we received a 5 seed. Also seems reasonable (we even went up a little). If we don't get a top four seed this year (and I do expect it should be #1) which would give all home games, then I'll believe any conspiracy theory you want. I just have a hard believing the NCAA has an admin whose sole purpose is to look for ways to screw Akron (or other non "BCS" schools). While the events in the past could look suspicious there is at least plausible deniability on the part of the NCAA as to why they happened (even last year the rule was in place about the home field and Akron did not have a backup field that qualified. Was it right? No, but there was a rule put in place to prevent it from happening this year because of Akron). So what I'm saying is that this year is a really good test case. If Akron does not get at least a top four seed, then the system is crooked. I don't think it is. We'll see at 5:30 today.Now if you want my opinion on FBS football, that is a whole different matter ...

Steve seems like a great guy, we were all excited when he joined the Zips, especially at his size. I love when he gets into games. Don't know what keeps him out but he does have some production when he gets in. Hope he gets some more playing time this year and that he really enjoys hs college experience (heck he already got to be a part of an NCA tournament team). And at 6'10" he might be able to talk directly to the pilots. Best of luck to him. :)I also think this is a good reminder to people who post on these boards. Family members do read tham and the attitude of fans can matter. Once a Zip always a Zip, I will always try to support anyone who decides to join UA. If I'm really annoyed I just won't say anything.

Are you related to the Zipmeister by chance? I think the Zips win by 10, AP used to be a pretty good team but they seem down this year. I think its great that Tim Carroll got a start, kid must have been working his butt off with all of the talent we have on the team. I think holding out Zeke from the start is a pretty good move too (but I want to see hm soon ).

At least we're only being shown on ESPNU so our embarrassment isn't completely nationwide. After seeing them last night, I wouldn't bet against Temple knocking off CMU in the MAC title game. Hey, how about those socceroos?

I assume you're not counting Can't then? I sometimes wonder how much of a factor it is for talent dilution in the state with all of the D-1A teams (even though most of them are at the bottom of the D-1A scale). Ohio has more D-1A teams than even California or Florida. Second only to Texas (11).

Is there any way we could change the title of this thread so it looks sarcastic now?

Yep, right before they get "tested".

Even if you only meant in a half, we still lose. The only thing we're "violently defending" at home is the urge to vomit!

Four unanswered TD's. 35-17.

D is not looking so good. Temple just scored another TD right before the half. Lots of big gains. Three unanswered scores. Nicely just threw a bad interception trying to keep a play alive and now Temple has the ball on our five. Ugh.

Deni Odifin with a 9 yard sack and Temple misses a long field goal. Amazing how he has come back from that nasty car accident.

Dashan Miller fielded a kickoff on the five that was going out of bounds, then stepped out of bounds. Instead of gettting it on the 40, we got it on the five had to punt, and now Temple is driving again. Once again, special teams not quite so special. Nice siren in the background just now too.

Temple just returned a punt for a TD. Temple up 21-17.

I realize most folks are at the game, but for those of us watching on ESPNU or just listening, that was an ugly touchdown we gave up (isn't Temple supposed to be a running team? Thank you Mr. Cobham, how about heading to class?), but on the bright side that was a terrific drive to tie the Game. Nicely looked nothing like a freshman and man we will miss Andre Jones next year. Stadium looks great on TV and announcers are very complimentary of Nicely. And of course kick it out of bounds on the ensuing kickoff.

Hey, what are you doing on my thread? :)Shots Zips 13-3Saves NIU 2-0Corners Akron 8-2Fouls NIU 21-11Offsides Akron 8-1

Whew! Nagbe ends it with a goal 47 seconds into the 2nd OT (assisted by Nanchoff). On to the MAC Championship!

Double crap! Double OT.

Crap, first OT game of the year. Its tough when opponents know you so well. I imagine NIU has packed the box on us. End it with a win quickly and hopefully gain a little experience for the NCAA tournament. I got the fouls on NIU exactly right, I'd have far rather gotten the goals correct.

Still 0-0 into the second half. Only three shots? Man, what's going on?

This is post 777 for me, which should be lucky so I don't wish to waste it. All I want is an NCCA tournament championship for men's soccer, another MAC title and NCAA tournament win for men's basketball, continued improvement for the ladies in both sports and a football team next year that wins and generates enough interest to fill Infocision. That's all.

I'm envious, wish I could be there for both of them!