MDZip

Does Dennis Kennedy have any eligibility left? At least it's only spring ball.

I set the DVR to catch the game while I was at it, and when I watched I when I got back, they only showed a few brief "look-ins" during the early part of the game but then switched over shortly after the last tie because all of the other games were concluded (or the outcome was not in question) since we were the latest start time of the 7 EST games. The bad part is that means the Mid-Atlantic area of the country saw only the worst part of the game (from our perspective) so it didn't leave a very favorable impression. Lots of folks I met were not only aware of the Zips but did have a favorable impression so at least we got that going for us.

So don't keep us in suspense, what the heck happend with Alamo? I, on the other hand felt like I'd hit a minor lottery for the week. Happened to find an $89 dollar flight to Portland (man, I love Southwest) but took a risk because it only landed two hours before the game started, but it was the only flight I could find for less than $400. I found one out of Seattle (also Southwest) the next day at noon for $110. Got a rental car for $79 (including the one way dropoff fee) and after I got through all of the planning my sister called and told me she was going (plus her niece lived in Portland so we stayed with her). We called the Akron ticket office and they got us two seats together (thank you). Met Mike Bardo's mom and aunts in line waiting to get in (very nice folks) and in general it could not have gone better (I even got off the plane first in Portland, the rental car bus was waiting for me and it took maybe five minutes to get the rental car). I should have bought a lottery ticket that day. Since I saved a whole bunch of money and had so much fun, I think it's time for me to pay back. I am sending in another sizable chunk to the athletic department to futher what they need to do. This whole athletic program looks like it's about to bust through. I hope my donation is the tipping point.

There are definite plans to do some upgrades at the JAR. I met one of the assistant athletic directors out in Portland and he was helping to raise the funds for the renovation. Didn't get a chance to ask what they were, though. I think a downtown arena would be great but it's a few years down the road, I'm afraid.

The Gonzaga fans were great folks, they made the game fun too. Lots of good natured trash talking, they showed the Zips respect and they came out and supported their team - it doesn't matter whether they attended the school or not. If all you ever have are alumni supporting your team, you won't have that big of a following, especially at a school like Gonzaga (or Akron). They captured the hearts of the fans in Washington, we keep talking talking about doing the same for Joe Akron.College basketball (and most sports) are a great deal of fun, but it's far, far from life and death. We're all in this together and most people recognize that. It's not even close to an us vs. them mentality, it's living in the moment. I'd take Josh Heytvelt (and just about any of the Gonzaga palyers) on our team any time, just because they chose a different school doesn't make someone the devil incarnate. Get some perspective, work with some folks who have been in a real war and that might just change some of the rhetoric.</more experienced fan rant over>

Well there's your admission of going to Can't, right there.

I think Racer is just a huge e e cummings fan. I think he posts some good stuff too, but sometimes if it's too long I'll skip it because it is hard to read. I'd suggest anyone who doesn't like his style doesn't have to read it. I'm betting his feelings won't be hurt.

Just got in the door from Portland. Tough trip going 6,000 miles in two days but well worth it. What an incredible experience. Zips fans were not many but were very into the game and very vocal. Zags fans were kind of sitting in stunned silence until they made their run and then it felt like it was a home game for them. It was quite fun walking around at halftime with the Zips leading. I believe the Zips have a chance to make it next year and hopefully it wil be a little closer so more people can enjoy the experience. As far as the game goes, Gonzaga is athletic as heck and very tall and the Zips did a great job holding them down and playing the game at our pace. Once it became a running game, that was pretty much it. There were a lot of great drives, hustle and tenacity which will bode well for next season.I think folks are a little hard on Bardo. His defense actually did cause Gonzaga to alter some shots and he did an acceptable job. I think a little confidence for him would go a long way. That's why I loved the dunk. Humpty was incredibly quick for the limited amount of time he got to play. He was the equal in quickness to anyone on the floor. Steve did a good job (other than shooting) in taking care of the ball and distributing it, but Humpty just adds another dimension when he's in. Great to be there celebrating with other Zips fans. I hope we get to do it again next year.

The point is not in the population numbers, but in the nationwide interest. North Dakota in itself might not have a lot of people but the more widespread the interest is, the more inclusive the tournament becomes thereby continuing to raise that level of interest. Delaware is already interested since the Blue Hens have made it before , but sadly South Dakota is still not part of it, having never sent a team to the tournament (in fact, the same is also true for only New Hampshire and Alaska, but Alaska does not have any D-1 basketball teams).

I was told that all 350 tickets that Akron got were sold. I just hope that means they all went to Zips fans..

Jay Bilas wrote a column for ESPN (it is an insider column but you can read the begining and get the gist of it), where he bascially is saying the NCAA would be even better if it just included the best 64 teams in the country and left out all of these "lower" leagues. He was responding to whether the tournament should be expanded. He also suggested that the "lower" (he doesn't specifiy who those are) leagues shouldn't be allowed to have a conference tournament so that only the regular season champ could be included and not take a bid away from a more deserving school (Jay, would you like to discuss Mississippi St., who by the way got the same seed as Akron? So I guess we should be proud of that, we got the same seed as the SEC champ!)No to Expansion, Yes to Quality<rant>Articles like this annoy me since it shows a lack of understanding of what the heart of this tournament (at the size that it is right now) is all about. It is about having the quintessential college expereince and about everyone having a chance to be involved and be interested. This tournament as it is set up right now just got another entire state (North Dakota) interested in it - do you think that would have happened if just the usual suspects had been included? As the tournament is now getting included is a heck of an accomplishment no matter who you are, whether a one or a 16 seed. More teams would dilute that and just including the "big boys" lessens the interest. The upsets mean something, they are what makes the initial part of the tournament fun. None of them will win it and a worthy champion will emerge (maybe not the best team but definitely a worthy champion) regardless. You have now involved over 300 schools in the process and because of their conference tournaments all of them have hope. If you count that as the preliminaries, then really all of the teams do make the tournament, it is just single elimination for all of the smaller schools along the way. I did see someone make a comment on ESPN of where do you think there was more excitement - at the Big East final where both UConn and Syracuse knew they were getting in or the America East final? I'd guess the latter. And besides none of the last few "bubble" teams are winning it all either anyway. </rant>

Me too but I think that may have been a fraternity pledge. :DI do remember two things that annoyed me that year. In a team capsule they pointed out that Holmes was the shortest starting center in the tournament (6'3") and asked whats a Zip? (and answered - Akron's chances of winning the tournament? Number of points they'll score?) so I was glad the Zips put forth an excellent effort.

Fortunately only we know that now - I'll bet a few other schools have similar "alumni" on that list - and how proud must WVU be for having Billy Mays selected for inclusion on their list? They should have just gone with the classic for us - Jason Taylor. Even non-football fans should know him from "Dancing with (I just can't finish that ).

I had a great uncle who was once President of OU (hangs head in shame ), they even have a dorm on campus named after him, so skeletons are everywhere.

I liked that he had a streaming video presence for the OVC. Maybe we can finally get some traction on that one.

If that is true that would seem idiotic, since we have an open date. I wonder if there is a chance Akron doesn't want to open a week earlier since we've been hyping the opening of the Info on Sep 19th.

CBS Sports said they will be showing every game for free in its entirety via the web in streaming mode so you can at least see it on your computer. Here is the link -http://mmod.ncaa.com/?source=mktg_09MMOD_EMwlbk

I'm in. Just took care of the plane tickets (got a very good deal from Baltimore to Portland and then I have to fly out of Seattle coming back) and called the Akron ticket office for the game tickets. I'll try to coordinate with some of you who are going beforehand to meet up. Go Zips!

Fox Sports put a little capsule in for every team in the tournament:Here is the One for AkronThe picture is kind of funny, if you didn't know what the story of it is it looks like Brett McKnight is celebrating while the game is stil being hotly contested.

I want Can't's streak of 20 win years to end. They didn't deserve it this year and just because some other new tournament got added, they get a chance to extend it. Go Oakland!

I'm actually mildly disappointed to draw Gonzaga. I like them and their program and I almost (almost ) hate to root against them. I'd much rather have squared off against a BCS school and taken them out. Ah well, can't control that and we'll do what we must.

I think we would have had a 13 had Mississippi St not won. I think they bumped us out of the last 13. Bet we're a 14 now.

The locations aren't static based on seeding though... i.e., Philadelphia and Miami aren't predetermined to host a 3/14 matchup, that's just ESPN's current projection.Good point - it depends on what is most favorable for the top seeds.

Clemson or UCLA. Both seem to be falling a little right now. Don't want to see Florida St again, Xavier, Kansas or Wake.

Philadelphia and Miami could only occur with a 14 seed. Even if we got as high as a 12, the options are still all of the same. If we dropped as low as a 15 (man I hope not), then other sites are possible. By the way, even before last night's game, our RPI was higher than Buffalo's, we were 111, Buffalo 116, so if Buffalo was slotted as a 13 seed, I don't see why it would be any different for us.