brianwood@the2

I agree that it sounds too good to be true and also with your assessment of his eligibility situation. No way he could play this year. I'm just passing along what I heard in appreciation for all of the excellent info you've provided ZN over the years.

Was told by a member of the defensive coaching staff ... "Freshman All-American Cory James"

For what it is worth .... last week I was told that a 6th year will be pursued for AA

Umm ... I'm not sure that Gary Pride is suited to handle AA's role of gaining the "tough yards" between the tackles in the redzone and on 3rd & short (granted AA's role was much larger than that). At 5'9" and a buck eighty isn't he much better suited to the "slot". Besides there is no possible way that his hands can be any worse than Jeremy Bruce's. After the Syracuse game I knew Bruce was going to be a difference maker, I just didn't realize he was going to make a positive difference for the opposition rather than for the Zips. How about catching the freakin ball once in a while!

My recommendation on this one and it pains me to say it .... take Army on the money line +315. I can't remember the last time that the Zips were a road favorite, let alone a 10 point road favorite and unfortunately that is for a good reason. Army has had two weeks to prepare and the Zips are coming off of a tough home opener. My heart tells me to take the Zips minus the 10, my head tells me to take Army on the M/L. Trust me, I'll be very happy to lose the C note. Go Zips!

I am somewhat encouraged ... I spoke with some players & some people close with the program this evening .... here is what they said about some injured players:Bain - the players feel that he will be back by "conference play", the person who knows the program very well feels that he will be lucky to make it on the field this yearLively - consensus is that he will be back for the Cinncinatti game at the earliest, Can't St at the latestAlex Allen - is done for the year, broken hipFobbs - will be back soon, probably by the Cinci gameDevoe Torrence - is the real deal, JD would prefer to redshirt him but at this point he may take over AA's role as the "inside runner" If Jaq recognizes that opportunities present themselves to tuck it and run instead of forcing passes into coverage, Akron could become a very very solid offensive team

Okay - long time zips fan, have lurked this site daily for a long time ... first time poster (can't stay on the sidelines any longer). I make it out of the Q last night without self combusting, come home flip on the DVR and watch the end of the game. I was so pissed off about the ineptitude of the end of game management by the officiating crew that I marched up to my computer, looked up the phone numbers of Rick Chryst and Rick Boyages (Director of BB ops for the MAC) and left them a piece of my mind about #1) being sackless & #2) rewarding the Simpson sisters (Lamont & Lamar) for their incompetance by assigning them the MAC championship game (my boy Lamont forced OT up at Can't with the phantom traveling call against Linhart at the end of reg). My wife heard me on the phone, jumped out of bed and pulled the phone cord out of the wall. I've actually felt kind of guilty all day for some of the things that I remember saying on their voicemail ... but after this absolute fiasco, I wish that I would have been a little more pointed. P.S. You can reach Chryst's voicemail through the directory and Boyage is kind enough to leave his cell # on his voicemail greeting