zipboy

Only Div 1 school in the country not to have a conference home game yet.

Looking at players who quitHenry - senior who lost his starting jobPace/Crouch - 4th and 5th year guys who were going to lose playing time and came backButler - never really playedMcPherson - backup who was getting playing time, not sure what was going on with himI don't see that as losing control. I see that as guys frustrated with the lack of success of the team and themselves this year. Having 5 guys arrested would be losing control.Too often we focus on the negative. My 2nd best moment of the season (#1 being Kenndy's game winning TD) was watching Alex Allen on the sidelines on crutches during Walker's first carry and TD run against NTSU. Alex almost fell over hobbling down the sideline and chest bumping Andre after the TD. I thought at the time, man what a team guy. I have to think most of the guys on the team are like that or a Mark Groza who waited forever to play and is pretty solid. I look for a strong 2nd half.

A beautiful night for football, Zips win 27-10. Team is ready for the stretch run. Thanks for the updaes ITZ, good to have you back. It seems like Penn State did the same thing as Can't in a few crucial situations as well, got our LBs lined up against their speed guys and burned us.

Still half a season to go. Don't give up the ship yet.

I like getting series with the other high majors. Screw the "bigger" schools. I am sick of those 1 for 0 games.

I like Wood and Travis on the floor at the same time. One interesting observation in the first practice. Zips were running against an imaginery press. KD called out the play 3 times. Wood did the wrong thing each time. KD yelled for Romeo to take Wood's place. Wood walked off muttering and waving his hands. Romeo ran the play right the first time. Little things and attention to detail win the close ones.

Softball coach used faith, will to help survive breast cancer Friday, October 13, 2006Carolyn JackPlain Dealer Arts Reporter Sometimes being an athlete helps you win more than just races. The 2006 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event Saturday at Cleveland's Voinovich Park on marks a one-year anniversary for Julie Jones, who won the 2005 Komen competitive 5K run in the survivors' category. But it was four years ago that Jones entered, against her will, a much more serious competition. When she was only 32 and softball coach at Cleveland State University, Jones was diagnosed with breast cancer. Shocked though she was by the discovery, Jones, regained her health and, in July of this year, was hired as the University of Akron's head softball coach, a job that brought her back to her hometown. Here is Jones' take on how sports helped in her match against cancer. Q. When did sports first appeal to you? A. I remember being 3 years old and wanting football shoes. (Laughs.) I got 'em. Q. Why did you finally decide on softball after years of also playing basketball and running? -RD%> A. I've never been a competitive runner -- I was a basketball player who ran. I knew I wanted to play softball in college. It has a different strategy. You're on a team, but there are also skills you have to do all by yourself. It's such a mental game. Q. What effect did your breast-cancer diagnosis have on your competitive spirit, and how did working with a sports psychologist help? A. I would do visualizations [about conquering cancer]. I was doing something positive. -RD%>Q. After all the stress and treatment you went through, including a mastectomy, how did it feel to win the 2005 Komen competition as a survivor? A. They got everything, so -RD%>I was very, very fortunate compared to what other people go through. Mine was so easy that I almost felt guilty about running as a survivor. I thought, [Cancer] happened to me for a reason, and I need to figure out what that reason is. It's not the end of the world. I'm really proud to win that race because, with early detection, you can be as lucky as I am.

Ho hum another win for the Zips yesterday. Good to see the men win as well. Beating 4 MAC teams in the field is encouraging as well as MAC title is 2 weeks ago. Hopefully the snow melts by then. And congrats to Sediah for breaking 18 minutes.

Regardless of the season, Miami is still Miami. We could be 0-6 and this would still be a big game. I hope the players have as much hatred for Miami as we do.

Another nice post GoZips. I saw the last half hour of practice. A few additional thoughts.1. I liked how Kest ran practice. She did a lot of teaching, not much yelling, but was pretty intense. 2. Rianna Miller jumped out as being a bigtime player. She moves very well and looked good out there.3. Besides Miller, Laura Stephenson impressed me a lot. 4. My favorite drill, 2 on 2 in the paint, no dribbling or passing or fouls, got to rebound and put the ball in the hole. They beat the crap out of each other in this game. I hope to see some strong finishes to the basket after watching that drill.5. For the first time ever, I am actually excited about Akron women's bball.

Good post, a few other observations1. To reiterate, Ced looked really good - strong and fast.2. McNees definitely looks like he needs to tone up and shed some body fat. He was the only guy who looked soft out there.3. I actually liked Bardo. He looked much more athletic than I expected. I think he will help defensively this year. 4. Nice to see J Wood back in uniform.5. We are short but we are a physical team. These guys have definitely been pumping iron.6. No brace for Dials, he moved well, better than last year.7. Quade looked more defined and stronger than last year. He was thin but he looked stronger and more sure of himself out there.

We had a big mid season lull last year as well. We played pretty good football the first 4 games. Turnovers killed us against CMU. Zips have a couple weeks to right the ship. Given how mediocre the league looks this year, if we go 8-4 and don't win the East, we have a good chance at the 3rd bowl slot. Can't will not go undefeated in the league and will come back to the pack. Oct 21st is the biggest game of the year. The schedule breaks our way the rest of the way. I think the Zips will surprise us and come out swinging. There is a lot of football left to be played.

F them then. In 5 years when we go bigger, they can be whining all they want.

Akron offered all the kids who went to Div 1. The slap in the face last year was when Tyrell Sutton talked about how the hometown team, Ohio State, did not want him and he was looking for payback. His hometown team was the Zips and he did not give us a second thought. Delonte Carter will get his payback in a couple of years.

Another good showing by a young Zips women squad last weekend. Sediah Erskine is the real deal.

Still too depressed to read many of the posts. Just a couple comments to add1. 2 times I reemeber a mismatch where we had a LB on a receiver. One was exploited for a TD. The other was the roughing the passer.2. No huddle threw us off from the beginning.3. Why don't we no huddle? Offense seems to move the ball better in a hurry up.4. Kudos to Can't for the win, but no way anyone can convince me they have more talent than us. They sure played a better game and executed.5. Still in shock

For a guy to invest 3+ years and be a senior . . . I don't get him.

We have too much talent. Play our game and we win easy. My guess is Akron 24 - 0. Can't has trouble getting past the 50. But their D plays well and keeps it close. Domonkos hits 1 out of 2 FGs and all extra points. He has the talent, just needs to get it right above the neck. If he misses the first one, McClain will be kicking. 4 games is long enough to get your head together.

What about the most important question, will we have a Winking Lizard in the stadium?

Paid attendance will be around 17K with maybe 12K showing up due to the weather. I hope that I am wrong and it is higher.

Did anyone see that we are on our 3rd holder now as well?

Stamms predicted Akron 20-17 in OT. I at least give him a runners up.

If we are all paranoid, I am sure the coaches are. Let's get a good week of practice. The offense makes some quick strikes. Stec has a good day. Zips win 31-17.

I am sure that Mack knows what he has. He talked glowingly about KD in the pregame even though the original question was about womens bball.This year will show a lot to JD and KD. If we start getting 25K a game and 5K a game in bball, they may stay and really help build something special. Maybe that is wishful thinking and I doubt anyone would hold grudges if they left, but I think we have 2 special people here.

Good post Ryno. Here is my MAC power poll week 21. Akron - I have been waiting to put us here since forever. Our first signature win. Top 25 ranking is there for the taking.2. Ohio - Wow, what a shocker. Maybe they are actually decent. Nov 16th looms larger than I thought.3. WMU - Another shocker. I am glad we have them at home.4. Miami - Too bad Jared missed the chip shot to win it. A win over the big 10 is always nice. We still better beat those mothers.5. CMU - Didn't see the game, just the score. This may be our toughest game next to at Toledo. No let down, we win going away. 2-1 is a lot better than 1-2 heading into North Texas.6. Toledo - My jaw dropped on this one.7. NIU - What happened?8. Ball - Should have won9. BG - Can you name 5 junior highs in Ohio with a worse kicking game?10. Buffalo - More points in one game than all of last season?11. Can't - They almost won12. EMU - They did not almost win