zipboy

You summed it up well. A few additional thoughts.1. As zip37 said, D was outstanding. The best overall 40 minute performance by the D in I don't know how many years. Even more encouraging, Zips played mostly man to man D. I love the zone but last year we did that out of necessity.2. I like the 9-10 guys we have playing. Ball movement was similar to last year, Zips continually found weaknesses and exploited a smaller WSU team.3. Glad to see Middleton get some minutes. He is a good player when he finishes off those drives. 4. Does anyone else's heart skip a beat everytime Dials dives for a loose ball?5. Interior D seems stronger than last year. Futch has made strides. Rebounding the last few games has been much better partly due to Linhart and Rybak getting minutes but also Preston and Futch being more solid underneath.6. Rybak is going to have one of those 4-6 in 3's in about 10 minutes of action and bury some people. He was more mobile and athletic than I imagined. Linhart seemed a little tentative.Overall good win. It would be nice to get that first one at Ball on Wed. Go Zips!

Ryno, 50K was paid attendance, 45K was who showed up through the turnstiles. The UA sold 9850 ticket the total allotment from bowl officials. Other fans had to buy their tickets at Ford Field. Since 45K showed up, Memphis brough maybe 2K, I estimate our crowd at 15-20K and the other 22-27K to be local fans.All in all a great showing of support. It remains to be seen how we travel to bowls in the south, but I have to imagine that the MCB would clamor to get us back next year.

BC is a perfect home opener and very winnable game. They played at Ball State in 2004 and won by a TD. Ball State was not a MAC power that year. Yes Boise State did hammer BG this year at Boise. But BC will be a top 20-30 type team. I have no doubt that at home that is a winnable game for Akron.

A nice write up - a few thoughts1. I think Miami is a sleeper. With Horace and Mason gone, I thought they would drop off more. Give them Buffalo's schedule and they may be undefeated.2. OU has the most talent but still only plays when they want to. For that reason, I don't think they run away with the league.3. Zips are a grind it out team, will be near the top all year long but are still a year away.4. Jay Smith on the hot seat.5. Too bad that Stovall got hurt. I liked watching him play.

Anytime you lose someone you feel bad. I wish Bubba luck. If he was unhappy, then I am glad he decided to look elsewhere. From a playing standpoint, he got minutes and shots. Not much more he could have gotten to make him happy. His game seemed to plateau from last year or even regress slightly. Shot selection was still suspect but when on, he could turn a game around quickly. I wish him well.

Good post and good topic starter QuickZips. The O line returning intact with the strides they made, gives me much hope for the offense next year. I don't see Getsy as the top QB in the MAC, but I do see him as a solid guy, probably 4th or 5th best. He just needs to stay consistent. I think that Jabari is ready to explode next year, hardworker, finally got comfortable, look for big things. On D, Rohr and White are tough losses. But I hope that we develop more depth. Who was this Wallace Pendleton who was defensive scout team player of the year? Another big 300 LB guy in the middle is huge. Last years D scout team player of the year was Kevin Grant so I hope for big things from Wallace. Also, a decent shot that Kiki will get his 4th year back and return. If Robinson or Terry turn out to be decent, our D Line suddenly has a lot more depth and size.

A few thoughts 1. Memphis was more athletic. They outplayed us for about 58 minutes of the game. 2. We always struggle to run the ball against a good D. The opening drive set the tone when we went for it on 4th down which I thought we should have done. We struggled running from then on. 3. Coming out party or Jabari? And another bigtime game for Kasparek. 4. We missed Chris Brown 5. I don't know why we did not run the no huddle more. Throughout the year, Getsy seemed to get in his rhythm calling plays at the line and running a no huddle. 6. Last 2 opponents show what a great kicking game can mean for a team. Our guys are solid, but those guys were a couple of notches higher 7 Thanks for a great year. It was fun to be talking football in Dec.

Not sure who all drove up vs who took the buses. I am usually not one to vent, but whoever was in charge of planning transportation should not be allowed to run anything ever again. Buses were scheduled to leave Akron at 10:30 which I thought was pretty tight to begin with. Buses actually left Akron at 11:00. We stopped at a service station which meant with no traffic at all, we would have hit Detroit at 3:00. Unfortunately, we hit traffic. We get off the buses at about 3:55 PM. There is a line of about 500 people at the Akron will call. Joe Dunn was on my bus, I don't think that he got in until halfway through the 1st quarter. I felt real bad for him and some of the players parents who missed a good chunk of the 1st quarter. My option was to stand in line for 30 minutes to get my ticket or buy another one which I did. Unfortunately all that was left was in the upper upper deck and it cost $45. This was such a feel good time and there were so many people who went who had not been to a game for a long time or been casual supporters. Even with the loss, a chance to have them there a couple hours before the game, eat, drink, mingle, what a priceless opportunity. Instead you had a bunch of people grumbling about poor planning, many of them had paid for the pregame party which they never went to, and everyone missed the all important pre game atmosphere of making this an event and not just a game. Next time, please let the athletic dept be in charge of transportation for students and adults. They seem to be the only ones around here that have a clue how to run an operation.

I listened to the first game and the last 10 minutes of the final 2 games. Not being there, but from what I gathered from KD's post game interviews and the box score, a few thoughts. Overall, a successful trip for several reasons. 1. Linhart especially and somewhat with Rybak showed they should get minutes in the normal rotation. It seemed like everytime down the stretch Linhart was getting a rebound or loose ball. 2. We showed that we could win with Travis on the bench and against a good team to boot. 3. Defense, hustle, and grittiness returned similar to last year. This team will only go as far as their D takes them. We are going to have to win ugly this year. 4. Finally beat our first name opponent. The monkey is off our back. 5. Bubba is starting to come around. If we had hit our FTs, we would have beat Clemson. Beat Wright St, and we are 6-3 heading into conference play. Not bad at all.

I heard on ESPN radio last night how many fans schools were bringing to their bowl games. Michigan is bringing a whopping 6,000 to their game. Wisconsin about 8,500. Navy about 25,000. 10,000 is a lot more than many schools are doing. Anyone says that we can't travel, F them.

Last article, I promise. Looks like everyone loves the guy. I hope that he and UAM hit it off. I don't want to lose UAM. Assistant AD Rhoades decides to stay at UTEP Darren Hunt El Paso Times UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull said Tuesday that the school gave Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director Mack Rhoades a raise after he removed his name from the AD search at Louisiana-Monroe. Rhoades, 38, a favorite of UTEP's staff and boosters, was one of two finalists for the position after interviewing last week. But he declined to return to Monroe for a final interview. "I really think he was their choice," Stull said of Rhoades, whose previous annual salary at UTEP was $80,400. "He was in line for a raise anyhow -- like a lot of our staff. We certainly tried to make it better for him." Stull would not disclose Rhoades' new salary since it has yet to be finalized. Louisiana-Monroe was expected to pay between $90,000 and $100,000. "My wife Amy and I talked about it in depth (Monday) and came to the conclusion that I would withdraw my name," Rhoades said. "At this time, (Monroe) is not the right move for us. We have a great situation at UTEP. It's a great university, we have a great staff and there's great people in the community." Rhoades said Louisiana- Monroe officials were "disappointed" by his decision. The school moved quickly to offer the job to the only remaining finalist, Alabama-Birmingham Senior Associate AD Bobby Staub. Despite Stull's comments on Rhoades being ULM's No. 1 pick, ULM President Dr. James Cofer said in a prepared statement: "(Staub) was the first to interview for the position and remains our top choice." Stull called Rhoades "a real asset" to UTEP's program and said it was important to him to keep his staff together. "We've been able to keep our staff together, for the most part, the past five years," Stull said. "(Rhoades) has been part of the program since I got here in 1998. We've been through a lot putting things together here, and he deserves a lot of the credit." Rhoades turned down the Evansville AD job last year and was previously a finalist at Sacramento State. He said he still desires to be an AD. "If the right situation presents itself, I'll take a look," Rhoades said. "But at this point in time, I'm not in any formal interview process with anybody else."

You could easily replace UTEP with Akron in the article. Once more into the breach, attempting to assuage El Pasoans who would otherwise like time, if only it stopped moving forward. Bob Stull was mentioned as a candidate for the athletic director’s job at San Diego State by media reports in the San Diego area recently – allegations he flatly denies. But this column is not about those rumors. It is not about how El Paso stacks up against other cities. It is not even about Bob Stull. This column is about time, and how much of it some El Pasoans need before they stop calling someone a turncoat, if and when that person leaves. Bob Stull spent three wonderful seasons at UTEP as its head football coach, improving each year until his last, 1988, when the Miners finished 10-3 and nabbed a berth in the Independence Bowl. In leaving for Missouri, Stull angered many in El Paso who learned of his decision only after he had shown up in Columbia, MO, and appeared on television, taking off an overgarment to reveal his new Mizzouwear underneath. Skeptical when he returned to UTEP as athletic director in 1997, some of those fans were in full whine when the SDSU rumors began flying. “Should’ve known,” say the Eors, who enjoy proving themselves right, even when they are not. And they are not right. Rather, like many El Pasoans, they have failed to take notice of how times have changed at UTEP and in their own city. Let me say before proceeding that I enjoy El Paso and its style. But as El Paso pulls and tugs on the arms of the clock trying to halt its advance on everything from the Miners to mijo moving out, I fear a backlash of time welling up like a tsunami, ready to roll over El Paso before being absorbed by cities that move as fast as it does. What those who demand Bob Stull’s loyalty to UTEP want is for things not to change when it is all going so well. What they fail to realize is that the changes Stull and his staff have made in the Miners athletic office – more competitive salaries, solid marketing, a department able to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s – are what makes it a more attractive place for good coaches. And good administrators. In essence, Stull has made himself replaceable. Many Miners fans bristle when the term “stepping stone” is used to describe UTEP. But if UTEP is not a stepping stone, where does that put the school in the NCAA pond? Below water, where the Miners found themselves for many seasons, excepting Don Haskins’ great basketball teams in the 1980’s. As heady as they were, even those days were about it for program accomplishment – a lone reference on a short résumé. Until Stull as football coach. Until Stull as athletic director. Speaking of Haskins, the Bear’s 38 year tenure here was an anomaly but was embraced as the ideal. Few coaches were as loyal, fewer still were as good. Most you would not want to stay for 38 years. Any Jason Rabedeaux fans left around these parts? Didn’t think so. Stull has helped forge a different ideal: Change is good. For those still upset about UTEP being labeled a stepping-stone, remember: These days, every school is a stepping stone, as football coach Nick Saban recently proved by moving from one of the nation’s biggest football factories at Louisiana State to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Stull came back to UTEP from the University of Washington – itself a big-time program – with that in mind. Don’t think Stull brought Senior Assistant Athletic Director Mack Rhoades with him to interview coaches for every important hire of the last few years just for kicks. He is grooming Rhoades, who wants to be an athletic director himself one day. If the San Diego rumors are true, perhaps Rhoades will get his chance here. As UTEP is discovering, the only way to get ahead and stay there is to oil the Miner Machine well, fit it with solid new parts when it needs them and keep it running. Like clockwork.

June 24, 2004 MONROE, LA-Mack Rhoades of Texas-El Paso-the third candidate to interview for the University of Louisiana at Monroe's athletic director's position--met with university officials and community leaders Wednesday. At 38, Rhoades, the executive senior associate AD at UTEP, is the youngest of the three candidates who have interviewed for the ULM job and is the second to interview on campus this week. He follows Alabama-Birmingham's senior associate AD, Bobby Staub, who interviewed June 7, and former Kansas director of athletics Al Bohl, who interviewed Monday. Louisiana Monroe is seeking a replacement for Bruce Hanks, who announced in March that he planned to resign. Rhoades oversees fund raising, marketing and media relations at UTEP and is also in charge of licensing, television, radio and season ticket sales. Rhoades dramatically increased football and basketball season ticket sales and game attendance during his tenure at UTEP. A University of Arizona graduate, Rhoades received his Master's degree from Indiana University in 2002. His work experience includes stints as the Athletic Marketing Assistant at Yale University and as Athletic Advancement Officer at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Bohl, a Bowling Green State University graduate, received his Master's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and his Ph. D. from Ohio State University in Columbus. Bhol served as AD at the University of Toledo, Fresno State, and the University of Kansas. Bohl is currently writing a book for publication later this year. Bohl significantly increased the annual athletic fund-raising while at Ohio State and Fresno. At Kansas, game attendance increased dramatically during Bohl's tenure and his duties included fundraising, media relations, recruiting and hiring coaching staff. ULM's interview process has included meetings with President James Cofer, the president's cabinet, the AD search committee, the faculty athletic council, athletic department staff members and officers of the Indian Athletic Foundation, the university's chief athletic fund-raising organization. No other candidates are scheduled for interviews at this time.

Steve French said today that the new AD may be named sometime next week. Just a thought but Lolla was on the search committee. Is he against the new hire?

Just a thought, I would not mind seeing Sowers get some minutes in PR to see what he could do. He is pretty athletic and with Conyers out for the year, we need some athletes.

I agree, thanks much.

I was shocked to see Lolla go. I admit that I never paid much attention to soccer other then checking scores on gozips.com until this year and never attended a match until this year. So a lot of you guys know more than I do. I am not going to be surprised if JD leaves in the next year or 2. He doesn't have strong roots in the area. The monetary difference for JD will be overwhelming. Lolla has been here 13 years and is loaded for next year. If he was going to leave, I figured that he would go to a better program than Louisville or wait one more year. He was the dean in the athletic dept. During the biggest week in Zip history a few weeks ago, Dambrot on Zipslive wished football and soccer well. He said, "And I wish my guy Kenny Lolla luck in bringing back a national championship." I consider Dambrot to be Mr Akron. You could tell that he was ingrained with everyone. To me this is like CK leaving to become a U Conn fan. Blindsided. Whether it was money, winning a championship or whatever, I wish him well. I wish that he would have stayed. Another 2 or 3 years like this past one and we really would have something special. Zip soccer has been good for a long time well before Lolla. We should get a good coach. Looks like Sanchez is a no? He seemed to be a good recruiter. ZIP, any inside scoop?

Pro Scout would give an approving nod. We finally got a TX kid.

Not sure where he ends up, I am sure that a lot of people are pulling him in different directions. I always thought that if KD was coach and Lebron did go to college, he would have done Akron. It takes a special person to be the first one to say that I am going to stay here and go to Akron. Bonzi Wells did that with Ball State. Wells may be the one to say that for Akron. Get reps, play early on, better facilities than the bucks. close to home, this could be a good situation for him. Buckzip, you made one telling comment at one time that you did not see Akron on the same level as osu. And you are a pretty big Zip fan and a great contributor to the board. And I think you said what a lot of people feel that osu is the real team people root for and Akron is the local team that people root for. If we get a Chris Wells and a couple others like him, does this change your perception? Do you start thinking of Akron as a legitimate top 25 team? Can we be like an Auburn or Pitt to challenge the Goliath in the state down the road as an equal? I know that I am getting way ahead of myself and most people might smirk at this but I still say why not? And I am definitely not trying to rile anyone up, just curious on people's thoughts. I was in Dayton last weekend and out at bw3. SEC title game and ACC title game were on. Dayton was playing Grambling in basketball. Guess which game was on 2 of the 3 big screens and which game everyone was watching. You got it, the Dayton game. Why can't we be like that in football and basketball?

One more thing, who the new AD is probably has a bearing as well if JD is here for 2 more years or 5 more years. I trust Proenza to get the right guy, and I hope that UAM gets a look. Anyone else that we get will currently be in a similar role as UAM is but at a bigger school. We need any AD with good marketing skills who can connect with the fans and business community. UAM has shown that is his strong suit. It is amazing, Mike has only been here for maybe 6 years but I feel that he is one of us. He wants Akron to win as much as we do.

JD denied the rumors emphatically on Friday. We all know anything can happen. Logic says that JD needs another 2 good years before he leaves. Look at how long Pinkel, Walker, and Hoeppner stayed before getting plum jobs. You can stay in the MAC for 8-9 years and win big and jump right into the Big 10 or Big 12. I do think (hope) that he would not leave for any job. He knows that he is going to start kicking some serious a$$ over the next few years and it may be nice to win for a few years before starting over. I also believe that JD is genuine when he says he really wants to build something here. He cares for the community and knows what he can do. That said he has never stated that he plans to be here for 10 years, 20 years, or even 2 more years. When the right job opens up, I am sure that he will look at it. My hope is that we can get his base to Frank Solich type near the $250K range. I think his base is $165 now. Then when a mid level Big East or WAC school with inferior facilities comes with $350-$400 offer, he turns it down and waits for truly good situation. And believe me, I don't claim to have any inside knowledge, I met JD several times at functions but that is about it. Just seeing how he carries himself and some wishful thinking on my part that he stays a little longer than expected. On a final note, not sure why Elton put that in there. The MAC title game article was great. I bought the Beacon 2 times in the last year, the Thanksgiving day game and the day after the MAC title game. It will be at least another year. On Thanksgiving the whole article was about Can't's underachieving for the year and what can they do. 5 games had just went our way and we were playing for the MAC title and their article is on how bad Can't is. That shows that they have no clue on the pulse of the city or they really do want to be negative. The day after the biggest win in Zip history there were NO quotes from anyone in the Beacon about the game. How is that Elton had quotes from everybody and I thought wrote a story that really told captured the spirit of the game? So I am done at least for another year with the Beacon. Side note, I saw Bob Dwyer, a columnist for the BJ on TV a couple of weeks ago. He said they have a 19% profit margin just static to shrinking growth and one big new revenue generator is online ads. They get a lot of traffic to their site. I doubt that we have enough firepower to hurt them, but I honestly have gone to their site only 3 or 4 times in the last 3 months. I get all of my info from here, gozips.com, and the PD. I wish I could say that I am intentionally boycotting their site, but I don't even think about going there anymore for information. Elton is a talented writer. If the column was to spread gossip and get a charge out of people that is one thing, if it was to sabotage recruiting that would be another.

Listened but did not see the game, so I am anxious to get others opinions. Glad to hear KD in the post game. Looks like we need to change our attitude and play some D. Remember last year when we hit MAC play, our D was suffocating at times. Same guys, we should not be that soft this year. We played solid D early in the year and Louisville is Louisville. I am going to chalk it to up to a bad day. Study hard for finals, and win a few in Puerto Rico! One other comment, KD mentioned playing some guys who play better D and sacrificing some offense. Possibly less minutes for DP and Bubba and more for Cedric?

Not sure the Conyers situation but to add to the comment above, I rode on the bus to Detroit with a former football player who played late 90s. He said that his advisor had no clue what was going on. The advisor had him sign up for 15-17 credit hours during football and he was a computer science major. He ended up dropping a class or 2 the first couple of years till he figured out what made sense. Guess it depends who you get.

Maryland smashed SMU 4-1 in the semis. Looks like our match may have really been the title game.

I hope George gets it. He needs to beef up his resume a little bit