a-zip

DB - I have always enjoyed, respected and agreed with your posts here (as I do now).

I wish we had a "like" button

They did have that goal and rightfully so but they got devastated by unforseen events. Things are getting increasingly better but it does not happen over night. Think of where we were, think of where we came from before Coach D became head coach. Hell, we did not win with Dambrot and Shaka as assistants. I am going to get off this site (which I am sure many of you will appreciate). To depressing.

Sounds like you want to take our football model GP1. Build a new multi-million dollar stadium, fire a coach that brought in top ranked recruits (with the Rubber Bowl), beat BCS teams, won a MAC Championship and hire a coach who is known to be a good recruiter.

Coach Dambrot did not have 60% of his anticipated starting line up (Diggs, Abreu, Walsh). He made adjustments through the year to get the longest winning streak in the nation, he made adjustments to win the MAC regular season and Tournament. That gets a good performance review in my book. You want to criticize his recruiting after he landed the top rated player the MAC has ever had (I like the rest of his recruits too). He is doing a great job with the hand he has been dealt. Let me tell ya, Shaka would get the same level players if he was at UoA and playing in the JAR. Man, it is fine to question things but I do not understand your thinking and perception of reality.

This is a valid point and I think supports Coach D. Last year, he did not have all the adversity and suprises he was dealt this year and we lost in OT. Last night was a perfect storm.

I like Coach Bobby Bowden's comment when he came in to support Terry. He said he was not a coaching genius, he said folks "it aint about the Xs and Os, its about the Jimmy and Joes" We need more Jimmy and Joes............

GP1 you can question anyone you want and I have the right to question the sanity of anyone who would doubt Coach D. Seriously, you look at where UoA was before he got here, look at his W/L record, the recruits he has brought in, the affiliation with Lebron, the national exposure we are starting to get, the possibility of a new arena, etc. - He is the man and we are lucky to have him. For anyone that thinks he was to blame for the loss and would prefer to see him gone - get used to the JAR, say goodbye to the Zeke Marshall recruits of the world and prepare to fall back in to basketball oblivion. I use the word classy after this loss and all the adversity that supersceded it because that is how it was handled. Heck, he has publicly supported Abreu after the guy ripped his/our hearts out and will support him personally in life (pretty classy). He has been classy in victory too - He is a great representative of our University. Next time we win, I will make a note to use the word classy. I do feel bad for Coach Dambrot and bringing his salary in to this is pretty cheesy. I feel sorry for him because he works his ass off to help the University, players and community. He is a competitor and will lose a hell of a lot more sleep over this than you and I. He did a great job making adjustments after AA screwed up and won the MAC Tourney. He entered in to a fight last night with his good arm tied behind his back and one leg to stand on. No coach could have overcome what has happened to this team in the last weeks - that includes Coach K, John Wooden or Shaka. Regarding his salary - what an absurd topic for you to bring in to this discussion. Yes, he does make a good living but compared to most of his peers he is not overpaid. He does not make as much as the guy he coached against last night and the majority of the coaches in the dance. I guarantee he would make a hell of a lot more if he accepted the jobs of the other schools that would love to have him.

Funny, The Perfect Storm kept running through my head this morning and many have you seem to be thinking the same thing. Lost starting PG weeks ago. Freshman PG gets first starts in Conference Tourney and then the NCAAs Starting guard rushed to hospital the night before the game, cannot play Back up center comes down with same illness right before the game And finally (most importantly) we play VCU and the Havoc pressure All of these factors are physically and emotionally draining, the timing is devastating. If they guys were nervous or panicked, they deserved to be. If we had played ANY other team in the NCAAs (including #1, #2, #3, #4 seeds) we would not have gotten blown out like we did. In football it would be like losing your quarterbacks and centers and then facing the nastiest blitzing defense (while having all world wide receivers). We did not have players that could get the ball to our playmakers. VCU is a real good team - they looked great (I am glad I did two brackets this year - one with UoA, one with VCU) One other thing - how dare anyone question Coach Dambrot!!!!!! He is the MAN and has handled all of this with class and dignity.........I feel bad for him. Overcoming stuff like this only happens in the movies.

It is nice for the kids to have someone to look up to like that. Great experience......good for you.

Sorry if my opinions on the other thread offended anyone. I LOVE THE ZIPS AND I LOVE THIS TEAM EVEN MORE NOW!!!! This is going to be a historic (EPIC) win and rally for this team. GO ZIPS!!!! BTW - The point spread has gone up to 9!!! I'm takin it.

Thanks to GP1 I have finally found a picture for my avatar.

We are 8.5 point favorites. Vegas still believes

Umm The GERMANS did not bomb Pearl Harbor. What kind of education are you guys getting at UA these days? ______________________________________________ Here you go "akronzips71" thanks for the early morning laugh. You should rent this movie.....it is really funny - :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Are you serious? This is the funniest post yet.

I called him a punk for doing such a stupid, selfish thing and scarring the university, fans, teammates and kids who follow. I am fully aware of "innocent until proven guilty" and I will eat my words and apologize if he is a victim here, but I am telling you I highly doubt it. If he is a victim and innocent, I hope he is vindicated. If he is guilty, I hope he gets what he deserves (nothing more).

No, you are missing my point. I DO NOT HAVE SYMPATHY and will not pray for the people my kids go to see play, watch on TV and wait for their autographs. Each one of the people mentioned above has done something illegal. Their impact, based on their fame, has varying degrees but their impact is negative all the same. Why should I care so much about them. All I am saying is that I care more about the people/kids they influence (negatively).

Take down the banners with him on them ASAP. If this is all true, I hope they lock up the punk and make and example out of him.

I think a lot of what you said is true in the sense that expectations are to go to the NCAA Tourney. When we win the game that clinches that for us, I am sure there will be a lot of excitement. I also have to believe there is a bit of a hangover from the streak ending and the possibility of an automatic berth ending. I know personally if we don't make it to the NCAAs, I will be dissappointed. I felt the same way when the soccer team got knocked out and did not win another championship in Caleb's final year. Was it a successful year for them.......yes, BUT expectations are different. I think the expectations for our basketball team are also different now and I want to see Zeke end his career in style and see these guys make a run in the tourney (which I think they can do).

We beat Penn State too, who just beat #4 Michigan. That should help

Huh? So you want them to build another JAR"ish" arena? What would be the point? THINK BIGGER

Hmmm, where was our soccer team ranked in the polls and RPI - I don't hold much hope on anything that has to do with the NCAA.

Our present is better - we beat them this year and have the longest winning streak in the country. Our future is brighter - We have coach Dambrot for a long time, a great core of players, great new players coming in and the possibility of a new arena that (if built to the same quality as Info) will make discussion of the JAR a moot point and make us even more attractive. Who cares about anything else? We are really good

yea, and everyone plays "we are the champions, etc, etc"...and all the other sports tunes, who cares...........they are fun, and the fact that we get to sing that we have won is FUN.

Bitter dude that wrote that and obviously has it out for the MAC. Funny thing is all he talks about is football, is his blessed WAC viable in any other sports?