Zips Win!

Thanks for the kind words above. This board has nothing to do with being an internet tough guy. I'm one of the few people on this board that if you were to pass me on Route 8, you would know exactly who I am.. There is no hiding here...We've had these arguments about my love for the buckeyes about a dozen times now...My stance has always been the same.While it's obvious that I would never root for tosu to win any sporting event, that is about all the "hate" you will ever see from me towards tosu.My disgust is truly with those that have zero affiliation with the school and yet they continue to support them. Specifically, I'm referring to UA students, UA faculty and staff and most importantly, UA alumni.Can I be any more clear? UA, UA, UA.....Even OSUgrad 01 mentions that people need to stop the OSU hate and worry about Akron's program...Well, exactly who is supposed to worry about UA's program? I'm of the opinion that we need UA students, fac/staff and alumni to support our program, not OSU's. As long as there continues to be UA people(defined above) supporting tosu instead of UA, I will continue to "hate".... Finally, here is where CB needed to step up and say " OSU was my first choice, but I didn't get an offer. I had a great experience at The University of Akron and that is where my loyalties lie."

Exactly my point. How or why would anyone know he went to Akron? All he talked about was tosu...Guys like CB need to get in front of the media and promote UA. It would go a long way to validating our program and then maybe he wouldn't be asked such a question...I think a lot of the problem also stems from our constantly changing Athletics Department staff.If you recall under Mike Thomas' administration we had a spring game where Frye, Blackburn, Taylor and a bunch of other former Zips attended. I guess they put a big effort into getting football alumni back into the UA "loop."I recall one administrator telling me - "I called Jason Taylor and asked if he'd like to make a donation. He said 'sure,' and then said...'no one's ever asked me before?"In the short time Thomas' group was here they did more than build the practice facility and get the stadium off the blocks. Look in the JAR. All those coaches murals in the corners were installed during that time. All the championship banners hanging from the rafters were raised during that time. Eric McLaughlin's jersey was retired during that time. Thomas' group did a great job of bringing former Zips back into the fold, and also promoting the history of Zips athletics that had been forgotten in some Memorial Hall closet for a couple decades.Then Thomas left, and it all stopped. UA needs to be in Blackburn's face. Give the guy t-shirts and caps. Invite him back for the golf outings and spring practices. Ditto Hixon. And Frye. And others. And if they can't make it in one season, you call them back in 6 months and try again. It's pretty simple.If you see Chase Blackburn wearing an OSU shirt underneath his jersey, I blame UA, not Chase.Who cares what he said? The guy grew up in the Columbus area. 99% of the time that person grows up rooting for OSU. Dont rag the guy for being honest. Is he suppose to avoid the question and say....I went to UA damn it, F OSU!!??? Hell no.I grew up a Browns fan. If I got drafted by the Steelers I would still be a Browns fan inside. You cant just get that out of you. You mistakenly assume his loyalties lie with OSU and not UA when that simply isnt true. I have said it before and I will say it again....the success of UA has NOTHING to do with OSU. If you believe that OSU make us a lesser program then you are sadly mistaken.F-U OSUgrad 01Go away...

Exactly my point. How or why would anyone know he went to Akron? All he talked about was tosu...Guys like CB need to get in front of the media and promote UA. It would go a long way to validating our program and then maybe he wouldn't be asked such a question...

Did Butler sit around and wait for the rest of the Horizon to get better?Did Boise State football sit around and wait for the rest of the non-BCS football programs to get better?We need to improve ourselves. What Eastern Michigan or Ball State choose to do should have no bearing on the Zips. Like Butler's done to the rest of the Horizon, we can make the MAC our bitch if we make the investment to do so. If we don't, we won't.Agreed.Some of it may be the schedule, but I think a big part of this is finding away to improve the JAR from a player / coach facility perspective. It's the worst facility (maybe behind rifle?) on campus and behind much of the conference and the nation.UA has managed to catapult it's FB facilities squarely into the top 20 or so in the nation, bar none. The cost to do so for the hoops teams is a fraction of that. We've got to find a way to get that done. Note: I'm NOT talking about a new arena, or better fan amenities at the JAR. They're important, but way down on the priority list over better team lockerroom, film room & team rooms. For both the men and women. In essence, upgrade the JAR to be as good a team / practice facility as the Stile Fieldhouse is for FB.Go Zips!Agree. LBJ gets all the love on this board for some free shoes.When I see the large donation to updrade the lockerroom and team rooms/lounges, then I will buy in. Otherwise, he's just KD's boy!

I agree. One thing everyone should understand is most kids don't grow up wanting to play for UofA or any other MAC school. Most kids end up in the MAC because it is where they belong and they were passed over at BCS schools because they didn't have the ability to play there. It's not a bad thing, it just is what it is.....UofA shouldn't worry about what happens at tOSU. I could really care less about them and I think what goes on at UofA has very little to do with what goes on at tOSU. The only reason people think about it as us vs. them is we live in that type of society where everything has become all or nothing. Talk radio is a lot of us vs. themes...it helps people feel at home listening to the radio because they believe they are part of something bigger. UofA should put a good product on the field and play when they want to play. Put a good product on the field and the ABJ will write about them. Put a good product on the field and people will go to games. It's really not about tOSU.I diasgree. It's completely reasonable that CB grew up in c-bus wanting to go to OSU to play football. But he played at UA and he should be supporting the Zips now, not tosu. Screw Chase Blackburn!The diehards on this board bitch all the time that attendance is poor at UA games. Well, why should Joe Akron spend his hard earned money for a UA game when the players and former players don't give a damn about UA...You are correct, what goes on at UA does have very little to do with what goes on at tosu.However, what goes on at tosu has a huge impact on all other D1 Ohio schools, UA included.I know dozens of families in my community who are UA grads. And exactly none of them ever attend UA games. Yet I see all of them wearing their tosu gear...

Here I disagree. I prefer Humpty...But to be fair, every game is different. At CMU, it was important to play McNees...yeserday I did not get that vibe. His shot was off and when the ball stops going in the hole, the offense seems to get stagnant with him at the point.What hasn't happened this year is KD playing all three guards! Humpty, McNess and Roberts...As CK mentioned, discussing the ebb and flow of the game is fun. It's not a criticism of KD. Bottom line, if a player plays as KD expects him to, he will get the minutes. If not, KD takes advantage of the free substitution rule and makes a change. (I wonder if Caleb would coach any different with this rule in soccer)I did see an awfully athletic OU team yesterday. Heck, I thought Bardo gave us three great minutes- stopping Cooper from penetrating so deep and boxing out preventing any more offensive rebounds..I thought he deserved more minutes down the stretch..

Agree. Depth worked in our favor yesterday, along with 17 missed free throws..But I ask, who is the best team in the MAC East, the first place team or the last place team?I know one thing, if OU got to play a 3 on 3 , 20 minute game with one time out, they would dominate the MAC..After watching yesterday, there is no way CMU has the best backcourt in the MAC, OU does hands down...And to think that one of the MAC's finest officials is also a lead NFL official...How does he sleep at night?

Was it me or was Frenchy doing a lot of complaining last night? He better be careful with the complaining ... It seems like he forgot all about the EMU game a week earlier...Finally, an opponent did the crapping for once...A very nice recovery after going down 11. McNees was huge brining the deficit back to only 6. Then is was game on...Way to weather the storm and then make it a game!And a superb final three minutes....

Hell LeBron's entourage alone could fill the jar.Lebron hasn't done a damn thing other than giving us some free shoes...FSU (free shoes university) here we come....

That's a two-way street! Sure, it would be nice if the Columbus Beacon Journal dug deep into UA sports and actually published them on the front page of the sports page.But does UA really want them to? And how much will they really cooperate?

Humpty aka the black hole? I think he plays Humpty plenty. At least McNees can hold his own on defense. I think the last thing KD need to do is play Humpty more.I disagree. Humpty is the one guy that has the ability to lead us to a MAC championship. The last three games have proven that.Has he had some awful shooting performances? yes. Is he inconsistent? yes.But everyone has had their problems.The last three games proved just how valuable Humpty is. We were awful on Monday while Humpty sat out. We were lights out on Wednesday and Humpty was terrific. And today he led us in scoring....As I said in December...Humpty and Nic would get the lions share of the minutes at their positions. The other seven would have to earn the other minutes.I do like that the rotation has been reduced to nine guys that last few games....A very nice win after letting the victory slip up, up and away in regulation.We score 26 points in 20 minutes in the second half and then score 15 in 5 minutes in OT...Hmmm..

He was one of Ianello's ND recruits....Sorry, that was Notre Dame College....

No. Dambrot is wrong.Dambrot ALWAYS whines about the fans, and attendance. After almost every game he grouses about the people that AREN'T in the seats, rather than appreciating the fans that ARE in the seats. When his team goes in the crapper, he grouses that "all the fans think we stink anyhow." But they don't. Dambrot wants to paint a "It's us against everyone!" picture. F*ck that.I race home for these weekday games, pick up my son from school, get him fed and dressed, wife gets home from work in Cleveland and hurriedly gets changed into her Zips gear. We take our 25-30min drive down to Akron, walk two blocks in 11degree weather to enter a steaming JAR and support the Zips Basketball Program. Dambrot takes that for granted. He preaches tough love to his players, but if a fan wants to express some tough love towards the program...well...then EVERYONE MUST be against him.Yesterday the team put on a listless performance, losing to a team they are eminently capable of beating. In the past two full games, the Zips have barely given the fans a reason to leave their seat (to cheer) during the game. What fun is that? Players are getting suspended. We got SMOKED by K.e.n.t. These last few weeks have pretty much sucked for all but those fans with the last name of Dambrot. You know what? If you express dissatisfaction with that, you probably care about the program. FOR SHAME! But - Us fans are all terrible. We need to put on our hair shirt and repent for days-on-end if we say the team is underachieving.Dambrot needs to realize the love goes both ways. Dambrot needs to realize their are a ton of fans busting their ass, speeding their families through all sorts of crappy NE Ohio weather, to support his team. Fans that are paying $15.00ea, or more, for multiple tickets per game. And those fans get crapped on after every home post game press conference.I'm tired of Dambrot hating on the fans. Fix your issues on the court and the fans will meet your expectations.Quit taking one fan and generalizing that ALL fans are That Guy, because it is ridiculous. You think you're motivating your players by telling them "it's us against the world." But you're just embedding a false impression that fosters dissension.I attend all the games. I'll call a spade a spade if we play listlessly or well. I'll celebrate if we win the MAC tourney, and I'll be pissed if we lose to K.e.n.t. by 20 in the MAC quarterfinals. If you handle it differently, good for you. But you're a no better fan than me, or anyone else, for doing so.Amen. Thank goodness I didn't hear his post game comments. What a bunch of garbage! Yea, rip on the fans.Fans aren't allowed to complain? Are we back in T-Ball? Coach the team for free, play with a team full of walkons, with free admission, then I would agree... If the coaches can get pissed, and take losses personally, so can I. I've been around UA as long as he has...

In the standings but not at the bank.I think Saturday's game scared away a few hundred people from ever attending another Zips basketball game.I would guess that most of the reason for the bigger crowd on Saturday was due to the Hall of Fame inductions. How about free tickets!!!

I like this topic. I don't think there is a wrong answer. How many Zips fans went to the Zips bowl appearance vs Memphis? How many Zips fans went to see the Zips play Gonzaga in the NCAAs last year? How many Zips fans went to see the Zips play Virginia in the soccer national title game? Not really apples to apples due to the geographical proximity, but you get the point.I agree. I love the question, I just wouldn't answer it.I was at all three. I had completely different emotions at each.The bowl game was somewhat anticlimactic after the miracle win over NIU, although very enjoyable.Going to see the Zips vs. Gonzaga was like a ten ton weight (and 23 years) was lifted off my back.Watching the Zips in the national title game was the most intense, nerve racking, two hours ever. You felt that if we gave up even one goal during the game you would probably lose, so you were on the edge of year seat the entire game...and then to lose like we did...Well, sometimes life just sucks...

Agree.But when does this get corrected? Four games now where we are playing decent ball, only to go scoreless for long stretches.. I understand it happens to everyone...even the number one team in the nation. UT was putting it to UConn, only to get outscored 15-0 and lose big.I didn't see the Buffalo game, but yesterday's second half play is a real concern. Not only did we go scoreless, the players acted as if they haven't played together before. Turnovers, bad shots, too much dribbling and when Zeke was in, the decision making on whether to take the shot or pass to Zeke was terrible..Still cannot develop a go to guy to take and make a shot that will stop the run. KD called timeout down 12 and our play continued to be awful and the deficit grew to 20. Make a couple shots and get the deficit to 6 or 8 and maybe we have a different ballgame. We are offensively challenged as a team, unless the threes are going in.Making four three pointers in a game will probably never be enough...to win.Someone, please post an ABP on Brett McKnight's offense...we need his scoring....

That's really strange. I almost re-posted the football scoop link this morning because it clearly said (at that time) Luke was returning to Pitt as a grad assistant. I see now where the wording has been changed from Pitt to Akron.LinkAs of Thursday-1/21/10 the officail word was that Luke is going to Pitt as a GA.

CSU is down THIS YEAR, but Waters track record points towards that being a temporary thing. Bullsh!t. Find a way to make it happen. This isn't finding peace between the Palestinians and the Jews. This is scheduling a freaking basketball game. UA needs to make this happen. If it involves biting their tongue and starting the negotiations fresh, then so be it. Hiding behind the "Until Gary Waters honors the contract..." excuse has run it's course for me. I want CSU on our schedule every year. Home/Home. Do it Tom.Tom - If you want me to do it, I'll make the phone calls. The offer is extended.Not only do I wnat them on the schedule, I would be in favor of playing them twice a year--once at Wolstein and once at the JAR. I bet we would get more than the 2900 we've been getting..

I beg to differ. Nate was a great defensive player. His offense was erratic, at best. At no time was he a player you could count on for offense. As for Conyers...this has very little to do with KD. Take last year, Conyers was given chance after chance at the beginning of the year and HE did not perform. When his minutes were reduced (with Bardo), the team took off and began to win. Players develop and mature at various stages. Sometimes it's on them.... and not the coach.For years, I could count on one hand the players that enrolled at UA, got better every year and by their senior year became very good D-1 players. Jimmy is one them. I'll take it and enjoy it...

The last I heard, it was $1,200 per game for a mens game.If we can just start with a no-flopping rule, it would make the games more enjoyable.

That is a good question right there. Specifically WZIP. Have any of you EVER heard anything about the Zips on that station? Never a commercial or mention of any upcoming games or ANYTHING.What's the deal with that?BTW, i dont think it has anything at all to do with the Cleveland media either. This problem is very simple: We do not have anything resembling a real athletics marketing department. Until they clean house and put some people that have a clue what they're doing in those jobs we will continue to waste time arguing over this. All of us on here do more for getting people in those seats than they ever do just by our word of mouth and support.Excuse my ignorance= is WZIP the same as 1350? I have started to listen to that (1350) along with 850 on the radio on my way home MOSTLY b/c I want to hear some Zips talk. 1350 talks about the same stuff as 850. Have not heard ONE THING about Akron...perhaps something about Ianallo becoming the new coach, progress of Zeke Marshall, etc. RIDICULOUS to blame or have something against Cleveland with the failings of attendance, proper UA coverage, etc. Cleveland local tv news doesn't even cover CSU that well, and in the PD there are articles about Akron, Zips, etc. Aeros get coverage as well. In addition, when the Info was about to open/opened there was quite a bit of TV coverage on the opening. Quite a few articles about the Zips soccer run as well. Point is= Do something NEWSWORTHY and it WILL get covered in Cleveland!!!!No. 1350 is WAKR. Just last week 1350 started a new radio program on 1350 between 3-6 pm, M-F.This is hosted by a local guy, Jon M. He is a UA grad.On his opening show he commented that the program will be dedicated to North East Ohio teams....including the Zips and they will avoid the national sports scene.Unfortunately, he doesn't know anything about the Zips and his partner has never been to a game at the JAR. So much for the local flavor...And you guessed it, they are Buckeye fans willing to talk all day about them...The most we get out of the program is some advertising as to the time of the home games....on game day.....

I disagre. Polk can have five more years of eligibility if he wants it. His fat ass is useless...

Alabama plays in the toughest conference in college football. They go undefeated beating many ranked opponents along the way. They smoke the number 1 team in the country in their conference championship game. They beat the number 2 team in the country by double digits and you think Boise State is #1? I really don't get it?I didn't realize Bama had transferred to the Big 12.I would agree. Although I'm hesitant to put much stock in bowl performance, the SEC actually struggled in bowl games this year.The Big 12 passes the "eye test". They play both fast and physical. They also show good composure in close games. Texas didn't fold their tent up and go home after McCoy was hurt. There are excellent players that are both big and fast. The defenses play well against all of the spread offenses they see (which is probably why they are good at it).When I look at conferences, I always look at who the QBs are and who has a shot at the NFL. Bradford and McCoy have NFL shots. Mallet at Arkansas is the only NFL QB I see in the SEC.I just heard it on ESPN. They are starting up the tOSU/Big 10 publicity machine right now and Herbstreit is driving it. Herbstreit has laid low the past few season waiting for his chance. Now the door is cracked and he is busting it down. Get your barf bags ready for next year, it is going to be a long season. The Big Ten has one good bowl season in I don't know how many years and tOSU actually wins a BCS game and they are ranked #2 in Herbstreit's mind and people are actually interested in that league. You guys need to get used to something right now. tOSU is going to be in the National Championship game next year. They play their usual cast of MAC characters at home, Miami (FL) at home and then the rest of the Big 10. I think the Pryor Rose Bowl performance was atypical, but he is still good enough to beat the pile of junk they play the first 12 games. Herbstreit will be pushing him hard for the Heisman next year.Speaking of Miami (FL), did anyone else see the 30 for 30 on them. I had forgotten what a great program they once were. I saw them play this year at Wake and they are a shell of what they used to be. ACC football does no team any favors. As good of a basketball league as it is, it is that bad with football. I wonder if a tOSU safety will take a cheap shot at their best running back's knee like the last time they played. My guess is no because they won't have to.Easy big guy. My bucks are coming off of another cripling schedule--final ranking of 50-- and as pointed out above, will play a schedule rated somewhere in the neighborhood of 75 next year.Hopefully the Oregon win will be fools gold like when OSU beat a grossly overrated (with a horrible defense) ND team a few years back. Remember, based on that win, we had to hear for the next 12 months how great they were, that is until Florida kicked the crap out of them...while tosu racked up 80 yards of total offense...Let's just hope they go away early..But bag will be ready!!!

Yes there are other examples...Dayton, VCU, Nevada, hell...go back to Xavier if you're an old-timer. Look at the recent MAC Tourney losses to Western Michigan, Toledo, Miami and K.e.n.t.. Look at the pattern of those losses, in addition to the Winthrop loss...or even Austin Peay. The Zips always seem to find a way to pull off the "come-from-ahead loss" in these crucial games. Many held at home, or 40 minutes from campus. Like Lakers HC Pat Riley trademarked "Three-peat," Dambrot should trademark "Crapped Down Our Leg." Every time we play these games, it's "Groundhog Day."If you have no worries, you really aren't a huge Zips hoops fan. Your heart isn't in it. Your bar is low.Leaving the JAR after yet another leg-crapping flat-out sucked.Wait a minute...I should be doing the trademarking and give Dambrot a piece of the profits for providing the team that does the crapping.And speaking of lowering the bar, I am there. That way I did not walk out dissapointed. It was just another example of not having a go to guy that will get you a key bucket to stop the bleeding and then get you a second bucket to take back the lead. (thanks GP1)Again I ask, do we have a quality bench (second team) or do we have a bench full of second teamers? Conyers has been great so far, but he was 3-10, Roberts- no field goals in 27 minutes, Humpty playing 17 minutes and Nik 22 is just not enough...For the great things KD's teams have done over the years, I still do not see any real attempt to develop that go to guy. Easy KD fans, I am not blaming him, because you have to have the player to do it, but where has he been. In additon to finding a rotation in the 14 games prior to the MAC season, one would think we would try to develop some plays with specific players that will accomplish this.Far too often in the 8-10 games where we are basically guaranteed a win, I see the same offense with some attempts to get the ball in the post, but mostly a ball rotation offense with guys taking open threes. Where are the plays breaking down the defense and getting open 10-12 foot shots? Post of Nik, get him the ball. IF he turns it over, so what....do it again. Run some picks for Humpty, breaking down the D so that he can develop that mid-range game...Someone...please...score....After many years of walking out of the JAR dissappointed in games like this, I went into the game not expecting much, that way I wasn't that dissappointed. How bad (or good) is it that when on the ride home Frenchy says "today's loss brings KD's home record to 72-10". My 13 year old daughter proceeds to name 9 of the 10 losses....Now I need to "work" on her expectations....

Folks, you get what you pay for!!!