Zipsrifle

Let's talk about the Steelers for a bit here, because to me they serve as something of an example.You talk of NE Ohio dying for a winner, and that is why you are starting to (sadly IMO) grasp on to Pittsburgh. Now I am still a relative youngin, but I don't ever remember hearing about a time when there were as many Pittsburgh fans in NEO as there are right now. Why? Because the Browns we're out of football for a number of years, and have been pretty terrible in the 12 seasons since they returned. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has won Superbowls and been a staple in the playoffs. People get tired of rooting for the team that consistently looses, so they decide to adopt the team that consistently wins. Classic bandwagon.Now lets revert back to OSU. The Buckeyes have consistently been a top-25 program for a number of years (if I read correctly this week is the first time in like 7 years that they aren't in the top-25). They have been regular national title contenders, and they regularly win big games. People in NE Ohio have already bandwagoned on to them as winners. It doesn't take a genius to see that. To the general population in NE Ohio college football begins and ends with the Buckeyes. Sad, but true. Now the only way that is going to change, and in turn the only way that the Zips are going to make in roads with those bandwagoner fans who are "dying for a winner" is if OSU goes through a sustained dry spell, while the Zips get hot. Let's just say, I'm not holding my breath on either of those things happening any time soon.I guess the point I am trying to make here is that while NE Ohioans are desperate for a winner, they have already found their winner when it comes to college football, and I just don't see a set of circumstances under which they are going to let go of that and meander over to the Zips. That being said, I do agree that the Zips can find their niche. I just feel that said niche is most likely as an FCS team where we can theoretically be more competitive.Excellent points. Yes, OSU would need to be down for a number of years OR we would have be be winning for a LONG TIME and make a serious run. Not easy, but not impossible. Of course, there are a certain number of people who, on a subject, will pipe up and say "So and so happened right near where I live", or "Such and such happened right where I grew up". These people gravitate towards things that are geographically near to them and I would guess if we were successful we could get some of these people to become Zips fans. I don't expect to get everyone and we would quickly bump up against the other programs, but I believe that if we were to consistently contend for the MAC and consistently make bowl games, the Info would be near capacity every week. Now, as for the Steelers thing, we'll see people start swinging the other way now that the Browns are on their way up and the Steelers are on their way down

I don't buy into the idea that there are too many big schools in the area for us to find a niche. I look at the fact that NE Ohio is DYING for a winner and that that population is roughly 3 million people. I think we are in a great spot. Now, our problem is that the area is so starved for a winner that the will latch onto any team that is winning (Steelers, OSU). Now I'm not saying it will be easy to do, but if we don't try, we'll never get there.

Because the upper-classmen were sucking hiney and the Freshman are better?Ianello is trying to get better, and people are complaining? If he DIDN'T burn some redshirts, I'd have been pissed. It was the first time in his UA career he got fed up, and veered from his 5 Year Master Plan.I guess my logic was that you are way, way down at half and really have no chance of winning the game. Also, it is the end of your toughest 3 game stretch of the season and next week you have what should be your best chance for a victory all year. Why not wait and start these guys next week or at least what happens next week and burn the red shirt THEN if things aren't working out. It seemed like an act of desperation, going against (AHEM) "Well thought out plans" in a moment of panic. the ONLY benefit I can find is that the decision was made at half that these guys were going to start the rest of the year and we better get these guys some time against "high" level competition as this might be the last chance this season. I'm not against burning a red shirt, it just didn't seem like a rational time to do it, the game was over.

The Big East should panic? Everyone who is in a BCS conference that is not the Big Ten, SEC, ACC or PAC (Insert number here) should be in a panic.Attention MAC fans. The reason everyone is going to the BT, SEC, ACC and PAC #? is because, in part, they don't want to be part of a level of football that has us in it. The answer is finding our own answer with MAClike conferences and make the best of a bad situation. There should be an emergency meeting of all non-BCS, D-1A schools to set a framework for the future with four mega conferences and potentially without the ncaa.I hate to say this, but I think you are right. Took a while for me to come around to this, but I was thinking in the past week or so, why should the MAC break up? We have a bunch of poor teams, who's to say they will all be back fill for these other conferences. Prior to yesterday I thought we would have a few teams that could be in the TOP 25. I didn't really understand how those teams (Temple, Toledo) had improved so much so quickly. Fact is, they can't even beat a team in the top 25 so we still don't have any top 25 material. So, yes, the Mid-Majors need to stop standing on the side of the room hoping to be invited to dance. They need to go start their own party or we'll be standing all alone in the end.

Our team has shown me NOTHING this year. I don't care how bad they are, we are horrible and better be ready for this game.

I don't know if Nicely has gotten a fair shot in a game this year to prove his stuff. Today I think it was a case of giving Moore time to get his head straight but in that time, Nicely seemed to be doing OK. Why pull him and put Moore back in right away? Honestly, I think our O-Line is so bad that RI thinks we NEED to have Moore in there to give the QB position an additional dimension. Like some of the preseason stuff said, Nicely might not make as many mistakes but Moore can make things happen. Maybe those mistakes caused the blowout today? Deep down, part of me also wonders if RI's ego is kicking in here and Nicely won't see the field until the game is out of hand or Moore gets hurt?I hope the game next week helps this team build some confidence. I think Moore should still be the starter but Nicely should also not be on such a short leash. Until today Moore seemed to do a pretty good job of keeping those "DOAH" moments in check. If mistakes become a problem, Nicely should be given a chance.

Yes.Last year he had the excuse that everything was new. No excuse this year. If we lose next week, can him.

Trying to send a message to the rest of the team that if they don't perform better they will lose their jobs to freshmen? Dunno, Rifle. I am grasping at straws. Looks like RI pressed the panic button.Good enough for me.Second question. Now I was listening to the game on the radio, but did Nicely do that bad? Seemed like he had quite a few dropped passes and his INT was because he got blind sided. Was he really doing that bad that Moore was needed to come back in? Frenchie can be a huge homer so sometimes things are sugar coated quite a bit, anybody watch the game?

I will start freaking out if we lose next week OR if we get blown out by EMU. Am I very disappointed, YES! Do I think we are at about the same point we were last year against GW, YES. There is a lot of football to play. We have our toughest 3 games behind us, lets get a W next week and start working. Everyone is worried about buying out RI's contract. What, you don't think UA has the money to buy it out? They brought close to $50 million last year in fund raising. What is our endowment up to? They've got plenty of money. Finally, the sad part about this thread is that this thought crossed my mind today at one point......

I have one burning question.What is the point of burning red shirts when you are down 49-0 at half of the 3rd game of your toughest 3 game streak of the season? What does that gain your team when you have been outscored 131 - 3 at that point? I'm serious, can someone please explain how this would help the team???

Found it. People on the West Side can listen on 1420 AM.Lets hope we have a solid game. Go Zips!!Love working in the yard listening to the Zips in the FALL!!

What is the radio network stations again?? It was more than 1350 last year. I'm on the far west side.

Temple goes on 4th and fumbles. Game over, PSU wins. So close....Good game by Temple, they have built a great program, hope we can get there someday!

BIG First Down pass by Temple AND they get the Personal Foul on top of THAT!!

PSU TD. so it appears I got my "DOAH!" with that INT.

Fake FG by PSU on the 3! They BARELY get the 1st!

Game on ESPN3

PSU fumbles on the 5! 4th down. Temple 10, PSU 7.

PSU gets the 1st. PSU inside the 10.

PSU Goes for it on 4th!

Temple D holding STRONG. Some great tackling!

INT by Temple. PSU ball.Announcers giving NO credit to the Temple D.

Missed FG by PSU.So I'm waiting for one of two things:1) The "DOAH!" moment by Temple2) The bad call in favor of PSU.Sorry, College football is too crooked.

Temple playing very physical. I'm really impressed with them. I hope we can build our program like that!

Watching this game. Big penalty against PSU nullified a TD and then Temple stuffed them. BLOCKED PUNT!!Temple ball on the PSU 35!