GoZips

Garsh ... I hope I was one of them. Up to this point I see ZERO leadership and/or coaching coming from Embick and his staff. Fix it or pack your bags.

Good Grief ... !!!! Or is it bad grief? Give the man a chance to right the ship. The terrible situation is not the result of Terry Bowden misdeeds.. Bowden was brought in to rectify the the problem. Terry Bowden is a pretty fair coach with excellent credentials. He needs the time and patience to turn this disaster around. Based on the continual improvement I would say that Akron is well on its way to respectability. Thus far, coach Bowden has done an excellent job. Almost looks like turning a sow's ear can be turned into a silk purse. Stop whining and complaining. It only makes those of you doing so look like losers. I attended a breakfast recently at the JAR where Coach Tressel was the guest speaker. In his well thought out and knowledgeable opinion, the Zips are really close to busting loose. I will take his opinion over yours any day of the week. Rome was not built in a day and neither will Zips football be. Be patient and trust in the excellent leadership. They believe; when will you?

Oh,gee, golly. Let me guess who the number one player is. Barf, barf. What a load of crap. This whole load of crap is coming from self promoting Buffalo. Gosh, I just wonder who the MAC's best player is. Here is a clue: No matter how well Demetrius Treadwell plays he can not be the best player if all your voters are Buffalo(is in Canada) people. Gosh, this is so much fun guessing. Let's see; no Zip player in the top five. Only two Akron players will be considered since Akron is scheduled to lose the MAC tournament to mighty Toledo. Treadwell and key reserve Jake Kretzer are the only nominees. Forget Nick Harney and Quincy Diggs. Darn good thing they don't know about Big Dog, because some Zips fans don't like his nickname, and would be upset if Isaiah "IKE" Johnson was selected. Heck, they'll probably red shirt him any way. You bet.

Worse than pipe dreams. Pipe Nightmares.

Aaron had a nice summer league as a true freshman. Please note that the highlight video shows only offense. Aaron has to develop defense and ball handling skills. He also needs to break habits he picked up in high school such as playing near the side line instead of his spot on the floor as directed by the coaches. Few freshmen come into college understanding defense. Aaron is a really hard worker who seems to enjoy play basketball very much. A lot is expected of him in the future. Most likely he will "red shirt" this season. Look for Aaron to a major factor in future Zips success. The kid can play.

Trust in Keith. This coming season will yield the best Zips team ever to this point in team history. These kids can play. Better, they are more focused. They get thirty-one regular season games against all D-1 opponents. When the smoke clears you will like where the Zips finish.

A team plays with the same passion they see in their coach. In Embick even the pilot light is out. Complete foolishness if this man coaches another season, if he does not improve now. Perhaps a soccer stadium peppered with "Fire Embick" signs would provide a bit of motivation. Embarrassed and ashamed.

Well said. Looking about you can discover any number of a arenas that have corporate sponsership. Not unlike Infocision or the soccer stadium on campus.

Rumors are floating about a new arena in the near future (announcement in 2 or 3 years). Several factors to consider, first, location; second, conference affiliation; third, cost; fourth, need. All are being looked at. Right now the weak economy is stalling many major projects country wide. It is no secret that Akron longs to step UP to higher level conference. Football must be turned around first. Location dictates it be on campus. Find a place for a large building with lots of easy access parking. Management is in no rush to make a mistake. Rather, they want a growth move that nearly everyone says, "yes, that's the right move". Forget the CSU Convo. There is a major design flaw. The lower bowl seating is so shallow that the fan noise goes right over the top of the players. Fan noise has to be directed to the floor.. The four year old drawings commissioned as part of a feasibility study have once again surfaced. Patience is the key.

WOW...!!!!! Intelligent thought went into writing your post. A good assessment of the overall picture without sugar coating or gilding anyone's lily. Facts are facts: In the post are two capable big men. Neither possesses the same skill set as Zeke. But, both are better in areas Zeke was weak in. Pat and Isaiah, "Big Dog", will both play a lot of minutes. Please, not Ike, the team calls him Big Dog. While supposedly undersized, "Tree", plays a great power forward role. In my estimation he is the best player in the MAC. This I will argue all day long. Nick Harney continues to grow his game. He will usually play and start as the small forward. Quincy Diggs takes on the mantle of shooting guard this season. Not only as the starter at the "two", Q can and will fill in at the point guard occasionally. Do NOT under estimate the talents and capabilities of this young man. That leaves the point guard position. The likely starter at the point should be Nyles Evans. Nyles is older and more experienced than Carmelo Betancourt. Nyles is getting the job done. Still, Melo will play a lot of minutes, unlike last season. Melo is maturing. He is taking instructions better. He has a better attitude than last season. Support comes from the two crack sophomores Reggie McAdams and Jake Kretzer. In reality a lot of any success will come from their contributions. They give the depth and punch the team will depend on. Now that is nine players in the rotation with Deji Ibitayo holding the likely final spot. My guess, most of, or all of the other three freshmen take a red shirt. Which, bodes well for Akron's future. Unforeseen injuries, grades, etc. may change the landscape. The real change most of you readers do not get to see is the changes in coaching style. Coach Dambrot and his staff have adopted a philosophy similar that of coach Shaka Smart. The training has intensified; become tougher, more demanding; and for the players more challenging with really positive results. The Zips are better for it. I predict that this edition of the Zips will most favorably impress you. They have set high goals that are achievable.

First full day of practice was a delight. Coach put them through a hard workout. Was impressed by how well conditioned most of the players are. Kudos to Melo for getting into great shape. More visitors than you could shake a stick at. Nyles HS coach and his lovely wife; Russell Holmes; Jeff Rabbit; Dr. Ted Curtis; Jeremiah Wood looking fit as ever; several regulars and more. Good camaraderie had by all. Practices begin at 8:30 am for the near future. Special Sunday practice at one pm. Folks, barring the unforeseen, this is easily the BEST Zips team ever. Please, no stoopid remarks. Big Dog is the real deal.

Friday practice begins at 8:30 AM. Sunday practice begins at 1 PM. There is NO Saturday practice.

Link...???? I searched YouTube and did NOT find a video of the dunk. It would almost have to come from the video camera run during practice. I will ask and see if there is a video clip. I was at midcourt about 25' from the dunk. Did not look so average to me. It was a fun to watch.

An observation by an ancient, er, old timer: The team lacks that dominate "killer" instinct so prevalent in the past. In previous years the players fed off of coach Porter's enthusiasm. Not happening these days. The players appear to be going through the motions rather than the tear their heads off approach of the Porter era. The game against Ohio State was still very much in doubt with more than five minutes to play Should have been four-nil at that point. This year's OSU team is down; and the Zips played without fervor. Basically, Akron looked bad against a bad State team. It is difficult, if not impossible, for fans to get excited when the players on the field act like its all meaningless. The players rarely attack or move the ball with precise strikes to a fellow Zip. Way too many passes intercepted. Death by a thousand passes looks more like kick the ball a few times and yield the ball to the opponent. There is NO fervor; no lust to win. The keep made what is generally referred to as "the dumbest play" in soccer late in the game. With the bulk of players on both sides bunched up deep he kicked the ball into the gathered pack. The very same play that David Meeves chucked that cost an Akron victory in Cowlumbus. You tap the ball to a defender and have him bring the ball up field. You do NOT ever give your opponent the opportunity to counter. IMO, Embick best keep his resume current. Not impressed.

DiG, great report. Was a sight to see as the entire backboard and support members compressed into the folded for storage position. Apparently some one failed to install a locking pin when the backboard was extended. Strangely, numerous players had performed powerful two handed slams prior to Big Dog throwing down a monster two handed flush. da Dog is da real deal.

I speak truth knows the effort and dedication Quincy is putting in. Quincy works a lot harder than Zeke ever did. Q's ability to be drafted is based on his personal skill and effort. NOT on his size. Quincy is no longer the wild haired kid. He has grown up and possesses the tools of adulthood. Quincy will amaze you when you get to see him on court. I see Q at practice nearly every day. I like watching him busting his butt for a goal he knows he can obtain.

Its the socks.

People are forgetting that Nick and Tree are actually only juniors academically. Tree is likely a high NBA draft pick after his senior campaign. Quincy is working his tail off with hope of getting picked in the next NBA draft. If he plays well he has a better chance than Zeke. The freshmen are a "stud" class. Sell none of them short. However, they are Freshmen competing for playing time against a group of talented, veteran players. Their time to shine is in the future. Treadwell is the best player in the conference. Due to the pecking order rule; Javon McCrea is a senior and Tree is a Junior. The "rabbit puncher" will get the votes for POY from the media wonks. Official practice begins Tuesday, October first. Then it will all start to be sorted out. side note: The Freshmen brought a lot of individual talent to the team. How well they have learned to play together, especially on the defensive side of the ball is bringing smiles to the coaching staff.

Overall their analysis is pretty good. Quincy Diggs is likely to be the starter at the shooting guard position. Melo is in a fight regarding who earns the starting point guard slot. Other than Big Dog, most or even all the other freshmen face a red shirt. Don't get me wrong; the freshmen are truly talented. The depth of this team is scary.

Good find, johnny

The win over NC State in Raleigh occurred in 2006. I was there. Loved it. Loved the comment made during the post game call in show. "Folks, we have watched the final play on video tape forty-two times and that kid scored every single time. State lost. Get over it."

Judas sold his soul for thirty pieces of silver. What are our souls worth?

Lindy's picks the Zips to win the East. Toledo to win the West. And, they pick Toledo to win the MAC tournament to earn the trip the dance. Ain't happening. The Zips go dancing.

University of Michigan Coach Brady Hoke is only going to dress half of his players for the game this week; the other half will have to dress themselves How is the Akron football team like an opossum? They play dead at home and get killed on the road. Why did the Kant State linebacker steal a police car? He saw "911" on the side and thought it was a Porsche. How do you get a former Northern Illinois football player off your porch? Pay him for the pizza. What are the longest three years of a University of Buffalo football players life? Freshman I, Freshman II, and Freshman III. What do you get when you put 32 West Virginia cheerleaders in one room? A full set of teeth. If three Toledo football players are in the same car, who is driving? The police officer. Ohio State's Urban Meyer on one of his players: "He doesn't know the meaning of the word fear. In fact, I just saw his grades and he doesn't know the meaning of a lot of words." Why do Bowling Green fans wear orange? So they can dress that way for the game on Saturday, go hunting on Sunday, and pick up trash on Monday. What does the average Alabama player get on his SATs? Drool...!!! How did the UMass football player die from drinking milk? The cow fell on him. Two Western Michigan football players were walking in the woods. One of them said, "Look, a dead bird." The other looked up in the sky and said, "Where?" A University of Miami football player was almost killed yesterday in a tragic horseback-riding accident. He fell from a horse and was nearly trampled to death. Luckily, the manager of the Wal-Mart came out and unplugged the horse. What do you say to a Kant State football player dressed in a three-piece suit? " "Will the defendant please rise." How many Michigan freshmen football players does it take to change a light bulb? None. That's a sophomore course.

The men's basketball coaches had a couple of future prospects at the JMU game. Future classes beyond 2014. I do not know their names.