GoZips

9:05 PM EST .... Final just in ... Central Michigan 57 ... Miami of OH 55If the Zips hold court, they move into a tie with the Redskins (nee: the Redhawks) for secondGo Zips ... !!!!Go Zeke ... !!!!Go Trevor ... !!!!

This is terrible. Valpo (rhymes with Alpo) has a plus 200 RPI, is 3-8 in their conference (Horizon)and is 6-16 on the year. They beat YSU 68-57 in Y-Town. Basically, the Zips got dissed. No respect.On the plus side, Valpo is highly recognizable mid-major name thanks to several years of excellentplay. Alas, at 6-16, this is not one of those years. This is two must wins for the Zips. Winninggains us little, but, losing, kiss a post season bid good bye even with a 20+ win season.Right now the Zips are at the least, the third best team in the MAC. Our reward for solid play ... screwed.Does it ever change?

I think that Bracket Buster selection occurs after this coming week end of play.One knowledgeable blog has Akron visiting James Madison of the Colonial Athletic Conference.While we are way of the mark to garner any TV exposure, JMU is a nice opponent. They wouldvisit Akron next year.

Sorry, equins, the Zips are really young team peppered with a few seasoned players. What yousaw last night was the future. You saw a lot of minutes by true freshmen and red shirts. Humpy is atrue freshman as are Brett McClanahan and Nik Cvetinovic. Big Mike Bardo, Steve McNees, BrettMcKnight and Darryl Roberts are all sophomores. The Zips have just one senior (Nate Linhart).Impressions: Most folks in Youngstown no longer have any real interest in playing Akron in football orbasketball. Dollar night and the attendance was a paltry 2,636 after a fine turn out against in conferencerival Cleveland State. At least two hundred of those in attendance last night were Zips fans.Football? Are you serious? Why go over to Akron for a beatdown with a $250k payout when the 'Guinscan get toasted for a whole lot more capital? Akron sure as heck is NOT playing football in Youngstown.The officiating last night gave ample proof of just why its not in Akron's interest to play football orbasketball in Y'Town. The officiating was extremely biased against Akron. The Zips committed fourteenfouls to just six for YSU in the first half. Fortunately, the 'Guins must be the worst free throw shooting team on the planet.I saw a number of decent players on the YSU team. The glaring difference is team speed. Speed wiseYoungstown is to Akron as Akron was to PITT. Akron is just way too quick for the 'Guins. Anyoneat the game got ample proof of this.Good luck to YSU the rest of the way. I enjoyed their victory over Cleveland State. Too bad YSU already played the mighty Butler. That game would be worth the drive over. Watch out for the upcoming Wright State game. They will make every effort to run up the score so they look better than the Zips.

Mom, so good to "see" you on the board. Yes, Brandon Parks is a dirty player. The kick to Mike Bardowhen Mike was defenseless was totally unexcusable. Parks should be suspended for a game. The shameis that at least one official saw the kick. Suspend him, too. Permenantly.Two other Cant players stood out for their foul play. Chris "the elbow man" Singletary and "body bump"Minnoy. What a sorry pair of losers. No class.For those of you who are down on Al Fisher ... who are you kidding? Fisher could start for the Zips. I amjust sad to see him in a Cant uniform.Hey, Geno, learn how to coach. Ragging on your best player when its a team loss ... no class, no brains,no coaching skills.

Two videos ... neither of any quality. Hard to tell who was doing what. Would like to see a video thatfocused in on Cameron Black and not Joel Hawksely.Talked briefly to a six-nine tenth grader from Timken. A Desmond something. Sorry, did not get hislast name. He was at the Cant game as well.Love seeing a strong interest in SIZE. You can't teach size. Then too, size isn't everything (ask your wife).

SCREWED ... !!!! so? what's new?

Sad to say; I was one of the "six" Zips fans in attendance.We laid an egg. It was a team sponsered beat down from the start. I am surprised that we onlyhad sixteen turnovers. It sure seemed like fifty. The kids have not yet grasped that this is a teamsport. URI ran a full court press on EVERY in bound the entire game.When you do not rotate to help bad things (like turnovers) happen. And, they did, often. We nevercountered with a press of our own. An old rule in basketball is that when a team presses you; youpress them. We never did.Ball rotation was fair. Ball handling was awful. I think the kids felt a bit intimidated by their size,the venue, and the officials. Yep, they had their hand in it, too.Simply, bad basketball. We did so many things wrong its hard to spell them all out. We lookedand played like a tank team.The one thing that really frosted me was coach Baron of URI. His kid squeaked out just six pointsin the first thirty-seven minutes. When Dambrot cleared the bench we were down about twenty.Then the younger Baron had a green light to throw up trey after trey much to the delight of thecrowd. I just hope Coach D returns the favor next year when URI is green as grass as our kidsare. I look forward to it.Five URI kids (probably students) sat right behind the Akron bench and taunted the entire game.They were warned for profanity once. But, I had to laugh all game long as they reminded me of the AK-Rowdies. No one, and I mean no one on the Akron bench ever gave them a look.I would write more, but, my heart still aches and my blood pressure is still sky high.Finally, the Rhody student (?) who wanted to take me on for not "respecting" his team after thegame (it seems that yelling "no class", at coach Baron which he heard and reacted to; is not allowed). Here is a tip. I may be sixty-five and over weight, BUT those years of marshall artstraining had me in an excellent position to insure that you never father any children. Do not get in a stranger's grill if you have any desire to keep your nuts.

johnny, you make several good points. I have to agree with you. Right now Jimmy Conyers isthe one Zip playing like a Zip. He is the glue. Great game, Jimmy.Nate seems all over the place. He lacks confidence with his shot, which hurts the team. Nate,just take the shot. Its going to go in more often than not. We believe in you.The big surprise for me is Steve McNees. Steve had an excellent game at both ends of the floor. Steve drove to the basket a number of times there by picking up free throw opportunities. Which, for a change, he cashed in. Steve seemed to play better as the game wore on.Defense? What defense? The Zips got burned inside and outside. St. Francis has several players that can and did loft up three balls. Unfortunately, most of them went in. They coupled that with good lane penetration. Once St. Francis players realized that they could compete with Akron they became a darn tough opponent. The difference in skill saved the Zips. Surely not their lack luster and lazy play. Coach mentioned in his post game that the Zips tire easily. I noticed that as well. I commented to some friends during the game that Akron was playing tired. Not enough suicide drills coupled with KD's relucatance to go to his bench. Where is Steve Swiech? Come on, this kid can play at least as well as several people getting plenty offloor time. We are going to need Swiech later in the season. He needs floor time to prepare for whatis to come. I am disappointed that Swiech is not playing.A tip of the hat to Brett McKnight and Darryl Roberts who both delivered when the game was on the line.

Two things need to be said. First, in addition to bringing in a lot of JUCO and high school talent, previous Can't coaches routinely ran off kids when they could replace them with better talent. There is no guarantee at Can't that you will be on the team later this year let alone next season.Second, while KD has a solid plan for upgrading and improving the Zips, the rub is that KD could begone at the end of any season. Big bucks talk loud. A few of you are old enough to rememberwhat happened when Bob Huggins left forCincinnati. Eight sorry years under Coleman Crawford followed by eight more sorry years under Dan Hipsher.Either method works. The athletic administration has to follow coach A with an equally good coach B. Hiring a Crawford or a Hipsher guarantees a return to the pits.I want a coach who has a fire in his belly to win. A coach that hates losing is the best. When theAD hires a women's coach who detests losing, then and only then will that program turn around.Nice guys, and nice gals, finish last.

Poking around reading the different view points I came across a really good game analysis.Their Point of ViewDon't you think this writer and coach Eaves figured it out? I do. Excellent game summary. No wonderfor once I wasn't p*ssed at the refs.Thanks for the great in game photos. A couple of them are poster quality.Go Zips ... !!!! Go (Happy Birthday) Zeke ... !!!! Go Trevor ... !!!!

You mean that we are not allowed to throw our teddy bears at him?

Mike Razor's blog is reporting that sophomore forward, Steve Zakuani is turning pro. Steve hasclearly shown that he is up to the task ahead of him. Steve has all the potential to become one of soccer's truly great players professionally. Go for it Steve.What does this mean for the Zips? It means that the other forwards will have to generate more offenseon their own. And, they are capable of doing just that. All to often there was an under current that theplayers were leaving the offense attack to Steve alone. It was some thing that even a neophyte soccerfan could discern. And, many of us did.Akron has an entire team of excellent soccer players, with quality reserves. This is a truly good collegesoccer program. The potential is there. The talent is there. The coaching is most assuredly there.The university owes this team a new playing field ASAP. Rebuild the playing surface next Spring. Thecutesy stands and fan amenities can wait.I could not but wonder if the sparse crowds at the Final Four were due in part to not having a "Cinderella"team. The Zips were cheated once again. The NCAA has shown us several times in different sportsthat the NCAA has its own profit and image at the center of its philosophy. Integrity has nothing to dowith the NCAA.

Its called integrity.Neither the NCAA (D'Ann Keller and others) nor Northwestern (sic) University possess a shred of integrity.Fault Northwestern's President, its board of regents, its athletic director and its men's soccer coach as alllacking a shred of integrity. Scumbags one and all.Never again will I consider the sewer known as Northwestern (or is that Northworst) an institution ofhigher learning. If I were an NU grad I would be totally ashamed of my alma mater.

GameChngr54.... lasanga power .. don't forget.

As of 6 PM (EST) / 5 PM (CST) a Chicago radio station was announcing that a Winter Storm Warning has now been issued for Chicago on Sunday. New projections call for three to six inches of snowwith a high of 29 now expected. Along with the snow is forecast strong, near gale force, winds.Sure would be nice to see this game come back to Akron. Unfortunately, the weather was merely apretense to allow the bastards of the NCAA to move the game to a venue more to their liking.Besides, this same weather is projected to strike Akron some time Monday.All this snow and cold temperatures is unusual for Northeast Ohio in November. The two idiots thatran for the office of President need to note that global warming does not produce longcold spells in a seasonal climate that gradually ratchets down from Summer.

Cloudy with snow showers becoming a steady accumulating snow later on. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%. A slushy accumulation of less than one inch.That's tomorrow (Sunday's) Chicago area forecast. A heavy, wet snow to blanket the region. Postpone and play in some gym at a Chicagoland high school?

I just had a thought (an intelligent one at that).The NdishonestCAA has actually given the University and its lawyers an open opportunity to get thegame moved back to Akron.Since D'Ann Keller stated a rule that tournament games MUST be played fields that college competitionhas taken place, the University has a strong case.Keller claims she already approved playing the Akron-tOSuck game at St. V-St. M.She has de facto created a playing surface previously used for collegiate tournament competition.Legally more games could be played at St. V-St. M.It just takes a lawyer and an injunction. In fact, Keller could gracefully yield and allow the game(s)to take place at St.V-St.M. Then, work to change the rules for the future. For 2008 she has opened the door to allow play at St.V-St.M

Mike Razor says to be kind in our words and deeds directed toward the NCAA. Sorry, Mike, no can do.Like a person being brutally raped we should lay back and smile as we are gored. No way. I say go kicking and screaming all the way. I personally usually try to keep the profanity to a minimum.However, I have no problem with others venting as they like.There is another culprit in this debacle. And that person is the President of a major university.I am speaking of the President of Northwestern University. A University is charged with instillingINTEGRITY in its students. If that were not so, then cheating on tests would be an acceptable practice.Failure to speak out against this travesty by the President of Northwestern speaks volumes about Northwestern, its facility and students. Like sheep they lamely accept an injustice and enjoy itsill gotten fruits. Shame on Northwestern and everyone associated with that sewer of corruption.This places Northwestern and all associated with that (sic) school at the same evil level the NCAA hassunk to.

My vent to the NCAA:Sirs: Thank you for revealing how the NCAA promotes UNsportsmanship. Shame.The University of Akron men's soccer team EARNED their home field advantage. Your officials cavalierly STOLE their hard earned reward. Shame.Fairness would dictate that if Akron's stadium is unplayable due to the forces of nature that a local alternative be employed. Moving the Northwestern vs. Akron soccer match to Northwestern gives them an advantage that they neither earned nor are entitled to. This makes all of you thieves. Shame.

I have to disagree.The University has planned and acquired money to overhaul the soccer stadium. It is on a time table.Which one of you runs with out an operating budget?Rightfully so Mack Rhoades and company established a time table to get the soccer stadium improved.Since the consensus was that the team would be Final Four competitive in two or three years the stadiumimprovements are timed to be in place for that run. Few, if any, expected the success of this year.Therefore, cut the management some slack.As for the NCAA, who among you has been calling and e-mailing media venues that could help us?Bitching on this board is like banging your head against a brick wall. It may feel good after you vent,but nothing gets done, save for the bleeding.The NCAA is not interested in the "little school" rising up. The NCAA promotes UNsportsmanship.The "committee" could easily find another stadium a lot closer to the University of Akron. Be it Baldwin-Wallace, John Carroll or a high school stadium in the area. They chose to do what they always do ... cheat. While the whole country enjoyed and rooted for George Mason a few years back the NCAA took steps to prevent that from reoccurring. Currently the NCAA is rewarding the Pig Ten with another trophy. A conference which in no way deserved five of their seven schools in the soccer tournament.All I can say is bitch, bitch, bitch, until you are so annoying that they hate you. They will either haveto kill us all or yield to the heat. So, give them lots of heat. A wimp never wins regardless.Would some one with graphics skills please conjure up a sign? Please take an NCAA blue and whitecircle logo and put the international red circle and slash through it. Then post it so we can wear them at the soccer game on Sunday.And, wieny wonk, no one stole Ohio in the 2004 election. The plurality was over 141,000 votes. Get over it.

Northwestern thinks its official.Northwestern Web Site

the NCAA's primary sponsers are AT&T, Coca-Cola and Pontiac We need to let these sponsers know of our disapproval of the NCAANCAA where sportsmanship is a lie and the might dollar rules.Hey, maybe they are moving the game so the new messiah can attend.

We need to contact as many news venues as possible. I have already called two.Phone numbers and e-mail addresses: WEWS TV5 216-432-3700 baskin@newsnet5.com NCAA offices (closed until Monay, how convienent) 317-917-6222 MAC offices Chryst has no listed number, BUT, the deputy commissioner does Bob Gennarelli 216-566-46222 (x308) WOIO TV19 216-771-1943 rminnaugh@woio.com WKNR 216-578-0850 or 888-SAY-ESPN web site: sportstalkcleveland.com WTAM radio 216-642-4636 (this one works) mikesnyder@clearchannel.com

If this screw job is for real (I still do not see any official posting) then Mac and the University betterget several buses (free to students) at low cost to fans and bus our asses over to Illinois.DO NOT LET THE BASTARDS AT THE NCAA GET AWAY WITH THIS ACT OF "sportsmanship".