GoZips

I was waiting for MRASOR to report this, but, since he is being a little slow on the uptake,Lance Jeter was in the basketball offices this past Monday. Jeter has signed on to jointhe Zips. BUT, he needs to get some critical summer school work passed in order toqualify as a sophomore in the Fall. Then the clock can start ticking for his sit outtransfer year. This is not a slam dunk. Jeter has to pass his summer courses.As for the overall team let's break it down:SENIORS:========J. Wood, PF, starterN. Dials, SG, starterC. Middleton, Combo Guard, preferred sixth manQ. Milum, F, seventh manand three walk ons ---N. Goddard, G, crowd favorite, rangy shooterJ. Sallee, G, provides excellent depthZ. Sowers, G, reserveJuniors:=======J. Conyers, F/G, developing as a playerN. Linhart, F, starterSophomores:==========C. McKnight, F, saw limited action as a freshmanS. McNees, Combo G, was red shirted, developing slowlyM. Bardo, C, was red shirted, developing wellT. Carroll, G, walk onFreshmen:========R. Steward, PG, heir appearant to Dru Joyce, probable starterS. Sweich, C, best candidate to be red shirtedB. McKnight, F, the next Antonio Gates, probable starter by mid-seasonD. Roberts, G, walk on with great potentialA couple of invited Freshman walk onsWhile Cedric Middleton has definitely EARNED a starting spot on the roster, having Cedas the first man off the bench is invaluable. If his ego can handle it, that is the team'sbest interest.Not likely that Steve McNees is going to beat out Ronnie Steward for the starting pointguard role. Its a long shot at best. Darryl Roberts could push Steward.If Brett McKnight continues to improve as he has this past year look for him to takethe small forward starting position by conference play.J. Wood, Nick Dials are locks on their spots. Mike Bardo has become a strong candidateto claim the starting center position. Bardo has truly developed during his red shirtyear. Quade Milum, like Middleton serves the Zips best as the first man off the bench.Coach Dambrot has been known to jumble starting line ups. There is little reason tobelieve that he wont do that again this coming season.As for guards, you need four quality and healthy guards at the bare minimum.Overall, the Zips should contend for the East Championship. I see no one that theyKen't (sic) beat.

Nice find, SKIP. It was sort of buried in the online edition of the ABJ.Supposition on my part based on article in the Canton Repository is that Eric isnot a complete player skill set wise. He is a six-three guard who generally shoots andscores a lot of points from a set position. Colleges want guards to penetrate and shoot off the dribble.He obviously can really shoot the ball well. His stats prove that. He just might be areal plus with the extended three point rule.Coblentz Article

I see over on the MAC board that Akron in early predictions is expected to play .500ball this coming season. And that the Zips three incoming recruits rate just "average".Nearly every one in the MAC is expecting to have a better season than the Zips. Especially Can't Skate. Woe is us. Woe is us. Most are predicting the Flushes tofinish on top of the East. Wow. Jim Christian really knows how to recruit. Not to mention run off lesser players he first signed.NorthWest Airlines rates from Akron to Fairbanks run around $750 R/T.Ya'all send in yer sixty bucks ferda stadium?

Today I had the opportunity to speak with a delightful young lady. She is a telephonerep for my dental insurance company. They and her are located in Spokane, WA.During our chat I asked her if she had heard of the University of Akron. "Oh, yes", shereplied, "they are one of the BIG name schools coach Few mentioned that he is tryingto schedule for the Zags."

UAKRONKID, you bet your sweet ash this was posted to Bud Shaw. Will he reply? Doubtful.

No one ever doubted Quinn as an improvement over Charlie Frye" Quote from Bud Shaw, Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist May 1, 2007 edition.I never realized until just now that I am "no one." Me and a heck of a lot of other, well versed and intelligent fans disagree with your assessment.Charlie Frye is a pretty good young quarterback. He has demonstrated that he can stand withany other quarterback in the league. Dismissing Charlie because of a pathetic, unproductiveoffensive line is lame.In the final quarterback ratings of 2006 Charlie was ranked just behind Ben Rothelisberger andway above the 2006 Rookie of the Year Vince Young. So, just how is it that Brady Quinn whohas never taken a snap in an NFL game is "an improvement over Charlie Frye"?As a reporter and columnist you are supposed to produce facts. Instead, you give a supposition.Based on what? That Quinn played at Notre Dame and Charlie played at Akron?That is impressive. Based on your logic there should be at least six former Notre Dame defensiveends playing in the NFL that are better than Jason Taylor. Well, where are they?Here is what that pathetic, ill though out draft pick is going to cost the Browns. First, this sets thequarterback situation right back to Tim Couch. Why? Because once again the Browns start over.Two, Quinn is a pretty boy with gel in his hair. He no more looks like an NFL QB than my grandmother. Let us see how Quinn fares getting sacked seven times a game. You and I both know that line is not all that improved. Plus, now we see there is disenchantmentin the club house. That festers. That causes problems. Let us see pretty boy take commandas a leader and quell the hard feelings. It wont happen. Three, Crennel, Savage and that idiot old man traded away the future, you know the future, theone the Browns are supposed to be building, to win now. It will not happen. That kid is not Moses.Four, drafting a known problem child in Eric Wright is another disaster. Crennel could not reinin two spunky young men not known for being bad citizens. And now, Romeo is going to corrala rich bum? Pleeeze.This draft was a disaster. They did not draft for the future. They are trying to save their jobs.They wont. Both Crennel and Savage will be fired at the end of the season. Book it.Crennel and Savage were supposed to have a plan. Where was their plan? After making a wiseinitial pick they went in the toilet. They gave away the future to get Quinn. Quinn the vaunted"improvement over Charlie Frye" that twenty-one teams INCLUDING the Browns passed on.Oh yeah, this is a real brain trust. They were stupid. Quarterbacks are developed. They do notcome into the NFL prepackaged ready to play, lead and get Super Bowl rings.Mark my words well. Charlie Frye will wear a Super Bowl ring he earned by leading his team tothe championship before the Browns ever get to the game.Oh, I forgot, you don't know me. Well, I am the voice that called Brenda and Roda morons forhyping Troy Smith. I took a lot of heat. First round draft pick my foot. I said it months agoand I say it now. No matter where Smith gets picked ... it was too high. None of you "wizards" will stand up and tell the truth. Lest you be cut off from the free buffettable. Not one of you has any onions.Here is a suggestion. Since you are so all fired cock sure that Brady Quinn is "an improvementover Charlie Frye" put YOUR onions where your mouth is. Become the loud, continual voice ofCleveland demanding that the Browns play Quinn now. Not in four games or six games or whenever Charlie falters, play Quinn now. Since Quinn is already better that Frye, back him. you have the newspaper voice, do it. Have your pretty boy sissy lead the charge. Beginning with the first snap of the exhibition season.Promote Quinn as the savior. After all, he's "an improvement over Charlie Frye."I am so disgusted with this "blame Charlie" fiasco that I have decided that after fifty-five yearsof being a Browns fan I am headed to the Steelers camp.

It was reported today that Alex Kellog, Clark Kellog's son signed a LOI with ProvidenceCollege today. Good news for him Not such good news for the Zips.This means that KD still has one to give. Could it fall to the Jeter kid?Or does one of the irons in the fire heat up?

Hold on. Sit still. Wait a few.The Browns are not going to start Quinn right out of the gate, meaning the first regularseason game. That's suicidal. The O-line needs time to "gel". With all the switchingof players during the four preseason games this gelling process will not happen.It will probably take from four to eight regular season games to get the O-line up tospeed. During this time the Browns are not going to risk their multimillion dollardressed in pink sweetheart. Nope. The Browns will plug in tried and tested CharlieFrye. Why? Because he is durable. Also, since he has played the most games last year hebecomes the best resource to evaluate where the O-line needs tweaking. Its not thatthey will give Charlie a chance, because they wont. Its because they have way toomuch money and "face" invested in Quinn.If Charlie survives AND if he is leading the team to multiple victories he will remainthe starting quarterback. If and when he falters you will see baby boy Quinn takingsnaps.Should Charlie produce a winning and competitive team Quinn will remain on the bench.Quinn will get into games late for mop up duty. This is where he will get his initialexperience. Should he surpass Charlie he, Quinn, will earn a start. But, he will haveto win.You have to factor in that Crennel and Savage have their collective kesters on thechopping block. This is a win now or you are gone scenario. They bet the ranch onQuinn. They probably lost. Time will tell.The Browns fans will not accept anything short of a 9-7 season with a playoff spot.Otherwise, heads will roll.Here is what you can expect. All of the local media, print, TV, radio, etc. are going tosuck up to the Lerner's. To say anything negative about Quinn will cost said personhis or her place at the free food buffet. This includes the Akron writers. No one, but,no one is going to make negative remarks about Quinn until he is ankle deep in his own doo doo.Ooops, there is one exception. Mike Trivisono is no favored darling of the Browns.You will probably get the truth out of him. No. I am not propping Trivisono. Actually,I dislike his abrasive, crude and sometimes pathetic remarks.Contrary to all the hype, the Browns 2007 draft is a bust. They obviously did NOT havea plan of attack. Need proof, sure you do. They started out quite well by opting toselect Joe Thomas the OT out of Wisconsin. Good pick. It is down hill from there.Next the Browns gave away next year's first round pick plus this year's second roundpick to get Quinn in the twenty-second spot. Think about this intelligently. Twenty-oneteams, including the Browns passed on Quinn.They were so desperate to get Quinn that they gave away their future. These clowns remind me of Ted Stepien of the old Cleveland Cadavers days. Quinn better walk onwater. He wont. He'll flub. He has Ryan Leaf and Tony Mandrich written all over him.He is to pretty to be a quarterback. Show me a successful QB in the NFL that everlooked like him. Even Brian Sipe wasn't near as pretty.Second selection the Browns made was to trade up to get a bum. Not just a bum, buta proven bum. Sure, and excellent player. Romeo Crennel could not rein in twoplucky kids in Winslow and Edwards. Now just how firm will be his limp wristed controlof a rich bum? Can you say "character issues"?All the later picks were irrelevant. Why? Because they traded away the core picks ofthe second and third rounds to get Quinn and the bum.The Browns needed to get more picks to get more bodies. They failed. Consequently,they will fail on the field. This is going to be one long year unless Charlie Frye getsit together sufficiently to carry the offense. Sorry. That's life.

Here is how intelligent the Browns drafting Brady Quinn with two top quality draft picks was.The sorry Miami Dolphins picking ninth overall and in extreme need of a franchisequarterback PASSED over Brady Quinn to draft a kick returner. A kick returner in thefirst round. A kick returner instead of this vaunted QB you are slobbering over.But, the Browns brain trust gave away the future for Brady Quinn. Quinn better be every thing all you supporters of him claim his is. Last mere mortal to walk on waterwas the Apostle Peter. Ain't never seen Quinn walk on water or any thing close to it.Charlie Frye is a real NFL quarterback. He will get his ring that he earns by being thestarting QB of the winning team. Unfortunately, it will not be Cleveland.

SGM405, have you ever had an intelligent thought in your miserable life?Why are you continually ranking on the Zips and former Zips? Obviously you are neithera student at Akron or ever been an Akron fan. Are you a mole from Cant or just slimethat oozes by on warm days?I have noticed frequently that you are never positive, nor kind, nor complimentary.It seems you live to be hurtful to others. I suggest that you get counseling.Your remarks regarding Charlie Frye's performance as the Brown's quarterback showsjust how hateful and ignorant you are. Few players in the NFL would be tough enoughto endure the pounding Charlie took behind that miserable excuse for an offensiveline. Brady "momma's boy" Quinn sure as hell couldn't wither that fire.Sit down. Shut up. And learn how to be a mensch.

I knew that Phil Savage was an arrogant pig. I just did not realize that he was such a stoopid arrogant pig. Well, he has his Perrier swilling pink chardonay baby boy now.And he only had to mortgage the franchise to get him. A freaking first round pick next year and this year's second round pick for a kid that twenty-two teams (including the Browns) passed on. Now, that's pure tactical genius.That tops all of Philly's previous blunders by a mile. What a stupo.I am as of now a former Browns fan. In fact, I'm throwing in with the dreaded Squealers just for spite.May Charlie be blessed with a trade to a team that he leads to a Super BowlChampionship. May Charlie wear the ring before the dumb assed Browns ever getto a championship game.Phil Savage you are a pussy for caving into Lerner who knows less about footballthan the pimples on your butt. What a shame. Sold down the river.Can't wait to hear Kenny Roadhog going off on the sorry Brownettes late next seasonwhen pretty boy is out with a concussion and Derek "choke" Anderson is running forhis sorry life.Get out of there Charlie. There's no life left in Cleveland.

Wow ... !!!! Good move by John Rybak. He will get more of a chance to play his brandof basketball. The Zips are just a couple of steps too fast paced for John. I sincerelyhope that he does well at Texas State.That freed up scholarship would be well spent on Alex Kellog or a couple of others.C'mon, Alex, do the deal.

Well put, CAP'N. I agree with you on most points. However, regarding membership in the Big East, I think that is closer to reality thanmost folks realize. As I stated earlier in this thread, there are currently only twoavenues for the Zips. If the Missouri Valley went to 1-A football that would likely be thedirection to go. That is not likely to happen as most MVC members seem content toremain at the 1-AA level.Akron is not going to revert to 1-AA football. CAP'N put up the very real and solidarguments as to exactly why Akron will remain 1-A. I agree completely. Falling to1-AA hurts the university. It is not going to happen. Period. End of discussion.Since the MVC is not on the radar to advance to 1-A football that leaves Akron withonly one place to go. For that to happen the university has to fill a need for the BigEast. Football, not basketball is our trump card. We sit in the middle of one of thelargest population regions in the country. Cleveland-Akron is a huge market. Thatmeans exposure to a conference. Most if not all of the 1-A football playing schools in the Big East have been clamoringfor years that football needs more attention. There have even been rumblings ofkicking the BE out of the BCS. The western end of the conference boasts a numberof football oriented schools. We fit the pattern of these schools. Plus, we improvetheir travel costs (Pitt, Cincinnati, W.Va., Syracuse).Think potential. Do not think 1960. This is not 1960. This is a large, urban settinguniversity with a lot to offer a conference. Akron has plenty to offer the MAC. Problemis the MAC still believes its 1960. The MAC still treats Akron like its 1960. Do youthink that the MAC would have stood idly by for one second if their beloved Cant State,Miami, Bowling Green or Toledo took the shaft the Zips got?When I report that higher ups in the university want out of the MAC I am not smokingfunny tobacco or having pipe dreams. I am reporting the truth. There is little if anylove between the MAC and the University of Akron. Politically the management playsthe game with cards held close to the vest.From my perspective, I enjoyed defeating North Carolina State in football far more thanwinning the MAC championship. The team that defeated NCST was a better team thanthe one that one the MAC championship. The Zips showed they can play at a higherlevel.Build the stadium. Build the arena. Continue to attract quality athletes. Point to therecent successes in any number of sports. This train is rolling. I for one, desire to beon board for the ride.Any one take up my challenge to send Mack Rhoades sixty dollars? Do it.

Any one catch the NFL commercial featuring Jason Taylor?During ESPN2's pre-draft show featuring the college kids and where they might get drafted there was a commercial for the NFL. This commercial featured Jason Taylor.How Jason was selected in the third round. Several shots of his days at Akron. Jasonas a Dolphin. How many great NFL players are not selected until the later rounds, etc.The commercial closed by honoring Jason as the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

At the basketball banquet I asked President Porenza where did we stand on getting thenew football stadium built. He replied that if he had sixty million dollars we could starttomorrow. Well, I do not have sixty-million dollars just laying about. I did have mycheck book and I wrote out a check to the university for sixty dollars.Sixty dollars is not much. It is one millionth of the need. But, it is one millionth theynow have in hand.Dr. Porenza asked me to give the check to Mack Rhoades. I did. The other day Ireceived a nice, honest, hand written note from Mr. Rhoades. I appreciate the gesture.Mack Rhoades stock soared in my view. He can and will reach the community.The university needs a battle plan. Well, personally, I think they already have one. Agood plan to say the least.Take care of the coaching staff, not just the head coaches. Coaches will come and go.Make this university a place where young, on fire coaches want to be.Build the football stadium. Make sure it is large enough to move UP. Make sure itis expandable seating wise. Involve the surrounding community. We need to induce businesses in the neighborhood to be part of the community. Plainly put, if they willnot help by relocating and taking a fair offer, boycott them. Nothing quite like a weakbottom line to foster change. The selfishness of a couple of the businesses holdingup progress is certainly enough to get me to not shop there.The best example of a business that is a good neighbor is the McDonald's. It thrivesat its new location.Announce plans for a new, not a renovated basketball arena. The JAR is an embarrassment. Keep only one feature of the JAR. The in tight, in yourface, close in seating. I was recently in Michigan's Crisler Arena. Nice wide openexpanse. Way, way too open. Ten rows back or in the upper tier you feel like youare watching the game from the next county.Make it an open secret that Akron is looking to upgrade its conference affiliation.Actually, this is one of the worst kept secrets in college sports. And, no you do not haveto be a conference champion year in and year out or have the greatest attendancestats to move on. You have to have a program that people want to compete against.Men's soccer, one of the best in the country, is shackled by being in a conference wherethe sport has been too often sacrificed for Title Nine. Scrap the current non-existing radio network. Akron needs a powerhouse anchorstation. A station that can be heard through the northern half of Ohio, WesternPennsylvania, and the Detroit area. Avoid fiascoes like the Air Unamerica crap. Thatwas truly embarrassing. If they stay on 1350 that station needs to have a signal atleast twice as strong as 640. Better still, move to 640 and increase thier signal.The Beacon Journal has been living up to their commitment of featuring the Zips. Thank you. The Canton Repository and the Cleveland Plain Dealer both give decentcoverage.Some of you need to participate by calling national radio shows such as Jim Romeand giving him an earful. Politely, of course. When he recently had Tommy Izzobloviating about how he was willing to "play anybody, any time, any place", do whatI did. Call them both out on it. Izzo made both himself and Rome liars.Get involved. Be involved. Have the onions to be impolite and remind people at Zipsgames to please show up the next time in Zips gear. Tell them to leave theirBuckeye apparel at home. BTW, this does not apply to classy apparel fromfringe schools such as Slippery Rock, Dennison, Findlay, etc. Its the gear from Big Tenschools and such that have no business at Zips events. Its kind of like keeping yourfirst wife's picture on the table when you are now married to wife number two. No class.And that's all I have to say about that.

For those of you who do not have a log in ID with the Providence Journal, the lastparagraph reads as follows."If for some reason Williams doesn’t return, PC would have two available scholarships.Brooks wasn’t the only recruit on campus over the weekend. Alex Kellogg, a 6-8 forward from Columbus, Ohio, visited along with his father, CBS-TV analyst Clark Kellogg. The Kelloggs are scheduled to also visit Akron and Miami (Oh.) in the next weekand."

The men's basketball honors banquet provided an excellent opportunity for gleaningnews about Zips sports. Here a bit of what I learned. I'll save the best for last.KD mentioned that Steve McNees will be the starting point guard in the Fall. I think hewill be pressed to keep that role with the talent coming in.Everyone was mum on Jeter with hints that he is coming.Rasor's mention of the six-seven kid in Maryland was poo-pooed as wishful thinking.Sat next to the web site owner/master of MidAmPub. He's a Can't grad. Disappointedthat all he posted today was a copy of what is on GoZips.com. I found him far moreobjective and to my personal liking than the snert who managed to get several Zips posters negative comments about his writings removed from his less than free speechboard. I look for more and better articles about Akron on MidAmPub.com Check it out.Scheduling is still a tough grind. No one and I mean no one wants to play AT Akron.Forty and two does that to you. Write your congressman. Better still, write yourfavorite opponent's coach staff.I posted an e-mail to Jim Rome asking him to get an on air interview with KD. Rome and Dru got tons of praise. Which in all honesty was not near as much as theyboth deserved. Both Dru and Rome spoke like poised, educated young men. Not asingle "you know" or "like" between them.KD expounded that both of them will be playing professional ball. I agree.Team spirit is in the rafters. Lots of kidding and fellowship. This is a team. Got tolove them.Asked a direct question and got a direct answer. When will construction on the newstadium begin? Answer: "with in the year".And now the best: Asked two key men in the Zips organization about getting out ofthis rag tag, rat infested, good old boy conference. Loved the almost identical answerfrom both men, to paraphrase, "we are working, oops, can't admit this."

It was mentioned at the banquet that Gonzaga and Akron are discussing (negotiating)a home and home contract. As to who contacted who I am not sure which schoolinitiated the contact. Doubt if it matters.Earlier plans were for Gonzaga to face the Zips at the Q this season with Akron travelingto Spokane next season. Apparently that is NOT the current agenda. What coach Dambrot hinted at during his remarks was along the lines of Akron facingGonzaga in the Battle of Seattle THIS season with Gonzaga coming to the Q next season.Spokane is clear at the eastern edge of the state of Washington. Seattle lies on thewest coast about 400 miles from Spokane. Theoretically Seattle is considered a neutralsite for Gonzaga even though the Zags have many fans there.Gonzaga played Nevada in last season's Battle in Seattle, and lost.

One change that I personally would like to see in the Spring game is a rule that it takestwo hands on the QB to stop the play. With a special for the Spring game only, fifteenyard penalty if the defender knocks the QB down.All three QBs suffered from almost nonexistent incidental contact causing the ball to be downed. All three had nice runs negated by being barely touched by an out stretchedhand. Not to mention passing scrambles prematurely whistled dead.Sean Hakes is the QB of the future. I predict that he will be the starting QB by midseason.One last thing, the snaps were awful. As Rasor stated in his column, the split secondlost is often the difference between a well executed play and disaster.

PUKE? I have never liked Puke. Great post.

Zips garnered just one vote in the final AP poll. Same number of votes Duke and Indianapicked up. At least some one remembers just good our guys really were.

Think Rome might make SGM's NBA if he'd of been wearing Scarlet and Grey instead ofOld Gold and Navy Blue?Whether Rome makes the NBA or not is strictly based on his own personal effort. He hasall the tools. He needs motivation and desire. That's entirely up to him.

I think you need to recognize that all the players you listed are walk-ons.They have all earned a preferred status. Whether they are with the team next year isup to them. None of the players you list are expected to ever be more than role players. Which is not all bad. They contribute by being bodies to practice against.They get recognition as being members of the team. They gain the satisfaction ofbeing contributors. All in all, a nice reward for a person who has a skill level justbelow that of a scholarship player.Each one deserves the kudos he earns. The Zips are thankful for the contributions theymake for the team. As fans we recognize them when they get into a game by vigorouslycheering them on. Its a good feeling for them. One that is hard earned.So, let us thank them all for their hard work, dedication and contribution to making ourZips the best mid-major program on the planet.

Let's shed some light on a few items.CSU has OSU at home as part of a multi-year package that sends CSU to Columbus forthree ass kickings.OSU will easily have far more fans at the Q than will CSU. Home game atmosphere forthe Columbus bunch.Why OSU wont play Akron? Actually, they would for the same three for one deal and ourgame at the Q. Now is that a good deal? Sure. What you smoking?Akron may have only pulled a 67 RPI, but its a hell of a lot higher than the usual cupcakes (see CSU) the Buckies usually bring into their arena.As for losing to the Zips. Excellent chance the Sucks would suffer the same fate in thelowly JAR that they got at Savage Hall. MAC schools are incredibly difficult to defeatin their house.The Sucks would have about one third the fan total in the JAR. About the same asCant brings. Only, half that amount would not be rabid fans.Playing and, ahem, losing to the likes of Florida and North Carolina on the road wouldnever bring the crash in the Staties lofty RPI that losing to the Zips would inflict.SGM, here's a tip. If you like the Sucks so much, go be their fan. This is the ZipsNation. There are plenty of sewers you can find loyal Suck fans in. After all, youalmost never meet a Suck fan who has ever been to school there or sent theirdumb assed kid there. Its all versheechzen.

Dan Hipsher is a fine man. I like and respect him. Is he a great D-1 head coach?Probably not. An excellent assistant who knows the game. Actually, coach Hipsher might be an outstanding candidate for the Bowling Green job.I wish him all the best. For you bashers ... remember this, it was Hip who got KD backinto D-1 coaching. Thanks, Dan.