MRasor0200

The leading CJ is now, without question, Carlton Jackson.

Dambrot pushed for MVC opponents and other high-end mid-major matchups.They would accept a home-and-home, but they wanted Game One of the deal at their place. With Romeo and Dru being seniors, Dambrot wants to have some out-of-conference home games.Expect next year's schedule to reflect that.

@ Cincinnati LMiami W@ Toledo LBowling Green WBuffalo W@ Ohio WWestern Michigan W

When I picked up the paper, I saw exactly what I expected. The ABJ editors did plenty for UA coverage in today's paper.Since when is sending a reporter, photographer and lead columnist to the game not enough?I'll give you this: The page designer overdid it. OSU got much more space on A1 and C1.As to GoZips comment that I'm not writing because I support the Zips, I disagree. While I am paid to write my blog (blogs.ohio.com/rasor), I write my sports column for free.I have no allegience to the ABJ, the paper that laid me off last month. I am writing strictly from my own interpretations and opinions.In short, I enjoy writing, I love the Zips and I still think the ABJ is working toward converting itself away from Columbus-centric college football coverage.

Marla has very little decision on what beat she covers.She is a nice lady and does not deserve any of the hatred spewed about her.I hope you guys wouldn't do that to me if I were hired to cover the Buckeyes. At least I don't have to worry about that at the ABJ.

DK is fine, Brookhart says.blogs.ohio.com/rasor

Both have shown flas hes of brilliance and of disaster.I don't like that from kickers and punters. I'll take consistency any day.

I almost had to rub my eyes when I saw a female golfer with a Fear the Roo shirt on this afternoon in Stow.I nearly proposed to her that minute.

The first call I received after the game was from a Buckeyes fan with congratulations.Rooting against the Buckeyes isn't about being hateful, it's about being realistic. The college football market in NE Ohio is only so big. When Ohio State is No. 1 in the nation, Akron will continue to be the red-headed stepchild, even on its own campus.Rasor on the Zips

In case you're sitting around a case of beer before the Zips game, listen to the Buchtelite's first-ever Podcast. Four of us idiots previewed the Akron-NC State game.You can get it from my blog: Rasor on the ZipsOr you can access it from the bottom left corner of Buchtelite.comHope to see you guys at Johnny Malloy's.

I'll tell you with complete certainty that national football writers would rather be right on the longshots than the sureshots.Here's another thing I know: National writers consider how many starters are returning when deciding mid-major conference champions.So Herbstreit is hoping Can't State, which returns a sickening amount of starters from an awful team, wins the MAC. That way, he can brag on College Gameday.Many of ESPN's writers lost credibility with me a long time ago.

Thanks, uakronkid.It's funny you mention the message boards. I just had a meeting today discussing how we can improve them.I think the main problem is one that I wouldn't necessarily want to fix: ZipsNation is far and away too popular to lure anyone to our boards.

http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/college

HA!

I'm in. Thanks for the invite, Bobby.

I did a little research tonight and found that Akron is going after more quality players than any school in the MAC, according to Scout.com.Rivals.com, meanwhile, ranks Akron fourth.Here's the link: blogs.ohio.com/rasor

Damn, that's a lot of good ink.Here is a quote that really stood out to me:"Our players have all pretty much played with LeBron or tried to guard him," Dambrot said. "He's kind of adopted us. He's so huge right now. It's amazing how we can get in the door [of recruits] with that connection. It's not all that different than with what [John] Stockton's done with Gonzaga."blogs.ohio.com/rasor

You know your stuff, CK.I think we agree that the Zips needed more early home games. First, because it will help attendance. A snowy Rubber Bowl is delightful when it's against Can't State to win the division. When it's against Buffalo on a Thursday, a lot of students would rather go to the library.Second, because it will help the Zips record look better and improve fan support from the get-go.

I'll stand up for Terry.Although I don't think he came out and said it, the real point of his column is this: Akron needs a good record early to get a buzz around this city.A good start, with this schedule, is 1-2. That isn't the kind of record that gets people to the Rubber Bowl.Many of you trash anything Terry says. I've been a sportswriter at the Indianapolis Star all summer. Whenever I tell people where I'm from, they say one of two things:1) Ohhh, the Zips!or2) You are so lucky to have Terry Pluto.

Better question: Where can I get a beer pong table designed to look like the Rubber Bowl?

You may be surprised by a couple of these guys listed...Link: Men's basketball recruiting targets

The past two weeks I have been scouring the Web for news on players who the Zips are targeting.Here are links for the player profiles, sorted by position:Offensive skill positionsOffensive lineDefensive lineLinebackersDefensive backs

The ABJ did a very similar story two Sundays ago that was on page A1.It was centered around Zips target David Arnold, a safety from Copley.

I second that.CSTV and CBS will televise the nationals in two weeks from Sacramento.It's too bad the team doesn't have more support from the campus community. Maybe a national champion or two can change that.blogs.ohio.com/rasor

Dr. Proenza has long coveted Central-Hower. Don't be surprised if UA buys it.