zipper

Well I can't go THAT far. I am completely unsure about the rest of this year, but I have very high hopes for the future of this program, and for once I don't think those hopes are misplaced. Win or lose, this team is so much more fun to watch that I won't miss a home game if I can help it. I WILL be entertained tonight, and that is something that this year I know I can count on. This year ALL of our guys play hard for the whole 40 minutes (with very, very few lapses) - and because of that I want to support them. Anytime my team plays like they do they get my butt in the seat. They have heart and they deserve fans.

Hear, hear, Z-Pouch. I voted for Wood's injury, because I honestly think that had we not lost him we would have won at LEAST one of the last two away games. Now the team has to learn to play without him, adapt, and learn how to ompensate for his loss. With him, I think we were contenders for the East. This team plays big defensively and are extremely fun to watch. I concur about there not being one star, and I think that's exactly the way Dambrot likes it. When he coached at St.V, you couldn't ignore LeBron, but the rest of that team obviously wasn't chopped liver, either. And all of those kids, (including LeBron, the anti-Tarver, who knew how to pass), played as one unit. Had we not just suffered two road losses, I think we would, in fact, be seeing the very beginnings of "buzz." If we see a four or five game win streak, people will start to get excited, not only about this year but next and the year after, as well. And I do think that football being on the upswing does provide a diversionary focus, but how many of us would have felt this way at the beginning of this last football season? The conference season is young right now.

Don't know how many of you already caught this but this is pretty funny stuff for those who read MACbbs: http://www.ncaabbs.com/forums/mac/invision...=ST&f=1&t=17872

Then don't go. But please don't show up when they play for the conference championship, either.

You're right. All the people with birthdays on September 11 should just move them. All the people with anniversaries on Sept. 11 should never celebrate. Historically, people did have birthdays on June 6. And on December 7. And they just kept on celebrating them. We WIN in a small but meaningful way when we don't let our lives grind to a halt over September 11 falling on a football Saturday on a beautiful fall day in Ohio.

Gracias. I was thinking the same thing. Who cares?

I thought this was a very big win, and away at that (and loved the fact that it was on tv). Wright State beat Toledo and Miami had to take them into overtime to beat them. Ball State beat them by 7. We seemed to gel much better and the team seemed much more in sync. If this win is any indication, I'm getting psyched. From the Dayton Daily, WSU head coach Paul Biancardi: ""No matter if it was on offense or defense, they out-rebounded us, they out-hustled us," Wood said. "They got all the loose balls. They made all the big plays. "It comes down to energy. If you don't have energy on defense, they're just going to score at will. They were scoring inside and they were scoring outside because our team didn't have any energy like we've been having. They beat us on both ends of the floor." We controlled the pace of most of that game, and it crippled them.

I would be extremely surprized if Pitt hired a guy who has been a HC for one year at a MAC school (granted, COY, but still, only one year), and maybe especially surprized if they hired someone from Walt Harris' regime. Three years from now, maybe, but from what I've read they're going to go for a big time hire. Geesh, they're running Harris off, basically, and he's going to earn them 14 mil this year and was COY of the conference. I think they're going to shoot very high on this one.

We can vote n the officiating of the Hawaii/MSU game at this site: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/polls/da...ts120504?vo=156

I usually try to go to two or three women's games a year, so I believe I know who and what you're talking about. My advice to Coach Kelly: pull a George O'Leary at USF -- sit their butts or get them off the team and play anyone who actually cares about winning no matter what their age or talent level. Take the losses but build for the future. And let them know that bad attitudes just can go to practice and sit on the bench during games. Have a zero tolerance coaching position on this. Maybe the former coaches recruits just can't make the mental leap to actual Division I basketball. Fine, but DO NOT REWARD MEDIOCRITY IN ATTITUDE OR PLAY ... IN PRACTICE OR IN GAMES. I'd play with four players before I'd play bad attitudes (think Hoosiers). Who cares if they like you - they just gotta respect you and your coaching. I get very frustrated by players with bad attitudes. It's like a poison that must be neutralized for the benefit of the other players on the team. I've played on teams like that (ok, not college, but high school) and it spreads like cancer especially to the new young kids.

You've lost your mind. They're a run and gun team now. Why would you reign in someone who's hot?

Please let the right Michigan State team show up Please let the right Michigan State team show up Please let the right Michigan State team show up.

But Akron is *already* bowl eligible.

Thanks - I forgot about this. I was at the game the other night and this is going to be one exciting year for the Zips. Win or lose (and I'd bet win) this team is very, very fun to watch.

Just wondering if it might help our bowl chances at all that Brookhart was COY and Charlie POY for the conference?

Big news Captain - very big news. And I agree - who thought we were going to be good this year?? I think a lot of people were advising Charlie to leave just because the cupboard was bare. As it turns out, Brookhart appears to be able to turn athletes into football players. I expected to be 3-8 or 4-7 this year - I guess Elton figured Charlie could do it all by himself.

This link appears to be updated the quickest: http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2004/Bo...Projections.htm

GoZips says "Have faith in JD (he may be the new HC at Pitt next year). The rest of them ... they simply work at Akron U to collect a paycheck. They don't care like you and I do. Take that to the bank." As far as Brookhart goes, please don't try to tell us your friend LO wouldn't have jumped at the opportunity to coach in the Big East. Brookhart's name might be mentioned but at this point it appears doubtful Harris is getting fired. I think you're firing blanks on this one. You reveal too much to have any credibility - like you mention on the recruiting site that Owens is a friend of yours. I know someone on the UAM staff and the fact is they GREATLY want to go to a bowl. What's your gripe with the admin anyway? Because they fired your buddy? Maybe you just collect a paycheck at your job, but I've seen the hours these folks put in - if it was just for the paycheck my guess is they could at least find something with regular hours and the same pay. I certainly get the impression they care about the kids and the coaches. What gives with you, anyway?

I'm hyped. Haven't seen a Zips team play like this in ages. Run and gun. I saw some highly skilled passes. They were VERY rough around the edges, but with flushes of brilliance. This team was fun to watch and they looked like they were having fun themselves. What a difference - they looked relaxed, loose, ready to play, and you're right, Captain - the upperclassmen are getting over their fear of being yanked. Old habits die hard. McFadden will have some key games this year - he always does. I don't know about redshirting any of the freshmen - I thought they almost all looked like players right out of the gates.

Here's the exact link: http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/bowls/predictions I think we'll travel well because so many people would just be so excited about Akron being in a bowl. You all should take a peek at the verbal abuse we're getting on bobcatattack.com's football message board. Apparently they don't think we're a very good team, even though we beat Marshall and hung tight with Miami (not to mention beating them). They're also ragging on our attendance issues - and they had a whopping 130 more fans per game on average. Gall or idiocy - you choose.

Hop on over to the MACBBs - Clemson and S. Carolina are out of bowl consideration. It appears Akron U might have an opportunity to go to a bowl.

I thought whoever it was (Waddel?) did an excellent job. I wasn't bored - I thought it was pretty colorful. Were we listening to the same guy??

I could be wrong but I believe it's on 1350 as usual. You could check gozips.com.

I'm just sitting here thinking that, no matter what happens Saturday, this team has surpassed my highest expectations. I am proud to be a Zip because of those kids who put in the perseverance, sweat, time and commitment this year to prove they had "it" - the mental and the grit to win. If, as an alum, I am in any small way I am affiliated with that group of fine individuals, it is to my favor, and I thank them for it. Now go get another one boys - play tough, smart, and leave it all on the field. Go Zips!!

No. But every little bit helps.