zipper

I'm starting to believe KingZip is actually a Can't mole. So now you're outed, KZ.

It's not "you've got another THING coming", it's "if you think (whatever)....then you've got another THINK coming. Just helping out a fellow Zip alum. Well, KingZip, I gotta agree with you about our band compared to Can't's. We look uptight....wound tight....and with no wild hairs at all. I could probably assure you that none of our band members played in a rock band for fun in high school. Maybe they should all have a little nip before the game - just those over 21, of course. I dig the doberman. Better to look like a tough kangaroo than some overexposed eagle like half the schools in the MAC. We can't help it if no one knows what a kick-a** kangaroo looks like. Let them live and learn what a Zip is, hopefully the hard way.

Geez, KingZip, don't hold back. Maybe rather than listing all the stuff you don't like you should just state the stuff you do like....if there's anything at all. The cheerleaders and the band, overall, are much better this year (except for that one cheer). They should work more in tandem and conjunction with each other. I've seen many other schools where it is obvious the band and cheerleaders have coordinated their stuff much better than we do. Dambrot is a product of this community and is recognized as one of us. I liked him on the billboards. Also, this is a team without a star, BB has no Charlie Frye, and so putting a player on there would make no sense. I thought it was a great decision for this year. In fairness to French and Dunn, I have been critical of them in the past but I thought they were also much improved this year. Steve French is really having fun with his job for once and it shows through. Your one good thought was your suggestion to put a camera on Keith for the post-game and show it on the video board for those still in the arena (how many are left in the arena by the time Keith gets on?). Might be a good idea. As far as the colors, as I understood it back when they switched it, this "new" gold is actually the "old" gold - the original color. I remember when we had a gold closer to what we have now. The banana yellow was a change made maybe ten years ago. Thank God we got rid of it - anyone remember Can't's football uni's this year? :blink:

If they do that "Give me an A" cheer one more time I'm gonna die. That is possibly the worst cheer I have ever seen a college team - or even a high school team - do. It is a total embarassment and needs to be shelved NOW. I get where they're trying to go with this but it ain't happening, so please don't ever make us Zips fans suffer through it again.

Not sure about this but I think they are allowing re-admits on this Hard Rock deal. Anyone know UAM to check?

What has happened to Travis the last few games? Did he operate so much under the radar at the beginning of the season that other teams have finally caught on or has our passing to him under the basket just gotten worse or nonexistent? He also used to be a rebounding machine and I used to comment to my buddy every game about his vertical and hands. Right after Wood got hurt he became Superman for us. Now I just don't see it. I'm hoping several of you can shoot down this observation down. Feel free.

Zip Watcher, you have outdone yourself. Very nice remodel of ZipsNation.org. Congrats.

It's Bill Bleil: http://gozips.collegesports.com/sports/m-f.../021605aab.html

Agree Can't gets credit where credit's due. I don't think they want to see us again, though, no matter what their smack talking representatives on this board say. Also thought McFadden had the guts to take the shot. COMPLETELY AGREE Romeo has to take those in range shots. I know good teams are unselfish and know how to pass, but sometimes it makes no sense. I saw a few of those at the Can't game that he should have opted for the basket. I've been feeling the same way about Peterson not playing at the end. In the second half he was forcing turnovers and was helping us defensively, so not sure what the thinking was there, either. Been wondering about that since the game. As far as rebounding, it seems Romeo is letting up some since his performances right after JW was hurt. Just doesn't seem to be hauling them down like he was - the guy has a great vertical but either the bounces aren't going our way or our guys aren't in position....or Travis needs to step it up here at the end. Maybe all three. This team has surpassed my expectations but now I'm hungry for more, and I'd bet they are, too.

Sorry but you are, indeed, in the boonies. I know it's a trip into the big city for you guys to go to Cleveland or Akron - do you get your provisions for the year when you go? The fact is we lost two extremely close games without our own matchup to Gerwig. You can dismiss this fact if it makes you feel better. Just thank your lucky stars in your prayers, because with him we would have almost surely been 2-0 against you. And your "history" and a nickel won't buy your way to the MAC Championship. It's this year that matters. You may do well, or not, but the past is over, my little rural friend.

BigZip I think you feel letdown today, as do I. But the fact is we just beat Miami five days ago and we had an off game against a very good team - in which we weren't even blown out. In this conference no game is easy.

No one's banking the whole season on one kid. But for you to deny he would have made a difference in a VERY close game is delusional on your part. You are showing your ignorance. Who do you think recruited this year's freshmen and sophs (and juco senior Collins)? Dambrot! If you don't believe it, just ask the players.

Just for you I looked up some phone numbers of the Can't State ticket office: 330-672-2244 (main office) 330-672-8418 (ticket manager) 330-672-8421 (student asst.) I'll be calling myself - forgot it might be a problem just walking up.

I think the Nation is afraid of jinxing ourselves. Am I excited? Yes, but in a wary, cautious way. Maybe I'm trying to protect myself from how I felt after the Can't loss, or maybe I'm just not used to high expectations as a Zips fan. We've all been burned before and my guess is none of us want to say too much. Here's another thought for you: if we were to win tonight, would we "let down" at Can't on Saturday? This team doesn't seem like past years' teams but it might be normal to relax a little. I don't know if I'd even want to go into the tourney with no recent losses. It seems like they make a good team awfully hungry, and if you go in winning everyone wants to knock you off. Just ask Miami

Plus I heard they're selling it like never before. People really like it. The Zips' mascot is a kangaroo and is not common and thus not easily identifiable. That's not the administration's problem because it was decided long before anyone sitting in Buchtel Hall or the JAR came to work here. If some guy doesn't know what it is he can ask and find out. When I read his comment in the paper I didn't think WE had a problem, I thought he was ignorant at worst and unaware of the University of Akron at best. And think about it....what's a Buckeye? Objectively, that's a BAD mascot, as they go.

Mol, that's the problem with trying to dissect other teams - you probably really don't know all the facts or the history. Owen's last season the Zips' schedule strength was ranked the 116th out of 117 teams. We played not one, but TWO 1-AA teams, so 7-5 was actually 5-5. We had 17 starters returning. He should have EASILY been 9-3 at the minimum, and probably 10-2. Adding insult to injury, recruiting all but laid down and died those last two years. The reason the FB team struggled at the beginning this year was almost completely because of Brookhart instituting completely new offensive (West Coast) and defensive schemes. You weren't just teaching your freshmen your system, you were basically reteaching the entire team. In my mind they learned quick. And then, remember, Brookhart went and brought in the number one recruiting class in the MAC. Now, I think KD also is a miracle worker, but since he rose from the prior staff he already had a relationship with these kids and actually recruited most of them. This is a big advantage in your first year. And remember, he's a local guy and we all knew what he could do. After witnessing what KD could do, my expectations for bb this year were actually much higher than for football, preseason. But hey, Mol, the main thing is they both should excel for Akron. And the fact that we even have the pleasure of debating this should give Miami fans great pause.

What fact makes you think we'll say that about KD? If he left it would be for a better job, and you can bet your hindside we'd be sad to see him go. This isn't an *Akron* thing. Many times fans are happy when coaches change hands, and truly appreciate the success of the new coach. Sorry, but the Hipsher years were the most frustrating time. Painfully frustrating. Maybe you had to personally live through those years to feel it, but I think the Hipsher comments you see here are mostly about the feeling of pure relief of today's Zips basketball program and comparing it to the very recent past season. Anyway, if DH has any sense of self-preservation at all he doesn't read this board. This is the first year post-Hip. I'm sure next year he'll be completely out of our minds (at least I hope so. It's a bad memory, anyway).

I'd agree with you on "what did he really accomplish"...except...then JD went and brought in the number ONE recruiting class in the MAC. That really sold me on the guy. The kids believe in him, he knows the game, and can recruit.

I hate to point out the obvious to you, but if WE didn't play well, it says less than nothing about the Bobcats, and you must have bigger problems than you think. That said, I believe we are far from perfection but improving by leaps and bounds in almost every game.

So you're saying OU fans can't make up their minds about this guy and they blow with the wind on his coaching ability? That's sure how it looks from here. OU has what appears to be a good coach with a long learning curve. He may or may not have turned the corner. Hipsher had a couple of relatively good years and it meant nothing. We now also have what appears to be a good coach. Ours, however, is proven on several levels, including recruiting. The verdict is still out on yours. These are facts. Now, you may believe in blind optimism, but I do not. Regarding tonight, we are going to play minus our top two scorers and our top rebounder (Peterson and Wood). You, apparently, are fully armed. Thus it would be unwarranted for me to assume a Zips victory, much as I might like one. I am a realist (although not THE realist ). We may win, but it will be tough to do so. Now, if you still need more reasons why I think Akron's future is brighter than OU's (other than proven coaching ability), let me dig into my pack for my crystal ball and I will try to definitively predict the future for you. Let's see, it's becoming clearer now. Akron will continue to kick OU's butt in both basketball and football for several years, so demoralizing the kittens that they drop from the MAC and join the OVC. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, OU guest.

My hunch is KD would agree with you And I do believe he is destined for even greater success. And, in regards to the subject, he is more "proven" than O'Shea, win or lose tonight. OU fans wanted O'Shea's head for years. Now you like him. Whatever.

In Dambrot's second year at Tiffin: 24 wins. His record at Ashland in two years: 48-13. He had the 15th ranked recruiting class in the COUNTRY at Central Michigan. He cultivated probably the finest basketball player in NBA history in LBJ. And he has overachieved here in his first year on the job. Yes, I'll take him long term over O'Shea.

But, win or lose tonight, the fact is we have a better coach. I like our future a heck of a lot more than yours.

I think the point about the Beacon is just this: they should be covering Akron football and basketball ALL THE TIME, not just when they're winning. This is their philosophical mistake. They think they're covering Akron more now, for the sole reason that they are now a "story." This is their coverage plan. They don't get that they should be covering Akron all the time, that it helps fan turnout, and creates a mindset in the local community that this is THEIR school, and it should be supported win or lose. Hope that explains the frustration with the ABJ, even though they are now supportive. It's ethereal and it'll be gone with the next bump in the road. I know we should take it while we can get it, but you kind of feel like there's something a little cheap about their current bandwagon coverage.

Here's one Zip who agrees with you. Next year is going to be tough - a building year in the complete sense of the word. I will enjoy our style of play but I have very low expectations for next year.