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May not mean a lot, but glad they are doing this: http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_...TCLID=205121819

BBall arena= I know it has been talked about ad nauseum (downtown vs. "on campus"), but this weekend (and for 3 more games later in the year), Canal Park is the home field for the Zips baseball team. More fans likely to show up there or at LRJ field? I believe having the baseball team there is more about the experience (for the players) than specifically for attendance when you are talking UA baseball. But it could be another indicator of where UA sees itself in relation to downtown, along with it being another indicator of the difference btwn football (and the day long experience that it can be) and other sports (where you either just go to that location for the event..or maybe hit that event and a local establishment). We can all agree, I think, that for the MAJORITY of on-campus students..the JAR or something near that site or Info is more convenient. However, is a downtown site more convenient for the general public, commuter students (who probably are not as into the whole college experience/going to games, IN GENERAL), students living in apartments downtown, etc. While it is about so much more than attendance, anticipated attendance MUST play a part in this whole situation.

So, let me get this straight= you talked to a guy...who talked to JD...and then JD has heard from other guys that guys don't like Ianallo. That's a lot of guys!Just messing a bit, but c'mon. That's a lot of he said, he said, he said stuff. In reference to other posters comments: yeah, maybe he was ticked off when, in the middle of everyone trying to celebrate a great basketball championship, someone is shouting at him. Perhaps he thought everyone should just be enjoying the moment. Look, we have seen the results so far on the field..and they are ugly. And yeah, if JD is talking to some current players that he recruited and who still liked JD a lot..maybe they don't like Ianallo's style. Maybe JD was too relaxed, and Ianallo is too uptight. Who knows? Maybe Ianallo will bring it down a notch. This was the guy's first year on the job...and this is what you get when you get a guy that has never been in this position before. I have liked what I have seen of TomW being out there with the soccer team, being on the floor with the basketball team, and, seeming quite personable when I met him and when I have seen him around. Plus, I like what he has done with YouTube (in the past) and "Ask the AD". I'm trusting that this guy knows what he is doing...but, like most here, I am greatly concerned. I am just not giving up on Ianallo...yet.

Another way to look at some of this is, when bringing in a prospect like Zeke, we owe this kid the best possible experience to get him ready for a future in basketball. While Bardo is no great player, I'm sure it helped Zeke to have to play against that kid, Euton and Nik in practice everyday. So, bringing in some player with some height and girth that can help develop Zeke would not only help the Zips, but also help Zeke. Euton might be leaving for various possible reasons, but it is sure possible that one reason is he is a 6'8, 230 lb guy that really is not a Division I player. Obviously, we are not going to just throw a scholarship out there to any 6'9, 235 guy that can play basketball. The hope would be that we could find that right player, most likely a JUCO, that can help this team.

That Detroit game next year will be a good one. They have a nice team coming back that will also have a lot more experience. Nice start with the 3 games mentioned for next year (@CSU, VCU and Detroit).

Obviously, as someone else has mentioned, this is not like the situation with the Rubber Bowl. And, while there is SOME momentum, there is not the momentum that the soccer team had..nor is renovating the soccer pitch anywhere near as costly (I would assume) as renovating the JAR. But when you have 2 out of 3 NCAA tourney appearances, and you have a potentially budding national star in Zeke (everyone loves a 7 footer)...you kind of get the notion that UA might want to "strike while the iron is hot". Not to mention you have a coach that seemingly wants to stay..but eventually might get fed up playing in a facility that is much lower than what is given to other UA sports. Zips could really use a big donor here to get things moving.

That is what I'm trying to figure out. Apparently if we don't have two guys on our roster 6'10" or over there is no possible way for us to win in the MAC, let alone the NCAA tournament. Ohh wait....you mean 7 of the 16 remaining teams in the tournament do NOT have multiple guys 6'10" or over? Whats that? The number 1 seed in the tournament doesn't have one player on their roster listed at 6'10" or better? You can win in college basketball playing with guys who are 6'7", 6'8", 6'9" as your bigs. Some of you Cavs fans need to realize that this isn't the NBA where playing with a guy like J.J. Hickson as your starting Center is a recipe for disaster. Let's look at our roster for a 2nd...if Nik leaves, we have one player above 6'7 inches tall. Granted, that player is SIGNIFICANT. But he is one guy. It's not about 6'10 guys. Sure, give me a 6'8 245 lb guy. It is not just about height..we don't have anyone currently that can take up space down there. Bardo did that, Nik could do that some. Euton was PROBABLY not going to be that guy b/c it is not his game. And Egner, though 6'7 with hops, isn't going to put on 25 lbs in one off-season. If he does, the NCAA might want to look into what the guy is doing.

Wow..nice job being an ass.

Narrowed down the Rivals search as much as possible (JUCO, 6'6 or taller, forward/center): http://rivals.yahoo.com/jucojunction/baske...-search-results

I have stated this before: The perfect scenario, IMHO, is a renovation of the JAR with comfortable seats and sightlines for 5,000 or so fans for 10-12 home games. Along with that, a downtown Akron arena (built by the city/county/private investment) @ about 10,000 that hosts a variety of events= indoor soccer and/or indoor lacrosse professional team, concerts, 2 Cavaliers pre-season games (maybe even an NBDL team), HS basketball games (including playoffs), 3-4 HIGH PROFILE Zips Men's basketball games (Can't, bigger non-conference opponents), along with maybe 1 Woman's game (Can't). Villanova, as an example, uses The Pavilion for some games (10 this year, I believe)...and it holds 6,500 fans. They use the Wells Fargo arena (20,000) for the big games (6 this year, I believe). Villanova obviously has a smaller student body, but is much higher profile with a larger fan base.

If Nik leaves, whoever we bring in better be at least 6'7, but ideally 6'9+. I think my biggest CONCERN next year with this team will be rebounding (if we lose Nik). Zeke will get better and Egner will be a factor, but without Nik the team gets very small in a hurry. Again..VERY positive and optimistic for next year. Just a couple of concerns to iron out.

Listening to Dambrot on 1100 this morning, you could just tell how high he is on Zeke/Diggs/Abreu. While we don't have the pure 3's/depth coming back..when you have a pure PG, pure C, pure shooter and pure slasher coming back..you just feel good. I said it at least a month ago= next year might be the year where Dambrot only goes 7-8 deep..but those 7-8 could be special. Obviously, Nik coming back is a huge factor, but either way there is great potential next year with Zeke/Abreu/Nitro/Quincy.

Can't remember seeing it often (though I have not seen as many games as many on here), but a 5 of Marshall, Nik, McKnight, Diggs and McNees might be our best hope size, skill and talent-wise. Perhaps using Diggs in sort of a point forward method. Obviously our 9 will play, but down the stretch and/or if their size is bothering us this might be a way to go. I am less worried about size, though, and more worried about Zeke and Nik staying out of foul trouble...and hoping Nitro and McNees have the great shooting days they are capable of!!!

Right after the game, I got a feeling... 14 Akron vs. 3 Louisville I have not seen a "bracketology" since Thursday, so this is a total prediction. First in soccer, now b-ball...perhaps next will be football in a bowl game!!!

I get the concerns about Can't State. But SIX SATURDAY HOME GAMES!!! And, as we learned last year..you never know about the weather. But 4 home games by October 22nd= awesome. I know the team needs to get better..but think of where we are now..hosting SIX SATURDAY HOME GAMES. Again= awesome!

Perhaps next year is the year that KD lets guys log some serious minutes. I could see Abreu, Brett, Diggs and Zeke (foul troubles gone?) logging 30+ minutes. I think Walsh and Egner will get some serious minutes based on what I have seen and know. I really don't know enought about the rest of the guys mentioned. Of course, if Nik comes back than I think a starting 5 of Abreu, Brett, Diggs, Nik and Zeke might be the most "traditional" and potentially best starting 5 the Zips have seen in many years.

Why do you have to talk that way about other programs? Is it because Akron is the worst team in the worst conference in D1 so it makes you feel better? It's a fact that iCoach is driving away players in maas (he even drove away the "Rudy" award winner) - the fact that they won't see the field is not the issue, the issue is why are all these kids leaving. For every kid that leaves, there is probably at least one other kid that wants to leave but can't since they are on scholarship. The kids that left are thinking they can either stay with a program they hate and possibly see their grades suffer, or transfer to a quality school and still play the game they love. Remember, the main reason for going to college is to learn, not play football. The focus should be on education first, not athletics. So when your attitude about the athletics effect your performance in the classsroom, it is time to move on. For over 99% of these players, this will be the last football they play. Wow...don't get your panties all in a bunch there, killer. The fact is, these kids are transferring to lower divisions. Whatever your feelings about the MAC, if they were so good they could still go to Youngstown State, Delaware, Montana, etc. My guess is either THEY realized, the coaches realized or a combination of their and the coaches realization was this= you are not good enough to play FBS football..even in the MAC!!! Believe it or not, some kids choose a school not because they play D1 football but because of other factors - outrageous I know - but it happens. For you to say these kids aren't good enough to play FBS football just shows your ignorance - but we knew that by reading the first line of your reply. I wish more kids would consider more than just football when deciding where to go. They probably have parents like you telling them - "Hey, Akron is D1 football - you have to go there instead of that other school that you like so much". Some kids just want to play football in college and have a better chance contributing for a longer period of time at a level lower even though they are capable of playing at a higher level. Furthermore, the majority of a teams roster is made up of players that will not see significant playing time - you still need these players to contribute in practice. Seems like the kids aren't buying into what iCoach is trying to sell them. I guarantee you Akron will again not have enough players for a traditional spring scrimmage and we will see another offense vs defense scrimmage. I will be curious to see how many will be on the spring roster. I said that is my GUESS that they came to that realization. I am just looking at what I see. Not speaking in definites here. I'm not about to get in a pissing match with you about this. Kids leave colleges every year for many different reasons. Fair enough. But, as an example, Tate Forcier left Michigan and is going to...Miami (and not the one in the MAC). And, guess what= he looked like an FBS QB last year. So he is probably in the division he belongs. 2 of the players mentioned are going to schools that play, arguably, a much lower level of football than Akron does. Great...if they are more comfortable there...more power to them. Do they get scholarships to play there? Hmm...I am not 100% certain, but I am pretty sure Pioneer schools do not offer scholarships. If this is better for them, their families, etc...great. Sorry, but I am not about to bust on Ianallo and the coaching staff just yet. As someone mentioned in this thread or another, there were many that lambasted Auburn for grabbing Chizik a couple years ago. And, "closer to home", we had Miami (OH) with Haywood at 1-11 go on to win the MAC. He, of course, then went on to do some bad things...but that really doesn't matter does it? Or, maybe it does.

Buffalo beat Milwaukee as well. Good night for the MAC with the Zips and Bulls wins.

Why do you have to talk that way about other programs? Is it because Akron is the worst team in the worst conference in D1 so it makes you feel better? It's a fact that iCoach is driving away players in maas (he even drove away the "Rudy" award winner) - the fact that they won't see the field is not the issue, the issue is why are all these kids leaving. For every kid that leaves, there is probably at least one other kid that wants to leave but can't since they are on scholarship. The kids that left are thinking they can either stay with a program they hate and possibly see their grades suffer, or transfer to a quality school and still play the game they love. Remember, the main reason for going to college is to learn, not play football. The focus should be on education first, not athletics. So when your attitude about the athletics effect your performance in the classsroom, it is time to move on. For over 99% of these players, this will be the last football they play. Wow...don't get your panties all in a bunch there, killer. The fact is, these kids are transferring to lower divisions. Whatever your feelings about the MAC, if they were so good they could still go to Youngstown State, Delaware, Montana, etc. My guess is either THEY realized, the coaches realized or a combination of their and the coaches realization was this= you are not good enough to play FBS football..even in the MAC!!!

We lost one to IUPUI (didn't know they had football?!?!) and to Dayton..who is in the Pioneer League..a league which appears to be in some sort of "I-AA/FCS/Division III limbo". All I know about that league is Butler won some sort of championship in 2009 but it wasn't in the playoffs. Yeah, I get the numbers thing. Definitely can take a couple years to get that right, and even some of the top programs take 3-5 walkons and give them scholarships if they earn it. So we might be around 77 or so scholarship players come Fall 2011. My feeling is if his OWN recruits start jumping ship after this year in MASS numbers (and we only win 2-3 games), then I will be a lot more concerned about running out of "scholarshipped bodies".

Will we be able to have a BLUE vs. GOLD game this year? QBs playing= how many? Nicely, Moore, Adam Charles (a few snaps). Potts was switched to DB I believe. Is D'Orazio in school/on the team now? Can we please get 60 degrees and sunny?!?!?

I am MOST LIKELY renewing for my 3rd year. I have made 9 of 12 games in 2 years as a season ticket holder. Getting free parking might be enough to push me towards renewing.

His bio: http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.db...;ATCLID=3672920 As with just about any coaching resume, you can find positives (which are in his bio) and negatives (which can be found in other places on the inter-web) .

Toledo can back their facilities (new indoor football facility) with actual REAL success on the field. I think they have beaten more BCS teams than any other MAC school in the last 10 years. Michigan, Purdue (2), Kansas, Iowa State, etc. Ianallo struck out in not landing Joe Haden's brothers. I watched Josh @ BC..he is a really nice RB, but definitely a better fit for a spread type team.

CK said it right about the class we got coming off a 1-11 season. Tough to get a "undisputed best class in the MAC" coming off that kind of year with a coach that has not proven to be successful. I think just 4-8/5-7 coupled with improved play (meaning they LOOK better as a team even without tons of wins) will be a sign that not only do we have top facilities, but also an improving young team and a coaching staff that is getting things moving in the right direction.