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First of all, he had rough moments last year and at the spring game. But he had very good moments during both as well. I think his completion % will be the most scrutinized part of his game right now, besides maybe general decision making. Tough to question his arm strength or moxie for the the position. Just looking at the spring game: 15 of 41= not good. But he had AT LEAST 5 passes dropped, and I missed a good deal of quarter #2 waiting in the concessions line. So I will assume there was another drop or 2 in there. So, with some catches= 50%...still not good. But I truly think he will be OK. He missed on a good deal of touch passes, but also had a couple of really nice throws that required touch. At least one where the TE (#95..name escapes me) dropped the ball going straight from his set to the sideline. 54% in his Frosh year. Looking at Powlus's last QB= Clausen went 56, 60 and then 68 in his 3 years. I don't think Powlus was there year 1. Looking at some other notable (for various reasons) QBs... Quinn= 47, 54, 65, 62. Missed out on winning many big games, but still a darn good college career by most standards Getsy= 53 and 52 in his 2 years here. Obviously had some success here. Frey= 59, 66, 65 and 64 Derek Anderson= 42 and 47 in limited action 1st 2 years...51 and 54 after that. If I had to guess.... Nicely will bump it up a bit this year...56 to 58. Learning curve slowed a bit by new offense. His junior and senior years I see him around 60-62%. Tough to project if he will make the quantum leap that Clausen did in 3 years, and I don't see him becoming LeFevour or McCoy in regards to completion %. But I feel it will improve enough to make him highly effective. I am still thoroughly impressed by the kid and think he will do big things for the program in his junior and senior years. It will be worth the growing pains of FR and Soph seasons.

I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. They definitely need some help from the incoming guys based on the showing at the spring game. Nor do I. But, the point is, it isn't NECESSARILY a bad thing. You said one thing that I noted to my wife on Saturday= the kids coming in, especially those that have played a 4-3 defense or more of a "traditional" offense, may not be too far behind the kids that are here when it comes to the learning curve. But, there are of course many other factors that go into that. Let's not forget that some of the guys out there can improve themselves greatly in the next 3 months. That Dillard kid at WR showed a lot..just needs to improve those hands (which, for a WR, is just a bit important!!!).

Schrock and Sconiers based on their bios, listed size/bulk, and need at the position (beyond LaFrance and Carter) are great candidates for #3 or #4 receiver. Bailey in the 2 deep. Very possibly could start. Cunningham back-up CB and/or used in nickel or dime package. Patrick McCloskey (JUCO OG)= you would think he has a chance to start. 6-4, 290 lbs. One of the DEs (Hall or Caponi) could see some time. I could see Hall as a 3rd down specialist rushing the passer. If Erick Howard is here..he will play. It is not necessarily a BAD thing to have freshmen playing. It does take a special kid and sometimes some special circumstances. I don't see Ritossa based on his frame, unless we are using him as a "Dallas Clark" type TE. In the end, I think we will see 5 FR. in the 2 deep when SU depth chart is listed.

I hear ya. You never know, but it is looking like a cold, wet day.

On Gozips.com, not seeing anything anymore about weather permitting at InfoCision. Since, for the last 3 days, Saturday's predicted weather is 40's and rain, is this game definitely staying outside? Personally, if the weather is bad, I hope Zipsfest moves indoors to the Fieldhouse, and the game stays outside.

I think it is getting closer to "perfect". I would trade Kentucky for Marshall, Army, Tulane, Connecticut or Navy to give us an even more favorable potential non-conference season. Yes, I know UConn and Navy are good. but Kentucky is still a mid-level SEC team. Coming off 3-9, that is a tall task.

Probably is, beer IS already sold. They went about it in the WORST way: offering it to some and not others. Taking the elitist approach was just ridiculous.

A problem in sports today, as entertainment, is everyone is a diplomat. Nobody says what is really on their mind or admit to what everyone already knows that they are thinking. I like when people say exactly what they belive. It is not just more entertaining, it is more honest. Guys like Tiger Woods (pre-bimbo explosion) are boring because they say nothing when interviewed. In a lot of ways, LB James is boring because he speaks in Nikelike robot speak. They say the same thing every time they are interviewed. Charles Barkley was at least interesting because you never knew what he was going to say. Yogi Berra was interesting because you never knew what he was going to say next. Bobby Knight was interesting because he was completely honest and revealed his opinions. I wish we could go back to the days where an athlete was as interesting as he was athletic. +1 Great post.

Word on the street is Ianello had the existing scoreboard torn down. New 2010 InfoCision endzone view is below: Public school mixing church and state!?!?!?! For shame!

Anyone notice how much we are looking like ND (uniform wise) these days in those practice phots? JK..sort of. But Blue jerseys seem darker on practice unis than the past, A-Roo is gone (which is typical) and even the pants seem more "ND gold". Perhaps just b/c I got used to seeing the new uniforms last year with blue pants. Hmmmm.

Most of you have mentioned the key factors. I do think defense is the key, along with Gordon Hayward truly being a special player. Butler has never "wowed' in attendance. Under 7,000 this year, and even with OSU, Xavier and Siena never had a sellout (all around 9,000 in a place that holds 11,000). Indianapolis is a great town, and Hinkle Fieldhouse truly is a special and unique place. Both those items help somewhat in recruiting, and Butler is a nice campus in residential area. Indiana has great b-ball talent, and maybe Butler has been helped by IU and even PU (until the last couple years), being down a bit. Butler's run vs. Mason's run are different. Butler could do it again, but I doubt Mason ever sniffs a Final 4 again. Definitely finding a way to be a program that comes close to Butler should be the goal, but they really are a pretty special case considering the league they play in. Gonzaga is, of course, similar. But, for Gonzaga, Butler, Xavier, Memphis and maybe a couple others that are similar (Siena?), it truly is about dominating your conference first, then advancing at least to the Sweet 16. That is how you get noticed and how you get to be a program of some ilk.

My opinion on why they may have designated those dorms for freshmen- Since the upperclassmen have proven so sparse in their support for Zips athletics, they're probably trying to get as many freshmen to attend the games as possible. If these freshmen get into the habit of supporting all the games, and the following year's class as well, then after 2-3 years of that you've got a completely changed student culture where supporting Zips football & basketball is the thing to do. +1 Nice post B&G!!!

PN7..I was like, who is that? Had no idea he changed his number. I am a dork, but I like the single digit numbers for a QB..makes them look faster!!! As for the article..2 pictures?!?!? C'mon, ABJ..coverage getting better, but how about 8 to 10 pics. I am craving some football!!!

We can hope that Coach Powlus had enough pull at ND to get some of the real gold flakes that ND puts in their helmet paint. Or, we can hope Ianallo stole some of those flakes!!!

He came is as a highly touted WR... And Ted Ginn came to OSU as the best CB in the land. Your point (or are your just stating a fact)?

In this case, we have at least a sample (not huge, of course) of viewing Rodgers v. Nicely in game action. Rodgers was thrown into a bad situation, no doubt. But, you can just see it with Nicely. I never thought he would look as good as he did so soon. Throw out the stats..the kid just looks like a QB, and a darn good one. If Rodgers comes out and beats him, I will be somewhat surprised, somewhat impressed, and at least a little bit concerned about our coaching staff (and their decisions).

http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2010/0...s/nh2274236.txt While I am all for competition, I don't see any way in the world Rodgers beats out Nicely. I think there might be some nice spots for Rodgers to get some reps in, but Nicely looked to have that "it" that QBs need to have. I think, behind closed doors, Coach Ianallo, Powlus, etc. know that we have a very nice (ly) starting QB on this team.

Another uniform thread. Beat the dead horse. I don't care. But last year's uniforms, while nice, just have left a bad taste in my mouth. I wonder if Ianallo, with his background at ND, Wisky, etc. and his 4-3 Defense, pro offense style (all signs point to a "traditional guy") would take us back to more of the stripes on the sleeves, Jason Taylor days. This would be TW's first chance to make a choice on a look as well. Whatever we wear, I obviously hope we play a lot better.

For 2010-2011, I would give serious thought to this kind of set-up... PG Humpty SG McClanahan SF McKnight PF Euton C Zeke 6th man: McNees 7-9: Nik, Roberts, Egner McNees is a starter/better player than McC. But, much like the Cavs with West (as a semi-comparison), McNees could bring so much to the table as the consistent 6th man. Not to mention, you kind of cover all areas with these starters... Humpty, with improvement, as the guy that can break things down and drive and dish. 3 point gunner in McC. Inside/outside guy and scorer with McK (with improvements), 15 foot jumper/skilled big man in Euton (if he as good as some say), and obvious center in Zeke. McNees can sub in at 1 or 2, Roberts about the same. Egner fills the 3 or McC slides to the 3 at times (not ideal, but it is what it is). Nik is your energy guy for the frontcourt that can back-up 4/5. I am a big believer in it not mattering who starts, but who finishes and who gets minutes. At the end of games, depending on opponents and game situations, could be many times where you see McNees, Roberts, McC, McK and Zeke.

Egner, based on what I read from DIG and others. sounds a lot like this guy: http://www.nba.com/dleague/players/kevin_frey.html This kid came to X with an energy I had not seen before. He was more athletic than some thought, and he brought a TON of energy. X was really just starting to hit another level when he arrived, and yet he still started 30 games his freshman year. Frey was more of a 4 and probably not the shooter that Egner seems to be, but some of the comparisons I read are uncannny. And, believe me..Frey was a guy that everyone that followed Xavier basketball enjoyed watching. Guys, I watched X's program develop in the last 10-15 years to a new level. It really did not happen overnight. I see some of the same type things happening at Akron. I'm really hoping that adding Enger to an improved Humpty and Zeke will start moving Akron towards become a special program.

He is already on the roster, and he goes by "Humpty". There is just the small matter of him putting it all together (which is, of course, no small matter at all). It would be awesome if somehow, someway things worked out for us to find a dribble-drive SG in the 6'3 to 6'5 range for 2010-2011. Pipe dream, probably.

+1 Great post! Much applause! A hearty chuckle in my 3.75 hour workday today (at which I am not working that hard, obviously)!!!

Short look at Rivals seems more accurate when looking over some of the players mentioned. Stars look at athletic and basketball (or football) talent at the time. Stars do not look at brains, heart and work ethic (or lack of any of the 3).

ZipWatcher basically says a lot of what I feel about the tournament= regular season and conference tourney winners get in. Rest go to at-larges. Danger in that is, would teams/schools POSSIBLY "throw" a game to get a 2nd team in. Butler lost to CSU last year, allowing 2 (not saying they threw it at all). This year they beat the hell out of Wright State. I don't think it is a BIG concern, but if year after year conferences get only 1 bid b/c team wins regular and conference tourney..then you might have some sentiments to "throw" a game for the benefit of the conference. To make it a bit easier..I believe there are 32 Division 1 conferences= allow 2 teams from each conference (64 automatics), then 32 at-larges. Now, if team #2 did not win the conference or regular season tourney, they would have to have at least, say, 18 wins and an RPI less than 120. I know 18 is not that many, but we would not want to run into massive amounts of "KD scheduling" if we said 20 or 22 wins. If a conference's 2nd team does not meet those requirements, then a conference could get just one win. Excluding all above (for 96) inmy ideal world: 76 teams. Eliminate the 16 v 16 play in game. Top 36 go to seeds 1-9 Seeds 13 to 16 remain for the smaller schools/confernce champions Seeds 10,11 and 12 are "play in" games for bubble teams (did not win their conferences designated auto bid)

To me, and I have said it before, it is all about Zeke, Humpty and McKnight. Unless one of the freshmen comes in and is a difference maker, Zeke has to play consistently like he did in the MAC tourney (with an additional 15 lbs). Humpty has to settle down and slow down..and, honestly, I have seen PGs (combo guards) do that going from their first 2 years to their last 2 years. Similar to the progression a college QB makes from frosh/soph to jr/sr. Finally, McKnight needs to sit down and talk with Conyers and have that kind of year next year. He truly needs to become more of a 3 for the balance of this team. These 3 guys are the key..if all 3 get it together, it will be an incredible year. If 2 of the 3 get it together, it will be similar to the last couple years (some ups, some downs). If only one of them does it, even if it is Zeke..ugh. Again, the total unknown is the freshmen. If they earn time and show some good things, they can make up for lack of progress from the "big 3".