RobC2

I agree. Often the website rankings don't mean much d/t teams recruiting needs. We are now in a position to recruit specific needs instead of trying to build an entire football team with one recruiting class & thus the "overall strength" of the class may be rated lower than in the past, but the JD's actually getting the players we need.Ohio sucks. They don't even know where to begin. That WR wouldn't sniff the field at Akron. It was an understandable and good move for him to go somewhere he can get some p/t. He might very well start next season in Athens!Sean Hakes is the best QB and Andre Boone is the best RB coming into the MAC. Our WR's are top-shelf. Last year's OL prospects were the best in the MAC. We're just fine. Next year our DL is going to be just flat-out amazing. Ohio will be lucky to manage a field goal against us. We're going to humiliate them on their home field.

You say, "another" wide receiver prospect? Who was the other? (More than one?)

WE CAN'T CHANGE ZIPPY!!! That would be near-blasphemy!!! As mentioned above - life-long Akron residents & alumni LOVE Zippy as he is!!! His kindness, clumsiness, innocence & yes, even wimpiness IS THE IDEA!!! It's a mockery of ALL OTHER MASCOTS!!! It's original! It's BRILLIANT!!! Zippy is the anti-mascot!!! How amazing that Akron came up with something as original as Zippy!!! He's supposed to walk in little baby-steps while he wrings his hands!!! That's Zippy!!! The other kangaroo can be tough. Besides, what's so great about "Fear the Roo!" is that it is tongue in cheek humor - NOT THAT IT'S SERIOUS!!! As David Giffels stated, what makes "Fear the Roo!" so catchy is that, "It's just. So. Stupid!" Exactly. Taking a kangaroo seriously would be dumb. Having fun with a kangaroo mascot, and, in turn, making fun of all other mascots, is brilliant!

Hey UA David,Good post. I'd just like to politely disagree with one aspect: I don't like Miami's football stadium. It's a typically generic MAC stadium - much like Can't State's. We need something original! Something asthetically beautiful! We need a stadium that is not only the envy of the MAC, but all America as well (not in size, but in style!) We need a throwback/retro stadium; ala Camden Yards or Canal Park. Baseball has seen the light in the design of their new retro stadiums. Football stadiums, however, still tend to be awfully cookie cutter / generic. We need to be inspired by Camden Yards in our new stadium design!

I thought the new evil Roo was "Hoppy". The lovable Roo is "Zippy". THEY CAN'T CHANGE ZIPPY'S NAME TO HOPPY, CAN THEY!?!? NOOOOO!!!

We HAVE to keep the gold helmets - they're classic. The yellow helmets of the Lee Owens era were horrid. I really liked the throwback uniforms we wore for the Thanksgiving Can't State game!!! They were traditional; classic! Maybe we can make a move to them on a permanent basis when we move into our new stadium? Wouldn't those "old-school" jerseys look great in a throwback/retro "Camden Yards" inspired football stadium?!!!Personally, I like the more simple "A" on the side of the helmet better than the "A" w/ the kangaroo head. The "A" w/ kangaroo head is pretty "busy" & if one didn't know already what it was, it's very difficult for someone to make out what it's supposed to be (especially from any distance at all). Besides, the decal doesn't look much like an "A" & unfortunately it doesn't look much like a kangaroo either. I've heard more than a few people say it looks like a donkey. But whatever - as long as WE NEVER GO BACK TO PEE YELLOW!!!!!!!!!I love the humor of the "Fear the Roo!" slogan! We've got to hang on to that (be careful not to wear it out too quickly though, as I've seen it EVERYWHERE! It may be a bit much; people might grow weary of "Fear the Roo!" overload - we don't want that.) But I love the humorous slogan w/ the "angry" kangaroo (guess UA calls him Hoppy). But at the same time I also miss the old-school UA Zippy logo - w/ him hopping along holding his fist up making the #1 sign. I can't find that old logo on any merchandise anymore. Is it available? Can we bring it back? Encorporate that into the throwback uniforms?

With the defection of Bubba, is KD interested in Rydell Brooks, the guard from Buchtel who is in his 2nd year of putting up BIG numbers?How about Ricky Jackson, the McKinley forward. He's pretty athletic. He had verballed w/ someone, but I guess he backed out?

Yeah, the Zips have an automatic 3 victories per season in Can't State, Temple & Buffalo. Can't's a fun game in that it's a big rivalry and it's a party beating up on them so bad! Then Miami and Ohio are always big games and with BGSU in the MAC East now, that's another important game. I enjoy MAC football! But you're right - Can't, Buffalo & Temple are pretty awful!Q: With Temple in the MAC East now, is BGSU moving back to the West?

Oops. That should read: LB Joe Underwood (Youngstown)...

I was just on Rivals.com and saw that TE Jerome Jones (Youngstown) and LB Joe Underwood (linebacker) have both verballed w/ Toledo. Akron had offered both.

I'd like to see Dials rest, but I'd also love to see CSU blown out!

I agree. I believe people are still high from football. In fact, when I logon here @ ZipsNation, the first dialogue I check is still the football message board! College b-ball has a rough start: beginning at the pinnacle of college football season and then taking a long Christmas break. It takes a while for momentum to build.

Aaahh! My bad!

And Captain Kangaroo,Mike Bardo is from CINCINNATI Oak Hill - not the yearly D-I basketball factory Oak Hill Academy in VIRGINIA. I think Oak Hill Academy (VA) is ranked #2 in the country right now.But hey, he's still a big 6-9. Hopefully he can REBOUND, REBOUND, REBOUND!!!

Has anyone seen Conyers play? Is he even on the bench sitting in street clothes? I hear he's not allowed to practice w/ the team? KD says he's a explosive high-flyer. I think we need more of that type of player.As far as the 4-5 goes, next season we'll have, who? Rome, Wood & freshmen Chris McKnight & Mike Bardo, right? Anyone else? We lose Rob Preston & Matt Futch.

Another big body would be nice. But has anyone heard anything about Rydell Brooks - the guard from Buchtel? This is his second season putting up BIG numbers, and I don't believe he's going anywhere yet. Any word as to why? Is KD interested in him?

Then I think it's a good idea. Canal Park fronts Main Street (they encorporated the team shop & a restaurant into the stadium.) Supposedly the new UA football stadium is going to front Exchange Street. It's seems natural. Perhaps they can have a restaurant that fronts Exchange and overlooks the playing field?

Ha! 13 against the Stormtroopers of death! That's funny.Jimmal Ball would have to be my favorite freshman of all time. He was lightning quick & explosive! Seemed to stagnate under Hipsher & especially once Jamie Bosley was on board. It didn't seem as though Jimmal thought he was 'the man' anylonger. Never did have much of an outside shot though.Hipsher was a much better all around player, I just think Jimmal was exciting to watch! It was fun to pull for the little dude!I agree with being underwhelmed at the raw athleticism of Dambrot's recruits over the last 2 years. He does get credit for bringing in Rome, Joyce & Wood, as well as getting Derrick Tarver to transfer in. But Linhart & Rybak just don't pass the D-I eyball test, do they? They may be fundamentally sound, but man, they're not going to strike fear into the hearts of anyone. Not to sound mean, but they just look like 2 stiff white boys. Where are the dudes who KD says he wants - athletetes who can run the floor?

I've heard this to be true in 'Cuse. Seating is too far back for a good basketball experience. Even further back than a Gund Arena sized arena. I think that UA's athletic facilities have been sooooooo far behind many other D-I universities that we might be taking a shortcut we'd regret at a later date in building a multi-purpose football/basketball arena. I say (who am I?) let's build a top-flight football stadium and in 10 years (?) build a top-flight basketball arena.I do like the idea of stores being encorporated into the design - especiall if one of the "stores" happens to be a Rockne's, Ruby Tuesday's, BW-3's or something of the sort. Also, a top-notch team shop would be appropriate, no?

Huge win!!! For whatever reason, everyone knows it's exceedingly difficult to win on the road in the MAC. There is truly a homecourt advantage in this conference. We've got to get out to the JAR Saturday!!!Q: Did Joyce spearhead that run in the second half? Rasor's blog on Ohio.com mentioned that it was Futch & Dials who hit 3's to stop Western's run. (I couldn't listen to the game.)Also, good Q - "What about Peterson?" He's a good player who hasn't stepped up as of yet. Is his confidence down?

The more big-uglies the better! I always get more excited about the skill position players, but the game's really won or lost on the line of scrimmage!btw: What is "MAC BBS?"

This weekend I was in Columbus for the St.V/M v. Lancaster game & had the opportunity to see Chris McKnight (Zips commit) play.St.V/M did a great job in shutting him down for the game. But I really like what I saw. He's tall (6-7), well built & fluidly athletic w/ big hands. He's the leader of his team & picks his teammates up. He can dribble, run & jump & has a naturally smooth stroke on his jumper. Last season Lancaster was the only (Ohio?) team to beat McKinley & Chris was named MVP of the tourney - due to his performance against McK & the rest. He chose the Zips over an offer from West Virginia. He's good. He'll be strong down low along w/ Romeo & Wood!

Tuesday a.m. - nice story on men's b-ball in the Beacon today. Ladies b-ball as well. Also had an interesting article on Chris Wells. Sounds like he's planning on taking classes at OSU this semester. I know there was a bit of speculation about him committing w/ the Zips, but it doesn't appear that will happen. (I think James Kennedy, Alex Allen & Aaron Boone will do just fine anyway - Boone was ranked by rivals as the 38th best back in the country - until he verballed w/ the Zips, then they knocked him down to 40th best - what's up w/ that?!)But anyway - nice story in the Beacon this a.m.And I agree w/ Rasor - excessive Buckeye stories drive me nuts!!! No pun intended.Go Zips!

Thanks!!! I can envision it now!!!WE MUST MAKE IT AN ABSOLUTELY FIRST CLASS FACILITY!!! WE CANNOT FUMBLE THE BALL ON THIS!!!We have to keep with KD's philosophy in everything: "Think bigger than the MAC." That way, we'll be the envy of the MAC - THE MAC DADDY, and create for ourselves good positioning should another conference realignment occur in the distant, or not-too-distant future.I enjoy MAC football! (I believe it's vastly underrated due to the fact that the Big Ten monopolizes the shortage of media outlets here in the midwest.) But I think we should be thinking along the lines of competing with Big East schools.

I agree about the patronizing tone of many of the articles. From the articles, one would generally come away with the feeling that the Beacon is doing UA a huge and unmerited favor by mentioning the petty athletic events happening at the U, and that fans are actually doing UA a favor by attending the games.I'm not a Beacon hater! I'm a subscriber! I just really wish they'd start pumping Zips athletics on a daily basis.