Captain Kangaroo

And a sullen Gordie Lockbaum puts the champagne bottle back in the refrigerator...

Back on September 4th 1999 the Zips played Penn State, losing 70-24. We stayed on the PSU campus Friday evening, drank way too much beer and stayed out way too late. So September 4th 2017 will mark the 18th anniversary of one of my all time greatest hangovers (kudos to Rolling Rock). Other than the evening of September 3rd, my two best memories of that trip were: Reading an absolutely excellent column in the PSU student newspaper on Zips QB Butchie Washington. It was written by Ryan Hockensmith, who is apparently now the General Editor at ESPN the Magazine. Brandon Payne "shusssshing" the crowd after he scored a TD to pull the Zips within 14-10 early in the game. You could hear a pin drop in Beaver Stadium. For fun, below are the Zips-centric highlights from that game. The Tony McCray counter-trap play will bring back some memories for the old-timers. And Payne's gesture is featured at the end.

Bowden podcast from down south

From the original post: "Wolfley’s brother, Stone, remains with the team. Their father, Dale, was a former offensive lineman with the Mountaineers, and now serves on the team’s game day staff in addition to coordinating many alumni events for the university. Wolfley’s uncle, Ron, was a standout fullback at WVU who went on to have a 10-year NFL career. "

At least he admits it's tripe.

Maverick will be missed

Practices were closed to the public. But not the media.

He participated in the August 19th scrimmage and looked fine. I'll also guess "error."

The Zips passing game is unknown right now. QB Tommy Woodson is reportedly healthy and ready to play. That would be huge for the Zips, because he is a talented senior. If receivers get open, he hits them. And he throws a nice deep ball. The receivers are mostly new, but I like them. I look for Williams to have a fantastic Freshman season. Tough to tell with Stewart, because he's been dinged up . If he's healthy, he's going to be a great one. Dixon looks really promising...Wolf and Coney are proven seniors...Chapman looks good in the slot. My only concern with our passing game is how long it will take for Woodson to shake off the rust, and how long it will take for him to develop chemistry with the new guys. I don't have any concerns regarding the actual talent. So to answer your question - If Penn State stacks the box, we have a great chance to bust some big-gainers. Our OL is a strength, Woodson is a talented vet and we have talent at WR. Our secondary is the #1 strength of the team. If Gilbert and Davis can be any kind of disruptive force in the backfield, the Zips DB's will get a pick or two. The Zips staff needs to play-to-win. If we're ultra-conservative on offense, then we'll lose 48-7. In games like this, for the smaller team to win, someone unexpected needs to break out. I'm excited to see Andre Williams and Jamal Davis III (Pitt transfer) make their Akron debuts.

Great to see Ball get the nod. The stereotype for a Power 5 transfer is they're a "mercenary" with an entitled attitude. That's the polar opposite of Warren Ball. I think for Ball to come on Akron's campus and work as hard as he's worked, and be as solid a representative of UA and he's become, is really impressive. It's cool to see his teammates feel the same way. If a player finished 2nd or 3rd to Ball in the Team Captain's vote, there's no shame in it. Ball is just a really special kid. Hope he has a healthy, kick-ass 2017 season!

Wrong station? Nevermind...taped version will play after the BBC game.

What's next...hexagon-shaped tacos? New food for Beaver Stadium.

True. He played a little on the d line in the last scrimmage and did well. Looks bigger than 225?

Does TJ Go the Zips Way?

Eight In The Boxen

Keith Dambrot thanks you for the heads up on Tougaloo College and Rust College. Look for them on future Duquesne schedules.

Had Warren stayed at OSU, there were roughly ten P5 games on the schedule that he'd have needed to endure. At Akron, there's two. Of all the players on the Zips roster, he's the one most built to withstand 4 quarters of P5 football. Run, Warren run!

It will be fun to watch Duquesne's "strength" of schedule evolve over the next few seasons, as they turn into an unstoppable A-10 force that wins NCAA tourney games. I'm betting heavy-hitters Bethune Cookman and perhaps Coppin State are on the horizon.

I would ask Warren Ball if he felt playing against Penn State was something he wanted to do. If Warren said "Hell yeah. You think I came back for a 6th year to play against Arkansas Pine Bluff? I plan on being an NFL back next season. If I can't steamroll a sophomore Penn State linebacker what chance do I have against Dont’a Hightower?' Warren's earned the right to do whatever he wants to do.

What better time to beat Penn State than immediately after their HC gets a big fat contract extension?

Please read. All Acme Fresh Market State Liquor available: Monday – Saturday: All State Liquor Locations • 9 am – 10 pm Sunday Hours: Acme Ellet, Hudson, Kent, Norton, and Bailey Rd • 11 am – 10 pm Sunday Hours: Acme Tallmadge, Montrose, Canton and North Canton • 10 am – 10 pm

The Acme in my town sells liquor anytime after noon on Sunday. Many stores do.

Big Dog's "1-pack" wouldn't have fit in with this year's crew. Hope some of those 6-packers in the photos can make up for his lost production...

No crazy liquor laws. Ohio grocery stores and gas stations sell beer. In addition to State stores, many larger grocery stores (Giant Eagle, Acme, etc.) sell liquor all day long. There are bars and restaurants across the street from the stadium (Exchange St.) that sell food and beer, but they are usually woefully understaffed for a big game (like Pitt a couple years ago). So to be safe, I would bring your own tailgate food rather than bank on getting something near the stadium. As far as Akron tailgates go, Lot 9 is a small, but pretty active and fun area. I can't speak for any of the other lots.

That would be cool. A nice tip-of-the-hat to Jayson, and the Zips of that era who bought in to UA football when there was a decrepit 50 year old WPA stadium and no indoor training facility. I remember a nice Beacon column 20 years ago that had JT and a couple other Zips walking past a corn field somewhere in central Ohio to the fields where they held summer camp. You couldn't imagine that today, but you couldn't hold a decent camp in Akron at the time. JT's head must spin when he sees what amenities today's student athletes enjoy. The only thing that's stayed consistent oner the years is the crowd size.☹️ The "Moving A" rules! Long overdue to make a return! Do it, UA! Do do we let Ulysses Gilbert don the "33" for the game? That would be cool.