Captain Kangaroo

And if you're from Mount Pleasant you're saying "We're screwed...they'll want to get LeBron's old coach in the tournament at all costs."

My take on it is - If you're a "real" Zips fan, or a Bulls fan, you aren't a bandwagon guy. Something happened that hooked you on following the school's athletic programs. For this kid, it was taking a flier on a bus trip to Akron. For you, maybe it was an Acme Zip game or an OVC Championship. At schools like OU and Miami...I'll even throw Kent in there...there's tradition. Alumni come back in decent numbers for homecoming. That doesn't happen at Buffalo or Akron. You need to be a do-it-yourselfer. It's either that, or, sit in your dorm room and follow your "state" school. There's as much fun available as you want to experience being a student at Akron or Buffalo. You just need to get your ass of the couch, get away from the TV or computer, and find it. Unfortunately, not a whole lot of people are motivated to do that anymore. Or, in the past (reference the tumbleweeds rolling through the Rubber Bowl during any other football game than the Acme Zip Game). There are more kids out there like this one. But someone needs to work to find them. Show them a good time and they'll multiply. Unfortunately, every 4-5 years you get a new plan, a new administration...and any headway gets erased as the new crew implements their plan. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Read this article and let me know what you think

Of all the Zips, I think he's the most physically built for a Big 10 schedule. The play he got injured @ Wisconsin wasn't anything that couldn't have happened in any other game. If we want to try and win the game, we play him. I hope we do. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

If he can stay healthy, it is a HUGE deal. If he gets hurt in game #2 again, it isn't.

I think Gary Waters needs to stock up on asbestos underwear asap.

If LeBron had made a basic layup against the Wizards, we'd have been cheated out of an outrageous, I-Can't-Believe-I-Just-Saw-That basketball game Monday night. If Big Dog made his FT's, what fun would last night have been? Just another ho hum drive back up Route 8 after a Zips home win...

Regarding the BSU players at game's end chirping at him while at the FT line, I liked where Dog said (in the post game interview) - "After missing the first one, that actually helped me focus."

I think too - some kids just want to go away to college. I grew up in the Youngstown area, and would have rather put a bullet in my head than attended YSU. Pitt, Cinci, Marshall, Kentucky, etc. are all an easy drive from Akron, so kids don't need to stay in Akron for their parents to see them play. Schools like that are tough for the Zips to compete with in 2017. People can poo-poo them as "lower tier P5," but they're still putting guys in the NFL on a regular basis. and play highly competitive P5 schedules. Pitt beat Clemson and plays @ Heinz Field. Not much "lower tier" about that. I was pretty happy with the local HS talent we kept this year. If we could do that year-in-year-out, we'd be in pretty good shape. Still hoping for a couple DL's to magically appear between now and August though...

Did we "miss" on Kyle Vantrease? I don't see where it's a slam dunk that he's better than Ramart. And I'd take Johns over him any day of the week.

If you ever have a question regarding a stupid start time or date, look to see if the game is televised.

19 references to "Big Dog" in one post. Gotta be some sort of record. He lost some composure yesterday and it cost us. You can't let a bench scrub bait you into a T. That said, the panicked, horrific shot selection once he returned to the game is what really killed us. Not the refs.

Too much stupid hero-ball. There's a reason you're unguarded when your 25 feet away from the hoop. The Zips lacked composure. Cost them the game.

Make a couple 3's and we're fine. The brick-fest has to stop.

Might be worth taking a few grad courses at Wilmington to see if you sprout-up?

Off we go...

I've seen our own "fans" call him worse.

I would note that Jerome Lane was a non-qualifier. And, Bowden's track record of keeping at-risk players (I'll define at-risk as either being transfers who had brushes with the law, or sub-par grades) is pretty good. I'll hopefully have some details later.

You're right. This team has earned the faith that they'll overcome adversity. Losing Big Dog or Kwan would be more than "adversity." So I'd be chugging Drano if that happened. But short of that, I'm with you. These guys know how to win. You are what your record says you are. 19-3 is pretty good.

Zach - my apologies for not including you in this list of outstanding contributors. I fixed it. Thanks so much for all your efforts and information.

Yes. It's a good use of a couple PTO hours.

Could it really be only 13? I can never figure out how the guys sitting out 2016 (Freddy Simmons) fit into the equation. I have a feeling the total number of "new faces" for 2017 will be 22+. I will try and find out more tomorrow.

As the 2017 class nears it's completion, I want to thank Zach, Blue & Gold, zzx and Zipsoutsider for their outstanding contributions to the recruiting thread. As an independent site with no paid writers or budget, ZipsNation is what you make it. And you guys made it an excellent resource through your effort, time and Zips Football passion. I've never met any of you...probably never will...but I've very grateful for your above-and-beyond efforts to make this site as good as it can be. Zips fans both far-and-wide appreciate it.

PD - Bubba Announcement

It's a miracle!