Captain Kangaroo

Hustler Belt Preview Looks like Woodson throws for 450 yards, and Ball State rushes for 450 yards.

From what I heard, and this is all on very good authority, this was simply a wood burning project that went awry. Some of the Zips players were looking to surprise Coach Bowden with a customized canoe paddle as a Sweetest Day gift, and the damn gun tip overheated. Thankfully no one was injured. The players were embarrassed, and promised to never again undertake any craft projects prior to games. The pic below was taken just before the accident...if they wouldn't have added that last pine tree, everything would have been cool. Much ado about nothing. Move along everyone.

I think we need separate "Three for Thursday - Chapman" and "Three for Thursday - Woodson" polls. At least it world help me.

This will be a watershed game for the Zips. From here the Zips' season can either go in the crapper, or be a springboard to a strong finish. If the Zips are to win, Woodson needs be the QB. Chapman can win a game when the opponent is weak, but Ball State is 4-3, at home, and has some momentum. They aren't WMU, but they aren't Miami either. They're about at the Zips level. Ball State's defense is "ok" (I'd kill for the Zips D to ascend to "ok" status), and they have a beast of a running back. Ball State seems to be coached well enough to run, run, run if the Zips can't stop it. And we haven't stopped the run in 2016. That doesn't bode well. The Zips OL is healthy as a horse. Woodson/Lane/Natson/Wolf/Ball(?) can outscore Ball State. That's the only chance the Zips have to win this, or probably any other game remaining on our schedule. If WMU has "Row the Boat," the Zips mantra is "45 Points or We Lose." Which is fine, as long as they score 45+ points. While the Zips will be sporting a new defensive line due to the injuries...that might not be a terrible thing, as the DL hasn't exactly set the world on fire this year. Mabye a kid like Camara, at 6' 3", 285 makes a name for himself Saturday? Woodson's presence changes the entire complexion of the team. I know Jerome Lane can't get Woody back fast enough. He's gotta be behind center on Saturday, or we're at 0.500 come Saturday evening.

You don't tug on superman's cape / You don't spit into the wind / You don't pull the mask off that old lone ranger / And you don't mess around with Jim. - Jim Croce Don't go publicly busting oars when you're a 12 point underdog and starting your second string QB. - Me

George "Sleepy" Thomas wakes up at the 6:20 point. Absolute classic.

Manti who?

Ball State Message Board Ball State's Last Game - Had a RB with 200+ yards - oh...no....

As Hustlebelt pointed out, two weeks ago they beat 5-2 CMU by 39 points in Mount Pleasant. It would have been fun to play them with a full roster...it wasn't so fun to play them with one hand tied behind our back.

#get_paddled Tip your helmet to the Broncos. Definitely a Top 25 Football Program.

Hustlebelt Chimes In

Jerome Lane need to impact the game. I hope his 2 week vacation is over, and he gets back to dominating. The public will be talking about one WR after the game. We need Jerome to steal the spotlight from Corey Davis with a monster day. JoJo and his big bad shoulder will come to play, I know that.

Somewhere, some WMU lurker just blew a gasket.

I think if the WMU team that showed up in Mount Pleasant visits InfoCision, we lose. But odds are against it. Unlike CMU, this isn't a rivalry game. Fleck and the Broncos are getting hyped big time nationally this week, and that's going to be a distraction. The Zips program is on a quest for respect, and beating WMU accomplishes that task. The Zips have shown resiliency and poise all season, coming back from major deficits against Marshall (21-7), App State (31-14 - albeit a loss) and Kent (down 3 with under 1 minute remaining). That's a sign of a great team. The since the second half of the App State game, the Zips defense has shown marked improvement. Some new faces are making impacts. With a relatively easy game last week, they'll be as well-rested as is possible w/o a bye week, The game will be a shoot-out, but I see the Zips winning at home and the packed student section rushing the field. Of course UA will need to announce the tuition giveaway after the game for this to happen. WMU's defense gave up 30 to NIU last week. The Zips are good for at least 40. Zips 49-WMU 40

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Here are a couple truths about the Akron-area Football Fan - 1.) He's not a "football fan." He's an Ohio State and Cleveland Browns fan. 2.) He will show up if you give him El Cheapo tickets (See Acme-Zip games). Unfortunately, $3.00 tickets don't pay the bills. 3.) The Zips haven't won squat for 25 years. Expecting Joe Akron to flock to InfoCision to see 4-2 Akron play Western Michigan is like waiting for The Great Pumpkin. "But Western Michigan is undefeated and Top 25 ranked", you say? Refer to #1. If you neglect a garden for 25 years, you don't expect to be eating tomatoes 1 week after you rototill it. The crowds are what they are. The team is rapidly improving. The butts-in-seats are gradually improving. I'm confident the team, and new administration ,will continue doing the necessary things to fill the stands. But it will take a few years of consistent, hard work to overcome 25 years of abject neglect. I think Zips fans need to enjoy the 70% empty InfoCision and essentially zero game day traffic. There will come a time, probably in about 3-4 years, when you'll be bitching about the traffic and all the idiots surrounding you who don't know 1st Team All MAC Quarterback Kato Nelson from Kato Kaelin.

If there was a disclaimer like below, would you feel any better?: Louisiana-Lafayette - 18,809 - Grossly inflated Ohio (homecoming) - 19,775 - Grossly inflated It makes me sick thinking about the 12k (- actual attendance) we had last Saturday.

Perry Kitchen in the Washington Post

Marshall. And we beat them.

1.) I like the strength of WMU's defense matching up against our offensive line. If WMU can't get the pressure they're used to, we can pick apart their secondary. 2.) How nice it is to see someone write that the Zips will pose a tougher test than NIU? Yeah, is shows that NIU has dropped off this season, but it also shows the Zips have ascended. I would like to think that Woodson, Pittman and perhaps George could have played against Miami, but Bowden felt we could win the game without them. And they were dinged-up to the point where an extra week's rest would be a big help. Just my own personal conspiracy theory. I think Bowden knows beating WMU is a whopper as far as "taking the next step" goes, and he will be loaded for bear on Saturday. It should be an epic game! I know it will be better than Rob I-and-II-o's effort the last time the Zips met the Broncos (66-5 WMU, in the third quarter).

It seems like in every picture of JoJo he’s airborne. He’s probably 5 foot 7, but plays 6 foot 2. I love the pic of Kyle Ritz. He looks exactly like I’d expect him to look under the mask…a snarling, bad-ass OL. The pic of Hope just prior to the INT makes the pick all the more impressive. The receiver had position, and he still got it.

A Bronco Message Board

Can a throwback, "Moving A" helmet be far behind?!

I think it only gets better as the kids visiting UA see so many athletes they recognize from their own region. I'd think your a lot more comfortable coming to UA from central Florida when you meet 25 other Florida kids on your recruiting trip. It also is nice for parents, because trips to Akron to see their sons play are typically inexpensive, non-stop 2-hour flights.

I'll be in Lot 9. Stop over and I'll have a beer in the cooler for you. Look for a black F-150 with a Zips flag waving. Expecting a noon arrival in the lot.