Captain Kangaroo

VMI - W - Chapman gets plenty of PT in this laugher. We'll see if the positive reviews of his progress are true. Wisky - L - New OL needs more time to gel. A 4th string OSU RB behind a new Zips OL doesn't bode well. Hopefully Bowden tries to win and opens up the offense a bit. I could see a 45-24 score. Marshall - L - Winning at Marshall is tough. I don't know that we're at the level we need to be to beat Marshall on the road. Appy St. - W - The litmus test for how far the Zips have progressed. I say the Zips eek out a 42-40 win, and Lane and Natson make the difference. Should be a fun D1 college football game! Kent - W - Kent sucks, and the Zips are improving. Look for Kent to begin yet another HC search after a dismal 2016 season. Miami - W - Miami is improving, but they aren't at the Zips level. WMU - W - Broncos row their boat back to Michigan with a loss. But a lot of recruiting stars. BSU - W - No comment, other than Zips win. Buffalo - W - Buffalo hired Rob Ianello. Teams electing to hire Rob don't win. Toledo - L - Toledo is at another level of speed and depth. The Zips won't sneak up Toledo again...unfortunately a loss. BUGS - W - New coach. Big holes to fill. Game @ InfoCision. Look for a big ESPN2 Zips win. Ohio - W - The Zips can't possibly lose to OU again? Would it be for the 9th straight time? Amato holds the simple OU offense in check, and the Zips explosive offense racks up enough points for a double-digit win. Terry gets the Gatorade bath. MAC Championship game - W Bowl Game - W 9 wins. So I guess I get the "over?"

It makes some sense if you read this, and then you read this. I'd love to see him in Akron.

He obviously feared the turtle.

"Z" is for Zingale... and Zip?

5 Year Plan

Another column "He will have two years of eligibility remaining."

What Michigan fans are saying...

Article A 5-foot-10, 211-pound running back from Akron, Ohio, Sibley had offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Kentucky and Akron and was previously committed to Ohio State before the Buckeyes asked him to grayshirt and sit out a year.

He always seemed disinterested to me. Traylor-Bennett has received rave reviews at the TE/H-back position. I think we'll be better off this year at TE.

I think our QB situation is as good as, or better than anyone in the MAC. Woodson has proven he's a legit starting MAC QB. By all accounts, Chapman has had a great offseason and is ready to contribute in 2016. Kato was the highest rated recruit in the 2016 class. That's ok with me. I'm more concerned with linebackers.

Things are Luke-ing up for this former Zip

I guess I'm glad someone cared enough to write a June column on the Zips QB situation, regardless of the content. I mentioned in my golf outing notes that the Zips staff felt Chapman had made some great strides and would see the field more often in 2016. He will. And if Woodson struggles, he'll sub in. But that's no different than any other #2 QB.

To say 2013 WMU was "near RI's level" is not true. There's 1-11, and there's RI, back-to-back 1-11. WMU beat RI's Zips 66-6 (at least that was the score in the 3rd quarter...I forget the final). They played in a bowl game in 2011. That tells me they were several talent notches above the RI Zips. Their 2015 wins included EMU, Murray State, Miami OH and Ball State, so half of their wins were against cupcakes. I think the argument that Fleck and Bowden are on relatively the same level is seen in their 2015 bowl results. Both won their first MAC bowl last year. We'll see who's best on October 15th. The scoreboard don't lie.

Fleck's done a good job. But he's only winning the vaunted "Recruiting Stars" Championships. Sorta like winning the RPI Championship if you're an OU fan. Back-to-back 8-5 seasons. Won their first bowl game last season. Fleck is younger and hipper than Bowden, but the results are the same thus far.

At the end of the season, Buffalo was the better team. Their length and athleticism at guard is a problem for the smaller Zips. And, they are one team that can match up with Big Dog. Now that Oates has a year under his belt, look out for Buffalo in 2016-17. UB and UA are the obvious favorites to win the MAC. Neither is a wrong choice...but you won't win much money betting on them.

The report in the post above was - they are not academically eligible. Based upon that, they cannot play or practice. Like Harney and Tree a few years back.

You can't be on scholarship if you don't meet the academic requirements. They are paying their own way for 2016-17. They can effectively get the paid year back and be on scholarship for their 5th year, but only if they meet the requisite academic benchmarks after their 4th school-year. If they didn't meet the requisite academic progress requirements after 4 years, they would not be granted a 5th year.

After the morale napalm of the Scarborough era, it's a great lift to see that story. It reminds you what UA pride feels like.

This ain't your father's C-USA...

Marshall Festivities in June - Sounds fun if you're a Herd fan

Coach’s salary: UNI - $900k base Ohio - $550k base. Advantage - UNI Marquee wins in the past 3 seasons: UNI – Texas, North Carolina (#1), Iowa, Iowa State (#5), Wichita State (multiple times)... throw in Northwestern, Virginia Tech and some Colonial teams if you'd like too. Ohio – None NCAA Appearances in the past 2 years UNI – 2 OU – Zero League caliber UNI – 2-bid league OU – 1-bid league Can you get a Home-Home with Xavier? UNI – Yes OU – No Losses to end the season UNI – Texas A&M and Louisville (NCAA Tourney) Ohio – VMI and Morehead State (in Athens) Face it – You are clinging to 5 year old memories as the basis for your 2016 status. Ohio is worse than Akron, and nowhere near UNI. Enjoy your RPI. It’s awesome.

People obsessed with the RPI also tend to type a lot. About the CBI and CIT.And things that happened 5 years ago, under long-since-gone coaches and players.

@ 1987 - If it helps, I was told Trevor Brown was considered by most to be the #1 or #2 recruit in this year's class (along with Kato). Trevor Brown Offensive Lineman Clinton, MD 6-5, 275lbs

The RPI is a scapegoat for teams who don't play anyone big and don't beat anyone big. But who want to act they're big. People who care about the RPI are the same ones that paint their faces and wear costumes to watch the NFL draft. The 2015-16 Zips had an outstanding RPI year. On the court, we couldn't beat the worst Ohio State team in memory. OU recently sandwiched two 3-deep runs in the CBI and CIT around a 10 win season. Nice job. You aren't in Northern Iowa's league. You're in Akron's.

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