Captain Kangaroo

As a point of reference - The Zips have won 6 games in the past 3.5 years. That means a 4th year senior at UA has witnessed as many combined football victories as an OU freshman has seen in his first 6 weeks. Try marketing that. I agree that Bowden will turn things around. He's committed to it, and has the acumen to pull it off. But don't expect the stands to mysteriously fill up anytime soon. Bowden and the Team need to break through at some level before that will happen. And, it can be done. Look at Can't. They're the worst, most putrid program in the history of D1-A, and they have turned their program around while playing in front of crowds smaller than those drawn by a salmonella-riddled gyro stand. Now people are starting to fill up their smelly stadium. Pretty soon they'll have large enough crowds to make a full set of teeth. While Bowden can't promise an elite recruit a huge crowd...at least early in that recruit's UA career, he can offer: * BCS-level coaching * BCS-level training facilities * High mid-major stadium * Great education and campus * Immediate playing time Lee Owens took over a Faust team that was as bad as what Ianello left Bowden. And Owens was essentially .500, playing at the dilapidated Rubber Bowl, with crap facilities and a crap campus. With the above-listed amenities, Bowden should easily be able to exceed that, and at an accelerated pace. Then the fans show up. Go Zips!

Jerrod Dillard has gone from a fragile 6'5" bean pole, to a legit D-1 receiver. Glad he'll be back for next season.

I recall a pretty bad Zips team beating the #25 ranked team in the nation...it seems like only yesterday... If OU's secondary is as banged up as it appears, I like our chances. Williams can carve-up a suspect defensive backfield. Hope Caponi and/or Pressley is a "go." That will make a big difference.

True, it wasn't the year immediately afterwards. But as stated above, they lost quite a bit more than Bassett, and each in an unexpected manner. If we ended up in the CBI next year, it wouldn't be due to Diggs absence. Whether it is a blown ACL, grades, transgressions...unexpected stuff like this happens all the time. Great teams roll on. We'll see what the Zips are made of in roughly 6 weeks, I guess.

I thought Bassett got into some sort of trouble and applied early for the NBA draft? Coleman left early to pursue a rap career and Alex Kellog just flat-out quit basketball. OU had more problems that we do losing Diggs, and they survived quite well. If Dambrot is any good, our program should be in a mature enough state to overcome Diggs departure. Perhaps even be better, as the off-court drama and on-court "chippyness" (you know what I'm talking about) are removed.

Certainly sucks to lose him, but is there were a year to lose a guy like Diggs, this is it. It is a great opportunity for one of the young guys to step up and contribute. I'm disappointed that we lost a guy that could man-up on equal footing against a high-major opponent. But I will be exited to see who rises up to surprise us. And whose development is expedited because he's learning on the court and not on the bench. OU seemed to bounce back after unexpectedly losing Bassett. I'm sure the Zips can do the same.

One final note on the Miami game - a shout out to Broderick Alexander, whose blocking was responsible for a good chunk of Chisholm's 160 yards. Alexander is an awesome Zip...gave up his redshirt with 5 games left in his freshman year to try and help the Zips win a couple games...missed a full season with a blown-out knee...has his 3rd head coach in 4 seasons...lost his short-yardage job to Conner Hundley...and still dutifully does whatever it takes to help the team with balls-to-the-wall aggressiveness. Wish he could play CB. Keep up the good work BA2!

I know one cutting-edge coach who kicked-off to begin BOTH halves. Wonder how long it will take for the rest of college football to catch up to that renaissance man?

We are a respectful group, aren't we?

Nope.

I picked up on this...appears I was alone? Kudos to ZIPCODE for the accurate yet disappointing scoop.

Are you sticking your tongue out at yourself?

I would like to pose a question for our younger members - If Rob Ianello wanted to win 500 games, how many hundred years would it take him to reach #500?

Commack is 6' 4", and he was as bad as any Zips DB last week. They all played like they had 2 left feet. Unlike the past few years, I can't really point to size as a primary problem with our DBs. Depth is a big problem.

I won't be able to attend the UMass game, so you and ZipsWin! stand a much improved chance at winning the coveted Lot 9 Chili King award (looks like the Wagon Wheel, but with toilet paper spooled on each of the wheel spokes).

These personal foul calls need to be reviewable. It is painfully obvious that the referees cannot make an accurate judgement on the field. Yeah, I know...it'll further delay an already lengthening college football game...there are already enough reviews...I don't really care. The refs cannot make this call correctly with even a 50% accuracy rate. If you can't put a good clean lick on a WR running a 5 yard slant over the middle without being penalized 15 yards, college football becomes unwatchable.

Win #2 in 2012 is a "Must Win." Where #2 comes from, or when, is almost irrelevant. The Zips need to have an improved record in comparison to the past 2 seasons. Improvements in the other stats, regardless of the magnitude, pale in comparison to a W-L improvement.

Our RB's ran for around 185 yards and 3 TDs, so I think it is a wash between their QB running, or the Zips' RB's running. We simply don't have the numbers on defense to beat a 5-man spread. Too thin on talent due to [1-11] x 2. And injuries. If we had a healthy March in that game, then we make the stop or two over the course of the game needed to win it. Gilmer was a sub LB playing starter's minutes at DB. To quote Dennis Hopper smelling Bruce Smith's shoe: "Bad things, man...bad things..."

1 guy = "much"? I've seen more violent members of the venomous minority in my day.

One of my favorite quotes of 2012.

I agree. But it's tough to express any concern regarding Bowden's recruiting based upon the successful youth/experience mix he assembled in only about 4 weeks (for the 2012 class). The guy knows how to get from A to B. Did you see those scores?

Why?! Jesus...they're ranked #1, and putting up video game-like numbers offensively. Their style seems like a perfect fit for Bowden's system. We're competitive this year because of guys like Magnum, Commack, Williams, Hines...1-year pick ups. We'll still need some mature guys to keep things rolling in 2013.

Lot 9 Rib Burn-off: October 6th Lot 9 Chili Cook-off: October 20th

Anyone remember the "Icky Shuffle?" 20 years later it's time for a re-make! I agree. No team hop. Not to push this further off topic than I already have, but why "Roo Walk?" Aren't we the "Zips?" The Roo term has its place, but Marketing folks seem to forget it isn't our name. I digress... hope it is successful. But I will be watching my son pitch, hopefully not walking anyone, and with some Zip on his fastball at noon Saturday. See everyone around 1:45pm, hopefully for with time for a Roo beer before Roo kickoff.

Great, informative column George. Loved it.