Captain Kangaroo

I haven't seen great QB play for the Zips since Luke Getsy. If Pohl can sling the ball, then let him roll.

No he doesn't. No, we can't.

Xavier isn't a mid-major. Gonzaga in't a mid-major. And Butler isn't either. They are "majors" residing in a non-BCS conference. If you have multiple players in the NBA, you are not on the same level as the Zips. Murray State is a mid-major. Norther Iowa is a mid-major. Wichita State is a mid-major. OU is a mid-major.

Isn't Artis Gilmore about 71 years old? I don't think the 3-point line existed in college hoops until a couple decades after "Rigor" Artis' final game with the Dolphins? The game has changed.

What would Chris Rock say in response to this post?

Will BG wear scarlet and grey?

I would like to compare Broderick Alexander's bathroom with aforeseen (another new word for SkipZip) Chauncy Gilliam's. I hear Alexander's soap holder is real porcelain...not that cheap plastic stuff. Love the porcelain. Make it happen, UA!

An inside game gets you a 1st round NIT loss. An outside game gets you NCAA wins. Look at K.e.n.t. - Who carried them in their tourney runs? Guards. Small forwards. They won tourney games with stiffs like John Edwards at center. OU won with a dime-a-dozen Reggie Keeley. Huffman, Shaw, Mitchell, Gates... Bassett, Cooper, Kellogg, Offutt... That's who wins. Shooting the 3 is the difference between being a giant killer, and a 1st round floor mat.

The only way mid-majors stand a chance of beating "majors" is by hitting the 3 at a very high percentage. Trying to match real "major" programs inside the paint is impossible. Hell...vs. UNC, tiny OU couldn't buy a rebound off missed free throws! Their inside game was parsley on the dinner plate. They lived off the three...as they should. Looking forward to what Blake Justice brings to our table in 2012-13.

On the back, I'd have put: IF A DUCK CAN PULL A TRUCK HITCH'EM UP! Franklin Gothic Heavy font.

Gary Waters...Keno Davis...Jim Christian...what an onslaught of "boomerang" coaches who've left mid-majors to cash-in @ BCS schools for a few seasons, then returned to the mid-major level. Seems like KD has simply skipped the middle man?

She did a poor job researching this one. No debate necessary. On a related note -- One the most incredibly inaccurate observations I've seen on our board in many years was posted a few weeks ago, and read something like: "I like the Zips position. OU is built for the short term. Akron is built for the long haul." OU hired Frank Solich for football. They have won NCAA tourney games in 2 of the past 3 seasons. They have a 13,000 seat basketball facility. They've fired a basketball coach who was 19-11 in his final season, because it wasn't good enough. Lose a great coach, hire another one. Fire underachievers. Outspend everyone else. Great facilities. OU is built EXACTLY for the long haul. They are our most formidable basketball competitor, and for the next decade+. Why not K.e.n.t.? Because, per Marla, K.e.n.t. is "justifiably" pumping the lion's share of their money into football.

You define GT by an entry of his from February ... 2011? GT has done an awesome job over the past few months (2012). Be grateful. If the ABJ f's up, feel free to complain here. I've done it a million times. But when they do a great job you should either praise it, or keep quiet.

I think it is interesting to see the early-term difference in Ianello and Bowden. Ianello was strictly concerned with gutting everything to the bone. And then cutting into the bone. Bowden seems to be progressively figuring things out, and making the best decisions for both the players and the program. Players who won't see the field are being given honest assessments of their situation, and given plenty of time to hook up elsewhere. And their scholarships will be applied to new players who can make a difference. If a player is not well-suited to see the field at his present position, but can help the team elsewhere, he's being moved. Guys like B Alexander, who was our best RB the last 1/3 of the 2012 season, are getting a fresh look as a potential starter. Chisholm better bring his "A" game if he wants his #1 job. Love that competition. Lots of interesting shuffling, tweaking, shifting...and I love how it is being communicated, both by George Thomas and GoZips.com. Every day I learn more about our progress. Not "fluff" crap either...it's meaty, interesting stuff.

Wonder if Boals even got a look? Does he need to pull a "Paul Winters" and become a HC at a lower-tier D1 before he gets MAC-level HC consideration?

I also think BigZip's take PN7 was petty spot-on. If Nicely wanted to move on, I can't blame him. But if he wants to stay, LR8 and 1-AA have pretty spotty track records. I think there's a good chance the Zips Opening Day #3 or #4 2012 QB's will have an opportunity to see the field.

If a ZN.o member posts using an anonymous identity, please respect it. Thanks, The Moderators

Baseless Internet Speculation actually a job now-a-days. I think Zach is working on his Masters on that very subject. Here's my blog - "Dambrot isn't going to Duquesne." CK

The listing of HS Juniors is something I've never seen before. Nice job, GT. Hope some of the games are scheduled later, so fall kids sports don't affect my Saturday tailgating.

Egner: Needs to get a lot stronger in the off season to have any chance of PT in 2012-13. How will he lift weights with a bad back? Ibitayo: Long arms, and a long shot for meaningful minutes in 2012-13. He was very overmatched in his limited PT this season. Maybe due to injury, but my gut says he's a major project. Maybe a Conyers-like development curve. Justice: I predict he's a surprise contributor for 2012-13, assuming he can hit the open 3. Look at OU's build - A bunch of guards who can nail 3-pointers. Justice could be our Kellog/Offutt? Betancourt: Biggest addition for 2012-13. Any 2011-12 guard other than Abreu dribbled and passed like their hands we on fire. Diggs will really benefit from Melo's addition. McAdams: I agree. Redshirt. I think he'll be a Linhart-type player. Tough kid, just needs to get stronger for D1 college hoops. Kretzer: I agree - Redshirt. Great potential, but no room on the floor this season

Wasn't the culmination of his "progress" a 66-5 deficit in the 3rd quarter of his final game?

OU is committed to winning basketball. Look at Larry Hunter...the guy had a career record of 204-148 @ OU, was 19-11 in his final season, and they fired him. Basketball expectations are high in Athens. Their next coach will be very good. Bank on it.

I find it fascinating, the difference in hiring a coach in Champaign/Chicago vs. Akron. Wistercil can hire an absolute clown for a football coach in 2009, and other than the 16-or-so people on this site, no one threw a fit. No one even noticed. Ok, Terry Pluto wanted Paul Winters, but he's written that one 38 times. Conversely, the Chicago Tribune prints a column decrying the potential Groce hire. And he's a GREAT coach. It is really un-Akron.

He makes Geno Ford look like a booger.

That is the best thing you can do. I used to attend practices several years ago when DL Morgan was the Zips beat writer. With about 2 minutes remaining in the practice, Morgan would show up, ask Brookhart a question or two after everything was done, and then leave. The next day, MAYBE there'd be a line or two in the sports section...the same quotes you'd read 20 hours earlier on GoZips.com. Conversely, Michael Holley used to do an outstanding job of talking Zips football. I wish some of his old columns were available, but that was pre-internet days. Regardless, he was always a fun, insightful read that made you feel you were at the practice. I looked forward to the Beacon every morning. Be like Mike, George.