Captain Kangaroo

I am glad we're giving him a real look at RB (not necessarily FB). The easiest thing in the world to do is make the white kid a linebacker. It takes a rare, free-thinker to give him a chance to run the ball. He could be Peyton Hillis or Toby Gerhart? He could be lethal inside the 5 yard line? He could be the money back that gets us 4 yards on 3rd and 2? Maybe he's a bigger Bobby Hendry? I want to see him play RB before I stereotype him as an LB.

I like how we lost Akbar, and his body was still warm when other quality guys filled the nanosecond void. Allen Hanson (replaced by Ced), Dylan Ennis (replaced by Rico?*)...now Akbar. Always quality guys waiting eagerly to snatch a scholarship and become a Zip. * I recall Rico verbaling after Ennis reneged, even though he was 1 year ahead, eligibility-wise...maybe I'm wrong.

I think he's gaining a better appreciation of Kyle Peterson and CJ Oldham's situations.

True

The SEC doesn't HAVE to do anything or NOT do anything regardless of deadlines or penalties. You jumped the gun a bit on announcing that A&M was leaving for the SEC, and now you're jumping the gun on saying they aren't. I think Andy Staples may have had you in mind when he wrote THIS. I think the MAC needs to strike while the iron is hot, and bring in Texas A&M and Clemson. That will boost the MAC's RPI and give the Zips a better shot at that Big East invite. The dominoes are all falling into place....

Perfect? I think you meant Celtics, not Lakers.

There was one option I thought of putting in and didn't. Get an at large bid. Hasn't happened for the mac in a long time, but early occ wins are a must in order for this to happen. Is there a 5 percent chance of that happening for them? I think if a MAC program merits an at-large, a MAC team can earn an at-large. The MAC has be down for so long, people forget what a good league it was 10+ years ago. Lottery NBA draft picks. At large bids. It all really happend in the MAC. I think the Zips are approaching the caliber of some of those late-90's/early 2000's MAC programs. It's taken 8 seasons, but the insane "Gonzaga of the East" comment may just take a step towards sanity this year? I sense a degree of separation from the MAC pack in 2011-12. LOVED Gilliam on the alley-oops!

Cincinnati had a nationally recognized basketball program, with a real arena. Cincinnati is a real city, with no need to fool people by pretending distant big cities belong to their population/fan base. Cincinnati was in C-USA when they were invited to the BE. And on and on and on... Wait...it's Zach...what the hell am I doing? Out.

Cleveland is Ohio State's market. I don't think any BE representative could be duped into thinking people in Cleveland care about the Zips, or would suddenly go gaga for Zips football just because UConn or South Florida came to town. Sure, UA would give their left nut to be in the BE. I'd donate mine if it helped the cause. But I just don't see it happening.

I just saw Zook's re'sume' posted on Monster.com...the writing is on the wall...

What does Cincy circa 2005 have that we don't? Answer: Medical and pharmacy schools and corresponding large grant money and research, a mediocre football team, and a great basketball arena. Cincinnati is a slightly more-attractive market than Akron-Canton too. Do you not affiliate NEOUCOM with Akron? I would think our lack of a direct Medical and Pharmacy school is pretty low on the list of reasons we'll never get invited to the Big East?

Valid question.

I wish Blake Justice would do the football update videos.

If CJ Oldham went 1-1 from 3-point land, and I extolled the virtues of CJ's 3-point prowess, I think you'd have a point that I was "massaging statistics." But 41 shots is, statistically, a HUGE, relevant sampling. I'll bet he shoots within +/- 2% of that number this season. I personally thought, and the statistics bear it out, that Diggs had a sweet stroke last season. So it's less impressive to me that he's hitting 3's in August practice. Nothing against his hard off-season work. You could see from his progress over the course of last season that he was a hard worker. All hail Quincy - 2010-11 Zips 3-point Percentage Shooting Champion! Now back it up in 2011-12, baby!

Great interview with Blake! Nice, nice job, UA.

Toronto Star reports the Zips received 8 votes in the Canadian AP poll! Can a Top 25 ranking be far behind?!

Hey, we're due, right?

As soon as I read "Paul" I immediately stopped reading and disregarded everything before. You can mess up a few things, but to mess up the returning starting QB!?!? Did he mention anything about Tyrone Prior's status?

I like the input of ZN.o members regrading practice. It is fun to actually watch the guys you've read so much about actually do something on the field/court. I used to love attending the Zips football summer practices to get a preview of the upcoming team. You could tell right away that young guys like David Harvey and Matt Cherry were going to be special talents. Scouting, and projecting the results of young talent is one of my favorite things to do. I'll digress and tell a quick story -- I coach Kiwanis youth basketball. I had a teeny tiny kid on my team (Jared) last season who hadn't played basketball very much. He was pretty overwhelmed for most of the season, but if he were unguarded, he actually had a pretty fundamentally sound stroke. This usually occurred during practices. Fast-forward to our Round 2 playoff game - the opposing team presses us the back court, which is a 2-shot technical. I placed Jared at the free throw line. I hear from a parent behind me: "HEY COACH, GET THAT KID OFF THE LINE!!" That dad was the father of the best kid on my team. He had some justification to have his son shoot the free throws. Jared stroked both free throws for 2 of the 6 points he scored the entire season. We went on a big run and won the game. Moral of the story - If that dad was at my practices, he'd have kept his yap shut when I placed Jared at the line. The kid was the #8 kid on a 9-kid roster. But he was our best free throw shooter. He showed it every day in practice.

Go to hell, you Suckeye-loving butt munch. Now we're back to normal! Thank God I found the thread in time. The world remains in balance.

Always in a dark suit...

For the record -- I never cringed when the guy that lead the 2010-11 Zips in 3-point shooting percentage (39%) launched a 3. I was actually sort of happy.

Yes. Busted his hip. Injury #1. He was granted a medical redshirt after injury #2, ACL tear (it happened on the practice field next to Shrank South).

Pardon my lack of knowledge, but what happened to Dale Martin? Can we add him to the Cap'n's list of Great Zips who never were? He and Ryan Bain need to wait the requisite 2 seasons before enshrinement. BTW -- Guest MC at this year's Great Zips That Never Were HOF Ceremony is Thomas Plummer.

There are three players who look like triplets. They are Q, CJ Oldham & Nick Harney. Get in line now for "Fear the Fro" shirts... I had a "Fear the Fro" sign back when Wood was sporting one. Looks like I'll have to dust it off... Oh no. By far, the best signs I saw during the J. Wood era were "FEAR THE WOOD". Even old people like my wife and I (we both have juvenile minds at times) could never stop laughing at that. But, don't consider me a representative example of people in my age group. I still laugh at Beavis and Butthead too. My favorite of that era -- I recall a girl with a "You Got Played By Quade" sign. High degree of difficulty in rhyming Quade with a basketball-reference put her over the top.