Captain Kangaroo

On the nose, ZipsWin!

This was a topic of much discussion last night. Zeke needs to get a wider base, and beat his opponent to the spot. Presently his feet are slow, and he doesn't get in good defensive position. He looks awkward, and that doesn't do him any favors with the refs. When there's contact, they will call a foul on the awkward-looking guy every time. Zeke needs to work hard on his footwork this summer. He can block shots all day long with whatever footwork he presently uses...but if he wants to stop an opposing center who's backing him down on the low block, he needs to widen-up.

Love the quote.

Why would Joe Akron come out to see Eastern Michigan/Akron? Dial, Head and Boykins are long, long gone. I posted the Round #1 attendance poll for a reason...you knew it would be low. We had no marketing of the team this season. No marquee wins for the umpteenth season. No star players. Barely 20 wins. We were coming off 2 huge losses, the latter on national television. We weren't exactly on a roll in March. Ask Karman or Gaffney -- if they had to pay for their ticket, would they have shown up for that game? I bet they wouldn't. I was there with my son. But I can't blame anyone else for staying at home on a work night, saving the $20 - $40 and listening to Frenchie.

No.

It is impossible to have a discussion with a person who invents their own reality, so I will post the following solely for those casual forum readers. Jim Tressel's offense was a MAJOR NCAA violation. Ferri's offense was a secondary violation. The same level of violation that Ohio State football had 17 documented occurances in 2009-2010. Believe it or not -- There's a reason the NCAA has a differentiation between major and secondary. Secondary offenses are nothing. Clearly reference the ZERO resulting NCAA sanctions against the Zips football program. Absolutely zero. Clearly reference the $250k fine and two game suspension of Jim Tressel, with more sanctions to follow. Clearly reference the multitude of suspended players. Players suspended not for 1 or 2 games, but 5. I feel bad when someone's hero lies and cheats in such an egregious manner. It obviously has rocked some people's very foundation. If posting fantasy beliefs regarding Ohio State football in a Zips football forum gets someone through the day, I'm happy to contribute to the coping mechanism. That's what we're here for. (lol) (omg) (PBR) I'm also happy to see a post of mine from 2009 is still sought as a reference. After re-reading it, it still hold up (where's a pat on the back smilie when you really need it?). I like when people reference my quotes directly, and credit me, rather than paraphrase me and act like the copied thoughts were original.

"Everyone does it." "Everyone cheats...he just got caught." Blah blah blah... Jim Tressel KNEW his players committed a MAJOR NCAA violation. Jim Tressel played student athletes who should have been on suspension in order to win a game. Jim Tressel is a cheat. A liar. A phony. Early in 2010 there was an article in the Plain Dealer detailing 17 secondary recruiting violations by Ohio State. I never posted that article here because minor stuff goes on everywhere. I could care less about a text or two that occurred in a non-contact period, or an Ohio State alum trying to sway a recruit to Columbus. In your warped world Tressel can do no wrong. Writers don't research. You make up your own reality. You cope with your hero's downfall through the same rationalizations that people do whenever a charismatic fraud is exposed. OJ could still get a foursome after he killed 2 people. Jimmy Swaggart could still fill a church after skanking it up. And Tressel will still have plenty of sheep to follow him. Tressel knowingly played ineligible players. That's as big a cheat as there is. If you look the other way, I can only say "Baaaa....baaaaa."

Rationalize all you want...Tressel is a sham. A liar. A cheat. He's Jimmy Swaggart...Jim Baker...insert whatever other phony baloney religious charlatan you want. He's exposed big time, baby. It is fact. I guarantee he doesn't end up at BYU after he's fired.

Best column I've read from the Beacon in a long, long time. Jason Lloyd won't be in Akron for long...dude's got mad skills.

You are correct. But no coach in Ohio would have the balls to call Tressel out.

It's not the first time.... Actually, he's spot on. Dambrot changed his ways by taking on transfers and guys with questionable academics for the first time since he has been here in an effort to make the team/program better. Basically, he is doing what you all want him to do - do what he needs to do to take this team to the next level, even if it means changing his ways of recruiting. The problem is - as Zach pointed out - you aren't even waiting to see how these guys pan out. I've liked what I've seen of Diggs, and we have Treadwell, Harney, Gilliam, and Walsh waiting in the wings for 2011-2012. All of these guys are very, very different from most previous KD recruits...how about we wait and see what happens with them? I've always said that Dambrot does more with less talent than other MAC teams. Let's see what happens when he gets some raw but high-ceiling talent that's taller and more athletic next year. I always enjoy when people paraphrase what I wrote in an original post and act like it is their own thought.

If our sack-o-crap March defense shows up, we will lose. K.e.n.t. scored on 21 of 23 second half possessions! And we scored at a good clip too, so we had plenty of time to get back on defense?! The OU and K.e.n.t. games really scared the crap out of me. I never thought this Zips team was awesome, but I never thought they were capable of playing so poorly. Did any of those K.e.n.t. guards that drove the lane so effortlessly ever get knocked down? Nik and Brett McKnight drive the lane and avoid contact like the opposing center has leprosy. Conversely, opponents can drive on us with no fear of getting brushed, let alone knocked on their @ss. We could lose by 15 tonight if Dambrot hasn't addressed our defensive issues.

It's not the first time....

Tressel: “There’s a gut-wrenching feeling when you lose a game and you know you could’ve done better,” he continued later. “And then there’s one that goes beyond when you don’t feel as if you did what you should do as people." Sounds like that "beyond" feeling is something he knows about first-hand?

K.e.n.t. is a hippie school in the middle of a cornfield, and they have no problem finding one 20-game winner after another.

Former Zips fullback gets Elyria Hall of Fame enshrinement. Tough SOB back in the Faust era.

What I would LIKE to think is -- KD himself was not satisfied with how things were progressing...hence why he sort of blew things up at the end of last season. It remains to be see what Walsh, Gilliam, Treadwell, Harney, Justice, etc bring to the table. They're all supposed to be above the level of player we've become accustomed to seeing. Supposed to be.... I have been fooled in the past by alleged "savior" recruits and transfers (Hipsher, Tarver, Conyers, Carson...the list is long) so I am beyond leery of upcoming "New KD Era." But he made the change...the "Tiny Guard Era" seems to be over. I guess we all need to see how it plays out on the court. More so than any other time, it will be interesting to see how KD coaches @ The Q. All the top teams are of equal talent. Strategy and substitutions are HUGE this year. That, and motivating his guys to cease with their uncanny Loyola Marymount defensive impersonation.

Sounds exactly like a guy that can't win basketball games.

I typically get a ticket from a random scalper near the arena for $10. It always seems insane to me to pay $35 for a seat, when you can sit anywhere you want for $10.

I like the Zips' confidence! UA Athletics again will partner with Cadillac Ranch (located at 200 Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland and within walking distance of The Q) to serve as its official fan headquarters throughout the week of the tournament. Cadillac Ranch will offer a variety of food and drink specials to patrons who are wearing Zips attire.

Looking at the PD today, I see we actually let K.e.n.t. waltz their way to scoring on 21 of 23 consecutive possessions!? That is the worst defensive stretch I can recall in the history of Zips basketball. And for it to come against K.e.n.t. is boarderline unforgivable. What happened to the team I saw in February? Fool's Gold, I guess... My final comment on that game.

I fear sub 1000.

Zeke played an excellent game, as did Diggs. Roberts was tough too. After that...blech. We played soft SOFT SOFT on defense. Inside and outside. I think at one point K.e.n.t. scored on 18 of 20 consecutive second half possessions! How the hell is that possible?! This Zips team is like the playground bully. We play weaker teams...the kind you can intimidate and they immediately fork over their lunch money, and we whup 'em. We play a team that fights back and punches us in the nose, and all of the sudden we hear our mom calling us, and we sprint off the playground. What is the deal with Zeke kicking the ball out when he's in perfect position for his 8-foot baseline hook? I don't get it? He's had 10 looks at that shot over the past 2 games and he's kicked it out every time. KD MUST give him the green light to take that shot! None of the lessons learned in February stuck. We're back to rotating late on defense and letting our opponent do whatever they please. We'll have a short stay in Cleveland if the guys keep their February Defense tucked-away in the closet.

Reminds me of a funny story -- When my son was 5 years old he had a writing assignment - "Write two things you love and two things you hate." For "Hate," he wrote (in kindergarten kid crayon): Bees and K.e.n.t If I can ever find that paper, I'll scan it and post it. It still cracks me up.