Captain Kangaroo

Murrow snippet from today's PD

i saw a bunch of people putting their tents up to the fence and just watching the game from there....that's the way to go. They ruined a great tailgate. We had a great time against the fence. The tent kept our heads dry, and the beer kept our throats wet. You'd be surprised what you can withstand if you have enough cold beer.

The Zips cover punts well.

Well, I wouldn't call myself an expert, but that was nice of Tom to say.

Who needs Gatorade when you're going 3-and-out every series? Or getting drug into the endzone like a sled?

Then Rob Ianello's soul is so clean it makes surgical instruments jealous.

Yes, but "Family Weekend" is horrifically marketed! I told them they should have done this months ago....but nooooooooooo.... Way to spring it on the public with a few days notice. I hope it is successful. And those families that attend bring some chili. I hear that if you already paid $15 for your kid's ticket, you can bring it directly to Tom Wistercill and he'll give you the $10 per ticket difference right out of his wallet. Nice gesture.

I think you are a mortal lock to have the first-ever sweep of both Basketball AND Football Fan of the Year.

I don't believe you. Can you provide a Internet site like google.answer to verify your assertion that someone other than a Zip fan came up with the Titanic deckchair statement? The phrase was actually first uttered by Sir Horatio Shuttlebobberzipswin, whom ZipsWin! honors in his ZN board name. Shuttlebobberzipswin was a deck hand on the Carpathia, and not-so-coincidentally the college room mate of one Johnathan Heisman. Shuttlebobberzipswin was notorious in the late 1800's for his raucous buggy-gating prior to Buchtel College football games. While the UA Company line touts "Zips" as being derived from a rubber shoe...it is as true as crediting SeeTeeZip with the phrase "You win some, you lose some." The name indeed comes from UA legend "ZipsWin!" (an abbreviated nickname for Shuttlebobberzipswin, given to him by none other than Heisman himself in 1893). And now you know....the rest of the story. Sir Horatio Shuttlebobberzipswin...one of the great pioneers of University of Akron Football.

PD article stated LeVon quit by texting his position coach. What an age we live in... Too bad he couldn't stick it out...I think he'd have received a decent ovation from whomever might be at the Buffalo game for Senior day. If we beat Buffalo...do the Zips put Ianello on their shoulders and carry him off the field, like the guys did with Faust after we won the 1993 Toilet Bowl? When are we going to honor the Toilet Bowl team anyhow. Long overdue...

Mmmmmmmmm........lamb baste........

Nicely is the least of our problems. He's a better QB than Rodgers. But the guy has no OL, and no WR's. Because he's apt to run, Rodgers may be a better QB for our present situation. I'd like to have seen him get a shot. But I'm under no illusions that changing a QB is anything but, to quote ZipsWin!, "rearranging chairs on the Titanic."

Can't argue with you there.

Apparently law school was not the right path if he can't fund his own blog. Why pay for it yourself, if someone will pay it for you? That's just smart. Integrity. Apparenly the bloG comes with strings attached. He is not an Akron zips blogger he is an ABJ puppet? Isn't that what the conversation is all about? I think it is pretty unfair to question the guy's integrity. He's always been up front regarding funding of his blog. And I think he is typically been pretty objective in his opinions, maybe sometimes to his detriment. I agree that his last blog comes off like he wrote it with a gun to his head. But I don't think it is anything to get worked up about. I did think this passage was kind of a cheap shot: I guess iCoach has an "out" if recruiting doesn't go well this year...it was ZNO's fault. Maybe we should just all be sheep, and enjoy the abyss. Make everone happy.

Not having attended the game, it is difficult to gauge the vibe on the Zips sideline. I can only offer a game summary from the point of view of a guy listening to his radio...then turning it off...then raking leaves...then turning it back on...then throwing it... I thought the Zips showed tremendous improvement in their offensive production when compared to the opening of the K.e.n.t. game. We had only one negative-yardage possession in our first 6 series! Of course, our first 4 possessions were 3-and-out punts...followed by 2 INT's. We punted 4 times in the 1st quarter. OU punted 0 times in 4 quarters. Also - It was crippling to our offensive production to have only 38 penalty yards assessed against OU. We need at least 125 if we are to keep games competitive. Down 24-3, the Zips moved the ball to the OU 20 yard line. On 3rd and 4, PN 7 lobs a ball into Allen's hands for a sure 1st down...and possibly a TD. Allen drops the ball. Between LaFrance, Burney and Allen, I'm guessing we've dropped 7 TD balls this year? It really is unbelievable. Speaking of PN7 - His performance has been a let down this year. But I will "Go Rasor" on the topic and say: On PN7's weapons -- Jesus our receivers are horrible. And LaFrance...our best WR...may not play the remainder of the season. Our offensive line is the worst I've seen in the past 20 years. On PN7's game plan -- We do not play to our strengths. We run late-developing routes... PN7 is snowed-under while all three receivers are streaking down the sidelines. We roll PN7 out...and he's not a good QB when he's running. PN7 is a straight-up, Dan Marino-type pocket passer (despite his 43 yard scamper Saturday, he's not a runner). With the pocket collapsing on him constantly, and no receivers to catch his passes...he's doomed. Is Rodgers the answer? With the team structured as it stands today, yes, he's our best chance to get a win. He can't throw deep, so maybe the staff will go heavier on the short routes where we have a chance for aerial success. Rodgers can throw short passes. And if Rodgers is flushed from the pocket, he can run for decent yardage. His knee has had 1 year to heal...he should be good to go. That said - If iCoach goes "Denard Robinson" with Rodgers, look for another season-ending injury. Rodgers doesn't have the body to be running 15 times per game. I haven't given up on Nicely, but he is a bad fit for the state of our OL and WR's right now. In October 2010, we need someone that can run. Rodgers gives us a chance to win... to get a couple 1st downs...move the chains...and give our D a rest. Andy Alleman pointed to Rodgers statistics and said the staff needs to look at "Production over Promise." Rodgers went 5-5 with a TD to close the game, which can be considered Hall of Fame production in this dead ball era of Zips ball movement. But it is an unfair comparison to have 1st team defenses pound on Nicely for 3 quarters, then have Rodgers come in against the scrubs and look like an all star. Even worse for the comparison is the fact that PN7 has faced the toughest part of the schedule...3 BCS schools + the MAC East and West leaders. Do you give him a crack at a sorry WMU squad, just to be fair? No. We go with the Dink-and-Dunk offense and try to get a win any way we can. Rodgers starts this weekend. Back the the OU game for a second -- on 4th and 4, on the OU 20, iCoach has the option of trying for the TD, or kicking the field goal. Down 24-3, and with red Zone opportunities as rare as fan sightings in Lot #34 this Saturday, iCoach elects to kick the FG. I'm really tired of him playing like 3 points is some sort of victory. Down 24-3, a field goal sucks. Grow some stones and try to get a TD. Show the fans you're at least trying to win. Lunch is over. Great game by Bryan Wagner with 15 tackles. And Waller, Holmes and Hall get some love too. No Dozen Goose Eggs (0-fer 12)! Win this Saturday! Cheat...steal the Bronco's uniforms...hell...try to score TDs instead of a field goals. Whatever crazy stuff it takes. Just win. Oh...I almost forgot -- Good to see K.e.n.t. choke a double digit lead away on Saturday. Took a little bit of the sting out of the Zips loss. Thanks, Doug Martin. Chili Cook-off in Lot #9 this Saturday. See both of you there!

Apparently law school was not the right path if he can't fund his own blog. Why pay for it yourself, if someone will pay it for you? That's just smart.

It's because I think we'll go 2-10.

A couple things regarding this topic - The Rasor site is, to my knowledge, funded by UA Athletics. It was set up by Mike Waddell many years ago as a means to get UA sports coverage in the ABJ somewhere (people forget that, before Gaffney got the Zips beat writer position, the Zips coverage in the ABJ was equivalent to the ABJ's coverage of Fresno State Beauty Academy). How critical can you expect Rasor to be of any UA program? They pay his bills. That why Joe Dunn lobs his softballs to iCoach in the post game, and why the other announcers bite their tongues when describing this season's here-to-fore-unseen-by-anyone-but-K.e.n.t. pigskin abyss. Maybe Mike doesn't honestly believe what he's writing? There have been time on this board where I get so beaten down by the negativity that I post something stupidly optimistic just for fun. A writer doesn't necessarily need to believe in everything he writes... it's just as big a responsibility to get people to think, or see an alternate point of view. Or, maybe just to get "hits" on your site. Of course, if that's your angle, you need to accept the inevitable ridicule that comes along with it. Every AD has his angle. Judging from the K.e.n.t. State post game lovefest showered upon iCoach, YouTube Tom is in a very protective mode with his media outlets. Kinda like the guy shouting "ALL IS WELL!" at the end of Animal House. Whether it is Mike, or Joe Dunn, don't expect any overly-critical comments on our "Road to the Dozen Gooseggs." That's just the way it has to be.

Not a great article, but a fun quick read... I could see this as someone's ZN signature: "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure."

No good coach can go 0-12 with a MAC schedule. Even Owens went 2-9 after taking over Faust's 1-10 train wreck.

Our recent guards have not been able to defend quality opposing guards. Guys were going off for 30+ against us at the end of last season almost every night. I'm happy as a clam to get a rangy, "lock-down" defensive presence. Since he's only a HS senior this year, and he seems to have determination and athleticism, I assume his shooting will improve (his shooting form doesn't look Shaq-esque in the video, BTW). A few hundred 15 footers per week in the gym for the next 12 months and he'll be good to go next fall.

So when I tell you that the Zips team shop and book stores are having a sale of 25% off all Adidas Zips gear, you'll stop by campus and load up on merchandise? Because they really are having that sale right now. I picked up some stuff before heading to Penn State yesterday. Thanks for the heads up!

Wow...that's huge. Can't believe the kid would leave, and lose another year of eligibility? Actually, he'll only lose 1/2 a season (eligible Spring '12)...but still. He must have HATED Athens?

Can we give a shout out to the OU band? Goooo Bong Cats!

45 - 10 OU K.e.n.t. was the opportunity to turn the season around. We can't compete with K.e.n.t., let alone the upper-echelon MAC programs. Just being realistic. I hope we win.