Captain Kangaroo

We lost to Austin Peay last year, and ended up having a phenomenal season...at least by some people's standards. To paraphrase Mark Twain -- "Reports of OU's death are greatly exaggerated." With hard work and dedication, the CBI is still within reach of the Bobcats.

OSU would be absolutely nuts. I hope that's the draw!!

I think the game could play-out in a number of ways...but the key for the Zips will be avoiding the epic, 10-minute scoring drought. I also think our perimeter defense needs to be dramatically improved from where it was the last 1/3rd of last season. Score consistently, and defend the 3-point line, and we have a good shot at the upset.

I heard it was to be joined in progress after the Cavs game... so maybe the second half.. It should be on Fox Sports Cincinnati (Direct TV CH 661) in it's entirety.

Agreed. An undefeated CSU team coming into the JAR next Wednesday, battling it out for NE Ohio bragging rights, makes for the best OOC game the Zips have had on-campus in some time. In the big picture, a CSU win gives us an edge in NIT consideration over the Vikings. Their K.e.n.t. win helps our RPI. If we beat CSU, K.e.n.t. begins to worry more about the Zips in 2011. And on and on and on... Congrats to Gary Waters for beating the F.lashes, and giving UA a marquee OOC match up in November. Love it. And for those of you who don't believe next Wednesday's game is anything special...wait til you see it. Then post back and tell me -- "You were right."

No dice. I will always give you money.

Pulled into the natatorium parking lot last night at 7pm, and my son began complaining of chest pains...he eventually threw up. Turned around and drove back up Route 8. Son is ok today, but we missed the game. Thanks to all for your observations.

The athletic Depatment. They are in panic mode down there right now. There have been numerous meetings with other department heads in the last 2 weeks trying to come up with some way to get the students to come to another home game. Free Beer. Anything else will not work. Which also brings to light the other way to get people to tolerate horrible football -- Sell beer on the patio overlooking the north end of InfoCision. There's nothing worse than a "dry" wedding reception. Or: Sell re-entry tickets for $3.00. People can go drink in the lot at halftime, then re-enter. UA gets $3.00...and doesn't have the liability of selling alcohol in the stadium. And they get another couple hundred butts added to the attendance. No go ahead and steal my ideas, UA employee. Pass them along to TW and act like they are your own.

I'm tired of telling UA what to do without getting credit for the idea. YouTube Tom can hug my freaking nut. He's paid big, 6-figure dollars to run UA Athletics, and he's looking for free help. Show me you have even the slightest clue what you're doing, and show appreciation for your fans, and I'll help you, Tom. Until then, as GP1 accurately stated, I'll just sit back and watch you step on your next land mine. What did you promise Proenza when you stepped on campus, Tom? What have you done to meet your promises? Basketball was secured when you arrived, as was track and soccer. You have awesome football training facilities and a fantastic stadium. And your hand-picked guy kicks field goals when he needs 5 TD's. Fix that, then you can ask for free advice on ticket strategies.

Better than being down 24 points to start every 2nd quarter, Enos my man.

Most likely it's Deji Ibitayo. Our two other 2011 recruits are already on campus as greyshirts. They are not grayshirts. They are non-qualifiers. Big difference. Gray shirts are usually academically qualified. They simply enroll a semester late because scholarships are maxed out (i.e. football scholarships are maxed out for the fall 2010, but a few open up in the spring due to winter graduations, so a Feb 2010 gray shirt signee would enroll at UA in January 2011, not August 2010). Gray shirts can play immediately assuming grades are good. Non-qualifiers cannot play for two semesters, assuming they are academically on-track after two semesters.

FYI - He still thinks Santa Claus is coming.

KD's direct quote is: ''He is deceptive. He looks like he's slow as molasses, but he's always getting by guys." He's not slow as molasses. He just looks that way. The deceptive part is that defensive players have a problem staying with him even though he doesn't appear to be moving that fast. I always marvel when I watch Chris Paul play the point because he doesn't look as fast as some other NBA guards, but he calmly dribbles right into the lane, weaving in and out of defensive players like they aren't even there. Now obviously I'm not saying that Alex Abreu is equivalent to Chris Paul. But my initial look at Abreu playing last week reminded me of the way Paul can keep defenders on their heels despite not appearing to move fast in a straight line. As I try to analyze it, I think it has to do with making many sudden, unpredictable changes in direction and speed instead of moving consistently fast in a single direction. This requires great peripheral vision to know where all the other players are on the court, and it requires being extremely comfortable dribbling the ball close to defenders without fear that it's going to be picked so that the total focus can be on finding the open player to hit with the pass. I was thinking as I watched Abreu weave around defenders as if they were statues that this is one of the most important qualities of a really good PG. I can't recall having seen a converted shooting guard or combo guard make those kinds of moves, and most PGs aren't really that good at doing it. Over the years we've complained that the Zips are a little too predictable, which makes them easier to defend against. Abreu appears to have that rare combination of being both unpredictable and in control. Keep your eyes on him every moment he's on the floor. He's fun to watch. Having never seen him play, I'm guessing he's a Pearl Washington/Mark Jackson sort-of-player? That would be cool.

I'll reveal what I know. I know that we're winless with only two games to go. I know that we have a coach who the players hate and who resents his players. I know that our coordinators don't know how to call plays. I know that our position coaches have made the players at their positions worse than they were last year. I know that the athletic director doesn't care about the few hardcore fans that remain. I know that Akron will not be able to sell any football tickets next year. And I know that absolutely none of this bothers the AD or head coach. You know you believe those things. Lots of people believe their own BS .. you're not the first, and won't be the last. He knew that Nicely broke his ankle...that Zeke was transferring...that you can't sit on the grass at InfoCision...

You can only shoot them againt the competition that's on your floor on a given night. I'm sure he would have rather shot them against Duke...but Duke's afraid of the JAR. Not Nitro's fault.

Being fair to Ianello -- If the Zips convert two extra points, we're sitting at 2-7, with Buffalo still remaining.

Well I won't be able to make the trip, but I will eagerly anticipate a 'Meister sighting on STO next Tuesday! This almost belongs in an episode of In Search Of..., featuring Leonard Nimoy. Will he be wearing D-real's kangaroo suit?

Playing colege football, with three kids, at age 22 Man, did this kid make life difficult for himself. But it seems like he pulled it together. Good for him.

Love the observation.

While eating a Stromboli in the Student Union this afternoon, I turned around and saw Zippy standing right behind me. She was handing out flyers for the Milikin game, mentioning this promotion. So yes, they are marketing it. To students, even! I love seeing Zippy out and about among the students. Zippy was in an "Outback" type hat, right?

I've waited too long to give up on McClanahan. Big season for Nitro in 2010-11. I take him over Egner.

The guy has great WR's and one of the best offensive lines we've had in years. If he can't produce this season, he'll never produce. Man...if only we had Dylan Potts at QB.

"We're just re-arranging chairs on the Titanic." -- ZipsWin! October 2010

My favorite part of the Ball State game was Andy Alleman boldly proclaiming on 4th and 9, in the 1st OT, that the game was in the bag and he was "going do drive home to his fiancee's house, put his feet up on the table and enjoy the win." OH, ANDY!

I knew I came to the right place!