Captain Kangaroo

The University decided NOT to hold a decade's-old event that would allow fans, alumni and former players to meet with the new staff. They decided "YES" to hold a "Women's Football 101" event instead. Does this count as a GP1-described "land mine?" Somebody shoot me. ...and then spread my ashes in Lot #9.

Are you certain this event won't be canceled in lieu of a "Women's Basketball 101" extravaganza? That seems to be the wave of the future of Zips men's athletic events.

Since K.e.n.t. has pounded our ass in basketball for the last 2 seasons, and our football team went a K.e.n.t.-esque 3-9 last year in a horribly weak MAC, I'm not puffing my chest out all that much.

The PD listed James Bullock of Collinwood as a Zips recruit playing in the East/West all star game this weekend. I don't know whether he's playing football or running track. Wide receiver. 6' 2".

Two days later, after Zach breaks this highly important story, The Rasor's Edge picks up on it. Can ESPN be far behind? Can we start a poll comparing Ianello text messages to Kest tweets?

Jeff Sweitzer

Apparently Tim Chambers will not be fixing Zips baseball.

I'm not ready to crown him savior and star, but I would at least crown him starter. The raw material is there to be a good MAC player if not the best QB in the MAC. While I didn't see the spring game, my biggest concern about him last year was accuracy...second was lack of touch (maybe they go hand in hand). Nicvely acquitted himself very well last season under horrible ciscumstances. His line played awful. He had to deal with three conflicting offensive coordinators (JD, Montgomey and Walt Harris all trying to call plays), he had no running game, no WR's (Bowser was gone by the time he started), and he was a true freshman. It is easy to wait until a kid throws for 27 TD's and say "He's really good." It is like buying stock in Apple Computers in 2010. I like the people that tell me to buy stock in Apple in 1978. Those people are visionaries. Take my insiders tip -- Nicely's stock will soar in 2010. Dude has "it." If the o-line is swiss cheese and no one besides LaFrance can run a route and catch a ball, maybe it take until 2011 to become all MAC, but he'll be there.

Seems like there is enough interest to pull something off? I will look into things a little deeper and toss out a date and location proposal within the next week or so.

I thought Rock still had eligibility remaining?

With Nicely at QB, I doubt any decent QB transfers will want to join the Zips in 2010. Or 2011. Their eligibility would parallel his, and they'd just be waiting for him to get injured. PN7 is our QB for the next 3 seasons. Anyone who says otherwise drank waaay too much last season. We had a similar scenario with Frye -- Sparks moved to WR, and the best back ups we could muster for three seasons were Micah Faler and Jonathan Gill.

I was at the Aeros game last night. Hudson Little League brought about 300 people. The Norton Band brought about 200 people. And there were probably about 150 random people milling about. If you took away the freebie tickets, the Aeros would have drawn about 150 people on a beautiful June night.

Akron?! Interesting recruiting strategy by Miami.

Glad I could give someone a chuckle!

I remember when Allan Hanson backed out of his commitment. It didn't take KD too long to find a willing taker (for the scholarship) in Cedrick Middleton. I would think if Ennis has reneged on his commit, KD will not sit idly bye hoping and praying he gets the re-commit. You can bank on the scholly already being offered to others.

George is a solid hire. He's always been extremely friendly and helpful. I'm happy for him.

Lets just hope Dambrot doesn't text Wistercill about this!

I bought my tickets already. In the ghetto (standard reserved) and only 4 of them. Like you BZ, have followed all the Zips athletic programs faithfully for multiple decades. The way I look at it... you really can't let one guy, or one regime, or a set of inane policies destroy your faith in UA athletics. I'll have a great time this upcoming fall/spring following the Zips programs regardless of whatever misguided or ignorant policies are enacted. I can't let The Man get me down. I still haven't had a chance to form an opinion on the new football staff. I met Ianello at the Cadillac Ranch. He wasn't very personable, but did speak to me for about 5 minutes. He's definitely more business-like than JD, but I don't know that it means he's an a-hole. And like GP1 said - Ianello can be a raging a-hole if he wants...as long as he wins. Did Ianello f-up a text message? Sure. Who gives a rat's ass? That's the most minor thing in the world. If we beat Syracuse, no one will ever remember it. Or if they do, they'll be laughing about it. If we go 2-10 this year, no one will remember it either. There will be bigger concerns than texting. I met with Coach Latina for a few minutes too. He seems like a great guy. I sent, and subsequently re-sent an email to the football staff asking for a chance to meet with them and build a relationship with ZipsNation. I guess I'll need to re-re-send it. To date...it has been ignored. That irks me... especially when other UA programs, and previous staffs have welcomed the opportunity to spread information and good news regarding their respective programs. Buy your tickets and bring the family to the games. Even though they don't realize it -- The University needs us "good fans," who have invested with our wallets and our hearts. And I'll need company in Ghetto Lot #999 (next to Luigi's dumptster).

I'm sure you gained so much insight while riding the pine. You have any idea how much talking goes on behind the scenes? Any idea how decisions are made, or how coaches find out about other jobs? You really think TW didn't have the entire staff knowing what was going to happen if they failed? Do you really think the coaching staff didn't already know going into the season what was going to happen? TW started September 10th (officially). Reno resigned 10/31 (officially). A whole 41 days. Everyone wants to blame the new guy, but Hunter had more information on the goings on than anyone. If any decision was made TW only signed off on it. It was JD's hire, he had as much say in it as anyone. But you guys jump on the AD. With no proof of what went on from the University's side. Someone sold you a bill of goods. People believe what they want to believe, regardless of what I type, so I say to all - enjoy your weekend.

So let me get this straight: The University didn't cancel. The Department of Athletics didn't cancel. But the Football Office did? Isn't the Football Office somehow tied to The University, or The UA Department of Athletics? We have an entirely new coaching staff... and they cancel an event where the staff can meet-and-greet with 100+ of the Program's biggest supporters. Big short-sighted mistake, IMO.

You can call my account of it "crap" if that is what you want to do, but unless you show where your "knowledge" is somehow more accurate than mine both are complete opinion and conjecture. I would not assign as strong a statement to my name without 100% certainty. I state every ounce of my reputation on this board on it. I hope that will suffice.

Since the University decided to cancel the Football Golf Outing, I was curious how many ZipsNation members would be interested in holding our own event some time this summer? Scramble format...probably 1/3rd the cost of the $160 University-sponsored event last season. Maybe we could even convince a guest celebrity to speak or participate? I'm simply curious...no commitment necessary...I don't even know that I could put it together...but how many ZN members would be interested?

Your account of the situation could not be more incorrect. If you are going to rip on Zach for his critiques, at least do so with factual counterpoints. Coach Ferri was fired. However, he appealed...because it was unjust. The appeal process lasted several weeks. In the end, he elected to resign rather than spend money he did not have (in the "tens-of-thousands-of-dollars") for, at best, only a couple month's salary (after week 5 or 6, it was pretty obvious all the coaches were going to be let go). The story broke regarding alleged "recruiting violations," and the story mysteriously disappeared. There were no sanctions levied against the football program. No scholarships lost. Nothing. That speaks volumes for it's accuracy. BTW - Kudos to the local print media for happily printing the allegations, then sticking their head in the sand afterward. TW never apologized to Coach Ferri. That's probably the most laughable statement I've ever seen in the history of ZipsNation. Whomever fed you that line fed you a line of crap. That is all I will say about this topic publicly, for now. I hope the University appreciates it.