Captain Kangaroo

I like the predicting that goes on here. Especially when it is provided by people whose opinion I value. It is interesting, and I learn something from it. It is easy to attend a game, watch it, and say "This it what happened....", reeling off what everyone witnessed. Any clown can do that. It is also easy to expound using universal truths - "You win some, you lose some...in the end it really doesn't matter who wins and loses .. kids will be kids, and everyone has their ups and downs in life...hey, who here hasn't made mistakes?....and on and on and on...." You can write the same post regarding absolutely any event or individual athlete. It is easy to parrot someone else's thoughts. It saves you from the effort of thinking for yourself. This is the ESPN/WKNR SportsTalk Syndrome. Lot's of people need this direction in the life... because...well..they just aren't all too insightful. The think they are, but they aren't. It is more worthwhile to hear someone say, prior to the game, "He's how I think things are going to play out, and here's why..." The same goes for prediction an individual player's performance, or career promise. In a way, it is like recruiting. Coaches see a kid at 16 years old, and have to predict what he'll be like as a 22 year old man when making a decision whether or not to offer him a scholarship. The best recruiters have a knack for it. The best posters here also have a knack for foretelling how Zip-related things will pan out. Everyone should learn from them.

I wondered that too. I've heard of Southern Methodist...Presbyterian...Texas Lutheran...but I've never heard of "Catholic University"? Since he played some D-1 ball, would Devoe Torrence be a better coach than Lee Owens? Probably not. I see the "street cred point," but certain guys just aren't all that athletically gifted, yet intelligent, motivated and with a love of the game. More often than not, you'd like to see your HC with D-1 playing experience. But it isn't all too rare to find exceptions. Dambrot never played college basketball*, yet he's a pretty successful D-1 hoops coach. * Douche Bag Alert (hereafter abbreviated DBA) - Yes, I do know he played baseball for the Zips, and he got hit by a lot of pitches. Now go back to re-laminating your Bryan Hipsher rookie card. If you are not a Douche Bag, please ignore the DBA.

Funny.... when ZachTheZip states an opinion, it makes me bullish about the opposing view.

Any negatives I saw last season seemed to have a reasonable explanation - His O-line regressed terribly from 2008. His protection was minimal. He had absolutely no running game to support the pass. With Bowser on the shelf, he had no WR's. Combine that with the fact that he was a true Freshman, and he did the best anyone could under the same situation. I like Nicely's vision. I like his arm strength. I like his footwork. I like how he worked through his progressions and didn't lock onto his primary WR. I don't like his tendency to fumble. A strong-armed thrower like Nicely can work on the "touch" throws. A weak-armed QB like Rodgers will never develop a long-ball. Or be able to zip a screen pass quick enough to avoid the route-jumping DB.

I need to vent a little bit.... This whole QB situation has just been upsetting to me. After seeing what we've seen from these two QBs, I can't see anything about this decision to get excited about. And the designated starter is now facing the disadvantage of having received diminished reps with the first teamers with only 10 days left til opening day. I'm not sure that's the way they wanted it to be. But, from what we saw in 2009, I think it's understandable if they wanted to do plenty of evaluation before making a decision. I unfortunately see the Quinn vs. Anderson comparisons that many of you are seeing. Meanwhile, lowly Ken+ State has a freshman QB step in last year and play only 2/3 of the season, throw for well over 2,000 yards, including two late-season starts in which he threw for nearly 400 yards, and looks to have the potential for an amazing future. Barring any unforseen events, they probably have a solid starter for the next 3 seasons, with several good performances already under his belt. I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir with many of you who are done with the "they just need more experience" talk. I had hoped that Akron was at the point where we could nab a Charlie Frye-caliber QB once every 5 years or so. I guess I'll have to hope a little longer, unless our selected 2010 starter makes a dramatic improvement from what we've seen thus far from these two individuals. This isn't Quinn-Anderson...it is Kosar and Don Strock/Gary Danielson. It's Stabler and George Blanda. It's Bradshaw and Hanratty or Stoudt. It's Bob Griese and Erol Morral. Nicely is the QB. Done deal. Rodgers is the competent veteran back up who can manage a game in a pinch. That's the way it is. I'm astounded at the anti-optimism over Nicely. As long as the OL gives him reasonable time, he's going to be a great ... not average... GREAT QB. Will he be as good as Getsy? Eventually, yes. But he's a true Soph, and Luke came in as a 4th year Junior. Obviously he won't be perfect. So please spare me any "SEE I TOLD YOU SO's!!" after every interception. Everyone knows there will be a few. Luke sure tossed his share.

I'm not much into the chartered bus concept. The bus is good if you're just going from A-to-B to watch the game. I like checking-out the opposing school's campus and going out on the town the evening prior to the game, then tailgating with the locals on game day...and then watching the game. For me, the Zips vs. K.entucky will be a weekend event, not a 4-hour game.

We'll see how it plays-out. I have no concerns about Nicely. I worry about his receivers, where the #2 WR was a safety 9 months ago.

See here.

Why do I feel like we've been reprimanded? :lol: iCoach translation: "The longer we keep Matt in the mix, the less chance he has to find another school and transfer (IUP, Cal Pa., YSU, etc.). We need an experienced back up." If an ACL-repaired, primary-receiver-locking, Daisey One-Pump-armed Rodgers beats out Nicely, we are in a world of trouble in 2010.

It won't affect anything, since everyone already knows Nicely is the starter.

I guess I missed seeing him play -- both when Akron played here in 1991, and the previous year when Huggy brought the Bearcats to Hawaii. Where does he work as a TV analyst -- what network? If you page down, you will note that Mike Waddell serves on the same Board with AB. Go Zips!! AB does color commentary for the Bearcats sports. Watching a replay of the Bearcats/Zips game coverage from 8-or-so years ago, I laughed out loud at his commentary after Bryan Hipsher got absolutely destroyed by a 6' 9", 270 lb UC player on a layup attempt -- "That kid has absolutely NO business being out on the floor against these guys!" Funny story #2 from that game - The Zips went up 2-0 to begin the game. I began chanting "OH-VER-RAY-TED" in the stands. The Bearcat fans looked at be like I was nuts. I said - "Hey, I gotta get it in while I can!" I think the next time the Zips scored, we cut the Bearcat lead down to... 22-4. I knew what I was doing.

Recent WKY Basketball History 9: 21+ win seasons in the past 10 years 5: NCAA appearances in the past 10 years (one Second round berth, one Sweet 16) 2: NIT appearances in the past 10 years I wish the Zips recent history was so downtrodden.

Found this short bio on AB. IMO - one of the top 2 guards ever to play at UA. He proved his worth, transferring from UA to UC for his senior season and starting alongside Nick VanExel on the Bearcats 1992 Final Four team. AB has put on a little weight? I'm glad to see it isn't only me putting on a few extra pounds in middle-age.

It is nice to be in a position to tell a 6' 9" D-1 recruit that he'd need to redshirt.

Few will arrive to tailgate before 1pm. I'm sure you will have no problem finding a large space to set up. Since the conversion to digital TV, not all network stations can be easily viewed in Akron. I'm guessing one or two is the best you can hope. We'll be in Lot #9, directly behind the main scoreboard. If you want to stop in for a beer before you enter the gate, just let me know.

Link Don't tell Syracuse fans, but per the column they are no longer BCS material -

Who do you get to visit InfoCision Stadium after the first 4 games of the year...when everyone else's schedule is filled with conference opponents? Independent works for Notre Dame, Navy and Army because people want to play them. Ask Dambrot how he'd feel about trying to recruit as an Independent. Or dropping to a crappier conference simply to accommodate UA football going Independent. Wait...has this ever happened before?

We can only hope.... Yeah... MAC football is sooo top heavy. Let's rejoice if we lose one of our top 3 programs.

No.

Mack Rhoades told me "Winning the MAC is nice, but we're thinking beyond the MAC." Did he mean "I'm" instead of "We're"? I'd like to think UA's AD's have been in contact with C-USA many times over the past few years. I personally wonder if UA's budget could handle the increased travel costs associated with C-USA games for the non-revenue sports. It is a lot cheaper to bus your team to Toledo and BG, than fly them to Tennessee and Louisiana. And you know the minute the Zips join C-USA, the BE will pluck the better C-USA teams. So essentially -- we'll be trading directional Michigan opponents for directional Louisiana schools, while increasing our budget. Here's where TW can earn his paycheck.

It's hard to sink, when you're at the bottom.

I dunno how good the team shop will be. The Odd Corner sold skull bongs, and it would violate the rules of eminent domain if the team shop sold skull bongs. So - no skull bongs in the team shop. That is a deal knell.

I found this pic of Martin posted on ZN a few years back. I assume the yellow hair has turned a little grayer of the years, but he must not have changed all that much?

I miss the whole "I'm a tenured professor at UA..blah blah blah"..."Hilltop High....blah blah blah" diatribe too. Poopiter Douche has been an ankle-biting Internet Weasel since day one. I thought after his ZN suspension he'd changed his MO. He actually (for him) had a nice run of on-topic posts. But a weasel apparently doesn't change his stripes. To ZipsNation -- Please, no one here bring up Frank Solich's DUI, and subsequent cover-up claims of being slipped date-rape drugs. We're above that. Thank you.

He's also one rolled ankle away from starting his career at Tri C.