Captain Kangaroo

Zips 28CMU 27Torrence with 3 TD's. MAC Player of the Week.

As an Ohio State fan who has seen real "out of control" behavior, I hope you have laughed in the face of anyone inferring the Zips football program is "out of control." The Zips starting QB was kicked off the team. That's disappointing, but hardly unheard of in college athletics. Indiana's starting QB was kicked off the Hoosier squad this summer. It happens. Maybe it stands out because JD has had so few character issues during his tenure?The "recruiting violation" will prove to be irrelevant. Take this to the bank -- the infraction alleged against the program has Z-E-R-O chance of losing a single scholarship. It has a realistic chance of generating no penalty whatsoever. The mainstream media sickend me with their portrayal of the Zips program this past week. Most lumped the alleged infraction along with the QB story to make it appear a coach paid the QB cash. I know this because I heard it 4 times before 9am at work Thursday, and from several people at my bowling league Thursday night. I hope when this plays-out, if the program is found clean, that the media goes after that story with as much zeal as it did with their misleading headlines last week.*Note* - This will likely be the last time I comment on this situation until the investigation is completed. The Zips problem is stopping the run with the 3-3-5. And moving the chains on offense. The other stuff is all BS. As GP1's tag line says -- "...you want it to be one way, but it's the other."

The whole "Elevate Walt Harris to Head Coach next week" thing is absurd.So our new AD...he's been here all of 3 weeks...is going to fire a coach who began the season 1-3, with games against 2 Big Ten teams and the #1 team in the MAC? No f-ing chance.Ok...say he does fire JD after a 1-3 start to the season. He goes up to Walt Harris and says:"Hey...I just fired your friend...the guy that gave you a chance to get back into football when no one else really would...now I need someone to replace him. I think you'd do a great job. Would you like to coach the Akron Zips?"I could see Harris' reaction being -- "You fired my friend after you've known him for three weeks?! And now you want me to replace him? What happens to me if I go 1-3 in my next four games? Are you insane? Do you think I don't have a soul? Look...I'm still pulling in $800,000 this year from Stanford. I don't need the money, and I CERTAINLY don't need the aggravation?! Keep it."Unless he quits, JD is here for the remainder of the year. The chances of him getting fired range somewhere between Blutarski's GPA and Jacquemain's chances of a mid-season nomination for Team Captain. The schedule gets ridiculously easier over the next several weeks. He has every opportunity to win 6 more games and keep his job. I think he has the talent on the field to do it. It is up to him to come up with the game plans and adjustments to do it. He needs to change his motto from "3 More Feet" to "Six More Wins." That's what he really needs.

Frye was at the 2006 Zips golf outing and spoke highly of JD. He's appeared on campus several times since he departed. I believe he was here over the summer working with Rogers and the thief.My son got a pic with Charlie at the Rubber Bowl last season in a Seahawks hat.He's still around. He's still a Zips supporter. If he helps Owens, I can't knock him for it. That was the guy that recruited him, and coached him for 4 years.He's in his 5th NFL season. Good for him.

Since we finished 5th in the regular season in 2009, I have to think there are a few teams @ our level. BG comes to mind. OU will be back. Miami had a good recruiting year. K.e.n.t. ... they suck.

I believe both schools are Division 5.BTW - LB Brian Wagner, arguably the Zips best defender, hails from a Division 6 school. As does The Great Captain Kangaroo (did GP1 patent "The Great"?).D'Orazio looked very impressive. I don't know if he'll end up as a QB @ UA, but he's an amazing athlete. Exciting to watch!

I would not wait on the Athletic Department to organize any away trips. At least not regular season trips. IMO - this is a very good use of ZipsNation. Mr. and Mrs. Kangaroo, w/8-year old son, will be going to Buffalo, driving up on Friday afternoon. I know of several others making the trip. A pre-game tailgate could be organized by us if you were interested.

We will see what the results of the investigation reveal.Like many members of the football staff, Coach Ferri has been a tremendous supporter of ZipsNation. I first contacted him in 2004, asking for information regarding the Zips program that I wasn't getting from the Beacon. He agreed on one condition - "That nothing ever be asked negatively about the Zips program." I kept to that.I've spoken to him many times over the past several years. If you have enjoyed any of my recruiting or program updates, you might as well thank him. As many of you know, the guy went out of his way to give a commentary and review of the 2009 recruiting class to many of us at the OBC last spring. I don't need to tell you how rare it is for a coach to embrace the fans from a message board. But he did.He's a West Point graduate. Father of two toddlers, and as solid a man as I have ever met. He deserves the benefit of the doubt at this time.

I am closing this thread until either the University makes a statement, or a traditional news source makes a legitimate report.I know very little about the situation. I have only heard that the infraction is indeed minor, as far as infractions go. No shoe boxes full of money...no falsified documents. I do not know if there was a firing, or a suspension. No one outside UA does at this time.It is unfair to those involved that they are left to twist in the wind. I won't let our board be the vehicle for that. I await our new AD's explanation. I ask that you respect this decision.CK

I remember a quotation from one of our ZN posters after another ZN member said something stupid about a recruit. It went something like: "Are you F*cking stupid....don't you realize recruits and their families read this board?!" I died 1,000 deaths every day until Zeke was officially committed to UA, hoping and praying that no one from our board would knowingly or otherwise do something stupid to cause him to re-think his decision. Some tried, and those posts were deleted. It was a tremendous burden on the board moderators because none of us wanted to be responsible for screwing anything up. And ultimately the moderators are responsible for the content and tone of the board.If recruit information is posted on this board, please, for the love of God, be smart. Obviously the player is someone that the coaching staff is very interested in having on the team. Like it or not, the impression given on the board does play a part in a 17/18 year old's collegiate decision. Bigger than you would think.

Agreed but they allowed IU to go 10 - 15 on 3rd down.Good offenses can convert third downs, good defenses can stop teams from converting third downs. We are not a good team right now. So far this season the Zips have not respected their offensive first-and-10's. The predictable, vanilla play-calling has placed the QB in a no-win situation 9-out-of-10 times.If you are a defender...how do you defend 2nd and 9, or 2nd and 8...the typical situations we face because we run up-the-gut on 1st down every series. As a defender you tee-off on the QB. You KNOW the guy is going to pass. With that comes sacks and turnovers.Conversely -- In 2nd and 5, or 2nd and 6 situations, as a defender you don't really know what's coming. The QB actually has a chance to succeed.Thus far in 2009 the Zips have appeared content to run the clock down and take their chances with three time-eating plays per possession. It's getting old. It has to stop. I don't care if Rogers is inexperienced, he needs to run plays to keep the defense honest.We have the same passive approach on defense. "Keep the ball in front of you and make the tackle." I think Manley Waller is a solid cover corner. Yet in 3rd and 2 or 3rd and 1 situations, for whatever reason he's told to stay 8 yards off the line? When Indiana was in similar situations they were in our WR's face. Our defensive strategy seems to be "run clock, and hope the other team makes a mistake." That worked at NC State, where Chuck Amato kept letting his atrocious QB toss the ball instead of running it down our throats. But every head coach isn't as stupid as Amato.The Zips need to act like they want to win a damn game. On both sides of the ball. Other than bright spots Darin Bowser and Brian Wagner, I grade every aspect of the Zips strategy & execution at "F."The MAC season is here...it is time to man-up.

Recent Interview

I don't have to guess, I'll tell you exactly why I was not on. I cooked for a tailgate party Friday night, got up early Saturday morning and started heating up what I prepared the night before, drove down to the stadium at 10:30 am, tailgated for 3+ hours before the game, sat in the scorching sun watching the game for 3+ hours, tailgated after the game and discussed the loss in the parking lot with other fans, and then drove home. After a full day of pouring my heart into the Zips and watching the poor display on the field I really didn't feel like getting on ZN. I was pretty spent.+1

Rogers gets a full week to prepare for CMU and then 2 full weeks to prepare for the remainder of the season. I say we ride him...unless Nicely is better.If Nicely is better, he should play. Since JD needs to keep his job, I assume he will play the QB that gives him the best chance to win. He'd be a fool not to.Neither QB will be successful if we don't get better o-line play and improved play-calling. Putting our QB in 2nd-and-9 situations every series will be the death of any QB. If JD's play-calling doesn't start getting us in a position to move the chains, if he keeps running up the middle on 1st down, Nicely will be as ineffective as Rogers was on Saturday.Jacquemain is done. D-O-N-E done.

Winner! Sold who's books? To get money to buy what?

To me. everything points to Rodgers being successful.Last week the running game was stagnant until he entered. That slow-developing hand off that always netted 1 yard with Jacquemain all the sudden began netting real yardage. Rodgers threat to run, vs. Jacquemain's threat to plod gives the advantage to Rodgers. Rodgers can avoid a sack. Jacquemain never could. Rodgers can toss the ball up in the air and let Bowser out-leap the cornerback just as Jacquemain could.We lose the seam route. Rodgers arm isn't as good as Jacquemain's. But he can hit Bruce underneath just as successfully as Jacquemain. And I like our chances with Rodgers vs. Jaquemain in a tight game. Rodgers MIGHT have poise. I know Jacquemain didn't.

Will Zips soccer out-draw K.e.n.t. football this weekend? Looks to be that way.

We'll keep our eyes peeled for you, Hoo.

It will take 1 - 2 years to complete due to $$.Will it be like on the pictures of the project?It should be...but I think it all revolves around the available cash. I found out about it when I asked about the longevity of Lot #9. I was essentially told it will probablyexist next season...MAYBE the 2011 season too. After that, it is expected that the dorm project will be complete. Might there still be game-day parking there even after the dorms are complete? I hear it is a possibility, but I don't know any details.My gut feeling is, with enrollment continuing to increase, the dorms will happen more sooner than later. They're needed.

It will take 1 - 2 years to complete due to $$.

Big pic size. But to reduce it would be a crime.

Chappell and Finch don't scare me.

Hey, back in 2007 no one liked my idea!It's like a joke...I guess it's all in the delivery.

Do you have need of a cow bell? I did also play a stick and block in my elementary school music class for a while.You're in!