Captain Kangaroo

All I know is he was on the team bus to Penn State, so I wouldn't be alarmed. He hasn't dropped off the face of the earth. Hopefully he gets some snaps this week. I expect it.

Our basketball team got waxed by Pitt and still won a MAC Championship. The football team can do the same.I agree with the prevailing sentiment of the thread -- our offense really needs to tighten things up. As good as Penn State is...we looked flat-out horrible. Unprepared. Overmatched. All that stuff. Indiana has a very good defensive line. A bad team, but a very good D-line. We have two weeks to prove that we can strike fear into a decent team. We have the talent. I eagerly await the unleashing of an aggressive scheme that will keep an opposing defense on it's heels rather than allow it to pin its ears back.This week is a party 69 years in the making. Let's enjoy it.

In no particular order --1.) I think the most disappointing aspect of the game was the total domination of Penn State's front 7. The Zips offensive line...to me probably the team's biggest strength going into the season...was absolutely manhandled. I've seen the Zips play upwards of 20 games against upper-BCS competition and that was the o-line's worst performance ever.2.) To the o-line's defense...Penn State's defensive line was un-freaking-real. Size...speed...I'm guessing there are at least 3 Top 15 NFL draft picks in their starting front 7. Maybe more. As the season goes on, you will hear a lot about this Penn State defense. It isn't quite the same as the one that lost to Toledo 8 years ago.3.) Clark is a great QB. And he was throwing to a bunch of gazelles. The Penn State WR's looked to average 6' 4", and our DB's might stretch out to a 5' 9" average. That's a tough, tough match up.4.) Despite being out-sized, the Zips defense played an excellent game. It is a shame that the last couple miuntes of the 2nd quarter got away from them. A converted fake punt and some amazing leaping grabs were too much to overcome. 5.) I give Miguel Graham my defensive POTG. 6.) Bowser gets the offensive POTG. With Bruce a close second.7.) Once the ball was in his hands, Alex Allen had just enough time to wince before he got crushed. 8.) The hold-the-ball-in-Allen's-breadbasket-then-run-it-up-the-middle play has got to go. If Jacquemain had the ability to run, or even if he did't have the ability, but just ran every so often...maybe the play could succeed on occassion. But he can't run...he doesn't run...and the play never works.9.) Jacquemain is what he is. Strong arm. Decent accuracy. Slow feet. Mechanical. Takes a sack rather than throw the ball away. He played his typical game yesterday. 10.) It was good to see Rodgers get some meaningful snaps. Unfortunately, he didn't do much with them. He threw a nice pass and showed some elusiveness. But he also seems to pull the ball down and run too quickly...something we all saw in the spring games in year's past. It will be interesting to see if the game slows down for him as his opportunities increase.11.) Norm Shuford got a lot more carries that I would have ever expected. And DaVoe Torrence got a lot less. I look forward to seeing Torrence's carries increase in the near future. That said, when given a chance to move, Shuford showed some excellent shiftyness and acceleration.12.) I like Brian Wagner a lot. He takes good angles and makes solid hits. He's going to be a good one.13.) Was it Hassan Hazime that clocked Clark in the 3rd quarter and dislodged the giy's helmet? Whoever it was...God bless them. Great hit.14.) Surprised to see that there were empty seats (probably 7,000). Penn State people were very nice. Classy group. After 4 trips to Happy Valley in the past 12 years...I've had enough of the place...but I've enjoyed every trip.15.) The Zips offensive game plan was too close-to-the-vest. As it was at Ohio State last season. I don't get what we didn't pass more, try a reverse, a dump pass over the middle, the list goes on. Maybe it is the smart move to get out with our $800,000 check and our health? Move on to the next 11 games, which are much more meaningul for Championships and Bowl appearances. But as a fan I'd like to see us be more offensively aggressive.16.) Seeing the talent Penn State has first hand, the Zips had no chance in that game. The Nittany Lions are better than us at every position except maybe kicker. I'll be shocked if they lose more than one game in 2009.17.) Hey -- we beat the spread.18.) We shut Penn State out in the second half, and they kept their starters in the game until maybe 5 minutes remained. The Zips didn't quit. We actually played a decent second half.19.) Stec didn't have an "Ohio State Game," but he was pretty solid.20.) Many times these MAC vs. Big 11 games are called "Body Bag Games." The Zips were far from physically beaten up after the game. Conditioning seemed very good.21.) Western Michigam was down 31-0 at the half to Michigan...and lost 31-7. Go figure?22.) K.e.n.t. beat Costal Carolina 18-0. They were 1-13 on 3rd down conversions. I'll take our 0-1 against Penn State over their 1-0 vs. a 1-AA bottom-feeder. I think we learned a lot more about our team the K.e.n.t. learned about theirs. K.e.n.t.'s win is fool's gold. Our loss is a reality check.23.) No Drano-chugging for me yet. Time to forget about this game and move on. We have a damn good chance to win each of our next 11 games. There are no more behemoths on our horizon. It would have been a lot more fun to have caught Penn State in a down year like Toledo did in 2001, but the planets just didn't align for us. In the end, this game means nothing. 24.) My son, whom I took to the game, is playing Penn State/Akron on his X-box 360 this morning. Penn State is getting pounded. Take THAT, JoePa. See you in Lot #9 if you won the beer. If you didn't win the beer...I'll still see you in Lot #9. And maybe I'll still offer a beer?

...only after GP1 agreed with the Great Captain Kangaroo.

K.e.n.t. goes at their QB goes.With guys like Jose Davis, Cribbs and Edelmann they were always a threat to win 5-or-so games in a season. With bad QB play, the over/under drops to 3. Take the under this season. The K.e.n.t. QB tossed 2 INT's last night.

If you run some smack at an opposing player after the game, you run the risk of getting punched in the face.

Yes. Happily.

Is there any other lot? I think after the University sees the showcase we put on in lot 9 they'll simply cancel the whole dorm project.

I say it is a 7-yard out to Bowser.In the event I tie someone, the tie-breaker is play #2. I say hand off to Alex Allen, off right tackle.Winner of the poll gets a free beer at my Morgan State tailgate party.

Shock the World, Chanticleers!

Ok, jupitertoo...we get it. Your mom didn't pay attention to you...you were a bed wetter...whatever. It is a sad story, but it doesn't give you the right to be a blight on our board.Cease with the BS, or you will forfeit the privilege of posting on ZipsNation.

275 lbs?!

Is that a Psalm or a time?

I will be there for the Nittany Lion beatdown. Call PETA now, baby!

I like our running backs....but in the history of the Zips playing upper-tier BCS schools I believe we have had only two 100 yard games. Derek Alston against Tennessee in 1990 and Bobby Hendry against Wisconsin in 2003. And we have had some good backs and lines during the last 20 years.

Zip Watcher's Lock of the Week: Igor won't shank any extra point kicks. Mark it down.That would either mean Igor's been hit by a bus, or Rogovic will be doing the kicking.

Here are some of the bad things the Zips have done vs. BCS teams in the past, that they cannot do Saturday if they want to compete:The Zips were within 7 points of Ohio State...Brandon Payne fielded a punt...and fumbled it on his own 5 yard line. The Zips can't do that.The Zips were within 7 of Virginia and driving for a score late in the game...and Frye got picked...and it went the other way for a TD. Jacquemain can't do that.The Zips were within 7 points of Virginia Tech at the end of the first half...seconds remaining...and Michael Vick tossed a 30 yard TD to Andre Davis over Jesse Smith. The Zips can't let that happen.The Zips were ready to go ahead of Wisconsin in the 4th quarter. First and goal from the 1 yard line. Hendry got stuffed on 4th and inches. Next play, Jim Sorgi hits Lee Evans with a 99 yard bomb over Jesse Smith and the game is over. Can't do that stuff.The Zips are tied with Ohio State late in the game. They pressure Bellesari and he lobs a duck to the 50 yard line. Rather than catch the ball, John Fuller inexplicably does a perfect volleyball "set" to the Ohio State wide receiver 8 yards behind him, and the guy walks 50 yards to the endzone.Against Purdue and Illinois the Zips were tied at halftime...and got blown out in the 2nd half.Against Ohio State, the Zips were down only 3-2 well into the 3rd quarter...and the offense was content letting John Stec boom 50 yarders after each of 17 unimaginative 3-and-outs. The staff needs to be more aggressive than that.Against UConn the Zips should have scored a TD...or worst-case a FG at the half. Jacquemain didn't throw the ball away and we let UConn off the hook. A close game turned into a blowout in the 2nd half.Against Cincinnati, @ Cincinnati, the Zips went up 14 - 0 early...and once Cincinnati adjusted the Zips never threw a counter punch. The staff needs to adjust as the Penn State defense adjusts.Big plays vs Wisconsin were nullified due to stupid penalties. The Zips need to play with poise.Igor can't shank extra point kicks.Jacquemain hit Andre Jones for a sure 30 yard gain to start the game vs. Wisconsin...but Jones dropped the ball.Here are some of the positive things the Zips have done vs. BCS schools in the past that allows them the opportunity to "Shock the World":Jason Taylor is unstoppable vs. Virginia Tech, and the Zips nearly upset the highly ranked Hokies. The Zips need to get in the backfield and wreak some havoc if they want a chance for the upset. Pedestrian D-line play will not cut it.Charlie Frye and Luke Getsey had big-time performances in the Zips near-misses. Jacquemain needs to come up big-time. A 10-26, 113 yard day won't cut it. He needs to throw for 300+.Jake Schifino was unstoppable at Virginia Tech. Jabari was unstoppable at NC State. David Harvey was unstoppable against Penn State and Cincinnati. Someone like Bowser needs to go nuts...and the staff needs to find ways to get the guy the ball. The Zips staff needs to identify any mismatches early and pick the scab.With Ohio State driving, and a chance to put the game out of reach, Ricky Coble picked off a Bellesari pass and returned it 80+ yards for a TD. Michael Vick thought he could burn Dwight Smith, and Smith made him pay. The Zips defense needs to be aggressive and jump some routes. Playing soft on the corners will not cut it.Bobby Hendry went for 100+ rushing yards against Wisconsin. The OL, Allen and Torrence need to take the heat off Jacquemain and move the chains.Stec went off for one of the more amazing punting performances in the history of D-1 football @ Ohio State a few years ago. He needs to punt like a senior who's played in these environments before.The Zips have the chips stacked against them on Saturday, but history has shown that they can compete. To win, they need to avoid mistakes...stay aggressive...man-up, and not fold, if the game is close in the 4th quarter. They need to come out in the 3rd quarter with purpose...something they couldn't seem to accomplish last season.I look for a good football game Saturday. I see it 45-27 Penn State. 10 points closer if the D-line plays outstanding, 5 points worse if the D-line plays like they have the past couple years.

What fun is that?

I have news for you -- If Syracuse has a better coach and better discipline than the Zips...Syracuse will win on October 24th. Most MAC schools would be ecstatic to have any player on Syracuse's 2-deep. I think this Zips team is very well coached and disciplined. We will beat the Orange by at least 10.

That's the unanimous opinion of the Syracuse bloggers

?Looks like you lost the train of thought there. Within 5 years, 10? Sooner?Is it possible that the arena location was already mentioned to OBC? I've heard rumors they are moving into the the Kaiser building and from what I've seen the arena could be built next door to that.I wanted news on how Zeke is doing, how he is adjusting to classes, if they had to custom fit his dorm door... Corrected. 4 years.

Homayed had been cleared to play. Hopefully Tonga is next.

The 2009 Zips Basketball Golf Outing was held at Silver Lake Country Club yesterday. As always, it was a great event. Here are my 45-minutes quick notes:* My team cruised it's way to a 3-under 69. Only 10 strokes off the lead! Beautiful day for golf...sunny and 70 degrees.* Cost was $150. For that you got 18-holes and a cart at a private country club, nice golf shirt, door prize (I got a $25.00 gift certificate to a local restaurant), lunch and the chance to ask the Coach whatever you wanted. That's a pretty good deal in my book.* On the new arena -- It is projected to be across the street from Canal Park. With the money that the University has sunk into the football stadium, it needs the partnership of the city to finance the project. On-campus is just not feasible. That said, that corner of Main and Exchange is essentially on-campus anyhow...it isn't like it is in Ellet. The arena will likely seat in the area of 8,500 fans. 10k maximum. No one wants it any larger since it would simply be unnecessary. There will likely be a minor league hockey team opening up the arena with the Zips.It was stressed that getting the arena off the ground quickly is a major priority. The way I understand it, an arena should be completed within the next four years. The feeling within the Zips program is there's a finite window of opportunity to take the program to "the next level." If we want to compete with the Dayton's and Xavier's of the college basketball world...really compete with them with top-to-bottom "equivalent" student-athletes and not just gritty/scrappy performances...we need the new arena. And quickly. If we don't get it we'll still be good, but our ceiling will always be limited. That's the reality of the situation.* Brett McKnight has a back problem. He will play with it for his final two seasons @ UA, but he'll need to get an operation once his college career comes to a close.* Humpty re-injured the same ankle he hurt in the spring. It is bugging him. Seems like it will linger into the early season. KD felt the team has the PG depth to overcome it (until Humpty's 100%), but certainly it is a concern.* Darryl Roberts was happy to get his scholarship. It was inferred that the team expects more out of Darryl this year. Not because he's on scholarship, but because he's perhaps not been as dedicated as he can be to basketball. I read a little between the lines on that observation, so if someone heard the comments differently than me, feel free to correct me.* It was mentioned that an Akron/CSU game would be the talk of the town in north east Ohio. Dambrot stated the ball in in Gary Waters court to sign the contract. If I'm Tom Winstrcill, one of the first things I do is get on the phone to CSU and find a way to make that game/series happen. The fans demand it, and it is silly that the teams don't play. * It was mentioned that Wisconsin is a team that might come to NE Ohio to play the Zips because they want to focus on recruiting this area. The Zips/Badgers meeting would be at The Q, not the JAR however. Look for it in 2010-11.* KD continued to beat the drum for better marketing of his team in order to fill the JAR. He cited the 4,700 that came out on Credit Union night to see a 4-22 CMU team as a prime example of what marketing to corporations can do. * KD cited the paltry 4k (estimated) in attendance for the Top-20 ranked Nevada game as an example that bringing upper-echelon teams to the JAR is not going to fill the place. I disagree with him on this topic...and probably always will. The Nevada game was held over Christmas break...the Zips were not all that heralded a team coming into the game (no NCAA appearances, no MAC championships)...and Nevada, ranked #12 in the nation, doesn't excite local fans like say an Indiana, ranked #93, would. To make that game a poster child for what's not possible is a mistake. Play Nevada at home this year, same conditions (Nevada #12), and it is a sell out. The Zips needed to take that NCAA berth and MAC Championship step to take attendance to the next level.* No one asked any questions about Zeke. I thought that was odd.* Cventinovic has really improved his conditioning in the off season. Look for him to break out in 2009-10.* Assistant coach Terry Weigand's son Trevor, who is battling cancer, is doing well. He's undergone quite a bit of chemotherapy, and it will continue, but cautious optimism abounds for him. That was great to hear.* KD implored the luncheon attendees to get out and support the National Championship-caliber soccer program. As a coach, it seems very important to him to see real proof that the community will support a winner. If the general public gives lackluster support to such a high-level program...well...it doesn't reflect well upon the local fan base. UA can't afford to lose Caleb. And keeping a...maybe THE...top level coach in the country happy should be within UA's budget. You can't keep Urban Meyer in the MAC, but you can keep Caleb Porter. That will be a big key to Tom Winstrcill's administration's success.* KD said he has only spoken to the new AD once. He looks forward to a long chat with Tom once he gets on campus permanently September 9th. He like the guy's energy and marketing background. He also went out of his way to praise Hunter, stating "This new AD must really be great if he beat out Hunter." The hope is that Hunter will stay at UA in some capacity, but a lot of time remains before that decision is made.ZipWatcher, ZipsWin and several other board members were present. If they have other information-of-interest to offer, please add it below.

We should win the East. Anything less than an East championship is a huge disappointment. Buffalo lost their top QB and RB. OU is terrible, and we beat them in Akron with great regularity, K.e.n.t. is horrible, there's a reason BG has a new coach/staff, and we have Temple @ home. The teams we are competing for a championship against are the dregs of Division 1 football. We should sweep the MAC East.

I agree. I'll likely be there....and I'll be partying in lot #9 the following morning.