Captain Kangaroo

From what little I've seen of Matt, he's an outstanding person. He's always been great to my son at the Meet the Team events. His grades and character are a coach's dream. I spoke to the coaching staff a few years ago when Matt was recruited and the first thing they mentioned was his leadership qualities. He was a big part in the reason why many of the kids in his recruiting class came to UA, as he kept in touch with a lot of them during the recruiting process, telling them "You gotta come here!" I hope he doesn't run. I want him to succeed. He has his chance. Unfortunately there are 3-4 QB's on every team that want the ball. Only he QB that gives the team the best chance to win gets it.

Charlie Frye? How many Championships did Frye win at UofA? The career LeFevour has has at CMU dwarfs what Frye did at UofA.Stick LeFevour with Lee Owens...with Jesse Smith as his defense's #2 cornerback for four years...it's a wash. Let's see how Dan finishes the season. He should have one more chance to get a win over a 6-6 BCS school.

Considering the rain, and subsequent field conditions, should I expect a 2pm announcement that the match has been moved to Columbus?

That was a fun read. Thanks for posting it!

Does "Burning a Redshirt" mean the same thing as playing the best QB? If it does, I'm all for it.BTW - I don't see any of the guys in the Basketball Forum complaining that Dambrot is "Burning Zeke's Redshirt" this season.

To clarify my position on Dan LeFevour:I have stated he is overrated, and folds against BCS competition. I stand by that statement.He's racked up a ton of yardage vs. a weak MAC. I give him credit. His overall numbers don't lie. But against big-time competition, he typically comes up short. Guys like Pennington, Roethlisberger and Leftwich seemed to come out ahead in a fair percentage of such games.Dan's BCS bio --2007Boston College - Loss 31-24Michigan - Loss 41 - 17Ke.n.t.ucky - Loss 46 - 362007Kansas - Loss 52 - 7Purdue - Loss 45 -22Clemson - Loss 70 - 14Purdue (MCB) - Loss 51 - 482008Georgia - Loss 56 - 17Purdue - Loss 32 - 25Indiana - Win 37 - 34Florida Atlantic (MCB) - Loss 24 - 212009 Arizona - Loss 19 - 6Michigan State - Win 29 - 27The guy pounds the MAC, but I don't place him as an all-time MAC great because he came up short in too many big games.Maybe this is the year he elevates his game and beats someone of note in a bowl game? It could happen. Maybe he is to me what Charlie Frye is to GP1? Could be.But, in how I rate all-time great MAC QB's, the guy is categorized "1-a." A rating of "1" being the highest.I don't think the guy sucks. I'd kill to have him on the Zips right now. But I don't think the body of his work merits a 60-foot tall banner. I'd have made it 52.5 feet tall.Time to move on...my goal now is to make Boo Jackson PM GP1.

Did someone say "Smack?"

He's a 6' 5" shooter. His dad was Calvin Oldham, who played at Virginia Tech in the early 80's.

What is he's really good? What if he can make plays?If it were Year #1 of the JD era, I agree. Play Rogers. But it isn't. It is year #6 and JD needs to win six more games to keep his job. The University also doesn't want to see its 6,000 base season ticket holders drop to 3k because people decide they don't want to pay a couple hundred dollars to watch the home team get beat like a drum on a weekly basis.JD owes it to the public and to himself to play the best QB. If it is Rogers, fine. If it is Nicely, then I want to see him.Remember when Nicely wanted to play for Team USA this summer and JD told him "No, I want you in camp because there's a chance you can play this season"? I assume we are now living the scenario JD envisioned. Another alternative - Gary Pride, and run the option. I'm a desperate man.

So Walt Harris is a "Quaterback Guru?" Shane Montgomery is an "Offensive Guru?" It reminds me of a quote from former Giants pitching coach Roger Craig when asked about his title of "Pitching Guru." His team was getting shelled & Craig responded - "Right now, I ain't goo-rooin' worth a damn." Harris and Montgomery ain't goo-rooin' worth a damn.The addition of Harris and Montgomery was supposed to elevate our playcalling. Elevate our execution. Instead we've witness the worst offensive edition of Zips footbal since year #1 of the Owens era. Interestingly, after 7 games, Owens was so frustrated with his shoddy QB play that he pulled true Freshman Greg Gromek's redshirt and started him in game #8. If the Matt Rodgers "Lob-a-Palooza" continues, how long can JD afford to sit Nicely?I remember vividly when Nick Sparks went down with the turf toe and Charlie Frye trotted on to the field. His first play was a sprint roll out and he threw a strike into Mike Brake's gut 8 yards down the field. In that single play you could tell Frye had "it." I've watched Matt Rogers for a couple springs and now two complete games. I've yet to see "it." DaVoe can't put his head down and go forward. That's not what our running game needs. He's our most-talented back, but he doesn't seem to want to earn the job. I agree with Dr. Z that Tuzze is our best chance to get a couple yards. At least the guy runs hard and forward. Our other three backs run in any given combination of slow, soft and sideways. Dale Martin showed he has the ability to make people miss, and he moves forward. I think it would dramatically change our running game if he were healthy. Unfortunately, heath issues seem to be a part of everyday life for him.Has there ever been a worse offensive line in the last 15 years of Zips football? I gave then a free pass vs. Penn State and Indiana, but CMU? What did we have in the first half...something like 4 total yards...against a MAC defense?After the game I had to hear JD's post game. He said the game was "disgusting," and that there would be "major changes" over the next two weeks. In two weeks can you change out an entire offensive line, quarterback and running back? I hope so. I'll take the second string if they want to compete. I can't watch another game like yesterday. No one can. ITZ brought up the Virginia game from JD's first season, and how he righted the ship afterwards. I don't know if he can do that with this Zips squad. Not with the offense being so putrid. We have #5...but not the right #5.I feel bad for the WR's. They have almost no chance of seeing a ball. Hassan Hazime needs to get more PT. He's athletic and gets after the QB.Wagner is fun to watch. 3rd and 5 for our competition is like 3rd and 1-inch. 3rd and 1-inch for the Zips is like 3rd and 15. Going off memory, I don't think the Zips converted one third down yesterday? Is that possible?If CMU didn't commit a million stupid penalties, we'd never have moved the ball.Hey...two blocked punts this year is pretty good, and Miller runs kicks back well. I'd say special teams is looking up, but Igor's 3-foot-high field goal attempts are back, so I'll bite my tongue.How do you right the ship? 1.) If Nicely has a stronger arm than Rogers, you gotta play him. Worst case, you split time. To trot Rogers out there to get pounded and hounded every down is a recipe for a 2-10 season. Give our wide receivers a reason to run a route.2.) Lets see Broderick Alexander at RB. He's a big, strong fast kid. 3.) Swap out some OL's.4.) Give me 4 DL's Drastic changes need to happen. This team is too talented to go 2-10. But that's what they're playing like.

Hey Dan -Thanks for the note.A crippled semi-trained monkey could have thrown for 500 yards against the crap the Zips schlepped onto the field yesterday. You can do it against Eastern Michigan, Miami, K.e.n.t., Ball State, Ohio and the rest of ESPN's Botton 10 too. Don't get a big head about it.Your Bud,CK :wave:PS - Lose the Yellow-on-White font scheme. It is as effective as the 3-3-5.

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.

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