Captain Kangaroo

You are correct. Is playing Miami toe-to-toe for 40 minutes better than playing OU like garbage for 30 minutes, then great for 10 minutes? Is falling apart like wet toilet paper with 3 minutes remaining better than doing so with 5 minutes to go?It all depends upon your perspective. In the end, Zips fans are again left with the question "Which of our losses was more impressive?"

1.) Back in the 80's Bob Huggins frequently recruited some guys from the football team to bolster his inside game, and he had some success with it. Have you ever given any though to asking Coach Brookhart if you could "borrow" a couple of his defensive lineman or tight ends to pound on a guy like Tillman in the paint for a few minutes a game?1a.) In a related question - Has the game changed in the past 25 years to the point where a dual sport athlete is no longer possible?2.) Have you considered instituting any "rules" that would mandate the team make "X" amount of passes, "X" amount of clock, or give a post player "X" amount of touches before taking a shot? We seem to be taking more ill-advised, quick, early-in-the-shot-clock shots than any Zips team I can remember.

One can only hope he's as top flight as this guy. ;)Thanks for the updates!Go Zips!Several years ago I got fed up with the Beacon’s shoddy recruiting coverage and figured “If they won’t cover it, I’ll do it myself.” That’s why I do it today. I’ve explained how that one transpired to a few, but for those whom I haven’t, here’s the story –Back in January 2006 I spoke to someone within the UA Athletic Department regarding Zips football recruiting. The conversation went something like this:Mr. X: “We’ve got a 4-star recruit who just committed to the Zips!”Me: “Can you give me a name?”Mr. X: “No. But I can say the following – he’s a Rival’s 4-star recruit from Pennsylvania. He’s rated in their Top 20 nationally at his position. He plays on the offensive side of the ball and although Akron is not listed as one of the schools recruiting him, he’s coming to UA. That’s all I can say.”Ok. So I go on to Rivals and look at the WR’s, RB’s, OL’s…I scan everyone. And the only Top 20 offensive player shown as uncommitted was LeSean McCoy. So I go back to Mr. X and ask: “If I were to post that LeSean McCoy is coming to Akron, would that be ok?”Mr. X replied: “Go ahead.”Why did Mr. X do this? To be honest, I don’t know. But back in 2006 I didn’t have nearly the relationships within UA that I presently have. I think, at the time, Mr. X just thought I wanted to play a joke and that I was only wondering if the joke might hurt the program at all. It wouldn’t, so he told me “Go ahead.” I don’t think such a communication gaffe would occur in 2009, but 2006 was a different time.So…how wasn’t this recruit LeSean McCoy, if every possible sign pointed to him?Mr. X neglected to tell me his Rivals information was from 2005, not 2006. The recruit was actually David Harvey, who attended a prep school from ’05 – ‘06. So I got some egg on my face for that one. What can you do… I think my track record since then has been pretty good? I take a lot of pride in getting recruiting information correct, and on ZipsNation before you see it anywhere else. I know a lot of the ‘Nation enjoys it, and it is fun to assemble. And, to be honest, it is fun to beat the Beacon.So that’s the way it transpired. Believe it…or not.Funny story to close this out:At the football Golf Outing two years ago I spoke to a Coach about this story. He said “Yeah…once that LeSean info was put on the Internet I started getting phone calls. Coaches from all over the place were calling wondering “How’d you get that kid?” We all told them “The new practice facility”

Where did you come up with that?First, the Zips were outscored in the OU OT 14-9, not 12-4.Second, there was absolutely no comparison with the Miami OT. Miami dominated OT from beginning to end. The Zips took the lead early in OT against Ohio, and led halfway through OT. Only at the end of OT did they fall behind and have to foul to get the ball back.Sorry - at 11:30pm my attention to detail sometimes erodes. I will re-phrase:In the final five minutes of the Miami game (OT) we were outscored 16-4. Similarly - In the final 3 minutes of the OU game (OT), were were outscored 12-3 (Zips led 62-58, and ended up losing 70-65).You say there's absolutely no comparison. From my point of view the losses are almost identical...we can't score to close-out these tight games. But, the opponent seems to do so with ease. Whether they do it via lay ups or from the foul line doesn't matter.Sorry for the confusion.

Ok. Then let's play CSU @ K.e.n.t.As pointed out earlier in the thread, the Bracketbuster matches "like" teams, and CSU is a few notches above the Zips at this time. Even if the home/away thing lined up, we wouldn't play them.

Watching the BG game on TV Saturday, Jim Chones constantly commented on the Zips poor shot selection. If he were doing color for the OU game, he could probably have just ran a tape of the BG broadcast...it was the same thing.OU worked the ball inside constantly. Conversely, we heaved up all sorts of stuff, at all points in time within the 35 second clock. We just don't have a whole lot of poise and confidence in our offense. Too much early panic.Humpty is really struggling with letting the game come to him. He's forcing everything. In fairness, Linhart probably had a worst OT than Humpty.If you want to look for positives - Chris McKnight continues to be a reliable scoring threat. Roberts is playing well too. The comeback to force OT was amazing. A really gritty effort was wasted with the horrific OT.Zips were outscored 16-4 in the Miami OT. And 12-4 in the OU OT. Getting to OT is nice...but you gotta at least show up once you get there.Who surrenders quicker - A real French person, or Steve French? I think our Frenchy broke his own personal record by waving the white flag with 17 minutes remaining in the 2nd half.I won't fret over this loss. It was a hell of an effort at an arena where the home team is something like 21-1 in their last 22. Beat K.e.n.t on Saturday and all will be well. It will be VERY interesting to see how the youngsters respond to the intensity of that game.

From what I hear, Bleil and Moorhead's successors will be announced some time soon after Signing Day.

Bardo will use his 5 fouls tonight.

Jamie Dixon?

Yes. And :rofl:

I'll leave that up to my attorney.

No. There are two remaining, and no one else is expected to back out (Jermaine was always iffy).Vidovec and Knicely were the two Moorhead recruits - Vidovec is solid. Knicely still leans towards the Zips. Nothing has changed.

Heard it through the grapevine. Bank on it. Great news for the Zips!He won't practice, at least contact-wise, this spring. But he's expected to be 100% ready to go for the Fall '09.In disappointing news, DL Cowles Stewart's rehab is much rougher. He may need additional surgery.

Phil "Tonganator" Tonga has committed to the Zips, as has Dave Anderson - an LB from Cincinnati Purcell Marion. Jonathan Root, a TE from Erie Cathedral Latin will Grayshirt.We are still in the hunt for QB Knicely's services. Jermaine Robinson de-verbaled again, and went back to Toledo. Two scholarships remain - Likely to go to a QB and a DB.There is also one super-duper, top-secret, hush hush existing commitment that I am not privy to.

He's been on our master list (see pinned top thread) for over a month. Glad to see Rivals is getting up-to-date.

Well...the West Virginia Weslyan job appears to be taken, so I'm guessing Zips QB Coach is next best available for Mike. I would interview John Gruden too.

Why in the world would Dambrot take the kid's redshirt season for 5 minutes a game? If he just wanted to give someone a breather, he could have done it with Coblenz, or given McNees/Roberts another 2.5 mpg?If the kid doesn't produce, sure, he'll get 5 minutes per game. No different than Conyers, or any other player. But the obvious expectation, based on his play in practice, is he will produce. There are no guarantees in life...if you sit around and avoid tough decisions because something might not pan out, you will never achieve squat. Dambrot made a tough decision. Do you really think 5 more games would make any tangible impact on McClanahan's performance? Beyond that, do you think Steward's semi-optimistic prognosis 5 games ago (late December) might have played a role in Dambrot holding off on McClanahan?I'm freaking tickled pink that my coach has the 'nads to go for a championship in 2009 instead of, like many here, waiting for Zeke and building for the future. If the Zips have a chance to win today, you take that chance and you run with it. Not fretting, no worrying, no hand-wringing about some freshman's 5 minutes...you make your run at March Madness. You say Z-Pouch and I are missing the point. I contend the opposite. You should be ecstatic McClanahan is on the court. Because the coaching staff feels his shooting gives us a chance at a championship.One additional late-added point which I'll pose because I'm pretty new to this "basketball thing" (I haven't been around it much my entire life other than a few thousand games watched and played) - Do you think McClanahan, having played @ BG, @ OU, @K.e.n.t. etc and having played in a MAC Tournament...do you think he will have any sort of leg up preparation-wise for the 2009-20010 season (as opposed to never having stepped on the college court)? Is there any possible upside to McClanahan playing? Again - please keep your answer simple...basketball is to me what soccer is to a newborn legless wombat.

I would LOVE to play CSU. It would be a HUGE regional game...a packed house at either venue if the Zips could muster any sort of a run over the next month. But CSU will get a higher-ranked opponent than the Zips.Seeing where the Zips stand at this time, a middle-rung MVC or Colonial team would be a nice match up. Screw the Chicago-based teams. We can schedule them home/home whenever we choose.Seems like a good thing that we won't play an "upper" mid major. When we have, we're 0-4 (Nevada and VCU).

I disagree. He has 3.5 years to play for the Zips. How many minutes would he have played up until the BG game? MAYBE 10mpg? Probably less.Dambrot apparently sees the MAC is a total toss up right now. If the Zips can garner another 5 ppg they have a great shot at winning it all. The defense is already among the MAC's best.If McClanahan is producing in practice against one of the MAC's better defenses, it is fair to assume he's gonna be a viable contributor sometime soon."Burning" a shooter's redshirt year 1/2 way through a season, when your offense has come up consistently short to this point, is pretty smart. Especially when you have a very realistic shot at winning it all.While missed games vs. Urbana, Walsh, NC A&T, St Francis, etc. can be absolutely crippling....I think somehow, some way, McClanahan will overcome.

I think I have a law suit on my hands.

Figured I'd bump it up one more time before the auction closes.

It makes sense for Massilon to get the team. I can't imagine UA would want these Beer-leaguers to use its facilities.On the million-to-1 chance that the league became viable, I'm sure we could steal them from Massilon like Akron nabbed the Aeros from Canton.

He did have a nice game. If he can continue to hit the mid-range jumper, and keeps being aggressive in driving to the hoop, the sky's the limit.

Wow...didn't see that coming.He's a great person. I wish him well.

Great road win by the Zips. BG is now 1-21 when trailing with <3minutes remaining in a the game under Louis Orr? That's amazing. :blink: I thought Humpty was excellent. His shot selection obviously needs work, but I love his aggressiveness. Chris McKnight is putting together a string of solid performances. McClanahan's redshirt. If KD sees that the kid is lighting it up in practice, I say Burn Baby Burn! We need a guy that can consistently drain the 3...like Joyce/Dials/Middleton...and if McClanahan can do it, play him. The MAC is WIDE freaking open this year, and we're in the mix as much as anyone. But we've lacked any sort of explosiveness to our offense. Once McClanahan's jitters wear off, I look for him to add a much needed offensive dimension to our team.Thanks to ESPNU for giving me something crisp and clean to watch last night. The hamsters that power the 1350AM transmitter seem to tire at night. Bardo...Linhart...everyone...nice team road win...held BG to 28% from the field! One last note - Despite the teams sluggish start, I have to say this Zips bench is the most enthusiastic ones I've ever seen. Probably because of the youth...but I'll take it however I can get it. It's fun to see the team rooting for each other so actively. If a team like OU was as seemingly close knit the past few seasons, they'd probably have had a couple championships.Kudos to KD for removing BM's redshirt and aggressively going for a championship this year!! Will it work? Beats me. But since you can't trade or pick up free agents in college sports, it's the best you can do.