Captain Kangaroo

This really hurts MAC football. I posted a statistic several months ago that showed something like 99.73% of the of Top 200 overall players from the past 5 years of D-1 football recruiting classes chose BCS schools. You win with players, and the NCAA has basically relegated half of the NCAA schools to the back of the recruiting bus. I'm still waiting for the "Rosa Parks" of the non-BCS schools to have the balls to call someone out and advocate real change.Can a non-BCS school overcome? I guess if you are out in the middle of Idaho or Utah...and you are the only game in town...college or pro...you can get something going. But in the middle of OSU and Browns/Steelers country...good luck being non-BCS.Basketball is in the same boat, but it seem like there is a better chance for success. The MVC will typically get 3-4 teams in the Big Dance. The Horizon can expect two in a good season. Schools like Gonzaga, Tulsa and Davidson make noise as do many others. If a school or conference commits to success in basketball at the mid-major level there are several examples where high-level success can be had. You always hear the OSU clown blurt-out "Ohio State doesn't compete with Akron." It is wrong on many obvious levels, but no more so than in OSU's effect on UA school pride and alumni donations. If you always treat your school as "a place to get a degree," and direct your collegiate passion to another school, you never donate to your alma mater.And to be fair to "OSU Guy," the MAC has done a HORRIBLE job of fostering alumni loyalty. And UA is probably the worst offender. UA administrators have for decades used OSU's existence as a crutch for their own lack of creativity and investment in its future alumni. The advent of the AK-Rowdies seems so minor, but it was a HUGE investment in getting students interested in Zips athletics. And subsequently getting alumni to continue supporting programs after they've received their degree and begun working.The next step is to WIN! Win freaking championships...make headlines...get people buying gear...get on the local news...capture someone's imagination!!! AK-Rowdies only care so much if the football team is going 5-7 and the basketball team is hoisting "NIT Participant" banners.Screw beating Canisius...or South Dakota...or losing in the 2nd round of the NCAA soccer tourney. W-I-N something big.

Seems like a search committee contacted Mack. And it also appears his resume' was already up-to-date when he got the phone call.Mike Thomas was interviewed at Pitt before taking the Cincinnati job. If Mack doesn't leave now, he will soon.It's funny...you hear the Akron AD say "We're thinking bigger than the MAC...we're thinking beyond the MAC..." But in reality it should read: "I'm thinking bigger than the MAC...I'm thinking beyond the MAC..."Mack is a nice person. I wish him well. But when the stadium opens in 2009, I want an Akron AD with a plan to fill those seats. Not one itching to vacate his.If I'm Luis Proenza I write my $58,000 check today and begin my search for a new AD. Mack is gone. Take it to the bank. If not to Rutgers, then to somewhere else.

Irony of Ironies?

Yes. Just because you play great D doesn't mean you have to play "Charlie Coles Style." Give me KD, and our team any day over Coles and what Miami's got.

I'll clarify one thing - The Zips played the best defense I've seen at the JAR in several years Wednesday night. Maybe the best I've ever seen. Two or three times the Zips made silly turnovers, and each time the Zips immediately got back on D and made stops. Once or twice they forced shot clock violations! On breakaways when Miami should have had easy buckets!?I love great D as much as anyone. But Miami's overall style of play and team make up is just tough to get excited about. Coles is probably doing the best with what he's got...maybe they're even overachieving...but I just don't like their team and style.

He's a cool guy...but if I were a Miami fan I'd be looking forward to his long and healthy retirement. Miami's "style" is tough enough to watch 2-3 times per season. I couldn't imagine doing it 33 times.

By MAC standards that's pretty low?

Highly Scientific, Undeniably Accurate Lunchtime Analysis:#1 – Akron (17-9)Previous Rank #2Last week:The Zips have won 8 of 9. And in those 8 wins they've trailed for a total of 15 game minutes (I made that stat up, but it has to be pretty damn close). The toe-stubbing in DeKalb looks to be an aberration, as the Zippers bounced back to suffocate Charlie Coles' RedHawks last night. To paraphrase the AK-Rowdies - I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE (#) 1! Large conference tests loom with surging K.e.n.t., OU and enigmatic BG. #2 – K.e.n.t. (15-11)Previous Rank #7 Teams rarely stay the same over the course of a given season. They either regress (like OU & Buffalo), or improve (like UA, BG and K.e.n.t.). 4-0 in their last 4 games and ran roughshod over the MAC West. New players...new coach...but shaping up to be the same ol' dangerous K.e.n.t.#3 - Buffalo (17-7) Previous Rank #1Last week:In the last Power Poll the question was posed: "Do the close wins vs. WMU and CMU signal a chink in their armor?" The answer appears to be "Yes." The Bulls looked to be hitting the wall two weeks ago eeking out skin-of-their-teeth wins vs WMU and CMU. Now they're losing. Back-to-back losses to BG and Ball State drop the Bulls from the #1 slot they've held since early January. It was a nice run by Reggie and Co., but they are reeling.#4 - Miami (15-9)Previous Rank - #4Redhawks are 2-2 in their last 4 games, including a 9-point loss to the Zips in Akron. You can only ride Bramos and "The Not-So-Gifted" Politz for so long. Miami seems to be slipping just a little.#5– Bowling Green (15-10)Previous Rank # 5What the hell is up with these guys? 3-1 in their last 4 games, including a big win @ Buffalo...their second win vs the Bulls this season. But their loss...was to EASTERN MICHIGAN? I am in no way a believer that BG is for real. Louis Orr's mojo has to wear off sometime, right? Can't move 'em up.#6 BSU (11-13)Previous Rank #61-3 in their last four games, Ball State's youth appears to be catching up with them. They're still tied for the MAC West lead at 6-6 (with WMU) and they did beat fading Buffalo. They also lost to 5-21 Toledo.#8 WMU (9-16)Previous Rank #82-2 in their last 4 games, which in the MAC West conjures up realistic visions of a #2 overall seed in Cleveland. They were crushed by Miami, but put the wood to OU and held EMU to 38 points in a 46-38 win last night. #8 – OU (13-12)Previous Rank #7Drubbed by K.e.n.t. and WMU, the BongCats appear to be intent on wasting Jerome Tillman's senior season. OU apologists will point to youth as the issue, but it is more than that. These guys are underachieving BIGTIME. If they were placed in the MAC West, they might actually DROP that division's RPI. #9 NIU (7-17)Previous Rank #91-3 in their last 4 games, but the win was a shocker against the #1 Zips. But don't let the Zips win fool you...these guys are horrible. They just have the Zips "number" for whatever bizarre reason. BTW - They followed up their big victory over the Zips with a 19 point loss to CMU.#10 Akron Women’s Team (9-15)Previous Rank #101-2 in their last 3 games. Road loss to WMU was a big disappointment. A tenuous hold on the #10 spot. #11 Toledo (5-21)Previous Rank #13Last week:1-3 in their last 4 games, including a 33-point loss to OU. Shocked Ball State by four on Wednesday night to keep them from dropping.#12 EMU (4-22)Previous Rank #12Whipped BG by 8, but could only muster 38 points in their loss to WMU. How tough is it to be an Eagles fan? Earl Boykins is wearing a brown lunch bag over his tiny head.#13 CMU (8-16) Previous Rank #13Played K.e.n.t. tough in a 4-point loss, and beat NIU by 19. They're probably playing as good a basketball as anyone in the West. But I promised to keep them in the basement and I'm a man of my word! It is personal.

Ok...should I have gone with:

Too few hours in the day! Shooting for a February 19th edition.

In a hastily called press conference, K.e.n.t. Coach Doug Martin announced the hiring of two new coaches - Coach Harris (shown left) will apparently take over the reigns as QB coach and passing coordinator, while Coach Montgomery (right) is expected to be named Offensive Coordinator.Said Martin: " This is by no means a response to the recent hirings at Akron. We've been in negotiations with Coach Harris and Montgomery for some time now. we are delighted to have them on our staff, and...what the hell...could they be any worse that what I've had to work with for the past 5 years?

UA Pro Day is His Showcase

I guarantee if you cut and paste:Patrick Nicelyyou'll get a full page of information.Note: If you spelled his name incorrectly, you'll get nothing (as your link displays).I recommend you try it again, paying attention to the spelling.

Syracuse Schedule

You say "quite a few"...I say "a couple."Viva La Cupcake!

Dick Flynn (CMU HC) coached under Lee Owens.BTW - Owens also hired a former Miami (OH) HC last week...Tim Rose.Also - Former Miami (FL) HC Carl Selmer coached under Gerry Faust.Those are some good names, CK, especially off the top of your head. But none of them were named the new COORDINATOR at the rival school.Dan Hipsher (UA HC) is Stan Heath's top assistant at USF (and previously Arkansas).Keith Dambrot (CMU HC) was Hipsher's assistant.Not what you were looking for, but in the same ballpark.

6-1 vs. cupcakes is absolutely no reason to abandon it!If it was the look-alike thread, I could see your point.

I'm pretty puzzled at the instant speculation that JD is gone after a successful 2009 season.IF he is successful in 2009, he would likely be offered a nice extension by UA. He won't be a super-hot commodity in 2009. If he could go back-to-back, then you'd hear his name being bandied about in 2010 for whatever openings might exist.I predict after 2009 JD has a packed stadium, a solid team, a top-level MAC salary and a contract extension.If JD wanted to leave, he would have and could have done so this year. I believe he's pumped about the new stadium and wants to enjoy the fruits of his labor, rebuilding from the recruiting disasters of 3-4 years ago.If JD did decide to leave on his own volition, sure...Harris could become our "Frank Solich." For the moment, I'm very happy that this UA staff seems to be shaping up to be a really solid group of D-1 guys. If Harris does join up, even for 1 season, no other staff in the MAC could come close.Like Coach Ferri stated on signing day - "President Proenza doesn't want to be second in anything." It would appear he's given JD all the backing he can to storm the MAC in 2009. It is now time for JD to produce.

Harris looks to be the QB coach. Montgomery the OC. That's the way I see it.

Oh I'm in total agreement on that aspect. I'm just curious how much it cost to get them here.I haven't looked at his Stanford contract, but I would guess he's still drawing a nice salary from the Cardinals? The Zips might be able to get him at a reasonable rate. I think he still lives in the Pittsburgh area, so if he had the itch to get back into coaching, UA would be a logical choice to do so. I'm sure Nicely would be happy.

Note - Walt Harris to UA is not official. But the "buzz" is in the air.Two OUTSTANDING hires in Montgomery and Harris, should Harris pan-out.

Dick Flynn (CMU HC) coached under Lee Owens.BTW - Owens also hired a former Miami (OH) HC last week...Tim Rose.Also - Former Miami (FL) HC Carl Selmer coached under Gerry Faust.

Again, why I think the bye is so important...it is one less opportunity to lay an egg like we did yesterday.After nearly two seasons of coaching in the MAC, Ricardo Patton has 33% of his Conference wins against the Zips (2 of 6).

OK, now 100% certain.

I know he was on campus on Signing Day. I'm checking on it, but I would say with 94% certainty it is true.