Captain Kangaroo

In the past, the University had made a nice event out of National Letter of Intent Day. Fans could attend, watch the videos and ask questions to the staff. Last year they nixed it, which sucked. I am told the nixing is permanent.I may have the ability to procure a CD with the individual player’s recruiting videos. If I can do so, would anyone want to have a Signing Day Film Viewing at one of the downtown establishments like The Barley House or Ohio Brewing Company? If one of them would allow us to play the video on a big screen or two, I would be happy to throw some business their way. Maybe we can get some cheap appetizers or beers too?I couldn’t make it down town until 6:30pm. We could start soon thereafter.Who knows…maybe a “guest speaker” or two might show up? I’ve never been to either establishment, so any input on which would be more Zips-friendly would be appreciated. I’ll need to make the reservations by noon tomorrow.

Did you see the Steelers' offensive line this season? It was TERRIBLE. Regarding the defense - Great teams have other guys that help win championships. It isn't all the QB. Can you take anything away from a Championship QB because he had a great defense to go with him? Some guys are just winners. 60 minute games often come down to 1 or 2 critical plays. I've watched Roethlisberger play for 10 years. He has an uncanny knack for being on the positive end of most of those plays. He's a winner. Simple as that.If Chris Jacquemain had that same knack...we'd have been 9-3 this year.

2009 - February 1 Recruiting Master Sheet

It's almost 8:00 p.m. Are you still out there CK?!Sorry...basketball game put me in a coma yesterday. I'm just now emerging from it.I don't know the names. I do know it is defense.

I was able to get a lot of info last night, but probably won't be able to post it until later this evening. I'm running out the door to take the kid to swim lessons, then it's off to the hoops game @ noon.Two updates - Pierre Carter and Deonte Ball are off the list. No one "stole" them...they just screwed things up for themselves.One or two "big names" will be added soon. Everyone will be happy.

I think we'll give Penn State a very good game this September.The 70-24 Lee Owens beatdowns will have the same effect on this year's Penn State football game as Toledo's basketball victories over Dan Hipsher affected our game against the Rockets Wednesday.

Can you name the former Zip in this photo?

If his Akron commit was indeed inaccurate, how could he be heading in a "new direction?" Wouldn't he be heading in the same direction he was heading all along?Shady stuff...but it happens every year. At least he gave us a week's notice to find a replacement.

I never said anything about OU's ability to digest cup cakes...I only know the Zips can digest them easily. OU losing to BG at home, then CMU on the road. I sense a change atop the Power Poll next week if the Zips can take care of business...

Zips Deemed "Cup Cake"

Once a Beacon Journal writer, always a Beacon Journal writer. Game begins @ noon, TP.

Davoe Torrence?I think it should also be made clear - Competing against OSU for recruits and successfully competing against OSU for recruits are two separate things. I would bet the Zips' staff had contact with most Ohio players on OSU's roster at some point during their HS careers. Just because the vast majority of these kids elect to play for OSU doesn't mean the Zips didn't compete for their services at some point.

He's sticking with Miami

Humpty has done it 4 times hitting as many as 6 against NC A&T.Linhart has done it a couple of times. McNeese did it once too.Except for those guys.

I believe my quote at the time was: "BURN BABY BURN!"I was also amongst those who felt initiating the learning curve in '09 would reap big benefits in 2009-10. I still think that will be the case.Until last night, had any '08 - '09 Zips player hit three three's in a single game?

6-0 ---- Expected5-1 ---- I'll take it4-2 ---- Very disappointed3-3 ---- Jumping off a bridge2-4 ---- Jumping off a bridge while kissing a picture of Rosanne Barr1-5 ---- Chugging Drano, barfing, then eating the barf.0-6 ---- Wearing the T-shirt of each individual MAC West team to work for the next 4 months, then chugging drano, then jumping off a bridge while kissing a picture of Rick Chryst.

MAC Elite? Any mediocre mid major should run the table against this:Western Michigan 7-12Northern Illinois 6-11Central Michigan 5-12Toledo 4-15Eastern Michigan 3-17Ball State is @ the JAR, and they've lost their best player.Anything less than 5-1 against these guys is grounds to jump off a building.

And I can almost guarantee him gaining 1 or 2 more stars simply because of this offer, whether he stays or goes.Follow it and let us know.

Zips on the Radar

Desperate Tressel (the guy that's one pass interference call away from being John Cooper) Searching the MAC for a QB. Is Nicely Next?Note: If you are an OSU douche bag and wish to go off on some anti UA or anti Zips fan rant, your post will be deleted. I don't have time for it. OSU is discussed here only when it affects the Zips, or the Mid American Conference. This is such a time.Thanks,CK

hey...I'm a 42 year old Zips fan...I know as well as anyone that bottom-feeders can bite you in the a$$. I think EMU was 3-26 one year, and two of their wins were against decent Hipsher teams. The Browns beat the Giants. "That's why they play the game." "Games aren't played on paper." Etc.Those MAC West teams are atrocious. I can see us slipping up once. But that's it.2-of-8 cupcakes down. 6 to go. CUP CAKES! CUP CAKES! You hear me....CUP CAKES!Only in Akron are people fearful of overconfidence when playing teams ranked in the bottom 10% of a 330 team division. Can a brutha' get some swagger in the AK? Go out and pound these clowns like we should.

Toledo, EMU, NIU and CMU are atrocious. Put it up on a chalk board for all to see. Those are four TERRIBLE teams, and we should beat them.WMU and Ball State are better. But they ain't the '76 Hoosiers. We should beat them too.

My bad.Does the CIT get the CBI's table scraps, or will they compete for teams?I did like the CBI's Best-2-of-3 finals format. More basketball is always good.

All the good Marketing phrases come from this board. "Fear the Roo" is only one of many. Z-Fund is another.You know all those towels waving at the K.e.n.t. game, they ain't terrible towels, they're - Roo Rags™Hopefully I get more from that one than I did "Z-Fund."

I made the road trip back to my old stomping grounds last night. Here are a few observations -I see some people slighting the YSU crowd, estimated at 2,200. Like $1.00 hot dogs are going to get people to come out and see a 6-12 home team battle a 10-8 Zips squad? Come on. 2,200 is a freaking miracle for such an unattractive ducat on a frigid Monday night. Even at $1.00.Looking around at the YSU banner situation, it doesn't appear YSU has won any basketball championships or seen and tourney appearances since 1976 (pre-D1)? Good luck turning that Poseidon over, Coach Slocum.One more comment related to the dollar dogs - They didn't run out, and they were served quickly. Unlike the Zips concessions, where you wait 15 minutes...just to be told whatever you wanted had already run-out...these people actually knew how to serve food and move people through a line. This YSU team has decent talent. They defended hard, and I thought their point guard was a player. They were much more disciplined than some of their "street ball" teams of the recent past. But they really didn't have any consistent offensive threat. Nor could they match the Zips intensity...especially Linhart.Linhart came out of nowhere to spike a YSU guard's shot...one of the most forceful rejections I've ever seen. The stunned YSU player was embarrassed and started rubbing his head like he was fouled...poor kid.Chris McKnight has officially moved into "2nd Team All MAC" for 2009. If he keeps delivering the goods through Feb/March, he'll be a 1st teamer."Big Game Brett" McKnight has proven he can show up for big games...like Pitt and K.e.n.t. But "little games" are still a struggle. He missed a lot of bunnies last night where, if he'd gone strong instead of waiting for the foul, he would have made. When he scores 20+, the Zips can play with about anyone. When he scores in single digits, we play some ugly games.KD attempted to get McClanahan on track. Since the outcome was never in doubt, he let him fight through some tough stretches where he typically would have been benched. Conyers also had a much longer leash last night. Neither seemed to take advantage of the extended PT. They both played "ok."We've eaten 2 of our 8 cupcakes. Toledo is next. I expect a game very similar to last night's. But more expensive.