Captain Kangaroo

Other famous #44 roundballers include -

Damn dude, tone down the arrogance a bit. Here's some advice from a former honors student--you're not as special as you might think you are. Keep your love of yourself behind closed curtains. Your comments are a disgrace to nerds everywhere.I flunked Calc 1 twice...and don't even ask about Fortran. BOTTOM-TIER STUDENTS RULE!!!

Bears QB shuffleCarlton Jackson is one of the reasons for the Bears' surprising run in the MEAC this season, but the transfer quarterback from Akron has had his struggles. He has made six starts for the Bears, although he's appeared in seven games.Backup Jeremy Glover has been called to Jackson's rescue in five games and has impressed coaches enough to earn one start. In that game, he led Morgan State to a 31-30 win over Howard earlier in the season.Jackson made his first start since Nov. 11 against North Carolina A&T, leading the Bears to an upset of defending MEAC champ Delaware State a week ago. But not even that is a guarantee that he'll remain the starter for every game, Hill-Eley said."With this young generation you could never let them be comfortable," he said. "Our biggest thing is making sure, as we tell them. You've just got to protect the football and when you start giving it to the other team you stand over here by me and watch the other team. We've got to continue to have that type of pressure on them and he stepped up and didn't put it on the ground. Both (quarterbacks) are still in our mix and that's the one we will go with."The Bears ended up using three quarterbacks who combined for 44 yards passing. Jackson was 2 of 4 for 10 yards.

Another QB on the Zips Radar

Akron "My top choice."Visiting on the 8th.Considering we're losing Williams and Grant, it would seem this LB is a no-brainer recruit for the Zips? BTW - I hear the Zips verbal count sits at eight (17 total are available) right now. I'm trying to get additional names, but no luck thus far.

Milton Patterson

Hoover inducted @ WCU

In the event of an outage, I will station my customized emergency generator outside the local Penn Power substation and crank away until the fax goes through!

1.) You don't build a $62 million dollar stadium if you have ANY intentions of dropping to 1-AA.2.) There is no savings in dropping to 1-AA. You save 22 scholarships...that's it. That's peanuts.

True! And, now that I think about it, with a spread offense aren't quicker players generally a better fit for the spread scheme than a slower, less shifty 6'5" receiver anyhow?As long as we are putting lipstick on the pig, please explain to the rest of the class why you would rather date the bearded lady from the circus instead of the Playboy centerfold.You can't rate a MAC school's recruiting class on November 1st. We'll be fine when the first Tuesday in February '09 rolls around.

If we beat Toledo, and the game is truly for a championship, I see Buffalo bringing 6k themselves. We'll be over 15k regardless.If we lose to Toledo, and the weather is terrible, I think 10-12k is expected.Since I paid $60.00 for my four reserved season tickets, and based on the devaluation of Zips tickets, does that mean my family's attendance at the Buffalo game counts as 60 heads?

Hey – we all know there were times like the 2004 game with Marshall on ESPN2 that we packed the Rubber Bowl with more than a few freebie tickets – but that game was a launching pad for our image and we needed to show the nation a solid crowd in the Rubber Bowl. That game specifically paved the way in changing a lot of opinions about Akron, about the City, and was vital in moving the stadium project forward. Akron football, for a night, was a national story and it mattered. The stadium project had been bandied about in various incarnations for years, but after that game in 2004 it really gained steam. That Marshall game/win may well rank in the Top 5 moments of Akron Football history along with the bowl wins, the win over NC State and the 2005 MAC title game.Just because it worked in 2004 doesn't mean it is applicable to 2008. We have a hell of a lot more to "sell" for the upcoming Buffalo game than we did vs. Marshall in '04.Hey...if they want to charge $1 for such a pivotal game...have at it. Just don't tell me you're running a deficit.

FWIW - Ball State's top two receivers this year are 6'0" Briggs Orsbon and 5' 10" Dante Love. They have some big guys too...but watching the BSU/UA game I recall those "bigs" dropping a lot of balls.There's usually a reason a 6' 5" WR ends up at a MAC school. He either has frying pans for hands, grew 4" in his senior year or was injured his senior year. Or smoked too much weed.

They'll probably make a killing. After all, it's not like UA is spending anything on facilities upkeep.Make a killing on $1.00 tickets? Where's a smilie smoking weed when you need one?The reason for the $1.00 tickets is to try and fill the bowl for TV. Plain and simple. I contend that you can both fill the bowl, and make a little cash too. But why would you want to do that...

I would place the odds of such a deal somewhere between Blutarsky's GPA and a K.e.n.t. basketball player's BAC.

I will never ever agree with the concept of "marketing" a game by giving away free (essentially) tickets. You hear so much talk from the Athletics Department regarding the need for revenue...you have an INCREDIBLY attractive game (likely to decide a Division Championship, last game at the Rubber Bowl, opponent that will bring several thousand fans...etc.)...and you give away tickets for a buck?It isn't a shocker that the promo is associated with the Alumni Association. That's all the old-timers @ UA know *insert old man voice here* "Let's give away free tickets, like we did for the Acme Zip Game. That'll pack the house. I remember when the Great Wallenda...."

Which game I go to will be decided by whether we beat Toledo on Wednesday. Win and I'll be at the Bowl. Lose, and I'll go to the JAR to support a real team with a real coach.I have three responses here:1.) What basketball game in on Thursday night November 13th?2.) If UA hands out $1.00 tickets for the Buffalo game, I hope they never ask me for another dime the rest of my life. They obvoiusly have more money than they know what to do with. Tickets for the last game at the Rubber Bowl...a game for the MAC East Championship...where the opposing team will bring several thousand fans...and we are going to give away tickets for $1.00?? You GOTTA be freaking kidding me. Nice Marketing. Who gets paid to make such a decision?3.) Which real team with a real coach is playing at the JAR on the 13th? I would enjoy meeting this person.

Troy OH RB

Can He Get Jacq to Quit Turning the Ball Over in the 4th Quarter?

Assuming the Zips don't screw up royally...and we all know that's a possibility given our inability to close the deal on wins @ the Rubber Bowl...I have to believe the November 13th game at the Rubber Bowl will be a sell-out. As evidenced by the massive support at The Q when their basketball team was rolling, Buffalo fans travel VERY well, and they are going to be sky high going into that game. Even being a weekday game, I'd expect several thousand Buffaloians to make the trip. Locals expecting to walk up and get a good seat for that game may leave disappointed. Especially if the tarp isn't lifted.Like the Marshall game several years ago, it should also be a great "showcase" game for the MAC in front of a semi-national audience (ESPNU).

My advice - If you want to go to the game, there will be tickets. Whether it is through UA, Pitt or from a scalper outside the arena, there will be plenty of tickets available. If you do purchase from a scalper, I HIGHLY doubt you'd pay more than face value for a ticket. Unless, of course, you are a terrible negotiator.

Also - the Zips have only 17 total scholarships to offer for 2009. We're being very selective.I'll try and get some recruiting scoops shortly.

I'll take the bait. Here is the current Top 20 ranking. Who would Ball State beat in this list based upon the fact that their schedule is full of teams that are a combined 11-29 against DI-A teams? The two best teams are Akron and Navy. I would dare say that neither of these schools are in the Top 75.After watching them get beat 52-30 by an unmotivated Rutgers team in a bowl last year, I need more than just someone saying to me they are a Top 20 team to believe they are a Top 20 team. I'll buy BSU when they show they can beat a team with a pulse. In the mean time, BSU may be in the top half of college football, but my guess is they are closer to #60 than #20 or higher.One last thing Captain Kangaroo. I just learned on this board that you are indeed not an electrical engineer, but a sanitation engineer. Is it hard keeping up with Zips sports and monitoring a web page from the back of a garbage truck or have modern hydraulics trucks made it more easy? The things I learn on this board............GP1:Who would Ball State beat in the Top 20?Complete Standings AP Top 25 1. Texas (65) BSU loss 2. Alabama BSU loss 3. Penn State 8-0 BSU loss 4. Oklahoma 6-1 BSU loss 5. Florida 5-1 BSU loss 6. USC 5-1 BSU loss 7. Oklahoma State 7-0 Competitive loss 8. Texas Tech 7-0 Competitive loss 9. Georgia 6-1 Competitive loss 10. Ohio State 7-1 Competitive loss 11. LSU 5-1 Loss 12. Utah 8-0 Toss up13. Boise State 6-0 Toss up14. South Florida 6-1 Toss up 15. TCU 7-1 Toss up16. Missouri 5-2 Loss17. Pittsburgh 5-1 Win 18. Brigham Young 6-1 Toss up 19. Kansas 5-2 Win20. Ball State 7-0 Tie 21. Georgia Tech 6-1 Win22. Tulsa 7-0 Toss up 23. Boston College 5-1 Win24. Florida State 5-1 Win 25. Minnesota 6-1 WinThis year's Ball State team is much better than last year's edition. They aren't Top 10. Probably not Top 15. But they can play with anyone in the 15-25 range. BSU's schedule is weak, but they're manhandling everyone. Similar to Penn State.BSU goes 12-0 in regular season play. I already owe you a 6 of Yuengling...double or nothing?

UA1987 - Here is my quote:"If you want to continue a discussion on scheduling, please start a new topic. This topic is reserved for the Acme Zip game."Pretty clear. I simply asked you to move the discussion and create a new thread.Since you elected to not start a new topic, but to divert this thread, and because you seem to like attacking me, your post was deleted. This year I personally paid $400.00 in 2008 to upgrade this board and keep it running smoothly. I did so to promote discussion regarding Zips Athletics, and I'm happy to do it. I did not do it to give people a forum to toss around 3rd grade-level insults. Other boards may encourage that stuff, but not this one. If that's a tough rule for anyone to follow, those people are encouraged to participate elsewhere.Thanks,CK

1.) If Ball State would have played most other D1-A teams, they'd still be undefeated. They are a legit Top 20 team. THAT is what UA should strive for. Not an undefeated schedule based upon 12 cupcakes.2.) This is 2008 and the Zips haven't won more than 7 games in two decades. Scheduling based upon the hopes of an undefeated season is like planning your retirement based on lottery winnings.3.) EMU is a horrible, horrible program. It has been for a decade. Genyk is correct - EMU DOES need to play 12 terrible teams. They need to get some sort of a winning tradition back. UA's football program is in MUCH better shape. We don't need Hampton or Liberty on our schedule to pad our coach's record. 4.) The MAC East is the sorriest conference in D1 football. It is the easiest of all possible routs to a championship game and a bowl bid. To further dumb-down what is already one of the easiest D1 football schedules year-in-year-out is reaching for the lowest of the low-hanging fruit.5.) The Zips have been competitive with every "BCS" school we've played for several years now. We've won twice. And when those two "wins" were put on our schedule several years ago, they appeared to be blow-out losses in favor of the BCS team. There is no "guaranteed loss" for the Zips anymore. 6.) Ask Toledo what they'd trade for their win @ Michigan a couple weeks ago. Or their Penn State win. Would they trade a home game against Youngstown State for it? My friend went to Toledo -- he got 36 text messages within an hour of the Michigan win. Conversely - I received Zero after we beat EMU.7.) Today, we need $700,000. Bad. Maybe in 5 years we don't. But we do today.That's all I have to say on the topic. If you want to continue a discussion on scheduling, please start a new topic. This topic is reserved for the Acme Zip game.Thank you.