Captain Kangaroo

On top of that, three-year starter Dennis Kennedy has suffered almost game to game with leg cramps. So the Zips maybe looking at taking the redshirt off a true freshman for the game this Saturday at Can't State.Let's see what Pride can do.Pride has been playing as a WR this year.Then who was the #9 that took a pitch-out in the 4th quarter (and bobbled it) last week? Nick Sparks?

At last season's Akron/K.e.n.t. game former Zips RB Brandon Payne was jawing with some redshirting K.e.n.t. freshman in the stands infront of me. The Ke.n.t. guys were from Payne's high school (Woodland Hills).K.e.n.t. Guys: "You goin' down, Payne! Look at the scoreboard!" (we were losing at the time)Payne: "All I know is I played here four years and I NEVER lost to K.e.n.t.!"4-0 vs. K.e.n.t. is a nice thing to have in your pocket after 4 years at UA.

Too bad no one got a billboard pic this year!! Click and stroll down memory lane...

WR Jake "The Steak" DelmonicoThis kid better choose UA...if there's a better potential nickname in college football, I haven't seen it!

I've been beating that drum for a loooooong time....ESPNU is The Devil

Kennedy: "Based upon the success of the Penn State 'White Out' (shown below), we will organize our own showing of school spirit and unity for Saturday's game vs. The University of Akron.""Come see us 'Smoke Out' the Zips this Saturday!"(Home crowd shown actual size)

I remember a story from about 20 years ago, when Nebraska football was in it's heyday...A Minnesota coach was asked if it was tough to play Nebraska in Lincoln. He said "It's a HELL of a lot better than playing them in Minnesota! When Nebraska plays in Lincoln they have 5th-string walk-ons that they put in when they're up by 50 points. On the road, they bring their top 65 players...so they pound your a$$ for a full 4 quarters!"

Steve French can't see them as it stands now...PLEASE don't shrink them!

The Zips gold is unique. On some level, it is different than any other team's gold.

Here is an overhead view of K.e.n.t.'s stadium. As of right now, I'll be in the West lot. It is close, paved and there should be no problems with partying a little. And it is free. (East lot is gravel, and $5.00).

Ask those 65-and-older at the "U" and you'll find this is the preferred new helmet logo:

So a Big East football team is playing 10 miles from your house. It costs $15.00 to watch the game. Parking is a whopping $3. That's $18.00...that's less than a pitcher of Dortmunder and 12 wings.

There were so many free tickets floating around prior to the game it was ridiculous. If you paid at the gate it is your own fault.

Ralph Wiggum -- "But that's unpossible!"

I spoke to a friend that's a K.e.n.t. season ticket holder. There is a gravel lot (East) that people pay $5.00 to tailgate in. It is allegedly preferred (for tailgating) because you can set up a tent and take up more than one space without any problems.The main (West) lot is free. I am also told that you can drink and grill in that lot. However, you can't set up tents as you like. They place cars in every parking space. You CAN place tents and grills on the sidewalks that separate the various parking sections.The bicycle Parking Nazis still roam the area. But the draconian enforcement is out. Place your drinks in a Solo cup and be cool, and you are fine. Funnel beers from atop your truck and throw empty cans in the street and you will likey be sitting next to Singletary in the K.e.n.t. jail.

That's $10 - $13 more than I will pay. Per ticket. And I won't pay a "handling fee" either.

Especially when you have one of the best punt returners in the nation standing at the 50.How many punts has Akron blocked in the past 5 years? 2? 1? Frank Beamer ain't coaching our special teams.The odds of Jones running the kick back to UC's 35 yard line, or better, were about 50/50. The odds of us blocking the punt were 1-50. TERRIBLE gamble.

If you don't want to support K.e.n.t, then walk up to the gate and ask loudly "Does anyone have an extra ticket?" You will have a free one in your hand within 30 seconds. And don't worry where the seat is...the stadium will be 1/2 empty.

"it's the Cincinnati coaches and players....who flat-out got matched, blow for blow, from an inferior opponent." I don't buy into the "Cincinnati is superior" and "Zips are inferior" adjectives. There are much more appropriate ones to be used.Cincinnati got the best of us on a late-game field goal. I don't feel all that inferior.

Seems like there are two threads ongoing...one "Akron Sucks" and one "Great Effort." I'll place mine under "Great Effort."Here's my weekly objective-as-possible, "16 Thoughts on the Gameday" --Inside the 5 yard line:1.) The missed extra point wasn't Igor's fault. There was a jailbreak up the middle due to a gaping hole in our OL the likes of which hasn't been seen since Moses. 2.) Prior to our TD to Bowser, we had a 12 man in the huddle penalty??!! When we were on the 1 yard line?!! 3.) Poindexter plows into the UC punter in the back of the endzone??!! He's a Team Captain, right?4.) We had a 4th and 1 on the 5 yard line, and come away with zero points? 5.) Did running the QB up the middle when we went for the 2pt conversion make any sense? Jacq can get 1 yard up the middle. But 2 1/2 yards, with his slow feet, it ain't gonna happen.Once we get inside the 5 yard line, we turn into Larry, Moe and Curly. Whether it is special teams or offense, we show little or no poise.6.) As Z.I.P. stated, Jacq is a solid passer...up to, MAYBE, 20 yards. After that, he's really random. WHY OH WHY, on 4th and 1 and 3rd and 1 do you make Jacq throw the ball 30 yards downfield??!! Such a play has a 1-in-8 chance of succeeding. At best. Plunge Jacq up the middle and you have a 4-out-of-5 chance for success.7.) After the bogus grounding call, the interception by Jacq was tragically comical. All that was missing was a slide whistle sound effect as the ball floated up, then down into the Cinci defender's hands. He had his chance to create a Frye-to-Montgomery Moment...and instead left us with UC student chants of "This is our house" and the ever-popular "Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey, good bye." Sucks to hear that in the Rubber Bowl.8.) Igor's missed field goal...officially becoming a trend...was crippling. I had a 1981 Chevy Citation. You never knew when you turned the key what would happen. Sometimes it would smoke...sometimes it would start...sometimes it would squeal. When JD sends Igor in, he has to feel the same uncertainty. I often wondered why Branko Rogovic was on our roster. Now I know.That was 8 bad things...now the 8 good things.9.) When Jacq isn't tossing his rally-killing 30+ yard bombs, he's a very efficient QB. Overall, I thought he played a very nice game.10.) The defensive performance was as good as I've seen against a major opponent since we beat Marshall 34-20 several years ago. Pass rush was good, LB's were flying around and DB's were in position to make plays. We forced numerous punts. My hat is off to them.11.) Take away Zach Anderson's two personal fouls and the OL played OUTSTANDING! AGAIN. We've played some excellent competition to-date, and the OL had performed admirably in every game.12.) Nice crowd. Great tailgate lot atmosphere. 13.) Poindexter caught a very difficult pass. I guess that was a positive.14.) Bowser atoned for his early drops with some nice plays. That TD catch was awesome.15.) Kevin Grant may have had his best game as a Zip.16.) UC's coach Kelly has a ridiculous recruiting advantage over JD. I'm sure his 2009 recruiting class will be ranked somewhere in the top 40 nationally. He's coming off a 10-win season and a high-visibility bowl game. He needed a late-game field goal to beat us. The Zips played the Bearcats even...but their kicker sacked-up, and ours folded. That was the difference after 60 minutes. As baffling as some of our short-yardage play-calling was...I saw the same calls coming in from the UC press box. The Zips were ready to play, and, overall, executed very well. I watched a good college football game yesterday. We lost, but it was a compelling and entertaining game.Based upon what I've seen from the 2008 Zips, we are firmly in the hunt for a MAC East Championship. None of the remaining teams on our schedule scare me if we play as we did yesterday. K.e.n.t. is next. They stink. There's no way this Zips team should lose to K.e.n.t. Prove me right, JD.Oh, and Bates...get those freaking snaps down!!!

Just so it is clear --1.) #3 for Akron is Dennis Kennedy. #3 is not a defensive lineman. He is a running back. 2.) Quarterbacks are allowed to throw balls to running backs, receivers and tight ends while in the pocket. If you notice, such instances happen...oh, I dunno...maybe 60-80 times per game?If any UC fans aren't clear on this NCAA football rule, a rule which applies to pretty much all levels of HS, College and Pro football, them please send them the link to my description. UC fans seem to like links.

Bearcat is the one on the right.

Click here for directions and a crappy mapThis lot gets rocking pretty good. The area along the fence fills up first. Grills and beer are welcome and encouraged.One note: Our students are notorious for stealing anything you leave out during the game. It is embarrassing as hell, but year in year out for over a decade stuff gets stolen. Pack up your grills and tents prior to kickoff. Also - remove any team flags from your windows. Kids LOVE to snap those off. If you pack all your stuff away during the game, you're fine. Post game tailgating usually ensues for a couple hours if you're into that.

Pike - Lurch

And the other ten were the result of "phantom" holding calls, I assume? Instead of giving up twenty, you ACTUALLY shut them out? A few other bogus calls really hurt the Bearcats on offense too. The score SHOULD have been 72-0.