Captain Kangaroo

Stopped at two distilleries today. At both places someone recognized my Z-logo shirt and struck up a conversation about the game tomorrow. Fun to visit areas where they follow their local team.

In my best Brent Musberger voice - “You are looking live at the fourth floor of the Staybridge Suites in beautiful Lexington Kentucky…”

Interesting read

Undercuffler had a magical 2019 season where he threw 41 tds vs. 10 int’s. If you drop that statistical anomaly, beginning in 2018 through today, his combined stats are 331 completions on 601 attempts (55%). 24 tds and 23 int’s. That isn’t gonna cut it, and his game last Saturday seems to show he hasn’t shaken his penchant for throwing the ball to the other team with alarming regularity. Dijon Jennings isn’t the answer, and Wassel isn’t ready. I hope the benching of Irons last week was a wake up call, because he’s our best chance to win games when he’s healthy. If he’s not, I’d take our chances with student body left, and student body right. Too bad, because I really like our WR’s. I’ll be in Lexington on Saturday and support whoever Joe puts under center. Go Zips!

If you click on the information @Akron1 provided you can reserve a free slot or two at the UA-Kentucky tailgate. Seems like a no-brainer to stop by if your at the game? They also have $55 game tickets, which is pretty good. I paid $39 x 2 + $36 in fees for my 2 tix (I bought them before I knew of the UA offer).

CJ Nunnally definitely deserved the MAC PoTY award this week, but Bryan McCoy put forth an absolutely heroic effort. He puked at least twice...maybe three times...voluminous releases too...not just a little phlegm...and hardly missed any PT. Game winning scoop-n-score TD. Fantastic game by the kid. @MDZip said it best...this was payback for CMU last season. Or, Buffalo...take your pick. Nice to see God is fair, and offset one of our improbable, impossible 2022 losses.

I wish DJ were as good at moving the chains as he is a posting cryptic tweets. If he isn't mentally tough enough to accept getting benched after some really sub par work, then he's not a D1 QB. This is big boy football. If you go 4 full quarters without moving the chains whatsoever, against mediocre competition, it's next-man-up. I would start DJ against Kentucky. He's shown well against P5 teams in the past. If we go 3-and-out repeatedly, or he makes a crippling turnover or two, then we move to Plan B.

I’ve had enough of The Cuff.

In a very small sampling, Undercuffler seems to see the field much better than Irons. There were plenty of guys open for Irons…he either waits too long or flat-out doesn’t see them. Can’t get enough of The Cuff.

I guess the announcer is the least of my worries…

The guy just announced “Back to punt for Morgan State” as they line up to go for it on 4th and 1!? Is he even in the building?

If anyone has trouble transferring multiple tickets to their Apple Wallet, transfer them individually. I tried for 30 minutes to figure out why I couldn't transfer my two tickets simultaneously...then when I did one at a time, it worked. 🤬 Off to mow my lawn, then head to InfoCision. 3pm ETA.

Regardless of the Richmond game, Morgan State is a mediocre 1-AA program (at best). We'll beat them handily. With Irons' long injury layoff, and the lack of contact in summer camp, I think he was both rusty and skittish. And we still almost won. The Zips will romp this week...Irons will get back on track...I'll have too many Oktoberfests in Lot 9...and we'll move on to Kentucky...where I'll be attending along with my wife. If there are any Zips-Lexington tailgate parties going on...besides mine...feel free to PM me. Night time kickoffs = a full afternoon of tailgating on back-to-back Saturdays!

I'll add Banks and Adams.

Looking forward to seeing him getting sacked, just like the groceries his old man used to handle.

Beyond sending his son to UA, I know JD made a sizeable donation to the Zips football program as well.

I remember looking at Arth's 2021 team and schedule and wondering "How will this team win more than one game?!" (they won 2). We've come a long way. Sep 2 (Sat) 2:00 PM Away Temple Prediction - Zips offense surprises the Owls. Zips win 34-31 (1-0) Sep 9 (Sat) 6:00 PM Home Morgan State No messing around...Zips win 51-9 (2-0) Sep 16 (Sat) 7:00 PM Away Kentucky Lexington, Ky. Zips keep it close at the half, but a couple explosive second half plays carry Kentucky to a 41-24 win (2-1) Sep 23 (Sat) TBA Away Indiana Bloomington, Ind. WKY took these guys to OT last year. Hoosiers aren't very good. I think the Zips lose in a tight one. 27-24 (2-2) Sep 30 (Sat) TBA Home Buffalo Akron, Ohio We should have beaten Buffalo last year. We will this year. Zips win 45-24 (3-2) Oct 7 (Sat) 3:30 PM Home Northern Illinois Akron, Ohio Pounded these guys last year. We'll do so again. Zips 51-16 (4-2) Oct 14 (Sat) TBA Away Central Michigan Mount Pleasant, Mich. Gifted the Chipps a win last season. History doesn't repeat itself. Zips win 35-20. (5-2) Oct 21 (Sat) TBA Away Bowling Green Bowling Green, Ohio Who knows which BG team shows up? Tough to figure the Falcons out. Zips lost by 3 last season. Bullish that Joe schemes hard to prevent back-to-back BG losses, and the JoMo Zips round into form. Zips win 30-27 (6-2) Nov 1 (Wed) 7 or 7:30 PM Home Kent State Akron, Ohio (InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field) No way the Zips lose this one. Arth was #heretodevelop. Joe is #heretopoundkent. Zips win 39-20 (7-2) Nov 8 (Wed) 7 or 7:30 PM Away Miami University Oxford, Ohio Zips due for a letdown, and Miami always seems to have their number. Miami wins 20-19. (7-3) Nov 14 (Tue) 7:00 PM Away Eastern Michigan Ypsilanti, Mich. How did EMU get good at football? If they can play winning ball, anyone can. Unfortunately, the improved Eagles win 42-31. (7-4) Nov 24 (Fri) Noon Home Ohio Akron, Ohio (InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field) OU is down to their 4th string QB. Zips eek out a 19-17 win and look forward to their bowl game. (8-4) Offensively, the Zips should be able to hang with anyone. OL will be improved. RB is MUCH improved. WR should be as good, or better than last year. I expect a lot from Banks at TE. DL should be passable. Lots of size and mature bodies to choose from. Fingers are crossed a couple unknowns step up and make an impact. LB scares me. None of the returning guys made much of an impression last year. Hopefully a year in the system and in the weight room yields a big improvement. Secondary should be a strength...IF the DL can generate some QB pressure. 8-4 is a crazy prediction considering we've won 8 total games since we beat Northwestern in 2018. But I believe we're a MUCH better team that the one Jo inherited last year. Crazy goal...but definitely possible.

Saw Kenston’s Sean Patrick racked up 218 yards on 22 carries Friday night against Boardman.

Owls Who Give a Hoot About the Zips Game

It almost seems like they hired the firm of Wistercil, Helsel & Williams to handle their affairs?

Overheard this was due in large part, or maybe entirely, to Matt Kaulig.

Minor note - Owen Wiley was the kicker on the FG.

Call These people and tell them exactly what you want. They will make you a kick ass jersey for a reasonable price. Way better than Fanatics.

Joe said last week that 60-70% of the Zips recruits will come from the portal. So if we have 12 to 13 '24 freshmen committed, that's pretty much it. Barring de-commits and other attrition.

I'll clarify a little with my interpretation of "long haul" - Joe's here to "fix" Akron football, and he won't leave until that is accomplished. He's not a 2-year mercenary looking to build a resume and immediately move on, or bide time while the smoke blows over from some scandal. He wants Zips football to be a stable, contending program well into the future. I don't know that he will be our "Solich". Maybe he will? I'd LOVE it. But when he ultimately leaves we'll be on stable ground as a program, with legitimate annual expectations of competing for championships for the first time since...maybe Dennison?