Captain Kangaroo

A "Superb Serb"

I hope K.e.n.t. loses by 50.

I agree that 80% of our outstanding home record is due to excellent teams and coaching. The other 20%:We've played a lot of cream puffs at home. Our non-conference schedule is admitted by all to be, overall, "soft." Our HOME, OOC schedule has perennially been the softest of the soft.Beyond the OOC, the bottom half of the MAC has been terrible for the past 4 years. BG, NIU, EMU, CMU and Ball State have been horrible. We SHOULD win games against those teams @ home.And finally -- Winning on the road in the MAC is profoundly difficult for any team. I haven't looked at the stats lately, but at one point this year MAC road teams were 4-31. Seems like we aren't alone in boasting a gaudy home win percentage?Don't get me wrong...to hold serve at home against Miami, OU and K.e.n.t. over the past few years has been impressive. But when you only have 3-4 reasonably tough opponents on your home schedule every year, and you're a solid program, you're going to win a pretty high percentage of your games.

Vikings Release Dwight

I'll be at BW's for a post game beer. If some of the Ram faithful wanted to tailgate in the parking deck prior to the game, I'm sure no one would care. Due to the early start time, that's your best bet for some pre-game revelry.

The best place to park is the parking deck on the corner of Spicer and Carroll streets. The deck is a 2-block walk to the arena (you'll see people walking that way -- can't miss it), and the Carroll/Buchtel street exit is directly off Route 8.The only place I could see open for a pregame beer might be the Buffalo Wild Wings on Exchange street. Take Spicer street south about 4 blocks (from the parking deck) and you'll hit Exchange St. BW's is across the street, to the right.Map

I agree. Sit all the starters. Play Goddard 40 minutes, and play him at Center too. Who cares if we get waxed on national TV. I'm sure a win vs. VCU wouldn't help our NIT chances either.

Wally Goes to Air Force

First of all -- congrats to the Zips on an awesome victory! Coming off a home loss to lowly NIU, then snaring back-to-back road wins vs. BG and the previously hot Miami is really impressive. Looking at the VCU game a week ago...to be honest...I'm concerned about getting crushed. Now I expect to win. Welcome back Ced!I've seen the banter about sitting Wood for VCU. Screw it...if he is healthy and can play, put him in. Like KD said, he's healthier now than he was several weeks ago. Do we want him coming in to the MACC series rusty and out of basketball shape? He's gotta get things going now. Great job by the UA fans at the game. On the radio it was tough to tell if the Zips made or missed a shot...the Zips cheering section probably came through louder than the Miami crowd. Zips gearing up for the Tourney....Woo hoo!BTW -- Anyone catch Ced's comments regarding ZipsNation after the game? Apparently he doesn't read it? GO CED!!BTW2 -- If the Miami assistant yelling at Elton Alexander after the game called him a "Douche Bag," I can't fault the guy.

Numerically we are. And on-paper we are. But it is concerning how sporadic our guard play has been when Dials and Ced aren't playing major minutes. Roberts has been steady...McNees has shown f.lashes...but overall our guard play has been shaky without the seniors.Next year Roberts and McNees will likely improve...but then again, who knows. And it is rare that sub 6-foot Fr's, like the group we have coming in next season, contribute immediately.We may end up fine...but I expect a continuing learning curve, with some rough performances up-front.Nice post, BTW - ZW. I enjoyed reading that.

Man bites dog...sun rises in the east...Miami assistant coach needs restrained by police...some things are just Universal givens.

I hope all the OSU fans that read this board are embarrassed by that statement. The Zips played K.e.n.t. in a 15 degree below zero blizzard and won 34-6. To make excuses for OSU's offensive output based upon a slightly humid September day, with a little drizzle, is laughable.

Weekday football games suck. They ruin tailgating, which, to many many people, can be the best part of a college game day.

It's always nice to see someone pat themselves on the back, but you were clearly talking about some guy named Woods, not Wood.Woods DEFINITELY will play. Nick Dial told me so.

Since JD has been here, our defense has "lost" us a lot fewer games that the offense, or lack thereof, has. I'm more concerned with the Zips consistently putting points on the board, and converting in the red zone, than I am debating the merits of the 3-3-5.

From The Beacon

Since the the K.e.n.t. game on January 23rd, who knows what to expect from the Zips on a given night. The "Good Zips/Evil Zips" showed up at K.e.n.t, mauling K.e.n.t. in the first half, then getting mauled themselves in the second half. Jan 26th we go to Central Michigan -- Only the evil Zips showed up. Despite the 1-point loss we were pretty much dominated.Jan 30th -- "Good Zips/Evil Zips" again, as Toledo crushed us in the first half, then we returned the favor in half #2.Feb 2nd -- "Good Zips/Evil Zips" again, as the Zips played a lackluster half #1, then dominated in half #2.Feb 6th -- Only "Evil Zips" showed up. WMU dominated us.Feb 9th -- First game without Wood, and we gutted it out. Any road MAC win gets a "Good Zips" rating in my book.Feb 12th -- Pure "Evil Zips." The only evil thing missing was Ronnie James Dio singing the national anthem. Feb 16th -- "Good Zips" make a return appearance! Seniors collectively pull their weight for the first time in seemingly forever. Poise and clutch FT shooting down the stretch??!! It was heartening.Feb 19th & Feb 23rd -- We have a shot at Miami if Ced is truly back...even if "back" is 75% back. Unlike beating Bal State and BG on the road, this would be a legit, "Zips are back" head-turning win. It has been a while since we've beaten anyone of note on the road. VCU? It is a HUGE game. You hear the "Gonzaga of the East" stuff every so often from UA folks. Here's the chance to live up to the hype. Sure Wood is hurt. But Travis sat the 1st half of the Nevada game and we were fine. KD says repeatedly "The MAC isn't a 2-bid league yet." Baloney. K.e.n.t. beats St. Mary's on Saturday and K.e.n.t. is a legit at-large contender. Will a VCU win get us an at-large? Of course not. But it would have put us in the mix if we didn't blow our "opportunity games" vs. Dayton, Winthrop and K.e.n.t.. Or the "bunnies' that a solid at-large team should win like CMU or NIU.I have no prediction for the Miami game, other than if Middleton is "back," we're in the mix. And if he's 2-11 with 5 points, we'll lose.

rather be a masculine woman than a gay can't stater...and Brady Quinn checks into ZipsNation. How about that?

Speaking of Zippy -- Here is a big, FAT thumbs down for the University's handling of the "Zippy's Kid's Club" in 2007-8. No newsletters, no Birthday cards for the kids...nothing. Of course, all that stuff is promised to the kids up-front.I buy my son season tickets for football and hoops to support the respective programs even though he's in the Kid's Club. He liked it, so for $30.00 it was worth keeping him in it. He's out of it next year. #1 mascot in the nation, but #317 ranked Kid's Club. Shoddy, UA. Very shoddy.

Seems like a great kid. Click for a nice column in the local paper.

That's just f-'d up. Profoundly sad.

Hopefully it was just announced that Eric McLaughlin and Marcel Boyce were granted anlother year of eligibility? If not, based upon our last several games, I remain pretty concerned.

I think it is safe to assume his son was on MassilonTiger.org campaigning for dad to keep his job.AkronObsessed...to AshlandObsessed....to MassilonObsessed...to GreenObsessed...that kid has more obsessions than Calvin Kline.

After reviewing the recruit videos...a great way to spend a lunch break by the way...here are my thoughts:Jordan Miller has a strong arm. Noticeably stronger than what I remember Matt Rogers' appeared in his video last season. The throws a nice deep ball...not a floater, but a strike. Runs well too.Bowser looks to be the real deal. Nice moves, acceleration and a ton of yards-after-catch. Thankfully he isn't an inch taller or the Zips couldn't have gotten a return phone call from him. He'll rule in the MAC.Deshaun Miller - Looks fearless over the middle. He and Bruce will be a great slot receive combo.Nadir Brown - He's one of the guys the Zips offered after Gardner and Cooper stiffed us on signing day. Not only is he tall at 6' 5", the guy has great hands and reach. He plays with the athleticism of a basketball player. He could be a steal. If he weren't injured is senior season, BCS schools would have been all over him. All reports say his health is fine. He's a good one.Ryan Ladrach - Probably the least spectacular of the recruit videos...but TE's typically aren't all that sexy (for lack of a better term). Seems to have great size, good hands and a lot of upside.Andrew Colosimo - Looks to be a strong, strong kid. Technique looks good...I'm guessing his HS coaching was pretty good.Andrew Bice - Marked as an OL...but I wouldn't mind seeing him get a shot at DL. He looked excellent there. Mitch Straight - See Bice's comments above. Both these guys look to be agile, strong big men who could be successful on either side of the ball.Joe Pachuta - The guy just mauled opposing DLs. I wonder how many pancakes he had for the season...more than Waffle House and Perkins make for a typical post-church Sunday brunch, I assume?James Harvey - Yet another big man (6' 4", 280) who's athleticism stood out first and foremost. Played RB, TE and DL! I think the sky is the limit for him.Hassan Hazime - 6' 6", 245 lbs, and chiseled. Hopefully he makes the jump to the speed of the American college game quickly. If so, look out! It will be surreal for him to play in some of the bigger college venues...judging from a lot of his footage, my back yard is more of a football field than some of the sandlots he's used to playing in?Brian Wagner - Man, did this kid look impressive. Reminiscent of an early-career Nate Boyd or Brian Hilk. Yeah, he's from a Division 6 program, but's that's the only way the Zips could get a kid of his caliber. If he played at even an average D1 HS program, larger schools would have been all over him. Breakaway speed...strength...I'd be surprised if he isn't one of the 2008 true freshman that plays immediately.Nate Schuler - FINALLY the Zips start recruiting from the Youngstown-area's Inter County League...home of middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (Lowellville HS) and yours truly (McDonald HS). The kid lays out some serious shots. Once he gets into a solid weight program, quits playing QB and gives up hoops, the sky is the limit for this 6' 2" 215lb missile. Troy Gilmer - Highlights were predominately on the offensive side of the ball, but he'll be an LB. Looks to be a great athlete. Very fast.Will Flemming - Not the sexiest highlight film ever, but the one thing that stood out was his anticipation. More so than anyone else, he seems to make big plays by being a 1/2 step ahead.Kevin Davis: He fell into the Zips hands when Maurice Harvey stiffed the Zips in favor of Nevada Reno. Davis looks to have excellent ball-hawking skills. Tackles well too.Jared Province - Most of his highlights were at RB. The kid glides...he looks like a young Robert Smith, or better yet Dominik Hixson. Like Wagner and Schuler, he's a small-school Ohio kid. But he has great size, bloodlines and burner speed. He seems to be an absolute steal.Kevin Funches - A JUCO DB that appears to have solid cover skills and good speed. Manley Waller - Fast and tough. reminds me of a pre-ACL injury Chevin Pace. He also had the best tape special effects!Marvase Byrd - His speed and toughness stood out.Norm Shuford - I loved his spin moves at RB. And his speed. despite being 5' 9", he has the "look" of a prototypical DB. Add these guys to Bain, Bruce and Johnson and we have what appears to be a very solid class. I'm pretty excited to see them all suit up.

Click for MAC Recruiting OverviewTake it from the source...an on-line publication that listed Jarvis Givens and Kyle Roddenberry as Zips commitments for the second consecutive year.