Captain Kangaroo

It started with K.e.n.t., then George Mason, and now Davidson (whom Western Michigan beat in '08). It appears as though mid-majors making deep tourney runs is becoming commonplace? By the Zips beating a 20-win ACC team in their own arena, you can see the gap between mid-major and "power conference" is becoming much smaller. I'm guessing that, in two years, the Zips are ready to make some real post-season noise. KD always seems to get the most out of his talent. And to the nay-sayers, I contend that, until now, our talent has honestly been "NIT-level." The 2007 and 2008 recruiting classes have much more talent and upside than the classes that recently graduated. Next year will be rough, early on. But I'm guessing we'll make some noise in the MAC tourney. And LOOK-OUT in 2009-10!

You can judge him by one half of one game, and one mistake by one player...or by the body of his work:Six 20-win seasons. 3 NIT's. Two NCAA's.The guy can coach. And whomever takes over for him in 2008-9 will have a loaded roster. K.e.n.t. isn't going anywhere.

For you Cross Country recruiting zealots

Very pedestrian column. He's capable of much better. Anyone notice that the Zips win over Florida State was never mentioned in the PD until that series of notes? Maybe this was the "make up?"

Some nice notes from Mike Rasor's Blog

I've seen him. He's 285. He didn't play last year because he's fairly new to football (I think he only played 2 years of HS?). And, to go from Youngstown Rayen to UA is a pretty academic big leap. I know he made the Dean's List for the fall semester....so if his football progress is anything like his scholastic progress...he could have a significant impact this year.

They had 5 practices, then had a week off for spring break. I just don't think there was a whole heck of a lot to report.

I hear they the affected players were late to the "Team Quilting Bee," and subsequently dismissed. But that's just what I heard...

Looking forward to watching him play! We need a game-breaking WR to step in and contribute immediately. I saw his films, and he looks great. Very elusive once he catches the ball.

Assuming they girls are off the team...I'm guessing they had just finished running extra stadium laps to help them get in to shape for the 2008-9 season...and were just getting ready to visit some local high schools to lecture kids about the evils of drugs and alcohol...when the evil Coach Kest put the hammer down. That's usually how it goes....

I would love to see KD recruit a player that is ranked top 150 in the entire country, then Akron would truly dominate. Having a recruit that is one of the best in your state, doesn't necessarily mean he is a high impact player. The crop of players at that position could be particularly weak in that state during that year. I would also like to KD recruit a player hat is ranked in the nations top 20 at their respective positions.I like our staff to recruit good student athletes. Who cares where some internet site rates them...

I think at this point, I think Bryan Hipsher and a couple firecrackers would do the trick.

Huge game for the Zips, and we really have no excuses. We're as healthy as we could ever hope for, and we've had several days off...on spring break (no missed classes), none the less.Last time we were in the NIT I think we beat Temple in OT, then had to play at Creighton the following night? That was asking a bit much.I like our chances. After the FSU game, we should be playing with a lot of confidence.Which Dials will show up?

If that were any part of the debate, you might have a point. But it isn't.The debate is: "Does WMU have a legit gripe regarding no being in the post season?"To state that a 20-win MAC team, with a top 25 win, who has several wins over tourney teams, is "whining" is ludicrous. Especially coming from a Zips/MAC fan only one year removed from a snub. And only a month-or-so away from losing to them by 20.

If you can't see that WMU would have a legit gripe being left out of this year's post season, after their 20-win season where they beat a top-25 team, beat Akron (NIT) by 20 and beat Miami (CBI)...you'll never "get it."

Our low 2006-7 RPI and SOS were a key factors in us not getting into the NIT.WMU beat Pepperdine, beat Davidson (Top 25), beat Southern Illinois, beat AKRON...for them to claim they're equal, or more deserving than OU or Miami (neither of whom beat the Zips in 2007-8) is hardly "whining." They were a very good ball club in 2007-8.I don't think the MAC will ever get respect nationally...it seems even the people most-familiar with the conference don't give it's better teams any respect. How can we expect someone in Des Moines or Birmingham to do so?

2006-7 Zips fan calling the 2007-8 WMU "kettle" black?

Evil, evil thing to do when you're 19. Glad no one on this board ever did that!

Cleveland media will always cover OSU first, CSU (if they're doing anything noteworthy) second and the Zips somewhere thereafter. Who can blame them?The Beacon -- Shocker that coverage would be sparse.The PD -- The game finished too late to make print.To 99% of the public this is NCAA Tourney time. The NIT is simply a space filler between what are popularly considered "the real games." That's just the way it is. That's why is sucked to lose in the MAC Championship for consecutive years. It's kept us from being "Page 1." All the attention K.e.n.t. is getting, and will get over the next few days...they earned it. Hopefully we'll be in the same position one day.

Joe Dunn??!!

You missed a great college basketball game. It was just on ESPN Classic. You should have seen it. The Zips (a team from Ak-RON, apparently) played their ASSES off defensively. They totally shut down three excellent ACC guards on their home court. We had this guy...his name is Rick Smiles...Dick Lyles...something like that...but the guy went Larry Bird on the Seminoles...scored something like 13 of the Zips final 14 points!I hope someone you know TiVo'd the game. If you're a Zips fan, you'll LOVE it.Everyone just calm down a second. All I'm saying was that last couple of minutes was ugly. I watched the game. The first half and most of the second half we played great, don't get me wrong. But I lost track of how many free throws we missed in the last five minutes and I distinctly remember two breakaway layups we missed in the same time frame. We were just lucky that FSU did the same because if they made any one of those shots they missed we lose the game. Huge win for the Zips and a well played 35 minutes. But we've had the same problem all year. We need to figure out how to finish games. If we miss the gimme points like that against UMass then we are in a world of trouble in the next game.Florida State made 100% of their free throws. It didn't help.The Zips DID finish the game. Florida State didn't.FT's were bad. Defense was stellar.

I'm glad to see Mrs. Marshall check in!My mom's side of the family is all from Western Pa...Butler area. As a student it was really nice to be only 2 hours from my Grandparents house for things like Easter, Thanksgiving...even meeting in Austintown for a Saturday lunch is pretty much mid-way. MAC games...except for WMU and Ball State...aren't too bad a road trip from Pittsburgh either. Logistically, UA is a great fit for a Pittsburgh-area college student. Far enough away...but still close to home.Zeke seems like a great kid. I'll be selfish and say I hope he chooses UA, but wherever he ends up...I'll probably be a Zeke fan. I do hope he doesn't end up in the ACC. I heard tonight that MAC basketball is better.

Kid drives me up the wall!!!

You missed a great college basketball game. It was just on ESPN Classic. You should have seen it. The Zips (a team from Ak-RON, apparently) played their ASSES off defensively. They totally shut down three excellent ACC guards on their home court. We had this guy...his name is Rick Smiles...Dick Lyles...something like that...but the guy went Larry Bird on the Seminoles...scored something like 13 of the Zips final 14 points!I hope someone you know TiVo'd the game. If you're a Zips fan, you'll LOVE it.

I would guess about 2 of the 5,000 Zips fans you would survey say KD can't coach and that we have no talent. You make it sound like there's some lynch mob forming.Everyone loves Dambrot. Everyone loves the Zips. If some people hate losing to K.e.n.t. by 20...I would hope that Dambrot is happy people care, or that they flat-out hurt when the Zips lose.As Dambrot is fond of saying -- "Each game is a mutually exclusive event." Our game against Western Michigan was one of the best games I've ever seen the Zips play. Conversely, the K.e.n.t. game was a train wreck, where we couldn't "finish" on the most fundemental offensive plays. To say one game was great and the next sucked is wholly accurate. And to spin disappointment in the K.e.n.t. game into a "fire the coach" rant is just plain stupid.Go Zips!