Captain Kangaroo

Unfortunately, I need to lock the topic again. Thanks to all of you who offered some good discussion on the topic.

FYI - I killed the Dwight thread. The "headline" was too harsh (my bad), and since the football board is slow, I didn't want it hanging around for a few weeks.Does Dwight hate UA?Is the guy proud of his alma mater?Is there a limit to the guys' brushes with the law that would finally break your back?I'll leave it up to you to decide.

You hear the name "Gonzaga" brought up a lot when you hear Univerity people talk about their vision for the Zips basketball future. In Mack's interview in the Beacon the other day he mentioned Gonzaga's 6,000 seat arena. That sounds great...just like the JAR...but when the 'Zags play a marquee game like Tennessee or Georgia, they typically move the game to a bigger, downtown venue. We would need to do the same.The downtown arena makes it more inviting for the opponent because is does negate the home court advantage a bit. And you have a better opportunity to draw a big crowd. Because it would be a marquee opponent, and the Zips would have a great chance of knocking them off.Here are the keys to holding a successful game at the Q:The Zips must be very good. If the Zips suck, like a few years ago when we played Cinci at the Q, then no one will show. I didn't even go to that game, and that says a lot.The opponent must be recognizeable to the NE Ohio fan -- Not Nevada. Pitt...Big 10 school, ACC school, Xavier. Something along those lines.Hold the game while school is in session. Fill busses with students. Don't hold it during break.Pimp the game hard. Partner up with K.e.n.t. to make it a twin-bill. K.e.n.t. and Akron fans would stay to watch one-anothers games against marquee opponents. The place would be packed.There you go. Make it happen Mack.

I'd take that.

Stop at BW-3's before the men's game. I'll by you a beer and we can talk about Tom Holden.

I spoke to Waters at the MAC tourney last year. He said "Keith has done a great job at Akron. We aren't ready to play them yet. We'll start the games back up in a year or two."At least the guy is honest. We'll see if he lives up to his word.

How NC A&T beat DePaul is beyond me. I guess it just goes to show, "On any given day...."I thought A&T was boarderline "thug." All their fouls were pretty hard...ask Wood and Middleton.I wonder what effect the Middleton foul had on his shooting? That's the worst I've EVER seen Ced's shoot....he wasn't even close after the first couple minutes.The Cavalry looks to be as good as advertised. I like how they played with confidence and defended aggressively.I thought Wood would get 20 rebounds..in the first half! He ate the lazy A&T big men alive.Dials found his shot. Hope that continues. Interesting that, in the post game, he attributed getting his shot back on track to practicing 1-footers? Linhart and Conyers seem to be an effective 2-headed monster...but Brett McKnight is going to push them. Especially if he can drain the three like he did last night.I think the "second 5" on this Zips' bench are better than most of Crawford and Hipsher's starting 5's? Remember when Brian Wood and Bryan Hipsher were battling for the starting #2 guard position? It was only 5 years ago!Funny that this Zips team has yet to hit on all cylinders, yet we're killing teams? Yes, the teams we've beaten aren't juggernauts. But we're still killing them. I can't wait for the Dayton and Miami games!

I was going through some old emails and I came across this gem from long-time ZipsNation poster Z-P (formerly Z-Pastie).Here is the text, along with the accompanying photo (great stuff):___________________________________________________________Last Saturday, we were sitting under a Frankenheim Brewery umbrella enjoying and Altbeir on the main strasse in the Altstadt section of Dusseldorf before the NFL Europe Championship game. Having had several J, I was content to sit way back, and watch the crowd stroll by, when what to my eyes does appear but a #65 Euro Jersey with a Bears allocation patch on the front. I alerted my boyz, and they gave it an approving nod despite the fact the Euro had a bad dew rag and bad trow on.As the guy walked past, I didn’t look, but my buddy goes “Hey! Look at that impossible name on the back of the jersey!” Turning around, I almost spilled everything off the table. It was Big Griz’s Euro jersey! The guy was very cool…a Belgian Engineer who loved the NFL and had come to Dusseldorf for the game.What a nice surprise!BTW, the star of the game was Butchie Wallace from Marshall who the Zips played against many times.

Really? Those two holding calls on the Pitt WR were bogus? I, for one, am shocked.

They investigate this guy, but not the crew that did the Michigan State/Hawai'i game 3 years ago?

KC Thread from Last Month

I was at the game and took a photo. GoZips description was accurate.

I think the problem is finding 3k individuals willing to do this. If you have a family of 3 or 4, forking over $15k - $20k for Zips football is a tall order.

That pretty much sums up how I feel too. We're 7-2, and just got a lot deeper at guard.

If you're ineligible, there's no practice. You can't even attend practice as an observer. You'd like to think that Chris McKnight might have discussed the playbook with his little 'bro over Thanksgiving, however. In Steward's case, he practiced only briefly before the injury.

We're 7-2, and about to receive the infusion of three "impact" players for the remainder of the season. How soon can they adjust? Who's playing time is diminished?Will Ced get time to rest his knees?Which of the three will be "game-ready" the quickest?Look out, MAC, here we come!

In my opinion OU, Miami and K.e.n.t. are tops in the MAC at this time...not like that's going out on too big a limb. This is the best the top of the MAC has looked in at least 5 years. The Zips are in the mix if the Cavalry can contribute soon after their eligibility commences. Or the hip flexor heals.The MAC East is as strong and a lot of "Major" conferences right now. Even if we beat each other up in conference play, this could be the year we get back to being a 2-bid league.

It is now official. Ryan verballed to the Zips.Read about it in the Beacon in a couple months...

From what I understand, Bobby Petrino is going to be announced as the new Saluki coach tomorrow.

Easy Headline to Write - NIU Replaces Novak

BTW -- I confirmed our YSU friend's post -- he is officially "verballed."

How about one like Brian Williams?

Thanks for the update. He was on my "Hot List." The Zips have been recruiting him hard for several months.Although his JFK Eagles beat my McDonald Blue Devils 48-6 in the HS playoffs this year, I won't hold it against him.

Virginia Episcopal School began it's season at the highly competitive Atlantic Shores Christian Tournament. Nik was named to the All-tournament team, with stats as follows:18 points, 10 rebounds vs. Christchurch (win)19 points, 8 rebounds vs. Atlantic Shores (loss) 18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals vs Cape Henry (win)Seems pretty consistent? FYI - Atlantic Shores and Cape Henry are two teams projected to play in the North Carolina HS Division 2 "Final Four" this year.One of the Tourney coaches had this to say regarding Nik's Virginial Episcopal School team: "What can you say? Coach John Windham continued to show this weekend why he's one of the absolute best in our business. The guy can flat out coach his rear-end off. They beat Christ Church on Thursday, lost a close one to ASCS Friday when Mr. Pledger decided to completely take over the game, and then beat a very good Cape Henry team in the 3rd Place Game. VES runs some of the best offensive stuff you'll ever see and play as well together as a team can. They know their strengths and limitations and play hard-nosed defense. Cvetinovic is a stud! Akron got a steal with this kid. He's a warrior. He can shoot, handle, and finish with the best of them. Just ask the ASCS and Cape Henry guys who he drove baseline and crammed it on."The next two Virginia Episcopal School games were part of the Robert Thomas Tourney @ Mountain State Academy. Nik's went for 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals vs Brunswick Academy (win) and followed it up with a 16 point, 5 rebounds, 4 steal, 2 assist game vs Mountain State Academy (also a win). Nik was named to the all-tourney team and was also named Tourney MVP!

Chillicothe opened the season with a loss to perennial State powerhouse Columbus Brookhaven. Two wins have followed:Win #1, Humpty Goes for 30Win #2, Hitchins Nets 18