Captain Kangaroo

Screw that -- Do whatever it takes to win THIS season! The MAC East is still there for the taking, and it would be a disservice to the seniors to put this team in a "rebuilding" mode, even for one game.No - You don't run Dials and Middleton into the ground. But you don't stick Bardo out for 30 minutes just for the sake of giving him "experience" either.Like Dambrot alluded to in the post-game Saturday:Bubba left, and Middleton stepped up his gameWood got hurt, and Travis stepped up his gameWood is out, and C McKnight seems to be stepping up his gameThis is an opportunity for a youngster to seize. We need someone to step up and be an impact player for the rest of the season. Regardless of how the season plays out, we will not go into The Q with a bullseye on our back this season. It'll be fun to be the underdog for the first time in a while.

CJ7 is no longer a Zip. But I do agree...I don't see him improving, regardless of where he ends up. If it does, we are in a world of hurt. No one is banking on them. That's why we signed the JUCO guys. They are the key to the WR position this year. That, and a QB that can get them the ball.

I've heard similar rumbling. I think it would be awesome.From what I've heard, he has a legit shot in the NFL as a DB. But probably not as an RB. It would also allow us to put our best 22 players on the field, instead of sitting Allen or Johnson.

He was ineligible in the fall, so like any fall non-qualifier, he would not be eligible in the spring. Assuming a minor miracle, you could see him in summer camp.

Since you bring up the topic of scheduling...I hear rumors that the Florida State Seminoles could end up on the Zips 2009 schedule (away). That would be a sweet road trip. Regarding getting upper-tir B11 teams @ home...forget it. It ain't happening. Michigan can get 110,000 paying customers to see them play 1-AA schools. UA would need to charge $2,000.00 per ticket to get anywhere near close to the $$ required to get OSU or Michigan to come to our 30,000 seat stadium.Like other MAC schools, we need to get the Syracuse's...Rutgers'...Purdue's...Iowa State's...Cincinnati's..Minnesota's...teams of that ilk to make an attractive non-conference schedule. Or, we waste our brand new stadium and play a neutral-field game in Cleveland againsts a top-tier school. I want to tailgate in Akron and watch games in Akron once the stadium is built. Why spend 55 million dollars, then play games in Cleveland's stadium? Why screw the local merchants who invested in business around the new stadium by giving Cleveland our $$.As far as innovative ideas to grow the fan base - Play better, win games and do so for an extended period of time. That will draw fans. I think the Zips' 2009 team will be excellent...we'll have the new stadium to showcase them...and the bandwagon will spontaneously erupt, much like the Motor City Bowl's "instant" Zips following. And for once, I think people will pay for their tickets and we may actually start crawiling out from the red.

I saw Larry Dawson didn't catch on anywhere either.

Harvey is in school this semester. That's all I know.

I wouldn't sell Alex Allen short. In my book, Williams is #1, Allen is "#1a" and anyone else has a lot of proving to do to beat those guys out for playing time.

So much for waiting 2 days for gozips.com... Thanks, Cap.Two days was generous. I'd have guessed a week!

Click for List

Which (below) is OSU's Kosta Koufos?Answer - Both. Picture #2 was taken during Koufos' post-game interview.

I think the soccer, softball and rifle squads would beg to differ on the "everything" generalization. Regarding everything else - I think if UA had OSU's budget and corporate sponsors, you'd see a slightly different level of marketing that what's presently on the street.

Add Fleming, Straight and Colosimo to the list!

Thusfar, as of 8:17am, I can confirm Shuford, James Harvey, Nate Schuler, Manley Waller, Ryan Ladrach and Joe Pachuta has submitted their paperwork, and are "officially" Zips!If I hear more, I'll be sure to post it.

He was listed as a soft commit on scout.com.Do we get Marquis Avery now?I doubt Avery is an option. I also wonder if the Gardner info is true. It is crunch time, so I'm not going to bug anyone for "scoop" info. The next 18 hours or so will be pretty frenetic.

Scout.com "announces" 2-week old news. And people pay for it? I gotta get in on that scam.... Can't wait for Jarvis Givins' name to roll off the fax machine tomorrow...per Scout.com

CK, you got inside dirt on that start time?Everything seems to point to an 11am ESPN2 game. But, that's just my guess.

Thanks for checking in. The game will definitely be a good one. The game is important to us on several levels. VCU is a much better opponent than our Austin Peay draw of two years ago. The Zips struggle to get quality mid-majors on the schedule, so drawing a respected team like VCU is great for 2008, but maybe even better for 2009. Ditto VCU gets an opportunity to match up with one of the quality programs in the midwest.Our post season tourney credentials aren't quite VCU's, but when teams bank in 40 footers to beat you in the tourney finals...and the NIT snubs you after 26 wins...it is tough to build much of a resume'. Such is life in a 1-bid conference. Prior to this coach, we had two really bad ones...for 9 years each...thus our lack of much semi-recent tourney history from 1990-2003. I look forward to seeing VCU in person. I saw the George Mason game a little over a week ago, and GM took it to you guys in the end. They reminded me a lot of Ohio U with their size, so the OU/GM matchup will be great to watch afterwards.I'd offer to buy GM fans a beer before the game, but 11am starts kinds put a damper on it. Maybe BW-3's afterwards?

Checking in on the 2008 class, it appears nothing has changed. You never know until the signatures come off the fax machine, but right now what you see is what we'll get. No new commits or de-commits as of 12:30pm today.Minor notes:Barring a major development, we're out of the Marquis Avery sweepstakes.No...I repeat NO...public press conference is being held to announce the 2008 class. I am checking into attending the media press conference.Wisconsin is pretty much off the Zips 2008 schedule.Wish I had more...

That's how we roll. Jorts make it look like a tailgate for a country music concert.Your jealousy is so transparent.

We're excited to have you Joe! Enjoy tomorrow...getting a D1 football scholarship is an awesome accomplishment!

I promise to focus on the upcoming WMU game, but since the topic is hot:Click for Pick

That's how we roll.

I would think this will be a great match up. If VCU defends the 3-line well, they can give us trouble. That's how we lost to Ken.t and CMU...their guards got in our face. But...both those games were on the road. We don't lose at home. Ok...95% of the time we don't. Two seasons ago we drew Austin Peay. They were pretty full of themselves...and we smoked them. Both in the tourney, and in the return game this season.While it isn't "sexy" (in terms of ESPN-based prominence) to play the Zips, our coach will have four 20+ win seasons and a 19-win season under his belt in his first 5 years at the helm. A win vs. UA in any season would look good on VCU's tourney resume. Rest assured -- Our team next season will be very competitive. But for now, I'm looking forward to the 23rd.

I see Miller @ #4. Going into spring drills #1QB will be CJ11. As it should be...he's the veteran. It will be interesting to see if JD names a starter after the spring game, or waits until summer camp.#2 will be Matt Rogers. I think the staff is committed to developing him as the starting QB.#3 will likely be KC Patterson. People were waiting for the Zips to grab a JUCO QB recruit in 2008, but didn't because we already had one in KC. #4 Jordan Miller. If Rogers and Patterson has solid springs, I'm guessing Miller redshirts. If CJ11 loses the job, and subsequently bolts to a lower-division program...MAYBE Miller gets in the mix.I don't know who'll be the started in mid-season. Check back in after spring practices are complete. I've never seen Patterson or Rogers throw a meaningful ball so I'd just be guessing.Scout or Rivals? - For UA recruiting, they are equally as worthless to me. A few years ago I used to track their recruiting lists. It was an exercise in futility. They'd list 50 names in July, and come signing day, MAYBE three or four would actually have committed to the Zips. Even now, two days away from signing day, their lists are very incomplete. I put the recruiting "stars" on my list because people seem to like them. But they don't mean much. I read a stat that, in the 2007 NFL draft, only 45% of the 1st and 2nd round picks were 4-star or 5-star rated HS players. Guys like Thomas Plummer and Nate Robinson were "4-star" and it didn't seem to mean much.Maybe I'll come up with my own useful ratings one day? "Captain's Anchors" or "Captain's Wheels"...