Captain Kangaroo

In what could be one of my worst decisions of 2007, I decided at 2pm on Friday to leave work, pack the truck, grab my son and make the 2-or-so hour drive to Bowling Green Ohio.BG had a nice tailgate area, and I stumbled across Zip81 in the tailgate lot in addition to some other Zips fans and band member parents...so the pre-game stuff was all good. That's about all I could hang my hat on.You could tell the game was going to be "one of those games" from the get-go. In past games the defensive lapses could be attributed to the offensive ineptitude. The defense was simply gassed, and surrendered yardage and points during the game's late stages. Tonight, for a full 4 quarters, the BG moved up and down the field with ease. The Zips rushed 3 and dropped 8 on numerous occasions...and BG receivers were WIDE open every time. We couldn't formulate an effective blitz to save our lives. Offensively, we were equally inept. CJ7 left...CJ7 right...CJ7 up the middle is a lousy offense. I don't care if he got 130 yards. He should if he's carrying it 24 times. Did it put up decent numbers? Yeah, if yards were worth anything. Unfortunately points are what really matters and the Zips avoided the endzone like Karen Carpenter avoided Haagen Das.The Zips had 6 visits to the red zone. 5 were inside the 10 yard line...and we got a whopping 13 points out of it. Of our 11 possessions, 9 of them started beyond our 30 yard line. 9 of our 11 possessions ended in BG territory. We had 25 first downs! 243 rushing yards! And 20 points...I've never seen an offense do so little with such excellent field position for 4 full quarters.Bryan Williams had 8 carries. That ain't right.Mike Rasor kind of summed it up best in observing that BG ran the same "spread" offense that Akron did...but BG ran it correctly. And they had the right QB to do so. CJ7 lobbed lolly pops all night. That won't cut it.I'm glad I saw CJ7 get another crack at QB. Now I know neither CJ7 nor CJ11 is our answer. I'm looking forward to next season when CJ7 is at WR, Matt Rogers is the QB and CJ11 and KC Patterson duke it out for the back up role.Last season's BG QB Anthony Turner did a hell of a job in his "slash" position. Threw a TD. Caught a TD. UConn went from 4-8 to 8-1 this year when they moved the incumbent QB Hernandez to wide out and brought in a play maker transfer from Iowa State. Getting a solid QB for our spread offense and moving CJ7 to a "slash" position could be just what the doctor ordered. For the remainder of this season -- Play CJ11 on 1st and 2nd down. Bring in CJ7 when you need a couple yards. It ain't the long term solution, but it is the best one we've got at the moment.On the positive side -- Hell of a game by Jabari. Best stiff-arms ever.

And then land a QB that can get him the ball!

I've had a really bad 2007 regarding by predictions, so it is probably a curse for him if I say "no red shirt." If we can afford to red shirt him, that would really speak well for our team in 2007-8.

I don't see a red shirt happening. He seems to be doing very well. And, unlike Bardo last year, size-wise, Steve is pretty much ready to compete. He just needs to get that "banger," inside attitude. I think he'll be good for about 10 mpg this year, but we'll see.

Going into the first week in November, here’s a quick update on how things look for the Zips basketball team:The veterans are pretty much fully up-to-speed. But it is a work-in-process for the young guys. For McNees and Bardo, the redshirt season has made the transition to D1 hoops a bit easier, but there is still a world of difference from being on essentially the “scout team,” working against Rome and Dru…and being on the white team and being counted on to contribute and run the show. McNees has shown he’s an excellent ball handler. And, he can stick the wide open jumper with the best of them. But PG is the toughest position to learn. Expect a little bit of inconsistency from him early on, with play improving as the season progresses.Jimmy Conyers had his best practice week ever last week. The game has really slowed down for him. He may be the hardest working player on the team, and also may be the team’s toughest post defender. Every great team has a shut-down type defensive specialist, like Demetric Shaw was for K.e.n.t, or Floyd Johnson was for the Huggins-era Zips, and for the 2007-8 Zips that guy looks to be Jimmy. His offense is coming along too, but look for his defense to stand out immediately.Nate Linhart worked with a personal trainer this summer and put on 10lbs of muscle. Look for a more consistent contribution effort from Nate in ‘08, with a boost in his outside scoring.How’d Ronnie Steward get hurt? It was a freak thing…he simply pivoted awkwardly and “BAM,” the dreaded hip flexor reared its ugly head. There’s no fracture, and he’s not on crutches. But the pain has prevented him from practicing. Jeremiah Wood is in great shape. However, his right hand is banged up a bit. He’ll be fine when the season starts. Word on the street is he worked quite a bit on a 10ft jumper this summer. If defenses pack it inside and dare Wood to shoot the “J” he’ll probably make them pay.Chris McKnight went to Europe this summer and played pretty extensively. He made great strides in his outside shooting, and was his team’s leading scorer. With the year of college hoops under his belt and the summer experience he’s gained, look for a much more confident, polished Chris McKnight this fall.Quade Milum – Here’s a guy that KD absolutely loves, and who should be a much bigger contributor offensively than ever before. He’s a great kid, hard worker, and he’s really added to his game over the summer. From 10ft and in, he’s money. His hook shot is off-the-hook wicked. Quade’s biggest hurdle this year is believing in himself as much as the staff believes in him. Like we saw @ Temple a couple years ago, when Quade plays with confidence, he can flat-out dominate. From everything I’ve been told, we should expect to see several more “Temple-like” performances from Quade in 2007-8.Steve Swiech is slowly rounding into form. He’s dropped 15 lbs since arriving on campus and his footwork is improving almost daily. But in high school it was commonplace for him to catch lobs from the point guard and score at-will over the smaller opposition. In D1 hoops there are plenty of guys his size, and who have serious hops and quickness, and that’s been a bit of a wake-up call. Like any incoming frosh, it will take a while until Steve gets used to the speed and athleticism he’s going to run into every night he steps on to the court. Offensively, if he gets the ball within 8 feet, he’s been solid. His touch is unreal for a big man at such an early stage. “The Wizard of Wadsworth” Nick Goddard will definitely get opportunities to contribute during his final season. If teams try to pack it in on J Wood, look for the Zips most underrated passer to kick the ball out to our guards for some wide-open 3’s. This is likely the situation where Nick will see the majority of his “real” (non-garbage time) PT this year.That’s all for now. Time to clean out my gutters.

I'll try to be there.

You guys rip on Elton Alexander, but the guy is awesome. How many other reporters can go to a Halloween party and simply wear their everyday outfit?

Nice "find?" I wrote that! BTW - The 5th is from the Rybak scholarship.

The NCAA’s early signing period runs from November 14th through November 21st and the Zips now have four solid verbals expected to sign letters-of-intent. In addition to Anthony “Humpty” Hitchins, Nikola Cventinovic and Alex Sullivan, the Zips recenly added 6’ 8” 230 lb power forward/center Andrew Parrish out of Dayton’s Northmont HS to the 2008 Zips’ class. Parrish is reported to be a rock-solid inside player. He was 11th in the Great Western Ohio Conference in scoring at 13.7ppg, 3rd in FG% @ 60.1% and led the league with a Shaq-esque 4.6 blocks per game.In 2005 Hoopscoop had Parrish rated the #149 player player in the nation. Rick Bolus also rated Andrew as his "Top Ohio Underclassman Sleeper" in January 2007. Six months later in July '07, and no longer a "sleeper," Andrew moved into Bolus’ “Second 12”, and the coveted “Top Sleeper” for the 2008 Ohio HS class was awarded to fellow Zips recruit Alex Sullivan.In a bit of news that will break Akron Zips fans hearts…a few weeks ago MiamiHawktalk.com reported that Andrew was a guest at the recent Miami/Syracuse football game. I hate when the Zips edge Miami for a top-flight recruit. :DHe was also heavily recruited by Eastern Michigan.In other Zips-related recruiting news -- One of the major national recruiting sites has listed Maryland's Marquise Simmons as a Zips recruiting target. The Zips stopped recruiting him during mid-summer and he has recently verballed to St Bonaventure.More recruiting info to follow soon!

The NCAA’s early signing period runs from November 14th through November 21st and the Zips now have four solid verbals expected to sign letters-of-intent. In addition to Anthony “Humpty” Hitchins, Nikola Cventinovic and Alex Sullivan, the Zips recenly added 6’ 8” 230 lb power forward/center Andrew Parrish out of Dayton’s Northmont HS to the 2008 Zips’ class. Parrish is reported to be a rock-solid inside player. He was 11th in the Great Western Ohio Conference in scoring at 13.7ppg, 3rd in FG% @ 60.1% and led the league with a Shaq-esque 4.6 blocks per game.In 2005 Hoopscoop had Parrish rated the #149 player player in the nation. Rick Bolus also rated Andrew as his "Top Ohio Underclassman Sleeper" in January 2007. Six months later in July '07, and no longer a "sleeper," Andrew moved into Bolus’ “Second 12”, and the coveted “Top Sleeper” for the 2008 Ohio HS class was awarded to fellow Zips recruit Alex Sullivan.In a bit of news that will break Akron Zips fans hearts…a few weeks ago MiamiHawktalk.com reported that Andrew was a guest at the recent Miami/Syracuse football game. I hate when the Zips edge Miami for a top-flight recruit. :DHe was also heavily recruited by Eastern Michigan.In other Zips-related recruiting news -- One of the major national recruiting sites has listed Maryland's Marquise Simmons as a Zips recruiting target. The Zips stopped recruiting him during mid-summer and he has recently verballed to St Bonaventure.More recruiting info to follow soon!

I've seen my share of bad coaching in Akron over the past 20 years. I don't see bad coaching with JD. I see some bad recruiting stratagies...ones that seemingly have been rectified...with the exception of recruiting a stud QB...but I don't see bad coaching. OK...the offense needs some creativity too...but I think that is due in large part to the lack of a stud QB and the aforementioned retention issues. The offense has gradually become more creative and effective as the season has progressed.If JD's 2007 #1 recruiting class was like the 2006 retention-wise, I'd be concerned. But it doesn't appear to be.I see Notre Dame fire Ty Willingham after 3 years. With all ND's resources, they hired a multi-million dollar bust that's probably not capable of beating the upper-tier MAC teams on a neutral field.I see Randy Edsall at UCONN who followed up his Motor City Bowl championship, 8-4, 2004 season with a 5-6 and 3-9 campaign. And those wins he had in those two seasons would make Lee Owens blush...Rhode Island...Liberty...Buffalo. Now UCONN is Top 25 and playing great. Should the guy have been fired because two years after the MCB he went 3-9?Changing coaches every 3-4 years is suicide. JD deserves 5-6 years to see what he can do. Not 9 years like Dan Hipsher or Lee Owens or Gerry Faust...but by 5-6 years you should have an accurate read on the guy's ability. After 3.6 years, I see sufficient hope that JD will be fine. It would be a big help if he can pull a Nate Davis-type impact QB out of this class, that's for sure.I predicted 9-3...8-4 worst case in August. I'm doing better than Phil Steele, at 100% less salary. And the Zips still have a shot at 7-5. That wouldn't be such a bad miss. Help a brutha' out, JD!

Since I've been wrong virtually every week, I'm going with reverse psychology:BG 35 Zips 10 (all 10 pts in the 1st half, of course)

That dirtbag son should give back the cash asap. Everyone and their brother knew that area was where the stadium was going to be located last year. Gotta love a trustee that tells his son - "Pssst...hey, I know a great area where you can purchase some land that will skyrocket in value within a year." Hope he got a nice Father's Day present from his son for that "tip." If the guy really added $40,000 worth of improvements to a 113 year old house in that area within the past 12 months, he's the biggest idiot in Summit County.

On the nose, Dr. Z.

You know the MAC officials would have...there HAD to be a block in the back somewhere!Better Call than Stams and Frenchy?

Howard Cosell used to have a show on am radio called "Speaking of Everything."I guess this is my version.Speaking of the Buffalo game....Who'da thunk in August that we'd take a methodical beating from Buffalo? Give Turner Gill credit...he's done in 1.5 years what we've been waiting to see from JD for four, right? We'll...maybe not. See, Gill is winning with the previous coach's players, not his own recruits. I guess we need to see what the guy can do in year #4 before we can call him a great coach. At least that seems to be the popular logic on the board?And Speaking of Lee Owens...I remember early in Owens' tenure he was saddled with some horrific QB play. Junko...who knows who the other guys were, but they were absolutely atrocious. Owens pulled Greg Gromek's redshirt and started him the final four games. I think we won all four? So with that, I say...Speaking of Carlton Jackson...What can it hurt to put the guy in? Unless he knocked off a liquor store, or has a GPA in the Bluto Blutarski-range, I think the guy has served his time and needs to get back on the field. He beat K.e.n.t. He moved the ball against Indiana. I'm tired of seeing mediocre QB play.And Speaking of CJ11...The guy's play is still lackluster. But he is improving from game-to-game. It just seems like, when we need a big play, he blows it. Wastes a throw downfield on 4th and 10. Plunges into the line on 3rd and 3. Throws the errant pass to wide open WR's when we need it most. But the Zips offensive struggles are far from all his fault.Speaking of Bryan Williams and Alex AllenBryan Williams drops a sure 33 yard TD pass. With the Zips small margin for error, you simply can't do that. Alex Allen drops a sweep toss at the 5 yard line that's a sure 6 points. That's not on CJ11. The Buffalo loss was a "team loss."And Speaking of Dennis KennedyWhere is this guy in goal line situations? That's where he's "money." Just ask NC State. If Allen is going to be dropping the ball in the red zone, my vote is to use DK. Unless he's injured.And Speaking of Red Zone ProblemsJesus...Can our offense have any less confidence the closer we get to the goal line. A couple weeks ago we were at the 5 yard line and we threw on four consecutive downs. This week, we have 1st and 5 from the 8 yard line and we run every down? Two diametrically opposed strategies...but the same result. It sucked to watch Buffalo methodically push the ball into the endzone whenever they got close. And we turn into Laurel and Hardy.And Speaking of the Defense...To me, it was another decent effort by the defense. Not great...the DB's surrendered 3 TD passes on only 14 attempts from the Buffalo QB...but at SOME point the offense has to give you a chance. Giving up 26 points should be sufficient to win a football game in 2007. Even against a vastly improved team like Buffalo.And Speaking of Buffalo...This was their 4th game of the year at home. Conversely, through November 6th, the Zips will have had a whopping two games at the Rubber Bowl. TWO! What an unfair schedule! What other team in the nation had the odds stacked against them like that? Pick on CJ11...the defense, the staff, the recruiting, whatever. The year the Lee Owens supporters gloat over his gaudy 7-5 record, the guy had SIX home games, and two were against bad 1-AA schools! Five of those six were held prior to October 18th!Speaking of JD and Staff...I am really shocked...baffled...astounded at the "Fire the Coach" talk going on. The guy hasn't finished his 4th season...he's won a championship...been to a bowl...and we need new blood? Come on. His initial recruiting classes had substandard player retention. No doubt. Any you can see it's effects this year. Someone posted that in the Temple game, Temple played 10 more players than Akron. That's because they were deeper. Most teams are. But the 2007 recruiting class, the vast majority of whom are being red shirted, is a stellar one. Not the fool's gold of the 2006 class, but legit stuff. If JD can back it up with another solid class in 2008, the depth issues we've seen manifest themselves in the 2nd half of most games, should disappear immediately. What do I want to see out of the staff from here on out? To be honest, our young offense has progressed tremendously over the past several weeks. But we aren't putting the ball in the endzone. And that is a 50/50 blame split amongst the players and coaches. That MUST change. We need a swagger in the red zone. That comes from the QB, IMO.BG is bad. OU is terrible. Those are two games we simply must suck-it-up and win. I also want to see a win vs. either Miami or CMU. Miami is a decent team, but certainly not the Rotlisberger-led juggernaut of the early 2000's. A motivated Zips team can win in Oxford. CMU? I saw how we ended the season against WMU last year. I don't want to see that again. CMU gave up 70 points to Clemson. We stop LeFever and we win. I want to see the staff and team finish the season strong. Despite the BS schedule, 6-6, with continued improvement, should be expected. And speaking of the end of the season...My lunch break has ended.

If we had a real newpaper in town everyone would know why CJ7...the QB that beat K.e.n.t...isn't on the field. But we don't, so we don't. Nice job, DL Morgan. Could you imagine being in Columbus...and Troy Smith beats Michigan in September (for argument's sake)...and sits on the bench the rest of the season...and no reporter ever asks "What gives?" to Tressel at any point through October?

Thanks for bringing home the win!

With the weather being as lousy as it is, I can't believe the Buffalo game is going to be an air show. But I would LOVE to see CJ11 play a solid game. No bonehead plays like letting the clock run out at the end of the 1st half at UConn. No defaulting to a scramble-run and gaining a yard on 3rd and 3...when buying time with a scramble and passing could net a 1st down (like vs. Temple). CJ11 shows signs of being a solid QB. Then he makes horrific decisions the likes of which Zips fans are wholly unfamiliar with from the QB position over the past 10+ years. At some point the faith and patience JD and Staff have shown in CJ11 needs to start paying off. This is the game where CJ11 wins my heart, or forever swings me to CJ7. No Zips QB has ever lost to Buffalo.CJ11 doesn't need to throw for 350 yards, but he needs to move the chains and make smart decisions. If he plays a solid game, our D will get the rest it needs to be successful, and we win the game handily. If CJ11 has a bad game, we can't overcome it. Even if Bryan Williams goes for 180 yards and 3 TDs...which he will.Zips 31-17

Great pic, Zip81!! Thanks!

Brett McKnight's Situation is Explained HereHe was ineligible when the semester began, thus he can't play for the 1st semester. Apparently 9,000 other HS kids who wanted to attend colleges across Ohio were also caught up in this State screw-up. For those who were athletes, or who were scheduled to get any State financial aid...they got screwed. The State has corrected the problem for 2008 HS seniors. Their standardized test scores are now assured to be submitted to their respective colleges prior to the beginning of the fall semester or quarter. A year too late for Brett.

That was my understanding too?To me, the jury is out on Mack. The stadium project was 90% complete when he arrived. His three premier programs have coaches from the previous, or interim, administration. They're doing well, in varying degrees, and he has handled the contract situations well, but he hasn't made any "impact" coaching decisions. Lost the golf coach to K.e.n.t. Lost a softball coach (or two?). Marketing has been underwhelming. Odd policy decisions like the reserved/GA seating at the Rubber Bowl, the parking debacle, the Z-Fund changeover where you can't designate the program that gets your $$...etc.No hosannas from me at this time.

The local economy might affect season tickets a bit, but not game day sales.The main factor in selling out Zips games is the team quality. If the Zips are winning...really winning, not going 7-5 every 3 years...people will show up regardless of the overall economic situation. BTW -- There are plenty of people in the area that seem to be doing very well, financially. That doesn't make for all that great a news story, so you don't see that in the papers too often. The game day experience needs to be fun. That's where the crappy Rubber Bowl hurts. While the tailgating is great, getting people out to Ellet to see it for themselves is tough.Win + get the hell out of the Rubber Bowl asap. That's what will sell tickets.

No Buffalo Chips, But There Are Some Dips

Didn't he transfer to Slippery Rock?