Captain Kangaroo

The new stadium will help attendance marginally if the team isn't any good. Right now I think we lose a few thousand in "family" attendance because no one wants to see their toddler get tetnus from rusty seat bolts or hates picking fiberglass out of their butt cheeks for a week after the game. I guarantee they'll spend a nice fall day at a first class stadium. The landscape of college football, and football at OSU has changed dramatically since 2001. I don't see OSU having a bad stretch in football for quite some time. Don't worry. People show up for a winner. Unfortunately for the past two decades, other than the 15k we brought to Detroit, you can't see direct proof in Akron. But it is proven at just about every level, in every city in every major sport.When the Browns stink, there are thousands of empty seats. When they're good, they sell out. When the Indians stink, there are thousands of empty seats. When they're good they sell out. When YSU stinks, they have thousands of empty seats. When they're back in the playoffs, the city shows up. Akron's no different.

I don't believe OSU's success has anything to do with our attendance. It better not, or we should give up now and go home. OSU has over 100,000,000 reasons why there's no chance they're going to have a losing football season anytime soon. Plus when you've got that kind of budget and play a schedule filled with YSU, MAC schools, Minnesota, Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue, etc. you've pretty much got 9-10 wins "locked" before the season begins. OSU is in a 2008 BCS bowl as of today.Yes, the Zips need to schedule with OSU in mind...ie. don't schedule the Akron/K.e.n.t game the same date OSU plays Michigan...at least if you want people to show up. But the Zips can carve their own 20k+ per Saturday niche if they take care of business on the field and Marketing-wise. YSU draws 20k for their 1-AA football when things are going well, regardless of OSU. It should happen in Akron too. Unless people are lazy and just want to use the OSU thing as an excuse.

In general I agree with you. In Dambrot's instance however, I think the long-term contract is a good thing.With Hipsher and Owens, they were given such contracts after very mediocre seasons. It wasn't the contracts that were bad, it was just a bad move to extend them. The administration was so used to pathetic performances (see the end of the Crawford/Faust eras) that mediocrity was cause for a celebration. I like the Dambrot contract because it puts him in top 1/3 of the MAC coaches, salarywise. That's where he should be. Once he wins the MAC tourney and wins an NCAA game or two, then he should become the top paid MAC coach.Dambrot also needs to feel some "love" from the University. Mike Thomas hired him, not Rhoades. And I don't think it is any secrect that Dambrot want all that happy with the crowds this season...and that he didn't feel the University was doing all that much to "pimp" his overachieving team. This extension shows Mack appreciates what he's done and is committed to him for the long haul.It also means a lot to the players and recruits. Mike Bardo was quoted in the PD today saying how happy he was to have every expectation to play for the same coach throughout his college career. Without a contract extension after a 26-win season, I don't think players or recruits would feel too secure about their coach's status.I think this extension was a win-win-win-win. For the team, for the fans, for the University and for Dambrot.

My two cents on your post (from another 80's Zips guy) If we would have been even mildly competitive in those games, there would have been interest. The games against Auburn and Florida were played with a mish-mash of 1-AA and early 1-A players as the Zips made the transition to 1-A football. No one in their right mind should have thought we could generate interest in the Zips program by going down to SEC country and getting mauled. The Virginia Tech game is absolutely in no way shape or form a posterchild for why we shouldn't bring "name" teams to the Rubber Bowl.1.) Virginia Tech wasn't as "name" a program in 1996(?) as it is today. It was the early days of Beamer Ball, when they were just beginning to hang around the top 20. The Tech teams of the late 80's and early 90's were terrible.2.) The game was held during a hurricane (Hugo? I forget). Yes, the second half was sunny, but the first half was played in a constant downpour. People in Akron won't show up in a hurricane to see anyone.3.) The Zips were coming off a 2-9 season. It was the end of the Faust era and the very beginning of the Owens era. Community interest was at an all-time low.I don't think a game such as this, where the Zips were terrible...the opponent was marginally well known...and the weather was a legitimate hurricane...is a good example of why not to bring a "name" team to the Rubber Bowl. It is solely an example of what happens when your team is terrible. Those promotions are "nice" but if anyone was banking on them to draw 30,000 people, they're nuts. "Zipsfest" and bobbleheads is good for a couple thousand people, at best. True. But Acme had a lot of "pull" in the area 1990 and prior. It wouldn't work today. Acme is too small now-a-days to put up any reasonable money or promotions. BINGO!!!You see a lot of stuff posted here regarding "How do we get people to the football games?" "Zipsfest," bobbleheads, more local recruits, promotions...all that adds up to about 20% of what needs to be done. Playing in a clean, first class, centrally located stadium in a collegiate environment is good for about another 30%. The remaining 50% is, as you stated, winning and winning consistently. You saw it at the Motor City Bowl and MAC Championships. People want to be part of a winner. If you lose for two consecutive decades, you can hand out all the bobbleheads you want and you'll still draw flies. I, by the way, qualify as a "fly" since I have sat through some God-awful stuff over the past 20 years.To me, the winning will come. And soon. "Why?" you might ask. We sucked last year, right?Yeah, we sucked last year. But for the first time we actually have the foundation to be successful. Unlike the Faust and Owens years, we have primo facilities. We will also have a state of the art stadium in two years. Those two things will allow us to consistently draw the top coaching and student athlete talent possible. The programs (other schools) that moved from 1-AA to 1-A after the Zips all had the foundation for success planned. With Akron, Must rolled out of bed one morning and said "I want to be 1-A," with zero planning or foundation to support it. And you see what we got. I always liked the quote: "Some people look at thinks the way they are and ask 'Why?' I prefer to look at the things that aren't and ask, 'Why not?'"There are a lot of people at The University over the past couple decades why sat with their thumbs up their asses and asked "Why?". The Mike Thomas/Proenza team was the first to look at the potential of our University and athletic programs and ask "Why not?"I said it before and I'll say it again. "F the past!" Forget it. It is over, and it is irrelevant to today's programs, facilities and leadership. You can look at the history of our last twenty year only as a reference for what should NOT be done to build a fan base, alumni following and student support. If you look at it as some sort of proof that success can't be had at the turnstiles or on the field at The University of Akron...to be polite...you and I disagree.Note: Although I kinda worked off your post, this isn't any disrespect to you, Skip. I'm speaking about the public in general.

Great news for the Alleman's! Congratulations!! Blocking for Reggie Bush and Deuce McCallister ain't such a bad gig.

I disagree with that 100%.First of all, the local players need to want to come to U of A. And their coaches need to promote U of A as a solid option. That's not happening right now. The best local kids go elsewhere. And I don't want the local table scraps. If the best of the area don't want to play here, then we must look elsewhere.Look at Travis and Joyce - Undeniably two of the biggest "local" HS names of the past decade. They played before a 1/2 empty JAR for the better part of their careers. Why? Because they didn't win championships. When they finally won a championship (of sorts) the JAR was filled for the stretch run.To insinuate people don't follow the Zips because a percentage of kids are from western Pa is nuts. Does everyone dislike Jason Taylor because he's from Pittsburgh? No. Zips fans love the guy. Who wants David Harvey, right? He's from the hated Pittsburgh area! Ummmm...no, that's not the case. Once he puts his helmet on, he's a Zip and no one cares which piece of land he hails from. Harvey was, in fact, arguably the most popular Zips player in 2006.No one is excited to see Steve Sweich this upcoming basketball season, right? He's from the Pittsburgh area! Wrong...everyone here can't wait to see him play.Everyone loved Charlie Frye. Ask 100 Zips fans to find Willard Ohio on a blank state map and I bet 50% would miss it by 100 miles. His popularity came from being able to "ball." Not because he was perceived as local.Browns fans...typically also OSU fans...would hate Braylon Edwards even if he had 1,600 yard and 15 TDs becuase he's from Michigan, right? Come on...there'd be 10,000+ Edwards jerseys at every Browns home game and 8,000 of those would be on the backs of buckeye fans.People will follow a winner. It is as simple as that, and no different than in any other town. They'll still follow a non-winning team IF they are rebuilding from a winning season. People will not, en mass, support consistently bad or medioce teams. And they won't show up to see athletes simply because they're "local."If a local star wants to stay home, that's great. I know JD's staff had offers out to six Akron area HS Juniors as early as January 2007. If they don't want to attend U of A, there's noting we can do about it. Except recruit the best kids we can, and win games.

I thought the same thing.I wish him well. He seems like a good kid and a hard worker. Just a step slow on the court.If Kellog doesn't sign, I wonder if KD will give the scholarship to one of the walk on guards (Goddard would be first in line). It would be a nice reward for him sticking with the program despite his limited PT.

I said it before and I'll say it again - K.e.n.t. went to the NCAA's 4 of the last 8 years. Basketball-wise, the MAC is there for the taking. Look at the Horizon League. Do you really want to schlep there just because Butler is good? Or Wisconsin-Milwaukee had a small run? Why can't the Zips be "the Butler of the MAC"? Let's drop to 1-AA football to join a schlep backetball conference? No way. CUSA - They're one Memphis away from being in the NCAA tourney play-in game.The Big East? PUH-LEEZE. We aren't a blip on the Big East radar unless it implodes and a new league forms.Drop to 1-AA in football? Why? 1-AA has 22 less scholarships than 1-A. TWENTY TWO..that's it. And an infinite lower visibility. Do you sell out D1 football for 22 scholarships? To save what? The "savings" generated by being 1-AA is a total myth. And you sacrifice a hell of a lot of exposure. Exposure that greatly benefits the University. And trust me...as a business person that travels very frequently, our Motor City Bowl appearance got me a ton of props in the nation's airports two years ago as I sported my Zips gear. It happened when we beat Marshall a few years ago too. Success on the athletic field gives those associated with the University of Akron (ie. alumni) a lot of national street cred. It enhances your degree, whether you want to admit it or not.If someone with a degree from Winthrop interviews with me tomorrow, I have an idea where the school is located and I'm definitely going to bring up their NCAA tourney win vs. Notre Dame. If someone interviews with me and has a degree from Boise State, I may never get around to discussing anything but the Oklahoma game. You get the picture.We shouldn't drop to 1-AA football because 1-AA football is a dinosaur. YSU would give their left nut to be in the MAC. They have no alternative but to be 1-AA in football, otherwise they'd be D1. Like UConn. Like Boise State. Like Troy State. Like South Florida. Like Central Florida. The list goes on... Just because former University of Akron higher-ups (Boobinski...Peggy-Gordon Idiott...Dennis Helsel et al) clowned around for the better part of two decades doesn't mean we can't be successful in D1A football and MAC basketball. It can be done with the correct leadership.What if Proenza rolled into Akron and said "Gee...this campus is as good as it can be"? You know...no one would have second guessed the guy. And he could have collected a nice pay check and played things conservatively (like Idiott). But Proenza has vision. And he has balls. And he has a plan. And he knew how to execute that plan. And because of that, the campus has never been better. The enrollment has never been better. The quality of student has never been better. And the collective athletic programs have never been better.Mike Thomas got us off the schnide athletically. I don't know if Mack can continue his work or not. But I do know that if he can't, we need to find someone else that can. F*ck the past. D1 success can happen for Akron football today. If we have the correct leadership. People at the University are SO lucky their predecessors generated so much apathy. It makes their job easier."Why isn't there anyone in the stands?" Reply "Oh, people haven't come for twenty years..it just can't happen in Akron." F that.No one remembers when Hipsher was setting the basketball program on fire only a few years ago. Not in a good way...he was burning a once proud program to the ground. Now, only a few years later, everyone want to build a new arena and build Dambrot statues. The table is set for it to happen in football too.I was in the tailgate lot last year talking to the father of one of the Zips players. He said "Why the hell is this stadium so empty? I swear I could fill this thing up!"I agree with the guy. I think I could fill it up too. That's what pisses me off so much about the existing administration. I don't believe they care about filling up the stadium. Sure, they'd love to see it full, but no one want to do the work, or implement the ideas to do it. If they did, they wouldn't jerk around the fans with all those asinine policies they initiated last year (I'll spare everyone the re-play of rants on the parking, seating, ticket errors, etc).To me, this is a watershed 6-8 months for the existing athletic administration. I know we can have a successful D1 football program. There are a lot of people who think "hey, it has never happened so it never will." Thank God Proenza, JD and Dambrot didn't buy into that crap or we'd all be doomed. It CAN happen in Akron. It SHOULD happen in Akron. But it WON'T happen in Akron if we continue to settle for less.Again I say "F*ck the past."Ouch...I tripped and fell of my soap box.

Me neither. We're looking into it...

The Vikings traded up in last year's draft to get Tavaris Jackson. They won't trade up to get Quinn. If he fell to #7 they might take him. It would be stupid...but the Vikings love to do stupid things on draft day.So as to keep this thread Zips-related: Former Zips CB Dwight Smith now plays S in the "Tampa-2" defense for the Vikings.

I didn't want to get into the age-old pro/anti Lee Owens debate. But, Owens could never form a defense. Even a bad one. That will be on his epitaph. That's his fault, not that of any coordinator. He hired the coordinators. Several, in fact.Owens hasn't doesn't anything special since he's left Akron. Ditto Winters. Stacey is a successful HS coach.Compare that to JD's staff, who lost Pry to the Big 10, Nori to the 49ers, Alford to Utah, and the DL coach from a few years ago moved to a much better paying job too (I forget where). Verdugo is a head coach somewhere too.

I really don't know what conclusion you can draw from the Owens guys still competing for UA. You can say a lot of things, I guess. Everything doesn't need to be black/white. There's room for some gray too.You can say that Brookhart must be a decent coach and person if that many guys elected to stick with the program rather than quit or transfer.You can say Owens did a nice job of uncovering hidden talents who have made some undeniably solid contributions to the team. You could say that JD is simply very loyal to guys who've stuck with the program for 3-4 years and rewards them with playing time.The reason I posted the info was, because if you'd have told be 4 years ago that 40% of our 2007 starters would be from Owens' tenure, I'd have laughed. Good for Owens that he recruited some solid contributors...and did so when most everyone knew he had one season left at UA (Thomas wanted him gone a year prior). Good for JD to keep these guys in the fold and molding them into solid D1-A players.In the end, they're not "Owens Zips" or "JD's Zips," they Zips, period.

While I'm certainly one of the guys who felt 9 years of Lee Owens was enough, I also think the guy should get some credit where it is due. Our 2007 offensive and defensive 2-deep includes many players from Owens' final recruiting class. Names include:Defense (6)PaceCecchettiCornerDixsonMackeyMcNealOffense (6)ArthurScheppHolleyKasparekWalkerFlaherty (long snapper)

Ok...I'll respond:It isn't only people on this board who've rated our last couple recruiting classes very highly. It has been pretty much every national recruiting service and NCAA recruiting publication. In an incredibly short amount of time, the class of 2006 crashed pretty hard. Maybe half of the names we saw on signing day are still with the team? Overall, it doesn't take any Doctoral candidates to figure out that our recruiting of defensive lineman 2004-2006 was fool's gold.Looking at our offensive line, it isn't bad recruiting that put us where we are now, it is senior graduation and redshirting of the incoming freshman. Andy Alleman, a JD recruit (via transfer) will likey be drafted within the first three rounds this coming weekend. I think our line will be fine this season. Not perfect, but by the time the MAC season rolls around we'll be pretty good. Overall JD OL Recruiting Grade: Unknown. Lee Owens' OL recruits lasted until 2006. Put a gun to my head and I'd say B-, since I like Kemme and Alleman, and I like the potential of the youngsters who'll be getting a chance to play this fall like Ward, Woods, Simkovich and Anderson. Retention of OL's has been good.Quarterback? Again, it is Luke's graduation that makes the position a question mark for 2007. Not the lack of talent JD and staff recruited to fill his shoes. Warts and all, I think Luke left the U of A the schools #2 all time passer and took us to a bowl game. Not exactly a "bust" recruit. QB Overall JD QB Recruiting Grade: B-. Getsy put up big numbers and got an invite to the NFL combine. That's not too shabby. I am sure one of the 3 guys fighting for the 2007 job will be fine. Maybe 2 of them?WR? JD recruit David Harvey is the best WR in the MAC...if he wants to be. Lindsay looks very good. Look out for Vince Hill in 2007 too. Overall JD QB Recruiting Grade: B-. I still haven't seen a 1-2 punch like Schifino/Bailey or Cherry + Irvin or Sparks. Hopefully Harvey gets his act together and another threat emerges to complement him. Too much "hoping' to grade higher than B-.Maybe I'll finish tomorrow...gotta get back to work.

6' 4" __________________________________________________________5' 11" sixteen year olds typically have a little bit of growth left in them. Even if he doesn't, a 5' 11" guard can do some serious damage in the MAC.

Va Tech people were great to us when we had our road trip there back in the Michael Vick days. I feel terrible for them.

I'm guessing they'll continue to split time. With the QB situation as it is, we're going to be running a lot. And have a lot of dump passes. They'll be 2-tight end sets aplenty.

My fast, random notes regarding the Spring game:* I've never learned less in watching a Zips scrimmage or practice than I did Sunday night. It was a nice little exhibition...but you're really reaching if you say you really learned anything.* Hakes looked fine running...but who doesn't when you're wearing a red jersey?* Jackson and Jacqmain didn't impress with their arms. But who would if the top 4 returning Zips wide receivers sat out?* Aaris Reed was noticably absent. I think you'll need a 4-deep roster to find his name come this September. His stock is slipping. He's already behind Kennedy, Allen and Walker.* A fullback, inside-the-tackle run to start the game? Shocker! * Nice to see Kennedy healthy, but he didn't really show much Sunday.* Andrew Johnson didn't show much either.* None of the WR's that played looked all that good...but that's why they're 5-8 on the depth chart. And, again, who looks good when you have three first year QB's running the offense.* I thought Estrada handled himself well.* Vikto Rajec is a great story...but at this time a very VERY rough DL. He's a project.* Lemon looks like he can contribute this year. He needs to get stronger, but he has skills and some fire.* I love Andre Jones.* Lively looks fitter at 285 than he did last season. * Nate Robinson acquitted himself well. Fought hard all game and had a bounce in his step. It seems like his overall attitude has improved?* I think Evan Laube is underrated. Look for him to kick some butt on special teams this year. And to do well if he gets the opportunity to play some safety.* I think Wally Pendelton can at least give us what Nate Robinson gave us last year. 10-15 reps. He's come a long way.* I didn't notice Tevin Petit-Frere at all. I expected to see something from him...but it is WAY early.* I can't believe the punting was as bad as it looked. Had to be the coaches not wanting to put a hole in the ceiling. I hope. Otherwise...hoo boy.* Phillip Morris was the most impressive RB. He's a walk on. In my opinion, his destiny is to transfer to Winston-Salem.* Please get healthy, Igor!! Please!! * It was funny to watch the soccer guys kicking at the half...and in front of the entire football team. It almost appeard like JD was sending a message to his kickers by letting them put on the exhibition. "McClain Part 2" this fall at a stadium near you? * Love Poindexter. He looks to be in top form.* I liked the "over 30" catagory for the punt pas and kick promo. Thank God few were there to see me run the 40.

Keep in mind my quote was: If we are an upper-level MAC team in 2007, we'll win one of those games. Most likely UConn. Will we be an upper-level MAC team next season? Beats me. I thought we were going to be pretty good last season, and it didn't happen. I haven't exacly been giving Jeane Dixson a run for her money lately.Looks like you'll need to wait until the fall for the Yuengling? Maybe by then they's sell the stuff in Ohio? I haven't forgotten.

I guess that's why God created The Coors Light Beer Tent.

I disagree.The Ohio State game is the only "pure" money game on our schedule. And I don't think you'd find a Zips player who wouldn't give their left nut for the opportunity to play is the horse shoe on fall Saturday afternoon. We played there a few years ago...nobody died. In fact, if John Fuller doesn't tip that pass into the OSU receiver's hands for a TD, that game is tight going into the 4th quarter. And that Zips team wasn't very good. A 6-6 Marshall team took OSU to the final gun a few years ago. Playing the Buckeye close can be done by a "mid major."Indiana is much closer to a mid-major than it is a BCS pimp. Ditto UConn. If we were an upper-level MAC team, those are winnable games. I don't think there's anything wrong with getting paid a few hundred thousand dollars to play teams that should be roughly your equal. I still contend the game in Cleveland is great. And it should be counted as a home game.There are aspects of the schedule I hate. Especially the weekday November games. I'll save that for another thread on another day.

The "other" Canadian I hope has already signed his letter of intent is 6'5", about 240 lbs.The Zach Anderson move strikes me as a bit odd too. I had a friend who's a big OSU fan call me when Anderson signed with the Zips and congratulated me. This guy NEVER does stuff like that, so it made me pretty pumped about Zach. But, he didn't play last season...and our OL struggled...so it makes you wonder a little.OL's usually don't see the field until their Soph year anyhow, so I'm not all that concerned.Our DL needs help bigtime. If our OL depth is such that we could afford to shift a guy to the defensive side, I'm all for it.We'll see if there's anything to it tomorrow, I guess. It could be JD was just playing "mad scientist" for a day.

Despite rumors to the contrary, Miami transfer Drew Johnson will not be eligible to play for the Zips in 2007 due to NCAA transfer rules. Look for him in '08.Corey Woods is rumored to have made one of the bigger "jumps" in performance from the fall of '06 to the spring of '07. Good news for those of us concerned about the new faces along the OL this coming fall.If David Harvey wants to be a Zip this fall, it is up to him. He's not transferring anywhere. If he wants to play football, it will be @ UA in 2007. If he doesn't...it's off to the working world, I guess?See everyone Sunday! Looks like any tailgating will be relegated to BW-3's based on the forecast?

Yes...the long-awaited trek of the two big, "mystery" DL's to the University of Akron is nearing a close!Sources say by the end of this week we could see a commitment from a big defensive tackle from Canada who committed to Michigan State in 2006, but never attended the school. I believe he would be eligible to play in 2007. Who is it? I'll speculate it is 2007 Milford Academy DL:VAUGHN MARTINDT • 6-3 • 323London, Ontario (South Secondary School)HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Represented Team Canada in the 2006 NFL Global Junior Championship in Detroit . . . named to the NFL Global Junior Championship X All-Tournament Team after helping Team Canada to a perfect 5-0 record, including five shutouts . . . ranked fourth on Team Canada in tackles with 9.5 (9 solos, 1 assist) . . . produced four tackles for losses (12 yards) in the tournament, including two sacks (9 yards) . . . recorded three solo hits, including a 4-yard sack, in Team Canada's 10-0 victory over Team U.S.A. in the championship game . . . made three solo stops, including one for a loss, in a third-round game vs. Team U.S.A. . . . registered his first sack of the tournament in the opening-round game vs. Team Japan . . . spent the last two summers playing for the Forest City Thunderbirds in the Central Ontario Football League . . . three-year starter for Coach Mike Stenning at South Secondary School in London, Ontario . . . ranked among the top 12 defensive ends in Ontario by All-Star Football and Weir's Magazine . . . posted 90 tackles in 2004, including five for losses . . . saw action at defensive end, defensive tackle and fullback in high school . . . son of Doreen Francis . . . born Dec. 30, 1989 in Jamaica. The name of the second "mystery" DL is also TBD. Stay tuned...

I'll keep my fingers crossed!!We have several scholarships to give after the 2007-8 senior class graduates. There's no question he'd be given one of them if he decided to continue his education at UA.Get on the phone, Swiech and McNees! Start text messaging your WPa Fab 5 teammate today!!! Let's get Lance in Akron!!