Captain Kangaroo

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!!

Click for Story on Toledo RB Apparently Practicing the Shotgun FormationHe's from Warren...was he also packing any of this during the rampage?Scooter McDougal, Ray Williams and now Davis. Toledo really DOES have a lot of depth at RB. But who would want it?

I'd love to hear a Maynard Ferguson tribute this fall!

GoZips.com didn't highlight the date change. I'm just posting this heads-up in case anyone missed it.

WHOA!!! I didn't realize they changed the game date to Sunday!! I only saw the "carnival" date. I'm glad you mentioned it or I would have been one lonely tailgater Saturday at 2pm!!

It makes you wonder. Everyone at the University has access to the same 5-day forecast we do. Beyond the weather factor, who's going to show up on a Sunday for something like that? If is was held on the street between the JAR and the practice facility immediately prior to the game, I could see it having a chance...but the day following?

Based upon the NCAA selection process in 2007, that's not true. We won 26 games this season and it didn't get squat. It isn't the number of wins, it is "who have you beaten?" Why would playing Duke be such a mistake? K.e.n.t. only lost to them by 7? Duke lost to VCU in the NCAA's this year? I'd put them on the schedule today if I could.Is playing Indiana such a big deal? Butler beat Indiana this year. Butler can, but the Zips can't? I disagree.OSU was the #2 team in the nation this season. Yeah they would have beaten the Zips, but you can say the same thing for about 330 other D1 schools. This year's Zips squad would have given OSU a decent game.No one cares if you beat Binghamton, NC A&T, Tiffin, and Niagra. The Zips would be better off playing OSU, Indiana, Pittsburgh and West Virginia and winning a game or two than to sweep a bunch of stiffs or 20-win, sub-mid-majors. That was proven this season.

For sh!ts and grins, I wanted to see what Waddell was doing for the UC spring game. Compare. Which is the better spring game format? Click for Zips EventsClick for University of Cincinnati EventsI like the UC stuff where fans get to call a few plays, get to announce some plays, etc. I don't think the Sunday carnival thing at UA will draw flies.

True. But it is possible to be successful in both, if the University is committed to excellence. I still contend that K.e.n.t. went to the NCAA's 4 out of the previous 8 years. K.e.n.t. has a football team. Miami went to the NCAA's this season...they've been to 17 NCAA tourneys in their history. And, they've been to several football bowl games in recent years. The MAC, and its lone NCAA bid, is there for the taking year-in-year-out. We can control ourselves only so far. We need to MAC to step it up. But I don't see it happening. Our commissioner's idea of strengthening the MAC is to add Temple in football-only. A guy that thinks like that isn't the "idea guy" that's going to catapult the MAC into a 2-bid NCAA touney conference. I like the MVC's method of "calling out" the bottom feeders. Make them produce, or hit them in the wallet. I really think that's the only way to up the level of play in the MAC. It would take a commish with some big kahunas to integrate it. And as cyclical as the MAC is, I don't know that the concept would be welcome by the member schools. Within the last decade, most all MAC schools have been in the top-3 as well as the bottom three. It wasn't all that long ago the Ball State and EMU dominated.