Captain Kangaroo

I remember that game. Felton hit 3 consecutive 3's. After each one, Hipsher slammed his hand on the court in disgust. Felton apparently took the shots too soon in the vaunted Dan Hipsher motion offense.Shocking that Felton transferred after his Fr. season.

The Rasor site has a little.Little Info on a Big KidSomething else I found:Jarvis Givins DL/OL 6'4 295 4.90 Miami Columbus Florida Givens is one of the premier linemen in Dade County, possessing excellent athleticism and quickness for a lineman. He is a ferocious pass rusher, posting 14 sacks as a junior. He has a great body and is very quick off the ball. One of Florida's best. He transferred from Gulliver Prep to Columbus for his senior year.

Click for Butts-Pirates Info

A friend of mine went to Myrtle Beach last September. He was at a tackle shop in Akron gear and the guy behind the counter said: "Akron, huh? I never even heard of Akron until last week."The week prior was when we beat NC State.

I was at that game too. You physically couldn't shoe-horn another human being in the JAR. I think fire marshalls now limit the capacity to 5,500, but that night it was over 7k.I agree, that was awesome.

It is difficult to tell the crowd size for this game. Like a lot of you, I see the lack of promotion and grow concerned. Although I could go deeper into that one, that's not why I posted.Regardless of the crowd size friday, the JAR has to rock like a Zips/K.e.n.t game. The hair on the back of all the Zips player's necks has to be on-end. This can be done with 3,000 people, or it can be done with 5,500. Those of us showing up need to walk that fine line between being absolutely obnoxious and overly exuberant.I have followed Zips basketball for over 20 years. This is the biggest game at the JAR since the 1986 Middle Tennessee OVC championship game. Yes, Xavier came into here 12 years ago and was also ranked. Thanks to 44 points by Jimal Ball, we gave them a great run. However, we had no business being in that game. No reason to expect to win.We have every reason to expect to win this game. This is probably the best Zips team we've fielded in 20 years. But the JAR has to rock tomorrow for us to have a chance. And...if we win the game...I will be profoundly disappointed if the students don't rush the floor. Screw the announcer telling you otherwise...get your ass out on the floor and dance. I'm in for $50.00 towards anyone's disorderly conduct citation. Proof of AK-Rowdy membership and arrest paperwork are required.

While Miami FL has defeated Georgia Tech this season, they also have losses to Buffalo and Cleveland State to go along with their latest "mid-minor" defeat - Binghamton.If I'm Binghamton, I'm pretty happy. But Miami FL isn't very good.

Click for Some Old Re-hash, and also Some Interesting Quotes

Now if only I can get Mrs. Kangaroo to agree!

Nevada Message BoardInfo on Recent Nevada Games

Note:Hot dogs were regular price. Couldn't afford to take the $1.75 per dog loss, I guess? Must be saving "Dollar Dogs" for the Super Duper Mondo Retro Night Extravaganza?Also - The popcorn was $1.00. It was super-salted. And it was in a box 1/3rd the size of the usual popcorn. That cracked me up. They also ran out of pizza during halftime when the lines were about 15-deep.

I heard he is an animal. Is he eligible? We won't know until after next session.

Your chances of getting such a win increase dramatically if you play these teams more frequently. KD talks about wanting to be the next Creighton...Gonzaga...Butler, etc. You don't get there by playing the schedule we have this season.Trust me...I realize the beatdowns we've administered to the D-III creampuffs and D-1 dregs has enabled guys like McKnight, Conyers, etc. to get some valuable PT prior to the MAC season. But our pre-MAC schedule is what it is...too heavy on the cream puffs.

Pace was terrible this season. Whether it was due to the time off...residuals from the bad wheel...loss of heart...I have no clue. But he was terrible.

I am planning on partying a bit before the Nevada game. I want to go to a bar with a bunch of other Zips fans and raise the roof for a couple hours. Which bar wants the services of the ZipsNation? Half the bar yells, "ZI"....the other half responds "PS"!!! Hundreds of us Zippers getting primed to rock the JAR!!! Who wants my money????????!!!!!!!Hey, if the weather's warm, I might even set up a pre-game tailgate behind the Nat!

Adding Baker and Pettite-Frerre (sp?) should also give us a big boost at LB.

To be fair, Niagara was a payback game for a bracketbuster 2 years ago. That year Niagara was an NCAA tourney team. The game at the JAR that year was a good one. It sucks that Niagara has stipped so much in the past two years, but that isn't our scheduler's fault.Conversely, Marist is playing well this year, but they're hardly the caliber of and MVC team.I also believe the quality of our schedule would have jumped tremendously had we beaten UALR and played Texas Tech. We beat Texas Tech and it makes another quantum leap with the opponent the following weekend. Unfortunately, we lost Game #1.I agree the quality of opponents needs to increase next season. I'd rather be 5-4 at this point with a key win or two, rather than 7-2, with some Division III wins, and wins vs. 300+ ranked D1 teams.

Yes. And to me, he's the best of the bunch.

Reggie Corner will return to the Zips for a 5th year of eligibility. My recollection is he transferred from BG to Akron before his Freshman year began. I don't think he ever took a class at BG.2007 should boast our best secondary since the early 90's. Now, if only we can generate a pass rush!

A week or so ago.Click for VerbalIf you ever want to know this type of info, simply click on the "Search" function of ZipsNation and enter the recruit's name. You'll get a list all posts regarding that recruit.

All below are confirmed verbals as of 1/24/06. Matt Little and Brian Brickowski were added:1.) Ryan Brinson On campus. RB Canton McKinley2.) Vince Hill - Verbal on hold - UVA has entered the picture. Awesome talent. Grades are boarderline. (Friendly HS) Fort Washington, MD 5-10/1753.) Zac Kasparek -Verbal. Had strong interest from Penn State and Northwestern.(New Brighton Area HS) New Brighton, PA 6-6/300/5.104.) Jerome Royal -Verbal (Cleveland Heights HS) University Hts, OH 6-2/1805.) Gary Pride -Verbal. QB of the #1 D1 HS in Ohio. Will likely be an all-purpose back at Akron. (Colerain HS) Cincinnati, OH 5-9/1806.) Matt Rodgers -Verbal. Set the WPIAL on fire this season. (Seton-Lasalle HS) Pittsburgh, PA 6-3/180/4.707.) Sean Fobbs -Verbal. Projected to be a strong safety. (Miamisburg HS) Miamisburg, OH 6-1/200/4.508.) Da`von Moore - Verbal. RB. (Brentwood SHS) Pittsburgh, PA 5-11/2059.) Paul Simkovich - OL - Verbal. De-commit from Mich State. 6' 5" 285 lbs. Latrobe HS (Pa)10.) Jarvis Givens - Verbal- Columbus FL HS DT 6'2", 290 lbs *new addition*11.) Jake Anderson -Verbal- Great player (OL). Courted by several BCS schools. (McDowell SHS) Erie, PA 6-5/29012.) Joe Rash -Verbal - Big DL from a great program. (Penn Hills SHS) Pittsburgh, PA 6-2/25013.) Jalil Carter -Verbal - Very good player. Had a lot of BCS school interest. (St. Johns Jesuit HS) Toledo, OH 6-1/17514.) Casey Estrada -Verbal - JUCO OL from Sacremento. 6' 5" 285 lbs.15.) Dan Ronsman -Verbal - OL Lindenhurst (IL) Lakes Community 6' 3", 250 lbs.16.) Shane Shead -Verbal- DE Chatham (VA) Hargrave Military - 6-foot-5 225 lbs17.) Miguel Graham -Verbal- 5' 9" 162 lbs. Should be on campus in January '07. Coffeyville JC in Kansas. 4.41 40 yd dash.18.) Aaron Williams - Verbal - 6' 0", 200 lbs Penn Hills (Pa.) - Tremendous LB prospect from a great HS program. 3-star by Scout, 2-star by Rivals. And don't ask me what equates to a "star"...19.) Marquinn Davis - Verbal - The Youngstown Rayen DE . 6' 6", 245 lbs and runs a 4.7 40 yard dash. He had offers from both Toledo and K.e.n.t. The Zips were the first to offer, which was a big factor in his decision to attend U of A. He also runs hurdles on their track team.20.) Dan Marcoux - Verbal - 6' 4" 250lb DL from Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep21.) Bryan Williams - Verbal - 6' 0" 200lb CB/RB from Valley Forge Military College, via Akron Buchtel. Has been timed at sub 4.4 in the 40.22.) Matt Little - Verbal - 6' 3" 195 lbs. LB/DB prospect. From North Carolina. Very fast. A 3-sport athlete. Was offered by Mississippi State early on. Looks to get up around 220lbs once he fills-out. 23.) Brian Brikowski - Verbal - 6' 4" 206 lbs. Freehold Township (New Jersey) - 2-sport athlete, playing hoops on a very good HS team. Has the frame to support about 250 lbs. Looks to be an LB, but in time could be a TE or DL. Excellent athlete

Maybe I know what I'm doing after all?

Having seen 100's of U of A basketball games at the JAR, give me some credit for knowing the student section can be somewhat unpopulated during break. I will add the following points regarding the stupidity of this move:We've never played a Top-20 team during break. And if we have played a decent team during that time, our team was so pathetic it didn't warrant attending. The Nevada game is unprecedented. It should not be treated like games in the past. This is a game where we need our "Rowdiest" fans on the floor.Yes, U of A is primarily a commuter school. But the near/on campus population is bigger than anyone ever admits.The students that live at home live in Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, Green, etc. For the Nevada game, they would have shown up in numbers to fill the lower JAR.Lastly and most importantly: It is the way it was handled. The students were apparently ambushed with this one. Perception is reality, and the perception is they were bitch-slapped. If U of A wanted to sell those tickets, they could have done so on game day assuming the students didn't show up. A simple announcement saying: "If you aren't at the game and in your seat by 7:15pm, you are not guaranteed a seat in the lower JAR" would have been all it took. Then it is on the students if it isn't filled and Mack isn't the villain.What they should have done is the above...and then passed out tickets for the lower section to any student entering the gates with a valid ID. Whether they're officially a "Rowdy" or not.It reminds me of how the football parking situation was handled. "F you guys that have parked here forever...get the F out....we're selling your spots to $5,000 donors." Is there a "Tact 101" course at the University that someone could offer to the Athletic Department?

The Ak-rowdies get a bitch slap from the athletic department? It appears so. Profoundly disappointing.Click for an all-time lowI guess the fact that the kids didn't pack the house for Tiffin, Hillsdale and Winston-Salem-Marlboro is their own fault. I'm up for an alternative point of view here. Someone tell me why you'd alienate your student body for a measly $1,500? I can't wait until we beat Nevada and the rich old farts storm the floor in their walkers.Hey...on the other hand, it appears the "AK-Oldies" has officially formed?

I agree with you. If things stand as-is, we'll win 20 games. If we get lucky, our gritty little bunch could get hot in the tourney and win it. The MAC doesn't appear to be too strong (I'm being kind here). But if we want to get into the NCAA's and actually stand a chance of winning a game, we need others to step up.Conyers needs to get a clue. Every game I watch him it seems less and less likely it'll happen in 2007. But I keep my fingers crossed.McKnight needs to play better D. Offensively, he's pretty much at Travis' level. Defensively he's struggling. He's also a freshman, so I am betting he'll be increasingly better with every passing week.Wood needs to play. This may be the biggest unknown...can he stay healthy and be the low-teens double-double machine that we need? Linhart - For every good play he's made this season, he's given two away. Freshman jitters are over. He needs to assert himself. Based upon his play thusfar, his job is Conyers' for the taking...if only Conyers wanted it.Milum - Spectacular dunker and shotblocker...but that's good for about 4 points and 3 blocks in a game. He needs to get in the 7-8 rpg area to really help us. We really need him to show up vs. Nevada.Lots of "ifs" if we are to have a breakthrough season in 2006-7. It will be interesting to see what KD does to light a spark underneath this team.