Captain Kangaroo

You've touched on my Captain's Log - "Rant of the Day."

Random Toledo Thoughts:· Thank God I didn’t have to pay for that one. Word of advice: If you travel to see the Zips on the road against a mid-major or MAC school, don’t buy your tickets ahead of time. There are always freebies to be had outside the gate.· We drive down the field on the initial possession. We get to the 10 yard line. We’ve all seen what happens when we pass in this situation…we have one of the best “inside the 10” running backs in school history…and we throw the ball? I don’t get it. Wasn’t the Getsy-to-Harvey INT at CMU evidence enough of the risk of such a play? · Toledo takes over on the 3 yard line and, taking a page from K.e.n.t, goes no-huddle and drives it down our throat. Amazing that our defense could come out so unprepared.· Next possession we throw a sideline pass to Poindexter…who’s hands have been unreliable all season…and it goes for 7 the other way. · Stec gets a punt blocked…yet again…and we go down 21-0 in the first quarter. Throughout the evening Stec is fielding grounders from Giachetti.· Toledo’s offensive line shoved us back 5-7 yards every time they needed it. Yeah, not having Nate Robinson was a factor, but in general we are very thin (depth-wise). Reid and Gonzales are good, after that, the talent drop-off is noticeable. I see where some are questioning the 3-3-5. What else can we play with the depth we presently have at this position? · We stunted Grant up the middle. How easy is it for a 310 lb OL to push back an upright 230 lb LB at the line of scrimmage? It is very easy, and a sure 5-7 yards every time they tried it.· The drop by Lindsay was crippling.· I say we let Domonokos kick XP’s from 47 yards out. Get a few unsportmanlike penalties to push us back and let’em kick. He’s solid from that distance.· When Toledo scored their 3rd TD I looked at the Zips bench. Jacqumaine and DeAndre Scott were getting a good laugh out of something. Maybe they were discussing the ZipsNation posters who believed JD is bolting for Colorado State? Anyhow…the last thing I want to see on our sidelines is players yukking it up as we go down 21-0. To me, that speaks volumes for why Carlton Jackson has become the solid #2. Jacqumaine should get ready to play WR if he ever wants to see the field as a Zip. QB’s don’t act that way. I’ll cut Scott some slack because he’s not getting into the game. He’s along for the bus ride as a redshirt.· The players who gave it their all in that game: Jabari played his heart out. Ditto Andre Jones. Grant, Kiki and Jermaine Reed left everything on the Toledo turf. · Everyone on this board has some thing they see that no one else does. Some logic-defying opinion that makes no sense, yet they hold onto it like it’s their own son. I have mine…I think Dennis Kennedy could have 50 more yards per game if he’d finish his runs. Once he’s in the secondary, he puts his head down and gets a couple yards as he’s tripped up by a safety of CB. He never stiff-arms…never jukes…he just goes down…or out of bounds. From what I’ve seen this year, I could never see him at Ohio State. Hey…he’s been over 120 yards the past two games. I know. But we don’t need 15 yard runs. We need a guy that can go the distance once in a while because…well…our redzone offense is horrible.· Speaking of redzone offense. Two possessions inside the 5 yard line and we get 6 points? You could see it coming. Terrible play calls…terrible execution…penalties…we are predictably clueless inside the 5. And, although I complain about Kennedy above, he is undeniably “money” inside the 5. It may take him three shots to get in, but he’ll get there. Guaranteed. Yet we are tossing balls to Jabari and Kasparek in that situation. How easy are we making things for the opposing defense?· Ok…since it is “beat on Kennedy day,” I’ll throw out one more: Watch Kennedy pass block. Whenever Luke was in the shotgun, Kennedy got manhandled by the blitzing LB. Bobby Hendry, where are you! If Kennedy were in the backfield during the Frye years, Frye would have been crippled mid-way through his junior season.· If Kennedy’s blocking was lethargic, you should see David Harvey on kick-offs, if the ball doesn’t come his way. He should simply run off the field if that’s all the blocking he’s got to offer. · Toledo’s stadium looks like a big Children’s Palace. Beautiful press box/loge area, decent seating…but the surrounding stonework looks like the scenery props from a summer stock play or a bad dinner theater.· Toledo’s offensive line was impressive. They got forward surges on our DL’s that I’ve never seen our OL create all season.· Toledo’s QB is terrible.· Balaam got some PT and acquitted himself well.· Chevin Pace played an inauspicious 2 quarters before getting pulled.· The halfback pass was a great call by Toledo. I bet Tate bites on that 9 times out of 10. The fake field goal was stupid, but had a good result. Either way I give Amstutz credit for knowing his team’s limitations and getting creative in finding a way to get into the endzone. I haven’t seen much “creative” by the Zips offense in some time…unless you want to count that bizarre Carlton Jackson thing from a week ago. · We were 3-13 on third down conversions, and had over 100 yards in penalties…AGAIN!· Time to get Carlton Jackson some reps this week. I still start Luke, and Luke should get the lion’s share of the snaps, but CJ should get a couple series.· The two unsportsmanlike calls against our coaches were disappointing. Yeah, I guess you need to show you’ve got your players backs…but there’s no positive spin to how it looks…it looks like you’ve lost control and are “bush.”· In my opinion, the refs had little to do with the outcome of the game. In fact, they were a lot better than the crew that refereed the Miami game the previous week.· We’ll beat BG this week because BG will stink. Look for a repeat of the Miami game. 25-13.

If your playing a team with a QB that has "NO" game experience and their top receiver and running back are leaving....I say hell yeah we have a shot. It might not be a good one but we got one. OSU needed a last second field goal to beat Marshall two years ago. They SHOULD have lost to Cincinnati, if the UC wide receiver didn't drop TWO TD passes in the final seconds. Hell...I'll forever wonder how the 2001 Zips/OSU game would have ended, had John Fuller ran his would-be INT back for a TD instead of him tipping it into the OSU receiver's hands for a Buckeye TD.A Zips win isn't probable in Columbus, but it is possible.

Toledo

Update - I should be there, but not until around 5pm!

Hope to see you there. I'll be a game day decision. Thanks for researching the tailgat info.

Pennsylvania high schools are divided into east and west. WPIAL is the Western Pennsylvania.... (west) version. They have big/small school divisions, just like OSHSAA.

When Eric's number was hoisted into the rafters last year he mentioned his son was going to play for the Chippewas. I assumed it was basketball, but he will be a cornerback for the Chip's football team:E.J. McLaughlin • Defensive Back • 6-0 • 185 • East Grand Rapids, Mich. • East Grand Rapids High School At East Grand Rapids: Earned varsity letters in football and basketball ... scored touchdowns four different ways as a senior ... defensively, recorded 51 stops and intercepted two passes from his safety position ... rushed for 313 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per carry, and scored six touchdowns in 2005 ... also caught a touchdown pass, returned a punt 57 yards for a score and ran a kickoff back 90 yards for a touchdown ... helped lead team to a 10-1 record in 2005 ... all-state honorable mention selection ... garnered all-conference accolades ... ranked as the No. 19 prospect in Michigan by the Detroit Free Press ... No. 42 on the Detroit News Blue Chip List. Personal: Selected CMU over Western Michigan and Toledo ... prep coach was Peter Stuursma ... son of Eric McLaughlin ... born 2/20/88.

Mentioned atop several other very impressive kids:Click for #1 QB

Yes. He played his 4th season last year.

Comparing NFL football, the NFL fan base, the NFL media exposure, the NFL history and tradition...ANYTHING to the Zips situation is a poor comparison, to say the least. Browns games will always sell out due to the previously stated NFL qualities. The fact that the Zips draw 15k with no TV exposure (ie. no local news, radio, games on TV -other than ESPNU twice per year), no "name" opponents, no "winning tradition" in a garbage stadium is amazing. A "real" winning tradition (ie. like Toledo pre-2006, Marshall, etc...multiple, expected championships and bowl wins) and not one 7-6 season, would easily put attendance over 20k /game. A few do. Most like to be a part of a winning team. I would bet Ohio State's fan base made a quantum leap forward when they won a national championship (like they needed the help). It's taking another leap forward this season. People want to be a part of winning. That's why the Zips drew 15k to the Motor City Bowl. Not because Ford Field had inflatable toys for your kid to hop on and a Jumbotron. Nope. They typically attend games to see "their" team compete and have a chance to win. At K.e.n.t., I bet their game draws 20k this weekend with OU. Why? because they're winning. If they're "typical K.e.n.t" @ 1-7, that game draws less than 1,000. THAT's what winning does. That's what draws fans to games. They're an NFL football team that draws fans from all over Ohio. They have tradition. They are on national TV every week. On multiple TV channels every night. They're in a major market. Radio stations make a living talking about the Browns 24-7. If the Browns won one Super Bowl, it would be bigger than LeBron winning 8 NBA titles for the Cavs. That the way it is. Give the Zips all that, and they'd fill an 80k stadium too. Come on. We were 7-6 last year. We lost home games to 1-A doormats. Did you see the weather at the K.e.n.t game last year? There's no way in hell you sell-out a stadium for Akron/Can't in a sub zero blizzard. The North Texas pre-game weather was also garbage and the local weather reports called for a cold monsoon all night. Weather plays a HUGE part in the attendance of any MAC school. If you aren't having fun at a Zips game, it is your own fault. For $3.00 you can set up a tent and grill in the grass with all of your friends. You can play corn hole all day long. Your kids can romp around and do whatever thay please. It is the best, funnest deal on the planet. The atmosphere at games is great. The band is great. the team is competitive. Tell me one thing the University could do to make game days more fun. I'd love to hear it. And please save the "sell beer" comments. It won't help a damn thing.

Your criteria for a "contender" is what? Two wins per year? OU has sucked for the past 5 years.

The RB does sell beer. $2.00 per cup Coors Light. If you don't like it, stuff a couple cans of your own in your jacket.Beer availability has as much affect on the Zips football attendance as the paint color in the Rubber Bowl bathrooms.

I guarantee if our backup QB sees meaningful minutes the remainder of this season, we will not be going to a bowl game. Barring injury or a blow out, Luke should continue to get all snaps. Buffalo and Bowling Green should be good opportunities for CJ to get some snaps. I don't see it happening @ Toledo.

Or like Matt Futch.

Zips offense appears back...just in time for the MAC tourney!Click for Beatdown of a Good Team

You forgot to mention the kid's reply:"EAT MY ASS, BITCH!"

In case you wondered...Click for Logic that Defies Logic

Nothing reflects better on The University of Akron than a guy in Zips gear verbally abusing children.

The Columbus Crew stadium looks like a HS stadium. The one shown in the graphic...if you can even tell anything about it from such a low-res, distant view...looks fine.

Zips have a breakout game, beating BG 4-1.Big match vs. UNC-Greensboro Tuesday night:UNCG Wins Their League Again

That doesn't matter in the MAC East race.We need OU to beat K.en.t this weekend to even begin dreaming about tie-breaker scenarios. Oh yeah...we need to beat Toledo on the road too.

Random, as per usual:* Always nice to beat Miami. It had been too long. Overall, Miami looks small and slow, a shell of the Prentice and R-berger led teams we've previously played.* Defense played very well. Nate Robinson got some extended PT and made the most of the opportunity. Best game, overall, by the D-line in some time.* Mackey is solid, yet again.The Carlton Jackson era has officially begun. Ug. The guy behind be began saying "Hey look...Jackson's warming up!" I replied "There is no way in hell they put Jackson in. We're semi-deep in our own territory...Luke has been moving the ball...two of his previous 3 incompletions were WR drops...no way in hell." In comes CJ...and his debut was not quite the debut Frye had vs OU 6 years ago. One of the worst coaching decisions I've seen in the Rubber Bowl in some time.* Ok...we're up 24-13 after a TD. We get a 5 yard penalty because the 25 second clock wasn't visible. Instead of trying for the XP to make it 12pt lead, we go for two? I don't care if the kicker missed two previous XP's, his chances of hitting an XP from 24 yards is better than getting a 2-point conversion from 7 out.* The excessive celebration penalty for the player slapping the hand of a student hanging over the rail was absolutly insane. That ref should be fired. Overall, a very poorly refereed game.* Plain Dealer sends no reporter to any Saturday MAC games.* Kennedy is a workhorse. But...can we get an RB that can bust a 65 yard run? DK runs tough the first 5 yards or so, but he is tackled way too easily in the secondary. * Nice job by the OL today! Good protection, and nice holes for Kennedy. Crouch is back a game sooner than I would have expected.* No sign of Chev Pace* Harvey's brilliant plays continue to cover for his freshman mistakes. * What is up with the separation of the GA seating and "Reserved?" I had to walk my reserved tickets over to some friends in GA that were prevented from sitting in our 30% full section. That's plain silly at the Rubber Bowl. * Best "total" game we've played this season...but still far short of our capabilities. We should have beat this Miami team by 25.Good crowd. Great day. Excellent tailgate atmosphere. F the very beatable Toledo. We'll see this week how badly our guys want to go to a Bowl game. This is a "must" win if we are tuely deserving of a bowl bid.

They'll try to be incognito in blue shirts, but the champagne bottles are a dead-giveaway!

He's so old he thinks a Podcast is a sporting way to harvest sugar-snap peas.Zips 31-29Miami favorite-son Big Ben wears funny-nose glasses to the game: ...but is spotted by the Zips student section who tants him the entire game with chants of "WEAR YOUR HEL-MET" (to the cadence of O-VER-RAY-TED).