Captain Kangaroo

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).

OU has had 17 player arrests in the past 9 months...and they just beat Illinois. Control is overrated, I guess?The few things that have popped up over the past few weeks are nothing in the big scheme of things. We suspended a kicker that never played, and may have lost 2 reserve DL's. Pace's absense is somewhat of a hit, but we won a championship without him last season. Crouch? I like Tim, but it doesn't bug me to see the staff giving someone else a chance on the left side.Beat Miami and Toledo and the world will again be rosy.If you think JD has lost control, whaddya think about Larry Coker?

QuarterbacksLuke Getsy : BWhen he's had time to throw, he's been very good. He's had little time to throw and had little running game to support him. He's typically throwing to 2 Fr. WR's + Jabari, who remains a hot/cold work-in-process. Considering the circumstances, he's doing fine. Wish he was a bit more elusive...it would help his health.ReceiversB-Jabari has been inconsistant. Harvey has been pretty solid. Overall, too many drops...routes abandoned too soon. A #3 WR hasn't stepped up.Tight ends CKris Kasparek hasn't done much since that nice 4th and 7 snag vs. Penn State. One of the bigger disappointments of the 2006 season. Merce Poindexter is playing well, but still has some key drops. Jose' Cruz seems to has fallen below Flaherty? Not much help coming from the TE's in run or pass blocking.Running backsCRunning game has disappeared since the team left Raleigh. Even NTSU shut us down in the 2nd half. And before you say "Who cares...we were up 33-6," I'll offer this: When you're up 33-6 in the second half you should impose your will on the opposing defense...run it down their throats...eat clock and get out of dodge. We couldn't move the ball to save our life against a really crappy team. K.e.n.t and Cinci were no-shows by the RB's too.Offensive lineD"It has been hit and miss," Brookhart said about the line. "Little bit inconsistent..."I would say our collective OL has been very consistent. Consistently bad. No time for Luke to throw. No holes for the RB's to hit. Penalties galore (how familiar is 2nd and 25 to this Zips team?). The opponent has a sack-fest every week. Unlike the WR's, where one guy can be outstanding and make the overall WR grade good...if only one, two or three OL's are pulling their weight and one or two are not...it is crippling.Defensive lineC+Good run defense, Z-E-R-O pressure on the QB. LinebackersBGrant, Mackey(I'll call him an LB) and Groza have been great. Stokes is solid.SecondaryB-They aren't playing too poorly. The lack of pressure on the opposing QB is really making their job difficult.Special teamsDBad punting and punt protection. Horrific place kicking.Kick offs have been ok (deep enough). Kick returns have been good. Special teams coverage has been good.

Really? I thought you were pretty indifferent on this topic?

Akron (AP) Miami University mascot "Mr. Scabs" arrived in Akron today and was immediately quarantined. Said Summit County Aviary Specialist Roy Brookhart; "We has reports of a foul stench approaching Akron from Columbus and Mansfield authorities. It was pretty easy to narrow the source down to the Miami cheerleader van. Cars were diving into the median...doing just about anything they could to avoid it. It was a very dangerous situation." Miami cheerleader spokesperson Janet McGillicuddy (shown top) was stunned; "Mr. Scabs has been to K.en.t several times and no one noticed a smell any different than normal. In fact may of the locals seemed to enjoy our mascots scent. I am shocked." Akron hosts Miami University Saturday evening at 6:00pm.

Phil Steele is a God.

Not to change the subject...but how bad will it suck to see K.e.n.t football in the "Others receiving votes" sections of some polls in a week or two?

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For as much ridicule as the football schedule received this season, I'm surprised no one is bitching about the atrocious hoops schedule. One D-1 home game through December 18th. K.e.n.t on a Wednesday night?

I think the topic of replacing Luke with a Freshman QB is ludicrous. Luke is the man. Period. Rarely has Luke missed his man when he's had a few seconds to throw. He's made some great tosses this year. Unfortunately, he's getting snowed-under about 0.56 seconds after the ball touches his hands. I think Alleman and Wills have done a solid job this year. However, some of the other guys have struggled. You can tell by the penalty calls...those are the guys that are getting beat. When 2...or 3...or even 4 of your OL's are pulling their weight, and even one doesn't, your QB is in trouble.Is Luke the most elusive QB in the conference? No chance in hell. But with the time he's had to throw this season, I don't think even Fran Tarkenton could buy enough time. In addition - Keep in mind he's throwing to a converted QB and a Freshman as his primary tarkets. That's not exactly Cherry, Irvin, Sparks and Hixson. As nice as Harvey has played, he's also in the very early stages of learning to run college-level routes. Him being in the wrong place has contributed to some of Luke's seemingly errant attempts.The easy "out" is to blame a coach or the QB for our troubles. It goes much much deeper than that. Our DL can't pressure the opposing QB to save their lives. That's killing our pass coverage. We also can't stop the opposing QB from getting 10-15 yards per rush. Our LB's have been solid in run stopping, but are letting the opposing TE run wild. Or RB...or whomever is 7 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. The don't get near the QB on blitzs, which sucks when you have a 3-man front.Offensively, our running game has been terrible. Some of that is due to Kennedy's injury. But a lot is due to our run blocking that seems to pack it in after one or two quarters. Our WR's and TE's are dropping passes.Our kicking game has been terrible.Get rid of Luke in favor of either CJ is waving a white flag on a season that is only half over. That would be pathetic. The remaining 6 games are emminently winnable. The seniors need to suck it up and pound these next six opponents. They should. If they do, that's an 8-win season and a bowl bid. We (the MAC) get three bids this year. K.e.n.t will get one. The MAC West winner will get one. The last one is up for grabs...and to be honest, the competition isn't all that stiff. We beat BG, OU and Toledo and the third bowl bid is ours.If we play like we've played the first 6 games, finishing 8-4 is pretty unlikely. I'm hopeful the Zips start playing with some pride and effort. And the coaching staff starts getting a little more creative. If so, we have the talent to be 8-4 in the MAC. JD said exactly that in the preseason. He should know.