Captain Kangaroo

Are you f*cking kidding me? First off, Mount Union is D3, not 1-AA. Any D3 school would get absolutely ass raped by any D1, 1-AA, or D2 school. If Akron played Mount Union, first of all, it would be unsafe for the Mount Union players because it's an entirely different kind of player and skill level. Secondly, it'd be 56-0 or worse by halftime. 1-AA schools can sometimes compete with a 1-A school. But Mount Union would not come close to Ashland, much less Akron. Wow...this tone from the guy admonished me for being too harsh on someone claiming "Can't has a better recruiting class than Akron (football) and the 2005 MAC championship won't help Akron in recruiting?"

That's a great offer, but I have bowling tomorrow. I'll have to listen to Steve French and the new guy between frames. Is Joe Dunn gone to Cincinnati too?

Passing Should be better, since Luke will have fully shaken off the rust from his 3 year layoff. I think the competition for the #2 QB slot will only help. As far as losing Hixson and Montgomery goes, I don't think it will be a factor. Jabari came on like gangbusters late last season. I think he seamlessly replaces Hixson. Long is every bit as good as Montgomery. I also have to believe one of the heralded incoming Fr's will give us a pretty formidable 3 wr set. With Kasparek, Poindexter and Cruz at TE, we're also in great shape.Rushing: The OL is more experienced and deeper than last season. I think that will be HUGE. Last season we pretty much went "Biggs middle/Biggs left/Biggs right" because we had no real depth. Between Alex Allen, Dennis Kennedy and the incoming Fr. we'll be a lot fresher and deeper than last year. Tuzze at FB will also be a big help.With the upperclassmen having two full seasons + three summer/springs under this staff I think everyone will be on the same page. That will be a big help. No QB controversey either.Plus...they say a boxer gets 30% better once he beats the champ. The Zips got 30% better than last season solely by beating NIU. They KNOW they can win a championship. That is invaluable.

I guess they feel that, since they got a bowl bid when they couldn't even win their own division of the MAC, they are entitled to an NIT bid when they finish 7th in MAC hoops. It actually makes sense.

I had to look up "crepe hanger" myself. A pretty good metaphor tossed out by Zip37!! Click to Read About Crepe Hanging

The Rowdies ain't Duke. They've shown up for one season. I love it...they have to start somewhere...but to dedicate half the section to them is nuts. Truth be told, there were a couple games this season where even the end "Rowdy" seats weren't filled.Duke is a convenient reference for college fans since their student section is on ESPN more often than Terrel Owens and Barry Bonds combined, but what goes on there doesn't apply in Akron. Take Maryland as a different example. Seat licenses near the court run $10K+ per season. They don't have students all over the prime seating. Few others do either.The JAR needs to be gutted and reconfigured to accomodate more alumni AND students. It was fine for 20 years while the Zips sucked. Now that the University has finally committed itself to putting a quality product on the court the heat will be on to get the thing done right...like they should have back in the early 80's.

In the era of Division 1 Zips basketball, that is the biggest win in school history. It is a undescribeable credit to the coaching staff and team that they could collect themselves after Friday's despair to knock off a team the caliber of Temple on the road. It is no secret that I'm not the biggest Dru Joyce fan. But it is tough to argue with him being the leader of a team that's won a school record 23 games, with wins over Mississippi State and Temple. Dru Hitting the shot to force overtime is akin to Getsy hitting Hixson last December. That was one of the biggest basketball shots in school history.Wrong and Right: Early this season I was one of the guys that said Peterson didn't merit PT due to his poor defense. Several others said I was nuts. While Linhart played well I looked pretty good with my call. As Linhart struggled from mid-season on, it was obvious that Peterson should get the lion's share of the small forward PT. Darryl played great the past 3 games. I'll forever wonder why Dambrot seemed to try and develop Linhart at Darryl's expense, but DP has been a trooper and whenever we've needed him down the stretch he's been rock solid. I hope his back is OK for 25 minutes at Creighton. I was wrong regarding DP...he's solid and a leader.Right: People said I was nuts when I lauded Milum after the Nevada game. I thought he was one Zip that really competed against the Wolfpack on an otherwise very forgettable night. I never saw a night like tonight coming for Quade, but you could see something click in Nevada. If he can get some consistency to his game, he can really make us forget Preston and Futch's absense in a hurry next season. He's a great help defender a la Preston, and his offense is coming along. Even though some columnist's opinion of Dial's game Friday changed more positive by the hour, mine didn't. I thought he played his worst game of the season vs. Toledo. I still believe it, because I saw it with my own two eyes. But, that's history and Nick seemed to play a rock solid game tonight. I'm glad for him. I don't dislike the guy at all...hell, he quit OSU to be a Zip...how much better does it get than that for a Zips fan? I hope he carries the same aggressive attitude he had tonight into Thursday's game.Didn't K-ent's 20 game win/tourney run begin with a nice run in the NIT. Tonight's win was a great stepping stone for 2006-7, and very nice for the MAC too (seeing as Miami lost to Butler tonight). Akron and Can't - The only MAC teams left playing hoops.KD mentioned Huggins' teams winning 18 home games during their 22 win season. I like a coach that knows his history. That Huggins team was terrible on the road because, to many of the players, the road trip was always a big party (that was my "era" at Akron, so trust me on that one). It is a credit to KD and the players that they have such a business-like approach on the road. That doesn't come naturally. That's dedication. Hope the kid from Temple is ok. He must have taken one hell of a spill to be down that long.Temple thought their basketball team was too good for the MAC. The declined being an All-Sports member and only joined for football. Nice to give their ego a little bitch-slap. Wonder if, now that Chaney's gone, they reconsider all-sports? Probably not, but I still wonder.In summary: Really a great win. Does it replace "what could have been" last Saturday vs. Can't? No. But that's history and you can't change it. This team has 23 wins, a D1 post season win vs. Temple + one vs and SEC team, and they finished the regular season next to Can't atop the MAC. That's without Wood, Bubba and Conyers. That's pretty damn impressive. Beat the Blue Jays!

I disagree that the Men's basketball team not winning a MAC championship this season will hurt attendance next year. I think losing in the semi finals is what hurt. And, how we lost.If we beat Toledo, there would have been one monster freaking party in C-town for the Saturday night game at The Q. If the Toledo game drew 12k, it isn't too far fetched to believe the Akron/Can't matchup could have drawn 18k+. Even if we lost to Can't it wouldn't have mattered too much. Kinda like when we lost the Motor City Bowl. Everyone would have been feeling pretty good.But...we lost to Toledo in gut-wrenching fashion. That will have some carryover for the bandwagoners.Will an NIT run make a difference? Sure it would. Beating Temple would be HUGE. But it won't top what we fell short of last week.

I here Kiel Fleming is trying to get your season ticket converted to a student ticket as we speak! Watch your back, Z-P!!

How could it not benefit Toledo if true? More national exposure, stronger conference, better opponents, better recruits, more money. As I suspected all along, I think it is you that is smoking something. And it must be some good sh*t. I guess if you're going to win 20 games in the MAC and not even get an NIT bid, you might as well win 2 games in the Big East and stay at home just-the-same?

do any of you akron oldies have an opinion on this? I do find it funny that students...who, for the past 20 years until the advent of the AK-Rowdies organization, were essentially invisible now feel they should take over the lower seats. That amazes me.Her point does have some validity. Kicking the old farts in the lower seats out is unfortunately not the solution. The JAR needs to be reconfigured to allow more students in the lower section while maintaining the $$ AK-Oldie fan base that's already there. The general fees the student pay for entrance are nice, but the $800 per center court seat license and $250.00 per seat reserved ticket cost make booting the elderly impossible.Until there is a major JAR renovation, the JAR is what it is. Hopefully the student support of 2005-6 isn't a one hit wonder. If it continues and grows, it certainly could accelerate the JAR's future renovation.Since I'm almost 40, how long can I continue to rag on the AK-Oldies before I'm one of them? Is it already too late?

The Big East is B-R-U-T-A-L in hoops. Cincinnati goes .500 in the conference and sits in the NIT with Akron and Miami. Ditto Louisville. I wonder if there are any regrets at those schools regarding the move from CUSA? Had either school stayed, they likely would have had a 5-9 seed in the NCAA's rather than an NIT bid.I also wonder if the folks in Toledo are smoking crack to think that leaving the MAC for the Big East...if that were even possible...would benefit them?I have to believe the Super-sized Big East is going to have a shakedown in the next season or two. Making the NCAA hoops tourney is simply going to be too difficult for some schools to swallow. Will such a shakedown affect the MAC? That will be interesting to see.

I'm sorry but this is the most obsene statement yet. On what grounds would they want him fired? Because he has a loss to Toledo? Let's just castrate the guy. Akron basketball has not looked this good in 20 years! We have 22 wins and have only one loss at home in 2 years. Absoutely pitiful..... In general, I think most coaches would give their left nut for a 95% approval rating. KD needs to focus on Temple, and I'm sure he's doing so. A Temple win wouldn't totally erase the Toledo collapse, but it would sure come close. I'm really curious to see how the team responds.

I think everyone did a solid job of covering Mike Waddell and his impact on the University. Since I was out of town when the news broke I will also add my very late two cents:When Mike arrived here, the Sports Marketing department was pretty pathetic. I can’t imagine what went through the guy’s mind when he first walked into the JAR doors and witnessed the tragedy. I vividly recall those dark days…it was frustrating and it sucked.Corporate sponsors in 1999? HAH! Unheard-of. At that time there was one “real” commercial played during Zips radio broadcasts (Ohio Edison), and a “filler” one about “Ketchup Soup”…a public service commercial discussing hungry people who made soup from Ketchup packets. That was our corporate base!!! And… University officials during that time seemed satisfied with it!!! The season opening Acme Zip game? It had been reduced to a footnote. Acme’s clout in the area, and it’s financial support for the Zips had eroded to a pittance. Yet no one at the University had the guts to say, “This sucks…we can do better.”Marketing circa 1999? Hey, place buy one get one free game coupons in the Beacon, or on Acme grocery bags and call it a day.Zips clothing and logos 6 years ago. There were a hand full of outdated, butt ugly shirts and caps. The yellow “sunflower” University seal was being used as a logo for….well, just about everything except being placed on the football helmets.Remember when out school colors were identical to Can't? I do. Who decided that was a good idea?General student involvement in Zips athletics circa 1999? Virtually non-existent. We’re talking 10 to 20 students at games….football or hoops!Yes, six or seven years ago, things were in a pathetic state. And, cared anything about it…. “Hey, we’re a commuter school, there’s a limit as to how good we can ever expect to be.” That was the common belief. Hell, it was a mantra! It is a lot simpler to make excuses than to roll up your sleeves and do something I guess? The Zips commitment to Athletic MAC success was lip service in 1999, compared to today. Sure they wanted success…as long as it was on-the-cheap and no one really had to work too hard to achieve it.Mike came in and assessed the situation. He acknowledged the tragedy. He began asking questions to anyone and everyone that would give him 5 minutes of time. Based upon the feedback of those who truly cared about Zips athletics and his own background in “big time” athletics he tailored an Akron Plan, a plan to yank The University of Akron’s Athletic image by the scruff of its neck into the 21st century. To build value in the Zips name. To foster pride amongst the Akron community, students and alumni. How improbable was it back in 1999 to foresee 15,000 Zips fans traveling to Detroit to support the football team? I’ll tell you…it was impossible to fathom. Absolutely impossible. How about selling out the JAR for consecutive games? Forget it. We were lucky to draw 2k people when tickets were practically given away.It is profoundly frustrating to me to see people in 2006 complaining about Zips game attendance and student support. Anyone who bitches has no freaking clue how far we’ve come over the past several years. Yes, the pace seems glacial, but you can’t go from ground zero devastation to sellouts in a single season…or two or three. It doesn’t turn around at the flick of a switch.Mike’s legacy seems to be tied to the “Fear the Roo” campaign. That’s ok I guess, as long as no one forgets the body of his work. He did a hell of a lot more than create a catch phrase. He changed deeply embedded attitudes and stereotypes. He embraced the Akron community from day one and worked tirelessly to make The University of Akron Athletics the absolute best they could be. Job well done, Mike. Thank you.

I fully disagree. Of course this board DOES represent what the Akron Community is thinking...at least those in the Akron Community that actually care about Zips athletics. Based upon the feedback from this page we can safely assume (with +/- 2% accuracy):5% of Zips fans want Dambrot fired5% of Zips fans think Dambrot walks on water.The 90% in the middle think we had a very nice season considering our marginal talent. They remember the Crawford and Hipsher years very clearly and have no desire to endure a coaching change now that we have a guy that can win 20 games...20 games in a single season too, not cumulative over 2 or 3 seasons like our previous two staffs.They also seem to think we absolutely choked in Cleveland this past weekend, losing to an inferior team in a crucial tournament game on a neutral court. They also seem to want to see what Dambrot does in 2006-7 to bring athleticism, speed and poise to our backcourt, which was proven to be our Achilles’ heel in every major game of 2005-6 (we ate the "patsies" alive).Will Dials come back strong in 2006-7? Could Joyce play 20mpg in a support role if another point guard proved more effective? Does Middleton practice at the point position over the summer? Can Travis develop some sort of money move over the offseason and get his 2006-7 scoring average into the upper teens...where it belongs? Woods' academics in order? So many questions in the Akron community...

If those of you on this board who want harsh reality as to why people don't go to Akron basketball games, this is the reason. Could this be a reason why Rydell Brooks from Buchtel is not on the Zips recruiting radar? Maybe the experiment of taking in local kids with debateable D-1 talent is over?Brookhart stopped the recruiting of any local kids that weren't BCS-level talent. I have to believe it's the same with KD.

How tough a job is it to recruit when you're telling kids they're going to play for Mt St Hipsher? You bring them to a game for their recruiting trip and they see Bryan Hipsher logging 22 mpg while the home crowd boos incessently. That's a tough sell...I can't hold KD accountable for that.22 wins is 22 wins, even in a watered-down MAC. However, if these new guards (recruits) are as quick as advertised, I want to see them on the court next season. No more Dials and Joyce for 34 minutes.

That was really something to witness. 10 minutes to go in the game and Joyce starts tossing the ball around like a lawn sprinkler. Someone tell me why Peterson gets a quick 7 points and gets benched, while Dials lays brick after brick...gets toasted on D...throws balls away...and rarely sees the pine. It was nice to see Nick yuk it up after his lone 2 points of the game...as Toledo blew past him for a layup 3 seconds later.Down two at game's end, it was nice to see Dru lazily go after the inbounds pass...get it stolen...and give up two more.Yes it was a nice season. Hell...it was a great, overacheiving season by anyone's standards. But that has ZERO to do with tonight's game. This was KD's chance...the Zip basketball team's chance...to make a statement. To get 17k in Cleveland in front of a national TV audience. To meet Can't in the finals. To ensure an NIT bid, at worst. We crapped our pants. KD rode his horses too long. The team lost it's poise. We played exactly like a team that's never been to the 2nd round in Cleveland. If KD wonders why there's no sell outs at the JAR early next season, he needs to look in the mirror. He had his chance to break through in 2006. It was laid out flat as a mackeral for the taking...and we blew it. Maybe more later after I sleep on it...maybe not. I have to believe this puts Toledo past us in the NIT race. PLEASE, no one EVEN ask if we stand a chance of an NCAA bid. We're begging for an NIT.The only thing positive to come out of this game is we probably saved Joplin's job.

Unless this guy (below) takes Dambrot hostage then takes over reins of the team, there is no way we lose to a team like Toledo. They are S-O-F-T on the inside. Travis goes for 22.Zips by 8.

It would warm my heart to hear the Rowdies chant:HAUL MY GAR-BAGEOR PUMP MY GASto those retarded Toledo fans in the gas station attendant's outfits. You know the clowns with the yellow hair and masks?If you don't, I will!!Banking on the Rowdies to show up strong tonight!!

Got their chicken mascot too!

That can't be right. You can get to DT cleveland significantly faster from DT akron than you can from DT k ent, traffic phenomenon aside.LOL, I'm not trying to go OT or start an argument. Just wondering how that could be 3 minutes difference. You can complain to mapquest buddy ! RT 43 to I-480W to downtown CLE is about 49 miles on the nose.

The AK-Oldies out-dueling the AK-Rowdies?

Generally speaking, Akron, Can't and Miami are equal. Can't and Miami might have a slight edge over the Zips because they've actually played in the championship before. OU has a puncher's chance to win it all...and everyone else's participation is just a formality.

Every recruit wants to compete in the NCAA tourney during their college career. You are at a distince disadvantage when recruiting against a team that's been there recently if your school has not.If you are a recruit, what sounds better:A.) "You want to play in the NCAA tourney? Come play for us, we've been there the past 2 seasons. We need a guy like YOU to go deeper in the tourney next season!"orB.) "We won games in the NIT last season. We need YOU so we can make the NCAA tourney next year."For the great players, "A" wins every time. NIT wins only help you in recruiting against lower-tier teams.