Captain Kangaroo

Good insight, Zipboy. I'll add the following:As much as the OU fans might want to believe it was close...it really wasn't. We lead the final 30 or so minutes. OU never made a serious run at us. We had a couple consecutive horrible possessions to let it get within 5 late, but that didn't last long.FT shooting is dramatically improved.I agree I am tired of the Dru dribble dribble dribble for 25 seconds, hoist a 30 footer thing too. Glad to see Dials get the look.In general, this team just rolls on. Solid...consistent...unspectacular...just 5 guys on the floor that play together extremely well. Good shooters. Good decisions. Great defense. Never get rattled. Athlete-wise there are many games this year where we have been at a disadvantage, and we've won most of those games. Credit to the guys a KD. 20 wins w/o Peterson (for the most part), Bubba, Conyers and Wood. 26-1 at home? Holy hell that's awesome.Preston looks better and better. I agree with whomever said we'll win the MAC Championship if his "A" game is at Cleveland.UAM talked about "The Perfect Storm" regarding the "Fear the Roo" campaign hitting while the Football and Soccer teams were peaking. I think another "Perfect Storm' hit with the hoisting of McLaughlin's #25 to the rafters as we notched our first 20-win season since Eric led the team to it's 4th straight. He really seemed to enjoy coming back. I remember when he left, it wasn't on the best of terms. Huggins had just accepted the Cinci job. Eric was quoted in the paper saying "We're (he and Huggins) graduating together." The bad taste of Huggins being forced out when Faust was hired was still pretty fresh and bitter in 1989. Time healed the wound, I guess?I look forward to seeing Eric's son play for CMU the next couple years. I hope we beat him too, but I wish him well. We haven't had a let down all season. Our three MAC losses were all to very good teams, on the road in close games. Nevada and Louisville were simply better than us and we "had" Clemson for 35 minutes. We fought well vs Cal w/o Travis. This team plays to, or above it's potential every night. Thus I think we will beat Buffalo this Wednesday. Close game, but we win.You guys were right. The side scoreboards are awesome. If the side scoreboards crap out, it would be nice if the announcer gave a verbal listing of the statistical leaders at some point. Handing out sheets of paper to the lower level group only helps out a few.Also - for 5,000+ attendance games it would be nice if they could delay the interview with Dambrot for 10 minutes. It takes a lot longer to get out of the JAR and into your car when there's a big crowd. I am assuming he was interviewed? If he was I missed it all, and I really didn't lollygag.Beat K-en't and win the MAC Championship! Our 5th Championship of the 2005-6 sports year!

Can you please refresh the Zips fans regarding your last couple trips to the Motor City Bowl? You guys REALLY represented the MAC well!!! Toledo Beatdown #1 - Click for Gory DetailsToledo Beatdown #2 - Click for More Gory DetailsWhat an absolute joke to belittle Akron's effort in this year's MCB. Don't you think ESPN reaches Summit County?Good luck with Lawrence Phillips...or Ray Williams...or whomever you picked up.

Click for Chicken Squawk

I'll probably stop at BW-3's for a beer or two before the game. I usually run into a few ZipsNation members there so stop in and say "hello" if you're in the neighborhood. Won't it be cool when The Winking Lizard inside the new stadium has pre-game specials before all the hoops games? I'll be like Norm in that place!

I may show at BW-3's. Maybe I'll see you there?

Replace "Toledo" with "Marshall" and you've got a well-used Coach Pruett line...probably used it a thousand times. Whatever. You don't even know the whole story. You spun the truth to stir the pot. I know the whole story. It was in the Cleveland papers for several months.Ray Williams was convicted (not accused) of manslaughter and aggravated assault (not speeding and improper lane changing).There's no spinning manslaughter and aggravated assault...unless you are the one trying to diminish it's severity.The Zips can win a division and MAC title without Ray Williams. We proved it. After last season, it is apparent Toledo feels it now needs some sort of edge to acheive the same level? Keep drinking the Kool-Aid, Rocket fans.

Thank you for taking time to explain things! Along with Dr. Z, I will take some time to review the side scoreboards during the OU game and offer thoughts on potential improvements from a fan's perspective.

I think it is very good for the MAC that Miami has surfaced as a decent team after a rough beginning. There are a lot of horrible teams in the MAC right now:BSU, CMU, EMU, WMU, Toledo and BG are all terrible, and Buffalo is probably one step above terrible. Even NIU has slipped up several times.If any of the above teams make it to the MAC semi's, it would be pretty devastating to the tourney attendance. Miami, Can't and Akron all seem pretty strong. OU seems to be regaining form now that "Mr. Turnover" Fears has quit. That "Final Four" would put MAC championship attendance through the roof for the final two days. I hope it happens. 16K at the Q for an Akron/Can't final would be awesome. In general, any final 2 combinaltion of those listed above would draw very well and be some great basketball.

You are correct. We are a 3 point underdog. Miami has been playing well and is uncharacteristically putting up some offensive numbers.This game will be a dogfight. I hope we have no hangover from the Nevada game. After the way we rebounded from the disheartening Can't loss, I don't think we will. This team is mentally as tough as they come.Prediction: Zips 53 Miami 52

Sullivan graduated.

I agree with that point. For the lower seats, it is at eye-level.That said, the majority of the JAR's seating (65%?) is in the upper level. For those in the upper level, like myself, the primary "reference" scoreboard is the overhead board. If something changes on it, you notice immediately. Things scroll on/off the side boards 20 times before many of us in the upper level even notices. Anyone who debates that has never been a fan sitting in the upper level.Again I ask: Why is it rocket science to place statistical leaders on the overhead scoreboard? It is certainly possible if it can be done on the side boards. And, it is more interesting info than showing the live feed of a game that's happening directly below.If someone is so protective of the end scoreboards they must have a personal attachment to them? Either they work them, or they have some vested interest in justifying them. It is funny that everyone wants to know how to improve things at the JAR...but when you tell them something that's wrong, they get defensive and resort to name-calling. You can't have it both ways.

I sit in the middle of the court. I am constantly looking forward. If the sole reason statistical leaders aren't shown on the center scoreboard is the existance of the end scoreboards, then I think the end scoreboards were a waste of "hundreds of thousands of dollars." They might as well be placed in the lobby as far as I'm concerned.Beyond not being in the primary line-of-sight of the majority of the patrons, the end scorboards are extremely limited in the information they can show a one time. The graphics capability, visibility and level of information that can be shown on the overhead scoreboard blows away the end ones. I'm happy the overhead scoreboard is now being used for more than the live video feed of the games going on directly below...like they were for a couple years...but there is still room left to maximize their capability.Using your logic, why does the central scoreboard show time outs, the time remaining and the game score. Hey, it's already on the end scoreboards, right? Why repeat the information? There is no other arena with an overhead scoreboard as nice as ours that doesn't place information regarding statistical leaders on it.

Now if only they could show leading scorers, rebounders, etc on the center scoreboard during the course of the game...then my life would be complete.

Replace "Toledo" with "Marshall" and you've got a well-used Coach Pruett line...probably used it a thousand times.

The Plain Dealer reports Toledo expects convicted manslaughter and aggravated assault convict Ray Williams will report for spring football. He is already working out with the team. Marshall has officially been replaced in the MAC.Miami officials confirm football coach Tim Cooper was arrested for DUI last week. No truth the the rumor he was just trying to beef up his resume' for an assistant's job w/Solich @ OU.Former Miami coach John Wauford, fameous for punching a Marshall fan on the field, has left his most recent employer - Can't State University, to pursue a job at Findlay College. Wauford was quoted as saying: "There are simply more fans to punch at Findlay games than Can't State games."

As opposed to one of the other schools listed? No. It is just and interesting read, and Akron is a school in contact with him.

It is real.

Ok…you’re Martin Pees …or Dean Martin …or whoever the K-ent State football coach is. You want to set your off season workout goals high. REALLY high! But how do you market this to your players? You want to pump them up, but what in K-ent Ohio can you use to define the absolute highest level of commitment to football excellence?You could ask your players to exert “Antonio All-Pro Effort,” honoring San Diego Charger TE and K-ent player Antonio Gates. Yes, that’s high, but you can reach even higher!You could ask your players to reach “The Lambert Level,” honoring K-ent graduate and Hall of Famer Jack Lambert. Again, that’s high, but you can reach even higher!You could ask the players to reach “Harrison Heights,” honoring Steelers Super Bowl Champion and K-ent player James Harrison. High again, but you can reach even higher!I present to you the highest level a K-ent player can strive for in off-season workouts, as defined by the K-ent State coaching staff:

Albert Gallatin hoopster a well-traveled athlete FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEWSunday, February 19, 2006Jawaan Alston dribbles down the court at Albert Gallatin.Albert Gallatin junior Jawaan Alston has quite an edge on his classmates when discussing United States geography.After all, he has already been to Las Vegas, Orlando, Houston, Niagara Falls, New Orleans, as well as a pair of prominent North Carolina cities, Durham and Chapel Hill.Throw in acronyms like D-1, MAC, Big East, and A-10, and Alston, with a 3.4 grade average, has a big edge perusing a U.S. map, not to mention the advantage he enjoys with his 6-foot-8 height.Alston, a three-year starter for the Colonials boys basketball team, has already earned a lot of frequent flyer miles and has already seen more of the U.S. than most kids -- perhaps adults -- may ever see.As the 2005-2006 scholastic basketball season draws to a close, Alston, with 916 career points, is second on the school's all-time scoring list, behind Jason Kopec's 927 career total set between 1994-1997. Alston, most likely on his way to becoming the Colonials all-time leading scorer, has scored 495 points this season -- an average of 20.6 points per game -- and has at least one more game to play, against top-seeded Bethel Park in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs set to begin this week.With 272 rebounds this season, Alston holds the single-season mark, and has pulled down 667 for his career. He has also blocked nearly 100 shots this year for the Colonials, 14-10 overall, 7-7 in Section 1 for the regular season."Jawaan came in and started in Quad A as a freshman," Albert Gallatin coach Dan Andria said. "He learned some hard lessons as freshman. Jawaan got off to a good start for us, but had trouble finishing plays. We made the playoffs that season and won the section last year when he was a sophomore. He is bigger and stronger, growing in to his body -- Alston weighs 195 pounds -- and now he is able to finish those same plays."Helping with Alston's basketball development has been his involvement with the Pittsburgh J.O.T.S. AAU program, where he was a member of the 16-and-under team which, last July in New Orleans, was runner-up to national champion Mellow Yellow, from Baltimore, a team sponsored by NBA star Carmello Anthony.Alston has been with the AAU program for five years and coach J.O. Stright has glowing comments regarding the Colonials star."Jawaan was the most improved player on our team last year," Stright said. "He learned to work down low and got tougher as the season went on. He absorbed everything we taught. He's a smart player, runs the floor well, and was an integral part of the team. He is a definite Division-1 prospect."Always big for his age, Alston, at the urging of his father, Donald, started playing basketball when he was 6 years old, and is generating interest from such colleges as St. Joseph, Can't, Duquesne, Buffalo, Akron and Penn State. West Virginia is also keeping a vigilant eye on him.In three seasons, Andria has seen Alston's progress up close."He naturally plays inside but can go outside and shoot the three," Andria said. "He works hard, is coachable and has made steady progress. He covers a lot of ground. He lifted over the summer and is finishing plays, unlike his freshman year. His foul shooting has improved this year, and he has come a long way on defense. Jawaan works on becoming consistent and is turning into the top player we thought he would be."Going from high school to AAU and back again, Alston, whose SAT scores have already qualified him for D-1 schools, has played against the nation's best players in his age group."It's a tremendous opportunity playing against the best players in the country," Alston said. "There's so much talent out there, and it's making me a better player. I'm playing against bigger, stronger, more versatile players. Against bigger players I have to move outside sometime, and it's making me more versatile as well."Seeing the nation as a member of the AAU program has made a significant impression on Alston, especially his trip to Orlando, where he played at Disney World, and in North Carolina, where he played on the home courts of the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and Duke University (Durham)."You see Duke and North Carolina on national TV and all of a sudden I'm playing on their floors. It was a great experience," said Alston, who was named to the All-Fayette County team as a sophomore last year. "You see them on TV, but it was fantastic being and playing there."On the verge of becoming AG's all-time leading scorer, Alston was on fire during one four-game stretch this season, scoring 31, 32, 29 and 28 points in the span. His high-water mark was a 34-point performance against Mt. Pleasant."Our goal was to make the playoffs," Alston said. "Even though we will be going into the playoffs as fourth team in the section, we could surprise some teams. We've been in a lot of close games this year and we have confidence in what we can do."With yet another season of high school basketball in front of him, Alston, who will play for the 17-and-under AAU team this year, is in no hurry to make a decision regarding college."There are a lot of schools interested," Andria noted, "and he has plenty of time to make a decision."Additional AAU exposure this summer and his senior season will make that decision easier.

Dru is our go-to guy when the clock is ticking down. You saw it in the MAC tourney last year when he dribbled out the clock in regulation and hoisted a 28 footer. You saw it at game's end vs. OU earlier this season.Dru can be very effective if the match up suits his game, but I don't like him being the go to guy when we need a shot. I would agree that Preston or Peterson are the best options. If someone like Middleton would drive the lane and kick it out to Dru, that's fine. But Dru is very "guardable" one-one-one.I think Dials could be "The Man" in such situations his Jr and Sr years. And, you hear nothing but good regarding Conyers.

It appears the land that has already been acquired is being leveled. Hopefully the few remaining "hold-out" slum lords will be forced to sell their properties because they will essentially be on "islands."

Mr. Stec (father) posted this on a FL newspaper's site:FYI…my son John Stec Kicker for Atlantic High School has signed a National Letter of Intent for the University of Akron, winners of the MAC conference this year and in the Motor City Bowll…John is projected to start as the team’s punter in their first game Sept 2nd at Penn State…John led the county in his junior and senior seasons with punting averages of 40 and 44.6 yds respectively…he also led the county in scoring as a kicker with 55 points…thanks for all your great High School coverage…Peter Stec

The K-ent coach said players from Florida were overrated.

Ryan Andrick developed a drop step. I've yet to see anything resembling a repeatable, decent low post "money-move" from either Travis or Futch. That liability was glaringly evident vs. Nevada. The shots Travis put up vs. Nevada were unorthodox fadeaways. Game in game out he misses more layups than me in an open gym, and rarely uses the backboard. Futch just plugs away. Maybe he teases you with a good offensive move every blue moon, but in general he's there for his defense...and his 5 fouls.

I will put on my moderator hat for 1 minute:Stop it with the personal attacking of other posters. It has no place on this board. It won't be tolerated.BigZip's post brings up a legit question. It was phrased perfectly fine. He merits no attack.