Captain Kangaroo

Peterson and Wood come to mind. I'm sure there are others too. IMO Nate isn't doing anything outstanding, he's rock-solid but not spectacular. It will be interesting to see his progression from Fr. to Soph.When I first saw him I was thinking "Brian Wood" all over again. I was wrong. He'll be way better than Brian Wood ever was.

That statement calls for some:

I haven't seen Brian Howe enough to have an opinion on him. Stokes, Rorh and Grant saw 90+ percent of all the LB time last season. Is Howe any good? If so, why no real PT in 2005 or before?

Rasor column says this guy is a Zip:Click to See 8M .mpg - Download itJUCO LB with 3 years of eligibility remaining. I'm sure a former Zips asst. coach help to get this kid to Akron.

Per the PD, the Zips received a commit from Armin Kabir, a 6' 1" free safety from Warrensville Heights. Seemed to be lightly recruited, with EMU, Toledo, YSU and Ashland on his list?

Must....bite....tongue....sooo....very....difficult....must....exercise....restrint....blood pressure....rising....

I recall you were once a coaching candidate on footballscoop.com!

First Buffalo, mow Ole' Miss. Seems like Pry's resume is out there?

"Winning out" in MAC play is impossible. A great season would mean we win out at home and lose only 3 on the road. 7 is the maximum amount of losses we could have and still possess a reasonable shot at an at-large berth. If we had beaten Clemson, we'd be a shoe-in.8 losses and a MAC tourney exit in ANY round = NIT. 9 losses or more...we'd better make the "Q" finals if we want an NIT bid.10 losses...forget it.Also - we need to get our home attendance up if we want any sort of chance at a home NIT game. Or....we win it all at the "Q" and the above points are all moot. We'll find out a lot about the Zips competitive level in the MAC this Saturday. Hell, WMU ripped BG by about 20 the other night so our trip to Kalamazoo tomorrow is going to be a tough test as well.

I agree. It was one of the best start-to-finish beatdowns of a decent team the Zips have layed down in some time. I saw a UA official after the Motor City Bowl and we talked a few minutes about hoops. He was supremely confident the Zips would be in the NCAA's this season even if they stumble at The Q. I personally think that's a bit of a reach (at-large bid), but you can see where this team has it's "bar" set. And, they're quietly going about their business as a real "team." No Tarvers or Hollingsworthless' running around on the floor trying to get their individual numbers. These 14 guys give 100% on both ends of the floor.Futch did play well and kept his keester in the paint. That was a treat to behold. Toledo was missing their 6' 9" center, so Matt's life was made a bit easier than it could have been. Regardless, he played his best minutes of the season.Middleton was OUTSTANDING. Many on the board felt he would really blossom if given more than 10 minutes per game. Thank you thank you thank you Bubba Walther for giving Cedric this opportunity.Linhart gets better and better. Very solid, very steady. Kind of reminds you of a little Larry Bird with his all-around inside/outside game and assists. No, I'm not putting him in the hall of fame just yet, but he seems to have all the tools you need to become an outstanding all around player in the MAC. And, alot faster than anyone could have expected.The cartoon was awesome. I can't wait until it is played at the K-ent game. The place will erupt!Why was Dials still on the court with 4 minutes left and an 18 point lead? Is his knee better than we're lead to believe?Dru had another quietly solid game. I like his comments after the game too.Peterson's game wis alot like Bubba's in that he looks for his shot first...and also second...then thinks about passing. With both he and Bubba on the floor, defensive lapses and quick, ill-advised offensive shots were inevitable. With only one offense-centric player left on the team, I thing it will actually work out in our favor. Darryl can fill it up. And if his defense or rebounding isn't there, we have 4 other guys on the court to fill in. Darryl had a great game last night overall. 7 rebounds in limited minutes! Yet another plus taken from Bubba's departure.Nice end-to-end dribbling by Preston! Can you imagine how good this team would be if Bryan Hipsher hadn't transferred? Bad timing by the sound guy blasting the Zips fight song as the Joy Street kids are marching out of the arena. He should have given them time to finish their "thing" and exit.Big match up next week vs. NIU. Hope they play that clip of Hixson's catch on the big screen against those buggers!Final note: HOLY HELL....HELL HAS FROZEN OVER...SOMEONE ACTUALLY DECIDED TO INFORM THE CROWD REGARDING "Leading Rebounders" "Leading Scorers" "Assist Leaders" etc!!!!! I never thought I'd see the day??!! Now, can we get it right and put that info on the middle scoreboard? And do updates with some frequency? If that happens I'll die a happy man.

Screw him. He's now the enemy. I hope KD shuts him down every time we meet. OU will love his defense, ball handling skills and attitude. I wonder if he will ever see the court for OU? If he wanted PT he should have transferred to one of the directional Michigans.

We will end up with a top flight soccer coach. I am 100% certain of that. I really have nothing left to comment on the coaching situation that I didn't already state below. I wish we'd hired one sooner, but I also want to make sure we get the right guy.When all is said and done I doubt it will take much longer to replace Lolla than it did Owens. It is also tough hiring around the Holidays.

Word on the street is the stadium will "officially" be annouced in mid-summer. It will be a 30k seat, open air venue. The cost of a dome exceeded 2X the open air option (more than 120 million $$)...and such a facility just isn't in our budget.The stadium will be on campus. It will not be downtown. Downtown was considered, but lack of sufficient space for a 30,000 seat stadium was the stumbling block. That, and the fact that the stadium is needed ON CAMPUS. Having the new stadium directly on campus is an absolute, uncompromisable "must." One of the reasons donors have so strongly stepped up to the table to back the stadium project is the fact that it is a major campus improvement. The donors are not as excited about upgrading the downtown area. Also - word is there will be a MLS/Wolstein 30k soccer arena built in Northern Summit county soon. It will be soccer-only. There was no possibility the University's new stadium needs could co-exist with the MLS taem's schedule, requirements, etc. so two stadiums will be built. Maybe we play a couple "big time" soccer games there one day, but that's about it.More will follow in the coming months, but take the above info to the bank. The only thing I'm not sure of is the completion date. I'll see what I can find out.

Wait until next fall when all the girls on campus are strutting their "Fear the Roo" lower back tatoos!

I hear ya, CK. I think U of A soccer is in the same boat as Memphis basketball. Memphis far outclasses all CUSA hoops opponents. CUSA hoops, minus Memphis, is pretty weak. However, Memphis has the "power" to continue playing top-level competition on their home court, hiring the best coaches, playing in the best facilities and maintaining their Top 20 (Top 10?) program. Mack Rhoades should call the Memphis AD to get his thoughts on maintaining an "elite" program in a "mediocre" (soccer-wise) conference.

Boise State nearly beat BC on Boise's home field. Boise State...not Penn State, not Ohio State, not Florida State...B-O-I-S-E STATE. I remember similar "we're going to lose 65-0" cries when we played Virginia Tech at the Rubber Bowl several years ago. We almost beat them.If Boise State can take BC down to the game's final play on their home field, the Zips could do as well or better in 2006. We could certainly also do worse too...but that is the same regardless of any team we'd play.

Tell me one college stadium where the seats didn't go empty when "X" team stopped winning. To not build a new stadium to replace the crumbling Rubber Bowl because "we might stop winning" is crazy. Why build all those new buildings on campus...hey, enrollment "might" go down?We are committed to being a real D1 school. Look around campus. This isn't 10 years ago or even 5 years ago. This is today, and tomorrow is the future. Thank God the University has a President that can see beyond yesterday. People in Akron seem to fear success and growth like the plague. I don't get it.

I hear it is a "done deal." The Seagate Center will host the Big East Basketball Tourney in 2009-2015. I agree. What a laughable thing to tell a recruit. Of course he did only say "a chance." There's technically also "a chance" that Can't State football will go 13-0 next season and win a national championship.

You are all welcome. We're glad to see so many people with an interest in Zips sports enjoying the board. Thanks to all who post for making the board both informative and entertaining.

Church chooses ToledoBy Kevin GormanTRIBUNE-REVIEWThursday, December 29, 2005 Barry Church was aware of the success that Penn Hills defensive backs enjoyed at the University of Toledo. What impressed Church most was not how his predecessors performed, but how the Rockets pursued him. Church has made a verbal commitment to Toledo, choosing the GMAC Bowl champions over Cincinnati. He also had scholarship offers from Akron, Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), North Carolina State and West Virginia. "It was real hard," Church said. "Cincinnati was the Big East, a big bowl game and real nice facilities, but I had to look out for myself. It was real hard to turn down West Virginia because I had always wanted to go there. When they came through (with a written scholarship offer), I had already narrowed it down and didn't want to go back on my word." Church said that Toledo coach Tom Amstutz indicated that the Rockets might have a chance to move up to the Big East in two years. "So that's even better," Church said. Although the 6-foot-2 1/2, 205-pounder played linebacker at Penn Hills, he was recruited to play strong safety. Church recorded 80 tackles, eight sacks, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries this past season, earning All-Quad East, All-Class AAAA, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 and second-team all-state honors. "I looked at playing time and I thought that was the best opportunity for me as a true freshman and I took it," Church said. "They took me in the office with the head coach and said, 'You're the guy that's going to replace (graduating starter) Keon Jackson,' so I took that as an opportunity." Church joins Penn Hills inside linebacker Archie Donald in committing to Toledo. They follow a succession of Penn Hills players to choose Toledo, including former cornerback Brandon Hefflin, defensive tackle Mike Hill (who, after playing at Georgia Military Junior College, will walk-on at West Virginia instead) and sophomore Tyrell Herbert, a current starter at free safety. "I think with Tyrell at the free, he can teach me and help me out," Church said. "It's good to have a friend in the secondary. But it had a little more to do with they just did a good job recruiting me."

I know nothing about Lolla's departure. However, I have to think he screwed up by leaving.Yes, he's a great coach and he'll likey be a winner wherever he goes....but he had it all going for him at Akron.It seems like he made a rash decision based upon his anger over the tourney seeding snub. But I swear that would likely have been a one-time "screwing." I guarantee next season, if the Zips were again highly competitive, he would have received his better seed. Furthermore, he now aided the very cause he despised. He had the ability at Akron to change "the system." Akron could have been the little guy to crash the big guy's party. There's no way the NCAA denies the Zips again. Instead of staying and fighting, he left to join the big guys. Too bad, because before he threw in the towel, he was ahead on the scorecards. He needed only to win one more metaphorical "round."The next coach that takes over gets the best soccer job in the country. He's inheriting a Top-5 program. He'll get a great salary (if we matched Louisville's offer, we can obviously offer identical coaching money as any of the "big boys.") The students love the sport. Community interest couldn't be higher.The only thing missing is the fact we're stuck in the MAC. MAC soccer blows goats. It is like Duke basketball playing in the MEAC. However, Akron only plays 5 MAC games per year + the MAC tourney. We have such program respect that we can get Big 10 and ACC teams to come to our own field! While our situation in the MAC is not ideal, I think the next coach should still be expected to field a top-15 team on a yearly basis. And we should still be able to schedule great non-conference matches. And, we should still expect and annual NCAA bid.I hope we beat Louisville every time we meet. The sooner the better. Lolla - dare you schedule the Zips?

BTW: If you can suffer through a women's hoops game on the radio, you're a better man than me.

I don't think "people" are down on Frye. I think one person is...and that person likes to type alot...so it looks like many are.

If Bubba thinks he'll get more minutes at a school of Akron's "level" (mid-high D1) he is getting bad advice. Yes, he was a dead-eye shot that could bury a team in a minute with his 3's...but the way the Zips will win a championship is by playing tough D and rebounding. Bubba's strengths don't apply here. He's a good role player...a weapon...but it definitely appears that we have enough guys on this year's Zips squad that can both drain 3's AND play D - He will hardly be missed. In fact, with increased minutes Rybek and Linhart's development will probably accelerate and Middleton will be less erratic. We may end up a better, more rounded team.I wish him well, but it is no big loss for this team.

If we have poor attendance next season it would be because:1.) The team stinks (which I highly doubt will happen)2.) We play on horrid weather (in NE Ohio, certainly possible)3.) We have unattractive games scheduled on unattractive nights (ie. Buffalo on a Tuesday night in November)Bad attendance will have nothing to do with the crappy Rubber Bowl.If the MAC office is smart...debatable since these are the same guys that invited Temple into the MAC...but if they are smart, they will schedule our key games next season in November. Assuming the Zips are again in the hunt come November, Miami and BG will pack the Rubber Bowl regardless of the weather or date.Zips attendance will be strong in the early season and the opener will sell out. It would also be nice to play a crossover game vs. Toledo in 2006. We haven't played them in about 8 years.