Captain Kangaroo

I agree he recruited a better caliber of person @ Akron than Cinci. I knew a lot of the guys on his teams because I was @ U of A from '84-'89. Most of the guys were good people. They drank beer when they were 18...and they did it with me! Usually it was at The Townhouse. How does Huggins recruit against the likes of Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, etc when he's at a C-USA school like Cincinnati? He can't...unless he takes a lot of character risks. The kids with skills + character + grades are all gone by the time Bob Huggins knocks on their door. Ironic that after taking all those risks and all those suspect players, he bows out of the tourney every year by round 2. MAC, MVC or Horizon League schools do as well as him, but with decent kids...and at a fraction of Cincinnati's budget.

For the record: You were legal to drink @ 19 during a few of Huggins' years. I was good friends with Doug Schutz (former player, now deceased) during the Huggins years. I once asked him why the team was so good at home, and so bad on the road. He said some of the guys partied too hard on their road trips.

Gee, and it wasn't but 11 moth's ago that Bob was making these headlines. Does Cincinnati have ANY standards regarding their athletic programs? When officers pulled Huggins' car over at 11:35 p.m. Tuesday night, he said, "Don't do this to me," but was cooperative, according to the report by Sgt. Jeff Bronson and two other officers. Officers said Huggins told them he was on his way home after talking to recruits and had had a "couple" of beers. He denied that he was under the influence of alcohol. The report said Huggins was stopped because his car was straying out of its lane, and he sat at a light for 10 seconds after it turned green. Officers noticed vomit on the inside of the driver's side door and reported a strong smell of alcohol, prompting them to administer the field sobriety test. Huggins had slurred speech and red, watery eyes, the report said. Officers said he "staggered" out of the car and couldn't keep his balance during the sobriety test. Asked to recite the alphabet from the letter "E" through "P," Huggins said, "E, F, G, H, I, K, L, N, Z," according to the police report. Asked to count backward from 67 to 54, he counted from 62 to 52, the report said.

Unless Temple is playing basketball at the JAR every other year, I don't like it either. It's like picking up a fat chick when you're stone sober.

I have officially pulled the trigger on reserving a tailgate spot. For $15.00 extra...what the hell is there to lose? I think our group will get two side-by-side. 60x40 should seat 20 pretty comfortably? I hope other members of the Zipsnation join me in giving this thing a whirl. I think with the right group of people we can create a pretty kick ass game day community in the lower bowl! People will be begging to get in there in 2006, so get in now while the gettin's good!

Per Hoop Scoop Dot Com: We also have done some research and want to take a minute to catch you up on a number of verbal commitments that have slipped through the crack in recent months. The list includes 6'5 Terrell Eargle from Youngstown (Austintown-Fitch) OH, who has verbally committed to Akron, but first is heading to a prep school in South Carolina

Grayshirt - Click Me

What's there to do in West Lafayette? Is Purdue a good school to hit the evening before a game? Any insider tips on where to go (good campus bars, etc.) and what to do are appreciated.

I doubt the CFN guy has ever been on campus. Inthezone's info is always solid, and he says Jabari is back to WR full time. Getsy has the job. Ferguson is #2. The only questions in my mind regarding QB are: 1.) If Getsy gets turf-toe in game 1, does JD go to Ferguson or revert to Jabari 2.) Does one of the incoming Frosh get any PT at QB?

If he can hand the ball off to Biggs...toss 8 yarders to Kasparek...and hit the occasional slant to Jabari or Hixson, he's 85% of the way there. I have to believe the 2005 game plan will be dramatically different than 2004's. Much less dependent upon the QB to make plays. The OL is obviously the biggest unknown. Probably 3 of the incoming Fr.'s will be relied upon to play serious game minutes. History bears-out that a bunch of Fr.s on the OL is a recipe for disaster. However, the incoming guys have some great HS accolades. Maybe they can gel as the season progresses?

I'm screwed: ZIPSFAN is 7 letters and the plate only allows for 6. :angry: Try ZIPFAN Although my support for the US Postal Service is strong, I prefer to show my support for the University of Akron ZIPS.

I'm screwed: ZIPSFAN is 7 letters and the plate only allows for 6. :angry:

Checked out a few of the Purdue message boards today. No September 10th stuff to be found. It's lunchtime....think I'll have a beer. ahhh.... *burp* Damn good stuff. BTW: I left a few beers in the Zipsnation virtual fridge (found beneath the "clickable smilies"). If anyone else wants one, they're on the house.

Per the PD, Lighty is going to OSU. Pretty early commit?

University may bid on Central-Hower <http://www.ohio.com/images/common/spacer.gif> UA has shown interest in expanding onto site, which sits on edge of campus; details must be discussed The University of Akron long has eyed the Central-Hower High School property to expand its campus. Now that the building might go on the market, UA would be a likely bidder. ``Certainly from a land use point of view, it's something we would like to acquire,'' said Roy Ray, vice president for business and finance at UA. ``The devil is in the details,'' Ray said Tuesday. He said the university doesn't know what the property would cost or how it would finance such a purchase. Monday, Akron Public Schools said Central-Hower -- which sits at the northern edge of the UA campus -- is among nine schools that may close to meet state requirements for the district's construction program. Ray said he doesn't know what UA would be willing to pay for the property. The university would get at least two appraisals before going forward with negotiations. Additionally, he said, UA would not seek to buy the property without first making sure such a purchase does not conflict with city plans. Ted Curtis, UA's vice president for capital planning and facilities management, said the university has no specific plans for the property. However, he said, the additional space would allow UA to tear down old buildings that are costly to operate. ``We can use the physical facilities there, the gymnasium there,'' Curtis said. ``There are a lot of departments that we can move into there.'' Akron Superintendent Sylvester Small said there have been no discussions with UA. He said that if Central-Hower were to close, the district would use it to house students from other high schools while those buildings are being renovated. Small said he would be willing to talk with UA officials. ``We are open to all kinds of creative ideas,'' he said. ``We at least have to listen to folks.'' In 1994, the university expressed an interest in buying Central-Hower and turning it into a student services building. The price was pegged at $16 million to $18 million. The Akron school board initially seemed to be leaning toward the sale, to help reduce the system's then $21 million debt. But board members eventually decided against any sale, saying a poll showed it would work against passage of a levy that was on the May 1994 ballot. (Last year, UA opened a new student services building across College Street from the high school.) In 2002, talk again arose about a possible sale. That was when Akron school officials began developing plans for the district-wide construction project. Officials said then that Central-Hower had relatively few students living nearby. After hearing from residents, however, the board voted to keep the school. A public meeting to discuss Central-Hower's future will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the school auditorium on South Forge Street.

Three observations: 1.) Is Maple Heights supposed to the THAT good next year? They sure seem to have a ton of D1 prospects? 2.) Why is the RB that we have "low" interest in one of the few players that we've offered a scholarship? 3.) No Summit or Stark kids yet.

I would say it's more like "Props to Father Time for finally 'taking care' of the elderly UA trustees that clung on to the 'sunflower seal' like it was the last bottle of Viagara on earth."

I got an Andrew Jackson for the game DVD. Any takers? BTW: I've seen the Rutgers spring game about 4 times on Fox Sports while running on my treadmill the past 2 weeks. Would there be any harm in offering the game on a dvd? Am I the only one that would buy it?

Cleveland rookies gather for minicamp 4/29/2005, 3:00 p.m. PT By TOM WITHERS The Associated Press Braylon Edwards pulled on a white knit stocking cap with a menacing dog logo and slipped into a pair of shorts as orange as Halloween. "I like it," the Browns' wide receiver and first-round draft pick from Michigan said of Cleveland's dominant team color. "It's bright and bold — kind of like myself." On the other side of the locker room, quarterback Charlie Frye stood in front of a mirror and snapped on his shiny helmet. "I thought I looked good," Frye said proudly. "I think it's a good fit." Browns coach Romeo Crennel opened his first two-day minicamp for rookies and undrafted free agents on Friday, giving 42 players their initial taste of life in the NFL. For many of them it will be their one and only pro experience. For Edwards, Frye and the other six players Cleveland took in last weekend's draft, it's just the beginning of what they and the Browns hope will be fruitful careers filled with Pro Bowl appearances, AFC championships and Super Bowl rings. Before breaking off for meetings and taking the field for practice, several of the new Browns lounged around on the locker room floor reviewing notes and their playbooks one last time. Safety Brodney Pool, the team's second-round pick, wanted to be prepared. "I just know the coaches are going to quiz me on something," said the club's second-round pick. "I'd better know where I'm supposed to be." This weekend is the first chance for Frye and Edwards, a pass-and-catch combination the Browns hope click for years to come, to get to know each other better. They never could have imagined after meeting at the NFL scouting combine in February that they would soon be roommates. When Frye walked into their hotel room on Thursday, he was greeted with a warning from Edwards. "The first thing he said was, 'You better not snore,'" Frye said. "I don't." Edwards noted that he and Frye had immediate chemistry before hooking up for their first pass completion, a crisp 12-yard out pattern during a drill at the beginning of Friday's workout. "He's a good guy," said Edwards, who was offered a scholarship by Akron and could have been Frye's teammates four year sooner. "He doesn't snore and he doesn't mind the TV being on at night. I'm a night owl and I can't sleep without the TV." The two spent their first night as Browns teammates going over their new playbooks and talking — mostly about their golf games. Edwards was impressed to learn that Frye regularly shoots in the low 80s. "I shoot 99," Edwards said. "He's giving me strokes right now. We've set a date to see who can really play."

Hey Z-P...were you drafted by the Chicago Cardinals or the Canton Bulldogs? I forget. BTW: When are you gonna autograph my photo of you?

Above the "Add Reply" Button is a box for "File Attachment." If you click on "Browse" you can then search your harddrive for the picture. Once found, simply double click on it and your done. Note: Sometimes pictures like this can turn out pretty large. You might need to re-size them. Give it a try.

Click if Your Nuts For Canucks Bizzare group, those guys up north? Best wishes to Cam. Have a two-four for me, eh.

36. Thanks for the memories. Jack Lambert helps the flushes every day when a football fans walks past his display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thanks for asking. I hear John Heisman was a "stud" back-in-the-day too. That, Jack Lambert's turf toe and $3,75 will get you a small latte at Starbucks.

...and he's listed as a 6' 2" Defensive Lineman?! Titans' relay team fast and furious West Mifflin's Montel Williamson takes the baton from teammate Kevin Garner Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review By John Grupp TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, April 27, 2005 It took nearly a year, but all-state football player Kevin Garner has forgiven Brandon Coleman and Montel Williamson. The two record-breaking sprinters decided to focus on conditioning and indoor track rather than play football last fall with Garner at West Mifflin High School. With Garner leading the way, the Titans made a surprising run to the WPIAL Class AAA football finals, before losing to Thomas Jefferson. "At first, I was real upset that they didn't play," Garner said. "I was kind of mad, but not anymore. I understand, especially now." Garner is reunited with his two friends, and they make up three-fourths of the fastest relay teams in Western Pennsylvania for West Mifflin boys track and field. The 400-meter relay team has a WPIAL-best time of 43.0 seconds, and the 1,600-meter relay has a top-ranked time of 3 minutes, 25.9 seconds. Both teams are undefeated this spring. "It's going pretty smooth," Garner said, "but we still have some work to do." Garner was an alternate last year when Williamson and Coleman led West Mifflin to the WPIAL and PIAA Class AAA titles in the 400-meter relay and the WPIAL crown in the 1,600-meter relay. The 400-meter relay team set the WPIAL record with a time of 41.83 seconds. Garner joined the starting lineup this year on both relays. They are expected to be favored in both events at the WPIAL Class AAA track and field championships at Baldwin High School on May 19. Freshman Kadeem Gaiter rounds out the 400-meter relay team, and senior Anthony Mazzarese, the coach's son, completes the quartet in the 1,600 relay. Garner is lifting weights nearly every day as he prepares for his freshman football season at the University of Akron. But he's remained fast enough to run the 100-meter in the 11.4-second range and hold his own in the 4x400.

Funny...while researching on the Internet I found a similar column written in the Beacon regarding Bryan Hipsher? If Conyers is half the player little Hip was, MAN were in good shape for the future! Hipsher Leaves His Mark on All-Star Game Akron Hoban Star Ensures Win With Block, Dunk in Waning Seconds: District All-Stars 107, Suburban All-Stars 102 By Sean P. Flynn Special to The Akron Beacon Journal Saturday, April 23, 2001; Page D12 After preserving the District All-Stars' lead with a big blocked shot, Bryan Hipsher decided to cap his team's victory in the final seconds of the regional game of the Capital Classic with his own exclamation point. With an unobstructed fast break after his block, the Akron Hoban senior completed the District's 107-102 victory over the Suburban All-Stars with a dazzling double-pump reverse slam dunk that drew whoops from the crowd at Patriot Center. "The first thing is that you've got to make it, and that's one of the dunks I always make," said Hipsher, who was named the District team's most valuable player. "I wanted to give the crowd something to enjoy." Hipsher, who will play for Akron next year, finished with a game-best 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting and tied the game high with 10 rebounds. Hipsher's dunk was the fitting finish to a fast-paced game that had eight ties and 11 lead changes and was not decided until the final minute. After trailing by eight points early in the third quarter, the District stars turned their fortunes around with defense and rebounding, and they never trailed in the fourth quarter. The District out-rebounded the Suburban team 73-55 and had 16 blocked shots. "We were down at halftime, but [Coach Butch McAdams] got us ready," Sweetney said. "He told us to play good defense, and that would get our offense going." Trailing by three with less than two minutes left, the Suburban stars had several good three-point chances to tie the game, but they missed three attempts before Wakefield's Alex Irmer (16 points, 10 rebounds) made two free throws to cut it to 103-102 with 33 seconds left. Irmer was named his team's most valuable player. The District stars immediately bounced back with a breakaway layup by Avery, and the Suburban stars moved back quickly to get a shot. But Ryan Scott's three-pointer was emphatically blocked by Hipsher, who got his own rebound and moved down the floor for the dunk. @ 2005 The Akron Beacon Journal Company