Captain Kangaroo

Unlike Denver last season, not Hall of Fame game participants (Bears vs. Dolphins) utilized the Zips indoor training facility this year. Jason Taylor did not make any known stops on campus, but did provide a fair number of HOF game tickets at the athletic office. Would be nice if he dropped off a chunk of change towards the new stadium while he was at it! Also: Mike Grzeskowiak & Jared Smith will be grad assistants this year. The newly retired Dennis Basch will assist with film.

It would be nice for kids in the area that ARE quite OSU-material to pick UA. If Rick McFadden, Dennis Kennedy and Nick Dials came to Akron, why not a few local ones?

So we play both California-Pennsylvania AND Cal-Berkley? That's odd? Let me guess...road game, right?

I think Marshall and Toledo have consistently hung around the top 25 as frequently as any BCS school over the past several years. BG has been a regular as of late too.

He's excellent right now. If he's healthy, and not the best TE we've got during the next 3 years...then we're in REALLY good shape at TE.

If you think no Freshman will see time on the OL, you've been hanging with Josh Cribbs too long. Puff Puff.

PG West: Kasparek relaxes as starter at Akron Thursday, August 04, 2005 By Rich Emert, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette This summer has been less stressful for Kris Kasparek. It has nothing to do with doing well in the class he was taking at the University of Akron. The reason Kasparek has been able to relax more is he hasn't had to worry about his place on the Zips depth chart. He enters training camp as the starter at tight end. "Just knowing you've got a starting job going in makes it easier," said Kasparek, a New Brighton High School graduate. "When you're not the starter and you have a little injury that's bothering you, you don't say anything and keep going because you don't what the coaches thinking you don't want to play. "When you're the starter and you've got something, the coaches will let you to take a little time off because they know what you can do. You don't stop trying hard or anything like that, it's just a different way you're looked at." A redshirt sophomore, Kasparek moved into the starting lineup midway through last season. He ended up starting 6 of 11 games and catching 11 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. His first start was against Middle Tennessee State and he hauled in a 40-yard pass. "What happened is, I hurt my leg in camp last year and that's set me back a little bit," Kasparek said. "Before that, I was in the running for the starting spot." When he finally did get an opportunity to play on the first team he didn't drop the ball. What makes Kasparek effective is his knowledge of the plays. He said that's what got him noticed. "The best and fastest way to get on the field is to know the plays. If the coaches have confidence that you know what you're supposed to do they'll give you a chance," he said. "I studied hard to know all the plays and I think that came through in practice." It doesn't hurt that Kasparek has the size, -- he stands 6 feet 8 and weighs 268 pounds -- speed and soft hands coaches love in a tight end. A big target, he had two catches that went for 30 yards in a 35-23 victory against Ball State. His score came on a 2-yard toss against Central Florida. This season he hopes to see the football come his way more often and has been working out with former Steel Valley High School quarterback Luke Getsy. A transfer from Pitt, Getsy is in the running to be Akron's starter. "It's all of matter of the quarterback having faith in you," Kasparek said. "If he knows you're going to catch the ball he's going to throw it to you more often." The toughest part of the transition from high school star -- Kasparek was a three-year starter at tight end and defensive end at New Brighton -- to college player was learning how to block. He said he struggled with that in his red-shirt season in 2003. "It was hard because of the technique you need to learn," he said. "In high school, I was 225 or 230 and I could pretty much handle everybody, plus it was just block the guy in front of you. "But here, you're dealing with defensive ends or linebackers who are super-quick." The game is much quicker at the Division I-A level. Kasparek said things that used to happen in five seconds in high school now happen in less than two. "That's why it's important to know the plays," he said. "If you don't and are unsure and hesitate, that's it." Akron players are encouraged to set goals for themselves at the end of spring ball. Last year, one of Kasparek's was to be able to start as a redshirt freshman and be a part of the game plan. This year, he wants to be an All-Mid-American Conference player and grade out on blocking assignments at 80 percent or better each game. Of course, there are also team goals. In a preseason coaches poll, Akron, which was 6-5 last year, was picked to finish in a fourth-place tie with Can't State in the MAC East behind Bowling Green, Miami and Ohio. Akron opened at Penn State last year and will play at Purdue Sept. 10. "Playing in front of a big crowd at Purdue ... it should be exciting," Kasparek said. "I think we're going to surprise some people this season." He is looking forward to building on what he did last year in six games as a starter. He hopes it will lead to bigger and better things. "You always want to take things to the next level," he said. "I've always had getting to the NFL as a goal."

Just an FYI.

My friend had great things to say regarding Jacquemaine too. However, he felt Jackson had a leg up at this time. Since both are a week away from the first practice of their 4-5 years @ Akron, I guess it is a bit early to hand any "QB of the Future" awards out just yet. Sufficive to say: We're in better shape than the early Uhlenake/Washington/Gromek days. Regarding the OL...I tend to agree with you. I have heard we have three OL's that are pretty solid (Donaldson being the best). Three that are "ok". And four that really will need to make a dramatic improvement over the next 4 weeks if they want to hold off the Freshmen. I'm sure JD would like to red shirt the entire 2005 class...what coach doesn't? But some of our holes appear too big to afford keeping quality Freshman off the field.

I was able to gather some information regarding the Summer Zips last week. Here are some of the notes I thought were interesting. If all goes well, I hope to get similar updates weekly/bi-weekly throughout the remainder of the season: Zips Blips As posted by a few others on the board, Dennis Basch is officially done. Too bad, because he was one of the nicest guys on the team. Getsy is looking good at QB, and Jabari is doing very well in his full time WR role. Freshman recruit Jay Sharps is about 80% back from a leg injury suffered at the end of his HS season. Red shirting looks probable, but who knows…maybe he’s got Nick Dials’ apparent recovery speed? The incumbent OL’s will be given every opportunity to maintain their spots in the 2-deep. But if one (or more) should falter, expect Elliot Bates to be the first true freshman lineman to get a shot at some PT…and I have to believe we’ll see him. Josh Kiner, Terriko Marshall and Zack Anderson are not yet on campus (as of the last week in July). All other incoming freshman are in Akron. Kiner and Anderson had some all star game commitments. Not sure what the story is with Marshall, but all three are expected to be ready in August. In fact, all eligible freshman recruits listed on signing day are expected to be in camp. Al-Teric Balaam is on campus. The hubbub regarding his courtship by Iowa can officially stop! The summer workout performance of Allen, Alphonse, Poindexter, Jackson, DeScott and several others’s have drawn rave reviews. The recruiting class appears to be as good as advertised. The incoming frosh who’s been most impressive? Carlton Jackson. He’s spending a lot of time in the film room, in addition to working out very hard this summer (he’s been on campus all summer). Has a great attitude…really appears like he’s going to be a special player. Recruit Kevin Garner has been described as “unstoppable” and could turn out to be the star if this recruiting class. Unfortunately, as has been reported by ZFF, we’ll need to wait until next season to see him as he needs to fulfill his academic requirements. As mentioned by “Inthezone,” Brandon Anderson and Devanso Tate will dramatically upgrade our DB situation this year. Both have looked great this summer and are working hard. Paris McNeil continues to be an enigma. Great physical ability, but it isn’t transferring to greatness on the field. We’ll see if he improves on his last year’s performance, or struggles again. Despite playing DL in the Pennsylvania East/West All Star game, recruit Merce Poindexter is slated to be groomed as a TE for the Zips. Next year’s (2006) defensive line, on-paper, appears to be unbelievable: Garner, Hight, Nate Robinson and the Buchtel DL that Pitt pulled it offer from (name escapes me at the moment) are MAJOR talents. Unbelievable if, of course, all are eligible. Rumors of yet 3rd “impact” defensive transfer on campus are circulating, but no further information is available. The football Gods seemingly smiled on the Zips last season when they signed Kevin Grant and Brion Stokes after their frenetic 6-week recruiting window last year. Grant was offered by both BGSU and Cincinnati after his verbal commitment to the Zips but held firm on his word. Stokes was heavily recruited by 1-AA schools, but didn’t really have any 1-A offers. Those “in-the-know,” rave about Stokes’ “safety speed in a linebacker’s body” and both he and Grant are expected to be big-time difference makers this year.

We'll see what we can do about it. Sorry for the problems.

Man am I happy it wasn't "Jimmy Conyers (left)"!

Jabari listed as #2 behind Montgomery? Only because there was only space to list 2 WR's, I sure. Wonder if we'll run many 3 or 4 wr sets this year? Crouch...then 9 other guys with a handful of games under their belt. If I were Ferguson, I wouldn't expect to be holding a clip board and wearing a ball cap this season. Luke gonna get beat up. Dennis Basch is listed as a #2 TE. Ringer is #2 behind Biggs. I watched the Marshall tape the other night. I forgot what a key role Ringer played in the second half. It will be interesting to see what he does with his senior year. Looks like the fullback spot is up for grabs, as McDaniel and Spaulding are #1, #2 and neither have played a game at the position. Bank on Tuzze to be #1 by year's end. Mark Groza listed as #2 "bandit?" I'll be shocked if that lasts beyond the second week in August. Overall, I like our LB's. Rover looks good, with Mackey and McNeil. FS scares me. Elie/Dixon/Brown. Hope someone steps up. I can't believe it is possible that I'd miss Fuller...but I might. Corner/Pace/Henry/Tate are four solid corners. Best since the Vincent/Greene/Lyons group of the early 90's. If our DL's could generate ANY sort of pass rush, we could see a lot of INT's this fall. Can our thin, inexperienced 2-deep front 3 generate a pass rush? To be honest...I don't see it happening. I gotta expect there will be a lot of changes in the two deep over the next 5 weeks. Fun reading, regardless.

I agree. Especially with Wood coming off the ACL rehab. If Foust isn't any good, I can always refurbish and modify my "Oust Faust" banner (circa. 1990) and use it at the JAR! It's a win/win!

That's why people come here for their most up-to-date Zips information instead of "basketballtimes.com"

No. His last game was December 8th, 2004. He'll be eligible after the fall semester ends.

I see the OL being the biggest concern. One guy in the group has seen significant PT in a Zips uniform. The rest are all unproven. The DL is probably the second biggest concern. However, we improve by replacing LeFall with just about anyone and Gonzales and White are solid. QB is the next biggest concern. Is Getsy any good? Who knows...he hasn't takes more than 5 game snaps in the past 3 years combined. If he gets hurt, can you win games with Ferguson?

A lot is expected of Tuzze. I'd expect him to be one of the Fr's that gets a lot of PT early in the season. I asked a coach about the fullback situation last month and he didn't seem too concerned. He said blocking would be fine, and "we don't run too many running plays for the FB anyhow." BTW: Basch is a TE.

If you're looking for Belle Vernon's Dave Pastorkovich next week, you'll have to go to Italy. Pastorkovich, who's been the Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball assistant and recruiting coordinator for 12 years, will be guiding the Global Sports All Stars along with Duquesne University aide John Mahoney Making up the team, which will be touring Italy in early August, are West Virginia University's Mike Gansey, Patrick Beilein and Darris Nichols, Akron's Romeo Travis and Rob Preston, Penn's Ibrahim Jaaber and Mark Zoller, Richmond's Kevin Steenberge, Sacred Heart's Drew Shubik and Carnegie Mellon's Nate Maurer.

Dione Elie for pre-season anything is a real stretch in my opinon. He's had a pretty non-descript career thusfar. If two Zips were to be picked, I'd go with Sullivan or Pace after Hixon. Swiger or Gonzales would be candidates for "honorable mention."

In place of NC State or Penn State, I'd assume? NCST, PSU and the Huskers would be one hell of an uphill climb for such a young Zips squad. Sounds like that LSU, Nebraska, I-forget-the-other-team death march the Zips endured in the late 90's.

My all-time favorite Zips road trip opponent! I would LOVE to go back to Lincoln!

Will we ever get any kids from Massilon now that former Zips coach Tom Stacey is at the helm? Then again...we had former Massilon head coach Lee Owens for 9 years and only had 1 or two Massilon kids ever see the Rubber Bowl field. TE, OL for Duke Tight end Brett Huffman of Washington High in Massillon, Ohio, has committed to Duke. Huffman is 6-4 and 225 pounds and caught 24 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns last season. Washington coach Tom Stacy said Huffman also considered Akron and Toledo. Syracuse offered a scholarship after learning of the Duke commitment, Stacy said.

Just a heads-up: I was informed this event was changed to August 4th (from the 8th).

Wes Jordan - Zips Walk-on - Click Me Click for another game summary