Captain Kangaroo

I'm guessing 22K? I haven't heard much Marketing push for the game? Do any of the 20K that left in the 3rd quarter of the Marshall game return for a few more quarters Saturday? Another question is: Will the Akron fans be vocal? I know the fans in the endzone were pretty clueless for the Marshall game. They sat quietly on their asses for 2 quarters, then filed out early. I can guarantee Miami's fans will be pretty boisterous...and it wouldn't shock me to see 6-8k worth of those white turtleneck and red sweatshirt wearin' bastards in the stands belchin' up their tailgate foie gras and Bordeaux, screaming for their team. 49 hours til kick off...

Sorry if you missed it...but it is still football season in Summit County!

Since I bitch every time DL Morgan writes a poorly-researched, factually incorrect cut-n-pasted column, it wouldn't be fair for me not to mention it when he writes a good one. Nice job, DL. Unfortunately, your percentage of "good" columns hovers somewhere between Bryan Hipsher's FG percentage and UCF football's winning percentage.

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Zips are good at stopping the straight ahead run, so they should be able to keep Clemens in check. Zips defense gives up yards, but also generates turnovers. Every game for the past 5 has been a "playoff" game for the Zips, so the jitters probably won't be there. Frye is 0-3 vs Miami. He's due. Zips 31-Miami 27

Why not?

Miami (7-3, 6-1 MAC) at Akron (6-4, 6-1 MAC) - 6:00 Television: FOX Sports Net Ohio/Empire Network (Ron Thulin, play-by-play; Rob Otto, analyst). Site: Akron , Ohio - Rubber Bowl (35,000/AstroPlay) Series: Miami leads 10-4-1 ... the RedHawks have won three in a row and six of the last seven ... Akron 's last win was in 2000, 37-20. Coaches: MIA-Terry Hoeppner (47-23, sixth season); UA-J.D. Brookhart (6-4, first season). Game Notes: * It's all on the line for the East Division championship in this game. * Miami is the defending MAC Champion and also won a co-divisional title in 1998 - the Zips shared the East tile in 2000 and are after their first ever post season action since going to I-A in 1987. * Akron has won five in a row, a school record for its I-A competition. * Miami has captured five in a row also and its last two road games have resulted in wins ... the Zips have come back from 28-7 and 13-0 deficits the last two games for wins. * QBs Josh Betts ( Miami ) and Charlie Frye ( Akron ) rank third and fourth, respectively, in the league in passing efficiency. * Frye needs 13 completions to reach 900 for his career. * The Zips have allowed four punt returns for a score this year and will be challenged by Miami specialist Ryne Robinson, a sophomore who holds the MAC all-time record with five punt returns for a touchdown - the Zips have rebounded from a 1-4 overall start to the season with two five-point wins and one three-point victory among its five-game winning streak. Comment: Akron is very focused and has done a great job winning five in a row, but Miami does have more talent and is used to playing in and winning ‘big games’ when they count. Expect Miami to pull away late. Nick’s Pick: Miami 35 – Akron 24 Line: Miami by 8

After the 3rd overtime period you are forced to go for 2 points on TD's. There are no more ties in football...just like there's no crying in baseball. I maintain: You gotta get out of Mahoning County.

Ummmm....they've had overtime in college football for about 6 years. Dude, you gotta get out of Mahoning County.

Wow is that a confused column. Is DL Morgan doing some grad work at U of A?

It's interesting to look at...but pretty irrelevant. Was it rainy one when Miami played, and sunny when Akron played...was a key player(s) from an opponent out vs Akron, but played vs Miami...has the opponent declined or improved in the time between their Akron and Miami games...was Akron learning an entirely new system, while Miami's players were familiar with theirs...and so on... Akron doesn't play a wide open, shoot-em-out style. We rely on hard hits, turnovers and nonstop agressiveness to win on D. That has proven to give us a better-than-average chance to win over the past 7 games. By nature, we don't have many blow-outs. On offense, we are balanced. We move the ball and don't make many mistakes. We also have the intangable at QB in 5th year senior Frye. He can put the team on his shoulders, much like Roethlisberger could. If Miami tries to grind it out against us, I like our chances. From what I've seen from Clemens, he isn't a cut back runner, which is good. The shifty guys give our defense fits. Maybe Brandon Murphy gets more than his normal carries to take advantage of this? Regardless, it will be a great game Saturday. The Zips are playing solid football and have a lot of confidence at the moment. Add the home field to the mix...can't wait for kick off!

My guess: The Zips need to win-out to go bowling. Assuming BG is in (which they are), I would be shocked if a bowl chose Akron over NIU, Toledo, Miami or Marshall...even if we'd have beaten 2-of-the-4. Zips gotta take it one game at a time, starting Saturday.

The Zips QB next season will be Getsey. He was slated to be the #2 QB at Pitt this season, but transferred to Akron in early September. Obviously, it will be a step down from Frye...but it is reasonable to expect it will be similar to the Roethisberger-Betts transition. Our OL will take the biggest hit, losing 4 senior starters. But...the OL has been hot/cold this year. I can't believe the drop off will be too bad. We lose Fuller, Blackburn and Agyeman...and LeFall on defense. Replacements shouldn't be too much of a problem. I expect to be very competitve next season. And, if you're happy with your 2004 season...you can't begin to imagine how I feel about ours!

The loss of Marshall creates a void in the East. I really hope the Miami/Akron rivalry fills that void. It should...with Marshall's departure your coaching staff now needs a fresh press box to smash, and we need a replacement MAC East opponent to slap around 2-out-of-every-three years! All I know is, if the Zips win this Saturday, I'm staying the F away from the Miami staff when I rush the field!

To quote my buddy Zipsrifle: "Who's Lee Owens?"

* Hell of a road win for the Zips! Outscored OU 31-6 to close out the game! Defense held the OU offense to 13 points! * Biggs and the OL still struggling to post a big games vs. anyone but a bottom-feeder? Biggs needs a big game vs. Miami. Can he do it? * I love seeing the Zips win, with #5 hovering around 200 yards passing. Dude is all about winning...not stats...and it has carried us to a MAC East Championship game! * What is the Marketing push for this one? No need to give out freebies. Should be a great crowd...screw OSU! * I just shake my head and smile when I think of the progress this team has made over the course of the season. Warms my heart! * A Duane LeFall sighting?? Where'd that come from? I hope he and Kiki are ready to do some damage this week! * Scary thought...Miami's Betts is really playing well right now. We need to get pressure on the guy, because Miami's WR's are right up there with Marshall's. * Miami's defense ISN'T playing all that great. Expect a shootout Saturday. 38-31-ish score. * Our D gives up yards, but sure is making big plays and winning games!! * I have three distinct memories of the last time Miami played Akron @ the Rubber Bowl 1.) Roetlisberger running in front of the Zips bench waving the "#1" finger at the Zips after tossing a deep TD pass. 2.) Frye going SACK, SACK, SACK on a critical series, as the Zips tried to mount a comeback. 3.) Hearing, from the parking lot, the Miami team whooping it up in the Rubber Bowl locker room at games end...it was a raucous celebration. Frye and the Zips are 0-3 vs Miami. This game is for all the marbles (until the MACC game). I want to see #5 walk off the field victorious in his final home game, and doing it vs a Miami team would be the sweetest exclamation point to put on an awesome career. Additional exclamation points can, of course, be added in the post season.

The MAC “Elite” #1) BG: Last week #1: As predicted...drilled Marshall. Game vs. Toledo would be fun to watch. #2) Toledo - Last week #3. Big, big win vs NIU. Playing well at the moment. #3) Miami - Last week #2: Beat Toledo pretty handily, but I think Toledo is the better team. Drubbed hapless WMU this week. The “Upper-Middle of the Pack” #4) Zips - Last week #4 – Posting 31 on OU at Athens is pretty impressive. Outscored the Bobcats 31-6 in the final 3 quarters! Frye and Co. peaking at the right time. #5) Marshall - Last week #5: Put up 35 on BG, but could never stop them. Herd is on the ropes, but gets a patsie in WMU this week. The “Middle Rung” #6) Can't - Last week #7: Mauled the woebegone Bobcats, then Buffalo 33-7 and now EMU 69-3! Cribbs "smokin'" the competition. Give credit to the flushes...I'd take them vs. NIU (@ Can't) right now. #7) NIU - Last week #6: Barely beating UCF...then needing OT to beat Ball State...then a loss to Toledo that included getting shut out in the second half. NIU is playing their way out of the possible 3rd MAC bowl bid. A few weeks ago they would have been considered a lock. “Who Sucks More?” #8) OU - Last week #10. How do you move up after a home loss? Look who's below!! #9) Buffalo: Last week #13. Drilled by Can't. Not even in the same league. Bad, bad team. BUT...THEY DRILL CMU 33-6 this week!! Wow... #10) Ball State - Last week #11 : Pee-yeeewww... #11) EMU: Last week #11. The best directional team in Michigan! EMU's new coach seems to be decent...at least that's what I thought until the 66 point pasting @ Can't! #12) CMU - Last week #9: Drubbed by Buffalo. Does it get any worse? #13) UCF - Last week #12: They should move to Michigan and become yet another sucky directional Michigan school if they're going to suck this bad. Wait...there's already a Central Michigan. Maybe they could be "University of South Central Michigan"? O’Leary cashes another check from the $700K/yr salary. How does he do it with a straight face? #14.) Western Michigan - Last week #14. Yet another drilling of epic proportions. Darnell has Blackney disease. Brought the team from "championship caliber" to the bottom of the MAC. The MAC teams ranked 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are absolutely HORRIBLE.

Their board moderator is funny. If you type "Akron" in any post text, it is automatically converted to "crAkron." The dude is clever...

You hit the nail on the head. Jabari drops a sure TD to put us up 14-0...nothing said about it. A Marshall WR drops a TD pass...well, obviously that's the reason the Zips won. Josh Davis rips the Akron defense for 240 yards...so the Zips defense sucks. Hixson gets 200 yards receiving on the Herd...nothing said about it. The fact is: While OU got drubbed at Can't 41-16...the Zips never trailed vs. Can't. Can't scored late to make it close. Akron drilled Buffalo. Held them to a TD over the last 3 quarters, if I'm not mistaken. Akron never trailed vs. UCF. A late TD made it closer than it was. The Zips manhandled Ball State. At one point it was 35-7, I believe. Again, late scores made it close. If the Zips are winning...but not by enough points for your taste...too bad, I guess. As someone stated above...OSU won a national championship by winning close games. I love being 5-4 right now. OU's D isn't too bad. Their QB is. If we get any sort of a pass rush on Hawk, we'll probably win by a nice margin. If we can't rush him effectively...we'll still win...but probably not by "enough." 6-4 going into the Miami game will rule...however we achieve it.

Getting defensive Subscribe By Kevin Gorman TRIBUNE-REVIEW Thursday, November 11, 2004 The notoriety normally reserved for offensive stars is instead focused on the other side of the ball in the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs. All four semifinalists feature Division I prospects who are difference makers on defense. The attention will be on the defensive line when West Mifflin (6-5) and pass-rushing end Kevin Garner play West Allegheny (11-0) and run-stopping tackle C.J. Davis at North Allegheny. The secondary will be at the forefront when Blackhawk (8-3) and Jeremy Bruce meet Thomas Jefferson (9-2) and Brad Dawson at Pine-Richland. "Whether it be the playoffs or the regular season, it's a huge thing," Blackhawk coach Joe Hamilton said. "You need that leadership on defense." Aside from starring at tailback on offense, the West Virginia-bound Bruce has provided a shutdown presence for the Cougars as a cover cornerback. "Jeremy Bruce is a threat," Hamilton said. "People like to stay away from him. That's the nice thing about our defense. It's set up so we can put our best defender on their best receiver. We're not used to having that kind of speed." Neither is Thomas Jefferson, where junior linebackers Jason Kolodziej and Nate Nix have been overshadowed by Dawson. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior has returned three of his seven interceptions for touchdowns this season. Dawson also is receiving Division I interest at quarterback. "Dawson has been incredible," TJ coach Bill Cherpak said. "Anytime anybody tries to throw the ball, he closes down their receivers." The 6-3, 290-pound Davis helped West Allegheny shut down opposing running backs. The Indians hadn't allowed a 100-yard rusher until last week, when Hampton's Steve Paskorz ran for 145 yards. Davis provides a huge presence on the interior line, and has drawn scholarship offers from Akron, Indiana, North Carolina, Toledo and West Virginia. "If it wasn't for our defense, we probably wouldn't be here right now," Davis said. "Our offense is good, but our defense makes the difference." The same could be said at West Mifflin, where the 13th-seeded Titans have held Franklin Regional and Canon-McMillan to a combined 14 points. Garner, a 6-2, 225-pounder, is a four-year starter who has a dozen sacks this season. He has offers from Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Can't State and Toledo. "Kevin's been playing for four years and knows there's a lot on the line," West Mifflin coach Ray Braszo said. "It's always good to have one kid who rubs off on everybody else."

Special thanks to Dr.Z!

"Has anyone looked at how bad Akron really is and how a weak schedule can really inflate the record. They are 5-4 with a loss to MTSU who is one of the weaker D1 programs in the country. They have beaten Can't (awful team), UCF (worst D1 team in the country), Buffalo (one of the 5 worst teams in the country), Ball State (challenging UCF and Buffalo for the worst team in the country) and Marshall ( total fluke and anyone that saw the game would have to agree). The Zips are just like us - a terrible football team that has beaten, not bad football teams (Marshall the lone exception) but AWFUL football teams. A loss to Akron would further emphasize how bad the football program is at the present time. It is extrmely humbling to see how bad most of the teams in the MAC are this year. The league has always been a "have and have nots" league but in the past most of the have nots weren't the worst teams in division 1A. Right now I really believe UCF, Buffalo, Ohio, Ball St, Can't St, Akron and WMich are average to below average 1AA teams at best. Teams like Furman, GaSouthern, Maine, N'eastern, SIll, James Madison, Delaware etc would dominate these teams. My question is - is our talent and the talent of these other teams that poor or is it coaching and committment?" Reply: OU Fan still having trouble dealing with the fact that the Zips have been playing at a level far above OU for several years. "The Zips are just like us - a terrible football team..." That's a good one!

The MAC “Elite” #1) BG: Last week #1: Omar Jacobs is still killing people. BG rolled up 550 yards and 49 points on WMU...in the FIRST HALF!! Definitely the team to beat. The Herd could really take a beating this week. #2) Miami - Last week #4: Beat Toledo pretty handily. However, they seem to be a distant #2 to BG. #3) Toledo - Last week #5. Big, big win vs NIU. The “Upper-Middle of the Pack” #4) Zips - Last week #6 – Zips score the most game points of all Marshall 2004 opponents to-date (31). Gritty comback, again sparked in the 4th quarter by the defense. Frye comes up big on a big stage. #5) Marshall - Last week #2: Loss to the Zips on the road follows a lackluster 20-3 win over hapless UCF (Marshall had 13 offensive points in that one). If you want to see a woodshed special, tune in to the BG/Marshall game. To be fair to the Herd...I pity any team playing BG at the moment. The “Middle Rung” #6) NIU - Last week #3: Barely beating UCF...then needing OT to beat Ball State...then a loss to Toledo that included getting shut out in the second half. NIU getting a rep for fast season starts, and soft finishes. “Struggling BIG Time” #7) Can't - Last week #9: Mauled the woebegone Bobcats, then Buffalo 33-7. Cribbs "smokin'" the competition. #8) EMU: Last week #12. The best directional team in Michigan! EMU's new coach seems to be decent. #9) CMU - Last week #7: No comment. #10) OU - Last week #11. Waxed by Can't State, then needed OT, and a missed extra point, to nip UCF. #11) Ball State - Last week #8 : At 1-8, how can you rank them higher than #11? #12) UCF - Last week #13: Held Marshall to 20, but only scored 3. Then blew the OU game. O’Leary cashes another check from the $700K/yr salary. How does he do it with a straight face? #13) Buffalo: Last week #13. Drilled by Can't. Not even in the same league. Bad, bad team. #14.) Western Michigan - Last week #14. Drilling of epic proportions (see BG notes above). Darnell has Blackney disease. Brought the team from "championship caliber" to the bottom of the MAC.