Captain Kangaroo

That IS great news! What an awesome recruiting class! My only outstanding question...Does Dustin Basch get a Zips grey shirt, or has someone offered him a scholarship?

We get no respect because we've sucked for 16 years! We haven't done squat in basketball since the era of rotary phones. Who do you want on TV if you're ESPN ? Miami? They beat Purdue, Xavier and the Zips! They're 1st in the MAC East. They are a recognized basketball school with NBA players like Wally and Newble. Western Michigan? They're the defending MAC champs. #1 in the MAC west. Buffalo? They are the favorites in the MAC East. They beat Penn State (yes, beating a "name team" counts to the folks at Big School-loving ESPN). They actually made it to the Gund last season. Can't? Wins vs. Creighton and Florida State this year. A one point loss to Boston College. A big win vs. Creighton in last year's Bracket Buster. A guaranteed packed house. I could go on. The simple point is: Miami (Sunday) was our "Marshall" game, if you want to draw a football parallel. We HAD to knock off Miami to get a TV Bracket Buster game, much like we had to knock off Marshall to get the TV "championship" game vs. Miami (football). We didn't come through. The Zips have had a "nice" season, thusfar. But we've beaten no marquee teams, and struggle on the road against any team with a winning percentage greater than .200. We have no MAC hoops history, unless you want to call losing at home in the first round "history." We have no players in the NBA. We have nothing to offer but a "nice" 12-6 record. That doesn't merit TV. Fastforward to 2005-6: We will be a favorite in the MAC East. We will have scheduled and beaten a name team. We will be coming off a nice MAC tournament run of 2+ victories and a 20 win season. THEN we will get our Bracket Buster TV games. As of right now we've got Niagra on Warner Cable. And that's pretty much what we deserved.

Jarvis left out in the cold Looking for a home Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review By Kevin Gorman TRIBUNE-REVIEW Tuesday, February 1, 2005 Eugene Jarvis and Justin King shared the spotlight all fall, from the season opener to the WPIAL Class AAAA final, and found themselves on opposite ends of the dais at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Co-Players of the Year shared one last honor on Jan. 22, when they received the PAA's Mercury Award, presented annually to the best high school football player in Western Pennsylvania. Their paths down the recruiting trail, however, couldn't have been more divergent. Gateway's King, rated the nation's top cornerback by scouting services, had received 55 scholarship offers before settling on Penn State. Central Catholic's Jarvis, meanwhile, saw offers pulled by Pitt before the season and West Virginia during it despite rushing for 2,196 yards and 34 touchdowns and leading the undefeated Vikings to WPIAL and PIAA championships. "By me getting all the accolades, people would be expecting me to play in the Big East or something," Jarvis said, "but it didn't work out that way." Instead, Jarvis is trying to choose from Mid-American Conference schools Akron and Can't State and Temple, a potential MAC member which will play as an independent this fall after being expelled from the Big East. Jarvis drew criticism for not immediately accepting the offers from Pitt and West Virginia. After all, he already had a couple of knocks against him. One was his diminutive stature of 5-foot-6, 165 pounds. Another was his questionable academics; Jarvis said he has a 2.4 grade-point average and scored 830 on the SAT. "They were on top of my list," Jarvis said. "If they would have stayed on the table, I probably would have gone to one of them. It hurt a little bit, but it's a business so I have to live with it." Jarvis, however, won't bad-mouth either school for bailing on him because both will sign undersized backs. Pitt opted instead for Johnstown's LaRod Stephens (5-7, 175), while West Virginia took Blackhawk's Jeremy Bruce (5-9, 190). But those close to Jarvis know he's hurting on the inside. "It's really hard to see," said Central senior Graham Rihn, a Cornell recruit who often served as Jarvis' lead blocker. "You couldn't tell by talking to him. He doesn't focus on the bad news, only the good news. When you see what this kid has done for our program and our school, it's a shame big programs passed him up. They don't know what they're missing." Jarvis prefers to look at what Akron, Can't State or Temple is getting - an elusive playmaker who rushed for 4,375 yards in three seasons and led his team to two WPIAL titles, one PIAA crown and a USA Today national ranking. "People figured if I was offered early I should have jumped on it," Jarvis said. "Everything happens for a reason. These three schools want me, and I want to go where I'm wanted. The MAC is an up-and-coming conference. It's an exciting conference where they score a lot of points." Few do that better than Jarvis, who tied a PIAA championship game record by scoring five touchdowns in a 49-14 romp of Neshaminy. He scored 66 times the past two seasons, an average of 2.3 touchdowns a game. Jarvis said Temple wants him to be its version of Philadelphia Eagles star Bryant Westbrook, while Can't State would utilize him in various ways in a system that throws as many as 40 times a game. Akron, though, has filled its allotted scholarships for running backs and told Jarvis it would take him as "grey shirt" - where he wouldn't enroll full-time until next January. "That's a big negative toward them," Jarvis said. "At Can't State and Temple, I can come in and get playing time early. It gives the edge to them. "I've got to sit down and think about things. I'm young. I don't turn 18 until October. Sitting out could help, by lifting and training for an extra season. But it could hurt because I'm not playing football. It could go both ways." In the next 24 hours, Jarvis will make "a hard decision," one not nearly as hard as his road to it.

I can guarantee that if this kid is the better QB, he will get the job. If he isn't, he'll likely redshirt. Getsey is a 4th year Junior that narrowly missed out on being Pitt's QB last year. Thus I doubt he'll be supplanted by a true Fr. Remember, Frye redshirted. Jacobs...BG's outstanding QB, sat behind Josh Harris. Betts sat behind Roetlisberger. Most QB's redshirt, so it isn't a big deal. If he's #2 QB behind Getsey in 2006, and starts for 3 years after that...he's got to be happy. Ok: Which existing Zips QB(s) are filling out their transfer paperwork right now? Looks like Jabari is locked in at WR for the next 3 years.

My bad...it is the Purple Eagles, not the blue pills. Sorry 'bout that. 1/31/05 Akron To Face Niagara On ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday Zips and Purple Eagles face off Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. EST in Rhodes Arena. The University of Akron men's basketball team will play host to Niagara in a Feb. 19 non-conference game as part of the pool of teams under consideration for the third-annual ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday package.

Dwight Smith is still waiting...as is Victor Green. Will The University ever reach out to Victor Green? Is it too late? The guy played in the NFL for 12 years and gets NO love...especially when compared to Schfino, Taylor and Smith.

"The Fighting Little Blue Pills" are 13-6.

I think it will hurt the student turnout. The exposure would have been great too (Can't got a lot of mileage out of their game last year). Other than that, it isn't too big a deal.

No TV game for the Zippers. Our opponent will be announced tomorrow. Pairings For 11 Televised Games: Wichita State at Miami UTEP at Pacific Vermont at Nevada Southern Illinois at Can't State Western Michigan at Northern Iowa Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Hawai'i Buffalo at Fresno State Drexel at Ball State Illinois State at Wisconsin-Green Bay Murray State at Rice Arkansas-Little Rock at Bowling Green

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Sports fans in Akron fail to show up By David Lee Morgan Jr. Maybe Akron sports fans owe Charlie Frye an apology. Here was the Most Valuable Player of college football's Senior Bowl who played four years in front of nobody at the Rubber Bowl. I know. I was there covering every home game. Frye became the University of Akron's all-time leading passer and owns 49 records, but the crowds were sparse, for the most part. Frye's fan support was different from that of LeBron James when James played in high school. True, sellout crowds came to see him, but it seemed like a large number came hoping to see him lose. When St. Vincent-St. Mary didn't lose, then it seemed some people hoped James would be sidelined for the Hummer or throwback jersey incidents. When he got back on the court and led his team to the USA Today national high school poll championship, people talked about whether he was going to be a bust in the NBA. Obviously, he's not. I just don't get it. There have been some recent outstanding athletes right here in the city who have gone on to impressive pro careers. While they were playing here, few seemed to notice. Want another example? That would be former Zips cornerback Dwight Smith. During Smith's senior year (2000), he was a first-team consensus All-American, only the fourth Mid-American Conference player to receive that honor. He led the nation with 10 interceptions and was a finalist that year for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to college football's best defensive back. Smith didn't win the award -- Jamar Fletcher of Wisconsin did. But Smith was considered one of the top three Division I defensive backs in the country that year and was invited to Orlando, Fla., for the college football season awards TV show. Smith just completed his fourth season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a starting safety. Two years ago in the Super Bowl, Smith returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the Buccaneers' 48-21 win over the Oakland Raiders. There was Dwight Smith -- a winning member of a Super Bowl team. Fans who followed Frye's career are not at all surprised that he won the MVP on Saturday playing against some of the top Division I players in the country. Week in and week out, he proved that not only could he play with the ``big boys'' but also that he is NFL material. Pro coaches, scouts and executives were impressed with Frye during the week leading up to the game. For the record, Frye was 10-of-12 for 138 yards and a touchdown in the North's 23-13 victory over the South. Frye could have left Akron after his junior year to make the jump to the NFL, but he wanted to return for one last try at a MAC championship. The Zips, under first-year coach J.D. Brookhart, did play for the East Division title but lost to Miami University and finished the season 6-5. MAC fans also should be in Frye's corner because he is another in a long line of outstanding quarterbacks who have been routinely overlooked when it came to national recognition but, later, proved that they had what it took at the next level. In recent years, the MAC has been recognized for notching wins against some of the storied Division I programs. A look around the NFL also shows there are some quality starting quarterbacks in the league who played in the MAC, starting with former Miami University and rookie sensation Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Others who have established themselves are former Marshall standouts Byron Leftwich (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Chad Pennington (New York Jets). Frye has the potential to follow their lead. It's a shame, though, that if and when Frye becomes a star in the NFL, just a small percentage of fans in Akron will be able to say they saw him first.

The local Fire Marshall limited the seating. I was at the 1986 CSU/Akron game...7,700 @ the JAR. People were sitting in the aisles...stairways...it was insane...you could barely move. The Fire Marshall thought it was insane too, and limited the capacity soon afterwards.

With Signing Day only three days away, colleges are scrambling to put the finishing touches on their 2005 recruiting classes. One last look around Western Pennsylvania shows this is a class that has produced better-than-expected results, as the WPIAL now boasts 27 Division I-A recruits. That number should increase to 30 when Central Catholic tailback Eugene Jarvis, Monessen linebacker Ernest "Mick" Williams and West Mifflin defensive end Kevin Garner finalize their decisions this week. Both Jarvis and Garner were visiting Akron this weekend, while Williams is down to Akron, Pitt and West Virginia. The number could be greater, if prospects like Penn Hills receiver David Harvey and cornerback Kenny Lewis, Thomas Jefferson quarterback Brad Dawson, Aliquippa linebacker Donnell McKenzie and Farrell's Quentin Odem qualified under NCAA freshman eligibility guidelines. Of the 30, at least half will play in BCS-affiliated conferences. Another 14 players are committed to Division I-AA programs, a number that should increase this week. Here are three players who still are undecided: Pat Byrne, Central Catholic: The 6-foot, 230-pounder was an All-Quad East guard who also started at defensive tackle for the WPIAL and PIAA Class AAAA champion Vikings. Byrne epitomized the toughness of Central's defense, which was undersized but dominant. As a junior, he recovered from a staph infection to play in the 2003 PIAA final at 176 pounds. As an underclassman, Byrne played middle linebacker, a position he would like to return to in college. He has a 4.18 grade-point average, scored 1,160 on the SAT and is a talented sketch artist who designed the cover of Central's football program. Division III schools covet Byrne, who is visiting the College of Wooster this weekend, but he could opt to walk-on at Pitt. James Cole, Penn Hills: At 6-foot-2, 350 pounds, Cole was a two-way starter at tackle who was a first-team All-Quad East selection on defense. Cole has surprisingly quick feet, and was so dominant against Woodland Hills as a junior that Wolverines coach George Novak pulled Cole off the bus to congratulate him on a fine performance. Along with J.R. Robinson, Cole helped open holes for West Virginia recruit Ed Collington, a 1,700-yard rusher, and close them on defense. One thing that hurt Cole was his ejection for a flagrant foul in the WPIAL quarterfinals against North Hills, which caused him to be suspended for the Indians' semifinal loss to Gateway. Cole's absence was felt on both sides of the ball, as Penn Hills struggled to run and Justin King broke free for the winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Morgan State is the only school to offer, but Cole believes he can play at the Division I level. Danny Cafaro, Upper St. Clair: A 5-foot-9, 175-pound cornerback, Cafaro has been overlooked because of his size. Make no mistake, though; he was one of the WPIAL's most dynamic players. He had 30 receptions for 723 yards (24.1 average) and 10 touchdowns, scored twice each by interception, punt return and run. Here is his most amazing statistic: Cafaro blocked 14 kicks in two seasons -- five punts, five field goals and four PATs -- displaying a fearlessness that would make him a special teams ace at any level. Cafaro scored five touchdowns against Plum in the playoffs -- twice each by punt return and interception and once on a run -- and also ran down several McKeesport players from behind in the WPIAL quarterfinals. It's no coincidence that all three players' teams reached the WPIAL semifinals each of the past two seasons, or that they all might believe that they're better than they actually are. But here's something college recruiters should consider when finalizing their classes over the next three days: Maybe that's what made them so good in the first place.

Garner headed to Akron By Kevin Gorman <mailto:kgorman@tribweb.com> TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, January 31, 2005 West Mifflin star Kevin Garner made a verbal commitment to Akron on Sunday, making him the Zips' fifth WPIAL recruit from the Class of 2005. The 6-2, 225-pound Garner chose Akron over Can't State after receiving early offers from Toledo and West Virginia. "For a while, it was real quiet," Garner said. "Akron gave me a call and said they wanted me to visit. It was nice. I liked it a lot. They have great new facilities." Garner, a four-year starter, recorded 15 sacks to lead West Mifflin on its Cinderella run through the playoffs to the WPIAL Class AAA final. The Titans finished the regular-season 4-5 but upset Franklin Regional, Canon-McMillan and West Allegheny before losing to Thomas Jefferson. Garner also is a four-year starter in basketball and ran on the Titans' 400-meter relay team in track. He said Akron told him he could play outside linebacker or defensive end. "I see myself playing defensive end, if I can get to 250 and maintain my speed," said Garner, who has yet to qualify academically and is a red-shirt candidate. "I use my quickness to make tackles on the other side of the field."

West Mifflin defensive end-linebacker Kevin Garner (6-2, 225), a member of the Post-Gazette Fabulous 22, committed to Akron. But Garner said he most likely won't be on the Zips' team next season because he hasn't scored high enough on his SAT to be eligible as a freshman. He hopes to play in 2006.

If, after watching the Senior Bowl this week, Carlton decides to attend Tennessee State, then he isn't what the Zips need at QB anyhow. I hope he comes to Akron. He seems like a great player.

Thanks for the notes, Zipboy! Also: I believe the guy from NJ is Al-Teric Balaam. He was very high on Maryland and Rutgers last time I looked. There is stuff about him all over the internet. It would be a HUGE catch to get him.

Awesome ending to an awesome college career! To steal a quote from Z-P: "Thanks for the memories, Charlie!" Also, it was great to see Charlie pimping the Akron program with his gear during the "Outside the Lines" segment. I recall when Jimal Ball was in the Nationally televised slam dunk contest on ESPN he gave "shouts out" to all his buds in Canton...while all the other participants were pimping the school on the front of their jerseys. Is it too much to ask if he could stop back at Akron for a day...maybe sign some autographs or pics for kids at a hoops game?

Hey "Goo Redhawks" I found some suntan lotion for you: Administer liberally.

That's flat out weak. How dare you infer that those against this guy's recruitment are racist.

If you are depending upon the Beacon for your Zips info, shame on you. Click Here To See Where The Beacon Gets it's Info

The second most popular guy at the JAR last night was....LeBron James. Must have been 50 kids along the rail trying to get a glimpse of him. The most popular at the JAR last night....Zippy. Bet he had a posse of 60 or 70 kids around him at one point!

Can't say I really buy into this thinking entirely. Pretty much any team in the MAC and several in more upstream conferences (Syracuse for example) were after Andy out of Hoban. Pre-Back injury, he'd have been an asset to any system, and his quickness & size would have helped this team tons. Put a healthy Andy on this club in exchange for McFadden & tell me we wouldn't be even stronger. Hey! I said Andy circa 2000 COULD do it!

Can someone print the column? Thanks. F The Beacon.