Captain Kangaroo

Click for Wingfoot Trevails I came across this...weird stuff. I wouldn't have posted it, but things are so damn slowww.... Read the April 24th game summary.

Would "updating" the plate logo persuade you to buy a U of A plate?

Click for More on Cedric Middleton This is a message board thread, but has a few links. Cedric seems like a 'playa?

Hmmm....a trip to the Motor City Bowl would mean we won the MAC Championship game...to me, that combo would beat the hell out of an NCAA hoops appearance. Final 32...I still take the MCB. Sweet 16..."Pigskin? What Pigskin?...IT'S ZIPS TIME, BAY-BEEE! THAT ROMEO TRAVIS IS A HIGH-RISER...A PTP'er!!!!!!"

Someone mentioned it on the jjhuddle site.

You ain't kiddin'! BTW: The Zips summer golf outing is at Mayfair GC June 24th, if anyone's is interested. More info is forthcoming soon. I'll be there...always a good time. It will be interesting to interact with the new staff(s)! Wonder if they like beer?

Zips Track Program Gets a Good One? (Click Me)

My words were "Oust Faust" when I shook then-President Muse's hand. True story. Congrats to all the seniors! Graduating from the playing field to the tailgate lot isn't all that bad! Graduating from the playing field to an office cubicle...well...it pays the bills.

Coach helps kickers from his wheelchair Kevin Seifert, Star Tribune May 9, 2004VIKE0509 Thirty minutes. That's all Doug Blevins needs, one half of one hour of one day, 30 minutes to evaluate and improve just about any kicker who comes his way. "I don't know how to explain it," he said. "I just see things." In the highly specialized world of professional football, there are coaches, assistant coaches and assistants to the assistant coaches. There are video editors, speed trainers and team chefs. Doug Blevins is a kicking consultant, a man of exacting detail and plain language who has parlayed the curses of life into professional prestige. He has never kicked a ball, caught a snap or even walked. Cerebral palsy has confined him to a wheelchair since birth, but like a blind man with superior hearing, Blevins has honed his observation skills -- so sharply, in fact, that a kicker's every movement plays out like a slide show in his mind. That talent has helped him develop a number of NFL kickers and punters, among them Super Bowl hero Adam Vinatieri and current Vikings placekicker Aaron Elling. Hired this spring by the Vikings as a part-time consultant, Blevins has proved to be the most unique character this weekend at minicamp. "Anybody that comes in to work with him might be a little hesitant at first," said Elling, who began attending Blevins' kicking camp in Florida seven years ago. "But after you kick with him for a half-hour, you say, 'Man, this guy knows what he's talking about.' "I used to go down there, and someone new would say, 'Uh, is this guy for real?' And I'll say, 'Just wait. Kick 15 balls and tell me how much he helps you.' It's unbelievable." A lifetime of study Blevins, 40, began his football "career" as a four-year-old in his hometown of Abingdon, Va., where local Little League organizers made him a "Junior Commissioner." He spent his childhood watching football games from his wheelchair, taking mental notes of the way players moved and how coaches instructed. At 13, he wrote a letter to Ben Agajanian -- a longtime kicking coach for the Dallas Cowboys -- asking for any and all pointers on special teams. A box of instructional pamphlets and diagrams soon arrived, and a passion was born as Blevins absorbed every aspect of kicking theory. He volunteered as a student assistant at Abingdon High School and later at the University of Tennessee. His first job as a kicking coach was at East Tennessee University in 1986. "Some guys might be hesitant when they first see me," Blevins said. "But then they work with me and see the results immediately." Elling, for example, struggled with kickoffs last season despite a strong leg that should have given him greater distance. During an offseason consultation, Blevins watched Elling kick off and then provided a quick suggestion: Move six steps further from the ball to speed up the approach, then place the plant foot a few inches forward upon contact. The result this spring has been kickoffs consistently reaching the 2-or 3-yard lines with ample hang time. "He's studied the art of kicking so thoroughly that he can really diagnose problems well," Vikings special teams coach Rusty Tillman said. "He's just really fine-tuned the thing, and can zero in on what the problem is." Said Blevins: "I've got a God-given ability to analyze what people are doing, to pick it up in real time. I don't need to watch the tape. I can see everything as it happens, and then I can get with them on how to fix it." For Elling, Blevins' efficiency is no longer a surprise. "They say that great coaches see all 11 players on the field at the same time," Elling said. "Well, [blevins] can see every mechanical thing you're doing on a kick, all at once." Pressed for an explanation, Elling shrugs. "Think how good your eyes would be if all you could do is sit," he said. "That must be how it is." It is a theory embraced by Blevins, who calls cerebral palsy the "Cadillac of handicaps" as a way to describe the high level of performance its victims can achieve. "Your other senses just become sharper," he said. Analyzing other sports The skill translates into other sports as well. Blevins has begun studying baseball pitchers, watching their motions and analyzing the cause and effect of various fundamentals. It even came into play recently in the swimming pool. The water's buoyancy helps Blevins support himself enough to swim, and his wife, Nancy -- a former world-class swimmer in Colombia -- has been teaching him strokes during the past four months. One day, Blevins was watching Nancy swim and pointed out a hitch in her stroke. Nancy was stunned at how quickly her husband's sophistication had grown. "He never walked," she said, "so his brain cells are connected for that type of thinking, of watching people [and processing the information]. So what he does is make a different connection, one that goes only between his eyes and his brain. That's the way his brain is wired. That's the way he thinks." Blevins will return Monday to Virginia, where he will continue working individually with clients at nearby Emory & Henry College. He and the Vikings will resume development camp in June, and Blevins will remain with the team through training camp, when coach Mike Tice said he will re-evaluate the position. Return to the NFL? Blevins was a full-time kicking coach for the Miami Dolphins from 1997 to 2002, and he hopes to join the Vikings or another NFL team in a similar capacity. In the meantime, he gives motivational speeches and has even held discussions about a movie based on his life. But Blevins turned down a recent proposal, he said, because the writer wanted to dramatize his life. "They don't want to hear about how Doug Blevins and Adam Vinatieri kicked field goals in the snow," Blevins said. "They wanted to hear about how Doug Blevins cried himself to sleep in Abingdon, Virginia, because no one would ever give him a chance. But it never happened that way." No, Doug Blevins has found detours around every obstacle -- sometimes literally, while trying to find his way into and around NFL stadiums and locker rooms. "There's always a loading dock," he said. "I'm the king of the loading dock." For Dolphins road games, Blevins made a deal with a company to have one wheelchair waiting for him at the team hotel and another at the stadium. He typically rode the team bus to and from the stadium, boarding with the help of two assistants, and coached from the sideline; if other coaches and players block his view of the field, he watches the stadium big screen. "Once you get it worked out, it's not a problem," he said. "My situation is a little bit tougher, but I've been through it and can work out the logistics. I don't need a lot of special stuff." Or a lot of time.

Hey ZW....what do you think about a separate Zipsnation section dedicated to links opponents message boards and home sites? Would be nice to make some "quickie" searches as to what our opponents are up to? There are 3 Penn State sites on the link below that are pretty active. Click to See a Decent Message Board List

Bio Apparently might walk on at Central Michigan?

I'm surprised that Nick Sparks has not shown up on the NFL free agent wire? Good size, speed and smarts. He's still learning the WR position, but I figured someone would have given him a look by now?

I'm getting the vision...massive 30K crowd to see the big pre-game concert...starring: Zips vs. Can't: "LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!"

If the Cavs didn't want Ricky Davis or Darius Miles, you better believe they don't want Tarver!

On one hand I agree with you: I drank at 18...probably over 50% of the 18 year olds in college today drink alcohol. I subscribe to the theory that if you can serve in the armed forces and vote, you should be able to drink too. The 21 year old minimum drinking age is a joke. On the other hand, I disagree with you: The problem of OSU football players getting arrested is out of control. I'm sure Tressel lectures his players daily regarding the abject embarassment he, the University and the respective players parents endure with every arrest. The kid has a scholarship to one of the top 5 football schools in the country. And he still goes out and gets arrested and embarasses all involved. I don't think the kid should be kicked out of school or off the team. But, for any present OSU football player to knowingly go out in public and perform some stupid act that risks an arrest is just blatently ignorant. It does make for great internet fodder however! Here's to YOU, Mr. Underage Drinking Buckeye!

Maybe they can move this season's Marshall / Ohio State game to Mansfield Penetentiary and make "The Longest Yard: Part 2?" Marshall could be The Green Machine...man, I'm on to something here! Marshall DE facing drug, weapon charges Posted: Wednesday May 5, 2004 4:47PM; Updated: Wednesday May 5, 2004 4:47PM HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Marshall University defensive end Jamus Martin has been charged with possession of less than 15 grams of a controlled substance and carrying a dangerous weapon. The charges against the senior were filed Saturday, according to Cabell County Magistrate Court records. Details were not available Wednesday. Huntington police said Martin was arrested by campus police. A call to Marshall University Police was not immediately returned Wednesday. Martin, a 6-foot-2, 224-pound resident of Martinsville, Va., posted a $10,000 surety bond and is scheduled for a plea hearing next Wednesday, according to court records. Marshall coach Bob Pruett and Athletic Director Bob Marcum were both out of the office Wednesday and unavailable for comment.

Punter pleads innocent to underage drinking charge The Associated Press 5/5/04 5:55 PM COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- An Ohio State punter pleaded innocent Wednesday to a charge of underage drinking , court documents showed. Albert J. Trapasso, 18, appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court for his arraignment, according to court documents. A police report showed Trapasso was charged with underage drinking on April 25. Messages seeking comment were left for Trapasso's attorney, Steven Brown, and athletic department spokesman Steve Snapp. Trapasso's charge was the latest in a string of legal problems involving Ohio State football players. On Saturday, campus police charged tight end Louis Irizarry and tailback Ira Guilford with felony robbery . Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has suspended both players, who have a preliminary court date May 11. Since Tressel was hired in January of 2001, there have been at least 14 incidents involving 15 players, according to an Associated Press search of court records. The problems include underage drinking , drunken driving , disorderly conduct , assault , falsification of a police report to theft :blink: , robbery , felony drug abuse and carrying a concealed weapon . Trapasso, a 6-foot, 220-pound player from Central High School in Pickerington, punted three times in last month's annual intrasquad scrimmage.

GoZips: How would you rate Lee Owens as a "sportsman," in comparison to Paterno?

Hipsher/Andrick flushback?

Dambrot helps his old boss out...talks to his bud LeBron about the opening...seems like enough plausible info to begin a rumor?

For the record...wasn't the Penn State game in 1999? Can this clown get anything right?

In a related story... Two Ohio State players charged with robbery 05/02/04 Columbus- Two Ohio State football players were arrested and charged with robbery Saturday after a student accused the two of assaulting and robbing him, authorities said. Coach Jim Tressel suspended the players, sophomores Louis Irizarry and Ira Guilford, indefinitely and said, "It appears likely they could lose their privilege to play for Ohio State in 2004." Each was being held on one count of felony robbery at the Franklin County jail Saturday afternoon and likely would make court appearances Monday morning. Ohio State student and Brecksville native Kenneth Whitwell, 20, reported that he was assaulted on campus at 3 a.m., according to police records. Police briefly searched the area and arrested the two players. No other details about the assault were available. Guilford, 18, a 6-0, 190-pound tailback from Hoboken, N.J., played in five games last year, rushing for 68 yards on 28 carries. Irizarry, 19, a 6-5, 235-pound tight end from Youngstown, played in seven games, mostly on special teams. "We are aware of the situation," Tressel said in a statement. "We view it as very serious. We are looking into it aggressively to learn more about the facts."

Who would have thought YSU would be the torch-bearer for tailgating? I H-A-T-E OSU...f*ckers can't control their own fans so they try to ruin everyone elses' fun. Screw them. OSU fights bill to allow alcohol at tailgate parties 05/02/04 Stephen Ohlemacher Plain Dealer Bureau Columbus Lawmakers want to let tailgaters down a few beers outside football games without worrying about getting busted for violating the state's open-container law. But don't look for Ohio State University to join the party. The House State Government Committee voted, 11-1, last week to approve a bill over strong objections from OSU that would create a new liquor permit for universities and professional sports teams to establish tailgating areas outside football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer games. Fans could bring their own al cohol as long as the area is enclosed by a fence, with security guards at each exit to make sure no one leaves with open containers. The area must be owned or leased by the schools or teams. The full House could vote on the bill as early as this week. "Wouldn't it be better to have this license and control the tailgating to show the students the correct use of alcoholic beverages?" said State Rep. Kenneth Carano, a Youngstown Democrat who sponsored the bill on behalf of Youngstown State University. The bill is supported by the YSU police, Youngstown city police and the Mahoning County sheriff's office. The bill is permissive, meaning universities and professional teams don't have to apply for the permits if they don't want to. But Ohio State lobbied hard against the measure, failing at the last minute to get it amended to exclude all schools but Youngstown State. The bill, as passed by the committee, would apply to schools and teams with stadiums that seat at least 4,000 people. Passage "will complicate the task of law-enforcement officers by adding another exception to the enforcement of the open-container law and will contribute to the kind of public drunkenness that we have worked so hard to reduce," OSU public safety Director Vernon Baisden told the House committee. Ohio's open-container law bars people from drinking alcohol in public, even outside football games. But law-enforcement agencies across the state, at OSU and at Cleveland Browns games, largely looked the other way - until last season. The city of Cleveland cracked down on drinkers outside Browns games last year - sort of. Some tailgaters in municipal lots were cited if they were caught drinking alcohol from its original containers. Discreet drinkers who used plastic cups were mostly spared, as long as they did not cause trouble. OSU and Columbus police got even tougher on tailgaters after riots that erupted about 12 hours after the school's football team beat Michigan in November 2002, giving Ohio State a berth in the national championship. OSU police handed out 466 warnings and "advisements" for alcohol-related offenses outside the first three home games last year, according to police records. OSU police cited drinkers outside the following game and issued 53 open-container citations outside the final five home games. Columbus police issued 154 citations for open-container violations outside all the OSU home games last year, spokeswoman Sherry Mercurio said. Baisden showed the House committee a nine-minute video of drunken revelers outside the 2002 Michigan game. There were scenes of people urinating, shouting profanities and, early the next morning, overturning cars. The video also showed serene scenes of families walking outside the stadium last year, after the university and Columbus police started enforcing the open-container law. "Obviously, there was an effect," Baisden said. "There was a change." The crackdown also has been a boon to the few remaining campus-area bars and to the growing number of groups that get temporary permits to serve beer at inflated prices in roped-off areas along Lane Avenue, about a block from Ohio Stadium. Several law-enforcement agencies and groups that fight underage drinking also oppose the bill. "Increased access to alcohol through open-container tailgating promotes high-risk drinking and sends a mixed message that alcohol consumption on a college campus is OK," said written testimony submitted to the committee by Ohio Parents for Drug Free Youth and the Ohio College Initiative to Reduce High Risk Drinking. But lawmakers said they didn't see the connection between middle-aged alumni drinking beer before football games and 19-year-old students setting cars on fire 12 hours later. Several lawmakers said problems with student drinking at OSU have been exacerbated since the university bulldozed most of the campus-area bars several years ago, eliminating controlled atmospheres in which students could drink. "I think we've seen a prohibition effect," said State Rep. Dan Stewart, a Columbus Democrat. "They have no place to go." Youngstown State asked for the bill after its student newspaper, The Jambar, ran a story in October about illegal drinking at a university-sponsored lot near the school's football stadium. The university banned alcohol from the lot for the season's last home game. Sgt. John Beshara of the Mahoning County sheriff's office told the House committee there has never been a major incident in the 15 years he has patrolled the lot. "Tailgating is a tradition at YSU and is far more than just some pleasurable activity to take part in before and after a game," YSU Police Chief John Gocala told the committee. "In Mahoning Valley, tailgating is an opportunity for a special kind of camaraderie and unity. I'm sure that this is true for many schools throughout the state of Ohio." To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: sohlemacher@plaind.com, 1-800-228-8272

"He hasn't fired anybody he's hired." That's a good one! You know Kelly been coaching the girls for an entire TWO SEASONS! "CAN" HER NOW!!! Man, any other AD would have gotten rid of her looooong ago. And that JD Brookhart...I saw that BS offense in the spring game...get rid of the guy. It ain't gonna get any better, so let's cut our losses. And…how many games has Dambrot won? I’ll tell you…Z-E-R-O!!! How can MT justify keeping a coach that has NEVER WON A SINGLE GAME!!?? I agree with fallingzips. MT is so gutless when it comes to firing his own "hires."

This will also help Can't, who lost Pelligrino and Brown this spring, and wouldn't have been able to replace both of them. Overall, probably a lot of JUCO guys are "back in the chase" for a scholarship now.