Captain Kangaroo

I've alluded to similar thoughts of heresy in the past. I dig #5. He's the best QB ever to wear a Zips uniform. He's a great person. He will play in the NFL. He's a warrior that plays with pain and never complains. Is his arm as strong as Leftwitch's? No. Roethlisberger's? No. Pennington's? No. Does he have any "storybook wins" against major competition? No. Does he have any championships? No. Has he tossed some big INT's late in big games? Yes. I see the crap that passes for NFL QB's nowadays. Guys like Vinny Testaverde and Rich Gannon are 40, and starting. Doug Peterson is something like a 12 year veteran? #5 will have a nice NFL career. He won't be selling copiers. I wondered aloud at the beginning of last season what his legacy would be...and metioned it was heading towards that of Archie Manning. A great QB...on some bad-to-mediocre football teams. He's got a handfull of games to shake that one, but I don't think his OL will give him the chance. I thought Jason Taylor was too small and injury prone to have a serviceable NFL career...so what the hell do I know. #5 rules. I hope to see his name & # in the Zips "Ring of Honor" soon.

I was on vacation. Didn't hear it...didn't see it. Going into the game my thoughs were: "NIU is as good as, or slightly better than Penn State. If we've improved, we'll have a better showing than we did against Penn State. If we haven't improved, we'll be worse." I think we must have improved a bit. We were only down 28-12 at one point. We returned an INT for a TD. We played just about as competitive as I could reasonable expect. Not as well as I wished...but "expect" and "wish" are two different things. I expect to beat Buffalo and Ball State. Hell...I expect to beat UCF too. Those are 3 really bad teams. What's up with the punt return unit? That's embarassing. OL: Holy hell... Hope Saturday's weather is nice!

I agree.

Tough to get up for this one after seeing how horrible we've fared against quality competition on the road this year. One thought: Should we win, it would be the greatest road victory in the history of Akron 1-A football. Navy was a good one, but Navy's lost to just about everyone. Winning this one would be the equivalent to beating Marshall in Huntington. I think NIU is THAT good. Funny...when Lee took over the Zips in 1995 I remember beating a Novak-coached NIU soundly...something like 34-17 in DeKalb. We went 2-9 that year. Where NIU is today is where we all hoped Lee would have taken us. Novak's first several years were ugly, but he's built a hell of a program. I want to win, but I would be heartend to see improvement. I'd like to see the D continue to be aggressive. I want to see the O convert some decent drives into 7 points. GO ZIPS!

I hope that translates to some wins. Dragging my wife down route 8 every week in 20 degree weather to watch the Zips get beat like a drum over the past several years really got old. My memories of the few fun games during the Bosley/Ball era are fading...it's hard to remember what its like to be a "favorite." Restore the Roar, Dambrot!

Hanson eligible Freshman Allan Hanson has been given his full release from his letter of intent to play at Akron. Hanson, who was a second-team all-state player from Wauwatosa East, is now eligible to play this season for the Panthers (Wisconsin Milwaukee).

I never thought much about it, but having Rothlisberger as the Steelers QB won't hurt JD in selling the MAC to WPa recruits. BTW: Did anyone notice 1-AA Furman took Pitt to OT Saturday! Click me

#1) Marshall - Last week #1: First Sautrday this year that they haven't been in the loss column! Not playing helps in that regard. #2) NIU: Last week #3: Waxed BG on national TV. Didn't have their starting QB. They look like a focused team. Zips will have their hands full next week...and then some. #3) BG - Last week #2: Lost to a damn good team. Can't drop them too far just yet. #4) Miami - Last week #4: Will rise or fall after Wednesday's Marshall game. #5) Ball State - Last week (unranked) : Beat WMU by 27!! Played a nice game vs. BC a few weeks ago. Are they for real? #6) UCF - Last week #5: No game. #7) Toledo - Last week #12. Crushed Temple by about 30? Is Toledo back? #8) Zips - Last week #11 - Big win on the road @ Can't. Offense still very suspect, but the D is coming around. #9) OU - Last week #8. Waxed Buffalo 34-0. Big deal. Who dosen't? Held Pitt to 24 points, but Pitt should have lost to 1-AA Furman! #10) CMU - Last week #10: No Comments. #11) Can't - Last week #6: Cribbs can't do everything. Home loss to Akron doesn't foreshadow greatness in the future. #12.) Western Michigan - Last week # 7. Blown out by Ball State. How the mighty have fallen.... #13) EMU: Lost to a 1-AA school. #14) Buffalo: Last week #13: They were 13th las week only because I forgot Ball State. Buffalo LOVES the basement.

I just think a lot of the conservatism stems from the lack of an offensive line. Frye can't go deep too often because he's getting no protection. Remember our pass-blocking last season was pretty bad...and we lost Cummins and Hendry...replacing them with Ringer/Crouch...so I think we got a little worse. Maybe a lot worse...

There were a lot of great posts regarding the Can't game. Great job by all. NIU looks damn good...are they as good as...say...Penn State? They're up next for the Zips. Scary game.

Non-game stuff: Beautiful night for a game. Perfect weather. Can't parking was no problem, despite their web site warnings. PLENTY of parking everywhere. And, it was all free!! If I'm a Can't student I'm pissed about that. 8,000 cars x $3.00 ea is $24,000 that could have gone towards the University, and not be taken out of their pockets. However, I'm not a Can't student...so I'll take it! Can't tailgating was fine. If you kept your beer in a cup...no hassles. LOTS of Zips fans at the game (7-8K?). Tons of loud Akron students having a blast! That was really heartening to see. GREAT hospitality tent put on by the Zips Marketing group! First class!! Beer sales IN the stadium! $2.00 per cup, and it could be brought into the stands! No one seemed to abuse it. Kudos to Can't for doing someting like that in this era. Took some balls. Can't has to be one of the last schools with the old painted-steel-wool astro-turf. Get with the times! Can't stadium lighting was awesome...it was light daylight in there the entire game. Nice to sit on aluminum bleachers instead of that painted fiberglass crap we've sat on in the Rubber Bowl for decades. Nice fireworks at game's end. By the time they were over the traffic was gone and it was a smooth ride back home. Game stuff: Great to see Bobby Gardner whooping it up with the team as they came on to the field. The team was P-U-M-P-E-D! Gritty game by Frye. I can't bowl a bowling ball if I cut my finger nails to close to the skin...but he can toss a 40 yard TD pass with a dislocated pinky on his throwing hand? He is something else... Great job by the defense!!! Tight coverage by Corner and Pace all game. Defensive line put pressure on Cribbs all game! Great up-the-middle blitz packages! Rohr played great...good to see he's getting more reps. Cam Yeow had a great game at LB too. If you look at MTSU and Can't...comparable teams to the Zips...our defense has been great over 6 quarters. The first 2 quarters against MTSU weren't too good. The OL looks real bad...both pass and run blocking. They did play a little better in the 2nd half, but I'm not a good enough observer to know why. Biggs could be a good one...if he ever gets some holes to run through. Hixson is starting to remind me of Matt Cherry a bit. Where was Jabari? Other than that big pass up the sidelines, I didn't see him much. Great to see the band and the team belt-out the fight song at game's end! That's what it's all about! Cribbs is an awesome athlete. Comparisons to him and Michael Vick are justified. Its tough to appreciate him because you want to beat the guy so bad...but he's probably the most elusive guy I've ever seen. Great to see Tim Wilkes with the big 4th and 16 sack in the 4th quarter. We need a DL to start doing that stuff! Nice job by Swiger! I hope the pre-UCONN Swiger is back! Billy Sullivan led a charmed life. Not his best punting night, but he got all the good bounces on his bad punts. Our punt coverage continues to struggle. Something's gotta get fixed. Duane LeFall...where are you? Earl is a punishing hitter. Yeah he needs to wrap up...but he's the hardest hitter on the D, by far. Good to see JD get the Gatorade Shower after the game! Three flushbacks: 1.) 2004 4th Quarter: The Can't game about 5 years ago...we were up something like 41-7 in the 4th quarter when Jose Davis went off. We won 41-35(?) recovering an onside kick with 20-something seconds left...even though a Can't player emerged with the ball. 2.) Maybe 7 years ago: Can't goes for a 4th and 1 on the Can't 29. They didn't need to do that. Zips stuff them and Butchie leads us to victory from there. I thought about that play when Martin went for the 4th and goal from the 2. He didn't need to do that...pretty stupid move. 3.) UCONN 2003: Now I know how UCONN fans felt watching Swiger shank away. Thanks to Travis Mayle! Note: We didn't win that game beause of the missed kicks. It sure helped...but we led the entire game. And it took an amazing Hail Mary to get Can't within 4 points at games end. Great night! Thanks to all the Zips fans that showed up...hell...great turnout by the much-maligned Can't fans!! Made for a great atmosphere! Great job by the Zips' Marketing crew, students and band!! And most of all, great job by the guys on the field! Based upon which of the knowledgeable local scribes you listen too...we were between 7 and 21 point underdogs. The games was the most pivotal in some time...and you guys led from start to finish! Awesome!

I hope you get that "funny feeling" more often!

If that's the best post you got after that game...it really makes me wonder. You missed alot. Great game by the Akron D!! Way to shut the critics up (me included)! Cribbs is awesome...but just one man. More later. Time to sleep. BTW: Any help on fixing our OL is appreciated.

...yet they will arrest you for tailgating in their parking lot. If you are looking to tailgate in Can't tonight, expect to be disappointed. Can't fans tell me there is a zero tolerance policy for personal alcohol in their lots...even if it is in a plastic cup. Nice job, Can't State. You'll piss off both your season ticket holders if you keep that stuff up.

We couldn't hold ANYONE to 21 points. 38-34 Zips Over/Under on turnovers: 12 (combined)

Someone from the Virginia board sent me a message regarding that column. He stated the Virginia fans on The Sabre were pretty embarassed and angry about it. They should be...is was pretty bush-league. It appears like that's their college paper, so it is somewhat expected...21 year olds write some stupid stuff. The author was Sean McLernon. I think Sean will have a tough time choosing from the PD or The Beacon upon his graduation.

There's a big difference between attending a season-opening Thursday Night game where both teams are undefeated...and one where after six combined games neither has beaten a 1-A opponent. Regardless, there will be a solid showing from the Zips' side. I'll guess 7K...and I base that on absolutely nothing.

I would taunt fans on the Can't Football board...if there was one.

Wow...even the hard-cores are silent! Zips fans claiming to miss the game because of TRAFFIC? Can't FOOTBALL TRAFFIC? You've got to be kidding me? Frye vs. Cribbs...the best QB match up you'll see in NE Ohio...maybe for the next decade or more? I guarantee Can't's defense will be a lot easier to move the ball against than Virginia. Look for another barn burner. If a Zips fan in NE Ohio sits at home for this one...and you're not confined to a wheel chair...I just don't get it. Weather will be beautiful. This is our chance to beat F-ing Can't on their own field?! What better feeling is there than that,...walking out of Dix with bragging rights for another year!? The Can't players fed off their crowd last year at the Rubber Bowl. I guarantee it will demoralize the team of sexual assaulters and drug dealers to be outnumbered in their own house! Show up Drink beer Have fun Beat Can't Go home That's a great Thursday night!

You're going to miss the AkronKent game to watch a tape-delayed version on Time Warner? Unless you're in a wheel chair or on crutches, I can't believe the parking situation will be a big deal.

#1) Marshall - Tough losses at OSU and Georgia. Troy loss isn't as bad as initially apeared. #2) BG - Played the Sooners within 16. Pretty damn good for a team that lost Harris. #3) NIU: Narrow road losses to Iowa State and Maryland. Big Drop Off to #4 #4) Miami: Beat OU handily, but are surrendering a lot of points. #5) UCF: Respectable (from a Zips fan's point-of-view) losses to Wisconsin, West Virginia and Penn State. #6) Can't: Held Iowa below 40, and Rutgers below 30. #7) Western Michigan: 42-0 1-AA win...but a 63-0 waxing by Virginia Tech. Played a good team tight last week before falling. #8) OU: Held Pitt to 24 points. #9) CMU : Scored 44 against a 1-AA team. Held Michigan State to 24. #10)EMU: Held Florida to 49, while scoring 10. Put up 32 vs. Toledo. Beat Buffalo. #11) Zips: Almost beat a 1-A team. #12) Toledo: Holy hell. Have surrendered 63 points on 2 occasions thusfar! Beat EMU by 10, but let them score 32! #13) Buffalo: Not getting waxed quite as bad as last year, but still getting waxed.

Looking forward to your tailgate party, Josh! "#9 in your game program...#90384752 in your police blotter!"

Big Game II: Tough to tell who's the best or worst between Akron (0-3) and Can't State (1-2). The two meet Thursday. The winless Zips, originally looking toward an eight-plus win season and MAC title contention, have given up a lot of points, albeit to quality teams in Penn State and Virginia, plus Middle Tennessee State. Can't has been sporadic in its play against powerhouse Iowa, a Division I-AA loser in Liberty, and a traditional Division I-A lapdog in Rutgers. What a dick.

My take is as follows...and this is from a 38 year old guy that wears a french fry(e) on his head, so take it for what it is worth: Lee Owens may have fared a little better than JD in the short term, only because he knew the players. JD had 7 months to watch what what inherited in practices and the gym. You never know what you have until you see it in game situations. JD is making some moves after seeing some of the guys in action on Saturdays. He also needs to learn how to motivate guys. Some guys get motivated by benching...some guys pout. Some guys need kit-gloves...some need in-you-face-profanity-strewn tirades. I'm sure he and his staff are learing alot about the psysche of the individual players on-the-job. We lost an NFL TE, an NFL WR, 2 other solid senior wide outs and Hendry...not to mention our best OL. Don't forget that. The new WR's can catch a football, but they're still learning to run routes...downfield block...knowing when to break off the route to help a scrambling QB, etc. Statistically they are comparable to last season's group, but there are a lot of aspects to being a WR that don't show up statistically. I've been to Penn State and MTSU. I've yet to see our OL open up any type of hole for Biggs or Ringer. Any running yards have been tough. Our OVERALL talent level is not up to par with the upper-echelon MAC teams. To say it is "bad" isn't fair to the kids that have committed themselves to being Zips...I love all the guys...but there are too many guys on the team that are closer to 1-AA talent than 1-A. Beyond that, I think 45% of the team is a Fr. or redshirt Fr.? That's a damn young team. Thomas would have taken a lot less heat if he fired Owens after this season (instead of last). I give him a lot of credit. It's like when Shapiro gutted the Tribe and began re-building. Everyone and their brother ripped him a huge a-hole for getting rid of Colon, Alomar, Thome, Ramirez, etc. Now people can see the guy knew what he was doing. Thomas is going to endure a lot of crap over the next two years before the dividends of his decision will be visible. I hope JD and the guys continue to improve from here on out. The schedule gets a lot easier begining Thursday.

Sadly, that is a very debatable point at this time.