Captain Kangaroo

Fast, random notes: Biggs is awesome. Runs hard, strong and square to the endzone at all times. What a workhorse. I can't count how many times in the stands we turned to eachother and said "That was a hell of a run" or "man I LOVE him" after a run. Can our offense finish off a game? Last night we fumbled in the 4th to let them back in it...dropped a punt snap and cam up short on a 4th and 1. Somehow our offense needs to put together a 4th quarter drive of 6 or so minutes in the 4th to "ice" a game. Our WR's were really bad at times last night. The OL did a fantastic job of pass blocking last night and too many times the WR's (Hixson excluded) did exactly what Z-P stated...ran around aimlessly...didn't break off their routes...gave up on the play. I hope JD addresses this in the next 2 weeks. It is the JD's specialty (WR's) so we'll see. Biggs on the screen was awesome. Big OL's got out in front...little guy hid behind them until they cleared a path and BAM, off to the races! Frye was solid. Better WR play would have helped tremendously. OL did a great job of pass blocking and run blocking. Whoda thunk is 4 weeks ago? Hixson is awesome. The punt returner/WR skills are reminicent of Cherry. 10K Zipper? Man, I want to hit YOUR tailgate party, man!!?? Z-P's right. 2K max. Empty parking lot. It would be nice to have a #2 RB step up. Ringer is scary to insert at the moment. You GOTTA have sure hands in the 4th quarter! Looking at #84 Kasparek as a Fr., I never thought he'd be a contributor. He's really playing well. Hats off to him. Defense comes through again! Good pressure all night. Tight coverage most of the night. Looking forward to Marshall! If we can keep from "freezing" on offense in the 2nd half, we have a great shot vs. the Herd. Our defense is playing well enough for us to win.

Take a look at what was posted on GoZips.com October 18th. Look at Cut-n-Paste Morgan's article. Tell me why he has a job: Q: What are the advantages to having a smaller running back? A: "You look at the NFL and the good portion of the backs are 5-foot-10. Athletically changing direction, you wouldn't think a 6-foot-4 could change direction like a 5-foot-10 kid. A lower center of gravity has its advantages." Q: Are you at the mix where you want to be in terms of running plays versus passing plays? A: "We should have done a better job of going after big plays. With the run game developing like it did, we should have had bigger pass plays. Play-action should have been effective and some other things we should have gone to. I went back and critiqued my play calling and there are a number of things I would have done differently." Q: Do you grade yourself? A: "Absolutely. After we watch the tape, we go around the room and talk about each position and talk about lessons that could be taken from that particular game. We also talk about things the coaching staff could do different and improve on. I critique myself and I also have my staff critique me as well."

Thanks for the heads-up. That sucks.

That's clever stuff!

I can't play those "Annoucer Drinking Games" anymore. I used to do the one where you drank a shot of Wild Turkey every time Hipsher said "Well exactly...." I was in la la land before tip-off every week! I agree with Stams. I think he does a nice job. He adds legit insight. The comment I remember from last week was, after a 9-yard pass completion by UCF: "The defensive line and the cornerbacks need to communicate better. The DL's need to tell the CB's to tighten up their coverage. The DL's are getting great pressure on Moffett, but the CB's coverage is so soft he can still lob out passes for big gains." It wasn't rocket science, but commentary like that gives the listener a better idea of what's transpiring than "rah rah we're great" stuff. Does Biggs run 25 times this week? Does Ball State go to school off the last 2 games and stack the line? If so, is Frye's finger well enough to take advantage of it? Will Jabari play...how serious is his shoulder?...Is our DL suddenly that good, or are UCF and Buffalo's OL's that atrocious? Is Brookhart running so heavily because of Frye's finger, or because run blocking is the OL's strength and it is our best chance to win? Whatever the reasons...I give the new staff credit for keeping the team together after such a tough start and actually putting us in a position to play for a championship. I give them credit for adapting their game plans as situations necessitate (my biggest gripe regarding the former staff). Of course, kudos to the players who, from Dec '03 to November 2nd '04 had numerous reasons to pack-it-in, but put forth the effort to make a championship run! Biggest game is Zips MAC history Saturday? Beat Ball State, and fill the Bowl for Marshall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think this looks like a great event. Unfortunately I will be out of town. The only drawback is the date...won't a lot of communities have their trick-or-treat Sunday night between 4-7. I know mine is.

Since you offered the last word, I'll accept. My main problem with mandating the PSL's is obviously not that I want to perpetuate the "JV mentality" that's been SOP for years. My problem isn't even with PSL's. You are correct in your assessment that the majority of Division 1 schools mandate such fees for their "better" seats. Furthermore, there appear to be many fans in the lower bowl who feel the seats merit the price? If I'm U of A, sure I'm going to get market value for my product! My problem is: We have had a horrible basketball program for 15 years. The MAC is a two-bid-once-ever-5-year conference. The MAC upper echelon plays good ball, the bottom doesn't...and Akron has been at the bottom for seemingly forever. In those 15 years virtually all MAC teams have wins vs. ranked opponents, conference championships, post season wins, tourney berths and wins. I needn't go on. The Zips have 15 years of "nothing." Down the road, Can't fans are having a blast. I wouldn't mind a PSL if the team was a contender. I wouldn't mind PSL's if we played an exciting non-conference home schedule. But, we haven't been a contender, haven't beaten any big nonconference teams, and bring no major teams to the JAR. The few decent teams we've brought to town: Wyoming, Purdue, Cincinnati, didn't draw well because we were so non-competitive. We've seemed like we want to match the "big boys" in ticket policies without making the commitment to match them on the court. The filling of the lower bowl has been a problem. Empty seats have been pretty commonplace for the past 15 years. Does cost play a factor? I bought 3 upper-reserved season tickets this year, because the cost was only $99.00. With my son being so small I probably didn't need to do that. But for $99.00, it was worth it. Planning ahead, he'll need a seat next season. If there were no PSL's in the lower seats, would more of them be sold? You know better than me. Now forget everything I just said. 2004-5 is a new season. Hope springs eternal with the new coach. Players seem to be in shape. The "motion" offense is dead!! Bryan Hipsher is 1,000 miles away. The future looks so bright, I need to wear . The PSL issue will fade about 32 seconds after opening tip-off of game #1. I'm ready to see what we've got with Dambrot and Co! In closing, I'll say: No one else has chimed in on this topic. That leads me to believe that the vast majority don't care about the PSL's, or actually prefer them. People click on this site to see what's on other fan's minds. University employees do too. They should, it is a free way to get a pulse for what fans are thinking & needing. Since the fans are the customer, I'm sure the feedback is welcomed..be it positive or negative. If this season's team does well, the tiny JAR will sell out. I guarantee it. That will also lead to future PSL's for the upper-reserved? Betcha it would. And you know...I'd pay it in a heartbeat if we actually got to that point. Lunch is over. Thanks for your ear.

The MAC “Elite” #1) NIU: Last week #2: Looking solid on both sides of the ball. Every team’s going to have a letdown over an 11 game regular season…their was UCF, and they still won. They’ll only get better as they get healthier. #2) Marshall - Last week #1: Looked horrible vs. Can't. Offense has looked bad all season. #3) BG - Last week #3: Drilled Ball State. Looks like a focused crew. Could boot Marshall out of #2 with a strong showing next week. Omari looks like a drop-in replacement for Josh Harris. BG is improving every week. The “Middle of the Pack” #4) Miami - Last week #4: Unimpressive 25-7 win vs. Buffalo…at least by last season’s standards. Not enough to drop them to #5, however. #5) Toledo - Last week #6. Another big offensive day! Waxed a thusfar overachieving OU squad on ESPN. Early season problems seem far behind. The “Bottom Rung” #6) OU - Last week #5. Absolutely manhandled by Toledo. Win over Kentucky keeps them from falling too far. #7) Zips - Last week #8 – Defense is carrying the Zips!! Turnovers…sacks…what’s up with that? Two conference road wins! At some point, #5 will need to start tossing for 250+. Biggs left, Biggs right, Biggs middle probably is enough to beat Ball State…but not Marshall or Miami. “Looking to Schedule Cal-Poly or Howard Soon” #8) Ball State - Last week #7 : Waxed by 30+…again. The week #1 “close call” vs. BC seems like an aberration. They stink…again. #9) CMU - Last week #10: 42-10 beating this week at the hands of NIU. Beat Can't. Sounds like the Zips? #10) Buffalo: Last week #10: Pasted George O’Leary’s UCF squad. Held mMiami to 25, which ain’t too bad. #11) Can't - Last week #11: Up 17-7 at the half vs. Marshall, then panic set in. The textbook example of “A Team that doesn’t Know How to Win.” #13) EMU: Loss to a 1-AA school…followed by a loss to mighty Idaho. Beats Western Michigan? #13) UCF - Last week #12: Absolutely annihilated by a woeful Buffalo squad. Loses to the Zips at home. O’Leary cashes another check from the $700K/yr salary. Obviously not all his fault, but how does he cash that check with a straight face? #14.) Western Michigan - Last week #12. Lost to EMU. I repeat…How the mighty have fallen....

Hey,_Guest_Zipper…those are some great sites. I have a few you should take a look at: Washington_State www.We_play_in_the_freaking_PAC_10_with_home_games_vs_UCLA_CAL_Washington_and_Or gon_State_and_Arizona_We_play_in_a_beautiful_10000_seat_arena_How_much_would_our fans_pay_in_PSLs_to_see_that_schedule_and_venue_swapped_with_the_likes_of_Buffal _Marshall_Eastern_Michigan_and_Central_Michigan_at_the_JAR?_hardy_freaking_har.com Boise_State www.We_have_home_games_versus_Tulsa_UTEP_Hawaii_and_San_Jose State We_have_a_12,300seat_state-of-the art_arena. We_are_the_only_major_sport_within_500_miles_of_the_campus._We_were_23and10_last season._We_ride_the_coat_tails_of_our_Top_20_football_team_Get_a_freaking_clue._ ow_can_you_compare_Boise_State_to_Akron._It_is_a_joke.com Rutgers www.While_you_sat_there_watching_dan_hipsher_lose_year_after_year_we_went_out_an _hired_Gary_Waters._We_played_in_the_NIT_the_past_two_seasons._We_offer_our_fans home_games_versus_Noter_Dame_UVA_Pitt_BC_Temple_Syracuse_and_Georgetown_while_yo _schedule_D-3_Schools._Our_local_population_base_is_2million_people._Our_arena_was_renovated in_1998_unlike_your_piece_of_garbage_JAR._That_is_why_our_fans_pay_PSL’s.com Pitt www.We_have_a_palatial_new_arena_in_downtown_Pittsburgh_and_we_play_in_the_NCAA_ ourney_with_regularity._We_win_20+_games_per_year._Our_fans_are_treated_to_Notre Dame_Georgetown_Syracuse_Rutgers_etc_at_home_every_season._That_is_why_we_charge PSL’s.com Virginia www.We_play_in_the_brand_new_John_Paul_Jones_15000_seat_arena._We_treat_our_fans to_Duke_North_Carolina_Maryland_Georgia_Tech_etc_at_home_every_season._That_is_h w_we_justify_PSL’s.com Toledo www.we_win_20_games_with_some_regularity_unlike_the_Zips_who_haven’t_won_20_ga es_since_the_mid-80’s._We_scheduled_Nevada_at_home_for_our_home_fans_and_not_Wooster._We_win_mo e_games_in_a_single_weekend_at_The_Gund_than_the_Zips_do_in_a_decade._We_give_ou _fans_the_opportunity_to_say_“We_beat_a_Top_20_Team”_because_we_play_Duke_an _Vanderbilt_in_2004_while_also_playing_in_the_San_Juan_Shoot_Out._How_dare_you_c mpare_Toledo_Basketball_to_Akron_Basketball.com Youngstown_State www.How_does_any_self_respecting_person_discussing_collegiate_athletics_use_the_ rgument_of_“Youngstown_State_Basketball_does_it_so_we_should_too”_to_justify PSL’s?_YSU_basketball_is_a_total_JOKE._YSU_GAVE_each_football_season_ticket_holder_men €™s_season_basketball_tickets_because_they_were_so_desperate_for_attendance._Giv _me_a_break.com What has the University given the loyal Zips fans over the past 15 years? Nothing except a hand out for more money. The teams have been horrible. The arena blows. The pre-season strength of schedule is the weakest in the MAC aside from EMU, year-in-year-out. No wins at Seagate Center or The Gund …hell…we’ve only made it out of the JAR for post-season once. Countless home tournament losses…Bryan Hipsher playing meaningful minutes…I could go on all day… Say I give Akron the PSL money. What will the money be spent on? A million dollar scoreboard that, for two seasons, has been used for nothing but a “rotating kangaroo head graphic” and “little kangaroos hopping from side to side”? Payouts to bring top-notch teams like Wooster, Hampton and Radford to town? How about a beautiful, 4-color, 16 page brochure that is required for me to understand the complexities of the ZAC policy? Maybe membership to that sweet Tommy Evans lounge that overlooks The JAR floor…oh, wait…it overlooks Buchtel Avenue...you can't see the court. Once you've built something like Can't basketball has, you can start the PSL process. When you've built something akin to The Collegiate Washington Generals, as the Zips have been for a decade and a half, it comes off as pretty weak. Again, for the record, I like my $99.00 upper reserved sets. Love the Zips. Hate the concept of mandating PSL money from lower reserved fans while providing nothing but "L's" in return. Then again...Youngstown State BASKETBALL does it...why shouldn't we?

Can't listen to it from the bowling alley. Any insight to this week's game or the stadium? FYI to UAM: To replay the coaches show sometime...even before the Saturday football game(?) would rule. Or, to be able to listen to a replay from GoZips.com would rule too.

As of 5:00pm...poll results: 55% for 45% against

Isn't Muse @ East Carolina now? Their loss...he's a dick. :angry:

Anyone else find it funny that: 1.) The stadium story broke on Channel 3 news, and not The Beacon? Was the "leak" done to put the thumbscrews to the BJ for it's shoddy Zips coverage? 2.) Nothing regarding the stadium on GoZips.com? Did channel 3 have a "mole" at the architects office that leaked info to a news source a tad early? It will be interesting to hear the discussions on the coach's show tonight.

I saw the PAX23 report on the stadium this evening. The report interviews focused on the 2 senior citizen families living in Spicertown and their concerns about being displaced!!?? No players, coaches, students, faculty, etc. interviewed. Small wonder I never watch that channel. The only things I learned were: 1.) Groundbreaking is planned in 2 years 2.) No student money is intended to be used for the project 3.) PAX 23 may be a worse news source than the Beacon

"Tavernous Rubber Bowl?" You must be sitting near our section!!!

When I entered the stadium I saw Matt Cherry, Marques Hayes and a few other 2003 Zips on the field (behind the team). Later on they were up in the stands. Talked to Nick Sparks, Cherry and Brandon Payne for a while. Nick is working at a furniture store and working out, hoping to get a shot in the Arena League or NFL Europe. He's postponing a career related to his degree so he can focus on football. Matt got a look from New England last week, and hopes to be in Europe this summer. Brandon Payne is teaching disadvantaged youth in the Pittsburgh area. Great to see all of them! Saw Hendry, Cummins, Griz and Ritley in the tailgate lot befor the game. Great to see the guys around town, supporting the program and having a good time in the Zips Tailgate Alley! Look for more Apple Pie @ the Ball State game. I swear the October 9th batch was gone 3 minutes after I cracked open the bottle!!?? Time to double up on the recipe.... If you don't stop by Zippy-on-a-Stick before kickoff the 23rd...your loss! BEAT UCF! Then, VIOLATE THEIR CORPSE!

As Dr. Z said, you couldn't be more wrong regarding the grass seating at the open end. 1.) The "grass area seating" will comprise only about 10% of the total seating area. 2.) It will look awesome 3.) How much has the grass seating hurt Blossum Music Center...they get 10,000 people on their lawn every week during the summer? A blanket, on the lawn is a great way to spend an afternoon/evening watching football! Ever see Virginia's stadium up close? You'd love the grass...classy...collegiate campus-look. Kudos to the architect!!!

Click me for the same old same old....

I liked the fact that we threw only 23 times. Our OL was a good run-blocking group last season. When we went "Frye-centric," we struggled to maintain drives, eat the clock, wear the opponent down, etc. We were bigger and stronger than Buffalo, and we pushed them all over the field. I liked the game plan. We will be able to do the same thing against UCF. We did last season, and UCF is probably worse this year than last. Biggs was awesome. He's got a 2nd gear once he breaks the line of scrimmage. I hope the OL gives him the holes again this week. The Zips have never won a road game of this (UCF game) magnitude. UCF sucks. They have the longest losing streak in the nation. Buffalo beat them by almost 30 points. They're coming off a heartbreaker. Step on their throat, Zips! Go for the kill! What BZ said is true. Win here...take care of our home field vs. Ball State...take a week off to heal Frye's finger...and see the full house for Marshall November 5th. How bad does the team and staff want it?? Stay tuned.....

Whaddya mean? The post game celebration was INSANE! You must have left early?

I'm curious .. what do you mean by that? Scenario #1: Say the 15K "rule" really existed...it DOES NOT...but say it did. Say Akron goes to 1-AA next season. Zips now force MTSU and Purdue to find new, last minute, 1-A HOME opponents for 2005. Not gonna happen. Scenarion #2: Miami, OH has the Zips at home in 2005...Say the Zips are now 1-AA...so Miami now has 4 home games vs. 1-A opponents, so it has to drop to 1-AA too? You need 5, 1-A home games, right? There are a billion loopholes and problems with this mythical 15k rule...which is why is is nothing but fodder for internet bulletin boards. It is not a rule, and never will be...unless the existing format is radically altered.

Z-P: Stop by Zippy-on-a-Stick. The Annual Rib Burn-off, + "Apple Pie!"

BWAH HA HA!!!!! GOOD ONE!

I could write a novel on this topic...maybe I will when I get the time one day. I think the last sentence you wrote comes closest to my nain "problem" with the lower reserved seating: I contend few people down below actually pay the PSL's. Many of these seats are given away to large donors, sold to faculty at a discount, etc. That is why we've seen these seats sit empty over the past several years. "Someone," or some company has the tickets, but doesn't use them. Compare that to the upper-reserved seats, purchased by individuals. They are, percentage-wise, much fuller. This is because those fans have more of a vested interest in the program. Yes, there are individuals sitting below that fork out their own money for PSL's. If I worked for the Buchtelite I'd love to do an investigative piece on the breakdown of who pays the PSL, and who doesn't. In my opinion, the PSL's MAY bring in extra, much needed money to the program. Or, they may be like the "retail price" for jewery. The University doesn't get retail from the guys below...they may be keeping some big clients happy by giving them tickets "worth thousands of dollars." But essentially what has happened is the individual fan has been pushed to the rafters, and empty seats and casual fans sporadically "fill" the bottom level. When I was in school, it was actually worse. They didn't allow the students on floor level. Even the end-seats were sold to the general public. I like my seats, I like my price. I like going to the games. No complaints. I don't like the PSL policy of the lower reserved seats. If others do, and the University is making money at it...good for Akron. I still don't like it, and I think there are some very real, negative ramifications of the policy that don't show up in the profit spreadsheet.

Guest Zipper...The Spin Doctor! The Tazmanian Devil doesn't spin that much? Quit your day job and work PR for The University! Renewed my upper reserved season tix today. $99.00 ea. I park behind the natatorium...free. Such a deal!