GoZips88

Comparing support for VCU vs. Akron ... my guess is VCU is probably a little closer to being THE game in town than Akron is ...I wonder how closely the folks from Richmond follow and support (including entertainment dollars/butts in seats) the pro offerings out of Washington D.C. and Baltimore? We're in a pro sports market (Cleveland) and an easy 40-minute drive to watch the Indians, Browns, and Cavaliers. Same TV/radio market too.I wonder how well the local newspaper and TV stations support VCU compared to the pro sports teams 110+ miles away in Washington D.C./Baltimore, the University of Richmond, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech? The Akron Beacon Journal fawns over THE Ohio State University like there is no tomorrow and basically covers the U of A on what appears to be an "as-time-and-space-permit" basis. No local TV stations to speak of so the U of A is dependent on stations out of Cleveland. Same story - THE Ohio State University with a mention of how Akron fared if time permits.I wonder how well community government there in Richmond supports VCU? Akron's 37-term mayor (a Bowling Green grad if memory serves me right) generally loathes the U of A (I think he's jealous of how our University president has transformed the U of A and gets his nose bent out of shape when the president refuses to genuflect when in the mayor's presence).Seems to me you've got pretty good circumstances there in Richmond - captive audience, decent facility, pretty good coach who stands to make millions elsewhere (as early as next year?), a lot of good athletes ... enjoy the ride as long as you can. You could be a coaching change away from heading back to mediocrity or worse. Happened here when Bob Huggins left and it's only beginning to recover 15+ years and two bad coaches later. See you next year at your place.

Can't State 65St. Mary's 57Can't shot 47.9% (23 of 48) from the field while SMC shot a pretty dismal 32.8% (21-64). Can't was 4 of 8 from 3-pt land ... SMC was 3 of 16. SMC seemed to win most of the stat categories(STATS), they just didn't shoot the ball very well. SMC missed a LOT of bunnies in the first half (I fell asleep at half-time). I'm sure Can't playing in-your-shorts defense had something to do with SMC's poor shooting. but, like it or not, they are the class of the MAC in men's basketball. I wonder if Jim Christian can reproduce what he's done at Can't at the next level? Just wondering ...

Dan Dakich has been named interim coach at 22-4 Indiana University. Will be interesting to see how the guys play for him.Link to ESPN article

We need one of our crafty Rowdies to get busy tonight and put together a "Cventinovic" sign on the chance (pretty high I would guess) that Nik is watching ESPN2 tomorrow morning. Let him know we're excited about his commitment to Akron.

"IO/TAL Syndrome" ... I'm sure I'm not the only Zip fan who develops a case of this from time to time. Happens 70-80% of the time when I travel 2+ hours to watch Zip football away from home and probably a little less frequently when I do the same for men's basketball. The day starts out just fine - all pumped up and optimistic when I leave the house and time flies driving to the opposing team's stadium or arena. The Syndrome starts to set in JUST after a Zips loss (70-80% of the time I travel to watch the football team play and a little less frequently for men's basketball). Walking back to the car and most of the way home, I can't help but think "If Only we had stopped them on 3rd-and-22 ... If Only he had made one more free throw ... If Only ... we may have won." Somewhere in the middle of the drive home it begins to feel like it's taking Twice As Long to get home as it did to get there! Here's hoping ALL of those great VCU fans who are making the 7-8 hour drive up from Richmond head back home with a nasty case of IO/TAL! (or at least feel like total crap like I usually do!)Many reasons to bring the "A" game tomorrow - LET'S GO ZIPS!!!!!

Exactly, all we need to do is pack the place, and we are good to go (as long as all the other fans, beside the Rowdies, can be loud when we need it). Earlier this year, my grandpa took me and my cousin to go see a Syracuse game in the Carrier Dome. In my opinion best fans I've seen, but could do way better with the stadium. Something they don't show you on TV is the opposite side from the main lots of fans side. The other side is just put up bleachers and then nothing. So of the sound from the big fan side carries throughout the stadium, and isn't just directed at the court. The fans were awesome though. The students were still on break (same with Otto, I wanted to rub it in his face and give him a Zippy picture, but he wasn't there) and the atmosphere was still amazing. The fans are always loud every minute or so. I love it. If all we could do is get the people who sit down in the lower bowl as long as the upper to get loud when we need it, we'd have a pretty darn good atmosphere. That's all I'm saying.

Flight delays, turbulent air, lost luggage, bad food, double-overtime, bumps/bruises/tweaks, shoddy play the rest of the MAC season caused by the disruption in rhythm/focus a long trip like this can cause ... yeah, I can root for Can't again ... for a price.

... and do it fair ( ) and square ( ) too!

:blink: ... and to think the answer was right in front of us the whole time! Moderators - you may now retire the thread.

A pretty good college basketball game going on in town tomorrow morning and our local newspaper doesn't include any mention of it the day before? Not to start the 'rip the ABJ' stuff for the umpteenth time but they really do suck Akron canal water. Yeah, there may be a 'story' (blurb) on the game in tomorrow's paper but a whole lot of good that does helping put butts in seats. Knowing about it today gives people just a little more time to include it as a late addition to their Saturday schedule. I know, I know, nobody around here gives a rat's anyway ... Safe travels VCU fans - great to have you joining us for what should be a good one tomorrow. Go Zips!

ANYTHING can happen come tourney time but give me that #3 seed. The less I have to play Miami, OU and Can't the better. Some are hoping for a Akron/Can't final ... I for one wouldn't mind seeing Can't head home early. Path of least resistance to The Dance.

On TV, you could REALLY hear "... home of the ZIPS!!!" Sounded GREAT!

That young man seems like a real winner, on a number of levels. It will be great to see him competing for the good guys.Go Zips!!At BOTH ends of the floor and as a true freshman (no need for a red shirt year?).

NE misses shot. VCU rebounds and gets fouled w/16.2 seconds to go. VCU shooting two and up 62-57.VCU misses first. 2nd good. 63-57.NE layup AND FOULED. 63-59 with one coming at the line. Free throw good. 63-60.VCU Maynor gets fouled w/11 seconds to go. 1st throw is good 64-60. 2nd is good. 65-60.NE layup good. 7.1 seconds to go and timeout. 65-62.Maynor seems to be carrying the load at guard right now. Will be interesting to see how Shuler's ankle is Saturday.Shuler fouled w/4.4 to go. Shuler "hobbles" to free throw line (in words of NE announcers). First no good. Timeout VCU. Still 65-62 w/4.4 to go.2nd throw good. 66-62. Shuler out and Nixon in for VCU.NE guard shoots 3 at end, leaning in to try and draw foul but missed shot and didn't get any call. Final score: VCU 66 NE 62.

30.2 seconds to go ... VCU up 62-57. NE ball.

Mallaut - no crow but it's been a good year for chickenhawk so far. Would be glad to serve you some of that!

Yes, but it's equally as important to not end up as the number four... and we haven't secured the 3-seed by a long shot.Agree. That 3-seed would be great. Let the other East contenders beat up on each other. We were only 3-3 vs. the West but I'd much rather play some of them again than tangle with the East more than we have already. Play for that 3-seed.

Nothing to it per EA himself. I sent him a 'wink, wink - mixing it up with MU assistants, eh?' e-mail and here's his reply ..."Very good friends with Miami coaching staff ... they were screaming at me to meet them later, after I got done with my work. We had been tossing hand signals all game across the court, but weren't communicating."As far as one of the assistants chasing an official and having to be restrained? As CK said, par for the course.Yeah, heard Ced mention ZipsNation last night on post-game. Did you hear Frenchy's comment? "Yeah, they get pretty emotional over there." NO WE DON'T! YES, WE DO!

Slap my hand if it's too early to start this thread up but I figured what the heck. A buddy of mine and fellow season ticket holder e-mailed me this morning looking for the link to "University of Akron Psyche" on YouTube. The win last night at Miami has him pretty pumped up about our chances Saturday and beyond and he needed a pre-game intro fix. Figured it might be a good way to kick off this thread as we all look forward to Saturday ...Akron Zip Pre-game IntroLET'S GO ZIPS!!! Next Zippy kick victim? The VCU Rams!

All of 2204 showed up in Oxford ... IMPRESSIVE!For what it's worth, VCU plays tomorrow night at Northeastern. Gives us an extra day's rest and they head to Akron off a road game. Looking forward to Saturday!!!!!!!

H-U-G-E win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAY TO CRASH THE OFFENSIVE BOARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT DEFENSE DOWN THE STRETCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU ROWDIES FOR BEING THERE FOR OUR GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah yes, prehistoric seating (Mybackissore) lives on. May treat myself to a new clip-on seat with built-in chairback after the upcoming season. Use the one I have five more times and chuck it into the men's "trough" on my way out of the Rubber Bowl for the last time.

Thanks for the heads up on the game being on TVDitto here!

Agree with everyone that the VCU game doesn't mean much in the whole scheme of things BUT it is on national TV against a higher-ranked (for whatever the RPI is worth) opponent AT OUR PLACE. Hard to set the here-and-now aside in favor of the big picture. Would imagine that Wood and KD both want the VCU game, especially given our record against higher-ranked opponents the last few years (not good). Lookin' forward to Saturday that much more. Just having Wood back in uniform and on the bench has got to be that much more inspiring for the rest of the guys.

Brutally honest as usual and my sentiments exactly ... :nutkick:Sure would be nice to follow-up the whoopin' they got at the JAR with one (FINALLY) at their place.