Z.I.P.

Nice! Well, dagnabbit. It's contagious!

Zips were playing tough defense, then one of their guys beat us on a back door cut. Layup made with 2 seconds left, zips just passed it in and threw up some prayer. FRICK! They were up 10 with 9 minutes left?

What Happened? Come on, I gotta know!! Zeke put us ahead(?), then...?

Someone PLEASE update score?! Gametracker pooped out at end of regulation!!!

Halftime score 36-31 Akron. Nic has 10 pts, 4 rebs. Walsh 3 for 3 on treys! Maybe VCU wasn't sandbagging after all?

Just because the world works in a certain fashion doesn't mean we have to accept it that way. There is nothing natural about the dominance of political institutions or sporting bodies. We can create and reform the world in any way we see fit -- if we just have a democratic system of political power. Perhaps it's time for #OccupytheAD. Oh, and, yes, ahem...(belated)Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

At this point I would expect Tommy Dub to receive the vote of confidence every coach needs to convince recruits about the trajectory of the program. i.e., I expect him to receive a contract extension if his current deal is running out. What other Akron AD has won a national championship and solidified (even if belatedly) every major sport, especially soccer?

Thanks again Dave for your legwork in researching this issue -- I was wondering the exact same thing, as I'm sure were many others. Here's my take on Terry's career and his attitude. When I realized who he was (not his brother Tommy, pardon my confusion), I remembered that he was my favorite ESPN/ABC game analyst over the past decade+. He gave off a perception very quickly that he didn't take himself very seriously just because he had been a successful high-level college football coach, and the son of a legendary coach. And unlike nearly 99% of sportscasters, he didn't take the game that seriously either -- he knew it was just a game, and that student-athletes and college administrators shouldn't look at the game as more important than the institution or real life. Terry Bowden always came off on TV as a deeply humble and maybe just a little bit nonchalant. That probably upset some of those who consider football a life-or-death struggle, but impressed me at the same time. I have to think that after what happened to him at Auburn in 1998 (his last year, when he was hammered for starting 1-5), he probably considered himself lucky to put that episode in his past, and to create a new career in the broadcast booth. If the WVa job hadn't opened up in 2008, he might have never coached again. So perhaps some ADs have reason to question his passion for coaching, but there can be no question about his record. Terry Bowden is a coaching success story. Terry Bowden has succeeded in everything he's put his mind to, and I'm pretty confident he can even succeed in making Akron a winner in football. e Komo Mai coach, welcome aboard, coach.

Well, Gooo-ooo-ooo-lly Andy, we sure are gettin' thin-skinned arond here diss-cussin' Akron Football in the middle of the night! So, someone tell me again...How exactly did we kill Towson football? Is TW contagious?

Doggone it, this has made my mind up for me! I have to do my part to upgrade the Zips' sideline attire. I have a number of men's size large aloha shirts that I just don't have room for in my closet. I'm going to put in a call to Keith and let him know that a "goodwill package" is on the way -- Sorry, I don't think I can get it there before Xmas, but it should arrive in time for the start of MAC play. Or, if KD thinks he can't wait that long, or in case he fears one of his player's pants will fall down during the anthem, I believe Gozips can lend his circa 1974 Tory Richard collection. Hope the guys don't mind the stains from kalua pig and shoyu spills.

I found that Kendall McIntosh started all three games for the USA at the U17 World Cup in Mexico. So, perhaps there's some conflict over who's #1.

Like their coach -- physically talented, but ethically tainted.

Enrollment of +32,000 and an endowment of +$223 million is nothing to sneeze at. The football program has been in the toilet historically, but Wayne St has always had pretty decent academics. I think this is the result of a conscious decision to not put too much emphasis on sports, as evidenced by their leaving the MAC shortly after being one of its charter members. It could have very easily happened that Wayne State and Akron U could have changed positions -- and I'm not saying that would be a positive or negative occurence. If Dr William Muse had not made the decision that Akron should be a larger player on the intercollegiate athletics front, we would likely still be looking at YSU, Northern Michigan and Wayne State as our equals (again, without any value statement) -- and in football, we basically ARE their equals today. I've known a number of Wayne State alumni myself, and they are all well educated and smart people, every bit as glamorous and marketable as a grad of Akron or K ent State. And, to my friend Bobbyake (who I believe I spent good times with in Santa Barbara a year ago), when I was a student at the U of A, everyone looked at K ent as the yuppy, more conservative of our two brother institutions (notwithstanding the two sociology departments). The University of Akron has a history as deep in the history of America's working class as any university in America. We should all be as proud of that as we can be. It's what makes our university what it is -- part of our nation's story of working people struggling to improve themselves by fighting for opportunities (as OWS is doing today) and succeeding. Merry Christmas to all.

Source? Dave, Dave, Dave, afootball is the source. Has afootball ever sold us down a river before? Oh...nevah mind!

Absolutely agree! Look around and tell me which GK ever received a GA contract, or left early to the pros. Goalies are a different animal from field players. I know, I was one!

Let's not quibble with Akronyms here. The fact is, Akron football (or most of MAC football for that matter) is not significantly above FCS status -- and never has been. When Akron was "College Division", and then in Div I-AA, they were able to defeat MAC teams occasionally. Since joining the MAC, it took until the Mack Rhoades era before the athletic department began making any serious commitment to playing sports besides soccer at the D-1 level and succeeding. The difference between being a mediocre MAC football team (i.e., a team that might be a contender for the playoffs in FCS -- a level we are not at now, obviously, but teams like K e n t and Buffalo are) and a MAC title contender and bowl team is not a very large distance. If we could get serious people in charge, who can just instill some pride and coaching competence, I believe we could build (Oh, Holy Cow, Sorry GP-1!) a contender in 2 or 3 years from the hole that's been dug. So, IOW, talk about "downgrading" the program is irrevevant -- we're already there! We have the physical plant to win -- we just have to find the intellectual and moral leadership. Can anyone disagree with that?

You had me (and ZW) at "juvenile sense of humor"!

Is there any info on whether Narduzzi is still a contender?

Unfortunately, the best man for the job is busy coaching the U23 national team to London.

Is there specific info that MJ is off the board now? That would be a shame, because I just spoke with DJ (Derron Johnson), his receiver-combo from 1987-88 to let him know he would be getting the WR coaching job! DJ is now back home again coaching the boys basketball team at Kahuku HS. He won the state title last year in his first year back since he coached bb in the early 90s. He was HC of Kailua and Kaimuki HS football on O'ahu from the mid-90s to mid 2000s, if anyone's looking for an island pipeline.

Strange that I am the first to convey this news. Was told by my coaching friend across the pond that former Wigan Latics LB David Mayer is now the former Akron Zip LB David Mayer. David asked for and received his walking papers from the program, and I believe has written on his Facebook page that he expects to be enrolled at another school next month. That's quick! Couldn't locate his Facebook, or I'd link it here..

We could also be helped by the number of players we now have in the professional ranks. I noticed that Pina is in the Dynamo Academy. I wonder if he's asked Kofi about Akron (like Yedlin with Zakuani). If Pena is as good as his reputation would have us believe it's going to be interesting to see whether he starts over Meves. The kid is supposed to be just ridiculous. First things first. It's P-i-n-a. Apparently its an ene, not an enye. (i.e., No tilda included). Bienvenido a Akron, Fernandito (the diminutive is no mistake). Perdone me, esto requires mas que un edito. El nombre es Pina con un enye. Pero, no tengo ninguno aqui'. Tambien, he's grown to 6' (seis pies).

We could also be helped by the number of players we now have in the professional ranks. I noticed that Pina is in the Dynamo Academy. I wonder if he's asked Kofi about Akron (like Yedlin with Zakuani). If Pena is as good as his reputation would have us believe it's going to be interesting to see whether he starts over Meves. The kid is supposed to be just ridiculous. First things first. It's P-i-n-a. Apparently its an ene, not an enye. (i.e., No tilda included). Bienvenido a Akron, Fernandito (the diminutive is no mistake).

Okay, I give up. Who's Scot Loeffler?

Folks -- a question from the Mid Pacific (so obviously I've seen the team play a grand total of once, but it was NICE!). The team is shooting approx 50% fewer 3-pointers this season than recent seasons (maybe more). Is this a sign of their earning higher percentage shots, or a lack of confidence from the coaching staff, or just some coincidence? Zeke's offensive improvement I'm sure has a lot to do with it.