Z.I.P.

At last the NCAA has posted the complete bracket. Here's the .pdf version. I see us beating Xavier (Chris Korb will enjoy), Tulsa (second lickins), and Cal (UCSB would be fun too!) on the way to the Central Coast.

Okay, I give up. Who are we talking about, Palin or Pelosi?

Well...I'm just glad to hear coach Dambrot doesn't send a manager to eject observers from the upper seats of the JAR during practice, like his predecessor did.

NCAA.com has a bracket challenge page -- but the bracket won't download! Just like dem buggahs! Anyways, the Akron Rule is in effect. Any way to skrew over the Zips can and will be done at any expense. If they reach the final, they must train on top of Mt Angeles National Forest in the snow!

Here's the projection from Turtle Country.

Mahalo R4R. Could someone post the link soon as it is on the NCAA or UA line?

Thanks Zach! Absolutely hilarious! I will be back at the Stan Sheriff Center for tonight's 4 a.m. EST (11 pm HST) game between CMU and Hawaii -- and will ask da buggah why he no put my piksha on da page! I saw him taking pix of the CMU fans -- Zeigler's wife was making more noise than me -- but eh, thanks for the shout out to the Indominatle Z.I.P. They should have told me they were taking a visit to my workplace, I would have given a personal tour of the bullet holes from 1941. Ya'll MAC homies want a scouting report, don'tcha? The Chipps are an athletic team with about four big bodies they can play inside, and a couple good guards. The Columbus-schooled center, Thomas is only about 6-7, but takes up lotsa space with his 240 lb body. They are able to sub liberally at the 4 and 5 spots, with Coimbra a 6-7/6-8 four who gives a strong 20-25 minutes, but he's somewhat inconsistent. I don't have my program with me, so I can't remember the other two big men's names, but I think they have four guys all above 220 pounds who while not long (Zeke should have a field day) are somewhat athletic and rebound extremely well. Young Trey Zeigler (6'6 SG), the coach's baby had his breakout night vs Montana State Saturday, with something like 24 pts in an OT loss. The CMU article says that Thomas made the 25 foot buzzer beater to defeat Cal St-Fullerton -- I thought it was the 5-8 point guard Rashid. I better get my eyes checked out. In general, Central Mich looks and plays great when behind, with slashing guard play, and an inside-out passing game which got lots of open Js. However, as soon as they get the lead, they seem to change their game entirely, waiting for the final 8 seconds to get off a play. Coach Zeigler should consult with the guy in the Akron jersey tonight. He will receive my advice to get down on his young players for being too lazy for large portions of games to have a killer instinct. They outplayed their opponents for half of the last two games, but got a miracle victory and an OT loss. They're really capable of much more -- they should be much better than the MAC West -- with possible exception of BSU. Tonight will be a very tough gambit for the Chipps, as the home Rainbow Warriors (or whatever they decide to call themselves this year) are possibly the most improved team in D-1. Very athletic, physical and great in transition. I actually look for them to make the post-season (there are like eight post-season tournaments now, I believe). Prediction: Hawaii 79 Central Michigan 66. Look for Z.I.P. on Chippewa Live Tuesday. Quick update: Game is on ESPNU tonight. Or should I say, tomorrow morning, for you East Coasters? I know you'll all be hanging on your seats at 4 A.M. to see this one! Well, watch for Z.I.P. in his Zips futbol duds! Can't wait for the Diamond Head Classic, where I intend (knock on wood) to be wearing an shirt.

Story on the US U17 team on Ussoccer.com details UA 2012 recruit Andrew Souders wearing the captain's armband in training and two games vs Spain U17 in Madrid. Viva Souders! TO answer my previous questions, it looks like Drew is an Amherst native, AND he's in his third semester of residency at the YNT IMG Academy home in Bradenton. Treat him well, Wilmer! We get him next.

Hope you're not talking about the WAC. Lots of talk from Hawaii football season ticket holders that they are bailing if UH football doesn't move. I expect a move to independent in football and Big West for all other sports. Probably announced sometime next year -- while they beg the Mountain West to take them aboard.

At the national level, England is not much better than we are, if at all. They just happen to have big name, EPL stars. I expect that Zakuani is being loaned to a big club in Europe during the MLS off-season, which benefits his career tremendously and potentially brings big dollars to the Sounders and MLS. Win-win all around unless he gets injured. Z.I.P. sighting in 3, 2, ... Slow download. I did hear a TV announcer say that EPL clubs were keeping a closer look on Steve. I suspect he could catch on with a Championship (second division) club right now, and it would help his career in the long term. But ZIP_ME87 may put a spanner in the works if it costs him on StubHub. BTW -- the Sounders do keep a couple of thousand seats for individual game sales. The fan club manages to get first dibs -- that's how I got Barca tix last year, by signing up and getting their e-mail.

My Balogna has a first name. It's K-O-F-I. My Balogna has a second name it's S-A-R-K-O-D-I-E. My Balogna don't rhyme.

If Chairman Dick Armey decides to financially support Ron Paul and LB's specifically, that's fine as well. Just because you accept funds from an individual doesn't mean you support all(or any) of their ideals. I think it's important to distinguish between lobbyists who represent large corporations and sway the vote of a politician on a specific issue, and individuals or groups who contribute to a large, ideologically diverse movement. Dream on. His voting record shows his true colors. His foreign policy has for the most part been a continuation of the Bush Regime. If he were to actually end combat operations in Afghanistan, he would suffer serious backlash come 2012. Idiot America(read:Sarah Palin supporters) would go nuts. They want someone like McCain, who actually ran in 2008 on the notion that we should stay in Afghanistan for 100+ years....and then won the Republican primary. It's mind boggling, really. See, that's exactly what I said -- IF Obama would get out of AFG, it would SPLIT the GOP, giving an upper hand to the Paliniacs, the Democrats' dream opponent in 2012. Unfortunately, I have to agree that BO has shown no inclination to stand up to either the Tea Party OR the Pentagon. And BTW -- Dick Armey is nothing but a huge pipeline for corporate cash. Not to say that the Dems don't have their own pipelines, but how bouts plugging them all?

We are DEVO!

Can't State sucks, have you heard? The same lobbyists are funding the Tea Party. Ever heard of Dick Armey and Freedomworks? I think that one way Obama can survive is to more openly break with the generals and declare a definite end date to combat operations in Afghanistan. That would not just endear him to his base, but help divide the GOP branches of libertarians and neo-cons.

Is Brian Walsh (the Xavier transfer) eligible to play this year? Where does he fit in, PT-wise?

I hope people realize -- the NCAA seedings are based almost entirely on RPI. So margin of victory is irrelavent. Akron just has to win the MAC -- that's all they can do. Question is, does Lollaville play anyone in BE Tourney that could catapult them? Georgetown #15; UConn #18. MAC -- # Crap.

It has been announced by UCSB, that their Harder Field will play host to the Akron Zips in a single game on September 30, 2011. I read the news on the Bigsoccer Board. This will be part of the NSCAA series televised on FSC. This game could be immediately following the previously reported Akron appearance at UC-Irvine's tournament -- no date given. Don't let it stop you from making your plans for travel to SB this December -- in anticipation of Akron's performance in the 2010 College Cup. I have my reservations, do you have yours? Need assistance in touring the Central Coast Wine Country? Contact me.

Can you explain what a Carrie Underwood or Cowboy Casanova is?

I was actually wondering about this. Is Andrew a local from Amherst, or did he move there to attend Brad Friedel's academy? I thought I read somewhere that he was originally from New England. He's now playing for Columbus Crew Jrs. according to USSF. Guess he's not in residency in Bradenton. In any case, yes, he's reeeeeealy good.

Well, that's Obamacare for ya!

Well, it's going on again tonight. Late night EST -- but prime time in the Hawaiian time zone. Also, one post that I made disappeared when I refreshed the thread. Server error?? I notice I've been the only member logged in the last two hours.

Whoa -- just a second. Where's the link saying he's verballed to Akron?? I'll get back to ya on this one. Come on Drew, you wanna be a Zip, we all know that.

What's the largest font on this board? How about: YES! This may be the biggest recruit of Caleb Porter's career. Souders is the best all around fullback (at the U15 - U17 level) in the USA in at least the last decade -- well, I haven't really been following the national youth program any longer than that. Did I say, YES? Z.I.P. is in recruiting heaven right now. Thanks for the news, Zach.

Z.I.P., I'm here to help by giving you every bit of computer knowledge I have....Try turning your computer off and then turning it back on. Wow. It worked! I hope you're not looking for remuneration. I will simply say that your wisdom is infinite. Except for politics. And as they say, everything is political.

Second season in the league, and Zaki has ten goals -- and as the announcers should have said, "This guy should be in his senior season at Akron right now." I think he would win the Hermann Award for sure this season -- probably more than 20 goals (based on past experience). Steve has to make a decision next year whether to play for Congo in World Cup qualifying. Other factors are that a. Congo could split into two countries by then. And, b. he has the opportunity to apply for a green card and play for real for the USA.