Z.I.P.

Zips have qualified for the MAC Tournament for first time in history. Great accolades to coach Pfau and his team. I tried but was unable to paste the scoreboard for that game. Goals were scored by Katie Wise, her first, and by Britni Back, her third golazo of the season! The team plays the lady golden flushes in Can't on Sunday. Both teams are just above .500 in league play, and are fighting for position in the postseason. Can we get some Rowdies over there? At least a vanload? Go Zips!

I hate to say it, but I was thinking -- or should I say "fearing" -- exactly what Elton wrote. The last post player to make a mark in the MAC in his freshman season was at OU about a decade ago. I imagine he's still in the NBA. Can anyone remind me of his name. Columbus Eastmoor I think. The problem is not just that we are banking so much on our Super Frosh, but that if he can't deliver, there is little in reserve. Can you see Bardo playing 30 minutes a game in the league? Neither can I.

I hate to have to correct the indefatigable Elton Alexander, beat writer for Cleveland State basketball. However, unless he's recently transferred, Michael's brother George Jr. attends the University of Dayton, not the Ohio State University.I have conceded my own error that the Nanchoff family immigrated from Yugoslavia, and not Hungary. But I'm not indefatigable. Never have been. Never will be.

Ohhhh, Johnny! I was afraid someone would bring this up. How did IU not make CSN' surprises? Have the Whoosers ever FAILED to make the NCAA tourney?? If we're talking about this NEXT year at this time, I'll be trembling. But now...

“Sometimes a thorough ass-kicking cleanses your soul,” Now THAT is student journalism!

I love the lupens. Or is that lavender? Is that a native thatch?

Thanks Gilbert. Thin body huh? That's all we need at the PG (again) Have you actually seen this kid play -- what's YOUR assessment? How many other D1 schools were interested enough to offer a scholarship?

The game is on SNY a regional sports network...any decent sports bar will have the game. SNY should not black out the broadcast. I suggest finding a sports bar that has Directv.Remember, we're talking about Akron Ohio -- and a bar that is WILLING to show the game. Frankly, I'm amazed (OK - pleasantly surprised) that anyone has the chutzpah to ask a bartender to show the Zips game!

This is your opportunity to teach the Clueless Blues how that song goes -- you know, "I believe...we have won..." Twice.

You know, I was watching the under 20 World Cup finals the other day, and I'll tell you what, I don't think either team (Brazil nor Ghana, and Ghana won) could beat the Zips. Now, a tie might be a possibility, but the Zips looked better. This team is very Very VEry VERy VERY special.I'm not sure the Crew will want to play us next year! If they do, look for Guille Barros Schelotto to go 90.

They are not aloud. Silent only!

Quick summary: Season goal total 37 Akron 3 Opponents. Hate those dirty sheets. And re: the quick goals - Doesn't the clock stop after a goal until the restart in college? I remember hearing that the record fastest goal in women's NCAA is 7 seconds by UNC. But I think that is from the game start. That should warn the keeper not to come off the line!

Thanks -- this is a great list for girls' recruiting (how does St Mary's manage a 15-member class?) Is there another one there for boys?

Can we talk about the game, please? What happened on the foul of Nagbe, that led to the goal? The O.Com blog says they were awarded a "free kick" from inside the box. I thought that could only happen when the GK handles the ball outside the area, or something very similar (don't tell me the rules of football are simple) . Then it is supposed to be indirect. W00t or Zach or someone who saw the play -- what the heck happened?As far as Olive Garden (can't resist!), I TRIED to go to one in Albuquerque last fall, but there was a line going half way around the building. They must have awfully good food, huh? Or was it the TV showing the Lobos football game that was being played next door? Hmmmm.

Here we go again!

There are already too many "it's too dangerours" BS penalties like Horse Collars, Helmet to Helmet, etc...Of course helmets are going to touch, and they already made leading with the helmet a penalty a long time ago (spearing), so if defenders were leading with their head into another head, that is still spearing and you call it.Have to disagree with this statement!While I do see plays when a tackler grabs the ballcarrier by the shoulder pads that is not injurious and a penalty nonetheless occurs, there are far too many helmet-to-helmet hits in college football that are not penalized. One ESPN announcer stated that because of the advances in helmet technology, players feel impervious to injury. But that is a move that can result in serious injury, and it is supposed to be illegal. A defender hitting under the chin with the crown of the helmet deserves more than 15 yards, yet I've seen it not called.

Schedules for which seasons - I assume you mean future years? How far out?

It's all in the MAC family! BTW -- How's his back?I'll give Hawkins Hell when he comes here in two months.

Ken+ fans decided to wear bags over their heads too. But no one told them not to use plastic bags. That's why there are so few ken+ fans left.

Hey! I'm glad that I could liven things up a bit over here, via my post to Razor (which makes me wonder -- why the heck don't we ever see him on this site anymore?). I didn't see this thread till just now -- somehow I had forgotten that UA still has an American football team. I will skip the Akron to the Missouri Valley Conference gig for now, but won't promise not to raise it later. And I haven't looked at Razor since I posted my soap box rant there. I know at the University of Hawai'i, you have to pay about double what the University of Akron charges -- and they're offering a walk-on, never-played-a-down-of-college-football QB for my money too (at least the Zips QB is on scholarship!). I just might go to the Navy game after Thanksgiving, but stopped my regular patronage when prices went from what Akron's are today to about 50% higher in the middle of June Jones' tenure. But even then the argument goes against the "prices are too high" argument, as attendances have stayed mostly in the 30-40k range at their games.One thing that has been barely touched on here is quite simply this: Akron is a crummy, crummy place to do business, no matter what you're selling. Can anyone argue otherwise? And I suspect most of the people who are arguing that they should cut prices are those with long histories in the city/area. This might seem illiberal, and out of line from me, but it's a fact that over time, a sense of entitlement has grown regarding the university and its products. People expect a decent product at a very cheap price, certainly below market price, because that's the way they've always been treated. Of course that product has always been an inferior one (athletically speaking at least). But that is the legacy that Dr Proenza and those who care are trying to reverse. They're working to create a higher class of student at the UA -- something I cringe at (having earned my open admission entrance to the university thirty + years ago the hard way -- by basically not caring about high school or college), but which is absolutely necessary if Akron is to ever become something beyond the CCOA. Getting more out-of-towners is just the first step in this effort, but before it there was no AK Rowdies or anything like it. That's a demographic marketing program that takes years, if not decades. One thing that the University of Hawai'i has is youth groups (booster clubs for kids) with give-aways and parties for kids before games in most every sport -- I bet no one at Akron has ever thought about that. It's another method of building support over years -- you have to start that process as soon as you can with potential customers, no matter how long it takes.Now about those attendance figures. Everyone I've heard and read -- off this board at least -- has said that the actual attendance at the Indiana game was significantly less than the 18k (was that the announced?) we read. On TV the cameras showed the upper deck less than half-full. I think Steve French last Saturday (thanks to MD Zip for the link!) mentioned to the effect that a large part of the 16,000 homecoming crowd came dressed as empty seats. I hope those no-shows don't simply allow the admin to "earn" their predicted pre-season attendance figure. Parking and concessions make up a large part of profits in the entertainment industry, and having phony #s doesn't sell popcorn or whatever new gourmet delicacies are for sale at the Info (No Roo Brew in GA, we know that). Bottom line is, Akron football prices are not out of line for the product offered (well, this season is a fluke, we can hope!), nor for the economy. There are still 80-90% of people in the area who are still able to afford what they could afford before the recession.Here my suggestion to Wistercill (it will take time to be sure of the spelling, so I apologize for probably misspelling it). Next season, when a new football staff comes in, make believe that 2009 never took place! Have a NEW Grand Opening of Infocision Stadium. This time, hopefully the guy whose company name is on the place can attend in person (best wishes to you, sir) You can hire some people from the Sociology Dept or somewhere to figure out what makes Acme Zip games and Morgan State games such a magnet for people who really don't care about college football, and find out how to get them back at least once a year. Why do some people only come to basketball games on Credit Union Night? Go figure - and repeat it as often as possible.Or, hire Caleb Porter to coach every team on campus.

''We liked not only the artistic design, but it was a well-balanced design. The center of gravity was such that it was stable in a sitting position.''Amazing! That certainly beats most of the students over there.

36:33 Goal, Akron Bunbury. 10th goal of season.Akron 1 Va Tech 0

Akron vs Virginia Tech:34:04 Akron substitution. Caldwell, Scott M for Gavin, Blair M.First substitution.

Thirty minutes. One third played, no score. Shots Akron 4 VPI 1. Shots by Nanchoff and Gavin in last two minutes.Question: I see they're using this five-man midfield formation. Does that look like a 1-3-1 on the field? Who plays up, who plays back -- if the shape is sustained?