Z.I.P.

Akron should look to expand its name and reputation beyond the Mississippi River. There are WAC and maybe Mt West schools that would be willing to play one-and ones: San Jose St., Utah State; (lucky to get a return!) New Mexico/ NMSU; Idaho (same story as USU); and we could maybe even get a deal with a Wash State, or UW if we throw in our soccer team And I can possibly convince Hawaii to do a one-for-two; if Monster Hands Tonga teaches the Warriors how to do a real haka.

Let's be serious here folks. There's not a single Big-11 team Akron would be favored to beat home or away. Indiana is a quality football program, and a win over them would be a real feather in Zippy's cap, er, uh, beany. He has to look up to see. BTW -- who are Colorado and Wyoming playing, now?

Heck, I wouldn't mind playing all 12 games on Wednesday nights, IF THEY'RE ALL TELEVISED IN HAWAII! Now my worthless prediction: Seven and five. I think this is the third consecutive year I've made the same prediction. I'd gladly be short on wins, but I have little faith in Mac's offense. Still, seven wins should make Akron a strong contender in the pathetic MAC East.Speaking of little faith; If they can sell out an opener against Morgan State, then Mack deserves a BCS AD job. I'll believe it when I see it.

Always intriguing to hear comments from "outsiders" about the town I have spent more time than any besides Akron/Honolulu. I spent 3-6 months in PDX each year from 1998-2004. It wasn't till the back side of my time there that the green building and design revolution set into motion there a decade earlier actually began paying off in jobs creation in the city itself. It may well take a decade for the national economic transformation to a low-carbon economy to pay off as well, but Portland will always serve a good use as a role model for those who wish to become sustainable cities. So, did anyone tune into K-Zoo?

Are we expected to play Dayton next year? @ their place if so. Any chance of XU coming?I have a favorite neutral tourney for coach Keith: The Diamond Head Classic, a new ESPN Regional (expected to televise most of the games) tourney on 22, 23 and 25 Dec at University of Hawaii (surprise, surprise!). Seven of eight teams for 09 are reportedly signed-up. Those announced so far include Hawaii, Coll of Charleston, UNLV and Southern California. Kansas is rumored for 2010.

I don't know how good they are but it would give us a game under our belt before IU. I think we'll probably open with an FCS team at home most years from now on.Morehead State? Lucky to draw 20,000 (even with a crazy punter play). Mack will embarass the university with a non-sellout opener. Crazy decision!

Damn! That is a nice stadium at Creighton. No wonder kids from Hawai'i want to go there. So why do they all come back as dentists?Any who, I firmly believe that Akron needs a minimum of 3000 and preferably 4000 seats to grow into the type of program we want to be. Anyone think Caleb's team can't fill that for an NCAA quarterfinal versus say, Maryland, or Cowlumbus State. BUT, did anyone notice that that team outdrew Akron in soccer above? Yikes!

My knowledge of Achilles injuries is that they often take a year or longer to rehab. That's about how long Brian Ching, a local pro footballer (Houston Dynamo) took to recover from his back about 05.

Not the biggest upset ever by any means....the Lady Vols were having their worst year in recent history. Albeit they were something like 22-11, but for them that is bad.Not a bad win thoughRootforRoo,I attended the other "biggest upset" in 1997 I believe when #16 Harvard upset #1 ranked Stanford (the opener was Hawaii vs Arkansas), and I have to think that while Ball State's win wasn't as big a surprise (even given Stanford's injuries), or against as highly favored a team, that it was in fact a more historic victory for the Cardinals. This was Coach Pat Summit's TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS after all. Two time defending national champions, a program that had NEVER been defeated before the sweet sixteen. Holy crap! I was cheering with the BSU bench after every basket late in this one. I can't help feeling that MAC Pride I even believe, someday, our Lady Zips can have a chance to do what Bowling Green and Ball State have done by making history in the NCAA tourney (BG making the sweet sixteen two yrs ago).Good luck to the Cards in the second round. I believe they play Utah next.

For those who did not make the game, and are outside of the Cleveland media market -- where I presume the game was shown in its entirety. I wondered how much of the game was shown on TV for large chunks of the nation.Here in the islands (go to Kalifornia and take a Left turn), we saw only one or two minutes of the first half (one play where McNees missed a three and one of the McKnights scored a put-back in the lane, and then the last bit of the half). Then I could only watch the scores change on the top of the screen while pleading with CBS to switch to the Rose Garden. Finally, after seeing Akron go up by 5 and finally 6 points, the game came on with about 9:00 to play and I think Akron with their last lead at 55-54 or thereabouts -- and stayed on for the remainder of the game as our Zips' shooting went into the Columbia River and the team's chances into oblivion. I couldn't help thinking the show director must have been a Can't State grad! That at least is better then what Cleveland State received. I can't remember even what game was on, but if not for the scoreboard on top of the screen, you wouldn't have known CSU was playing, much less beating Wake, as not a single play of the game was shown here, and the announcers ignored it as if it were on another network.

I wanted to bring this thread over to soccer which was mentioned under the JAR Arena and downtown arena thread.http://www.osportsarch.com/Portfolio.aspxClick on Master Planning and UA Soccer Stadium links on left of page (then download the adobe window on right for view of stadium area). In my opinion, this drawing shows a stadium that would be too small for what the program is going to need after we become consistent national title contenders. It only appears to seat maybe 2000-2500 on one side of the field - without the hill or space for blankets/folding chairs on the other. Dollars are obviously at a premium at this time, but maybe they should wait another year to get it right. What do you long-time Zip footballers think?

I'm sure Caleb had a great time at Qwest Field. Wonder if he can get ME tix. Steve came into the game around the 70th-72nd minute, and quickly nearly got his first goal on a centering pass from right of the box inside the 6-yard area that (as JP Dellacamara said) would have been an open net goal, but another Sounder (not sure who) arrived in the center of the box before Steve and was unable to footle (football version of handle) the ball. I hope Steve had a good word with him. Dellacamara and John Harkes on ESPN talked up what great hustling defense Stevie was playing on the opposite end to win balls and prevent New York from getting more shots on Casey Keller. Also, for the Red Bulls, Sinisa Ubiparipovic was part of a really bad combination of defensive misses which allowed Seattle's second goal of the first half (including a nutmeg by the goalie). Sinisa did not return for second half action for New York. Did you know Sinisa was born in Australia (per his MLS bio)? No wonder he wanted to play for the Roos.

Good grief! I have a gametracker with AT&T. Hard to believe I'm ahead of the curve for once, electronically!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story...mls&cc=3888

What year did Akron first play D-I basketball? This article says 1980-81. I swear they were D-I when I started there in 77.

Now, could Higherroad, by any chance, be...a Washington Huskie fan?

Akron's taking over the Pacific Northwest, BABY!!!

I always liked Ray's column. and BTW -- who said that about Linhart?

The digits of the date today 03-19 add up to 3+1+9 = 23.Dude. You must majored in math -- at Can't State.

They lost to OAKLAND? Yikes!

As annoying as it gets for people who follow the Zips like we do, you can't deny that the LeBron connection is getting KD far more airtime than any coach of a 13-seeded team would seem to deserve. Milk it for all you can, while you have the chance I suppose. LeBron didn't even need to do anything, which is the best part. It's not like he's out there actively shilling for the team to the national media, which would actually make me a bit uncomfortable.Keith just talked with the guy Arnie (forget his lastname) on Sporting News Radio. Just caught the end I think (cause my friend called to thank me for Cap'ns extra ducat), but Keith said he tried to convince Bron to leave St V's a year early, so he could play a year of college ball before the league. I'm assuming he was kidding. Then he talked about Romeo and Dru, and how with Bron, they would have been able to make a run at the title (and not the MAC, man!). I can see NO downside to LBJ's impact on the UA hoops scene.

I just heard Keith Dambrot on Sporting News Radio nationally. Did anyone else catch the interview with Arnie. Of course you can guess what took up the majority of the interview (#23 in wine and gold). Keith sounded like he and the team were loose. They should be, they're not supposed to be any good till next year.

Z.I.P. sends out mahalos to GoZips and the honorable Cap'n K for their efforts to hook up the Insurance King of Hawaii. And I got the t-shirt and program for myself in this deal! Ring up a Zips victory, Akron fans. I got my tax refund in the mail yesterday, so maybe I can make it to Portland by Saturday if "WE" win. Do it three years in a row Gonzaga (lose in round 1 that is).

Go Big Red! (Olbermann Rules!)

I just got a call from my good friend from here in Honolulu -- he's visiting Portland, originally to watch Hawaii-Portland baseball. He found out Akron was playing and called me thinking I might be in town for the game. Unfortunately, all tickets are SOLD OUT. If there is anyone who has an extra they are not using, my friend Geno (not Ford!) will be glad to pay and buy you a cup of brew inside the Rose Garden -- and he will gladly cheer for the Zips. Post here or contact me off-line, and I'll give you his # to call.Mahalo/Thanks from out here in the Zipless Hawaiian Islands.