Z.I.P.

MacReport, I have to question your numbers for the WAC coaching salaries (averages, as they are). Hawaii's June Jones is reported in Honolulu newspapers to have a salary in excess of 800k annually (contract signed little over a year ago). If his #s are reported in these, then the rest of the WAC coaches must be getting meal money only --and I know that the Fresno coach makes over a half mill, and Peterson in Boise must be close behind. So Hal Mumme has to work for tips?

For me, the difference between the two boils down to this.The more I watch Nate, the more I like him, the more I watched Tarver the less I liked him. Hopefully that statement will still be true in a few years. For me, the difference between the two boils down to this. Derrick Tarver, like him or not, was a go to guy. Nate Linhart is a role player. A good player...but a role player.No other Akron player has been offered a scholarship by the likes of Bobby Knight or Fresno State and I think UNLV. For all he lacks, D-Tarv had some tremendous ability offensively.So where's he at now? Update us, Captain!

Do you know something we don't? When did he verbal to Akron???

Can anyone out there verify the factuality of this statement? As I understand it, this is no longer the rule, since the move to 12-game schedules (13 for Hawai'i Warriors and opponents).

Are you sure that wasn't their new President you met at S&S? Gotta make some extra money -- and pad the resume! Never had this rivalry in my day -- never played 'em. So let me get with it:

He's had a great career, and I might see his last game at Aloha Stadium in Feb. I too hope he comes back for more -- his Bro-in law isn't hanging it up. On the other hand, it has to be tough to play through the chaos that is the Miami Dolphins complex. Shame he's been around for the toughest period in franchise history. That's one thing that will keep him out of Canton. He needs 3 or 4 more years like this one to head down I-77.

Can anybody give us the story on Alleman's status for the Hula Bowl, or other post-season all-star games? I thought it was announced he was invited to Hawai'i, but his name's not on the rosters in our paper.Will he play in any others?

Here's an interesting point about Boise State: Their overall athletic budget was about 13M three years ago -- its now about 15M. That is SOLID MAC Country.No reason a program like Akron can't repeat what they've done -- and their basketball pretty much sucks. Take away coach Karl's kid, and they're in CMU's category.BTW -- CMU hires WVU's WR coach? Look for them to fall below BSU shortly.

Ummmmhh. First off, could someone correct the headline? I thought from what it says that he was a player from Oxford, Ohio. THAT is where Miami U is located after all.And, as he has just one year of eligibility, I'm surprised JD didn't leave him to the Penguinis. Maybe only the past season's injuries make one year of him look favorable. I hope he can push the opthers -- at least.

Well, it was sure nice to hear the other guys whining about non-calls for a change!Akron wins by nine. Held on late after leading by at least 18. Wood and Travis fouling out late didn't help, but Milum had another fine performance. Kudos to Keith and staff for taking this athlete and turning him into a bb player. Nice job!

Thank you. I do what I can.Hey Bum -- where'd you get that lei? You been hangin' in Lahaina?Hauoli Makahiki Hou!

Wouldn't it be cool if the University of Akron had its act together?I just want everyone to know that it is not that difficult to put together a system that fills the needs of the public -- including people who are not yet Zips fans and supporters. This is one way of building a fan base. Our university needs to wake up and discover its the 21st Century.Check out the system that one university -- there are a lot of others with very similar programs, and its not all that expensive to contract out, or do in-house -- has put together to sell, re-sell, or trade athletic tickets 24 hours a day, seven days a week.http://www.etickethawaii.com/sports.htmlNow, will someone please copy this post to the folks in charge at JAR Arena -- AND Buchtel Hall?

It's pretty dismaying to see that a team which played as poorly on the O-line as Akron did this year may have two future NFL players from that line. What does it say? If you ask me, it says this team desparately needs someone to coach the offensive linemen. I've heard from someone who has coached OL in the NFL (now Oregon State's OL coach) that no area of football is as susceptible to improvement from effective coaching as the offensive line. Effective blocking technique, especially understanding leverage, is more important at the position than pure strength could ever be. Is there any chance of a change in the coaching staff there, or will other players have to wait till they leave Akron to excel?

Okay, mahalo Zipboy. If this is a preset rule of the Bracketbuster, then I take back my slight shot at KD. I know how tough it is for a program rising like Akron's to get quality opponents, especially at home, and when we have the home court, I hate to see any of that advantage go by the wayside.Let's just be and go get a rematch with a neutral crew.

Did Akron have a home court advantage versus Nevada on Friday night?The facts speak differently, and that is the tale of the tape as to where our program lies.I won't comment more on the attendance stat than to say what we already know, 3300 versus a nationally-ranked opponent is embarassing.But what hasn't been stated, here or as far as I know, in any media is this: I followed the Nevada-Akron play-by-play on my cellphone from Stan Sheriff Center, while the Rainbow Classic was going on, and I was just disappointed by the outcome. Looking at the officials calls, it at least didn't look like Nevada got the officials' advantage just for being a top-25 team.Then, between games here in Honolulu, I bumped into the Western Athletic Conference Commisioner of Officials. I was floored when he told me that he sent a WAC officiating crew to do the game in Akron, Ohio! Whoa! Did you just read that? The game in Akron was officiated by refs from the other team's league? How can that be?The only way it can be is if Nevada made it a condition of playing the Bracket Buster return game @ Akron. But it could also only happen if Akron accepted it, which they did. Whether or not the officials were biased toward Nevada is not the point here. What is the point is why KD would be willing to take away what little home-court advantage he might have had by placing the other team's refs on the JAR floor. To me the post-game comments quoted on Gozips.com are indicative of how Akron has accepted a position where they earn little respect.Keith Dambrot (as quoted by UA Sports Information officials):"We haven't been able to play with the High majors. We stayed in it with Clemson and Creighton last year, but those are just prestigious names and not top-level teams. We got beat convincingly by Cal and Louisville last year, and now Nevada. At least we know we can play with the top caliber schools."Nick Fazekus:"Last year they came out to our place and didn't play very well. They watched the tape of that game and were better prepared this time around. Akron is not a bad team and they definitely got my respect after almost taking this one."Yes -- Fazekus (a lottery pick after this season) SAID Akron earned his respect, but you can tell it is begrudging respect at best.But the way Keith speaks about Creighton and Nevada shows that our coach seems to be putting his own team and school in a subservient position in relation to what should --and I would say MUST be considered our equals. The Missouri Valley and Western Athletic Conferences are categorized by the experts -- just like the MAC -- as "Mid-Major" basketball leagues. Yes -- the Valley will get its five NCAA berths, and the MAC will get just one -- but here is where the significance comes in: Akron is most likely going to be playing another member of one of these two conferences at home in February on ESPN. Do you want to play a Butler or Fresno State from a position of strength with the home court advantage, or do you accept second-class basketball citizenship by stating publically that these teams are on a level above your own?When you take the position that your own program is inferior to your opponents, you end up negotiating yourself into a position of inferiority which takes away your own advantages. I know and admire my classmate Keith Dambrot, but dammit man -- you gotta show a little more strength and confidence in your own league, team and future of your program. Don't give away the ship before you sail!Army strong? Zip Strong!

I think this is absolute nonsense. "To purchase the rights to sell Zips apparel" is not a significant consideration to retailers. It consists of a small percentage of royalties on sales. Every NCAA school has virtually the same legal rights, which prevent copycat merchandise. I'll bet you OSU makes a higher % of sales than any MAC school (remember the war between Cowlumbus and OU over the rights to the letter "O"?), yet that doesn't prevent them from making something like $100M/year from merchandising.Now to get back to 81's original post: Imagine if a student actually took this "Buckeye Holiday" to its politically correct OSU-hating end, and arrived at school decked out in Florida orange! That might be playing with fire -- like the kid who was suspended for wearing a Pepsi T-shirt to school on Coke day. Happy politically correct holidays all!

As long as Go Zips keeps visiting, our economy will keep rolling along! Here's a pic of his most recent visit:

Chris Leatigaga, a Scout.com 3-star JC Defensive Lineman from Foothills Junior College out of San Jose, CA was shown with Akron, Arizona, Arizona State and I think Oregon on his final list. Well, he verballed to play for June Jones' Hawai'i Warriors this week. He has family in the islands, and a chance to start here immediately next season.Zip in Paradise

Okay, I'll chime in with my story:At Portland for the Pilots' soccer invitational in 2000, as Akron warmed up to play U of P in the first game, the guy in front of me grabbed his cell phone to frantically call home to his wife in Seattle. "Honey, you're not gonna believe who's playing the first game -- IT'S THE ZIPS!" he shouted into his phone -- almost in tears. Ends up, he's a UA alum, and his son played for U Dub (that's Washington for non-Norwesterners). Not sure what his emotions were the next day, when his son's Huskies blitzed Akron 4-0.Zips did score 2 second-half goals to draw vs UP, when Conor Casey was away with the Olympic team.

Thanks for the nice words of praise, Packer. It will be interesting for me to see the Pack come into the Sheriff Center at UH in about 3.5 weeks (1/13?) to take on Riley Wallace's rejuvenated Rainbow Warriors. UH plays Creighton on Saturday night in the Rainbow Classic final. Team has blown huge leads vs USF and Nebraska last two nights, but still won easily. Good opportunity to compare Hawaii and Akron, as Zips lost in NIT 2nd round @ Creighton last year. CU played about as good a game as I've ever seen by a so-called Mid-major in nailing a really good Houston team tonight.Believe it or not -- Hawaii vs Akron could come off as a bracket-buster at JAR. Bows played Kennot State @ MAC Ctr in 02 I think it was - winning a cliff-hanger. And that would mean a return match in 07 here in the home of The Zip in Paradise. Mahalo for finishing my screed Ohioans. Are you yet? Aloha aikane mai! p.s.; The MAC will get as many NCAA berths as the WAC is supposed to: ONE. Though Reggie Theus' Aggies are looking good -- as are the FSU Bulldogs. Hawaii probably has to win the tourney, though a win over Creighton would be helpful.

Obviously you are not from Akron, or you would too, like everyone from Akron does. Say, you're not the chap from Pepper Pike are you?

I would really love for you to explain what on Earth you are talking about that would show you have a clue what you are talking about.NE Ohio has not HAD a professional outdoor soccer team since the Cleveland Cobras in the 1970s, and has NEVER had a world class club (i.e. MLS).Good luck if you accept your mission.

So, have we gotten over the "Don't kill the baby, just let it starve to death" stage of post-season recovery yet?

Hey Rowdies, and all UA WBB fans! I wanna challenge you to turn out in a UA WBB record (what would that be -- 800?) on Jan 3rd when the Lady Zippers face BGSU.The Falcons defeated Indiana (the one in the Big Ten -- not the one in Pennsylvania) by 35 tonight, and their only loss was an OT affair @ Notre Dame. By the time they come to town, the Lady Bee Gees could be a top 20 squad.Let's try out some bird-oriented Rowdie squalks to shoot down the Falcons.

I keep hearing this 34,000 figure (give or take a few hundred), and every time I shake my head and ask where that number comes from. I've made this comment before, so this will hopefully be the last time -- but where did the other ten thousand or so seats disappear to, that were there during my youth in Summit County?The Acme-Zip and Cleveland Browns attendance records show that over thirty-five thousand have been in the Bowl a couple dozen times, and several times I attended games where the announced attendance was more than 38k, and there were clearly open sections in the end zone. Were they lying about the attendance all those years? Did the house shrink? Somebody tell me. An old fart's gotta know.