Z.I.P.

If you see Binghamton (ex-Chaminade)coach Al Walker, tell him everyone on The Hill sends their aloha!

This is about the third day in a row I have been unable to get anything but an unusable list of links on the University's athletic website. What the heck is the matter with that anyway? Is it just a time difference thing? -- I only log on late at night EST, maybe its down for repairs then?

How long till practice starts? Oct 1 this year? The leaves must be changin in the Midwest, cause I spied the first college basketball preview zine at Borders tonight. Athlon's is always the chronological leader (but very spotty on actual info) among both FB and BB previews.As expected they diss the MAC, giving their only dance bid to Akron, and just one NIT invite to Toledo. Well, at least a nice pic of Romeo on the MAC header.

He has come a long way from being a side kick to Matt Patrick on WKDD.Gimme Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton anyday! Next time you're in San Diego check him out. The former WHLO Voice of the Zips has called play-by-play for the San Diego Chargers, San Diego State and I think the LA Raiders. A long way from the Macon Whoopies.BTW -- I'm told the night the PA announcer at Memorial Hall announced Bob Wylie's retirement, it led to the biggest cheer of the evening.

I'm hoping NC State doesn't "run Chuck Amato out of town" anytime soon, because I know if they do, the administration will remember the coach who pulled off the most embarassing upset of his team, and will target (rightfully) JD Brookhart as a candidate. He's our coach, dammit. You can't have him! Of course I'm sure someone said that to Louisville about our (ex-) soccer coach Ken Lolla too.

Back in the good ol'days, before Charlie Frye and Luke Getsy, Akron still had some pretty exciting quarterbacks. One of them was Marty Bezbatchenko of Firestone HS, who guided Akron to the NCAA College Division (the predecessor of Div I-AA) championship game, the Pioneer Bowl in Wichita Falls, TX vs Montana State in 1976.Steve Rushin (IMHO the best sportswriter in America today) features Marty and his son David's exploits at Congress Lakes GC, and spins a great tale for SI readers.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/full/siex...?aid=272&from=o

Okay folks, here comes another unforgettable memory of my days (which lasted 6 years) at Akron U (and please don't correct my localism ).As a sheepish 18 y.o. freshman in 1977 I walked into my first class -- a PE course in Tennis/Volleyball in late Sept, 1977 (we were still on quarters then) in Memorial Hall. The instructor was a young second-year running backs coach named Jim Tressel. I was more interested in putting the moves on the co-eds than in learning an overhead smash. "Coach" Tressel (the mandated title) on the other hand demanded complete attention to his instruction at all times. Not quite the drill instructor, but a clear disciplinarian in class, I got to know him out of class, and we played tennis a couple times at lunchtime -- he was more athletic than me, but couldn't run down my Guillermo Vilas-inspired topspin lob. You've seen the commercial of Roddick vs Pong? to me!Another thing I recall -- Jim was a guest on the football pre-game shows on WZIP, and predicted the results of small-college games each week. I got to correct him on one occasion though, when he had to ask the reporter -- "Where is Webber State, anyway?" He thought it (Weber State in Utah) was the home of the Webber grill. :lol:I don't root for his team, but I admire their coach. Jim's a cool dude.

This is either the sixth or seventh year of the program -- and those who are in the know, know that coach Byrne is on the hot seat. We were picked last in the MAC this year by the coaches, not surprisingly. NOW, however, we are clearly the most improved team in the league. The New Mexico squad the Zips beat in the Westfield Cup final was on the verge of breaking into the top-25. I watched the girls -- oh, OK, ladies (don't want to have my membership in NOW revoked!) from K-ent State play here in Hawaii twice this weekend -- they were picked fifth, after I believe making the MAC championship game last season. If it's any indication, MAC women's soccer is really poor. I've watched every Hawaii game for 12 seasons, and can only recall one or maybe two teams weaker than Can't State playing here before -- both first-year programs. If Akron can't beat K-ent comfortably, then they have a long way to go to be anywhere near the level of the men. Of course that's no easy job (to compete against Akron's men being a young program), but its a reasonable goal in my opinion. My congratulations to Coach Kate and the lasses for the great start. I'm expecting to be back there for the Westfield next August, prior to the FB game in Cowlumbus. Lets go from "worst" to first.

I tried not to be to "ridiculous" about this story -- and I know I may have missed or exaggerated things -- e.g., it's possible the defenders never got as close as I described to tackling him. Twenty + years plays havoc with the mind. Is there anyone else reading who was there that day? I always wanted to talk to Dennison about that, but never met him. Bowling Green fans have their own "Stupid punter story", which I read on the MAC listserve years ago. It doesn't match the epic of Kevin Kendall, however. This one should be brought out along with the pumpkin pie and or eggnog during the holidays each year.

If Akron holds NC State to the same rushing yards they did PennState, there is no doubt in my mind, Akron wins. Bet the farm. Bet the duplex, kid!

Speaking of freshmen punters...does anyone out there remember, or have heard the story told by your Dad (!).. the story of the Stupidest Freshman Punter Story of Them All??? The name Kevin Kendall is burned into history for all those who saw him commit what must have been (one of?) the stupidest serious of blunders in the history of college football one fateful day versus -- I'm almost certain it was -- Morehead State in 1983.Here's the Readers Digest version: About :20 to play in the first half, Akron's ball, fourth and very long on MSU's 40 YL. Coach Dennison calls his freshman punter from Green (we Bulldog alums have an even bigger hole in our stomachs from this one) to his side -- and no doubt from the ensuing debacle -- tells the kid "Don't kick the ball. Just run around until the clock runs out." What Dennison forgot to note was the age and inexperience of his young special teamer, and that he may not know what to do AFTER the clock runs out. The ball is snapped and Kendall handles it perfectly. He stands there, so far, so good. The clock runs -- :15; :10; :05. But then, he remembers he's never been in this position before, and the coach didn't tell him what to do AFTER the clock runs out -- and he panics! The defense, till this point went along with Akron's plans perfectly -- no rush, just standing, waiting for the whistle and the run into the locker room. The clock runs to :00. Kendall continues to stand there with the ball, wondering what to do next. Finally, a couple Morehead linemen trot throught the line, expecting the punter to fall down, or at worst be tackled to end the half.But young Mr Kendall has something more interesting to offer the few thousand spectators at the bowl. He turns and runs away from the line of scrimmage, slowly at first, as no one is following him. Ten or fifteen seconds after the clock runs to zero, a couple Morehead State players run after him -- finally -- from his own 40, he's now being semi-furiously chased down as he continues running toward his own end zone! The rushers finally get near him as he passes his 20, then the 10. Hundreds in the stands are screaming, "Fall down! Fall down" (yes there must have been a few YOU IDIOTs thrown in, but exact words are lost in time). A Morehead defender comes oh so close to tackling Kendall inside the five yard line. Amazingly, this would have been the best possible scenario at this point! Kid gets a good talking to about poise in the locker room, and he doesn't quite have a story to tell his grandkids.I believe Kendall may have played QB at Green, or some other position besides punter, so he has SOME athletic ability -- too bad! He manages to just miss the shoestring tackle by one defender near his own goal line. But there's one more Morehead defender bearing down on him now, and just as Kendall runs into his end zone, he panics one more time -- the worst time for him -- and as he's about to go down in the end zone, he tosses the ball into the air -- ala Garo Yepremian in the Super Bowl!!!Well, at least the good thing is no Morehead State defender was there to pick the ball off and score a half-ending TD before the ball flutters to the Astro Turf. And so both teams trot off the field, and everyone gets a good laugh before the bands march onto the field. But -- after the halftime entertainment that couldn't match what preceded it -- just before the teams run back onto the field, the public address speaker announces: "Ladies and gentlemen, on the final play of the first half, the referee has determined that intentional grounding occured in the end zone, resulting in a safety for Morehead State." I think Akron still lead, maybe 17-16 or something like that, and went on to win by more than a touchdown I think. But imagine, if they had lost by two points or less! Kevin Kendall went on to be one of the better punters in UA history -- four letter-winning seasons. His story is one I haven't heard, or been able to tell for years now. It's part of Akron football lore. Are you out there Kevin?

Say what you may folks, but please realize Terry Pluto is proxy for 90% of football fans in NE Ohio. Another 5% just couldn't care less about Akron. That's the reality we are challenged to overcome. We have already reduced that 5% from about 50%.

Okay, folks. Who's interested in joining me at Eastside Grill on Varsity Avenue near the University of Hawaii? I'll be there for Breakfast with the Zips. Two years ago it was me and half-a-dozen Nittany Lion alums. Have you heard, Pam Ward is calling play-by-play for ESPN2. Goodie!

UCSB is just two years removed from being the top team in the nation, but losing the national championship match in multiple OTs to IU in coach Yeagley's finale. They're a notoriously physical team, some would say dirty, and they knocked two of our guys out of the match with hits. That must have contributed to Caleb getting the red boot.I remember watching Lolla's squad taking it in the chops in a 4-0 defeat against Washington a few years ago, and being down 2-0 against a very good Portland team at the half the next day. They dominated the final half to gain a draw @ UP. I'd be very worried if I were Davidson.

You might be able to pull this off half-way classy -- or even sensibly -- if it came on CBS following a drive by an Aussie. Unfortunately, Adam Scott and Robert Allenby are the only ones who appear near the lead, and too far back to get on TV. Too bad -- I do like the idea, I'm sure it would get noticed by the announcers.And give the Stow kid a break. He's such a nice guy, I can hardly believe he went to

They have television there?? I thought they still used Indian smoke signals to communicate.

Bobby, I understand that the only thing you have to go on is how the teams did last year, but please understand this is NOT last year!! Our team is significantly better than a year ago -- just from increased maturity of the youngsters. On the other hand, NCSU may experience the biggest drop-off in the NCAA from last season. Witness Sports Illustrated's calling them the #67 team in the nation and predicting they will go 3-9 overall with a home loss to #56 AKRON. Central Michigan? #83. I think they'll be better than that, and a road win in Mount Pleasant will be no easier than one in NC. IMHO. Call your bookie right away.

Rich Miano, former NFL DB with Jets, Philly, Atlanta has been DB coach for June Jones at Hawai'i since 99, and holds "Speed and Agility Clinics"/camps in the summer, which draw HS players from the mainland (and kids as young as 6!) to Hawai'i. The camps attract not just FB players, but soccer, basketball, even baseball and softball players. I think this is a trend that is catching on across the nation -- you can be taught to be faster, more flexible, more agile. It's not just an inbred trait.

Jamie Dixon, whom I know from his several years on Riley Wallace's staff at Hawaii, is is one of the classiest acts in all of college basketball. He's taking his team to West Point to start this season and honor his late sister Maggie, who took the Black Knights to the Big Dance last year. I'm SOOOO glad to see he and Keith on the same wavelength. Of course KD is not an unclass act himself. Way to go guys! A Pitt-Akron rivalry would be a great thing -- although Pitt fans wouldn't take to it very well. Tough on them!

Hey brah -- it's an exhibition game(s). If the games mattered I would want to hear it. Or more to the point -- fly 4000 miles to watch, as I hope to do next year when it is supposed to become a regular season event. Know what would be nice? How about adding the Columbus Buckettes for next year's tournament -- a few days before the teams play in American football. I really want to see both of those events next season.Aloha from HonoluluZip in Paradise

What was the name of that character Alex Karas played in Blazing Saddles? Mongo!!!

Got to see former Zip back-liner Cameron Knowles in sub action last Saturday night on Fox Soccer Channel in the Xango Cup match before 45,000 at Rice-Echols stadium vs Bex, Raul & Co (Real Madrid Baby! -- but where was Ms Posh Spice?). Anybody else see the match? Coach John Ellinger cleared the bench for Salt Lake with 18 mins left -- RSL was already down to 10 men for most of the second half. For Real Zip fans -- get it Real Zip... ahhh, OK not a great one-liner... anyway, Cameron's squad will be in Columbus on Wednesday evening to take on the Crew. Unlikely that he will see any action, but Cam will be dressed with the varsity. I wonder if there's a Reserve match scheduled? I think the two teams reserves played in C'Town last season.

I think if you grew up in Akron or Summit County, "Akron U," is the way locals say it. I tell people I meet who aren't from Akron I am a University of Akron (or "Akron") alumnus, but when talking to my family or friends from the area, "Akron U." is the preferred term. It's all in where you're from.And I still say "Green High", not the High School of Green.

Lenoire Rhyne is no junior college. It's a four-year NAIA institution. Not quite Mount Union, but they (NAIA) don't have any real academic standards, so maybe Andre will fit in there. Best of luck to him.

I just want to know why the term "FULL" in regard to the Rubber Bowl now means something like thirty or thirty-two thousand people in the stands, while when I was a student and an Akronite, a "Full" Rubber Bowl meant at least forty thousand people. I was at the Cleveland Browns game vs the NY Giants about 1972 when they fit about 44k in the bowl. Where have all the seats gone?