Z.I.P.

Akron plays for championships. The team with the MAC COY plays for championships! Mea culpa: Yes, this is the guy who said Akron better beat Buffalo or it could be 0-for 04. God, does that crow taste great! Pass the sauce. Here's to our Cardiac Kids: #5, #18 Johnny Long, #6 the King of Oakland. Career game baby! Win next week and I make my bowl reservations.

Here's some perfectly useless trivia for you Marshall Man. The Mastodons won the NCAA men's volleyball championship -- I know, I was there -- in I believe 1992 at the Neal Blaisdell Center Arena in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Their mascot is no competition for Zippy.

aka Erkle from Kozar Central. All the info I can find shows this kid as a point guard. His size is listed as anywhere from 6-2 to 6-5. He's a 5th-year senior, ranked #78 nationally among that group by one site. He scored 29 points, 6 of 7 treys, with 10 rebs 4 steals in 2004 district playoff vs then undefeated North Canton. For a complete (hopefully) list of commitments check out: hoopscooponline.com/members/recent.html

Ask Margaret Hamlin. Or else go to Gozips.com and click on "traditions" on the left margin. Have a good day.

Saw the Bulls' team play in La'ie two years ago. Had a nice talk with Coach Reggie. Good guy. I admit, I thought he was in over his head, but he's managed to find some fine players. Too bad they don't still have that EKU transfer that was on the team of 02 -- he was awesome. The big men were young and needed seasoning then. It appears they have improved since that. Good luck Bull. BTW -- try and get a decent logo on your FB helmets. That "horn" looks like either a whale or a cloud!

The team's win on Sunday at the Huskie Fever Classic is one of the biggest in recent years -- comparable to the win last year over eventual national champs Indiana at Notre Dame's tournament. Ross McKenzie scored just :15 before the end of the first OT period to end the day in winning style for coach Ken Lolla's Zips. Going into UW and beating the Huskies is an incredibly tough job to do. They lost just two at home last year -- both in PAC-10 play to UCLA and Cal. And like Akron, Washington played into the third round of the NCAA tournament before being ousted by the Billikens in St Louis. This was one of the toughest games you could ever wish to see, and I really miss not being there to see it in person. By way of comparison, this is the same tournament in which 2003 MAC Champion Kentucky played a year ago. The Wildcats were defeated by both Portland and Washington by identical 2-1 scores. Akron lost to Portland 1-0 Friday. Here's how UW Coach Dean Wurzberger described the play and outcome [from UW release]: "We were hoping to finish off the weekend, because we played pretty well Friday night [a 2-0 win vs UC-Irvine]. They (Akron) dialed up the intensity. Aggression was what they hung their hat on early and it caught us by surprise so it tested us a little bit in terms of our toughness. We gave a goal away when they were on top of the game and we leveled the score. I liked our chances in the second half, but we didn't create that many good opportunities. We've got to learn from this, that we have to be ready for an aggressive opponent." Both teams played an extremely physical game with at least 20 fouls being awarded to each team and a total of nine yellow cards issued. Although suffering defeat, Washington was named Huskie Fever Classic champion based on goal differential. All four teams earned a win in the two-day tournament, but it was the Huskies two goal victory over UC-Irvine on Friday that proved to be the tiebraker, as all other matches were decided by just one goal. *************************

I have just a couple of off-the-cusp, and possibly off-the-wall comments to make from out in the vast Pacific. How long has Can't State been wearing those horrific uniforms?? They should have a sponsorship deal with French's (the mustard, not the announcer). I watched the Miami-Houston game that started 30 minutes after the Wagon Wheel, and not ONCE did I see ESPN show the score of Akron-Can't. You would have thought there was only one game that night. I just hope what made Can't look so bad, Akron is somehow able to make happen again, cause otherwise I can't see more than three wins this year. But the building blocks are fitting into place. The biggest day of the year will be next February on national LOI day. This is our team, don't lose faith. Be patient and good things will come.

:blink: OR I'm not sure whether there'll be anything to keep MAC bb fans awake this year or not. It's testament to just how far the league has fallen, that (Heaven forbid) the Buffalo Bulls may be the best team in the league. They may, after all, not be among the top 100 teams in the nation. I fear the MAC may be falling below the Horizon League overall. That said, it would appear the Bulls are indeed the pre-season favorites. Can't will be a factor in the East. After that there's nothing but sheer mediocrity. I'm confident that in a year or two, Coach Dambrot will have assembled a group that will be at least very competitive, and possibly dominant in the MAC East. I really hope the rest of the league wakes up before its too late, or the league may not get two NCAA berths in our lifetimes. And that's quite sad.

Seems to me Akron out-uglied the flushes tonight. Or the Zips were a little more courageous and came up with the big plays when they had to. Either way -- Akron can claim the wagon wheel, but I don't think either team can be too proud of their performance. This looks like two teams that will struggle to win more than three or four games this year. Especially Akron. How did you Sluggoes feel about JD's play calling? Was that conservative or what? Man, oh, man, he makes Owens look imaginative by comparison. Okay let's celebrate. Bring on Cool & the Gang. You know they actually played at UA when I was a student?!

Well, dagnabbit, I'm an Andy Alleman fan already. According to the Pitt website, Andy is a Massillon Washington HS grad from Greentown. I wonder how many D-1 players Greentown has ever produced. The only person I know from Greentown, I call Mom. Tee, hee, hee.

Whoops, missed again! Here's to our season! My greatest fear is that the team may be playing close to their potential. They made some stops, but can't when it matters. Charlie's makin' Mel Kiper look good (he placed #5 #4 overall for the NFL draft). Too bad the rest of the cupboard's bare.

I have all the respect in the world for the history of Penn State football, and all the Joe Pa legacy schlamiel, but the Lions took advantage of a team that was like a deer caught in the headlights Saturday. Akron was stuck in a revolving door of bad circumstances (e.g.: Winston Churchill's answer to the question: "What is the worst enemy of a politician?: 'circumstances' "). I still believe PSU will really struggle to win 6 games and go bowling. They may HAVE to win @Boston College this week to have a chance. Look at the schedule and you see they have a 5-week canyon in the middle of the season where they could easily go 0-pher. After 9/18 they play @UW; @MN; Purdue; Iowa; @Columbus. 1-4 in that string would be pretty good, if you ask me. But, if they can pull off 6 wins, they could be awaiting a December matchup with another MAC team (Toledo again?) in Motown. Good luck to PSU. We need some luck of our own this Saturday -- which is why the idea of using up the our freshmen in a lost season makes no sense at all. You have to keep them around long enough to supplement the upcoming recruits that will hopefully take us to the promised land of Mike Thomas and JD Brookhart.

Hey thanks Panther! I'm trying to fit those words in with the melody that I've never forgotten. It goes OK till the last stanza. Oh well... Too bad this isn't placed anywhere on GoZips.com. I don't think it is. Least, I can't remember ever seeing it. (Hint, hint.) I'll be at the watering hole Saturday, 9 a.m. to get a seat and a TV. I'm sure I'll be the only one interested, unless some nutty lion wanders in. GO ZIPS!!!

Let's get ready to gamble! From an unknown source in the ether of the web: Boston College -11.5 @ Ball St O/U=52 Eastern Mich -10 vs UBuffalo O/U=53 Oklahoma -21 vs BGSU O/U=55 Michigan -11 vs Miami U O/U=54 Maryland -13.5 vs No. Ill. O/U=52 Iowa -25 vs Can't St O/U=52 Wisconsin -17 vs Cent Fl O/U=51 Marshall -16 vs Troy St O/U=49 Penn St. -11 vs Akron O/U= 53 Indiana -8.5 vs C Mich O/U=54 Minnesota -7 vs Toledo O/U=57 Best bets: Mich.; UA-PSU over; IA-Can't State over; Okla. Let's get ready to guzzle

I've been unable to create a file to post on this page, so I'll just add the link here, for readers to cut & paste. http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/new...rts/930901.html

Captain, Let me set the record straight. I never criticized the new site, I simply asked before the transition, whether I would be able to register and/or post from the WebTV browser that I use for about 75% of my websurfing. Like about half-a-million other Americans, I use the cheapest and most user-friendly internet system available. But -- now that I have looked at the "new" GoZips.com website from my Windows XP equipped PC, I can say definitively: we have a problem, Akron. I was unable to stay around long enough the first time -- I'll return before logging off -- but after more than 10 minutes, the entire site had yet to download to my dial-up connection. That's way too long for any pro setup. And I expect it to improve. I HOPEfor it to improve (at least). Now lay off us Coconut Zips, or no more free mai tais at the Sand Bar.

Hey J.P., Let us know when they have the German alumni meeting with the coach. I might be interested.

What I've read about Sutton has surprised me -- compared with the rave reviews from around the Akron area. He doesn't seem to be getting the high major attention you might expect. I would hope that the competition is just MAC schools, and perhaps Pitt or lower BE/ACC or thereabouts. On a similar track: Jerell's brother is solidly #1 at RB in Ohio. Do we have any real shot at him? Most would take him over Sutton. Such a choice would be unimaginable in the LO era. Now, we can imagine, at least. The lights are getting brighter.

Riddle me this fellahs, how are Schifino and Dials going to get on the floor at the same time? Is one of those guys going to play point guard? I dunno, maybe Nick, but tell me he's not a SG, with this 3-point shooting. I'm afraid there might not be enough balls to go around. Further question: Could Schifino be eligible in 04-05? How many games did he play last season before quitting? Ahhhhh..."quitting". That's a big word for ya. What makes anyone think he has it inside himself to make such a commitment? I wouldn't give up a scholarship for the guy that could go to any big-time HS prospect (like St.V's Wilson, or the big guy from Walsh), unless his "one shot" is in 04-05. Riddle me asleep!

Hooooweee! Dad, you said it all! This sets the tone for Akron's 2004-05 recruiting and the MAC season. Akron is now established as a program that people attend because they want to go dancing. Now THAT is why Keith Dambrot was placed at the helm. However -- I wonder if this places Schifino completely out of the picture. Since he has just one year to maintain a scholarship, is the Dials grant the last one remaining for 04-05? Maybe. Can anyone give confirmation? Maybe, with the probation, OCSU will be looking for opponents. Let's make them a home-and-away offer.

That's where I would recommend this transfer notice be placed. Sure, he can play (though he's not as good a scorer as Tarver was). But, I'm rather sure he has just one year of eligibility remaining (how many games did he play in his Jr year at WVa.?), and carries a LOT of off-court baggage. If the choice came down to Schifino or Nick Dials, who plays the same position, I'd MUCH rather have Dials on my team -- and I suspect Keith's thinking is along the same lines. Any news out there about Dials??

Good question Cappie. Maybe its because the guides aren't finished till after Aug 15th. When do tix go out? Earlier? They could at least send a guide to booster club members. And to get season tix, ya gotta join, right? So... Good question Cappie.

Funny lady! My frandfather, Arthur Sloat played on that 1920 Akron Pros NFL championship team. I didn't know until I saw him listed by name in the team photo at the Hall of Fame in Canton. Here's another little known fact about Akron and the NFL: The first Dallas team in the NFL, I believe called the Texans, were forced by the NFL to move to Akron due to low attendance in Dallas. They played about 3 or 4 games in 1953 or 54 (?) at the Rubber Bowl before going out of business. We can say Akron had "America's Team".

No -- I think Chuck has something there. I'm relatively sure the NCAA rule allows no more than three paid assistants -- plus an administrative assistant or Director of Basketball Operations. In fact, I did a little quick research and found that no other school I could find (top 10 schools) had more than three assistants listed. Take a look for yourself. That tells me that someone is "on the bubble" at Akron -- or may be going to be a volunteer ass't. Anyone know more?? If I had to guess, I'd say Shaka stays, so either Kraley or Yater gets the short straw. Then again, it could be Fantasia or Diana.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! I Miss You Trey went to high school in Sandusky? I wonder if she knows Zipman? Or is it possible I Miss You Trey and Zipman are One and the Same?!?!?