Z.I.P.

I loved this -- except for the statement that Can't had more athletes than Akron. Is this writer an Kant State grad?

It's no joke. Cruz was the first TE I think Akron was seriously after last summer. He committed prior to training camp to UNC. Now has decommitted. Akron is in the lead for his services. You can never have too many good football players, and people built for TE can play DE, DT, WR (Poindexter perhaps), and other positions. Don't look a gift horse in the eye, or something like that, right?

The university went out of its way -- to say the least -- in hiring Kelly Kebe(Kennedy). Kelly was one of the most highly regarded assistants in the nation, having helped revive or build programs at TCU and Iowa State, which became nationally ranked during her stay. The salary Akron had to give Kelly to hire her is $102k annually -- at or near the top of the MAC. Akron outbid Fresno State for Kebe's services, and yet FSU has already woken up their formerly moribund program. To get anyone to replace her, they will have to maintain or even increase the pay. When this year began, I was confident that the powers would stand by the coach even if this were a rough year. However, in my mind a "rough year" meant around 6-8 wins. I'm sure the AD would much rather look for further tools to help the program before making a change after just the third year. That said, something has to be done -- perhaps bringing in new assistants including someone with a higher profile will jump start the team. In any case, the one thing they can't do is lessen the academic or ethical standards, and I'm sure that isn't in the playbook. Rather than be embarassed, why not get behind the team and show them they have our support?

So if you're a "former fan", I take it you weren't part of the capacity throng of 98 who turned out for the EMU game. I'm afraid to look at the box for the UT game today. :blink:

This is just awesome: Did anyone look at the THIRD FLAG FOR MARSHALL? Hilarious! Why isn't there one like that for UCF?

I would NEVER doubt the veracity of our Captain. He is our main Roo. But while we're dropping names, here's what a little birdie just told me: ZACH ANDERSON IS GOING TO BE A ZIP. This is the highest ranked Akron recruit so far, a three star by both Rivals and Scout.com. Rivals #45 OT. He chose Akron over Coach Wannstedt's crew and UConn. He visited Akron two weeks ago and chose UA before taking any other official visits. Guess that says something about Pitt's choice.

Ohhhh. Ho, ho, ho! Sorry I can't put a red hat on that li'l guy. I take it you've had a very merry Christmas, Cap'n Grinch'aroo? It seems after all, you've been imbibing (some might say over-imbibing) in the "holiday chutzpah". I wish you and the rest of the Roo Family a hauoli makahiki hou (Happy New Year) from the land of 3-day old poi and the winning Hawai'i Bowl team. 1. The distance from Ohio doesn't prevent my reading and researching the MAC hoops season. Perhaps you should get out a little more. If you were paying attention you might have learned about Darrell Garrett and Rico Harris -- the MAC's best guard tandem recruits in a generation. They were two of Motown's top three players and two of the top three guards overall in Michigan last year at Detroit Denby HS. Garrett is headed toward MAC Frosh of the Year. If there's another freshman averaging near 20ppg and near double figures rebounds (not bad for a GUARD) let me know. Harris comes off the bench this year, but is a stud who can do it all from the PG spot -- was the #1 or #2 ranked PG in MI at Denby. Then on the inside the Eagles have John Bowler and Boo Jackson, two of the top post players in the league. Bowler at 6-8 260 is like Futch with foot speed. There's a reason why EMU is ranked #4 among MAC schools in the Mid-major poll (behind Can't State, BGSU and Miami). So when EMU places first this season, or even second, since there is NO WAY they win, will you remember this Christmas greeting? 2. Westerm Michigan, as you'll recall, fell behind by double digits midway through the first half and never seriously challenged USC in LA. Now USC is a decent team, perhaps in the top 100-150, but WMU was clearly outclassed. The Broncos put on a little push against the Trojans subs at the end to pull back within single digits, but SC barely broke a sweat, due to the lack of rebounding or inside scoring by WM. Here's my prediction for the West this year, if anyone is interested. 1. EMU 2. NIU 3. UT 4. BSU 5. WMU 6. BGSU 7. CMU 3. You should give consideration to a career in politics, as you are adept at changing the subject. I never even mentioned "Akron" in this subject. Please re-read my post. When OU defeated Kentucky did anyone think that made the Bobcats one of the "teams to beat" in MAC football? Did it save Knorr's job? Don't get me wrong, a win over a SEC fb team or a BT bb team is always "nice", but PSU bb is equal to Kentucky fb, hardly anyone outside the victor's house notices. 4. Since the departure of Wally Czerbiak, when has Miami ever NOT returned to Earth? Uncle Charlie's teams play a style of game that allows just about everyone in the MAC to stay close to them. They may be a bit better withOUT Juby J., but I'l be surprised if the Hawks turn back recent history. They'll be a factor if they make it to Cleveland, as on any given night they can be a very dangerous team, but I wouldn't pick Coles from among MAC coaches. I like Keith better for the near or far term. 5. You may actually have a point here, as I never saw Derrick play. He WAS a JC all-America however, and Cal JC POY with a CCSF team that won like 36 straight games before losing in the finals to CCLA. Anyhow, I like the Ground Zero I'm sitting on right now. Ahhh, I gotta get to bed, so I can go surfing in the morning. Have a good one my Captain!

Congratulations to former Akron point guard Erica Glover circa 1997-2000, for being chosen in the third round of the National Women's Basketball League draft. Erica was a key member of the Akron WNIT team of 1998-99, a 5-7 guard out of Warren Harding HS. The NWBL, which gets practically NO coverage is a winter league, playing from January through March, allowing WNBA players to stay in-country rather than going overseas in the off-season. There are some great players in this league, like Sheryl Swoopes, Cheryl Ford, NCAA scoring record holder Jackie Stiles and Erica's teammate Helen Darling, the former leader scorer of the Cleveland Rockers. www.nwbl.com/draft.asp

Dear Judge Strickland-Saffold, Please send Raymond Williams to prison NOW. He is much more likely to be a responsible citizen -- and student and potentially athlete later if he serves his time and understands he can't get out of responsibility for his actions by means of his athletic prowess. It sounds like you are releasing him strictly because of his potential as a student-athlete. That's wrong.

You're right about "moving on" Cap'n. But for those interested in looking at what others have to say about the game at Aloha Stadium, you can check out that Spartantailgate.com site up in E.L., MI. There are some interesting quotes, including one from the Honolulu Advertiser's own UH FB beat writer describing just how bad was the officiating. Whoops. Missed another call. Zip in Paradise

Thank you Dave for signing up, and in. Now we can tell you from all those idiots like the Marshall ambulance chasers. How does someone with that lack of good sense get thru law school anyway? I'm sure Marshall doesn't give law degrees, what cereal box did his come in?

I can vouch for Willy (Are you the school janitor on The Simpsons?). The teams that have played in the Hawai'i and Aloha Bowls have always brought big squads -- probably close to 100 players. That's one of the things that caused the brouhaha between the UHs (Hawai'i - Houston) last year, not just so many players, but scads of spectators and hangers-on ready to make trouble. And trouble they had, of the Clemson-USC variety. And even Hawai'i, in their home bowl makes little if any $$.

For those of you looking for an edge on the last second betting line, take a gander at the National Weather Service forecast for Honolulu today, Saturday. After two weeks of Hawai'i's notorious Windward and mauka showers, steady sunshine is expected to return on Saturday. However, along with the sun comes gale-force trade winds. The Friday evening TV news predicted winds today of 20-30 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 50 mph. Now football fans should be aware that one of the teams playing tonight hopes to put the football in the air 60 or more time. The other intends to run, run, run against a defense that earlier this year ranked #117 in D 1-A in rushing defense. Michigan State may need all the help Mother Nature can hand them though, as Hawai'i is the team playing for more than pride tonight. I call it close to a tossup. Maybe MSU by 1 or 2. Is there a late-night ESPN viewing party planned anywhere? Does anyplace in Akron stay open till 3 a.m.? That's when last week's UH-NU game ended.

I'm afraid "guest" above gave a bit more info than needed to answer the Captain's question. The answer is just this: If either Tulane OR Hawai'i wins, Akron is almost certainly out of luck. The only possible exception is that Tulane cannot play in the Hawai'i Bowl, as they would be playing a fellow CUSA member in UAB (committed), but there are few other options left. But UL will beat them anyway, so it's really up to Mich St. The one thing I would say weighing in Akron's favor on Saturday night is that Hawai'i has been just as inconsistent this year as Michigan State. Their one home loss this year was to provisional Div 1-A Florida Atlantic. So it depends not only which Michigan State team shows up, but also which Hawai'i team. The local papers and radio are playing up the quote from MSU Coach Smith on MSU's website saying that he wishes he could be out recruiting now, rather than playing Hawai'i in a meaningless game. Let's hope and pray that his players are more focused on the game than the coach. I'll be in the stands with the Spartan hopeful (having traded in my tix in the home section), telling them to "just win one game for the Zippers". George Zipp I believe was the originator of that statement at Notre Dame. Go Spartans! Yikes. Zip in Paradise

Well, I am proven wrong once again. Bowling Green accepts trip to Mobile. See GMACbowl.com

I thought I'd move the Hawai'i Bowl site back up to the top. However, I DO have some news. From contacts around the MAC, I've found out the following: 1. No MAC schools will be extended or accept bowl bids until after Thursday's MAC Championship game. 2. Bowling Green apparently will NOT be going to the Silicon Valley Bowl. Rumors from BeeGee point to Vegas Bowl possibility. (wonder what it means for the SVB -- could UA be headed there?) Keep those fingers crossed. Difficult as it may be, I'll probably be pulling for MSU over my very own Warriors.

In response to Zips4Life, if that's true, then they MUST know something. My understanding is they canNOT hold more practices unless there is another game. And there are a limited number of practice sessions they are allowed to hold -- I seem to recall it is only 7 or 8, but it may be more. Mahalo for the news. Zip in Paradise

Sorry about that, I guess I'm just another liberal elitist, but I've figured out exactly how Akron can play in a bowl game in 2004. The REAL competition is just three schools: Syracuse, Southern Mississippi and Arkansas. Forget Nebraska, TCU, Iowa State or Northwestern. All of those can go bowling and still leave room for little Akron. Here are the dominoes that must, in all likelihood fall before Cardiac Charlie and the kids are allowed more life: 1. Syracuse must lose @ Boston College. 2. Southern Mississippi must lose two home games (almost positive they're both home games) vs UAB and vs Cal. 3. Arkansas must lose at home to LSU. I think Southern Miss is favored vs UAB, and LSU@Ark is a tossup. There you have it, on a stick, like Zippy @ the Bowl. Let's all cross our fingers for crying out loud.

You're darn right. I just want to be sure that this time when Akron comes to Hawai'i, that more than ONE fan arrives with the team. "Earth to Alumni Association, over"! And GoZips must bring the entire family this time.

Good job. Thanks Steve. Was that you?

Come to my place for the holidays! I am holding Mike Thomas to the promise Lee Owens made to me a year-and-a-half ago, to make up for pulling out of the Hawai'i game last year. I just hope I can scare up the 58 members of our Aloha Section Alumni Association to make it to the festivities. Captain K: You are invited to create a load of your in the Aloha Stadium parking lot. Don't you dare miss it.

Sorry Rifle, but EMU doesn't have a men's team (neither do Miami, Ball U, CMU or Toledo, which is why Kentucky plays in the MAC). The closest you might come is if coach Katie Byrne's Zip women play in Ypsilanti. You can say "Erin go bragh" to the former Irish national player. Notice the green face.

Hope you got to make the game Rifler. Ken's kids gave it their all, but it's a damn tough deal to have to go into a Big Ten school and win in the NCAA tourney. We will be the pre-season MAC favorites (though Kentucky will be tough again, and WMU and NIU strong as well) in 2005, but Lolly and Co. have some work to do in the recruiting area to make up for about half the starting roster that leaves after this year. We need some big legs up front. Is there another Kirk Harwat waiting in the wings? For those interested: Next week the UAM will be selling a MAC Champions T-shirt. Get 'em while they last.

One more thing Mike: We can here you on the internet when you're talking to the studio, so do be careful! BTW -- who is that Tallmadge nut?

:blink: Hooowweeee! This must have been one of the most exciting games played or witnessed in recent UA history. Too bad you couldn't tell that from the announcer. Is that Mr Waddell? Man, he's a cure for insomnia. Now let's get to some other criticisms (sorry Mike, but this IS constructive). The court is (last time I heard) 95 feet long. How can you take a 45 ft 3-point attempt if its not against the buzzer? Yet, more than a half dozen times he described shots of over 30 ft., and yes -- I recall a 45 ft call from Bubba. If that was the case, it must have been some record for longest bomb shots. Also, that Drake Center. His name is listed on Drake's website as "Aliou Keita". I would pronounce that Ally-o-Kata. How did we get Kata, or sometimes Kita Alou (like the Alou baseball brothers) -- and the names were reversed (last name first)? Okay that aside, what an incredibly exciting team. I would immediately run, not walk to the box office if I were in town. Coach Keith: PLEASE schedule some games out West! Like the Maui or Rainbow Invitational. This team is for real, and will open eyes THIS year, not later. Signed, Proud Classmate of KD