zippy42

I talked to someone in the ticket office yesterday and all season tickets and parking passes are being assigned this week and to look for them to arrive the beginning of next week. I was told that parking passes would be assigned in order of priority level relating to the press release back in June. Basically, if there are spaces remaining in lot # 9 after the premium/priority reserved buyers, then there is chance a limited number may receive our same lot as last season. You can still call in and order your season parking pass – which would guarantee you a spot on the stadium side of campus outside of the premium donor lots.

By Bill Greene Ohio recruiting analyst Posted Aug 4, 2010 The saga of Erick Howard appears to be just beginning, rather than ending, as the talented tailback has decided to not enroll at Akron, preferring to attend Fork Union Military Academy. Howard, one of the top players in Ohio for the 2010 recruits, is hoping to go through the recruiting process again January. Bill Greene spoke to Howard's high school coach to get the latest. Erick Howard, of North Canton Hoover HS, finished the 2009 season as one of the top runningbacks in Ohio high school football history, capturing back-to-back Mr. Football awards. Because of academic concerns, Howard committed to Akron, and was set to join the Zips as a non-qualifier, hoping to become eligible in 2011, but there has been a change in plans. "I spoke to Erick yesterday, and he told me he is all set to join Fork Union Military Academy," North Canton Hoover head coach Don Hertler stated. "He will report to Fork Union on August 28th. He worked out with us yesterday, and it's pretty apparent he's not in football shape, but he has a few weeks to get that turned around." Howard spurned an offer from the Zips in order to raise his academic profile, and go through the recruiting process this January. "Erick was very, very close to qualifying, and if he does well he will be eligible after a few months at Fork Union, not the entire year," Hertler stated. "He could end up back in Akron, but we have to see. There are a lot of schools interested in him, schools like Cincinnati, Louisville, North Carolina, Auburn, and many, many others." "His talent intrigues a lot of coaches, and he's a likeable kid," Hertler stressed. "Once you meet him in person, you fall in love with kid. His problem was maturity, and he's not a bad kid at all. If he qualifies academically, he can play anywhere in America, because he's THAT good." One unlikely destination for Howard is Ohio State, although that is not totally ruled out, according to his former head coach. "Erick was given a plan to get a scholarship from Ohio State, and he didn't get it done academically," Hertler explained. "Is that door still open to Erick? That's tough to say, because in this business, schools roll on without any one player. I will say that Jim Tressel has always been intrigued by Erick. He likes him as a person, and he was intrigued about what Erick could bring to his program. Don't write that there's a good chance at all, but it's accurate to say there is a chance he could sign with Ohio State in January, and be counted in with the 2010 class."

I heard a rumor this morning that a FB coach has been suspended with pay by the new AD. And this might turn into a possible termination. This is all over a minor recruiting violation. It sounds like a major overreaction.......

Z.I.P. - I didn't mean to imply any gender bias when I said Thomas was the right "man" for the job in that search. Bad choice of words on my part. Mike Thomas clearly outclassed everyone in that search, and to me, has forever raised the bar of what we can and should expect from an AD at UA. Let's hope this new guy can reach - and then exceed - that bar.

To clarify, the female finalist in the search that gave us Mike Thomas was not Kathleen McNally, it was Eve Atkinson from Lafayette College in PA. And Hipsher was not on that search committee. He (and all other head coaches) met all the finalists but were not involved in the selection. In fact, it's pretty safe to say that Hipsher's meeting with finalist Greg Burke, and the subsequent BS session they had that made Burke almost 40 minutes late for his next appointment in the interview process, pretty much eliminated Burke from consideration. And Burke was the candidate many insiders hoped would get the job. In the end, Thomas was clearly the right man at the right time. Eve Atkinson was never really in serious contention for the job.

The word from the street says the Mack Rhoades is applying for the AD's job at The University of Houston.Article about the job openingNote: This article does not mention Mack's name. I am sure his name will appear soon enough.

The rumor about Shead was false.The rumor about Cruz is true. He has moved on to Hofstra.

I have heard rumors of at least two players leaving Akron.Jose Cruz (TE) and Shane Shead (DL).Can anybody verify this? Or does anybody know of anymore?I guess the Zips may have a few more scholarships to give this year......

The Tigers have only won State Championships thru the poll system. Since the start of the playoffs they have only been to the Championship game twice and lost both times. Once in the 80's and a few years ago. Hence the nickname paper tigers........Overkill if you ask me but it has been rumored that another Stark County team is getting one in the near future. I guess this is the trend these days.

If you want to fix the run defense how about putting two inside LB's on running downs. If you go back and watch any or all of the first 8 games even an untrained eye will see the problem. Most times teams ran right up the middle on the Zips and found it very easy. This is because the 3 man front leaves gaps between the center and both guards. Now with only one inside LB running thru one of the gaps this leaves the other wide open. I don't know how many times I have seen #30 run blitz into one of the gaps and the RB run free into the other gap. This is not #30's fault it is the fault of the defense. I would put #30 and #47 in the middle on first and second down and use the rover to be an outside LB opposite of #54.

Insider info is telling me that the following players have transferred out of Akron:Rodney Etienne Backup CBMichael Alphonse Backup LBCJ7 Backup QBI would not be shocked if more were to come.....

I think that is great Mack wants to rid the athletics department of losers. Then he needs to start off by looking in the mirror. I have a few questions for Mack.How is the fundraising coming for the stadium? Have we brought any money in since the big announcement Aug 1st? Has any money come in since you started as A.D?Why does all the money people donate to sit in the lower part of the JAR go to the Z-Fund and not basketball? How is this fair to Coach D. The same thinbg goes for the football ticket donations. Has any money been brought in other than what is given for tickets? Have we seen any money for the new soccer stadium?How is the grass roots campaign coming along? It he must going strong because the attendence for the football games was at an all time high.... And the fans have been jamming the jar for a 6 - 1 basketball team. With a large amount of marketing people I would expect to see many more fans. Oh and don't forget the outside marketing company that was hired as well. Just what do all of those people in jar do all day long while getting a pay check.....Here is an FYI. The Akron/Canton/Cleveland area is way different than the UTEP area. You will never be successful in this area doing the same things that you did at UTEP. Their is more things to do in this area other than follow the Zips. The true fans will still come but the band wagoners only show up when you have a winner. Look at the bowl game in 2005. 15,000 people go to Detroit the day after Christmas yet only 5,000 show up at the rubber bowl for a game on a perfect day. Mike Thomas and Mike Waddell had a great thing going might i suggest you give them a call to help get this ship turned around.Pissing off your subordinates and the few loyal fans is not the way to go.

It appears it would be him. Hopefully he quit the team before this happened. I alos hope he quit school too. The University does not need any more bad press.

I think it is time JD and the rest of the staff start getting true football players. I know that sounds stupid but here is what I mean. Jay Rohr was a great true football player. Yes he was under sized and not the fastest guy on the field but he was damn good. He took the best angle to the ball almost everytime. Plus he was a huge emotional leader on the field. Also Bobby Hendry was a stud who nobody else wanted. Take away his back problems and this kid would have rewrote the record books. Let's stay away from the kids who are border line because of grades. Also let's stay away from the track kids who just play football. These kids are fast and look good running the forty but can they paly football. I don't care how fast you are if you take the wrong angle or can't make a tackle you will look like a fool on the field. I would take a hard look at some of the border line kids in the area.

It has come to my attention from an incredibly reliable source that our Director of Athletics,Mack Rhoades has thrown his name in the hat for the AD job at Pitt. This is shocking becausethe guy has only been here for less than two years and basically hasn't done anything. Mike Thomas set up all of the stadium plans that hve been put into place. Would a Big East school really even grant this guy an interview? I hope Pitt talks to our head coaches first!!!