Class of 82

If you add 1/4 cup of sugar per pound of ground beef, you can make a home made Swensons burger.Right on, bro! By the by. Brown sugar works best, but your ratio is perfect. Add a 1/2 teaspoon or so of granulated (not powdered!) garlic. For best results, let it sit in the fridge for an hour or two before making your burgs. And don't overmix the beef or you'll wind up with hockey pucks.Other Swenson's imitation essentials: 1) Buns lightly toasted and slathered generously with real butter. 2) Velveeta cheese, an otherwise disgusting product that is nevertheless essential for that true Swenson's ooeygooeyness. 3) White (not yellow!) onions, thinly sliced and rinsed in ice-water. 4) For Galley Boys: Kraft tartar sauce and Kraft original flavor BBQ sauce.Living on the West Coast for a dozen-plus years, I had to do a lot of trial and error to indulge my Swenson's fix.

I've heard quite a few ads for season tickets on WKNR. That's a good start.But I'm hoping they start some game ticket give-aways on the local-talk programs. Not too darned many, but plenty enough to get Rizzo, Roda, Reghi, Brinda, et al, talking up Zips football as much as possible.WKNR is a big OSU honk, but they are still the perfect venue for reaching out to college football fans in our region.And they ought to have a WKNR live tailgating remote when the stadium opens.Any thoughts?

Wow... I'm shocked that Houston would hand their job to such a young guy with such a short resume.No offense to Rhoades, who seems like a very bright and capable guy, but what-- exactly-- did he achieve at Akron?The stadium? Proenza, LaGuardia and the trustees were far more instrumental. Rhoades was tangentially involved, at best.Dambrot? For gosh sakes, who the heck else was even a possible candidate? The whole world knew Dambrot was our future coach the minute he was hired as an assistant.Caleb Porter? That was a pretty darned good hire, but homw many ADs get hired because they got a great soccer coach, especially one to replace a great soccer coach at nationally-regarded program?Seriously, what did Rhoades really accomplish at Akron that he can point to that would not/could not have happened without him?He must interview really well.

I think we've all been there and done that to one degree or another, skip!On the positive side, I was in a packed bar watching the MAC championship, and having about 200 people go absolutely nuts when Hixon caught the winning TD was absolutely awesome. Most of the people there were just watching casually most of the game, but they were sure watching intently at the end.

Similar experience here, SeeTee. I can't tell you how often people ask me why I would ever leave SoCal to return to Akron. When I tell them that the quality of life here is actually far better at about 1/2 the cost, they look at me like I'm crazy. (The only times I wonder... for a second or two... about it are in mid-winter when it's 2 degrees!)I don't know. I guess I just have an idea that Akron... for all of its warts... has incredible potential. And a significant part of that potential is the continuing development of the university in all of its aspects, but particularly in football's and basketball's ability to involve the community in a common source of excitement and pride. Crazy me.

I'm confused... what did they say to you? This story seems incomplete.They basically called the stadium, and UA in general, a joke and one referred to the stadium as a "waste of money."The same guy said Akron is a sh*t town that will always be a sh*t town. His buddy agreed.Other than that, I had a lovely lunch.

Good for them, dude. But I didn't go to school there. Never lived in Columbus. And don't want to. I am from Akron. I grew up going to Akron games. I attended Akron. I live in Akron. I'm proud of my city. I'm proud of my school. I couldn't give a rat's behind for Ohio State.When people run down my city... especially when they freaking live here... I get a little pissed off. And I ain't sorry about that.My brother is a Buckeyes fan. These guys I met today were Suckeyes. Of course. It's easy being an Ohio State fan. It takes a bit more fortitude to believe that Akron can be better than it is. Being an Akron fan ain't for pussies. And believing in this city ain't for pussies, either. I pretty much agree with most of that. And I don't believe OSU fans are generally like the dipwads I was talking to today. (Unfortunately, quite a few are, though.)But why would people from Akron have to give up their OSU fandom... if that's what it's called and if that's what they have... to root for Akron? I mean, we're talking about people FROM Akron rooting for the university that is IN Akron. Where did I blame Ohio State for their success? By calling them Suckeyes, maybe? Please. Like I'm sure most people here, many among my family and best friends are OSU fans.But at any rate, this is about more than just Akron U athletics. It is about Akron itself. I was actually less upset about the lack of enthusiasm for the stadium than I was about the pessimism and negativity about our town When people start bad-mouthing the place where they live and work and are raising their families, it's bordering on something pathological if they DON"T go away. I'm tired of it. If you're not, then I certainly believe you're entitled to a different opinion.Ironically, my oldest brother is an OSU alum and a huge OSU fan, and I think he's as excited about the new stadium and what it could mean for the program as I am. You see, he was born here, lives here and is raising his family here, too. He has this crazy idea that what is good for his city is good for him.

Well, kid, I guess I just wish people could take a little more pride in the community in which they live. I've lived in two other states, and the way so many Akronites dump on their own town is a phenomenon I've only witnessed here.I'm not negative about NE Ohio. Not in the least. I am negative about people who seem to actually hate their own hometown. I wish they would leave and not let the door hit their a** on the way out.

Yeah. And I appreciate it.Later, I plan to drink heavily.

Was talking to some fellows while having lunch at a local watering hole today, and I brought up the subject of the new stadium, and how excited I am about it, and the future of Akron football and athletics generally. Wow. Sometimes I wonder why I live in Akron, a city that just seems to breed negative, pessimistic, pathetic bozos like these jokers, who simply have nothing good to say about anything or anybody.I not sure why this is bothering me so much, since the majority of people I've talked to are pretty juiced about the new stadium, or at least think it's a good idea and good for the city. But this isn't my first experience like this, and these a-holes have put me in a really crrappy mood. GO ZIPS!P.S. And yeah... they were Suckeyes fans. the OSU

If the drinking age were lowered to a reasonable age, "underage drinking" would no longer be an issue.You are obviously a dangerous radical who wants to kill children and destroy the fabric of American society.

Don't worry. There's no way alcohol will be permitted anywhere except maybe inside the suites (and probably not in the seating areas). The potential for chaos is simply too great, and UA would be crazy to even think about such a thing.As an aside, though, I really think the underage drinking issue is partly the unintended but predictable result of the screwy drinking laws we have in this country. Back when 3.2 beer was legally obtainable by 18-year-olds, we didn't have nearly as big a problem as we do now. Raising the age for everything to 21 simply drove kids off campus, out of the campus-area bars that served 3.2 beer, and underground to drink the high-powered stuff illegally because there is no legal alternative.And every time anybody tries to raise the issue of a more reasonable, thoughtful and realistic regulation of alcohol consumption by 18- to 20-year-olds, they are branded as dangerous radicals who want to kill children and destroy the fabric of American society.

Hmm, in 2005-2006 did anyone foresee any place other than the Rubber Bowl being football's home?True enough, g-mann. True enough.I don't put anything past Luis Proenza, John LaGuardia and Ted Curtis. Those guys have worked wonders. Norm Auburn certainly created The University of Akron, but the truly incredible leadership and talent of those three men have re-created it... quite literally.

Ah... the memories of pitcher-fulls of 3.2 Miller High Life on Friday afternoons in the Chuckery, with local bands providing entertainment. Of course, we were easily entertained in the 1970s.

Quite a while ago-- mid-90s, I think-- I seem to remember there were some Akron movers and shakers musing about a Carrier Dome-type facility downtown that could house both UA football and basketball and also serve as extra exhibit hall space for conventions brought in by the Knight Center, and as a venue for entertainment events. Given the multiple uses, it was thought that funding could be shared among UA, the city and Summit County with some possible assistance from the state and federal governments.If done right (and a big "if" it was), I think they were onto a pretty good, even if really expensive, idea. Obviously, though, the idea never got anywhere, and it certainly won't in the future now that Info is a reality. (And just speaking for football, Info is a lot better than any dome would be... by far.)As for basketball, personally, I'd be relatively happy if they could just reconfigure the JAR to get rid of that idiotic and needless jogging track that ruins sightlines from the upper level and minimizes the intimidation factor of a larger crowd. I don't know if that would add any more seating, but it could be a big improvement, IMO. Probably not feasible, though. Oh well.In any case, I'm guessing the JAR will be basketball's home for the foreseeable future.

Stats are for losers. Our offense shot 84% during the flow of a game, but in crunch time shot 45%. I thought stats were for losers? ;)Playing three or four decent games in a 12-game season just isn't going to cut it. And I don't agree that that is showing as much as the offense did last year. Not even close.They let Buffalo convert on five out of five fourth downs. If they stop them twice, maybe even once, we win that game.They-- and the special teams-- let BG off the hook when we should have had them down 21-7 at halftime.They couldn't stop Ohio or Ball State at all. They couldn't stop Eastern Michigan.So they played well against Army, Cincy and Temple. They were marginally okay against Syracuse. And they pretty much stunk in the other eight games. Again, stats are for losers. MAC programs, 1 - 10, have a very small degree of separation. They all get the same level of player. The teams that win have a Dante Love and Nate Davis. A Drew Willy. A Leftwich or Rothlisberger. Guys that can close-out a close game if you put the ball in their hands. When the Zips offense had the chance, in close games in 2008, to close the deal, they fumbled, bumbled, penaltied and INT'd their way to a loss.The only stat that matters is 5-7. And the offense was just as much at fault as the defense for that 42% winning percentage.I understand what you're saying. It just seems that our greatest room for improvement is on the defense. Fortunately, I think we're gonna be a lot better this year.I know both of us hope Jacquemain will be better.Anyways, peace, brudda!And GO ZIPS!

The bottom line for me is this: At the end of the game, if we're looking for CJacq to make a play to give us a chance to win, I know for a fact that he has the ability to make it happen. Will he? I don't know, but at least I do know that he can. He's shown that ability, even if he's also shown the ability to make bad decisions. And we have had good reason to expect the O-line to give him a chance to make a play. And we have had good reason to expect that receivers will more often than not make a catch if CJacq can get them the ball. Heck, man. Akron's offense put up some pretty darned good numbers last year.But what has our defense shown us? What have they done to inspire confidence that they can come up big when games are on the line? I'm sorry, but the answer is that with but a few exceptions, our defense was pretty much a sieve, as the numbers bear out conclusively.

Big time issues is right, Captain.They gave up over 36 points a game in the MAC.They gave up an average 411 yards a game in the MAC, including a whopping 170 yards rushing.They had a grand total of six sacks in the MAC.They allowed opponents to convert over 46 percent of 3rd downs.When MAC teams went for it on fourth down, they succeeded nine out of 11 times.The offense has it's own issues, I know. Especially with the really silly and costly turnovers from the QB, as you point out. But the fact is, they still managed to score a lot of points.The defense, unfortunately, gave up even more. You're just not going to win much giving up 36 a game.

Amen. Akron has been a poster child for this very thing. And no, the numbers do not lie.

Akron's MAC-only rankings in scoring offense and defense since 2005. along with MAC record:2005: Defense-3rd Offense - 8th RECORD 5-3 (MAC Championship)2006: Defense-9th Offense - 11th RECORD 3-52007: Defense- 8th Offense - 8th RECORD 3-52008: Defense 12th Offense - 2nd RECORD 3-5Interesting, no?

Grant you all of that, Captain, but the numbers don't lie.Last season, Akron was second in the MAC in scoring offense, and second from last in scoring defense. That stat has losing season all over it.For gosh sakes, we had 6... SIX!!!... sacks last year.

Well, the Zips have had numerous school record-breaking offenses and players going back to the Butchie Washington era. We have exactly one championship that we were very, very fortunate to win. Overall, our defense during that time has been generally bad to mediocre. Coincidence? Not on your life.

Well, you're certainly in the majority around here. But I disagree.I still think our troubles have had a lot more to do with personnel than scheme. I don't care what scheme you're running. If you're getting blocked, you ain't making a play. I go back to that Ohio State game a couple years back. When they had to double our nose guard, we had guys free to make tackles. The result was a beautiful safety on Beanie Wells and holding a pretty decent BCS offense to three first-half points in their own house while our offense was piling up three-and-outs like pancakes at IHOP.Problem was, Nate Robinson was our only decent lineman with the requisite size and ability, and when he got nicked up or was gassed, the double teams stopped, right along with our general effectiveness as a defense. All of a sudden, you're making plays six or seven yards downfield instead of around the line of scrimmage. That gets pretty ugly.

Oh, you attended alright. It's just that you apparently failed miserably on your way to total success. You're a perfect example of how so many of the very best things about the University of Akron and a host of similarly situated universities... things that truly transform lives... somehow get twisted into a negative. It drives me up the wall. I'd like to b*tch-slap that Dispatch writer and every other pseudo-intellect who has absolutely no understanding of the honest and relevant use of statistics.By the way, I admire your dedication and perseverance. A lot.

I understand your point of view, but I think it would be wrong to do away with open enrollment just to pad a meaningless statistic that is serially miscalculated and misapplied by so-called "journalists" who ought to know better. Like it or not, Summit County's community college is the University of Akron, and I don't expect that to change any time soon. Nor should it, quite frankly.And the fact of the matter is that underprepared students are not the primary cause of the "low" graduation rate. Disproportionate numbers of part-time, transient, and non-degree-seeking students... who should not be included in these sorts of numbers in the first freaking place... are what depresses Akron's number the most. They are applying one measurement acquired in only one way and (mis)applying it to apples, oranges, paper weights and protozoa.