Class of 82

It's likely just another typically misleading stat from the same kind of idiots who bring us the US News rankings.Most often these sorts of numbers assume that all students begin as full-time freshmen with the goal of degree completion in exactly four years. As most people fully understand, such a traditional approach is the choice of fewer and fewer college students, particularly at places like Akron, where a substantial number of students are essentially part-timers or are not seeking baccalaureate degrees in the first place.In other words, you're looking at a number that is essentially meaningless as a measure of educational quality.

As you say, avoiding the error-caused breakdowns is always a good thing. But I keep coming back to consistent, solid play by the defensive line. That, in my opinion, has been the Zips' most glaring weakness. Not just a year ago, but for the last 15 years. Getting undone at the point of attack makes it awfully hard.For the first time in recent memory, it looks like Akron will not only have a much imroved D-line this fall, but that it will actually have some depth. And pretty high quality depth, to boot. How much better would our linebackers and DBs look if opponents absolutely had to double-team a guy like Bain? A lot better, I think. We got a small taste of this during that brief span when Nate Robinson was healthy and playing a lot a couple years back.

Amen.But bottom line, he's gotta win.

KentZip, who apprarently is forced to live within the confines of that foul city, wrote...Burnt flush mascot fleshBrought to me on a platterNoble Zippy serves Now that's art, I tell ya.As the founder and self-appointed, non-binding arbiter of the "I hate Can't" Haiku contest, I'd like to congratulate KentZip as the unofficial winner. He and his lovely wife will be treated to an all-expense paid trip to the former site of Wannakers Tavern at Union and Perkins streets to gaze wistfully at the building that sorta looks like a castle.Congratulations KentZip. Wear your hatred for Can't State as a badge of honor.

Wow. I'm amazed to see that someone outside of Akron is actually paying attention to what happens here. I thought that was an excellent and well-informed analysis. Most of the stuff you get from the pre-season rags is made up out of whole cloth. But this was spot on.Reading that article just reinforced how big a factor the addition of Chris Henderson and Phil Tonga (and yeah, Bain!) could be to a DL that needs to step up big this year.I keep avoiding the issue in my mind, but I also agree with the writers' prediction that another losing season means J.D. is gone. I think we're pretty good, though. In fact, I think we could have a breakout year.Hope springs eternal.GO ZIPS!

An instant classic.

Awesome, MDZip!Sonnets are nice, and limmericks are great.But haiku lends something unique to the spirited expression of venom and vitriol. G-mann17, for example, was able to express his desire that the entire city of Can't to be burned to the ground with a sort of aesthetic dignity and style unavailable in the normal use of language.Plus, haiku is really fun.

Can't. So vile. So poor.Total misery in storeAkron's b*tch once more

I am deeply moved, g-mann17. Abjectly hateful, yet rife with the exquisite nuance of high art.

How poignant. How apropos. Nice work, Bleacher Bum.All hail mighty AkronFoot squarely on Can't State's throatRight where it should be

Okay, Zips fans. Show your love for a classic Japanese artform, while simultaneously expressing your contempt for the Golden Showers of Can't State. Haiku consists of three lines. First line, 5 syllables. Second line, 7 syllables. Third line, 5 syllables.I'll kick off with...I love hating Can'tYearly, we pound those dirtbagsWagon wheel we own!

Just for the record, they didn't switch anything. The Indiana game has been scheduled for the 19th for several years. Morgan State was a late addition to an open date on the schedule.What you told your dad is not true.Actually, the Kentucky game was scheduled for years, not Indiana. Then it was switched to Indiana, which sucked but was still ok. Also, was the opener for the last 8 months or so not hyped as the Indiana game? Did the home opener get "switched" to Morgan State just recently? Yeah...I think I told him the truth.The two games at IU for one in Akron has been on the schedule since well before we went there in 2007, and the Sept. 19th date has not changed in the ensuing years, so far as I know. The Indiana game was hyped as the home opener because... well, because it WAS the home opener until just a few weeks ago. And adding Morgan State to an open date does not contitute a switch under any definition. So I'll stand by the comment that what you told your dad was not true. No offense meant. It's just that the way you protrayed things in your post spun things a bit unfairly, IMO.The Kentucky game was cancelled before last season even started, and not because Akron wanted to cancel it but because when Temple joined MAC football we apparently learned we couldn't reciprocate on the date we had promised to go there this year. (We are going there next year, though, so hopefully we can get UK back on the schedule at some future date.)I wish we could have gotten a better draw than Morgan State, too. But on short notice, I guess that's the best they could do.Peace, brother Zipper. And GO ZIPS!

Frankly, I don't think he stands much of a chance. As much as I like and appreciate Mack Rhoades, Houston should be able to attract a far more experienced and higher-profile candidate with the kind of money they can pay.

A funny and informative tidbit from the news story... LESSON: Police blotters are generally more accurate than media guides.

Me too.But they were convinced that they were on their way to eventually becoming an SEC team or something. Now, they're just a bottom-feeder in C-USA.

Marshall's AD was just run out of town, and they're looking for a new one now. I would imagine firing Snyder and bringing in a new head coach will be very near the top of the new AD's to-do list.Other than winning the MAC championship game, my facorite Zips moment of the recent past was that miracle finish to beat Marshall in the Bowl. Probably Charlie Frye's greatest moment as a Zip, I think. And seeing the replay on ESPN all day the next day was sweet!

Tallahassee high school QB AJ Graham, Florida's Mr. Football and Marshall's top recruit for 2009, has been arrested on armed robbery charges. Scholarship withdrawn... for now.http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/46139917.htmlThis comes on the heels of tailback Darius Marshall and defensive back DeQuan Starling pleading guilty to misdemeanor possession of marijuana this spring.At least the Thundering Herd is still good at getting headlines.

That sentence sent a chill down my spine. Seriously. :blink: Lol... don't do that, man!

Just for the record, they didn't switch anything. The Indiana game has been scheduled for the 19th for several years. Morgan State was a late addition to an open date on the schedule.What you told your dad is not true.

Fixed that for you.Hey... making fun of Ravenna's school marms is bad enough, dude. But besmirching the wannabe paralegals and dental-office file clerks studying so furiously within the ivy-strewn storefronts of Old Stautzenberger crosses some sorta line. Have you no decency, sir?!

Shh!! They're a historic four corner university!Yeah I always loved that, they're about as historic as Stautzenberger College.Hey now. The founding of Can't Normal School in 1910 was a watershed moment... nay, perhaps even the defining moment... in the training of school marms in the Ravenna Metropolitan Area and throughout Portage County.You guys are so needlessly cruel and belittling.

If that's true... wow, there's a loophole you could drive a truck through. Man.Recruits talk to other recruits all the time, which also includes doing their own recruiting. Not a big deal.Sure, I get it.What I was referring to is how easy it might be for a coach or someone else to do some orchestrating from behind the scenes. That can't be legal, can it?

If that's true... wow, there's a loophole you could drive a truck through. Man.

Perhaps the numbers have declined along with the safety of the neighborhoods, Quickzips, but it seems to me that there have historically been way more than 3,000 students living in the immediate area around but off campus. (Maybe one of the UA types among the nation has a solid number.)At any rate, I would agree with you that expecting 6,000 students game in and game out is probably out of the question. But I don't think 3,000 is an unreasonable expectation. It just occurs to me that 1,600 seems overly pessimistic. But heck, even that paltry a number would represent a substantial improvement.Now... if we could only get some of our early MAC games scheduled at home. It sure seems like we get screwed in that regard every year.

I think that's an accurate assessment. I really like J.D., but it's time to have a statement season, especially with the new stadium. I think he can do it. And I think he will do it. Rather than feeling undue pressure, I hope he can feel like this season is the greatest opportunity he may ever have as a football coach.