Blue & Gold

I think we should go into the lion's den twice a year. Firstly, it'd be two $$ games and we need more $$. Secondly, and most importantly, the soccer team regularly plays, and beats, Columbus, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Maryland, etc. If we want Joe A. to take us seriously, we have to schedule and beat the B1G boys. I don't want a Miami Redhawks type schedule. Just two per year. Not asking for the moon. We went to Penn State this year. I respect that. Now add one more.

I love the energy & athleticism Aaron & BJ both bring. I'm still high on last night's team D.

From today's ABJ. Both from GT. One article, one blog entry. http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/akron-zips-prove-too-much-for-western-michigan-broncos-win-72-52-1.555914 http://www.ohio.com/blogs/ua-zips/university-of-akron-zips-blog-1.277207/points-to-ponder-akron-zips-beat-western-michigan-72-52-1.555945

Last night, in a battle of two of Ohio's top teams, Josh scored 29 points in STVM's 78-69 win over Cleveland Central Catholic. http://www.ohio.com/sports/prep-stats/high-school-scores-summaries-and-schedules-jan-6-1.555895

Loved it! The coaching staff has worked hard to put together a 10-man roster. Now let's use it! Everyone was playing with such energy and aggressiveness on D - leaving it all on the floor - it looked like WMU didn't know what hit 'em.

^^Ditto. Well done! Video was smooth and Steve & Joe were synched with the video feed. I had a meeting till 6:30 but rushed home to watch & really enjoyed the quality feed.

Agreed. I also like the valley, but I think we've really got to try and support downtown.

Thought this was interesting. I coach a 4-5th grade basketball team. We have 10 kids on the team. At Monday's practice, during the mid-practice huddle, talk turned to the national championship game. 4 of the kids are sports-oblivious & probably don't even know what a football is, let alone who's playing in the game. However, of the remaining 6, 4 of the kids were pulling for Oregon over Columbus. I was pleasantly surprised.

LOVED the 40-minutes of defensive intensity. THAT'S how we should be beating down other top MAC teams if we're "Thinking Bigger". Dominating performance.

Zips just tweeted starting lineup: Robotham, Evans, Kretzer, Cheatham, Forsythe. BJ must still be hurt?

On the post game show KD said BJ didn't play in the second half due to injury. I was also wondering about his lack of PT.

I heard that too & thought it pretty odd. Is there anything Big Dog does better than Pat? Interior passing, I suppose. Idk.

Joshua Williams updates courtesy of Ohio.com http://www.ohio.com/sports/high-school/high-school-notebook-wadsworth-hudson-firestone-score-victories-in-basketball-perry-duo-among-wrestlers-who-earn-titles-at-tournaments-1.554498 Irish stay undefeated The St. Vincent-St. Mary boys basketball team secured three wins over teams from three different states this week in a four-day span to improve its record to 7-0. St. V-M opened the week with victories over Salesianum School (Del). and Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.) on Sunday and Monday in the Slam Dunk to the Beach Tournament in Lewes, Del. Jibri Blount scored 22 points to lead the Irish over Salesianum 77-58. Josh Williams scored 21 points in the game and Jayvon Graves and Henry Baddley both added 12 points. Williams scored 26 points to lead St. V-M over Sunrise 52-50. Baddley chipped in six points in the game. St. V-M then returned to Ohio and defeated host Cleveland St. Ignatius 72-71 Wednesday in a New Year’s Eve afternoon game. Baddley led the way with 25 points and Williams contributed 17 points. Graves and John Williams scored nine points and seven points, respectively, against the Wildcats.

Penn State & USC were perfect opponents in this regard. Mediocre basketball but great name recognition.

Another issue that is out of our control, and this is a chicken-egg argument, is the lack of media coverage. The Cleveland televised media pretends we don't exist and always has. After a few generations of this it really is in the zeitgeist of the community that UA athletics is irrelevant. Did the Beacon do a pregame story the day of the game. I don't believe so. The only way the community knows what's going on at UA is through the UA marketing department, and we've had some rather depressing and lengthy discussions about them as well.

Slightly off topic, but within the general topic of overall attendance issues, I'm now in the camp which believes we need to cease with prioritizing keeping the 20-win/season streak alive, and start going into the lion's den a couple of times a year. We need to shake things up a little. Going into traditional Top 25 venues twice per year gives us two money games and the chance for some big time wins. We need to show the community that we are nationally relevant, like the soccer team has done. Scheduling the same way year-after-year has become a bit wearisome. (Top 25 and/or upper-echelon B10 schools. Name opponents. Not Northwestern. Bring on Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio State. I feel USC was a big win, even though basketball people know USC sucks. None-the-less, USC is a name opponent. Same goes for Penn State.)

My biggest takeaway from tonight's game is that BJ is really starting to come around. He's potentially our most versatile player. We need him to play well and with confidence. Big Dog still looks just awful. KD keeps talking about conditioning. I just don't get it - Big Dog broke his wrist, not his ankle. Conditioning shouldn't be this much of an issue.

http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/ua-women-s-basketball-unbeaten-zips-build-on-success-under-coach-jodi-kest-1.553385

Wonder if the timing of the announcement concerning the fact we are ready & willing to put pretty big $$$ into our existing basketball facility (and not wait on voter approval for a new arena) is an indication of us trying to make a move?

http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/university-of-akron-to-renovate-rhodes-arena-instead-of-waiting-for-replacement-1.552824

I have to ref little kids ball once in a while. By little kids I mean basically non-competitive 3rd-6th grade. I HATE it. I understand what is meant by the referee "anticipating" the call. Sometimes it's next to impossible to see what just happened with the naked eye. Add to that the fact that half the crowd is upset with you, along with one of the two coaches being pissed at you, no matter which call you make & talk about an unenjoyable experience. Good grief. I have no idea why anyone would want to be a basketball referee.

Joshua Williams scored 28 last night as St.V/M beat nationally ranked St. Benedict's (NJ). http://www.ohio.com/sports/high-school/high-school-basketball-st-vincent-st-mary-63-st-benedict-s-n-j-57-irish-feel-free-to-stun-highly-ranked-gray-bees-1.551680

Liked seeing Gladden get the start. He needs a shot of confidence. He had a good game tonight against an athletically inferior opponent. Hopefully it carries over.

Anyone know what kind of offense would best suite Jacob Harrison, that stud 4**** QB from Dayton we have coming in after next season?

I'm on my phone & can't post the link, but per Marla Ridenour on Ohio.com, Tree is no longer enrolled at UA.