Blue & Gold

And if your job is college athletics, shouldn't TW, or, for that matter, any other D-1 AD, pretty much already know who the consensus hot commodities are?

+1. So far this year Nitro's been downright awful.

Your wish is my command. What type of offense do the Zips run? Thanks, man! I knew you'd be able to dig that up! There you go, Lumberjack. Courtesy of Dave in Green.

Wow, excellent job on that seal! Put me down for a t-shirt if you're planning on having any printed.

Put me down for two.

Jason Taylor was recruited by Faust. Both Taylor and Smith were defensive guys. Winters was Offensive Coordinator. Smith was the best college player I saw playing at Akron. He could have palyed either side of the ball. I think he returned kicks and played every once in awhile on offense if I am not mistaken. I think he played a little WR for the Zips. And I believe he also played RB in high school & so IIRC, Lee-O didn't know exactly where he was going to play Dwight. I definitely remember Lee-O being really excited about signing him. I don't believe Dwight was a qualifier, so he was a bit of a risk. They hit a homerun with that one. Consensus All-American. He single-handedly beat K ent during his senior year. To this day he's the most muscular cornerback I've ever seen. Actually, he looked too muscular to play the corner. There comes a point where you lose mobility due to too much muscularity. Well, Dwight looked like that, but he could still move like the proverbial waterbug. Crazy.

At least we know he can beat somebody. Ooooooh.

Concerning the first portion of your quote which I highlighted, I agree. Gilliam, IMHO, just doesn't look real comfortable on offense right now. But I'm sure that will come. (We need it to come!) That might have to do with the fact, as Skip-Zip pointed out, there aren't many assists being dished out right now, so maybe it's just the whole team is in an offensive funk right now. Idk. Our mere 53 points against MTSU would definitely seem to indicate that. (Which was doubly disappointing considering AA was back.) The second highlight, like I mentioned before, when KD talks about "Akron basketball," I think that usually he's referring to tough defense. However, if you want a more thorough analysis of the offense we run, I can't give it to you, but there is a post somewhere in the archives which can. Last year (when we still had a team composed more of undersized, earthbound shooters) it seemed as if our entire offense consisted of passing and passing and passing the ball around the perimeter until someone launched a 3. So anyway, last year someone posted an email they received from an assistant coach which tried to explain the offense which we ran, but it was so far over my head it was laughable! (To me, it just sounded like gibberish.) I don't know how to find that particular post, but I'd bet Dave in Green could find it. (However, the DNA of our team is so different this year from years' past, that I doubt we're running the same offensive scheme.) Dave, can you dig up that old post?

Did anyone hear the postgame interview w/ KD? What'd he have to say?

When I hear KD talk about "Akron basketball," this policy of giving it all on the defensive end of the floor is what I think he's referring to.

I definitely think they should at least pursue an interview w/ Pat to see if there is any mutual interest there.

Sure, why not? I am interested in seeing them play. It's just that I've had the CSU game written in ink on my calendar for a few months now. (Even though I use Google calendar .)

Jeez, I hope not.

My simple reason is that I've been looking forward to the Cleveland State game for a year now. Not so excited right now, though.

I agree with you on this about seeing more of Gilliam. He's getting very frustrated and finding it hard putting on a zips uniform. He feels starting to feel less than a significant player. This is bad news. Gilliam looks like he's got as much scoring potential as anyone on our roster, but confidence is so important & I wouldn't want Gilliam to begin to doubt himself. No good playing tight.

Go get 'em, Humpty!

Just wanted to add my two cents

So, I take it you're pro-Paul Winters?

Check Dr. Z's link above. It should be free. [Edit]: Darn. Just checked it again & the game's not listed. Frenchie on the radio it is. Go Zips!!!

Great.

Well, I'll bet they have, but I know what you mean.

Is that Coach Bud Foster or Commander William Riker? For a guy who has never had the guts to sit in the big chair, he has an interesting opinions about leading a program. Aww, snap! We don't have false visions of grandeur. Most of us, at least at this point, simply want to be competitive in the MAC and be bowl eligible.

Gameday story from the ABJ. (George Thomas - is good ol' Tom Gaffney officially retired now?) Confirmed: both AA & Tree will suit up today. Lots of quotes from KD, who, of course, makes it sound like we'll get run out of the gym. Which we might. (AA still nursing his knee & not as explosive as he has been.)

I'd be extremely hesitant to hire a D-III HC to take over a D-I program (MUC's Kehres) largely because of the necessity of handling scholarships. Not that a D-III coach couldn't learn quickly, but, none-the-less, I'm tired of UA coaches learning on the job. However, what's the big deal about hiring a D-II HC as opposed to a D-IAA (FCS ) coach? Football is football, right? Just because the athlets are bigger/faster/stronger @ the D-I level than they are @ the D-II level, the strategy of the game is the same, right? The D-III & D-II players all know the game just as well as the D-I players. The playbooks are just as lengthy and complicated. The defensive schemes just as complex. Thus, with Paul Winters already having extensive experience recruiting D-I caliber players (being able to evaluate D-I talent), I don't see any risk at all in this hire. For those that played football at a higher level, or understand the X's & O's better than I do, what am I missing? Anything?

I heard this also, I guess it would be safe to say that is a good sign for his future? We've seen players get suspended for far less, so maybe in all reality the situation isn't as bad as it initially seemed. If what he takes away from this misadventure is that he is above it all, we still lose. Akron and Tree both need for him to grow up and live by the rules designed to protect him. Here is to hoping that a lesson was learned and we hear no more of late night adventures by Tree or any of his team mates. +1. As with AA, I hope, for Tree's sake (as well as the team's), that Tree is a bit embarrassed and rather contrite over letting the team, KD & himself down like this. Some embarrassment & contrition is usually a healthy sign that a lesson was learned. Go get 'em, Tree! We love ya! Oh, btw, I really do like Tree. Though I don't really know him, I introduced one of the middle school kids I work with to Tree @ the basketball tent before a football abomination & Tree was really cool to the kid. He seemed to enjoy the kids he was interacting w/. So, anyone who likes kids is cool in my book.