Blue & Gold

My two cents: $0.01: With Ronnie transferring out and Dylan Ennis already verballed for the following year, KD is probably looking for an immediate impact w/ Alex Abreu. $0.01: With Abreu's high-level international experience I'm hoping he becomes our version of St. Mary's Patty Mills! Welcome aboard, Alex! Can't wait to see you in the blue and gold! Also, can someone clarify, is the New Jersey prep school a one-year school along the lines of Hargrave Military Academy or is it a high school? Consequently, did Alex graduate high school in the States or in Puerto Rico (not that it matters)? More importantly, will Alex have 4 years of athletic eligibility remaining with @ UA? Oh, and as a p.s. concerning the above conversation regarding KD's signing day comments. I do understand where the poster is coming from who said, "Give it a rest KD," when KD said high character is "first and foremost" in our recruiting philosophy. I don't care so much if our basketball scholarship recipients are Eagle Scouts. I do however, want them to be able to hoop like bad @ss s.o.b.'s. I think that should probably be our "first and foremost" criteria. If they also want to help @ the church Vacation Bible School? Well that's simply icing on the cake. Lol Now someone will say, "You want them knocking off the 7-Eleven?!" Lol. Insert "roll-eyes" here.

Where did you hear or read this? Do you have a link to share?

He looks like Ronnie Steward.

Yep that's me, I like to stomp on progression. In fact I am so angry that they turned Carroll St into some kind of outdoor living room that I've continuously petitioned to have either an arena or street placed there. A major portion of the campus without a street? Blasphemy. No Jake, all I was saying is, I would love to see the information on how they would turn parts of Exchange into a mall and have it not effect the accessibility of the new deck. I never said "down with progress". If you would read what people say and then form an opinion instead of forming an opinion and then reading for things that support that opinion, you would do so much better in here. The "mall" could probably start at grant. Getting to the garage would be easy from Wolfs Ledges and W. exchange. The idea might actually work well. I know it is only half of the south edge of campus but it would encompass the worst part of exchange while allowing access to the new garage area. I know Jake will like where the arena is listed. Pedestrians crossing from the new dorm area would also see much less traffic and lower speeds directly in front of the exchange residence hall due to the dead end. I would hope that most would cross in the newly created pedestrian area though. Thanks for the view. That looks like the area for the second phase of the new dorms. However, it is close to the area of development I was thinking UA could put the new arena which would have as its borders: Exchange, Spicer, Harvey Court and Goodkirk. UA has musch if not most of that area already and there is ample room for an arena w/o disturbing the existing Greek Housing or future potential Greek Village. Nice job! I was wasting some time on Google maps and looked at that spot for the new arena. There is plenty of room there for a 11-12,000 seat arena. Pitt's Peterson Events Center (12,500), Providence's Dunkin' Donuts Center (12,500), the Hartford Civic Center (16,300), Grand Rapid's Van Andel Arena (10,834) & The University of Saint Louis' Chaifetz Arena (10,600) would all fit perfectly in that location. Plus could you imagine the view of the arena from Rt.8 just south of the Buchtel Street exit?! Sweet! I'm for an on campus, 11,000-seat basketball friendly arena. NOT a generic indoor soccer/hockey-friendly arena. Most of the seating for basketball in one of the more generic soccer/hockey arenas is ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. Much, much better in a basketball arena. If the city wants an indoor soccer/football/hockey arena, let them get the county involved & a major player like FirstEnergy. Then build the arena across from Canal Park. That way we'd have both a first class basketball arena and a soccer/football/hockey arena. If a city the size of Canton can build the Civic Center (it's not very nice, but it's more than Akron has), Akron and Summit county should be able to do the same. I'm hoping the City of Akron/Summit County do in fact build a soccer/football/hockey arena across from Canal Park. I just don't think UA should be involved in that project. Build a first class UA basketball arena next to the Info.

TSO = Trans Siberia Orchestra

I hope Toledo turns it around. And fast. I'm with Zip Watcher in that I think we and Toledo make very nice, natural rivals and that our schools should work together to purposefully stoke that rivalry up. (Could we have "Mayor's Cup" games in football & basketball?) I'm also with 'Watcher in that our schools would make a nice 1-2 metro university combo for the Big East to bring in after re-alignment. Toledo's a very good school with a great campus in a nice city. They've also got a great arena - I stopped in to check it out when I was on my way through Toledo last summer. There's no reason they shouldn't be a perrenial favorite in the pathetic MAC West.

The first time Indiana had the ball I could tell we were in trouble unless some defensive adjustment was made (and, of course, none ever was). Indiana was running the ol' 3-yards and a cloud of dust offense on us, but we couldn't stop it - and they were usually getting more than 3 yards. Our defense was bent over with their hands on their knees during Indiana's FIRST offensive possession!!! (Well, first offensive possession not counting the deflating opening kickoff return for a TD.) We were about 5 minutes into the game and I could tell it was probably going to be a long afternoon.

Can't State. What an almost worthless institution of "higher learning." Really, what a collection of turds. Graduate from Can't State & deliver pizza. Science & engineering. Research & development. Mathematics. Law. Business. And soon-head of either NEOUCOM or The University of Akron School of Medicine and Pharmacy (keep fighting the good fight, Dr. P!). Man, I am so glad I'm an Akron fan.

Check your facts...I believe "Maybe we should get a new coach to lead us to the Final Four." was not part of KD's quote. That was Terry Pluto's inference. Whoops! Sorry about the misquote. Zip_ME87 is absolutely correct. "The only downside is it might raise some unrealistic expectations," was KD's quote. "...Maybe we should get a new coach to lead us to the Final Four," was simply (as Zip_ME87 rightly pointed out) Terry Pluto's inference. Thanks for the correction!

Wow, I sure prefer Gary Waters' quote to KD's. "I have the main pieces in place - a great arena, the support of the president and athletic director. Now we just need to get the players." -Gary Waters "The only downside is it might raise some unrealistic expectations... Maybe we should get a new coach to lead us to the Final Four." -KD

Wow, quite the field. Diamondhead Classic participants: Baylor Butler Florida State Hawaii Mississippi State San Diego Utah TBA... Sounds good to me! If given advance notice, I'd try to make this trip. P.s. What's San Diego doing taking one of the spots? Like they need a break from their lousy weather?! Lol

Both Walsh and Malone are soon going to be moving to NCAA D-II. Word on the street is both schools have been trying to get Mount on the schedule for years but MUC doesn't want any part of either of them.

Very true, GoZips. If UA lined up against MUC, not many Purple Raiders would get off the field sans a stretcher. Lol. But Coach I was definitely only joking. I believe the title of the article said as much. Well, at least I hope nobody thought he was serious! Lol. The Canton Repository also has a nice story about the speech. Again, I can't post it from my BlackBerry. So if someone else would be so kind...

Mark Few says he wants to make Gonzaga "the Butler of the west."

<br /><br />NO...this makes it seem like he's some robot built by Apple. And everyone knows that anything built by Apple is doomed to fail. We have to think more positive and not associate Coach I with the iPod and the brand new iMaxiPad!!! Lol. Yeah, I want the new iPad. I just can't decide whether to get the nanoPad or the maxiPad. Lol.

iCoach. Brilliant!

Darn it. Oh, well. Good for him.

Or, he saw more money and a team in a better conference at Cincy. The departure of Huggins is looked at by Zips fans as a negative. It was completely positive and inevitable. Positive in that Huggins did all he could with the program. Coleman Crawford was the mistake, not the employment of Faust. Huggins was and still is the best BB coach in school history. If the football program doesn't hire Faust, they don't move to D-IA and Huggins is stuck in the OVC forever. I don't think that was the way he saw his career going. Huggins was/is a great coach and his leaving was going to happen whether or not Faust was hired. IMNHO, the best discussion about Faust/Huggins is, What if Faust isn't hired? UofA never leaves the OVC and I-AA football. Huggins leaves maybe a year later. Either way, Huggins would not be at UofA today. Would the athletic department be better off today? We now have twenty years of evidence behind us. Let's face it, the MAC is a glorified I-AA conference. We would have the best facilities in I-AA and could be a national power. Instead, we have good facilities in a half ass conference....sorry, the worst DI-A football conference. The OVC is still a very good basketball conference. We would be better off right now in the OVC. Now, if the NCAA could just get around to realigning college football, everything would be in order for the Zips. Eh, maybe, maybe not. We do now have excellent facilities. The best mid-major facilities in the country, and good for even for a BCS school. We're in the heart of a football-crazed region. I don't think a single Zips fans has delusions of gradeur such as beating Texas to win the national title. But I do think the Zips could be a regular Top 25 program. And I know that I'd much rather be a regular D-1 Top 25 (even if it's #25) than be D-1AA National Champs. I think that is the general consensus among Zips fans and the board of trustees. I think your idea of a Top 40 super league, or something like that, is intriguing and has much merit. But I would always hope that such an alignment would be an open system, where worthy teams not in the initial Top 40 (Boise State, etc.) could replace unworthy Top 40 bottom dwellers. I think Euro-league soccer works on this premise. I'd always want to have the hope of competing @ the top level. A permanent move to 1AA would kill all hope of that. Besides, except for the perennial Top 15 programs in the country, I think the Zips have the potential to be competitive with anyone esle.

<br />Unquestionably, UCONN has been the best Big East team in recent years. They are a fast paced, offensive orriented team. Defense is fine if you can score once you get the ball. And I think the last time UConn won the national title they had khalid El-Amin running the point & Rip Hamilton filling it up @ the 2G. Definitely have to be able to put the rock in the hole. That's why I can get excited about & appreciate Big East ball, but Miami-style ball makes me vomit & then fall asleep. When Tom Gaffney suggested KD was hinting @ becoming the next Miami of the MAC, I about had a stroke. That's why I'm hoping KD is hoping to emulate tough-nosed, east coast ball; not trying to be the next Charlie Coles.

+1 Good Doctor! I echo the sentiment that whatever jersey LeBron's wearing, that's my team! Akron's #1 son!

I'm on my BlackBerry & thus cannot copy & paste links here. But the ABJ has a very pertinent AP article today concerning defense and how all 4 Final Four teams are built around a "defense first" philosophy. Frankly, it sounds like a collection of KD quotes. I still say, "Please KD! Don't play Miami-style-bore-the-hell-outta-me ball!" But tough nosed Big East-style ball is cool. And I hope that's what KD is shooting for. Anyway, can someone paste the link to the Ohio.com story? it's a good and pertinent read.

+1. But hey, what a great life though, huh?! Travelling Europe. Playing basketball. Getting paid very decent money. Sounds posh to me!

Honestly, how could anyone believe that he would go to the Knicks or Nets? The guy is so focused on winning that he would never go to two of the worst teams int he league and start all over again. Maybe if they signed Kobe, DWade, and a decent big guy first then LeBron would think about it. Basically, you're kidding yourself if you think there is any chance that LeBron will go to either of those two teams. You're also kidding yourself if you think this guy wouldn't win anywhere he goes. What makes you think that's true when he cant even win here? Alway have to be careful saying "he" can't win when it's a team game. One man can't win a title by himself. It takes an above average team to boot. Jordan never won anything without Scottie. Jordan and Pippen were the two best players in the league at the time (or at least the 1st and 3rd best - I could also argue Charles Barkley was the 2nd best). That'd be like having LeBron and Kobe on the same team, or, if you'd want to go 1st and 3rd best, it'd be like having LeBron & D-Wade together. Forget about it. Not only did the Bulls have the two best players in the league, they also always had arguably the 2nd best PF in the league - Charles Oakley, Horace Grant & Dennis Rodman (I'd consider all of them a #2 to Karl Malone). In addition to that they always had an All-Star-caliber PG. In short, the Bulls, as a team, were ridiculously stacked. How'd they ever lose a game? That'd be like the Cavs having: PG - Chauncy Billups (Not the best PG in the league but an all-star caliber player.) SG - Kobe Bryant SF - King James PF - Amare Stoudemire (would you consider him the 2nd or 3rd best PF? If not, insert your own player here.) C - Zydrunas (the Bulls never had a dominate C; just a serviceable 7-footer.) So, needless to say, LeBron is doing WITH A WHOLE LOT LESS. I enjoy & learn a lot from Charles Barkley's observations & comments. A lot of Cleveland fans don't like him, but that's just because he doesn't blow propogandistic smoke for the NBA and tells it like it is. He's been saying for years that the Cavs play WAY TOO SLOW to best utilize LeBron's strengths and that the Cavs would simply suck hard without LBJ. He's right. Could you imagine putting 'Bron on any of these teams?!: LBJ + Boston Celtics = champs LBJ + Toronto Raptors = contenders LBJ + Orlando Magic = champs LBJ + Atlanta Hawks = champs LBJ + Miami Heat = champs LBJ + Charlotte Bobcats = contenders LBJ + Utah Jazz = champs LBJ + Denver Nuggest = champs LBJ + Ok-City Thunder = champs LBJ + Portland Trailblazers = champs LBJ + Phoenix Suns = champs LBJ + LA Lakers = champs LBJ + LA Clippers = contenders LBJ + Dallas Maveriks = champs LBJ + San Antonio Spurs = champs LBJ + Memphis Grizzlies = contenders LBJ + Houston Rockets = contenders LBJ + New Orleans Hornets = contenders There aren't many teams in the league that 'Bron would not instantly make the favorite to win the NBA championship. He is an unprecedented talent. However, the Knicks and Nets happen to be two of the few that are so pathetic not even 'Bron could will & skill them to the front of the line. I couldn't agree more. He hasn't won here and he wont win anywhere else unless he's surrounded by at least one more star and enough above average talent to do it. Jordan definitely had it easier, and you forgot one thing: LBJ + current Cleveland roster = CHAMPS This year they finally have put it together but they still would have a tough time matching up with many variations of Jordan's Bulls. Yup. Jordan's Bulls would expose the Cavs just like the Orlando Magic did last year. LeBron couldn't match up with both Rashard Lewis & Hedo Turkoglu at the same time. Likewise, LBJ wouldn't be able to match up with both Jordan and Pippen at the same time either. It was pick your poison with those guys.

Honestly, how could anyone believe that he would go to the Knicks or Nets? The guy is so focused on winning that he would never go to two of the worst teams int he league and start all over again. Maybe if they signed Kobe, DWade, and a decent big guy first then LeBron would think about it. Basically, you're kidding yourself if you think there is any chance that LeBron will go to either of those two teams. You're also kidding yourself if you think this guy wouldn't win anywhere he goes. What makes you think that's true when he cant even win here? Alway have to be careful saying "he" can't win when it's a team game. One man can't win a title by himself. It takes an above average team to boot. Jordan never won anything without Scottie. Jordan and Pippen were the two best players in the league at the time (or at least the 1st and 3rd best - I could also argue Charles Barkley was the 2nd best). That'd be like having LeBron and Kobe on the same team, or, if you'd want to go 1st and 3rd best, it'd be like having LeBron & D-Wade together. Forget about it. Not only did the Bulls have the two best players in the league, they also always had arguably the 2nd best PF in the league - Charles Oakley, Horace Grant & Dennis Rodman (I'd consider all of them a #2 to Karl Malone). In addition to that they always had an All-Star-caliber PG. In short, the Bulls, as a team, were ridiculously stacked. How'd they ever lose a game? That'd be like the Cavs having: PG - Chauncy Billups (Not the best PG in the league but an all-star caliber player.) SG - Kobe Bryant SF - King James PF - Amare Stoudemire (would you consider him the 2nd or 3rd best PF? If not, insert your own player here.) C - Zydrunas (the Bulls never had a dominate C; just a serviceable 7-footer.) So, needless to say, LeBron is doing WITH A WHOLE LOT LESS. I enjoy & learn a lot from Charles Barkley's observations & comments. A lot of Cleveland fans don't like him, but that's just because he doesn't blow propogandistic smoke for the NBA and tells it like it is. He's been saying for years that the Cavs play WAY TOO SLOW to best utilize LeBron's strengths and that the Cavs would simply suck hard without LBJ. He's right. Could you imagine putting 'Bron on any of these teams?!: LBJ + Boston Celtics = champs LBJ + Toronto Raptors = contenders LBJ + Orlando Magic = champs LBJ + Atlanta Hawks = champs LBJ + Miami Heat = champs LBJ + Charlotte Bobcats = contenders LBJ + Utah Jazz = champs LBJ + Denver Nuggest = champs LBJ + Ok-City Thunder = champs LBJ + Portland Trailblazers = champs LBJ + Phoenix Suns = champs LBJ + LA Lakers = champs LBJ + LA Clippers = contenders LBJ + Dallas Maveriks = champs LBJ + San Antonio Spurs = champs LBJ + Memphis Grizzlies = contenders LBJ + Houston Rockets = contenders LBJ + New Orleans Hornets = contenders There aren't many teams in the league that 'Bron would not instantly make the favorite to win the NBA championship. He is an unprecedented talent. However, the Knicks and Nets happen to be two of the few that are so pathetic not even 'Bron could will & skill them to the front of the line.

The Cavs would struggle to make the playoffs without LeBron. With him, they are the best team in the league. There are probably 10 other teams in the league that 'Bron would do that for as well. If a decent team signs King James they are instantly a title contender. HE IS THAT GOOD. But neither the Knicks nor the Nets are in that category - needless to say. They're downright awful. Today ESPN launched ESPN-NewYork.com, or somthing like that. So with the timing of these articles you've gotta believe they're simply fabricated fluff to increase traffic to the new site. I don't think anyone's serious in thinking LBJ is going to NYC. But if he does, more power to him. He'll always be a loyal Akron homeboy no matter where he happens to play professionally.