Blue & Gold

Naturally, there are going to be both positives and negatives to both the MAC & C-USA. Positives: MAC: natural geographic rivalries, established rivalries, easy road trips to away games. C-USA: stronger conference, slightly more name recognition. Negatives: MAC: lousy conference, waaaaaay over-saturated w/ Ohio schools. C-USA: no (few?) natural geographic rivals, forget about road trips to away games; airline tickets required for the most part. Just two thoughts. 1. I have no illusions of UA ever competing for a national championship in football. I don't think anyone does. But I do think UA could be an occassional Top 25 program. That's my dream & what I hope for and if I live to see that day I can die a happy Zips' fan. Thus, I would much, much rather be an occassional Top 25 FBS program than an occassional FCS national champion. And I do think an occassional Top 25 ranking is a realistic goal. 2. I feel that presently we should simply focus on the MAC. Dominate the crappy conference we are in. Become the Boise State of the MAC. If we do that, then we can possibly cross a bridge or two if the opportunity arises. First things first. We were in the dark ages w/ the Rubber Bowl. Lee Owens had to work with the very worst facilities in all of D-1 football. Think about that for a bit. Let that sink in. We had the very worst facilities in all of D-1 football. The facilities JD had at his disposal were getting much, much better. Now Coach I has some of the finest facilities in all of college football (outside of the Top 15-20 BCS schools.) I think we're finally in a realistic position to begin dominating MAC football. By the way's: 1. I do enjoy our rivalries w/ K.e.n.t. & Ohio (...and Miami... to a lesser degree). If we chose to do so, we could maintain those rivalries even w/ a move to another conference. 2. I think we should get real friendly w/ Toledo, Buffalo & Temple, as we are all similar universities and make for good rivals and all fit the profile of the "Big East-type" of urban institutions. P.s. I also agree with the sentiment of enough with the dead horse comments. This is a freaking Zips sports talk board & there's only a limited number of topics to throw around.

GP1, How do you see a split between the BCS and non-BCS schools bringing in $$$ for the non-BCS schools?

Oooooh. That's a full-time job! Lol.

Correct GP1. Joel Olestien(sp?) is creepy, isn't he?! Televangelists give Christians, as well as all people of reasonable faith, a bad name. Also, as is tiresomely documented ad infitum, most all of the great western scientists have been believers in some sort of "god", if not necessarily the Hebrew God. But whether or not you believe in the God of the Hebrews is really neither here nor there when it comes to origins. regarding cosmology, atheism/materialism runs into a philosophical wall that sincerely can't be overcome. I don't want to get into this here, on ZipsNation, but most well-read peeps of intelligence who don't want to believe in an ontological "Is" will claim agnosticism, not atheism. Philosophically, we can be certain there has to be something metaphysical to account for the physical (both philosophy/logic and science show this), we just can't be certain what/Who that "is." Lol. This is actually a funny joke, if one doesn't get it, don't worry. Lol. Remember, it's actually quite simple (and philosophically/logically irrefutable), if something exists now, then something has always existed. -something really exists as opposed to reality only being an illusion. -nothing ever comes into existence out of nothing. -matter has not always existed (as science has demonstrated) -logic necessitates a metaphysical/ontological "Is". -Atheism requires a whole lot of blind faith & beating of one's head against the wall (if one honestly realizes what they're talking about). To have the ability to recognize & acknowledge the logical necessity of an Ontological Being is just following the evidence of science, philosophy & logic. But hey, I'm on this board to talk Zips! Lol.

This might be your most telling post yet. I was just out for a nice, slightly brisk, run and it's VERY acceptable football weather out there. We all now the old saying regarding people who fall into "glass half empty" of "glass half full" categories. I'd like add two more categories. Here are the four I propose. 1) Glass half empty - those of us who are generally somewhat pessimistic 2) Glass half full- those of us who are generally somewhat optimistic 3) Glass is overflowing - that rare breed who thinks that anything is possible (my last boss was like this....I don't wish that on anybody) 4) Glass is bone dry, on the precipice of shattering into a billion tiny shards before igniting into a massive fireball and finally being fused into a charred, horrific and grotesque remnant of itself. Go Zips! I just finished up a 5K and, ironically, I was about to post essentially the same senitment as Lee. I would suggest anyone attending the game today to dress in layers and wear your winter clothes - coat, gloves & skull cap. When I was finishing up the run it was beginning to snow. The wind will cut right through you. It was rough running in it. It'll be even worse just sitting out in it. So go to the game & see what iCoach has in store, but bundle up!!!

And I'll also repeat what I said in the 2010-2011 Roster thread: +1.

+1. I was thinking the same thing. He was a guard @ UNO. He should be a guard for us too. Enough w/ the 6' backcourts. Let's put a lineup on the floor that is more physically imposing.

I like how UAZip0510 distinguished between the beginning of the year lineup and the tourney-time lineup. I'm lazy, so I'll just toss this out. Nothing revolutionary here. PG: Abreu, Humpty 2G: McNees, Roberts 3F: McKnight, Diggs 4F: Euton, Egner 5C: Zeke, Nik I know, I know. That's awfully young @ the 4-spot.

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.