Blue & Gold

Man, this is why soccer scares me. Though we are clearly the best team in the nation, with a game like soccer, even we can get beat on any given night. Tight, low-scoring games; the ball bounces the wrong way once or twice...This really makes me nervous when I think about the playoffs' single-elimination format.

Now let's keep our fingers crossed that St.V/M's Jakaar Sampson decides to stay home & rep in the blue & gold!He'd be our 2nd 4-star recruit. And I'm hoping that at least half the hype coming out of Illinois about Ennis is true. The articles I've read essentially make him out to be Illinois' (let alone Chicago's) #1 PG. Ennis & Sampson would be a GREAT class!Stay home Jakaar! Keep it real! Go get him Willie!

For clarification, Ennis is presently a high school JUNIOR, right?

Absolutely amazing! EXCELLENT work!!!

Exactly. From all I've read, Egner is your high-energy, slashing, athletic, above-the-rim type of player, while Euton is your more polished, outside-shooting, fundamentally sound, if less-athletic type player.

With my BlackBerry I am unable to post a link. Someone else will have to do so. But in today's ABJ Zips story (and I must confess they've been faithful in their coverage of such a depressing season) this line really jumped out at me:"The defeat to NIU means that the Zips are ensured of having a losing record in 2009. It also was the 10th consecutive Football Bowl Subdivision defeat and seventh consecutive MAC loss, over two seasons."Good grief.

A few observations:1. Should I be as surprised as I am to see Wright State ranked so highly?2. The A-10 is not considered a mid-major conference by this poll. I suppose I'd agree with that.3. The MAC is not well represented at all. After Akron and Can't, Buffalo follows (way down the list), followed by Miami (way, way down the list) and Central Michigan (way, way, way down the list Lol).4. Anyone else remember the days (not too long ago) when we were thrilled by simply being mentioned with the other "others receiving votes" schools? Man, KD's brought us a LONG way!

Spot on, Hip Zip. I'm expecting to see Zeke struggle at first, be underwhelming during our first trip through the MAC East, but then start to click during our second round of MAC East games. Hey, he may be underwhelming all year, who really knows? He will, undoubtedly, eventually be a great player for us, but we will want to exercise patience.Additionally, I wouldn't get too worried over Zeke not having any blocks during our first day of scrimmages. Zeke may have (and I'm sure probably did) alterred a handful of shots without officially blocking one. If Zeke can alter shots, and get into the heads of the other team, that'll be as effective - if not as sexy - as blocking the shots.

So what teams represent Akron in the NBA and the NFL?I totally agree with not associating cities and not rooting for another college in Columbus. But when it comes to pro sports, i think it is natural for people in NEO to root for cleveland teams.You're right, it is. My attitude is really just sour grapes. I am simply beyond fed up with the Cleveland television media's COMPLETE ignorance of anything Akron that it's really given me a distaste for the city-up-north as a whole. Also supremely frustrating - and this is Akron's own fault - is the fact that the Zips have had such a perfect opportunity over the last 10 years of total Brown's suckiness in which to capture the hearts of NEO football fans in general, and Akron football fans in particular, and we, unfortunately, haven't done squat to capitalize on the opportunuty. Ahhh! Painful, hot button issue with me. Where's the number for my shrink?! Lol

Did you get any details about the stadium?

It's time we stopped associating Akron with Cleveland, period. Cleveland sucks. Pittsburgh sucks. Columbus sucks. This is Akron, baby!The other day I saw a great t-shirt @ the Rubber City Clothing Co. Simply says,"F*ck you, I'm from Akron." I like it.(However, yeah, as long as our homeboy LBJ plays for the Cavs, I'll say, "Go Cavs!")

IMHO what we need to do is three-fold. 1. Open every season at home against a D-1AA school. NO MORE OPENING UP @ PENN STATE, WISCONSIN, or OSU (I know, already too late for next year.) As a longtime Zips fan, I know, unfortunately, that oftentimes the most exciting time of the Zips football season is the month BEFORE our 1st game. I'm SICK of first game beat downs. We need to fill the Info, on a warm fall day, and lay the beating down, not vice-versa.2. Schedule ONLY BCS conference schools that will give us 1-for-1 / home & home deals. This will, naturally, lower the level of BCS conference schools which we play, i.e., NO MORE Penn States (for crying out loud) or any Top 10 programs - at least for a while. More Minnesotas, Colorados, Northwesterns & Syracuses, thank you very much. And...3. Win the absolutely freakingly atrocious football conference that is the MAC. It should be SO EASY to be the next Boise State coming out of this conference. A mediocre D-1 team would go undefeated in this conference. Why can't it be us? It should be us. And, after some major shake ups at season's end (yeah, I believe we should wait until the season is complete), I still believe it will be us. With a schedule consisting of a D-1AA, two mid-level BCS schools and the MAC (lol) man, why shouldn't we average 9 wins per season, if not more? We do that consistently for a few years and the Info will be the place to be.Hope springs eternal.

Really too bad about Ronnie. Maybe we should simply start rooting for him to merely get healthy and live a normal life? His injuries seem to be chronic. We need to be keeping him in our prayers.Any word on how Nitro & Sweich played?

I'd love to see Zeke portrayed as a 7' elf! Lol.

Elton on Dylan & ZekeChicagoHoops.comCrown Mag (Canadian hoops)Quote: [Dylan] "Has drawn interest from Michigan, USC, Washington State, Stanford, St Johns, Fordham and an offer from Akron."

Ditto. I couldn't find much either. He is definitely a 1-guard though, not a 2-G, as the thread title states.

True, true. During the Huggins era at Cincinnatti, one never heard a peep about Columbus State basketball.

Fellas, the point of this thread is supposed to be how big the arena should be, not where it should be.

I think we've finally found a RB; DeVo's looking good. DeVo's really distinguished himself and he's looking stronger as the game goes on.Btw, I believe I saw Dale Martin limping off the field again earlier in the game.

Yes, let me clarify. Nice move, Zipsrifle, making NIU feel welcomed and wishing them a good match - though I do hope we shut them out.Columbus State? NEVER!!!

Amen, Brother skip-zip! No sitting on the fence here!

And, it's my understanding, that the new QB would be utilized to simply help practices run more smoothly - not for potential game PT.

"If Sewell comes back from injury our D-line should be pretty good next year."Wait, am I missing something? How badly was Sewell hurt?Also, I don't get as bent out of shape as some about us running the 3-3-5. I really like a 4-3, with 4 big-uglies on the line. But I have no problem with the 3-4 either. And, frankly, I can't really see much difference between our 3-3-5 and a 3-4. We usually seem to have 7 bodies in the box. I'm no defensive coordinator, but what we run generally looks a lot like 3 DL with 4 LBs. And with our talent & depth @ LB I'm fine with that.

Thanks vmd! Has anyone seen the new LBJ23 jerseys we're gonna be rockin' this season? If they have them displayed @ Saturday's meet the team night, could someone get some pics & post 'em?

A truly difficult balance to achieve. Especially in America, where everyone is accustomed to having their own car, and parking right in front of the store/restaurant they're frequenting. That's another reason I'm quite amped about all the dorms going up - UA being adjacent to downtown is giving downtown establishments thousands of potential customers right next door.