Blue & Gold

I agree that the KD - LeBron - Akron connection is an absolute once-in-a-lifetime event. The planets all aligned for us Zips fans here. This will NEVER happen again. There is no other mid-major U in the nation that is as fortunate as we are right now. We need to milk this for all it's worth! We need to ride this wave for as long and as far as we possibly can! KD is a good game coach, a great players coach, a tireless recruiter, and loyal to his hometown and U - what more could you ask for?! Oh, yeah...... he's great friends with LeBron James!!!!! Holy crap.

Is this guy presently a junior or a senior?

Here's a great story on Ryan Bain from the front page of today's ABJ Sports section. The story occupies the vast majority of the front page today and includes a most excellent pic of Bain blowing up a sled! Good job ABJ!http://www.ohio.com/sports/17077551.htmlHe's going to be a BEAST!

Ryan Brinson is playing DB for the Canton Legends.Ha! That's hilarious! Well, actually, how sad for him.

Frankly, I can hardly make any sense out of most of those plans (I'm definitely no architect!), and most of the pages I saw were just paperwork, so could you tell specifically which links you found most helpful and interesting?!

Here's a very nice story on Johnie Davis of Canton Timken. He was named the Repository's P.O.Y. Johnie was named 1st Team All-Ohio D-1. The story says he lacks the qualifying grades to play D-1 college ball but that he's working on them. http://cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=405030&a...ubCategoryID=29The story also features two nice little youtube videos of Johnie's highlights. One is an interview where Johnie says his favorite person in history is LeBron James. Ha. We should definitely invite Johnie to walk on! Heck, he could play against LeBron this summer if he comes here!

If Zeke's Mom - Gamechanger - is kind enough to post with additional updates are we allowed to respond, or is it going to be pretty much one-way from now on?

Thanks Zipsrifle! But those plans look like what I was expecting - concessions stands and bathrooms in the concourses. What else were you expecting/hoping would be down there?

Ha! That's what you call a manufactured story! Look at how the "reporter" manufactured the entire story around a couple of pulled quotes! That's text-book on how one is NOT supposed to journal (unless you're writing a blog).But LeBron is market-savvy if he's anything, so it sure would not hurt his marketability in this state to make statements to that effect. I think Wise-LeBron is intelligent enough to realize that - oh, yeah, I also remember LeBron saying he'd like to attend OSU when he was being interviewed in... oh, yeah... COLUMBUS! Ha! Go get 'em Bron-Bron!

Here's the Beacon's recap of the Zips' b-ball season. Nice article by Tom Gaffney. Talks about how young we're going to be next season.http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/17007541.html

I think most of us knew what you meant. The campus will never really be "complete," as it will always continue to evolve and grow. But I most definitely agree w/ you uakronkid, the stadium is the keystone project for the entire Landscape for Learning initiative as well as for much future development. We're all going to look back on the opening of our new stadium as the single most monumental step forward in the UofA's history. Even if NEOUCOM moves to UA and develops the biomedical corridor, or 5 - 10 years from now when the b-ball team opens a new arena, neither will be as important a development as this new stadium is to signal the true ascendance of the UofA as well as adding to the campus asthetics and community life. The stadium project will likely be the catalyst for the development of all of Exchange St. leading downtown, and all of Spicertown as well. This project is huge.

I love KD because he loves his hometown and his U and is genuinely commited to building this program right here. At the HOF luncheon he mentioned that he loves LeBron so much because LeBron is a loyal guy. Well, I think KD appreciates loyalty so much because he is loyal himself! He doesn't want to go anywhere; he's a true homeboy!

That doesn't surprise me because when I saw Humpty play I was flat-out amazed. He's honestly one of the best high school players I've ever seen. Without exageration I wish we had him running our PG this year; I thought he was that good. But it's nice to hear from former coaches because I'm nothing more than a casual observer of the game when it comes to X's & O's.

I wasn't able to make the MACC vs. Can't but I was able to chat online w/ a few others who weren't able to make the game and it was a blast! I think it's definitely worth keeping!

I don't think there's a man alive more well-fit for this coaching position than KD. Honestly. The planets alligned for him to land here, bring along Dru & Rome & J-Wood, and be personal friends w/ LeBron. He's a bright coach and a diligent recruiter who is passionate about his hometown and U. Good grief, we are so fortunate to have him at the helm of this program.

Thanks ZipsTrumpet! This quote is from the Canton Repository story:Another plus for the Akron program is his relationship with Cavaliers All-Star LeBron James. Dambrot coached James for two seasons at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, and they won two state titles together. James holds his basketball camp, AAU tournament and open gyms on the Akron campus. Dambrot also promised "big news" in terms of an Akron "affiliation with LeBron." "He's a very, very loyal guy," Dambrot said. "That's why I love LeBron." I wonder what the "'big news' in terms of an Akron 'affiliation with LeBron'" could be?!

I hope not!!! It also lists Sean Fobbs as a Senior. He's actually going to be a redshirt freshman. I also noticed it lists Andrew Johnson at 5-10, 215. That sounds more realistic that the 230 he was listed at earlier. There are but a handful of people IN THE WORLD who are as fast & quick as AJ and go 230. 215 is PLENTY!

Thank you seniors, you all are fantastic people and had fantastic careers! I'm proud that you represented our community with such class & competitiveness! You have certainly turned this program into something I would only have dreamed of about 15 years ago! I remember watching my first Zips basketball games with crowds at the JAR that were probably only a couple hundred strong. I would sit in the end zone bleacher sections and literally have almost the entire section to myself; maybe 4 or 5 others up there. A SG from Barberton named Tron Jenkins was by FAR our best player. The second best player on that first team I watched @ the JAR was JASON TAYLOR! Yeah, of the Miami Dolphins! He was a 6-6 center/powerforward; very athletic and strong, but not really a basketball player. Man, has the program advanced TREMENDOUSLY with you guys and KD at the helm!!! Honestly, you probably don't realize all that you've done and all that you've accomplished! THANK YOU!

I would love to see KD recruit a player that is ranked top 150 in the entire country, then Akron would truly dominate. Having a recruit that is one of the best in your state, doesn't necessarily mean he is a high impact player. The crop of players at that position could be particularly weak in that state during that year. I would also like to KD recruit a player hat is ranked in the nations top 20 at their respective positions.Well Ziplockbag....I guess you never took the time to check out my son Zeke Marshall 09 recruit..WHO by the way sir...has a 3 star ranking on Scout.com and is listed 19 in the 2009 class at the Center position. So having said all of this---you MAY want to rethink that above statement or perhaps do a "little more research" before blasting the recruiting efforts of UA. He is not ranked on Rivals (although they have a very interesting article about him on their site). And if I may say this...you might want to consider this has well....why only go after the "so called" highly ranked players? Consider the fact that Zeke is not blown up on the "scout" sites yet he is considered a major recruit for his class..AND RIVALS NOR SCOUT had ANYTHING...now say with me...NOTHING to do with it. I personally like it when a kid is not considered by "scouts" and "rivals" and places like that to be so important or worth their attention...although they are excellent players..why do I say this...because it provides a better opportunity for UA and other mid major schools to get top quality athletes without having to fight the "bigger" schools for them. Zeke LOVES being under the radar...less scrutiny from the "so-called" super intelligent, all knowing scouts and more of an opportunity to look at and really consider schools LIKE AKRON. Take a deep breathe ziplockbag and hold on...because it is getting ready to get (as my beautiful daughter says--CRACK-A-LACKIN) Sweet! I love that: "CRACK-A-LACKIN"! That's hilarious! CRACK-A-LACKIN-AKRON! We know Zeke is the real-deal and we think he'd look beautiful in blue & gold!!! "Humpty Hitchens with the ball at the top of the key; passes over to Roberts; Roberts back to Humpty; Humpty drives the lane and dishes off to Zeke; SLAM WITH THE RIGHT HAND!!! TWO POINTS! The Mid-American Conference trembles at the sound of Zeke's name! The crowd is going crazy, crying out 'ZZZZZZZZZZZEKE!!!'"

The common sentiment is that we all hope Jimmy Conyers sticks it out and comes back w/ the team next year. But just to throw this perspective out there, wouldn't it be better off for everyone if he'd transfer down? He could go to a school where he would get playing time and could really contribute (I hate to say this, but he hasn't really contributed anything all year; doesn't even take his warmups off anymore.) Jimmy does seem like a really nice guy, but awfully mentally fragile. Transfering down would be a healthy move for Jimmy. As for us, we'd get another scholly freed up and could offer it to someone who can play and contribute at this level. With the Conyers scholly maybe we could sign both Zeke and Reggie Keely next year?!

I think we're going to be more than fine. Watching Humpty play last weekend, wow, I wish he was running the point for us today (let alone against Can't State)! And another member of the 'Nation, who had seen both Steward & Humpty play in high school, said he'd actually give Steward a slight edge over Humpty. Additionally, Steward has had a year to watch & observe & learn the system; I think we'll be awfully tough at PG next season. That will enable McNees to move to 2G and just worry about running off of screens and launching from deep, with Darryl Roberts giving us a great athlete off the bench. Linhart will start at SF w/ B.McKnight coming off the bench as possibly the best player on the team. C.McKnight will be a more polished and experienced PF and Sweich will instantly be one of the biggest C's in the MAC. I think we're going to be awfully good next year!PG: Steward, HumptySG: McNees, RobertsSF: Linhart, B.McKnightPF: C.McKnight, NikC: Sweich, BardoI'm thinking Sullivan, McClanahan & the big guy from Dayton will be redshirted next year. That would make Sullivan, McClanahan, the big guy from Dayton & ZEKE MARSHALL all freshmen at the same time! KD doesn't rebuild, he reloads!

Comparing big men and guards can be a little bit like apples and oranges, but I think that Jeremiah is the best Zips player I've ever seen. I've been following Zips basketball closely since around 1992ish (the final year of the Coleman Crawford era?) so that goes back quite a while and covers a lot of talented players. Congratulations on making your hometown proud, Jeremiah! We're sorely gonna miss you, Bro!

Interesting. Thanks!

The ABJ reported today that Dr. Howard Ducharme was removed as Chair of the UA Philosophy Department. Wow, this is a horrible move on UA's part as Dr. Ducharme is one of the most intellectually gifted men in all of NE Ohio. He's an absolutely brilliant graduate of Oxford University. I am an acquaintance of Dr. Ducharme and know from personal experience that he is great with students as he is one of the most humble, unassuming, unpretentious people you could ever hope to meet. In fact, he is so down-to-earth that he is more comfortable with his students referring to him as "Dewey," than as Dr. Ducharme.Does anyone have any inside info on this?I know that Dewey is a Christian man, and that he was discriminated against because of his religious beliefs at his former place of employment (the University of I'll Bite My Tongue.) I would hope that this is not the case here. Also, I know that Dewey really sticks to his philosophical guns as a resident ethicist at both Summa & General hospitals when a medical ethically gray area is encountered (mostly dealing w/ the continued care of partially brain damaged patients) and that has caused friction with insurance companies on more than one occassion. Just saying, if you know Dewey, you know this is bogus. UA is fortunate to have a mind (and personality) like his instructing at the U! So, once again, does anyone have any inside info on this development?