Blue & Gold

Wow. That's too bad, because, like I mentioned earlier, he's the most successful coach Green's ever had. I don't think any other coach ever took a team to the state playoffs.

This is a bit off topic and concerns next season, but does anyone know how Steve Swiech is progressing? Does it look like he's going to be able to fill Jeremiah's shoes next season?

Does anyone know what happened to Elden Vickers at Green?? Man -- my first experience with organized sports was with the Green JHS 7th grade football, and that was Mr Vickers' first year coaching and teaching at Green. About 1971! Hey -- maybe he retired. That's longer ago than I want to imagine (or admit). BTW -- anyone remember Green track coach Mr Kelly brawling with Walter "No Neck" Williams of the Cleveland Indians basketball team? Wasn't his name Elden McVicker? I had Mr. McVicker (if I'm remembering correctly) for high school gym class my freshman and sophomore years. He was a good guy. A few years after I graduated he was named head football coach and did a great job! He's the most successful football coach Green has ever had. He was getting up there in years though, so I'm assuming he retired.

What's happening to our society? Columbine seemed to start a new and troubling descent. In the past month there have been 7 shootings at public gatherings. Sin is definitely alive and well in this world and in the hearts and minds of men. It makes you cry out like the apostle John in the next to last verse of Revelation, "Come quickly Lord Jesus!" But until that day my humble prayers go out to the entire NIU community and especially to those families who will be forever changed by this tragedy.

Haha! I was thinking the same! I love that reference! It's catchy too! I'm gonna have to remember that one and use it once in a while. I hope I go Tarver at the church league tonight! Fortunately for me, there's not much D played in the church league either!

I know Brett McKnight's not great on defense, but was he THAT bad last night? I'm no basketball analyst, so honestly, I don't know... but I doubt it. Jeez. This kinda goes back to a thread I started a week or two ago which I called: "KD's Coaching Strategy, Doesn't This Break Positive Momentum?" In the post I said that I had noticed that KD sometimes takes a player OUT of a game immediately after that player's either made a good play or shot - usually a big shot. I asked some of the more knowledgeable posters if they'd shed some light on this puzzling tendancy. KD did it again last night w/ Brett McKnight. I just don't get it. Just from playing at the YMCA I know that you're supposed to, "Feed the hot man," not take him out of the game. The only logical conclusion I can draw is, yeah, Brett McKnight is in fact THAT bad on defense. But, like I said, I didn't see him playing THAT bad last night.

According to a player on the team, Akron will be sponsored by the LeBron line next season. UA had a contract that with Adidas that expires after this season. I look forward to seeing all the new gear!That would be for all sports, not just basketball, right? So we'll have new football uniforms as well?

Man, I wish I felt like you! Honestly, I'm a bit demoralized right now. I'm thinking Wood is going to put on a lot of weight while he's out and not be half the player he was earlier in the season when he finally comes back. And Cedric looks as if he's been hurting for most of the year now. I love our youngs guys, but, man, I just don't think this is our year. I'm still gonna be at Tuesday nights game cheering all night long! But in the back of my mind, I've got to be honest, I really have my doubts. But I hope you're right!Go Zips!

How did his high school coach not know that was a bunch of BS?

His height being listed must be a typo, because Alex is only 5-10 -to- 5-11.But 43 points?! Dang.

This might be crying over spilled milk (man, I sound like my grandma!), but this really seems to have been a wasted year for Brett McKnight. I wish we would have redshirted him.

I was thinking the same. He'd make an ideal rover. He's big (6-4, 205 - prolly 215 by next season) and aggressive. Also athletic enough to cover in the backfield. He may start next year.

I agree. I'm tired of playing the elite BCS schools. The odds of us winning those games are nil. I'm all for scheduling middle-to-lower BCS schools and mid-majors. Why not SMU, Marshall, Memphis or Tulane from C-USA, or any of the Mountain West or WAC schools. I'm all for being competitive and winning. Winning will build the fan base; people like to be associated w/ a winner. If we win enough, and build up the program enough, the occassional Top 10 BCS opponent will be okay. I say we go for being recognized as an elite mid-major program before we start scheduling the perennial Top 10 schools. If we could be associated with Hawaii, Boise State, Marshall (the old Marshall) and be ranked in the lower part of the Top 25 I think we'd max out the stadium every week.

We definitely need more concerts downtown. We currently don't have any at all. Neither the Civic nor EJ Thomas bring in bands. An arena could be used year-around to bring patrons to the restaurants downtown before and after events.I believe the Chaifetz Arena is saying that they'll have close to 200 events per year, or something like that. I'm as excited about the new football stadium as anyone; I've been waiting for that announcement for about 10 years! But the Zips will only play there what, 6 times per year? Then we'll probably host a high school game of the week, which would be 10 more events per year. Add in the high school playoffs and that's another, what 5 events per year. And then I know they're planning to host some band shows, so, we'll say 3 band shows per year. Added together that's around 22 events per year. Needless to say downtown establishments will benefit far more from an arena than from the football stadium. Downtown really needs a quality arena venue.

Here's another very nice, new facility just opening at St. Louis University. It has a capacity of just over 10,000 (from my understanding that is not including seating in the 14 loges). I think 10,000ish is the capacity we should one day aim for. That's a completely uneducated opinion, but I don't think we'd want an arena the size of Cleveland State's, right? You go to a game there and the CSU Convocation Center so cavernous and empty it's a depressing environment. I don't know, maybe my thinking is too small? Anyhow, check this out:http://www.thechaifetzarena.com/

There has been some talk that both Akron and Cincinnati made offers to him for football, but that he is likely to accept a track scholarship somewhere else.That may be true. But from my experience w/ Rivals and Scouts, I'd be willing to bet my money that he never actually received an official scholarship offer from either Akron or Cincy. However, I'm sure he'll be offered a chance to walk-on at a few schools; maybe earn a scholarship in another 2 years. Maybe not.

Harvey completing a degree would be the best day in JD's coaching tenure.Well said. That would be a victory for all of UA. That's what these guys are supposed to be in coaching for to begin with, right - to help mold and develop the next generation's young men. Go David Harvey! Even if you never suit up for the Zips again, we're all pulling for you to get your degree!

I'd pay it.

According to a player on the team, Akron will be sponsored by the LeBron line next season. UA had a contract that with Adidas that expires after this season. I look forward to seeing all the new gear!Amen and hallelujah! I'm hitting the Team Shop, busting out my credit card, and maxing it out on Nike/LeBron Zips gear! Oh, yeah, and I still want gold uni's.

We did get rocked. It was an ugly game. Western is a very good team, but not that good. Our 3 senior leaders are all hobbled right now - Nick Dials, Cedric Middleton and Jeremiah Wood. We're all feeling pretty bad for these guys because they've been key players since their sophomore seasons and it's just pretty painful watching our seniors gimp around out there. For their sakes we're all crossing our fingers that they get healthy by March. (But when you play 2 games a week, what are the odds of that? Honestly, probably not very good.) All 3 have lost at least a step, and Jeremiah doesn't have much lift off the floor right now, to put it mildly.

Plus a couple of kids out of Strongsville (D. J. Woods and another one I can't recall) and a linebacker out of Hudson (Niam) who seemed to have all of the tools. It is always interesting to look at the roster when it is published to see if any of these athletes caught on as walk-ons. Unless the Captain has some insight????? D.J. Woods signed with Cincy.

It's kind of a shame that all 3 will be seniors next year.

It'll be interesting to see how JD uses both Andrew Johnson and Bryan Williams together. They're such great athletes that we need them both out on the field. That would also utilize Alex Allen alot as the 2nd string RB.

Ouch. We lost out on 2 of our 6 3-star recruits. Ouch. Rivals has WR Marcus Cooper listed as still committed to Akron but not yet signed. What do you guys think is up w/ that?

Check out these SWEET grey uni's OSU wore last night. Why do they do EVERYTHING better than we do? Those grey uni's are unique and very "cool." Why can't we be unique and cool? Like some of us have been saying for 2 years now, we need to bring the GOLD uni's back! Very simple. They are unique; while literally EVERYONE has white - few can have GOLD. Why in the bloody hell not take advantage of that? And they're SWEET! http://www.ohio.com/sports/osu/15344066.htmlAlso, man do we need to hook up w/ Nike! We need LeBron to stick tight with this U and be in our corner! What a natural fit too - LeBron and UA! Did any of you guys see the soles of the new Nike LeBron's? They've got a little street map of Akron on them! He's definitely a homeboy!