Zip_ME87

Mount Union, in nearby Alliance.It was the Bluffton University baseball team whose bus crashed in Atlanta in 2007. Mount Union's wrestling team bus crashed on US30 (I believe) in January 2011 returning from Ohio Northern.

Thanks for the updates...I'm glad to see these former Zips doing well. They helped us out; it's great to see them be successful.Go Zips!

You're right that none of us were on the "committee" (was there one?) that made the FB hire. I was told by someone in the Athletics Department last year that Barry Alvarez recommended RI, and I've always taken that to explain why Coach I was hired. For whatever it was worth, TW took the advice of someone with success in college football and probably someone he knew. I think most of us take advice from a friend/acquaintance over someone we don't know. It still seems that proper due diligence was not paid to this hire given how quickly it happened. As far as basketball and soccer, I give TW a lot of credit for not messing with things that are working and for not destroying those or other programs at UA by concentrating too much on football (perhaps a slight overcompensation). At any rate, I think you give TW a little too much credit for soccer. If you read what was published at the time, it was Dr. Proenza himself who said 'get it done' as far as increasing Coach Porter's compensation so much that it would be unlikely for him to go to any other university. In Santa Barbara, immediately following the National Championship win, Dr. Proenza couldn't praise Caleb enough. As for the soccer stadium upgrades, you can mostly thank Coach Porter, his staff, and teams. It's easy to get donors on board with naming rights when you win, especially in an area so void of winners. I will say thank you to TW for actually making it happen. Finally, you won't hear me comparing TW to Mack Rhoades or Mike and Mike or anyone else. But, you will hear me compare Akron Football now to Akron Football since I was there in the mid-80's. For one shining moment in 2005, I was proud of Akron Football. It was awesome to drive to Detroit and see other cars on the turnpike and I-75 with University of Akron logos. However, Akron Football continues to stagnate. It was a significant driver of UA apathy in the 80's and it appears to continue that legacy today. The only other shining moment was the day Infocision Stadium Summa Field opened. A large crowd, on campus, attending a football game on a beautiful, sunny, late summer day. Real college gameday had come to UA only to be washed away the following week. A lot of folks on this board obviously are stronger than me at putting up with this. When I see us kick off twice in a game and put our play sheets down our pants, not even appearing professional, it's time for me to move on and forget that Akron has a football program.

Love it! I'd love to see the cut-out "big heads" of players like some college basketball teams do. Like the AK-Rowdies do at Akron.

Perhaps it's like Millikin last year...exhibition for them; real for us.

The in-game commentary by @Zvalentin20 is priceless... zvalentin20 Zarek Valentin GOOOOOAAAAAlLLLL Darren "Laka Dis" "Muscles Mcgee" Mattock. Assist to Scotty "too cutey" Caldwell. 19 left in the first halff 16 hours ago zvalentin20 Zarek Valentin @Tschmitt21 is bumping off players like a spidermokey! I get the sense AK knows they gotta push for it! 15 hours ago zvalentin20 Zarek Valentin Chad Barson gets a yellow. For either being too good looking or taking the guy down. The crowd is still in hot debate over the issue... 15 hours ago zvalentin20 Zarek Valentin Darren Buttocks and @Tschmitt21 combining really well. I sense chemistry like that cute old couple at Dennys... Great chances for Dareen! 15 hours ago zvalentin20 Zarek Valentin On a side note, AK has 10 shots on goal to cal states 1... And @zmnsk21 is look quite spiffy tonight. #putsomewhipcreamonthat 14 hours ago zvalentin20 Zarek Valentin 6:30 left in the second OT... Nothing in it at all. Just waiting, wishing, wanting and hoping for a winner!! 14 hours ago zvalentin20 Zarek Valentin Ggggooooooooaaaaaallllllllllllllll Scottie "too cutey, I can't handle it " Caldwell!!! I don't care how it happend. Winnnnn 14 hours ago zvalentin20 Zarek Valentin Cal state girls soccer team made fun of my plain black cardigan asking if it was ugly sweater day..... #imstillconfused 14 hours ago

Exactly how I remember it. EDIT: Of course Brookhart didn't have to shove the offensive play sheet down his pants. He only had one play that day...screen pass...no need for a play sheet.

I just watched the replay again, prior to halftime...one of our assistants had his play sheet stuffed down the front of his pants, too. I hope this isn't the football coaches' dress code. I agree, Big Zip...it's pathetic that this is what it's come to...I expected so little that all I can comment on is that we could at least look professional and/or like we know what we're doing on the sideline. Turning around this program begins with the people on the sideline, and they don't even respect it enough to look respectable. I don't seriously mean this, but if this is the way that football is going to be at The University of Akron, then we should eliminate it. It's unfair to increase the burden on Jodi Kest, Kieth Dambrot, Caleb Porter and all of our other respectable coaching staffs to sell their programs to potential recruits because our football coaching staff makes us look like we're clueless.

Absolutely, what an EMBARRASSMENT to see that on National TV. I don't want to even consider what anyone watching that game was saying about the University of Akron after seeing that. Yea, what's the deal with that!?!? TW needs to pull him to the side and have a little talk about how we look on the sidelines. I can live with the glasses, but man, keep stuff out of your pants, get some assistant to hold your papers. I usually joke about this stuff and just put it aside...but that does reflect on all of us. I hope TW talks with him.

Captain Caldwell! Way to go Zips! THIS IS AKRON

Absolutely, what an EMBARRASSMENT to see that on National TV. I don't want to even consider what anyone watching that game was saying about the University of Akron after seeing that.

Yes.

Odd? It was 90+ degrees; fans in the stands were going down with heat exhaustion. Game was OVER. Seems obvious that Nicely was in so that Moore wouldn't get hurt. He wouldn't get hurt doing what? If he hadn't gotten hurt earlier,he was going to get hurt in the 4th quarter against OSU's subs? Ianello knew that Moore wasn't moving the team and there was no reason to leave him in. That was not all Moore's fault OBVIUOSLY. Ianello decided to play a guy who as far as I know had never taken a DI snap. If you are worried about him getting hurt,you better take him out in the first half 'cause thats when the game was out of hand. I agree, but we're talking about iCoach. No way do I believe that he brought Nicely into the game to make a difference on offense. BTW, I also agree with your first post in this thread that the Temple game @ home will be more telling than this one.

Odd? It was 90+ degrees; fans in the stands were going down with heat exhaustion. Game was OVER. Seems obvious that Nicely was in so that Moore wouldn't get hurt.

Are you kidding?! The guy on the bench was an absolute disaster when he came into the game.

Sorry, I'm not defending today's performance, but 5 years ago, Brookhart looked just as pathetic if not moreso in the blOSU game...screen pass, screen pass, screen pass, punt...blOSU shitty possession...screen pass, screen pass, screen pass, punt...blOSU shitty possession...repeat until halftime, with an Akron safety and a blOSU field goal thrown in there somewhere in the first half. Then it was screen pass, screen pass, screen pass, punt...Akron repeat until, thank Heaven, the game ended...with 2 blOSU td's and 1 FG thrown in there somewhere.

Stream is working but not the ZIps. Still no score with 8 minutes left. Does my memory serve me correctly that regular season has Golden Goal with no PKs if this is still tied? Yes

Thanks for posting Zach. I suspected our former Zips in the LA area would come out to support. I hope they can make the UCSB game in October also. EDIT: Sorry Yaz. I hadn't realized that was where your link went. Thanks all who posted links to that story.

Love those words Defending National Champion Akron.

I agree... the new kits are great! I'll put in the extra effort to learn their names/faces in spite of the difficulty reading the numbers on the pitch. Given their hard work, the pride they bring to The U of A, and how much I LOVE watching them, I have to know their names and be able to recognize them off the pitch.

I agree. He's looking good.

Balogun was one of only 2 subs in the semi-final against Michigan. The Zips had only one sub in the Championship Game (the other sub in the semi-final), and he's now at UNC.

I have a scarf for every MLS team that has a former Zip/Zips playing for them. I agree, though, that the Sounders are my favorite MLS team with Portland being a close second...organizations and fans. I'd love to see a Sounders/Timbers game at either Portland or Seattle.

I absolutely agree. DeAndre played the first half on my side of the field, and he made it look effortless to cover one end of the pitch to the other. I wished I had brought my Sounders scarf to wave as extra acknowledgment for him. EDIT: Great article, btw. Thanks!