72 Roo

I would love to see us build a pipeline from Hoban to UA, but only with the right kids. I watched the Hudl highlights of him and had to chuckle at his :18 block. reminded me of one of the scenes from Blind Side. I also wondered about his foot speed while at the line. After getting going he seemed to move OK, but when on the line he appeared to have slow feet. Perhaps others feel differently. I bet Joe has better talent coming.

Friday night I watched the Youngstown-Oakland game and came away impressed with the crowd, especially the students. In watching our game with OU Saturday I felt our gym looked hard empty compared to the near sellout YSU had. I still can't understand why the students don't support our team at a higher level of attendance. Saturday afternoon should have been perfect for any student living on campus or new it. Is that expecting too much for a team that is the envy of most D1 institutions?

It seems we finally have someone exit our program who had talent. I hate to see him go and I wish he had given Joe a chance last fall. He could have been one of the foundational blocks our secondary was built on. While he was in the program at one time it also seems like we didn't lose a player because he sat out last fall. Still I hate to get him on campus and then lose him. Best of luck with the Scarlett Knights. I believe Schiano will rebuild that team into a respectable program. Go win a position young man!

Thanks Catdaddy. Your analysis is interesting. To me it points out that we are not losing talent that can help us grow. Further we are not losing depth. The folks we have coming in are better in both the ability to challenge for a starting position and the ability or to provide much needed depth. Joe understands the process and will make this team better before we tie it up in the Fall. Give him time.

You got your wish ... kinda. Hank and Hunter are getting consistent. They were part of a balanced attack. I think Hank is playing better D and picking his shot better too. Hunter looks comfortable now shooting his 3's. Tavari is just what he is, a promising freshman who is playing like a freshmen. 2 outta 3 ain't bad.

Most posters on this site are MJ fans. We want her to succeed. If you are reading otherwise that's your problem. Since the end of last season the coach has had all that time to decide on her offense and how she was going to execute it. She has had nearly 9 months to develop or find the bodies to give us depth to support an up tempo style of play. Stinson looks fine when out on the court. In fact I see nice growth from her. She is moving her feet and learning what D1 conditioning demands. Thorpe and Stewart look to be lost and they play like it. No other significant PT is handed out. Coach has an issue and we hope she has a plan to solve it. If so we will be awesome for four quarters, not three.

The game against BUGS is a microcosm on the concerns Guthrie has with Melissa's coaching. She clearly can recruit, but is her coaching able to make a difference, does it make the team better than the talent they individually bring to the table? Last year she clearly let Dawson run the team, even when it was against what Melissa wanted. We saw that time and again in Melissa's reactions and direction from the bench. Against BG she needed fresh legs and clear coaching to break the press and play with a lead. Is our depth so bad there is no one that we can give a few minutes to? In the postgame radio interview Melissa took the blame for our collapse. That speaks to the high character she brings to the position. I hope she also can bring the same high level of coaching. I'm rooting for Melissa and the lady Zips.

This was a tough game to lose. We had a great opponent, good attendance and an inspired response from our players for three quarters. Molly was superb. I thought the rest of the team tried hard, but put themselves in positions where the fourth quarter turnovers were going to happen. Our depth is a big issue and Melissa has got to find help from the bench other than Stinson. W/O it we will not go far in the MAC tournament.

I'd like to see Lyles play under more control, but under Groce that will be fixed. He has a lot of promise and coach has shone the ability to get it out of him. I like the guy's effort and attitude. He will play himself into a big contributor.

What a game! EMU is a train wreck. Bates and Farrakhan only cared about themselves and their points. The entire team lacked heart and that starts with the coach. I've got a bone to pick with the announcers. It took Akron being up by 21 before they stopped drooling over Bates. The second half they got better, but he first half was putrid with their fawning all over Bates. Cudos to our boys for showing class. Groce is putting a good team together.

How did you get into my home to get a photo of our toaster? I've long suspected my wife is having an affair. Now I know it is with the Zipmeister. Can the Meister see her more often so I can see more Zip games? I think she will want me out of the house. I still want that damn new toaster.

After February do we still get a 10% discount plus free toaster if we sign up a new member? My wife is really looking forward to a new appliance.

I am amazed that so far we have not lost any player of consequence. Perhaps that is crude and too blunt as all of these players in the portal are probably good guys who only want to compete and play. Well under JoMo you are welcome to compete, but PT is probably going to be limited as he upgrades the talent on the team. Keep going Joe. Last season showed we aren't as deep as we need to be. I look for more players hitting the portal.

The announcers were praising the attendance at this game. Are you kidding me? The Stroth Center seats 5,000 and there weren't more than 1,500 in the stands. Open seats everywhere. No pressure from the fans 'cause they weren't there. Good Lord, I hope we can do better when in league play at home.

Indeed last night's game was crap. But I fear it will only embolden the greedy CFP to limit who plays for the championship. Now the teams almost always come from the 65 P5 schools. Last night's game points out that they are not equal. A good TCU from a weak Big 12 is in no way in the class of the traditional top six (OSU, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Clemson and maybe USC). The CFP will continue to cater to the best because that's where the money is. I look for the power to shift to the Big Ten and SEC as those two conferences cannabalize the rest of the CFP to get more money. BTW going to 12 playoff teams will only reward the P5 schools. I'd like to see the G5 acknowledge that they have no place in the CFP and look to protect themselves. A G5 national championship would be a great game to watch.

OSU vs Georgia was the national championship game. OSU showed a brilliant ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

I hope we get someone who wants to be here, not just needs a job. Our program needs a builder. Someone who realizes we aren't the best in the MAC and it will take a long time to upgrade talent and facilities to get there. If you are just passing thru, like Beals, keep on going.

Good for him. That's a higher level program than I thought he would reach. That will be a nice place for him to send his final year of eligibility. I wish him well. BTW< i'm looking forward to seeing the LB's we have coming in coupled with our returners and redshirts. I believe in JoeMo.

That's easy. It has to be Hiram, or is it Coppin State, maybe Muskingum. Come on, give me a hint!

I watched the second half on the Butler-Providence game. Ali was in for quite a lot of time. He did not seem to be the player he was at UA. He was wearing a facemark for protection and maybe that affected his play. Thad Matta seemed to be OK with Ali playing on the wing and shooting beyond the arc. I saw little movement out of him such as cutting to the basket or switching flanks. I did not see him follow any shots or crash the boards on others' shots. His D was acceptible. The one thing I noticed that he did not do from his play last year was his dribble-dribble backing the ball into the paint for a turnaround jumper. He seemed to play w/o confidence. Perhaps that stems from his injury. Perhaps that is due to the better play in the Big East. Curiosity made me watch, but I won't be wasting any more time on his progress. I'd rather watch a ZIP.

I've said before that Aziz's departure took Groce by surprise. He had plans to continue building his skills while giving him more minutes and responsibility if he responded to the challenge. Like the rest of us Groce did not want him to go. I'm prejudiced but I believe that Groce, the MAC, the team and the opportunity were all better for Aziz. He did not feel the same. I haven't met a person yet who doesn't regret losing the guy.

Well someone had to start this so I will gladly step forward. Merry Christmas to all Zips, friends and guests on this board. I'm grateful we have this medium to feed my Zip addiction so thanks to the creators and moderators. You've dome something impactful that means a lot to us. Thank you to the brave souls who post risking ridicule, argument and praise. You postors are the life blood of this forum. Thank you to those who use this site to learn more about the Zips. You may be silent at times, but we know you are out there and your support helps to make this the best site in the MAC. Finally, to those I have never met, thank you. Yous are friends I have yet to meet. Merry Christmas! Go Zips!

I talked to Groce about it and he also was baffled. He indicated he didn't see it coming. But John had a great attitude about the transfer saying strange things happen in college sports every day. So move on.

We will see indeed. Mitchell had a record of achievement that will be incredibly hard to match. Under him we were THE collegiate pole vault center in the country. We also were top 25 in T & F and top 5 in our region. Few northern schools did that. Now coach Mitchell is the pole vault coach at Illinois making more money than he did at UA as the head coach. I wish his assistants had stayed. They were excellent. I hope the new head coach can replicate Mitchell successes. We will see.

I love Greg Tribble's effort and defense, but not enough to overlook the fact that he is a liability on offense. He can't shoot a jumper, he's average at the line and he is a turnover machine when he drives the lane. When he drives he forces too much rather than take what the defense gives. When he forces it into the paint he leaves his feet with no options, hence at TO. I'd start Johnson over him and bring him on for energy and D.