72 Roo

I like the gold pants. On all their pants I would love to see a Z on the upper thigh. Let's make it navy blue on our white and gold pants and on the black pants I'd love to see a gold Z similar in color to the numbers. Also make it big, like 6" so everyone can clearly see our brand. What do you think?

Thanks for sharing. Great pub for the Zips!

My concern about Williams is not his shooting but his decision-making. It's pee poor. I agree that he needs to work his problems out in practice because too many other Zips are playing better and deserving more playing time. Until something changes he could find himself on the bench or looking to transfer next year.

I had to listen to the game tonight on a Columbus radio station that carries OU's games in central Ohio. The OU announcers made the very point you raised regarding the crowd at the JAR. Or maybe I should say lack of a crowd. They were in highly respectful of the Zip team and openly questioned why the gym was not packed with the students back on campus, the weather so good and the team so strong. I also can't figure out the Akron area's lack of support. This was a great matchup!

Saw this kid against Hoban in the state final game. We can do better.

Thanks for sharing B & G. Love to hear good news about my hometown. When the city prospers so does UA. A vibrant partnership is one of the keys to separating ourselves from the myriad of state universities in the midwest. Keep growing Akron!

Damn right. Let's get that help we are desperate for on the D line.

How about playing on a team that had an offense that was lead by incoherent play calling and a defense that could not stop anyone. I hate to see him go. He was a very good left tackle and the only guy on the line who could run block. he actually drove his opponent back off the line when the D knew we were going to run. I also hate losing him because he came from a top 5 P5 conference team and, to me, that gave us a greater sense of legitimacy amongst college players seeking a promising program. best of luck and thanks for sticking thru a difficult season.

Two much appreciated posts. My thanks to Zip_ME87 and TennZip. We forget the good things we have and our soccer program, coaches and players are at the top of the list. I confess sometimes I've gone negative out of frustration because I can see a much better product than we are given. You remind us, though, that we still have a lot to be proud of. Thanks guys. Let me offer a point of clarification. The much better product I was referring to was other Zip sports, not soccer.

Two much appreciated posts. My thanks to Zip_ME87 and TennZip. We forget the good things we have and our soccer program, coaches and players are at the top of the list. I confess sometimes I've gone negative out of frustration because I can see a much better product than we are given. You remind us, though, that we still have a lot to be proud of. Thanks guys.

And how many were thrown to him? C'mon, you can't mean he got them as a receiver.

What strikes me immediately about the Cotton Bowl is that Wisconsin threw to its TE Fumagalli more times in one game than the Zips brilliant OC threw to our TE's in 12 games. Don't anyone buy the B---S--- that the TE is irrelevant in any particular offense. Coaches who are capable of good balanced play calling use all their weapons. Please TB, address this weakness.

Welcome to the board. I hope to read more of your posts. As regards your first post I, for one, feel Milwee is a detriment to the program when it comes to play calling. He appears to be a good recruiter but cost us too much when he runs the offense. He is better at stopping us than any defense. In fact he's damn good at it. I love the talent we are assembling, but the unfortunate fact of football life is that bad play calling can negate that talent. He proved it last season and I hope TB does something about it. Next season is critical for us to turn this around. Glad to hear Ball is returning. Hope it is official soon.

I think if the coaches can follow your wishes we have a shot at a good team next year. To me it all hinges on finding DT's and TB stepping in to change the offensive philosophy and play calling. On the offensive side of the ball I believe the greatest improvement this team faces is not in improving the talent but in improving the coaching. But make no mistake I would love to see a slew of DT's signed.

We are more of the same mind than not. I am also a TB supporter but I expect performance and continued improvement. We definitely did not get that in the second half of last season. I don't buy the excuse of injuries but I do accept that they make things more difficult in achieving our goals and I am willing to admit they were a factor. But coaches have to build depth and find solutuions. I hold them accountable for that. Where I may disagree with LAZip is that I do not think TW is a returning starter. He has great talent, I grant LA that. But I am worried about his leadership and his temperment. When things went south so did his attitude. His tweets bothered me and showed a side that I think is selfish and not team-oriented. He had to be constantly harassed to get into shape. No leader requires that. They do it for the good of the team and their own improvement. I like a dual threat QB and TW showed he had not bought into that. I relish an open competition next year. But guys, all this is for naught if Milwee is given the offense. He is incompetent as an OC no matter who we argue should be the QB. Bad coaching ruins good talent.

Unfortunately I don't share your optimism, altho limited, for the 2017 season. I see our O-line as good pass blockers and poor run blockers. They did not have one team in 2016 that they could knock back off the line. When we needed short yardage we could never get it by running. I agree as to the QB situation: I see TW as riding the pines behind Cato or Nick Johns. Our receivers will be very good. Our running backs need Ball back and a speedster to emerge. Too many questions there so I regard that area as fair-average. Any offense led by Milwee is too easy to stop. He is incompetent at our level. This year proved it. On D our DL needs too much help to be an area of strength next year. They will be below MAC standards, even with transfers. LB needs better talent. We can not count on transfers, who sat this season, to match Gilbert's standard. I see the DB's actually getting better than this year. The kicking game will also be better. All that said I see too many questions for us to expect to be dominant in the MAC. We may win a weak East, but the West will kick our butts.

Loved Ghoulardi! My age is showing but I don't care. He was so ahead of his time. Go ahead and "Pluck your magic twanger Froggy!"

"You and I and the other folks on this forum represent a very small minority that care about the University in any manner, nevermind athletics. It makes me very sad because I love the place and I wish everyone could feel the same warm feeling I have toward the institution." I believe that on ZNO there is no "very small minority" that love our university. I know that is not what you said but i want to point out that most of the people on this board are passionate about the university and its athletics. I know I am and have been for many decades. I'm grateful for these people and only wish that our passion was contagious and would grow like wildfire. To all of you who care I am thankful for your commitment. Merry Christmas. The best is yet to come. Keep the faith and keep demanding excellence.

I like the caution you have in your post. Freshmen rarely ever help, except possibly for depth. Moreover freshmen almost never make you better, at best they plug gaps. We don't have gaps on defense. We have canyons to fill. Kreed was right in reminding us this is the worst returning defense in the conference. If we can't get better there, thru transfers, redshirt freshmen and graduated senior transfers, we will have another disaster. This recruiting class is exciting to have but w/o a D that can stop people we are deluding ourselves in our passionate desire to see the Zips become a winner in football. I pray Terry is the guy to lead us to the promised land. I support him and his leadership except for one major area. We can sign all the hottest talent there is on offense but w/o an OC that knows how to use it those signings become a waste. I have zero confidence in Milwee. I believe history proves me right. Wish it wasn't so.

My biggest concern also. You have got to protect the basketball and play a lot safer when it comes to passing and decision making.

Well someone has to complain. After all this is ZNO! So here goes. We have way too many turnovers. We do not protect the ball. Passing especially under pressure was not acceptable. The whole team needs to improve here. Big Dog played like he had somewhere else to go. He seemed bothered to play D as he repeatedly left his man who then ended up on the end of 2 points. (End of rant) Qwan played a well balanced game. He was in my doghouse last year because he wouldn't rebound, but this year he has turned that around. Noah was outstanding and Ivy showed continued flashes of brilliance. I'm still waiting to see him play a total game, but I love his potential. Also love Hughes intensity. He will be a key player soon. Wish the fans would support this team. With Dayton getting over 10,000 during break and 12,000 when school is in session i don't understand why we are getting 2,000 for a fun game against the Herd. BTW, wish they were back in the MAC.

You echo what I have felt for a long time about twp of our counted on D linemen, Pittman and hamilton. Neither were what we wanted and certainly not what we needed. They have so much talent it is ridiculous, but they have no desire and it showed. Is it any wonder OSU and Miami gladly let them go. Put their talent and physical gifts with a humble, hungry athlete and we would have had a very successful season. What a shame to waste such talent.

I agree with LZip on this one. This young man did his best when called upon and it didn't work out. Let's get off his back and focus the discussion more on what the coaching staff is doing to strengthen a potential weakness. We have no reason to get complacent in the QB area. This year was a very bitter pill to swallow based on all the great things we thought this team had going for it as the season began.

Sorry, I meant Kreed.

Reed .... Thanks for bringing a good dose of reality into any thought of a new arena. Your research is appreciated and is top shelf work!