72 Roo

Yup. If we get good QB play we win the MAC. If we get poor QB play we'll be lucky to get to .500. Easy as that.I agree quarterbacking is critical and have said so many times on this board. There is another element that is equally important, coaching. J.D. did a great job withthe special teams, but hos coordinators were lousy and, frankly, even below MAC standards. Let's hope J.D. is prepared to rectify the situations on either side of the ball. If he does I think we go 6-6 or 7-5, at best, and set ourselves up for a great run in 2009.

If anyone replies, who was at QB? I hope it was Rodgers.

Go Zips,Thanks for your great posts . I always feel like I get insider information when you are on the board. I've got a question, how is Ronnie Stewart? Is he fully healed and ready to start and carry the load on a D1 team? We need him and the other young pups to come up big this year.Regardless, it's good to be a Zip!

Has this site ever heard of the concept of editing in which you catch all the mistakes in the submitted copy? Wait a minute....that would assume they know what they are doing. Forget it.

Timmy,There's more on this board than you think. I met Z.I.P. in Hawaii on my vacation this Spring and had a great time talking Zips and having a few cold ones. He's knowledgeable and should be a great companion for sitting in the stands watching the Zips play for a national title. Make room for me. I'll be there also.Keep your posts coming. They're great. Ya gotta love your passion for the Zips.

Gotta agree with you guys. I love our future in BB and soccer. Football scares the hell out of me. I pray to God JD is not serious about Jacq being ready to lead us this year. He doesn't have the skill, talent, heart or brains to lead us in the MAC. Rifle , I'm already there about 6-6 or out for JD. That's going to be a big order too. My crystal ball says we are lucky to go 6-6 with our schedule and talent.Wish It were otherwise. At least

Timmy, I agree the Zips have a great future as Z.I.P. has pointed out. UConn and South Fla are worthy rivals, altho' we should have kicked S.F.'s ass. We were the better team. When we last played UConn they were slightly ahead of us. Those fortunes have changed. All they have is a better facility and conference now. We are better.Our new facility has had architectural review and has been signed off on by the board of trustees and facilities management. It is a beautiful facility with 3,500 seats on the side our bleachers are on now, locker rooms, refs rooms, press box, an entertainment suit and birm seating behind the east goals and along the side opposite the main stands where the teams now have their benches. There is only one teeny little problem ...there is no money to build it now or in the next three years. Caleb has been told he has to do his own fund raising if he wants it built. Cost is $12 million. Caleb is trying to get it built in phases while also trying to find a major donor. First phase is to move the field to the new seting to allow for a big grandstand and lay down water, sewer, electrical and drainage under new turf. The next phase is lights and a few misc. things. The last stage is the main grandstand. This will be hard. Don't believe for a minute that the school has to build a new facility if Caleb wins big next year.Akron's debt is at a manageable, yet all time high level right now. The borad of trustees will not go in deeper to build a low revenue generating facility until after the football stadium is shown to be a success. Read that to mean 5 years. That's why we need someone with deep pockets to jump start the whole initiative.The truth of the matter is that our conference and our facility are the two greatest, and only sigificant, limiting factors to the growth of the soccer program. I hope Caleb does not get frustrated. I believe he will not. His contract extension shows he wants to build here and he has a very good relationship with Mac Rhoades. Caleb speaks highly of him often. Caleb is a big picture guy who sees where we can go. Kinda like KD, but in a sport that is higher in national prominence. He's what we need. Let's give him the people in the stands he needs this season. See you there and then afterwards for a cold one. Deal?

Thanks Zipsrifle and Ziptrumpet for the pictures you have posted. It is really exciting to see the updates that are posted and the progress that accompanies each picture. The impact of the stadium is monumental, but I also like the psychological effect the Outdoor Living Room will have on the south side of the entrance to Buchtel Hall. So many people will see it when they come for sporting events and it will make a hell of an impression. Our campus is going to be second to none. To paraphrase Mel brooks "It's good to be a Zip!" Actually I had no contribution here - credit should go to Dr Z for the picture I commented on. Sorry. Thanks to Dr Z as well. It's still good to be a Zip.

Thanks Zipsrifle and Ziptrumpet for the pictures you have posted. It is really exciting to see the updates that are posted and the progress that accompanies each picture. The impact of the stadium is monumental, but I also like the psychological effect the Outdoor Living Room will have on the south side of the entrance to Buchtel Hall. So many people will see it when they come for sporting events and it will make a hell of an impression. Our campus is going to be second to none. To paraphrase Mel brooks "It's good to be a Zip!"

Wish i could help, but I don't know for sure. In early May I spoke witht he dept of development fundraiser for the College of Education. He wanted it doen before the students returned in the fall, but that was only a wish and he admitted he was unsure of the timeline for completion. It ought to be a great place for pics when its done. Good luck in your wedding plans and don't, under any circumstances, many a Golden F.l.a.s.h. because

KId,Your pics are great! Thanks a lot. For the poster who felt Carroll would stay green, don't count on it. Memorial Hall is next to come down. Then on the combined Carroll and Memorial Halls footprint will be the new college of education building. Look for the building to be moved over towards old Memorail Hall to make room for the 4.6 acre outdoor living room. It will be fabulous and a beautiful entry to the south side of Buchtel Hall.

Your post is uncalled for. I know several police officers on the APD and the thought that someone was firing at them with deadly force, and assumed intent to kill, sends shivers up my spine. The fact that the suspect was an Akron athlete deeply saddens me. I'm a former letterman and the allegation that any Akron athlete would do this is horrible news. There is no need to make light of it with a comment about team speed. This just isn't funny on any level!Unfortunate, yes, but I did snicker a bit. I know for a fact if this had been a K-E-N-T athlete, this board would be abuzz with jokes. When it's one of ours, we criticize comedy.Yeah real funny. I gues the wives and kids of the cops who had to dodge his bullets are finding it hysterical. Just because the classless folks on the K-E-N-T board do it doesn't justify our sinking that low.

Your post is uncalled for. I know several police officers on the APD and the thought that someone was firing at them with deadly force, and assumed intent to kill, sends shivers up my spine. The fact that the suspect was an Akron athlete deeply saddens me. I'm a former letterman and the allegation that any Akron athlete would do this is horrible news. There is no need to make light of it with a comment about team speed. This just isn't funny on any level!

unfortunately you may be right...JD is NOT going to be invited to the FO unless he is either at least 7-5 or goes to the MAC Champeenship game...now...he has a good O-line,good RB's, appears to be a better D-line and adequate LB's...secondary is ????....wideouts????...QB????????....they can win some games with a running game and defense in the MAC...but unless CJ or whomever steps up at QB and 1 wideout emerges....the D will have to dominate...got my season ticket order in for '08 and '09My hope is we are both wrong.

A 7-5 record is a stretch in my opinion, but I will be cheering as hard as I can that they do it. My prediction of 6-6 I think is more realistic in leiu of all the question marks that are brought into this season. QB, coaching, WR's and DB's are the major ones I see. The problem I see on this board is that we all want them so desparately to succeed that we overlook or minimize the serious challenges they have. If we objectively voice this we are lumped in a catagory of "morons" who are like Browns fans who criticized Charlie. I guess my avid support of Charlie as a Brown went for naught. Captain I acknowledge you know the Zips better and deeper than I do. That being said, until the four keys areas I have mentioned above prove themselves on the field I think I'll stay at 6-6. BTW Capt'n didn't you predict we would win the MAC East last year? I wish you were right. I really enjoy your posts.

I guess I was aware of the donation for the "Outdoor Living Room", but I was not aware that Memorial Hall was going to be demolished and replaced by another building. This is where my concern is. I also understand that all of the construction is necessary to make the University more attractive to current students and improve enrollment. Believe me, I think the rennovations that have taken place already were desperately needed! I also am one who believes in moderation, and we have done a HELL of a lot of building in the past decade with what appears to be no end in sight. I think it is time to scale back, build a new building every 5 years or so and start to pay down some of this debt. $60 million for a new stadium, tens of millions more for dorms around the stadium, purchasing Quaker Square, that's a lot of money for what is basically going on right now. Add to this a replacement for Memorial Hall, a new arena, and potentially some additional money for this $150 million dollar surprise, and we're talking some serious cash above and beyond the $300+ million that was initially invested.Methinks (always wanted to use that in a post) you don't have an accurate picture of all that is going on. The Outdoor Living Room is funded by Mrs Coleman and other sources that will not hurt our bond rating. Quaker Square was purchased by the U of A Foundation for the university, not from UA's budget or bond dollars. We are not replacing Memorial Hall. We are tearing it down to make room for a college of education building that will sit on part of the footprint of Carroll and Memorial halls. The education building has been budgeted for. No new arena is planned, that is just the fans getting way ahead of reality and specualting with no facts to back it up. The $150 million surprise Proenza teased us about is more associated with a private developer bringing commercial, retail and residential plans to the university district. Again, that doesn't affect our bond rating. Has UA increased its debt, yes. Is is a wise financial move, you bet. It is manageable and well within responsible fiscal management.The return will be fantastic.

Lee,I can't see Mac bringing JD back if he goes less than 6-6. Honestly, I'm not confident he can do that. QB is still the biggest need of this team and potentially it's greatest limiting factor. I've heard little talk about Rodgers so I hope JD is being coy and not alerting the rest of the MAC that we have solved the problem. But if he seriously starts with Jacq I believe he should be fired.Another problem we have is with our coordinators. Both were repeatedly outcoached last year. Our defense couldn't stop a gnat and our offense was so predictable the rest of the MAC ate us up. I do not share the belief that our O line is ready to excel. I remember watching them against Temple when we started the fourth quarter with a 21 point lead and all we had to do was run the ball to win. None of them could drive block when they needed to. On many downs against Temple all we needed was a yard or two to keep the drive alive and they couldn't get it. I think we need to look at the coordinators and the O line objectively. They weren't that good last year. I will grant you that a good QB will give them the best chance for improving. While RB will be strong our wide outs appear to be mediocre. TE is piss poor.The D line will be a strength. I see no size with speed at LB. I like Grant , but our others are undersized. The DB's need a major shot of talent.Against the schedule and with all the question marks we have I can't see us doing any better than 6-6. That's being optimistic.If JD can coach, he needs to show it this year. I hope he succeeds and once again shows

Rifle girls in spandex? I'm there! But first ma'am put down the weapon and no one will get hurt.

Recently I talked with some people in the development office for the college of education. They confirmed that a new education building will be built on the space once occupied by Carroll Hall and Memorial Hall, which wiill be razed. There will be more green space around the new education building. That increased green space will be complimented by the new 4.6 acre outdoor living room that will form the south entrance to Buchtel Hall. Once again our campus is growing in beauty and service to students. When the fans flock to Info to see games they will be amazed at the campus they find.It seems like it will never stop. You better believe the schools we compete against are aware of this transformation also. It is only a question of time before Dr. Proenza has us dominating the MAC. Now if J.D. can only prove he can coach.

I've seen the plans for the new soccer stadium and they are far better that what is shown online. The concept of grass seating behind one goal, as exists now, will continue. I hope that keeps the Goal Patrol happy. The enthusiasm for Zip soccer is continuing to build, but we have to be be realistic when it comes to funding a stadium. The new stadium with design, site prep, relocation, construction, utilities, drainage and playing surface will cost $12 million. No amount of top 5 recruiting classes can produce enough pressure to get the athletic dept to spend that kind of money. Caleb believes it may have to be done in phases which is scarey. They are never done as projected and costs usually cut down the scope of the project.What we need is to have a major donor underwrite the project. Then things will happen quickly. As said in earlier posts, the tennis courts will go, Carroll and Memorial Halls will be torn down to be replaced by one building. The outdoor living room, which the stadium will abutt, will become the south entrance to Buchtel Hall. Those projects have funding. The stadium does not. Caleb is forced to become his own fund raiser, which he is actively doing. Once built, though, the stadium will have a magnificent setting that will be a source of pride to every Zip and member of the nation.We can't expect Caleb to continue to pull in top 5 recruiting classes w/o a better facility. You better believe that all the other schools that want these top kids will hammer us for our facility and our conference. We must leave the MAC for an associate membership in a better conference for soccer. The Big East would be fabulous, but they won't touch us as long as Central Florida wants in for football and all sports. Money talks the loudest and football is want drives most all conference full membership. They won't take us as an associate, got too many members now.For now the best we can do is show up for the games, create an exciting atmosphere for the public and a menacing one for our opponents. If we stay on top and continue moving deeper in the playoffs, Mac and Caleb will find a way to continue our growth. And Yes, Virginia, I do believe we will win a national championship!

If Jacq returns at QB they sure as hell won't score any points. Don't buy the B.S. that he is making great strides. Once he is up against a 1st team MAC defense he will implode like last year. Pray that Rodgers is ready. This Spring and next Fall our greatest improvement, bar none, must be at QB. Last year we had the worst in D1 football. Optimistically, we only have one direction to go. If we can solve that issue and find WR's and DB's we could make some noise in the MAC.

Capt'n,I couldn't agree more. Wins and win ones that count and we will secure a following. Potential Akron ticket-buyers are savvy people. They know when you are playing good basketball and when you are not. They want to back a winner that wins when they need to. Not 100% but more than 50%. In short, they want to believe. Our base isn't here yet.It reminds me of the supposed good ole days when Jin Dennison coached. There is still a faction that believed he won all the time. Which he did not. In fact, if you checked his record he was consistently beat in the big games against the top 50% of the OVC standings. Coaches like Roy Kidd (EKU) Jim Fiex (sp?) (WKU, Frank Beamer (Murray State) and Boots Donnelley (MTSU) gave him a losing record against the conference best.Measuring success against wins, doesn't tell the whole story. You gotta win when it's important. Our record in those situations is spotty at best.The only thing that is consistent is , but I still respect 'em.

Take it for what it's worth. I've seen too much alibiing on this site when it comes to our fan support. District and the other VCU posters are right, attendance was poor. It was poor because we expect more of ourselves that 4100 for a nationally televised game against a quality opponent. Over the last five years only K.e.n.t. has had a better record. Our record a home is nationally recognized and feared. Still, late in the season, when we are in the thick of an exciting end of season run we only draw 4100. That projects poorly as VCU fans have stated. The lower bowl looked half filled. Apparently the blue hairs were still home taking their mid morning nap or Metamusal. Even if sports marketing at Akron sucks, which it unquestionably does, we should have the passion for this team that fills a small arena.The MAC is not the conference I want to be in, but we can never be considered for a better conference if we can not bring a rabid following that fills up our gym and away gyms. That creates excitement and opponents will welcome our competition. It starts with us, the fans, and builds from there.Let's stop being happy with mediocrity and set the bar higher.

No matter what a defensive scheme does, if it can't put pressure on the QB you are doomed to lose. Even in the MAC, which is becoming mediocre at best, opposing QB's will eat you up. Remember what Temple did to us last year when we sat on a 21-3 lead with about 10 minutes left ... we lost. If JD stays wit the 3-3-5 we will be no better than .500 and Jd will be out a job.

I think the graphic from the ACC supporting Virginia Tech summed it up best. To paraphrase: Today we are all Huskies! ... Damn right.I feel horrible for NIU, its students, parents, faculty and staff. You are all in my prayers.