Dr Z

Cool video. Well edited and well shot. I'm jealous, must be fun to win.Watching that video reminds me of that movie where they make the RB carry the football around campus and everybody tries to make him fumble. I think they need to do that with Rodgers while his knee heals.

I've honestly never been as embarrassed to be a fan of Akron football as I am right now.When I have to sit in Buffalo and listen to fans tell me that they have never seen a punter as bad as the Akron punter in any level, I cringe. It's all I can do to explain to them that he can actuallypunt, but the "I love gimmicks" coach has him rugby style punting. If and when we lose to Ken+with probably 40 percent Ken+ fans in our stadium, I will be at the lowest I have ever been asan Akron football fan. We have the talent to win, we just don't. Can somebody PLEASE fix this!!!

LinkCoach Keith Dambrot wants his 2009-10 University of Akron basketball team to appreciate the recent past, but not be impressed by it.The Zips, who open practice for the new season Friday, won the Mid-American Conference tournament for the first time and made the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history last March.Yet, that team lost more games (23-13 record) than any in Dambrot's five-year tenure, tied for third in the MAC East and needed two miraculous shots to edge Toledo in the first round of the MAC Tournament.''We were 9-8 at one time last year and needed a couple of great plays to get out of the first round,'' Dambrot said. ''We know what a fine line it is. We know we will be competitive, but we also know we could be middle-of-the-pack.''We have to get better. We were not a great team last year. We matured at the end.''Optimism is high because the Zips return all but Nate Linhart from last season and have added highly touted 7-foot freshman center Zeke Marshall to the lineup.But Dambrot has emphasized that complacency will not be allowed from now until March.''For us to win, we have to so the same things we always have to do. We have to guard the basketball,'' Dambrot said. ''And we have to rebound the basketball and shoot the basketball better.''Up front, the Zips return brothers Brett and Chris McKnight, who were first and third in scoring last season at 11.2 and 9.2 points per game, respectively.Also back in the frontcourt is Nikola Cvetinovic (4.5), Jimmy Conyers (3.2) and Mike Bardo (1.6).Marshall, one of the highest ranked high school centers in the country last season, will be used inside more for his defense and rebounding than scoring. The downside is that an ankle injury that has limited his number of fall workouts.The backcourt is loaded, led by starters Anthony ''Humpty'' Hitchens (8.8) and Darryl Roberts (8.3). They will share time with Steve McNees (5.8), Brett McClanahan (4.2) and the injury-plagued Ronnie Stewart (3.3).Dambrot said he worries most about the loss of Linhart, who was the second-leading scorer, leading rebounder and best defender in 2008-09.''It's tough to lose a player like that,'' Dambrot said. ''He did so much for us.''He also worries that every opponent will be looking to knock off his NCAA Tournament team.''We have a much more experienced team than last year. Obviously, that provides us with different challenges,'' Dambrot said. ''Last year, we were picked fifth or sixth in the East. This year, everybody thinks we are great. We are going to be playing with a bull's-eye on our backs all year.''The first practice will be at 5 p.m. Friday but is at Barberton High School because Rhodes Arena is being used for UA volleyball. The first practice at Rhodes Arena is 2 p.m. Saturday.At 5:30 p.m. Saturday, UA will hold a ''Meet the Team'' session at Rhodes Arena. Fans will be able to interact with UA men's and women's players, as well as take part in other festivities.The first exhibition game is Nov. 10 at Rhodes Arena against Mount Union. The season opener is Nov. 15 at home against Austin Peay as part of the Glenn Wilkes Classic.

I'll really miss him. If you told me Rasor was now covering CSU, then I would be miffed.I learn stuff reading Rasor, I don't learn anything but EA's crummy opinion. I'm pretty sure I can live w/o that.

Crazy times for Zips fans. I think we all want to win right now, no doubt, but do we have to hit bottom to get to the top? I just finished my overnight bag for Canada tomorrow. Good night Canada.

I posted my comment here

I was talking about renting the billboard, just so I can prove to GP1 that I can advertise with a billboard and reach a bunch of people for $900. Probably make local news too. Don't make me do it JD.

I'd love to be Hong Kong Phooey! The Zips played last week like the mild mannered janitor, this week they are “number one super guy” Zips 17-14

What will the score be?

About time we get some recognition. 40 percent of the teams are from the MAC. We lose to Ken+, and I will consider doing this?!?!

3-3-5The 3-3-5 is meant to confuse the defense with different blitzing. With this defense we rank at the bottom of the MAC consistently over the years in QB sacks. It defeats it's own purpose.We have the talent on this team now to play a base 4-3 defense and be good at it. We don't need to be gimmicky.PS I remember the modern day master of the 3-4 explaining that he needed his linebackers in his system 3 to 4 years for that player to understand the 3-4. I would guess that's why you don't see it used or used effectively in college. By the time they learn it, it's time to graduate.

It has to do with assignment. Watch the "extra" guy that they bring into the "box" and tell me how many times you see him make a play anywhere near the line of scrimmage. Then watch a 3-4 defense and watch the same thing. It is very easy to game plan against it. That's why nobody plays it.

I would never trade Cribbs if I was the Browns GM. He is the only player left on the Browns that you have to game plan against.If I was the Browns GM I would listen to anybody, and I mean anybody that would get me any pick (or multiple picks) above the fifth round for Rodgers.He does't fit into a long term plan and is a distraction. Just about every team in the league knows this, and that's why you won't get much for him. BUT you only have to convince one team that he can help them in the playoffs. Hixon has some bad luck with the quality of receivers that play on his team, but I would never wish another Zip has to play a down for the mistake on the lake. DH is better off where he is.IF DH got half the receptions on the team last week, that would amount to 1.

I would guess that somebody who played QB in high school that is not a major contributor on the team this year is filling that position. You could go through the roster and look at DB, RB and WRs.

It will be interesting after watching each team who changes whose mind. What a season, when this is a discussion. I'm starting to think Akron will win just based on this debate of who has the worst special teams play. Also thinking of betting the money line at +277.

Nothing I have seen in the past would indicate the answer being a 'yes'. Here is to hoping he will prove us wrong.

I would like to see a 6 or 7 by Saturday. The Spectator Index helps give you an idea of how comfortable you'll feel while watching the game, or tailgating beforehand.Excellent (10), Very Good (9, 8), Good (7, 6), Fair (5, 4), Poor (3,2), Very Poor (1)

Wow, your Special Teams must really stink if this is true. Agreed. Agreed. Agreed.

I think the some of the problem is being addressed. IMO the best way to build a fan base at the University is to get the students to the game. A percent of the students will then become Alumni fans. Now that we have the on campus stadium and future dorms next to the stadium, they will eventually produce future fans. This will obviously take time. Students not going to the Rubber Bowl for years has created a void. This is only one way that we are building a fan base. The high school football games at Info also help sell to the people that are area football fans by showing off Akron's home stadium. Marketing is a hard job when you have a crummy product to sell. Having a good product obviously gives a better marketing opportunity. We desperately need that product.

you described part of the problem with the fans around here NEO fan. Does anybody remember attending Tribe games during the sellout years. People around me NEVER paid attention to the game.

Totally agree. I turned down FREE club seats to the Browns/Cincy game because I didn't want to miss watching good games on TV. I had the game on the "second" tv and took specific notice to the club seats. They were half empty all game long. Who in their right mind wants to watch that product?How do you even try to tell your friends to come to a Zips game? I have to say "hey would you like to tailgate this Saturday at a new beautiful college football stadium...under my breath....then we have to watch the Zips play football" I have friends now that know I'm an Akron fan that are asking me about the soccer team, they want to go to games and are interested...why...because they WIN!!! Do you know how tired I am of answering the question "What happen to Akron's QB, I heard he got suspended?" It's embarrassing.

Your Answer

When you see him play, you'll "get it"

While I do think the PN16 has a big arm, I saw him check down more than once in the Big 33 game.