wadszip

I think Jake has a case, but for these rankings, Reggie probably took his spot. Pat will be on for sure, and I think Noah will be as well (but not a given due to the ACL injury, and Antino eating into his numbers). Really, it doesn't matter. As mentioned, anyone who follows this program knows individual stats aren't going to be in this team's favor. Last year was the first time in the KD era where you thought they may have had that one go-to guy (Tree) and it lasted all of two games. Still, this team won 21 games and made the MAC semis for the 9th straight year, even in an in-flux season. This year should be fun. You have the steady seniors in Pat, Reggie and Jake. Two sophomores in Noah and Antino that looked like they belong as freshmen. Kwan and Big Dog took steps forward and now are juniors, so another jump could be seen there. And Josh Williams and Jimond Ivey are two freshmen who I think will also look like they belong, this year. Ivey, especially with a year in the program, has the athletic ability to to do some nice things this season. Williams, IMO, is the best recruit outside of Zeke or maybe Tree, that KD has landed. Maybe not a physical freak, but a guy who is simply a baller. If he didn't commit so early (after his All-Ohio freshmen season at Barberton), he would've received a bunch of high-major attention (and going to SVSM kept his numbers down). I didn't even mention Aaron Jackson (who has some Deji, Quincy or Jimmy Conyers type qualities). Let's hope he's more Quincy than Deji or Conyers this year, but worst case, he looks like a guy who can put it all together as an upper classman when given a true chance. Nor did I mention the Nigerian freshmen. Maybe one, or more of them step up. That would be icing on the cake. I don't see a big opportunity, but that means things are going well, which, in Akron fashion, hasn't always been the case. But even with adversity, KD wins. So if something does happen, they will probably still get to that 20 win mark, and back to at least the MAC semis (nobody owns Cleveland like KD). But if things go as planned for a change, I love this team's chances of not only getting back to the tourney, but being able to make some noise. I'll stop at first (or technically second) round win, but wouldn't shock me to see this group being the one that finally breaks through. And if that does happen, between having the KD stability factor, along with the LeBron support, and the upcoming talent in the region, a big year for Akron could mean a major move up the CBB landscape. That's adding some pressure, but if this team, which has talent, can deliver. Maybe the Gonzaga of the East tag can be realistic.

Absolutely, there is no way KD would accept a commitment then yank the scholarship less than a month later, unless he wants to sever ties with a basketball program (McKinley) that with the merger with Timken is going to churn out D1 players almost every year. I think the Hughes commit answers my question about whether Davis was a plan B to Jackson. Maybe that is still the case, and Akron really wanted Jackson and Hughes. But regardless, it looks like Akron was always going to take two of those three. With Jackson going to Mizzou, Davis and Hughes took the spots.

I posted this in the Jackson thread, but 2015 3-star wing Kipper Nichols (St. Edward) is looking for a new school. He committed to Tulane (over some high majors, including Maryland) due to Anthony Wilkins, a Glenville graduate who is an assistant at Tulane. A family situation has came up and he is not enrolling at Tulane, and Tulane released him from his scholarship. That makes me think he is looking to play closer to home due to the circumstance. I haven't seen anything that points to where he will end up. But he is pretty active on Twitter. While he hasn't said anything, there are some potential clues. For one, he seems pretty tight with Jibiri Blount (SVSM) who is at Cleveland State (hometown team). But he follows Rick McFadden, who appears to be the only local college coach he follows. He follows some other Cleveland based assistants at out of area schools. He also follows former assistant Matt Futch, and Romeo Travis. And this doesn't mean much but also follows Akron football player Anthony Young (but both are Eds guys and he follows a lot of his other Eds classmates). It should be something to monitor as Akron was after Willie Jackson, and Nichols plays the same position, and they are very comparable as players. Ive always liked Jackson's upside more, but Nichols obviously is a very good player in his own right. FWIW, Nichols congratulated Jackson on his commitment on what was a very well thought out tweet (for 140 characters). That tweet was before he announced, but to the effect of its great to see kids getting a free education. Both he and Jackson appear to be great guys, from what I've heard and read.

That is part of the reason Jackson (and his family who is supposedly moving to Columbia) are taking a pretty big leap of faith in Kim Anderson. I'm fairly intune with what is going on with that program because my buddy who I talk hoops with quite a bit is a big time Mizzou supporter. Both the recruiting and support has slipped since Anderson was essentially rushed in to coach after Frank Haith bolted to Tulsa. Anderson's first two classes have been mediocre, but to be fair, the first one was on short notice, but he did keep Jakeenan Gant committed (a top 100 Haith recruit). Jackson is a very good prospect (probably under ranked) and should help Anderson. Problem is, he is a 2016 kid. If Mizzou has another 8-10 win season and attendance (which has always been good) slips further, Anderson will be gone before Jackson ever gets there. His hire was controversial to begin with. Most hated it, but he had the support of some of the old money boosters, since he Anderson was a Mizzou guy and a Norm Stewart disciple. If he loses that support, he is toast. For Jackson's sake, I hope he fell in love with the school and that is the reason he committed. If not, like I alluded to before, he may have a new home sooner than later if the new coach that comes in wants to clean house and bring his guys in. Whether or not Jackson ever ends up at Akron is hardly set in stone, but I have a feeling this thread will get bumped sometime in the next couple of years since KD isn't going anywhere and Jackson has some sort of relationship with the Akron program, and Akron may have finished No. 2 in the race to land him... Saw on Twitter his top three were Mizzou, Akron and BC (Jim Christian factor, and history shows Christian is hardly a lock to be at BC for the long haul). With all that said, I actually hope I'm wrong and Anderson turns it around and Jackson has a nice career there and winds up in the NBA. I've found myself rooting for Mizzou due to my buddy (who I've also converted into a Zips fan). While he was happy Mizzou landed him, he was very tempered by the commitment due to the uncertainty within the program.

I wonder if Akron was going to take both Davis and Jackson? Or was it that now that Jackson is out, KD accepted Davis' commitment? While Jackson hasn't announced yet, I'm sure the coaching staff was either told directly, or got strong indications he was leaning toward Mizzou, who he was visiting this weekend.

Jackson will announce to Mizzou today. On the bright side, he may be back on the market in March when Kim Anderson is fired. Sounds like he is on the hot seat and the team, on paper, doesn't look improved from last year. Also, while Akron missed on Jackson (for now), it looks like former St. Edward standout Kipper Nichols is going to transfer back to NEO, due to family reasons. He committed to Tulane over a bunch of high majors, due to Tulane assistant Anthony Wilkins, who is a Cleveland native. Tulane granted him a release earlier today. I'm guessing he ends up at Cleveland State with his former AAU teammate Jibiri Blount, but maybe Akron can make a push if they have the room (he was also an AAU teammate of Josh Williams). Nichols is probably looking for a hardship to play right away (or would he even need a hardship since he was released and was an incoming freshman?) Anyway, he will probably be looking to play right away and Akron doesn't have a scholarship open. He would have to pay his way this year and could take Jackson's scholarship after, since they play the same position. Btw, I'm not sure if either CSU (which has 17 players on its roster) or Can't have an open scholarship, either.

There was talk that Beck and Markell Johnson, top 50 2017 recruit from East Tech, were both going to transfer to a school in New Jersey. But I believe both ended up staying.

Actually, Jackson is no. 8 prospect from the area. I was counting Ted Kapita, who 247 had as the No. 5 Ohio prospect (no. 50 nationally). He was aa fifth year prep school kid, who was at Spire Institute. He is from Florida, originally. He also isn't at Spire anymore as he decided to sign a pro contract in France. Also, four of the area's top five prospects have transferred out of state: Omari Spellman (North Royalton/Villanova, No. 22) is at a prep school in Massachusetts. VJ King (SVSM/Louisville, No. 25) is at a school outside D.C. Derek Funderburk (St. Eds/Ohio State, No. 62) and Micah Potter (Mentor/Ohio State, No. 166) are both at IMG. Of those, King was a legit move since his dad got a job in D.C., but he had lived most of his life in Cleveland/Akron. The other three's families are still in the Cleveland area. The other ranked prospects are: Jon Teske (Medina/Michigan, no. 136) Tervell Beck (Cleveland Central Catholic, No. 185) Frankie Hughes (Garfield Heights, No. 193) Willie Jackson (Garfield Heights, No. 195) Henry Baddley (SVSM/Butler, No. 239)

My bad. Point still stands, because I don't recall Temple being a fixture on primetime TV. Maybe I just missed the games, but I don't remember seeing Temple on TV. Or maybe, its because I don't value Temple enough to actually watch them. Which isn't entirely true, just that there were probably better games on in those slots.Anyway, I still believe Jackson is better off at Akron. Stay home and help further build something that could be special in a place that is right in front of your family and friends. ... And still far enough away where you are a true college student, but again close enough where if you want a home cooked meal you can head home on a Tuesday night, for example, and be back on campus a half hour later. Coming from a Clevelander (who is now a proud "Akronite",) that was one of the things I loved about Akron. It was just far enough away, but close enough where I never missed anything back home.

While Columbus is an area that the Zips should recruit, and Domenick Hixon and Chase Blackburn are two recent guys who went on to have NFL success, here is a reason why focusing on our home area is so important:http://www.scout.com/nfl/story/1463453-nfl-roster-breakdown-by-areas?s=127 The Cleveland area, which I assume includes Akron since Cincy and Dayton are lumped together, is the No. 10 most NFL talent laden area in the country. Which at 41 NFL players is No. 2 in the Midwest, slightly behind the much larger Chicago area (43). Per capita, Cleveland moves up to No. 7 overall (and per capita the No. 1 major region in the country) and, obviously, No. 1 in the Midwest. Furthermore, if "Cleveland" was a state, it would rank No. 16 in total players ... Ahead of Mississippi, Maryland, New York, Missouri, Wisconsin, Arizona, etc. It would rank just below Tennessee (44) and Illinois (48 ...pretty crazy that Illinois only has 5 players outside Chicago). The amount of talent this area produces is pretty staggering. Same can be said in basketball, too. For example Akron target Willie Jackson is the No. 195 player in the country, the No. 13 in Ohio, but is the No. 9 player in the Cleveland area, according to 247sports. Personally, Jackson is, IMO, a top 5 talent in Ohio (and would say that regardless of interest in Akron). I'm just putting some perspective in how crucial this area is when it comes to recruiting. Akron doesn't have look far to find talent. In hoops, Jackson would be a huge get. In football, keep mining the area and Akron will also get NFL type players.

I'm going to look at why Akron has a good shot at landing Jackson (who I think is a top 5 player in what people have known for years is a loaded class in Ohio, and easily the state's best since recruiting sites have come about). The fact that he decided to make an official to Akron when an unofficial would suffice shows that there is genuine interest. The fact that he is also considering BC shows that Jackson values the relationship with his coach. I doubt there would be any interest in BC if not for Jim Christian. While Christian seems to be a great guy, he is mediocre has a coach if he isn't inheriting MAC schools that other people built. Outside of Christian parlaying can't lose situations into high-major jobs, he doesn't compare to Dambrot, who has proven he can build a program by himself (did it twice also I'm the MAC). Plus, Dambrot could've been the BC coach if he actually wanted that job. IMO, even taking into account BC is an ACC school, there is no reason to pick them over Akron. Your friends and family can watch you at Akron. The Zips are more likely to be a tournament team. And even the competition is not that far off when you consider you will probably go up against LeBron a half dozen times a year during the summer, which, even in practice, trumps anything you will see in the ACC. Plus, it seems like Akron is going to continue to bump up its OOC schedules. Missouri is traditionally a very good high major. But a good friend of mine is a Mizzou grad and a big supporter of the program. He actually joked that Jackson going to Mizzou may be the best for Akron because once Kim Anderson is fired in two years, Jackson could go back home and play for a winning team (Akron). Anderson's recruiting has been bad. He has the attitude Dambrot had up until the last couple of years. Anderson thinks I will win with a bunch of lower rates system guys. Dambrot has learned that isnt the case, even im the MAC. While Jackson may have the system guy makeup. He is hardly a system guy. Like Tree, Ivey, Eubanks (the Cleveland guys), or Josh Williams (Akron guy), I'm guessing Dambrot views Jackson as more of a dynamic player who can fit into a system. It's an insult to a player like Jackson to be labeled system guy. And Anderson has gone on record as saying "I can win in the SEC with system guys". Or as my friend pointed out, he can " win 3-6 games in the SEC with system guys." Outside of saying, "I was an SEC recruit" Mizzou doesn't offer much. They will be bad, and its a fan base, that under Frank Haith, was used to landing top 50 kids. Jackson would have a lot of pressure trying to live up to that while playing in a mid-major system under Kim Anderson. At least at Akron he would be a at mid major program that is trying to be high major. That leaves Temple and Penn State. IMO, what does Temple offer that Akron doesn't, other than being 8 hours away? Yeah, the A10 is better than the MAC. But the A10 isn't a premier TV league. I'm a big hoops fan, and like the A10, but the TV deal seems mediocre. The primetime games on ESPN aren't A10. They get some NBC games, IIR, but they are up against bigger CBS games. TV aside, its not like Temple is some huge draw. They've made the tourney 6 times in the last 10 years and have 2 first round wins. Akron has 3 tourneys and 0 wins, but overall, Temple has probably done worse since they have been seeded higher every time. I'm not trying to knock Temple, because I respect the program. Just saying that they aren't above Akron... See the last time the teams met when Akron went to Philly and knocked them out of the NIT. Finally, Penn State. I won't say too much bad since I think Chambers has the program on the rise. It's Big 10, and a program that could be a tourney team moving forward. With that said, its a program Akron has recent history with. And Akron drubbed them by 20-plus a couple of years ago. And even last year had them down 10 in Happy Valley before falling apart. I will say, all the schools he is choosing from have positives, I'm just saying Akron shouldn't be looked at as simply the hometown option. If that was the case, Cleveland State gets this official. Instead, its Akron. Hopefully, KD can bring him in and build an even better program around these Cleveland-Akron area kids. This area is quickly becoming a top 10 area overall for talent. For the foreseeable future, there are several high end prospects coming up in each class.If KD can land these kids, that "Gonzaga of the East" Label will come true.

Justin March has kind of made the Chiefs. The team placed him on IR, which bodes well for what the organization thinks of him. Essentially, the injury made it tough to keep him on the 53, but they didn't want to lose him, so they will pay him to "rehab" this year. A team isnt going to pay an undrafted rookie not to play unless they think he is in their future plans.Also,it looks like Pughsley (Chiefs), Chisholm (Steelers), Capi (Jaguars) and D'Orazio (Patriots) have all made it to final cutdowns. Even if none make their teams' 53, all have a decent shot at making the practice squad. LT Smith was cut by the Colts; and it looks like Lemon is going back to Canada.

Not a shock. He wants in the 2016 NFL draft, and no way the NCAA grants him a hardship to be eligible this year at another FBS school.

I'm guessing it was a qualifying issue. Maybe somebody we see down the road. He wasnt Devin Smith (Akron city kid who went to Massillon), but a very good WR in HS.

Not sure the reason for the bump, but I went back and looked through this thread, and it snows what a crap shoot recruiting is.Of my list, we landed Moore (who I think can develop into a solid DE); and Anthony Young (after a short stint at Indiana), who may be more of a track guy, but has the speed to be a guy who can take the top off of defenses as a WR down the line. I was interested to seeing what some of the other guys are up to. As you pointed out, Hunt is suspended for two games, but he is arguably the best offensive player in the MAC and a legit NFL prospect. I like Hundley and Alexander, but neither is Kareem Hunt. After that: 1. Crenshaw is track standout at Michigan (ran their 5th fastest 60 meter as a freshman). As a track guy, going to Michigan is a step down from Akron, but a UM degree is obviously prestigious. Can't blame the staff for that. 2. Marcus McShepherd is at Northwestern. He redshirted last year. Again, tough to turn down a NW degree. 3. Mathie, as pointed out is at Findlay, where he seems to be doing well early at a usually solid GLIAC program. That's a far cry from UCLA, or even Akron. True, he doesn't play yet at Akron, but still seems like somebody who wouldn't be overwhelmed at the MAC level (the GLIAC has produced some pretty good NFL players). 4. I don't see Trei Thomas on a roster, but a twitter account by that name, showing a bunch of kids in Can't Roosevelt HS uniforms has a "Zips, Zips, Zips!!" Tag line. Maybe just a regular student at UA? 5. Marshall Howell is at D3 John Carroll, where he looked to have had a very good freshman season before getting hurt. Yes JCU has produced a potential Pro Football Hall of Famer (London Fletcher), but a big difference in talent level. But the OAC (Fletcher, Pierre Garcon, Cecil Shorts) has produced some good NFL talent. So its not unheard of for a guy to fall through the cracks and end up there. Some other notables: 1. Darian Hicks: he was a guy I really wished Akron could've have landed. But in retrospect, even though OSU didn't offer, as soon a Michigan State came calling, it was over. Mark Dantonio has a keen eye for talent, especially at CB. Hicks started 10 games for MSU last year and will be another Spartan CB in the NFL. Plus, MSU is now a legitimate major program. 2. Jerome Lane: This was easily Bowden's best pull from the 2013 local class. I never really considered him for UA because I thought he was high major bound. Whether those offers never came through, or he just wanted to stay home, he was a major get. 3. Ed Stockett is now can't remember what happened. He committed to Akron early and looked like the QB in the class. He supposedly had some P5 offers (Pitt and Rutgers, IIR). But he is now at Indiana .... Indiana University of Pa. Looks like he is their starter. But it worked out OK since Travon Chapman (a 4 star, top 250 prospect from that class) is now at Akron. Also, Reid Worstell, another QB discussed in that class is now at Walsh. Overall, when you look back, I think the staff did a pretty good job locally out of that class. The only guy you can truly look at as a big loss is Hunt. Part of it is because he went to another MAC school (though one with more success) and partly because Akron has/had gotten some kids from Willoughby South (Nicley, Ritz). And Bowden has gotten some solid local kids in 14 and 15. Just win now and I think more local kids will come on board. And it also looks like Summit County football has easily surpassed Stark in terms of talent and is gaining on Cuyahoga. But all three counties, along with Portage, Medina and Wayne, should be receptive to UA if this team starts winning.

The fact that you are bringing Zimmerman and Darren Wilson into this shows your broad agenda, which is basically, "it's Obama's fault," no matter what.Come-on, in all three of those cases there appears to be some reason to look more into the circumstances. This Bell case is a little different because there is no definitive answer to whether he actually killed somebody, unlike with Zimmerman and Wilson. But there must be some reason why Bell has been pointed to. I doubt the other kid's family just randomly pulled his name out of a hat. And the accidental death of falling into some wrestling mats and suffocating is bizarre. Not saying that couldn't happen, but its probably a one in a million chance. I think everybody who posts here would want a thorough investigation if they lost a child in this kind of circumstance. As for Bell, he definitely is still innocent until proven guilty, and since it seems like he is easily qualified to attend UA as a student. I have no problem with the school accepting him since he hasn't been convicted of a crime (again this is even if he is a UA student, which is unknown ... I was just going off a random #gozips twitter post from a couple of days ago). Playing football, though, is another thing. Just not a smart move under the current situation the university is in until he is cleared. I'll say the same thing with Tyreek Hill (anybody know what's up with him?). He's a bit different since he has actually been charged with a crime. But he's another guy who I would hope isn't on the football team until his case is over. In both cases,though, its a horrible look for the school if either is on an out of state football scholarship, considering the the beating the school is taking for all the other stuff .... Baseball shuttering (which I support), the layoffs, the closing of EJ Thomas and the $900,000 renovations to the presidents mansion. If nothing else, it would be another example of the school being tone deaf to what is going on.

I did a google search and I'm thinking it may be Bell, whose case doesn't seem as cut and dry as the links above make it seem. There is a lot of twitter discussion about this case at hashtag #brianbell. It looks like Federal agents recently raided Bell's parents house, his girlfriends house, a friends house and Bell's dorm room and seized phones and computers related to the death of the former classmate. Anyway, one of the twitter messages about the raid, posted Aug. 4, started with #gozips. ... Which makes you wonder. No article I've seen says where Bell is enrolled at, but Bell, in an Instagram message about the raid said "Im away at college," and there was an article I saw last night (that was posted in June I believe) where Bell's parents said Brian was at a school and would be playing football. No school was named, though. Here is the link to the twitter stuff: https://mobile.twitter.com/hashtag/brianbell My personal opinion, I don't know enough about the case to have an opinion on whether he is innocent or not, or if he is even at Akron. But the last thing UA needs to do is bring on what would be another negative media circus if Akron is the school, since this case seems far from over.

No. 26 in Ohio is deceiving since the 16 class, even after losing two 5 stars (VJ King of St. V and Omari Spellman of North Royalton), is probably the best class the state has ever produced. The talent is ridiculous.With that said, I dont know anything about Williams, but he has nice size and solid stats. I'm interested in seeing how he does in AAU ball. I see he was with Team One Phenoms last year, a local Cincy/Dayton squad. Wonder if he stays with them or "moves up" to King James, All-Ohio or OBC?

Seeing stuff like this is why Akron is never going to be more than what it has peaked at - a consistent, but slightly above average mid-major. Here's a kid from essentially your backyard; you have one of his HS teammates, Cristen Wilson, on the roster; and yet you let him get away to a rival MAC program. Im not sure if KD even recruited him, and to be fair CSU and Can't also missed on him. But not getting him will come back and bite UA. Anyway, great pickup for Buffalo, a school that has surpassed what KD has built in 11 years in just 3 under Hurley (better the last two years and better talent already in/coming into the program). O'Field is a freak athlete with decent basketball skills. If he continues to develop, he will find a spot in the NBA.

I 100 percent agree. Whatever the monetary losses are in losing a true home game would be made up with the exposure, regionally and nationally (with a win). Though a couple would be impossible, I think having one big name draw at the Q per year is doable if Dambrot wants to use his LeBron connections, and he and Wistrcill seek out a school that may be willing to to come to Cleveland. On top of having a game in Cleveland would help Akron recruit locally, the amount of talent coming up in this area could be even more incentive for big name programs to want to play here. NE Ohio has become a hot bed for elite talent. In the 2015 class, Cleveland has two top 50 recruits in Carlton Bragg and Esa Ahmad, along with a top 200 guy in Kipper Nichols. The 2016 class is even better, but took a huge blow with the top two players (both 5 star prospects) VJ King (SVSM) and Omari Spellman (North Royalton) transferring to out of state schools. Still , the area has 4 other elite level prospects in Derek Funderburk (top 50), John Teske (Medina, Michigan commit, top 100), Tervell Beck (top 100) and Willie Jackson (top 150). The 2016 class has another handful of high majors who aren't quite top 150. The 2017 and 2018 classes look strong too. Bottom line, this area has kids that everybody in the country is fighting over. Not only would Akron benefit from the visibility of playing a high major at the Q, the high major would also benefit from that visibility as well on the NEO recruiting trail.

I'm not sure about every senior. ND had some Akron-Canton players in his tenure and don't recall them coming to NE Ohio (but that was before my time). But it is pretty common to play a homecoming game if you have a "star" senior, ala Jawad Williams. I was also thinking about what programs could fit the bill. Wyoming is the one that immediately comes to mind due to Nance Jr., who is a senior and one of the best players in the MWC. However, Larry Shyatt is probably gun shy about coming to the JAR considering the beating his team took in 2007 (and also lost to Akron at Wyoming). Wichita State would've been a great team to try to get here with Darius Carter. But he was a JUCO transfer, so who knows if WSU was ever interested in giving him a homecoming game since he wasn't a 4 year guy. I think if Sampson didn't leave early, St. John's would have been a possibility, but probably at the Q. Sampson was a Cleveland kid (started at Solon) before going to SVSM. Virginia Tech makes sense on the surface as a possibility down the road, but Hudson wasnt an Akron guy. He is from Richmond and transferred to SVSM solely for basketball. Pierce lists his hometown as Barberton, but did he ever play HS ball here? Its not a name that sticks out to me and he lists his HS as Kiski Prep. But that could be a possibility down the road. Again, not sure if you can get them to the JAR, but easily could get them at the Q... But VT isn't worth the Q. That would have to be marquee name. A couple other possibilities would be Loyola-Marymount. Evan Payne (Walsh Jesuit) is there top player and one of the best in the WCC. I think that would be an attainable home and home. LM wouldn't be a huge draw, though still some name cache with the 30 and older crowd due to Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble. And a WCC team sure beats a SWAC or MEAC dreg. College of Charleston could be another solid mid major that could do a home and home. Evan Bailey, of Jackson HS, is a freshman there. Another generally solid mid major with some name cache. Texas Tech is another potential "high major". They have two NEO kids on their roster, Justin Jamison of Strongsville and Devaughntah Williams of Canton McKinley. Williams is one of the Red Raiders top players and is coming off a 21 point performance in a loss to WVU. Maybe you can get them into the JAR. But if it would have to be at the Q, like VT, I'd pass. Finally, maybe Washington State. Ny Redding of Solon is a freshman with the Cougars. While Solon isn't far from Akron, its still suburban Cleveland, so not a true homecoming. And again, no way you play WSU at the Q. As for options I would be in favor of playing at the Q: Louisville: Terry Rozier (Shaker Heights) is one of the Cards top players. Pitino has recruited NEO recently (also had Zach Price of St. Eds before he was booted). That game easily draws 15,000 plus. A return game to Louisville is a no lose situation either for Akron. But Rozier is projected top 15 pick so who knows if he will return. Kansas: they just got a commitment from 5 star Carlton Bragg from VASJ. He may be a one and done, so it would probably have to be next year to potentially get KU in Northeast Ohio. Like Louisville, that is a game you play at the Q if it means getting them here. Obviously, the biggest issue even if either is willing, would be that the Zips would be behind CSU in the pecking order.

If we are talking NE Ohio in general, there have been some good teams play at CSU. North Carolina played at CSU during their championship season in 2005. In 1998, a Rhode Island team that made the Sweet 16 played CSU in the Rock N Roll Shootout at the Q (Gund Arena). In 94, Ohio State played at CSU, though that was the year after Jim Jackson left and OSU wasn't great. And Michigan played at CSU during the first year the Convo was open.What did all those games have in common? The opponent had a Cleveland kid on their roster. (Kind of like Pitt with Jerome Lane). UNC specifically played that CSU game as a homecoming for Jawad Williams, a St. Edward kid. While I'm not sure if the reason the others played in Cleveland were for that only reason, but Rhode Island had Luther Clay, from Oberlin; OSU had Malcolm Sims from Shaker Heights (who hit a game winning buzzer beating 3 for OSU that night); and Michigan had Eric Reily from St. Joes. Point is, if you want to try to get a big name team to come to NEO. 1, look for a program that has a NEO kid on the roster. 2, especially in Akron's case, play the game at the Q.

I see former St.Edward track and football standout, and Medina native, Anthony Young is listed as a freshman on the track and field roster. Anybody know if he will play football? He was a 3 star WR recruit who signed with Indiana (had multiple Big Ten offers) in the Class of 2013. The kid can flat out run, probably one of the 5 or so fastest track kids to come out of Ohio in the past 20 years. He set state indoor records in the 60 (6.8) and 200 meter dashes (21.34). He has ran a 10.43 100 and a 21.21 200 outdoor. Maybe he's decided to focus on track, but that kind of speed would be nice on this football team. He was probably too raw in football to play in the Big Ten (even at Indiana) for two or three years, but in the MAC, he could find a niche right away and develop into an NFL prospect. He has the speed and is 6-1, so has good height. Hopefully, Bowden can convince him to play football, if that already hasn't been in the works. Here are his HS highlights (actually not as raw as I remember, reminds me a bit of Ted Ginn Jr. Long strider, not much wiggle, but can outrun anybody in space.) http://www.hudl.com/athlete/340138/highlights/32473375

I wanted to let your post pass, but I can't help myself. I'm glad you like Charlotte (or specifically South Carolina), but you have no clue to as what is going on in Cleveland. And in fact some of what you are touting as being drawing points to Charlotte, specifically leaving the city for the suburbs, and the rotting Charlotte Public Schools, sounds eerily similar to what got Cleveland into the mess it got itself into in the 70s-90s and is now digging itself out of. Keep supporting that type of setup. Back to Cleveland, you are obviously clueless to what is going on there. For one, yes, the "drunks" have moved away from the flats and went more toward the "stadium" area (I'm assuming you are referring to Progressive Field/Quicken Loans Arena). And you are really trying to argue that arenas don't bring in residual business? On top of that, while the flats isn't what is was, you do realize that it is currently in the middle of a $170 million dollar private-sector renovation? One that has brought in a 20-story office building, a 10-story hotel in phase 1 and is work is now being done on a residential/restaurant aspect in phase 2. ... And that private developer (Wolstein) is investing his money despite the fact the nearby Warehouse District and E. 4th (stadium) districts are thriving. Second, all you have to do is a simple google search to realize that downtown Cleveland is "booming". Maybe not in terms of sprawl Sun Belt numbers, but it's the fastest growing in the Cleveland metro.... and that downtown growth has spilled over into neighborhoods like Ohio City, Tremont, Asiatown, Battery Park, etc. Then, even the second fastest growing area in the metro (University Circle) is within the city. ... And just yesterday, a private developer announced plans to break ground in the fall on a mixed-use 15-story apartment complex (to go along with another developers announcement of a 30-story residential tower, on top of Uptown phases I and II) that are drawing 1,000s to "inner-city, non-downtown" Cleveland. Other neighborhoods, on a smaller scale are seeing similar investments, and are clearly better than what they were 20-30 years ago. Is all this development from the arenas/stadiums? That's debatable, but it's hard to argue that they didn't play any part in it. E. 4th and the Warehouse District weren't anything until the stadium/arenas were built. Those areas have also continued to thrive despite other entertainment options being built/renovated (boosted by higher-income residential units also being built/renovated). And that has also allowed areas near downtown to grow... even if not by pure population numbers (yet), but by increasing the "median income" in areas like Tremont, Ohio City and Asiatown. Is Akron Cleveland? Nope. But does Akron have some of the same potential that we are seeing in some of these Cleveland neighborhoods? Yep. Cleveland's core growth has been around the areas of downtown (arenas/business district) and University Circle (hospitals/Case Western Reserve University). ... Akron has some of those same attractions in a smaller scale, but in a closer proximity than there is in Cleveland. At least in Akron the downtown/major college/major hospitals are all within a couple miles of each other.

I admire your homerism, but this post is FOS. For one, if UA could go at this alone, it wouldn't have signed off on this agreement. Also, nothing was "mishandled" by the media/government when this became public. After reading the initial Beacon article, it was very clear that this was more than an arena tax and that only a portion of the money raised would go toward that. It also broke down the university's obligations were, and exactly where this would go. Let's face it, if UA wants a new arena anytime soon, this is THE plan. It's now about UA/city/county selling this plan to the public. The biggest thing will be selling that this isn't just some big, bad arena tax that 99 percent of people in Summit County won't benefit from.