K92

Some game predictions from the NIU point of view: LINK I think the guy hoping for the Hulk Smash® is going to be disappointed.

I just had someone ask me today, "Akron's QB is third in the nation in passing yards????" It was priceless.

No doubt about it, there is definitely a MAC renaissance going on. Toledo & NIU definitely had their chances against Arizona & Iowa. A couple breaks go the other way and we could be looking at 3 undefeated MAC teams at this point. Who'd a thunk?

Dennis.

I was very encouraged by the appearance of JT55. I really hope he can continue to increase his playing time and provide that speed rush off the corner. Punt, Turnover on downs, Interception, Punt, Punt. There is no way we can win starting the game with 5 possessions like these. The offense needs to score early and often to make the other team play from behind. If the offense can ever come out of the box with 5 scores, look out. The rout will be on. If you go back and look at those first 5 drives, it is mistakes that killed us. This team is on the verge of accomplishing some great wins. Eliminating mistakes can get them over the hump. They have a great opportunity Saturday to put it all together against (in my opinion) the best team in the MAC.

I can assure you I was not serious.

I think everyone might be at the JAR watching basketball practice.

Better late than never BG beers... 1. Upland Wheat 2. New Belgium Dig 3. Hoppin' Frog Silk Porter 4. Blackstone Nut Brown 5. Sprecher Black Bavarian 6. Samuel Adams Hazel Brown 7. Tyranena Dirty Old Man 8. Tyranena Bitter Woman IPA 9. Tyranena Sheep Shagger Scotch Ale 10. Tyranena Headless Man Amber Alt 11. Tyranena Rocky's Revenge Brown Ale Tyranena is the real deal. Especially the Dirty Old Man & Sheep Shagger. Try some if you ever see it.

NZF, I have never jumped ship on the Zips. I AM a Zip. The only person I can blame for the disappointment of last week is myself. I had a full blown case of cart-ahead-of-the-horse syndrome. I really believed the Zips were poised for a breakout win. I sincerely thought the Zips could get up on BG early, force them to play from behind and BLOW THEM OUT. I was an victim of my own irrational exuberance. I will still be one of the first ones to arrive next week. Come on down and join us for breakfast.

I try to take most things in stride, but last Saturday stung. I haven't been able to put it behind me quite yet. If the offense can put it all together, with some breaks going the Zips way, they could steal this one. I think Zips O vs. Cats D is a very favorable matchup, but I am afraid Ohio will be able to run at will. Losing AP91 was terrible, but NC58's injury creates an irreplaceable void. He is the one guy you could least afford to lose. At any rate, I will be listening to French and rooting them on. Shock 'em Zips!

I was born in 1968. The Big10 can lay claim to 4 national titles during my lifetime. Hardly a juggernaut. Any rational person sees the league for what it is.

That's a bad loss.

Only cost me a dime to find out: 48-35 Zips.

I remember buying Wiedemann stubbies at the Zip Mart.

The thing that concerns me most about BG is Boo Boo. We can't afford to let him make any game changing returns. Contain him and the Zips are gonna roll, baby!!

I like Ohio's scheduling philosophy. It certainly has worked in creating a lot of buzz for them. If they continue to schedule the way they have and keep winning, in time they will be able to schedule and compete with better progrums. Their fans certainly seem to be enjoying the ride.

BirdZip, you're a falcon genius!

Great to hear that "The King" practiced yesterday. Now if we could just get Justin March back on the field. Also, since we're talking defense, does anyone know how #55 is progressing? He played a little bit on 3rd downs earlier in the year, then pretty much disappeared. You have to love Coach Bowden's candor. He is a refreshing change from the coachspeak usually heard in interviews.

We need to have a contest for best sign at Roo Walk. I don't have a good idea for a "Beat Falcons" sign right off the top of my head, though. Any thoughts? I might be able to get one made if someone can come up with a clever idea.

Tried it. Not exactly bustling with traffic over there.

Will Justin March be back this week? Anyone know the status of Albert Presley? We really need those two on the field.

That would be a great response... if we scored on every possession.

Yeah. You could tell he was super bummed in the post-game interview too. One thing he said on Saturday was that when you take over a progrum that had fallen as low as ours you can expect to lose big, lose close, win close then win big. The Zips are losing close. We are already ahead of schedule.

I think this game is probably being looked at as a must-win by BG fans. They have beaten their FCS opponent and Idaho while getting smacked by a down VT and they lost to hated Toledo. This loss to Akron will turn up the heat on Clawson.

Some of you are going to rip my ass for this, but... The offense needs to improve. The defense has given up countless yards and scores of 56, 41, 47 & 56. I love their enthusiasm, toughness and attitude, but depth and talent are problems that are not going away. I hope they continue to improve as a unit but the are not going to morph into the '85 Bears. The best thing that could happen to the defense is for the offense to get even better. Some of the stats that stick out to me from the game Saturday, were 4 punts, 69 offensive plays, 22:48 time of possession. Small improvements in these numbers is a great opportunity to help the defense out. I know it may seem silly to expect the best unit to do even more, but I think that is our best chance. This offense has the potential to score on every possession and some of the teams running this scheme come close to doing just that on a regular basis. There are times, in the game of football, where those who can, pick up their teammates and carry them. I think there is a chance the offense can do that. This is what I am hoping for. At any rate, I also believe the Zips would have won the game if the coaching staff had not squandered 2 time outs in the second half. This is the first time (and hopefully the last) I have been critical of the staff, but you just can't waste timeouts like that. There are far too precious. Go Zips! Beat Falcons!