Doug Snyder

This has been a strange day for ZNO posts. Is it a full moon??

Your point? Just because someone asked you that question about WBB on a MBB thread, you are going to try and stir the pot on a football thread? Yeah. I care. A lot.Man...it sure seems that people are in a pissed off mood today. mes103...don't worry if no one cares. Keep fighting the good fight and keep your passion. Life tastes better with a good dose of passion. And really...who would ask a student why he cared about a sport anyway?? And why would you (or anyone) care about him??Keener..I may be in the mood for a road trip tomorrow. Have any keen ideas about a place to eat lunch in Ashland?? My wife and 2 small children will be with me. Thanks

does anyone really care? Some may. Why do you care if they do??

Good post Lee and if we read between the lines there probably is some frustration. If someone could see in the mind of TW, we might see a guy who believes he has done everything he can, in terms of scheduling, to make this season tolerable. I think this is a great schedule and perfectly set up for a team to have early season success and then carry that success into the home stretch. If TW is using the scientific method to evaluate the program, he is probably eliminating the schedule as one of those reasons they are doing poorly...I would. Now he has to start looking at other reasons and this is how change happens.Now the questions become: Is it the coach? Is it the players? Is it the facilities? Was it TW's decision making? Is it the band? Do we need to build a playroom for the FB players to watch TV in?You can't be serious. This post is a joke right?? I know your arrogance knows no bounds but to suggest that this schedule was set up for early success is mind boggling."Hi Doug, I'm sarcasm, I don't believe we've met. Let me introduce you my friend, common sense." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SarcasmThanks for the tip.

Lots of conferences don't have every team play every other team,like the MAC. Not a problem. BGSU doesn't play Akron and they are in the same division. Of course if you ditch the MCAA there are no rules.uh...Huh???

We need to look for someone who knows what they are talking about and talk with them.

Wouldn't that depend on whether the arena was optimized for hockey or basketball?If optimized for hockey, the endzone seating would come down to floor level at the ends of the longer hockey rink, leaving big gaps at each end for the shorter basketball court. As basketball fans, all of us would be against this.If optimized for basketball, the endzone seating would come down to floor level at the ends of the shorter basketball court. For hockey games you'd take out a modular section of 8-10 rows at each end, so the endzone seating for hockey would only come down to about the 9th-11th row level and not all the way to the floor.I think it's a given that you would optimize an Akron arena for basketball rather than hockey as basketball is bigger than hockey in Akron. So the net result would be seating comparable to a dedicated basketball arena with slightly compromised endzone seating for hockey.Seems like the best of both worlds to me to optimize it for basketball while giving it the flexibility to host multiple activities that would result in enough business to make it a good investment for the whole community.The more likely solution would be to push the end zone seats into a recessed area under the second level so the seats remain at floor level. You would create a 8 foot wall at each end but the seats would be floor level. You could also add a removable row or 2 on the sides to make the fans closer...but that would make the first row of hockey seats elevated by a couple of feet....not really a bad idea. The arena MUST be optimized and be GREAT for basketball because we have basketball. There is no hockey and the UofA will never have a team (not in the lifetime of any arena). Will the city get a minor league hockey team?? Doubtful. Who would incur the additional costs for the iced floor?? And the additional costs for the change over after events?? Lots of costs and a diminished arena just to be able to accomodate club hockey. Miami built a HOCKEY arean and pays the coach 250k+. Think $$$$ and if you are not ready to put your own hand in your own pocket...move on from this idea.IMHO the city of Akron would be far better served to make a GREAT basketball arena NOW and steal Canton's NBA D league team. That would be rather easy as the facilities in Canton suck. We are on the clock for this option.But no matter what...build a GREAT basketball arena

@GoZipsI love your analysis but you sometimes come across a little personal. I think the reason is you try to write like you talk...more conversational. The problem with that sometimes is that it can be misinterpreted. IMO...the problem with your post is when you wrote "You sir". It comes off as preaching and talking down. You may have meant it in another way...but I thought it was inappropriate. You are not the only one who does this though...including myself. Using sarcasm plays OK in person but often comes off wrong in the written word. Most sarcastic posts just start pissing matches here and that may not have been the original intention. I will give you credit though...you are one of the few that will apologize. Kudos to you.@ I Speak the Truth.Most posters here are BIG fans of the Zips. They only care that the team represents the school well (not all care about this) and they are successful on the court/field/pitch. Family have all of those motivations plus at least one other...they want to see their family member develop. They also probably know more about the effort and issues that are going on as well. So...you will understandably be more sensitive. I am glad you outed yourself as a family member because people here should also be sensitive to the fact you are family. Keep in mind that most here believe that Q is one of our core players and probably the #1 option on the offensive end of the court (at least out of the gate...we will see if others step up). With this team...he will be pushed hard this year. And that is a GOOD thing. Competition will help him (and other Zips) improve. Welcome to Zip Nation and I hope Q makes everyone proud.Go Zips!!! Go Q!!!

A new arena is a must if we are to move to a higher conference...we are in total agreement. A new arena or an improved JAR is needed for the Zips to make the next step even without a new conference. But I think it would be wrong to not try and elevate the MAC. Where was the Horizon a few years ago. We should try to improve the MAC in all sports while keeping our options open should something be available that will improve the stature of the UofA. For me...I am not a fan of CUSA. But that may be our only option. That is one reason I think a lot of effort to improve the MAC should be made...it gives us more options.

+1 =>14

I agree.We need to think about the future. This thing needs to be able to last well into the future and to handle whatever we might need to use it for. We can't afford to be short-sighted like the JAR was.You have Zach on your side. I rest my case.UofA will not be getting a hockey team. It would require great expense and mean adding a couple more sports for women. If you think the UofA is loooking to ADD millions rather tham reduce millions you may not be that well informed.Build a state of art basketball arena between 7-8,000. And if you think that we should plan for a hockey team...then build the arena at 15,000 because the only way that will happen is if we are members of a BCS conference and attendance and money are no longer issues.Doug problem is that any arena that happens will be a community effort. As such they will likely build something that can be programmed for multiple events. That means an interchangeable floor and something that holds a hockey match. A multipurpose facility in the north means concerts, hockey, monster truck, basketball, circus. And look at the Mullins Center for UMass, the seats come right down on top of the court on all 4 sides. It works well, and they are much farther along in designing these things after 40 some years. It is a different story if the city wants to build an arena that the Zips could also use. If it would be great for basketball...count me in (assuming most, if not all the financing comes from the city). But that is not the discussion I was commenting on. There are some who want the UofA to plan ahead and build an arena than can be used for hockey. That to me seems extremely foolish.

Welcome to the forum

Doesn't that happen naturally?You critics can't get it straight. Does Moore have a weak arm and under throw everything or does he have a strong arm and overthrow everything. Or...do you guys just criticize anything you see?? It would be Moore effective if you were Moore consistent in your criticism of more.

I agree.We need to think about the future. This thing needs to be able to last well into the future and to handle whatever we might need to use it for. We can't afford to be short-sighted like the JAR was.You have Zach on your side. I rest my case.UofA will not be getting a hockey team. It would require great expense and mean adding a couple more sports for women. If you think the UofA is loooking to ADD millions rather tham reduce millions you may not be that well informed.Build a state of art basketball arena between 7-8,000. And if you think that we should plan for a hockey team...then build the arena at 15,000 because the only way that will happen is if we are members of a BCS conference and attendance and money are no longer issues.

+1.But I'd take anything over simply renovating the JAR. Not from you!!! They renovated the Hartville hardware many times and now are building a 9 acre beautiful facility. The renovations at the old building did not stop the new one from being built. Same here. I think the JAR should be continually upgraded and renovated. It can be used for many things down the road. But build a BASKETBALL facility. It should be GREAT for basketball. Don't make the same mistake they made when they built they JAR. Wait...and do it right. Do not compromise.

I think that is true. But I will argue that is better for us to be under rated than over at this time. I would rather them have something to prove....and work to prove it.

Made my day with #1.

Actually, I don't mind if the arena gets built on the western edge next to downtown. It would be better if it was somewhere near the sports complex but it would not be that inconvenient and there is so much development in that direction. What I do not want to see is a multi use facility. In a few years people will be whining about yada yada yada and use that as an excuse for the poor attendance. Let's get it right and build something great for basketball.

I took my daughter to the Lady Zips soccer game on Sunday. We took umbrellas and a blanket. The blanket was for the seats so we would not get our arse wet. Turns out...the blanket also makes the aluminum seat very comfortable. Who knew...we learn something new every day

who won??

Good idea.

+1 and I don't like him either.Other than a possible recruit hearing that LBJ occasionally comes around, how does his presence on campus benefit the "program?" Do you think a recruit comes to Akron instead of (fill in the blank) because LBJ stops in once and a while? If you answer yes, can you name me this recruit?PS If I were in UA Marketing, I would get some video of LBJ playing ball and "leak" it to the media tonight.Dambrot believes it helps...or so he says. But more important...tell me how it can hurt.It may help give Dambrot credibility with future recruits. He is trusted by an NBA great and that player stays in touch with him. Trust is important.

+1 and I don't like him either.

How about the MAC and the S.belt. Better fit. They already play each other anyway.This is the chance I have been talking about for a while. It is happening without any NCAA telling these conferences what to do. Now is the chance for the non-BCS D-1A schools to combine into one league, break up into divisions and play each other at their level, on their own terms. It could be something exciting if they would just let it happen and not worry about the BCS schools and all the nonsense that goes along with being their doormats.West coast vs. east coast, different divisions, a playoff...this could be a fun change.Would have to leave the NCAA....something you would be happy with....have the rules changed Only currently allowed 13 games per year not including a bowl. the new MWC and CUSA merger can't have an extra "championship" game at this time.

Would love to see the bonus criteria. My guess is that there are some qualitative type of things. There were lots of issues with Brookharts recruits and cleaning up that had to be part of the incentive.Check out the staff... http://blogs.buffalonews.com/campus/2010/1...s-salaries.html