Doug Snyder

From all of Zach's reports I assumed Icoach was disliked and not respected by the players. It looks as if there is at least one player who likes and/or respects ICoach. A ray of hope?? This will be an interesting year for sure.

I would say so !! I just can't even get close to wrapping my arms around the notion that we could make a huge jump to the upper echelon of the college basketball world, suddenly. Especially after a year where we had significant turnover. To the enthusiastic optimists predicting that we'll jump to the Top-16: Remember, there's two major challenges, and one of them has to be nearly impossible. 1) Will we have a dramatic improvement in our level of play, right out of the gate, to make us significantly better? 2) Will the pollsters suddenly jump on the Akron bandwagon in large quantities? Could we have the potential to improve our rebounding with more athletic players?...Yes. Could we now have some personnel that could improve our ability to drive to the basket compared to some of our recent personnel?...Yes. But, one point in which I wholeheartedly agree with AKZipper is this crazy assumption that we could zoom ahead of 80 or so teams that were better than us last year because they won't improve, or will regress. Right now, we're just a very good MAC program that needs to replace 16 years of combined playing experience. And that's enough of a challenge in itself, which makes the notion of passing several dozen other programs who are presently better than Akron a dream-like scenario to me. I'll say it again....I'll be happy to just see us BEAT a Top Ranked team for the first time in our history. But, BEING a Top Ranked team would require that level of play, every game, right out of the gate. Not just winning games, but winning them all in impressive fashion. And hoping that the sportswriters in places like Los Angeles, and Miami, and Dallas will wake up one morning a few months from now and suddenly decide to turn their attention towards Akron's victory in a MAC game over Central Michigan from the night before. It's certainly not impossible to think that this could eventually happen for us. It's just nearly impossible to even dream that this kind of change could happen that quickly. Maybe I misread something or have not paid quite enough attention lately but....it seems to me that they are saying that we make the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament not that we will be ranked in the top 16. The 2 are quite different. Here is what transpired last year: A/P Rank March 15, 2010 1 Kansas 1 2 Kentucky 2 3 Duke 3 4 Ohio State 5 5 Butler 11 6 Wisconsin 16 7 Brigham Young 17 8 Richmond 24 9 Marquette Other 10 San Diego State Other 11 North Carolina 12 Arizona 13 Connecticut 14 Virginia Commonwealth 15 Florida State 16 Florida Only 6 of the sweet 16 were ranked in the top 16, only 8 ranked at all and 6 came out of nowhere. It is not unreasonable to set your expectations for the Sweet 16. Getting a seed in the 10-12 range (lowest seed was 12 in 2010 sweet 16) will help. If Marshall makes the leap that most expect...I think it is a reasonable target. Polls are biased towards the major conferences so that I agree that we will unlikely to be RANKED in the top 16 prior to the NCAA tournament. But that is the beauty of college basketball. Let me know if I misread or misinterpreted something. http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/2010/03/n...h-2010-ap-poll/

I am here because I am huge UofA fan. I am starved for information about the Zips athletic programs. What interests me is: who we are recruiting, how Treadwell is doing, insight on Nicely vs Moore and a thoughtful recap/analysis of those who saw a game I was unable to attend. The things I am here for I have little to offer to the debate because I am normally not in the area and no clue as to what is going on...other that what is written in the papers. I did not realize that this site was also for treating other schools unfairly, trashing other schools academic programs (those who do not compete with UofA in sports) and calling fellow Zips "ignorant", "fool", "stupid" and many other personal things because they attended another school and speak up in defense.I know I am old, attended another school and live out of the area....but I root for Can't when they are in the NCAA tournament...it can only enhance the rivalry, MAC and NE Ohio. I root for ALL the area and Ohio schools. And I believe Ohio has a great undergraduate school system…public and private. I will eventually return to Ohio because I want my daughters to go to school here. Great people…good schools and more. Many leave Ohio but few voluntarily return. But I love Ohio and will choose to return.I know there will always be a debate on players, coaches and the type of program we should have and how much money we should be spending. But for me...there is way too much personal bashing and trashing other schools. Even Ex-Zip Charlie Frye gets trashed here.I will have to re-evaluate things because I value your input...maybe this is not for me. As for this thread… BuckZip is wrong. I do not believe it was started to trash OSU. He should just keep quiet and be happy with the knowledge that most athletes would choose OSU if given the chance (except the current soccer program). My nephew did just that after playing 3 years with the Zips.

Is it Miller time yet???

What you have said is 100% correct. The examples you give are good expect for one thing...we have less information than in those publicized court cases. So there is no real proof that anything more took place. Just speculation. The problem is that one of our board also graduated from OSU. If you take some of the more passionate Zips fans on this board and extrapolate that passion to BuckZip for OSU…you can see where he may find issue with the debate here. He may also be a tad bit sensitive…but others here are just as sensitive about other issues. I don’t know BuckZip. But he did graduate from UofA and I think we should have cut him a little slack and extended a little more understanding. That did not happen…in fact I think he was often baited here by fellow Zips fans. Unfortunately he often took the bait. It would have been far better for him just to ignore everybody and say nothing. In the end…he was vindicated. He said Tressel lied and had to go….and that is what happened. He should have left it at that…and he should have been given some respect and understanding.In the end…it still is a free country and we can say and believe what we want. I just wish we would be a little more thoughtful sometimes.

Do your own research. There is this thing called Google and you can look things up with it.Secondly, put some thought into it. Lucas, MoC, Troy Smith, tatgate. All of these things go on around Tressel, yet he never seems to know anything about it. All the dirt around him and his hands are always clean. He learned well in Youngstown. I don't believe Tressel is a stupid guy so him not knowing about it can't be the answer. Where there is smoke, there is fire. Tressel is a walking Cheech and Chong movie.What really tripped Tressel up in this case was the Federal investigation. ncaa investigators are the Keystone Cops. Easy enough for Tressel to fool. A Federal Prosecutor is a whole other story. Tressel tried to hide the truth for as long as he could in order to win a few more games. He couldn't.OK Let's drop this topic and move on. The Oracle has spoken and we now know all we need to know. Thank you oh mighty GP1

I really don't know soccer well enough to have any confidence in a prediction this year considering all the turnover. But I have confidence in Porter. Making the final 4 it would be a great achievement in my opinion.I would really like to see the women’s team benefit from the men’s success. Both teams nationally ranked would be great. The more national attention...the better.

I have always maintained that I want to eat crow and see iCoach be successful...even to the extent of us being nationally ranked and winning the MACC every year. My posts are based on nothing more than my lack of confidence in iCoach. As always, prove me wrong.I'm all for eating crow. It would be fantastic if Patrick Nicely would take me to an all-you-can-eat crow buffet. But I am like you, Trimmy. Prove me wrong.Others will never eat crow, though. They will never give Ianello any credit even if he deserves it.I want an entire buffet of crow! The others who refuse to eat will be force fed if iCoach makes us successful.LOL I like your answer.

ArticleAbove is an article. People can decide for themselves whether or not the ncaa's investigation is thorough.I think the ncaa is going to end the investigation here for a couple of reasons:1. The Big Ten needs a big splash this season with Nebraska coming in. The story going into the first Big Ten Championship can't be about a team on probation not being able to play in the game. The NCAA knows it and I'm sure the Big Ten is putting a lot of pressure on the ncaa about this issue. I would if I worked at the Big Ten. The Big Ten has a ton riding on this season and everyone knows it.2. OSU becoming irrelevant makes the Big Ten as irrelevant as the ACC in college football. The Big Ten needs osu to be good just like the ACC needs Florida State to be good. The ncaa knows this and will do what they have to do to protect osu.3. The real problems at osu, the con man Tressel and Pryor, are now gone and any blame can be cast upon those two since they have no forum now to defend themselves. Those two are also not required to testify in front of the ncaa now that they are no longer in college athletics.4. If you read the note above on what constitutes lack of control, osu followed the rules. The trick in college athletics is to break the rules and then install some bureaucracy over the broken rules to make it look like the school is trying to correct the problem. Repeat cycle. osu does a good job of breaking rules and then making it look like they are trying to do something to stop breaking the rules. osu and their supporters don't really want to stop cheating...if they did, there wouldn't be so much interest in Urban Meyer. osu is a dirty program and doesn't mind the dirt as long as they can appear to clean it up with the right coach (a good looking white guy people from Ohio want to be conned by).5. Lastly and most importantly, the ncaa is going to stop the investigation now because if they dig any deeper, the are going to find what they already know is out there.The ncaa investigation is not thorough for a lot of reasons. Mostly, they don't want to dig deeper. None of them are good reasons unless you are osu and the Big Ten. The Big Ten will benefit just as much, if not more, than osu when the ncaa turns a blind eye to the infractions. In this landmark indecision, the ncaa will take the bcs one step closer to having it's own division and it's own set of rules.People here crucified OSU and predicted doom and gloom (glee for some here). When that did not occur...it was the fault of the corrupt NCAA as those here know the true facts (without doing any investigation).What word would you associate with a bunch of old guys from a rival school anxiously waiting the demise of their villain and ripping those who do not give them what they want?? Sorry...I think they are just sad.What really happened at OSU?? Alumni giving cash?? NO Easy grades?? NO Kids not going to class?? NO Kids getting in trouble with the law?? NO DUI?? NO Kids sold some of their trinkets given to them by the school and took discounts for services (something everyone else can do and GP1 is advocating for).It is OK to be skeptical...skepticism is a good thing. But the vitriol and OSU bashing went way to far. A coach lied to cover up a rather small rules infraction (IMO). He lost his job. All is right with the world.

I am cautiously optimistic for this season. I think the QB position will vastly improved either by improvement by Nicely or the ascension or Moore. I also think the skill positions of RB and WR will surprise people. So....I will be disappointed if we do not win 5 games. If we win only 4 but are competitive and improving...well I will give it another year.

Just another reminder of how fragile life is. Sad to see a life cut so short...and he seemed like a good kid. My thoughts an d prayers go out to his family.

Would love to ride my motorcycle to the game. Here are my 2 issues: 1. would the bike still be there after the game?? 2. would I need chains in late November??

But how much is a huge improvement? We could have three wins (Brookhart's worst season), would it count as a huge improvement? There should be a bigger leap going from year 1 to year 2 than there is going from year 2 to year 3. In that light, if we can expect to get to a bowl in year 3 (not an unrealistic expectation for a new coach brought in to turn around a sinking program), we need to have 4 or 5 wins in year 2.If Ianello gets to 5 wins this season, I'll temporarily shut up about him. How's that for incentive, coach?Temporarily?? How temporarily?? 1 hour?? 1 Day?? 1 Month?? 1 Season?? 1 Year?? Please be more specific...I am planning on keeping this post.

See General George McClellan.You mean this?? "McClellan was the most popular of the army's commanders with its soldiers, who felt that he had their morale and well-being as paramount concerns"

Some of you need to understand something. Does this mean BuckZip was wrong and you DON'T think you are smarter than the rest of us??

Again....count me in. I really don't care what venue is chosen...I just want to gear up with like minded fans before the game. And...if we blow them out...maybe have a beer after. If a multiple venues are chosen....I will catch up with you at the last one.

Not so fast there Dougie. I believe Abreu has been saving up a growth spurt just for that reason. Point center?? Hmmmm...sounds tough to defend

I say we meet at the Lizard in Boston Heights...then hit the one in Macedonia...then the one in Independence...then the one across from The Q...then stagger to the Convo. Who's with me? is this on a bus??? ...or are we drinking and driving???

I just looked at the rosters over the 5 years. It was a little surprising to find that none of the players grew. And if you look at the current roster, it appears there are no kids that are likely to fill out or grow enough to be effective at the center position...especially against higher level competition. So..I agree with QuickZip that we need to find someone over the next year or so. Although I am not to worried that there are no scholarships available...there are always guys who transfer because they are not getting the expected playing time (or other reasons). My guess it KD see the problem too and is working on it as we debate the issue.

I think the only way we get another Zeke is to have 2 great years and a solid and deep core returning for the future. Some kid may see the opportunity to step right in and not have to carry the team. More likely we will find some 6'9 to 6'10 kid and hope he grows a few inches. Size is nice...but you don't really need size to be a great defender or rebounder.I have faith that KD will find the correct path.

Rob's failure, so he/she thinks he/she can be right.PS Nice list Zipgrad01.The Zips winning is the most important thing. Of course, that won't actually happen until Ianello fails his way out of a job and we get a competent replacement. Zach....1. You have stated (repeatedly and emphatically) that ICoach is incompetent and cannot win2. You have stated that the coaches are weak...no qualified coach would work under ICoach.3. You have stated (repeatedly and emphatically) that ICoach is failing in recruiting and we have inferior players.Now...here is what I am wondering....and hoping to see. If the Zips start winning...who will you give credit to?? It is not the coaches...not the players. Who will be left?? I am rooting hard for the Zips as I always do. But I want to see how you try to spin your way out of the corner you have painted yourself in.I had a good laugh when you made your prognostication for this year. If I am not wrong...it was 2-3 games and you thought they would be worse than last year. When someone pointed out that they only won one game you stated that they should be compared to 3-9 as they should have won 2 games if they had an adequate kicker. I think you said that almost anyone on the street could have kicked better and won those games. The thing is....you gave him no credit last year for possible games won. But now you want to give him credit for those games to make the comparison more difficult.I like you...I really do. You are young, passionate and willing to do some work. As an employer...those are REALLY good qualities. But because you build the facts to support what you believe… that would cause me to never hire you. I always ask prospective employees I interview to give me an example where their research/analysis provided an answer that was opposed to the prevailing thought (or desired outcome) or if they did research that changed their point of view on a project/issue. I am afraid you would not fare well. My point is this....learn to be not be so rigid in your viewpoints and make less controversial statements...or you better always be right. You are young...my hope is that you mature quickly. It seems you have great potential. But many here ignore you because you lost credibility. It is like Manny Ramirez “Manny being Manny”. Here…you look at who wrote the post and say “oh..just Zach”. Just remember...perception is reality. You will dispute this now...but you won't later.Sorry for preaching. I don’t know you and we have never met. But you seem like a good kid. (so was Manny by the way)

If we can't beat VMI, we'll lose 11 again.I am so thankful that we have EMU scheduled again. If we got WMU, CMU, and NIU, I would be worried about 0-12. Even I think we can win one game though. I think we go 3-9 giving the NEO sports fans enough encouragement and the "give iCoach a chance to build" crowd enough satisfaction to perpetuate mediocrity. Note: 3-9 is no better than JD's worst season.Against OSU, I have us losing 35-14 with a 17-7ish halftime score and most UA fans thinking, if only X fumble or Y pass/penalty had gone our way, we'd be in this or could/would win.What record would make you change your mind about ICoach?? I think you are one of his biggest detractors and I am interested in what you think would be acceptable. Zach has already said he will NEVER give him a chance. I am not trying to defend him...the jury is still out for me. I have yet to decide and withhold any critisism until after this year. But I am curious what it would take (record wise) to turn around some of the biggest detractors.

Count me in where ever you decide. It might be a good idea to meet before the game at Otto's and after at WL. Just can't imagine Otto's open late night. But...obviously I have no clue.

I worked downtown Cleveland in the mid to late 80's and a group of us would go to Otto's every few weeks. They were known for their chili I think. We would have gone more but you had to get there early...or have a long wait. LOL I think I will stop by just to have lunch there sometime soon just to relive a moment of the past. You will not be disappointed in the food if you choose this place...but it does seem a bit far from CSU.Are you basing this on your previous experiences there in the 80's? Because, although I've never been there, it appears as though it may have moved to the Theatre District in recent years. If you "Google" their address (1425 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115), it doesn't look far to the Wolstein Center at all.Yes...I am basing it on previous experiance...and faulty memory. I lived on E14 and worked in the Terminal Tower complex...a freaking cold walk in the winter. But I loved those 2 years. Glad you mentioned it moved...I would be looking up and down the wrong streets and kicking myself for not taking my Ginko ;-)

I worked downtown Cleveland in the mid to late 80's and a group of us would go to Otto's every few weeks. They were known for their chili I think. We would have gone more but you had to get there early...or have a long wait. LOL I think I will stop by just to have lunch there sometime soon just to relive a moment of the past. You will not be disappointed in the food if you choose this place...but it does seem a bit far from CSU.