Doug Snyder

If anything...the tweet you linked from Nicely is concerning too. He just blew it off instead of taking some kind of responsibility/ I would have prefered something like "We got our asses whipped because we did not come to play and were not mentally prepared. No excuses...I will personally make sure that we will be mentally prepared when the season starts" My hope now is that he starts the season. If someone gets beat up it may as well be him. If he performs at a high level...maybe we have our QB. If not...Moore will step in fresh with the meat grinder part behind us.

Two years from now... Exactly Not if this year's team lives up to their own expectations. Sweet 16 gets Zeke drafted, although depending on the dynamics he might get a better pick if he stays for four. Sweet 16 also gets Nik a very nice Euro contract. LOL they must have better drugs on campus than when I was there ;-)

I think he was drafted by Minn and traded to Miami.

This is a great point. It is troubling for me as a former athlete to know that the players were so blase about getting their asses kicked by a bunch of glorified high school players. Obviously, Mounts players took it as a fight which is why they play for a title every year. Our players are so used to losing that they didnt even care to put up a fight. I don't care if it is cornhole, this doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling about the leadership (player leadership) of our team. In these kind of games without coaches...the QB assumes more of the leadership role. If anything...my confidence in Nicely has taken...uh red flag?? Guys who win titles are often very competitive ... even if it is tidily winks. So the lack of competitive spirit is concerning and the lack of leadership is also concerning. But....it was only a pick-up game and is really meaningless. Nicely probably does not a future in coaching and I am more convinced that Moore will eventually be the starter…even if Nicely is more physically gifted. Zach....not only will they try new versions to plays, they will have a different sequence of play calling.

Actually...it is exactly the same as every other day of the year. You are obviously referring to the fact the sun stays up longer than any other day. Like you...I like this day but it is not my favorite. For the next 6 months each "day" will be shorter. I prefer it when things are improving and getting better. So...this day is the "best" and the "worst" for me. Now that sounds like a political comment if I've ever heard one! And BTW, I've always dreampt of visiting Ubud. I hear they have a great left wave there. No politics intended. Great wave?? LOL It is half way up the side of the volcano. 10 drgrees cooler but smack into the rain forest. You have to go to Kuta, Seminyak or Jimbaran for waves...but surfing is very big in Bali. And extremely cheap for young kids following the waves. If you can sit through the movie "Eat, pray, love" it is a pretty good portrayal of the area. We are building a house in the rice fields 400 meters from the house she stayed in. It is so remote that I ride past many people bathing in the rivers on my daily bike ride. It was voted the best small city in Asia last year. I love it...the people are so unique. Let me know if you ever make it over...I will show you around or get you a good guide for almost nothing if I am not there. Would love to share a few Bintangs with a fellow Zip in Bali. http://wikitravel.org/en/Ubud

What I love about that article is the quote from the coach that wants to create a pipeline of players from Puerto Rico to Akron. That would be a big help for Akron and I think AA being able to come in, play significant minutes and contribute as a freshman played a big role in that. They see that Akron can compete, make the NCAA tourney and offer immediate playing time and exposure when they may not get that at the high majors. Excellent. While in California I follow St. Mary's Their success has a lot to do with the Australia pipeline they have developed. 3-5 players usually on the team from down under. It would be great if we developed something similar. I wish we could steal St. Mary's relationship with Australia....the Roo connection would be a good fit.

As long as you aren't one of the people making the calls, it is a great place to work. The real sad part is, 30 years ago people would have laughed at the idea of a telemarketing company being a top employer in NE Ohio. It's really a statement of what has happened to NE Ohio and less of a statement about InfoCision. I worked at Republic Steel in Massillon during the summers while in college. My job was in the accounting area and I calculated bonuses for "production" workers (and I am using that term in protest). Guys were making 100% bonuses every week for the amount of product coming off their machine. Trouble was...none of it was usable...all scrap. They ran the machines so fast that the small hot steel would run off the tracks. Before they could shut it down, it would pile up on the floor as "spaghetti". A good friend and fellow Zip also worked with me but in the plant. He had another full time b during the day and slept in the supervisors office at night while getting paid at Republic. The saying amongst Republic workers was "if you work at Republic...it is your own fault". Machines would be idle for days because workers on a machine could not make minor fixes and had to wait on the union maintenance department. I could site many other cases. Now...who was at fault?? The union for forcing those work rules or management for agreeing?? Who knows. But one thing for certain....where once thousand or so acres of manufacturing plant is now an empty grass field. THAT is your statement about NE Ohio. People are gravitating to more business friendly states like North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Florida. I have a business in Hayward California. Do you know it is against the law to smoke ANYWHERE in Hayward except in your own private residence?? Not in your back yard...not in your driveway...not in your car. In San Francisco you can't but soda pop in vending machines or buy cigarettes at Walgreens. They want to eliminate "Happy Meals" at McDonalds. Soon you will not be able to buy potato chips...or pay a hefty penalty tax. So...I am leaving California. I invested over 150K in Bali and will invest 150K more over the next 12 months. Do you think I am the only one taking their investments out of the country?? And I love the USofA. Joined the Navy after college. I have traveled to more than 40+ states. But the business here climate sucks. So you say they raised money for Republicans?? I say they did not do a good enough job!! And I am a Blue Dog Democrat :-( As long as it is a free society people will give money to scoundrels over the phone or online. Look how much money Obama raised during his campaign (online). Record amounts from little old ladies and many who could not afford it. NE Ohio?? A workforce that is productive and readily available. But....not business friendly. Few consider Ohio for big production investments. Be glad for those that stay or develop there. What does any of this have to do with InfoCision? You wrote: "The real sad part is, 30 years ago people would have laughed at the idea of a telemarketing company being a top employer in NE Ohio. It's really a statement of what has happened to NE Ohio" Understand??

Actually...it is exactly the same as every other day of the year. You are obviously referring to the fact the sun stays up longer than any other day. Like you...I like this day but it is not my favorite. For the next 6 months each "day" will be shorter. I prefer it when things are improving and getting better. So...this day is the "best" and the "worst" for me.

As long as you aren't one of the people making the calls, it is a great place to work. The real sad part is, 30 years ago people would have laughed at the idea of a telemarketing company being a top employer in NE Ohio. It's really a statement of what has happened to NE Ohio and less of a statement about InfoCision. I worked at Republic Steel in Massillon during the summers while in college. My job was in the accounting area and I calculated bonuses for "production" workers (and I am using that term in protest). Guys were making 100% bonuses every week for the amount of product coming off their machine. Trouble was...none of it was usable...all scrap. They ran the machines so fast that the small hot steel would run off the tracks. Before they could shut it down, it would pile up on the floor as "spaghetti". A good friend and fellow Zip also worked with me but in the plant. He had another full time b during the day and slept in the supervisors office at night while getting paid at Republic. The saying amongst Republic workers was "if you work at Republic...it is your own fault". Machines would be idle for days because workers on a machine could not make minor fixes and had to wait on the union maintenance department. I could site many other cases. Now...who was at fault?? The union for forcing those work rules or management for agreeing?? Who knows. But one thing for certain....where once thousand or so acres of manufacturing plant is now an empty grass field. THAT is your statement about NE Ohio. People are gravitating to more business friendly states like North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Florida. I have a business in Hayward California. Do you know it is against the law to smoke ANYWHERE in Hayward except in your own private residence?? Not in your back yard...not in your driveway...not in your car. In San Francisco you can't but soda pop in vending machines or buy cigarettes at Walgreens. They want to eliminate "Happy Meals" at McDonalds. Soon you will not be able to buy potato chips...or pay a hefty penalty tax. So...I am leaving California. I invested over 150K in Bali and will invest 150K more over the next 12 months. Do you think I am the only one taking their investments out of the country?? And I love the USofA. Joined the Navy after college. I have traveled to more than 40+ states. But the business here climate sucks. So you say they raised money for Republicans?? I say they did not do a good enough job!! And I am a Blue Dog Democrat :-( As long as it is a free society people will give money to scoundrels over the phone or online. Look how much money Obama raised during his campaign (online). Record amounts from little old ladies and many who could not afford it. NE Ohio?? A workforce that is productive and readily available. But....not business friendly. Few consider Ohio for big production investments. Be glad for those that stay or develop there.

lilroodude has the best understanding of what the next season portents. Nearly all of you would agree that Quincy Diggs was Akron's best athlete last season. Hold on to your hats. Q will be the third best athlete in 2011-2012. And considering that he is gettiing better over the summer, that should give you a clue as to what is coming. Next season's team has the clear potential to be the very best team in the history of UA. What a lot of you are missing the point on is that this team is chuck full of athletes. They will be capable of running most opponents right off the court. Surprise, surprise old GoZips is right. LOL I like your optimism and agree with a lot you say. But PLEASE... don't pull a CK and start giving yourself credit for prognostication before the deed is done. ;-)

I agree with most of what you say. But: 1. Caleb has one of the top 5 soccer programs in the country and other schools can't offer significantly more salary (non-income producing sport) 2. Dambrot has more reason to “care” about the university. They rescued his career and his mom was a teacher here for many years. But I think he would leave if tOSU came knocking. I just don’t see him looking for another position and he would only leave if it were a “dream come true” position. 3. ICoach is coaching a team that has been in the bottom 20% for years. This is his first HC position. To think he does not have higher aspirations is foolish. And…I would not have hired anyone that did not have higher aspirations. And…100+ programs can offer significantly more money to a guy NOT from Akron. One question. If someone offered you 5-10 times your current salary would you leave?? If the answer is yes (I am assuming it is) then the next question is do you care about your current position?? I think it is possible to have career aspirations and care about your current situation. I think you are off base in regards to coaches reason for staying or leaving. NE Ohio is a fickle fan base. The Indians won 97 games in 2007 and were the favorites the next season but they drew fewer fans and very little increase in season tickets. I do not believe increasing attendance will be easy. But I do believe that we must be competitive first. I think for the program to improve….more people have to care. And that means alumni and students. I live in California part of the year and go to the St. Mary’s games. The arena is a copy of the JAR. They pack the place. The seats are just as hard as at the JAR. But fans show up. No excuses…no blaming others. They just show up. When the Zips get fans, alumni and students that care to show up….things will improve.

I think the losses are going to hurt us, but I think the Zips do still have enough coming back for everyone to be optimistic. GoZips level optimistic? I'm not sure yet. But with a nice core of Alex, Nitro, Quincy, the Serb and Zeke coming back there is still plenty enough in terms of experience and talent to think that this team will be just fine. However, it will be another year in which the Zips will play a certain amount of the "who's going to step up" game with the incoming players. There are at least five players that I think everyone is going to be looking at as having a reasonable opportunity to step up and play a major role for us next year. Walsh, Gilliam, Harney, Tree and Egner. Realistically we are probably going to need at least two of them to step up and be significant contributors. The good news is that for the most part these aren't 18 year old kids fresh out of high school. Walsh has two years in at one of the top mid-majors in the country. Gilliam was the leading scorer for two years with his UMBC team. Egner got a little bit of playing time last season and if you believe KD's comments towards the end of the year he was ready to see some more. In the end though, the biggest reason I think the Zips will be just fine is KD. When you have a coach who has proven that he knows how to manage his team and put his guys in a position to succeed you have to have faith that he will continue to do so. For me...the biggest risk/reward is the PG position. All of the other of the other non-returning positions can be replaced. I think we all agree that Zeke will be better and any improvement from the Serb will make him one of the league’s best players. I think our defense will be greatly improved at all positions...except PG. Abreu needs to dramatically improve his defense and take better care of the ball. If Walsh can play strong defense, he will see plenty of minutes at PG and I think the Zips will have a great year. And I think the learning curve will be much shorter this year. Like most here…I am not counting on any of the incoming freshman. But Walsh and Gilliam are different and should help immediately. And I am still hopefuh for Egner.

I know everyone wishes for these kinds of scenarios to take place. I think we do it because we have no other options. We can't wish for the veteran players to extend their eligibility any longer, and this year presented us with a number of significant losses at the same time. It's like the Cavs fans who are trying to justify that they are better off now without LeBron because some rookie with no experience must surely be coming in that will dominate the NBA. They do it because they have no other options on which to rest their hopes. I wish I could line up all the posts I've seen in the last few years that talked about how Sweich was going to come in as a freshman and become our answer to our losses in the post. Losing Dru as our all time assist leader wasn't a big deal either, because Steward was an incoming freshman. And where was our season headed last year if we had done what some of you suggested, and handed the reigns of our backcourt over to Alex, instead of returning heavily to the senior leadership of Steve and Darryl? I've said it many times. In college basketball, counting on incoming freshmen to fill the shoes of these kinds of players is VERY wishful. If you want to play the more dependable odds, you'll want to tell me how much we're going to improve this year because there will be significant further development from guys who have already seen a college basketball floor. Don't tell Michigan. They believe they almost won it all with 5 incoming freshman. Ahh...what the heck. Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

You guys are in a fantasy alright! It is one thing to play in the same division as the teams that play in the bowl games, and play for the highest national title, but it is something completely different to actually compete seriously against those teams. No MAC school will be competing for a football national title in our lifetimes. Period. +1

And in Columbus and many other cities they don't need professional sports franchises because the local university has reminded the populace that they're the only show in town. I do wish UA could find a way of reminding the city that we're the biggest show in our town. Feed the disconnect along the Interstate 80 line. Grow our own civic pride instead of latching onto one of the most pathetic sports towns in the country. LeBron started something, or maybe he sensed something that was already there and tried to feed it. UA should do the same, but a little more tactfully and without mentioning LeBron. I've lived in Columbus. I'd rather Akron not turn into Columbus, where the college kids are treated like celebrities. They're COLLEGE KIDS for crying out loud. Columbus is insane about OSU to the extent it's unhealthy. And don't kid yourself, Cleveland is a great sports town with a lot of tremendous history. This non-existent Akron-Cleveland rivalry is completely ridiculous, and does nothing positive for Akron. +1

Skip...you just lost all respect from me. You belittled another Zip fan without any cause. If you can prove your statement by bringing 3 “friends of Mothers” stories then I will retract what I said. Otherwise I think you owe Zipseuph an apology. And you also wrote in regards to LeBron: "I completely understand where he was going with that comment at the press conference, and I agree with him" Now I understand you (would not be so brazen to say "completely") and certainly DO NOT agree.

I'm with you, iCoach either wins me, or loses me this year. I have to see improvement. I'll give him a chance. + 1

What if your family needs the money to pay for rent and food? Then you should get a job to support your family instead of being selfish and going to college to play sports. Comes down to priorities. It's a tough decision, but non-athletes have to make tough decisions and nobody talks about changing massive national systems to help them. Amen. Uh...sorry. Obama has been doing just that. Massive changes to national systems to help select groups. I seldom agree with GP1 but he is mostly correct in this discussion IMO. The current system is so strict that breaking the rules is almost a given. Why do we put known murders back on the street because of technicalities to protect our constitution but want to take constitutional rights from individuals to protect a game?? I don't have all the answers...but many questions. One thing I know is the system must change. The OSU issue was about athletes trading property for services and getting discounts. Read what Clarrett has to say (although I hate using him as an example for anything) about who is responsible and how easy it was for athletes to find people willing to give them things. One thing I don't agree with GP1...kids should have restrictions on what jobs that can hold. And he is also wrong about the rent...it is my assumption that athletes get room and board as part of their scholarship. I think "room" should make "rent" unnecessary.

My prediction is the ncaa will never hand out the death penalty again after what happened to smu after they received it. Wow.. great prediction. That would be impressive had it been BEFORE the NCAA said it would never again hand out a death penalty. We're both wrong. Two schools received the death penalty since smu in lower divisions. Actually Doug, I was only wrong once. You were wrong twice. Congrats, you win. "The NCAA needs to bring back the death penalty and threaten to use it against any schoolor coach whom puts winning over the rules. It is the only way to start the long process of cleaning up college athletics.Over the NCAA’s 106 years of existence, the death penalty has only been used fivetimes, three of those times against a Division I program. It has not been used against amajor program since SMU football in the late 1980’s.By definition on the NCAA website, “the ‘death penalty’ is a phrase used by media todescribe the most serious NCAA penalties possible. It is not a formal NCAA term. Itapplies only to repeat violators and can include eliminating the involved sport for at least one year, the elimination of athletics aid in that sport for two years and the school relinquishing its Association voting privileges for a four-year period. A school is a repeatviolator if a second major violation occurs within five years of the start date of the penalty from the first case. The cases do not have to be in the same sport.”The death penalty is a serious threat and when used on a program can permanently kill the sport at the school. The NCAA does not use it lightly and without serious reason. When the SMU football program received the death penalty after numerous violations over a decade span the NCAA vowed to never use it again. They have not enacted itagainst a Division I program. In the 2000’s Division II Morehead State and Division III MacMurray College were given the death penalty despite both having violations for the first time. Former University of Florida President John V. Lombardi said in 2002: "SMU taught the committee that the death penalty is too much like the nuclear bomb. It's like what happened after we dropped the (atom) bomb in World War II. The results were so catastrophic that now we'll do anything to avoid dropping another one.”The NCAA has not placed a Division I program the death penalty partly because of media backlash and the severe damage it costs. However, major programs are given lesser penalties than their Division II and III counterparts because major programs make money for the NCAA. The men’s basketball tournament makes 95% of the NCAA revenues yearly; college football makes nothing for the NCAA as the conference makes all the money. The NCAA will not put a high profile and successful program, such asKentucky, on violations because of the money the team makes for the NCAA.This is clearly wrong. If the NCAA is serious about cleaning up college athletics, it needs to resurrect the death penalty and create fear. Without fear, cheating in college athletics will continue as the NCAA allows it and does not always punish those who are clearly guilty. The NCAA had replaced the electric chair with a time out chair. " I never claimed to be anything better than average...if that. Certainly not "great". So I will take your word for it that you are superior and obviously the "Great One" as you say.

My prediction is the ncaa will never hand out the death penalty again after what happened to smu after they received it. Wow.. great prediction. That would be impressive had it been BEFORE the NCAA said it would never again hand out a death penalty.

Lee, I am in the area for a while and would live to take my young daughter to ride the train...she loves trains. Can you give me more info on where to catch the train and when it is operational?? Thanks :-)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/06/06/new....html?hpt=hp_t1 http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/06/03/edw...case/index.html http://articles.cnn.com/2009-06-24/politic...?_s=PM:POLITICS Lying and cheating?? It is culturally accepted now. Why is anyone surprised?? Is it lying when a sales rep tells a prospective client that his product has the best features to solve the problem when he knows that another product (not his) will work better and/or is cheaper?? Or when someone takes liberal interpretation of the tax code and claims tax deductions?? Or when someone charges something to their expense report that really should be personal?? And we all justify it by "I work hard", "I pay enough taxes", yada yada yada. There was a wise man once that spoke of "throwing the first stone" and "judge...and so you shall be judged" or something like that. I forget the guys name. Me?? I think I will let others judge and throw the stones. If you are a hammer...everything looks like a nail. It is not the way I choose to live. Question… I saw a UofA athlete recently at a local eating establishment and his girlfriend picked up the tab. Now…he accepted gifts. Based on what I have read on recent threads here…one of the UofA coaches is a lying cheating scumbag. Is it constitutionally legal that young Zach can go to Mullinax and negotiate the price of a used car but Patrick Nicely must pay the sticker amount?? And is it constitutionally legal that Patrick can’t sell anything that belongs to him but Zach can?? I think the NCAA rules are hard to enforce and many may be unconstitutional. But this does not absolve Tressel from lying…for that he deserves to lose his job. He did. He paid the price for his mistake. How many here have a invoice coming due?? Fire away....

Great questions. I like guys who are good leaders and help the team succeed in spite of maybe not having the best athletic ability (see how much I like Brett Biggs in football). For basketball, this guy was Dru J. Too small, too skinny, to slow, not a great shooter, but he won and was invaluable to his coach. I know he isn't the greatest player ever, but he deserves a mention in this topic. No Marcel Boyce? ZipsWin! is going to have something to say about that. Thanks GP1. Marcel gets my vote. +1 Joe would be #2

You understand that there is a difference and we DON’T compete with them...and probably never will. Just because some may think that we should and strive for that does not mean that it will happen. Wisconsin-Whitewater may get it in their mind that they want to compete for the national title but that ain't happening either. I live much of the time out-of-the country now. I often hear from people that Americans are arrogant and think they can do anything. I never argue with them and just agree. But I explain to them that because we think we can do anything and have systems in place that allow people to try anything...we often achieve incredible things. Look around...most things you have, communication, transportation, health care and more all are the result of those ideals. There is good and bad with this culture. So…although I may laugh at Zach for his naiveté or GP1's arrogance (we only need to practice shooting the ball to score more??)....I am glad we live in a society that allows, even fosters those differences and encourages debate. LOL This board can very entertaining at times. And no...I don't care what the chicks think...good pitching, defense and timely hitting almost always wins the day. Check the past winners of World Series. How many WS did Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa or Dave Kingman ever win?? A-Rod was always a loser until he went to a team whose salary is 4-5 times most others…and he’s won one. McGwire won one also…but that was before steroids…he hit 33 homers that year.

Me too. It just goes to show, most people want it one way, but it's normally the other way. Actually, I think the line at the bottom of you post fits most of what you write. I thought it was intentional.