johnnyzip84

I submit that the only reason the 2014 edition of the Zips appears to do more to defeat itself than the opposition is because for the 1st time in many years the team actually has enough talent to not allow the opposition to completely dominate them. The Zips have lost 3 games so far this year. The PSU game should have been closer, but that still doesn’t change the likelihood that only one of these losses could have been turned into a victory had the Zips not “shot themselves in the foot”. Losing to OU sucked about as hard as any loss in recent memory, only because we all know how far the program has progressed. But let’s keep it in perspective. If we snag a win in Muncie, all goals remain on the table (even if we don’t , it’s not impossible to imagine closing on a 4 game win streak – the East is terrible).

The extended forecast calls for partly cloudy and 68 degrees. The line moved down to Akron -1 this morning, but it is back up to Akron -1.5. Oh and please put your gold chrome helmets back on this week Go Zips!

I get your point, but I think most of, regardless of the spread, were concerned about the matchup with VCU’s “Havoc” against our improvised backcourt. Teams C and F, both with talented dual-threat triggermen, could pose matchup concerns, a la Marshall. The rest of the teams don’t concern me in terms of matchups. The Zip defense, while a bit disappointing last week, is still capable of keeping us in most of these potential games IMHO.

Let’s play a little “guess the team based on a (theoretically) unbiased measurement and their current record”. Sagarin Sagarin Team Ranking Score Record A 82 65.75 4-3 B 107 61.27 4-2 C 60 71.08 4-3 D 90 63.47 3-5 E 97 62.40 4-3 F 59 71.23 4-3 G 102 62.14 3-3 By the way, before looking these numbers up Teams C and F were the ones I thought were clearly the best just based on portions of a few games I’ve watched this year. I am not one to solely rely on a computer ranking, but I do appreciate the fact that reputation has no impact on these types of assessments. Going strictly by the numbers, the largest predicted spread at on a neutral site would be Team F over Team B by 10 points. If you take out Teams C and F, the rest of the bunch are within 4 ½ points of each other. I don’t see a potential blowout reminiscent of the UA-VCU NCAA tourney game in very many (if any) of these matchups.

Zips are currently 1 ½ point favorites. Ball State’s record is a bit deceiving. While they managed to lose in West Point, they have also played Iowa very tough and just defeated CMU in Mount Pleasant. The close loss to WMU also doesn’t look nearly as bad right now, with the young Broncos beginning to get the oars moving in unison and in the same direction (couldn’t resist). I haven’t seen much discussion on the other MAC games from the weekend, but it’s becoming clear that the MAC is as wide open as it’s been in quite a few years. K.E.N.T. erupts against Army. Western controls BG at the Doyt. MACtion might have a little less quality this year, but I expect the games to be mostly hard fought battles. The Zips need to win the close ones, and there will probably be several, from here on out.

The missed SACK also in that 1st series, which could have prevented the eventual score via poor field position, also may have contributed to Amato calling it more conservatively from then on. I just think it was a bit of an overreaction.

I more of less agree with GP1's take on the game, particularly the running game (would have like to have seen a run or two with the ball at the 40 and 4 minutes left however), aside from two coaching aspects: I thought the defensive play calling could have been more aggressive. I realize OU's lines are typically among the better units in the MAC, but we needed to make Sprague more uncomfortable. He would have made a few more mistakes if we had. I was really surprised when TB elected to go for it on 4th down in the 2nd quarter and skip the 46 yard FG attempt. This was with the wind and Stein has been money (not just making his kicks, but basically splitting the uprights on most).All in all a pretty frustrating game to see in person. I think we all thought the Zips were going to win it when the OU punt bounced backwards to the UA 40, but as GP1 says you have to execute. I thought going into this 2-game road stand the Zips would need to win one to eventually get to a bowl this year. I still do, and BSU will not be the easy opponents some may expect. I think we sometimes don't give enough consideration to how the MAC's general lack of depth makes comparing results from earlier in the season a dangerous proposition. So much depends on WHEN you happen to play a certain MAC team. Some teams get on a roll at the end of a season when key guys who were hurt earlier make their way back. In Ball State's case, Jahwan Edward is back at RB after missing action earlier. The staff will need to get the team to bounce back similar to how they did after the Marshall game.

Before Frank Solich the Zips enjoyed a pretty decent stretch against OU in football. While I thoroughly enjoyed the “Zips Win!” jinxiness theory, I believe coaching has played a larger role J Of course I would feel better with KP16 at the helm, but as long as the defense plays up to par and the running game is reasonably effective, I think TW13 will do enough to win the game. Obviously he needs to avoid turnovers (he hasn’t been picked off yet, but he has thrown a few that probably should have been). I’m a little concerned that OU moved the ball so well last week, primarily through the air. In the end, I like our chances mainly because the Zips have pretty well established a football identity this year and OU seems to be struggling with that (mostly due to injuries). UA 24 OU 17

Gerry didn't have the internet in his day or else he may have read THIS.

Gotta love the Faustian "Transitive Property as it applies to College Football"

Drinking or not, that happened after every game coached by Ianello

Bingo GP1 - Kennedy's screaming HAS to go. Few things annoy DZ84, but this is one of them.

The speculation is on target according to GT. TB will make a decision tomorrow.

EA has this story on Jerome's versatility in the PD.

I've said this before, but the only place that I believe has any unique appeal for him would be his Alma Mater. It looks like Holgorsen might have things straightened out a bit, so hopefully that potential opportunity is subsiding. Besides, WVU would probably consider another alum (Marshall HC Doc Holliday) first.

Here is a timely PD article from Terry Pluto.

Interesting story, MDZip......and you are correct, of course. Thus, Jeff Quinn will go down in college football history as the only D1-A/FBS head coach to EVER lose to Rob Ianello

That was some of your best material in quite a while, 'meister!

Excellent work, once again - the MTB shot in the end zone shows he was a lot closer to making a spectacular TD than I realized watching it live.

As bad as the loss to EMU was, I'll bet we can all think of a worse loss for Quinn.

Well deserved - the guy still hasn’t missed since he was inserted at State College and this week’s 46 yarder into that wind was pretty remarkable.

I saw it distinctly - on that particular occasion, it was clearly IW56. It's a shame, because he's been having a respectable season for a guy who was 3rd team D-Line not too long ago. Hopefully, KP16 will be OK and IW56 will learn from it.

Glad you brought this back,because I think JC7 deserves it - I thought that was his best game since perhaps the Miami game last year (maybe he likes running against them). CH34 deserved to win the starting job based on the Pitt game, but right now we have two #1 backs who can hurt the opposition in different ways. I look for us to ride them for the remainder of the year.

Hopefully, KP16 will be able to play in this one although I'm sure it's way too early to know at this point. Our defense can win a lot of MAC games regardless as long as we don't turn it over. As if the team needs any special incentive, if the Zips can pull out a win over OU it will place UA football in unprecedented territory. Not once, not even in the (current) standard-bearing 1992 season, have the Zips EVER been 5-2 at the D1-A/FBS level. In my opinion, that fact alone puts this whole season and TB's tenure here at UA in proper perspective.

gz19 - we'll just call your delicacy "North Coast Chili" K92 - that is one fine assortment......I've been saving a Unibroue Terrible for a "special" victory, but who's complaining? I decided to pair the chili with some Belgian brew myself - one from the old country (Afligem Blonde) and one from the new (New Belgium Trippel) CK - I am intrigued.....jawohl!!!