johnnyzip84

Here is the Beacon article. Link

I'm watching him, too. It seems as though he's been battling an injury by the pre-game comments.

Here is a Beacon article on Zip's WR coach Frisman Jackson. Link

Either you think this team has a lot of talent, or Zipmeister is having a seizure right about now. I don't want any part of this.

+++ Back atcha Cap'n. But, a chance at bringing the Zips West of the Rockies looks like an improvement to Z.I.P. Last time Akron played in Boise I was a freshman and the Broncos kicked their butts. Akron has played Boise? I don't think it has been in my 10 year tenure with UA. Wow. 1979 was MY freshmen year too, Z.I.P. I didn't recall it being a major stomping, though. The source below indicates a 31-21 Boise victory (IN Boise....don't think they ever returned the favor). One silly game that got away from the Zips that year was a 28-27 loss to Indiana St (no BIRD was not on the gridiron for that one). If I remember correctly, UA blew a 27-0 lead on that one! Link

I expect the "Meister" to render an opinion at any second.

Here is Gaffney's report. Link

It sounds like the 1st day of spring practice went reasonably well. The link below has a break-down of the defensive line, with a couple of interesting items. Shawn Lemon is back at DE, and Cowles Stewart is back on the roster. Another good sign is Fleming looks to be on the roster still. This could be like the days when Jack Elway coached San Jose St and his son played at Stanford. Those rivals had some good, feisty games in that era. GoZips Article

It's interesting to see how many players both Akron and Syracuse are jointly recruiting. I'd love for Petteway to get the Steubenville Big Red train to the Info started

Mike Ward moving from guard to center is an interesting development. One has to wonder how many shotgun snaps we'll see, if any.

Zeke has to learn to put the ball into the basket. Having a seven footer in the middle does you no good if he consistently misses bunnies. Too many missed dunks and layups. I like what he was doing in the end of the season with those jump shots. Those are basically a bunny for him. We need 15 PPG from him to be successful. We have three more years of Zeke, build the offense around him. When he gets it underneath it needs to be a gimmie. And ZEKE, hold onto the ball and keep it up high! And MRS M. PLEASE START FEEDING THAT KID. HE NEEDS ANOTHER 25 OR 30 POUNDS ON HIM. It wouldn't hurt for MRS M (whoever that is) to kick in with meals also. But Ms. B aka "Momma Zeke" (see link) might want to get the 1st crack at it! Link That's who I meant. Silly me to assume that Zeke Marshalls mother would be Mrs. Marshall ALRIGHTY then..ZIPFAM...Uuuuhhmmmm...legally my last name is BOZEMAN. Marshall is my "former" married name...LOL:) Gotta love u guys!! Soooo..in response to all of you gourmet chefs out here who insist I feed Zeke...just remember this: 1. I don't live in Akron 2. His meal plan does not cover the 2500 calorie A DAY diet plan that Coach D insist he does 3. He doesnt drink beer (so thats out)... 4. A person can only drink so much muscle milk before they begin to revolt.... 5. He burns the calories he takes in...before it even hits his stomach......If we all could have THIS PROBLEM...what a wonderful and skinny world this would be Soooo in conclusion...Zeke will not be coming home for the summer, as he will be there doing EVERYTHING u guys have been asking him to do all season....GAIN SOME WEIGHT...muscle that is!! I'm crackin myself up here... Ya come back now...ya hear!! Gotta love those Beverly Hillbillies!!! Thanks for the info, Mama Zeke But you might as well say it......some of us (I'm RIGHT at the top of the list!) need to get a life Man I love being an over-the-top Zips fan! PS. making a big batch of chili now.....I wonder.....LOL!

I think they play somewhere in Stow. This is correct. They even have a nice link for the Zips on their website. LaTuchie Tennis Center Link That is their indoor facility. Are they not playing outdoor matches? If you go to the Akron Zips link at the La Tuchie site, the following statement is printed. Winter/Spring Schedule (Note: Matches may be moved outdoors if weather permits. Call the club on match days for location.)

Zeke has to learn to put the ball into the basket. Having a seven footer in the middle does you no good if he consistently misses bunnies. Too many missed dunks and layups. I like what he was doing in the end of the season with those jump shots. Those are basically a bunny for him. We need 15 PPG from him to be successful. We have three more years of Zeke, build the offense around him. When he gets it underneath it needs to be a gimmie. And ZEKE, hold onto the ball and keep it up high! And MRS M. PLEASE START FEEDING THAT KID. HE NEEDS ANOTHER 25 OR 30 POUNDS ON HIM. It wouldn't hurt for MRS M (whoever that is) to kick in with meals also. But Ms. B aka "Momma Zeke" (see link) might want to get the 1st crack at it! Link

I think they play somewhere in Stow. This is correct. They even have a nice link for the Zips on their website. LaTuchie Tennis Center Link

Neither UK nor Cornell exactly plays these styles, but on the surface the match-up is reminiscent of this famous encounter. Link

....and you boldly predicted this before the spring game even. I'll rip off the original British Bulldog for my "anti-prediction". Never in the field of gridiron conflict has so little been known by so many but a few. I don't think even RI will know what he really has until the 'Cuse game.

And he can hit clutch FTs!

I agree with this assessment. I grew up in Western PA and it's never exactly been known as a hotbed of high school basketball (there are always exceptions, mama Zeke!). Euton clearly has played against better competition. Pitt rarely is driven by local talent. Billy Knight, Pete Maravich, and Connie Hawkins are the only names that come off the top of my head as former Western PA HS hoops stars who went on the make it big. Sam Clancy was from Pittsburgh and played b-ball at Pitt before becoming a DE for the Browns. This brings me to my final comment on Swiech. How would he look as a DE or OT on the turf of the Info?

Very cool! I'm always impressed by people who can put forth so much effort into a wide range of opportunities. I was also intrigued to read his Wikipedia entry (link at bottom of the Examiner page). Cherry, Sparks, Irwin, Bailey, Schifino......you have to admit LO had no problem bringing in quality wideouts.

They proved they can win outdoors against decent competition, too. Nice job, girls!!! GoZips Link

Maybe Brett McKnight won't even get the chance to take such a high percentage of his team's shots next year.

I could be wrong, but I believe there will be more than just the 3 HS seniors entering the program next year. I expect at least 2, and possibly 3 scholarship players to transfer out (one big, one little, and perhaps another little). Did KD's cryptic, on-air comment after the MAC tourney final signal a possible willingness to take on a JUCO player or two? Here are my top 5 concerns/comments for next year: 1) The Obvious - build Zeke's physical strength AND confidence (especially with the ball) 2) Let Humpty play his game. It's a shame that his 2nd season was arguably less effective than his 1st. He's an instinctive player who I believe will learn better "on the job". 3) And now to another player whose 2nd season was not as effective as his 1st. Nik, PLEASE work night and day on a mid-range jumper. Whether it be catch-n-shoot or off the dribble, work on this until you are hitting them 60-70% of the time. IF you get this into your game, the lane will open up for you in a way in which you never imagined. You're a talented enough distributor to make the opposition pay when they collapse on you as well. You might as well work on FT's while you're at it. I'll live with the occasional emotional outburst if you develop a reliable jumper. 4) Make the decision regarding which newcomers will play or not very early, preferably before the season starts. 5) Give Nitro minutes at the 2 guard. He is actually the only prototypical 2 guard on the roster (except perhaps Petersen the walk-on from Fla). IMHO Nitro should practically never be playing with his back to the basket. His body simply isn't large enough. I may be one of the few who is glad to see the MAC showing signs of improvement regardless of what this means to the Zips. It's improve or fall behind. I like that kind of motivation and I think most coaches do too. We've complained about the sorry state of the league in hoops for the last few years. I want to watch better basketball period! If it means NIT appearances in the Zips future, at least it will be NIT appearance with meaning (hopefully). Now that the sleeping giant of the East has apparently awaken, it's time for the sleeping giant of the West to follow suit. Ball St. and OU have LONG held a big advantage in terms of facilities over the rest of the league. Look for the Cardinals to eventually become a MAC contender again soon.

Then I sure hope Bo Boroski or Terry Wymer aren't working the game

Maybe we should send him a FRUITCAKE basket.

For those closer to Akron, you can always kill two birds with one stone by heading to BW3's (for example) before and/or after the game