johnnyzip84

I know we've had a lot of discussion already about next year, but I don't want to write this last game off just yet. True it PROBABLY doesn't affect JD's job security (no matter what any of us may or may not desire, and I'll be the 1st to admit even THAT can change from day to day), but I'd sure like to finish 6-6 this season. I know we've had plenty of missed opportunities, but a win here would take SOME of the sting off (at least for me). It will be difficult, however, because Temple has just as many athletes or more than OU. And we've seen what Mr DiMichele can do against us before. Temple is listed as a 2.5 to 3 point favorite.USA Today Link

Just call me Nostradamus. Then next time PREDICT good weather instead of just hoping for it, Nostradamus!

I've been trying to research the origins of the 3-3-5 (sometimes called the 3-3-5 "stack") without a whole lot of definitive findings. Apparently it's been used in the NFL/AFL before, but only in a situational role. As far as college football goes, it looks like it started to gain acceptance as a possible every-down defense with Harding University around the year 2000. Therefore, it's highly likely that Fleming is far more familiar with 4-3 and 3-4 schemes anyway. But I'm not sure I would want him to come back as DC even if JD decides to junk the 3-3-5. I think some new blood/ideas might be in order.

Oh yeah! I was already pumped but now I'd REALLY pumped!

Boy, these last few years with BG sucking at hoops were pretty sweet, but it sure looks like those days are over for a while. How long before MAC hoop announcers start whining about how the divisions are "unfair"

Question for tonight's game: Is the chucking of a spherical collection of water crystals, in the general vicinity of the opposition, considered to be a breach of soccer etiquette?

The quintessential KD line: ''If you are satisfied with a 19-point loss, you probably shouldn't be playing for me.''

This is a little off-topic, but it reminds me of two former Zips who not only got their engineering degrees while playing D-1 ball, they also managed to successfully complete a cooperative work assignment (at a previous employer of mine) during a FALL semester IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOOTBALL SEASON! It's always been evident that college athletes need to learn effective time management early on, but this really impressed the heck out of me at the time. They were both important contributors to the football team that year AND to their work place.Back on topic, I keep wondering if there's any market for a "Dominik's Hixons" show

I also feel the need to clarify. I don't think JD should stay nor do I think he should go. I trust whatever decision Mack makes. I just get tired of the extremes we do out here, praising one guy as a god after a good game and then saying he should be put back on scout team where he belongs after another. Then again, all of you out here are football experts, and honestly I don't know enough about the game to know the in depth details of what should be done strategy wise.A few days have passed and I still hope these conversations occur (or have occurred) this week. I didn't necessarily say that I wanted JD to be fired, but I DO want a FIRE to be lit under his butt. I think most of us can benefit in such a way from time to time. Here is probably my biggest gripe during this downturn. The defense plays with very little emotion, and it seems to have started right after the UC game. I would think this is something that could be addressed in fairly short order. Maybe it's made more obvious by the way the D is always seem to be playing on its heals. One thing I'd like to see in the last game is a go-for-broke approach on D. For instance, let's take a look at how BWill has been used this year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but has BWill been given ANY opportunities to blitz at all? If he has, it surely has been a rarity. I realize that a safety blitz is something you only throw in there once in a while, but with his speed and strength one would think sending him on a well timed safety blitz could wreak havoc on the opposition. It could end up being the kind of play that the Ball St. DB makde on Jacq to turn that game in the Cardinals favor. Heck, he's not making a huge impact in coverage, so why not use him in a way he can be more effective? The worst that can happen is we give up 60 instead of 50

He was likely headed out anyway, but one has to wonder if Andy Hildreth's heads-up play was the final nail in the coffin. So that's two down (Genyk, Amstutz), and how many more to go? Montgomery? Martin? Anyone else? This could wind up being a busy off season in the MAC. Gill, Jones, Cubit, and Hoke may get to leave on their own conditions.ESPN Link

Oh BE-HAVE, trimmy10!Do you think we can land any decent D-Linemen on Java, Sumatra, or Borneo?

I can't wait to be there to support the Zips! I am bringing a few friends along and we plan to counter any red and silver hooliganism we observe BTW, the ZN site seems to be running a little slow for me today. I hope uakronkid's embedded videos haven't brought the server to it's knees!

Yesterday's game felt like getting HIT in the Temple

It's interesting that you bring up LO, because in the last few weeks this year's Zips have morphed into a classic LO team (the decent ones at that).....an offense that can move the ball and score against virtually anybody and a defense that still somehow manages to give up even more points, particularly when the game is on the line.

Is this a little reverse psychology Cap'n? Preparing yourself for the worst? Oh, I'm not saying this couldn't happen, but it's uncharacteristic of your predictions, that's all. Go Zips!Saw it comin' like a freight train.Since Edelman returns kicks now, I think Jackson wasn't the only OU player making a fine impersonation of him. BTW, what in the world was Frank Stams smoking, when he kept referring to Boo Jackson as making "All-American" plays? The dude needs to quit the 'roid injections already. Doesn't he know by now that the Zip defense makes EVERY QB look like an "All-American"?!!!

I've said from the beginning of the season that 6-6 or better and JD should probably stay and that 4-8 or worse and he should probably go. I've also thought that 5-7 would be the "toss up" record, where Rhodes/Proenza would really have a difficult choice. Given that, here are the conversations that I truly hope takes place this week.Proenza: "Mack, three in a row is something we simply can't tolerate heading into the opening of the Info next season. We can't tolerate losing the last three games of 2008 and we can't tolerate the 2008 season as being the 3rd losing season in a row. Do you understand?"Rhodes: "Yes Dr. Proenza"Rhodes: "It's make or break this week, JD. You need to defeat Temple on Friday, or someone else will be heading the show as we open the Info next year. That's just the way it is. And I have the utmost confidence that you'll do whatever is necessary this week in practice to give us the best chance of accomplishing this."JD: "We'll do what we can. What about the recruits we are already lining up? What about the talented RS class from this year?"Rhodes: "Relax, JD. If you win Friday, you'll get to coach them next year. If not, I believe the Info itself will recruit plenty of talent for the next head coach. And he'll also benefit greatly from this year's RS class. Either way, we certainly appreciate all you've done for UA while you've been here. Now go beat the Owls!"Tune in Next Week for the Next (Final?) Chapter of "As My Stomach Turns"

$8 for adults, and (I believe) $4 for kids.

Is this a little reverse psychology Cap'n? Preparing yourself for the worst? Oh, I'm not saying this couldn't happen, but it's uncharacteristic of your predictions, that's all. Go Zips!

I've got 4 tickets to the game Tuesday, and I'm going with 3 new fans who have never seen the Zips play. I can't wait!Last night's 1st round games went mostly to plan, with the notable surprises being Duke, UCLA and Ken Lolla's Louisville losing home games (Link).ESPNU LinkBTW, Ohio State and Oakland play at 1:00 in Michigan today. We get the winner of course.

I saw that article posted on the UB message board, and it's a story that I was not aware of until now. It's certainly another reason to pull for these guys for the rest of this year. I wouldn't be surprised if UB garners quite a bit of well earned attention, given the past and the present converging like this.

Plus, UT may be rejuvenated a little from their thumping of Miami tonight. The last score I saw was 42-14. Can Shane Montgomery survive this season?

I know we needed a BG win to keep slim hopes alive for MAC East, but I, for one, am glad UB won. We can still possibly go bowling at 7-5, and UB deserves a lot of credit for finishing what has been an incredible climb for them. I also think this is a very positive result for the MAC as a conference. I look forward to a continued rivalry with UB in all sports, and in football in particular.

I predict the young Zips will keep it interesting in the 1st half, but Pitt will eventually pull away and win 83-66. Not surprisingly, rebounding will be an issue.

Man that's a real shame, nbs95. Here's to hoping that you get better soon, the Zips play well tonight, AND Steve gets some PT

I agree with a couple of things you said, GJGood. 1st, Baylor FR QB Robert Griffin IS going to be a household name before too long. He was amazing in the little action I saw of him this year while flipping through channels. I think he's the fastest QB I've ever seen period, AND he showed a pretty decent understanding of how to play QB to boot (relatively strong arm too). 2nd, I don't think even the 2008 edition of Ball St. (who I think is perhaps one of the best MAC teams ever) would defeat those 4 teams 95% of the time.Two other points come to mind with regards to scheduling "beatable" FBS teams. Probably half of the list can be excluded due to travel costs, including the Mountain West (IF we could even schedule a 1 for 1 deal with any of them), the WAC, parts of C-USA and parts of the Sunbelt. Another issue is the "shifting target" nature of a cupcake, due to non-conference games often being scheduled years in advance of the game. True, there are programs that seem to always hover in the lower half of their BCS conference, but it's still difficult to predict just how well a team like Vandy (for instance) might be playing by the time you actually see them on the field. Perhaps, when the game was scheduled a few years ago, the Miami Redhawks thought they were getting a "cupcake" when they scheduled Vandy to open 2008 in Oxford.