johnnyzip84

The Beacon has a good article about the infamous Akron Vulcans, the only pro football team to ever truly call the Rubber Bowl "home" (not counting the Brown's exhibitions and the 1952 "home games" for the Dallas Texans). While they played a dozen years before I made my way to UA from western PA, I've always had an interest in this ill-fated squad. I even borrow the team name for fantasy football every year. While this isn't about the Zips, it is certainly an interesting piece of Rubber Bowl history.Link

The Beacon has an article that discusses a 10 year plan that Dr. Proenza will be making public before too long Link

Here's the Toledo Blade story on Amstutz's resignation. As pointed out in the article, the timing is kind of strange, since UT has been off for 10 days now themselves.Toledo Blade Story

Looks like the Zips are opening as 4 1/2 to 5 point favorites.LinkOne last thing about Amstutz resigning at the end of this year. I really wonder how much of this decision has to do with the gambling investigations, and other off-the-field issues. Sure he will have had three straight losing seasons, but look what he did just prior to that and look at his overall record. If this (other factors being considered) is not the case, then JD better hope the UA administration is a little kinder than UT's, just in case HE ends up with three losing seasons in a row (I don't think JD will, BUT if the Zips lose Wednesday, it becomes a real possibility).

Damn dude, tone down the arrogance a bit. Here's some advice from a former honors student--you're not as special as you might think you are. Keep your love of yourself behind closed curtains. Your comments are a disgrace to nerds everywhere.I hear the board of trustees is considering a MAJOR name change for UA athletic teams.

The Leakin has a brief story now online confirming this.Link

Nice find, Cap'n. The current competition (in terms of offers) would seem to favor UA in this early stage.

It's been widely reported and discussed as to just how much the University and the City mean to "Toledo Tom". Therefore if there ever was a "lame duck" coach who might inspire his team in a situation like this (on his way out), it could very easily be Amstutz. I think this will give UT a boost, making a fairly talented team even more dangerous. Once again, it's up to JD and staff to get the Zips ready to match the emotion and intensity on Wednesday. And I don't mean Zach Anderson simulating WWE after the whistle, either The Zips will need to play smart, focused, inspired, and intense football on Wednesday night to come out on top.

I certainly have no problem with a newer fan asking this sort of question. After all (if I recall correctly) jstoudemire is D Bowser's brother (correct js?) and this would mean he would have very limited exposure to Zippy and his/her history. But I agree with the general notion that Zippy simply isn't meant to be a viscious or intimidating being. I'll probably upset a few people with this comparison, but I remember when my kids were younger and Barney the purple dinosaur was popular. I always felt that Barney's appeal was very similar to Zippy's, but Zippy was the ORIGINAL large, warm, un-intimidating, always smiling, stuffed creature. I don't think we could or should change him/her now. Now whatever "Roo" depiction happens to be on the helmet/uniform is another question entirely.

The beginning of that season was horrid, especially getting ROCKED at home in an Acme-Zip game by 1-AA Illinois St. BTW the 1st 3 home games were indeed versus 1-AA foes, but both Arkansas St and Northern Illinois (during their odd MAC "sabbatical") were 1-A programs.The absence of the flushes is striking for sure. One other point of interest is this. I'm not 100% sure, but I think this is the last time UA defeated YSU in football

IMO I think we should root against Indiana. I think we should always root for as many MAC bowl teams as possible, and the best way to have that occur is for as many BCS teams as possible to remain bowl ineligible. Plus, I happen to think the MAC is fairly well positioned to compete well in bowl games this year, far better than in recent years. I'll be disappointed if the conference doesn't win at least TWO bowl games.

I believe such a move would split the conference, and this is what I said in the survey.

OK, I see the importance of the "tie in". And since the BCS conferences are the ones who have the hardest time filling their "tie-ins" (only because they have the MOST "tie-ins") then it's pretty unlikely that there would ever be a 6-6 BCS team that has NOT qualified for a bowl via a "tie-in". But there is one, non-BCS conference this year that is having a pretty good season for which this rule could affect. That would be the Mountain West which has 4 "tie-ins", all of which have been filled already (unless Utah ends up in a BCS bowl). It would be possible for New Mexico, Colorado State or UNLV to finish 6-6. And as long as the Zips, for instance, would finish 7-5, then bowls that are left hanging by the ACC would have to pick UA over the 6-6 MWC team (or WAC/Conf USA etc). This may seem like a subtle point, but it could very well make the difference between going to a bowl and not going to a bowl for at least one MAC school (although it will probably have more influence on the fortunes of MAC West teams).

I expect a decent crowd for the UB game, but no sell-out.If we beat Toledo, it'll be between 20-25K.If we lose to Toledo, it'll be around 15K.

Then how do you interpret the last part of the sentence, ?

Whoa, if this is true it must be new to the NCAA for this year. This could be HUGE down the stretch for the MAC this year. I mean, how many times do 6-6 teams from the Big 10/11 or SEC or elsewhere traditionally get picked over a 7-5 MAC, WAC or Sunbelt team? It's a little hard for me to believe that the bowls would go along with this change. Does anyone have any insight?

Maybe they'll fly over the stadium and take some new aerial photos!Yeah, we need Tom Hagen to provide some more of these awesome shots! What do you say, Tom? Is there any way we can make YOU and offer that you can't refuse?

I voted for 2008, but I would like to at least limit the number of weekday games to perhaps 1 home and 1 away. I've said this before. I think this years HOME schedule is the most competitive home schedule we've ever had on balance. And the away schedule has worked out pretty nicely, too

I'm with you for all but the Syracuse-Louisville game. IMO no matter what happens this weekend, the Orange have essentially ZERO chance for bowl eligibility. I'd like to see them win at least ONE Big East game.

These unidentified individuals are reportedly looking for ziptrumpet87 Just kidding, of course, uakronkid.Even though I would be sorely disappointed with a loss to Toledo, there is no way I would miss the last game at the Bowl. No matter how badly maligned she's been over the years, I'm going to miss the old lady

I am pretty neutral on JD, but I think he's done a decent job (so far) this year and I went ahead and voted for him.I think the big factor here (for the relative lack of enthusiasm for JD) is that Zippy will always be a part of the UA program while any head coach is more or less temporary (there are exceptions, like JoePa, etc).

Johnson for Veep!Watching the UB-OU game last night made me think about UB's receiver Roosevelt. There has GOT to be a good line in there somewhere (Kennedy, Johnson, Roosevelt) when UB travels here for the bowl's swan song.Just thought of another. Jow about "Slick Drew Willy"?

Michael Beaven writes a nice article about DK in the Beacon. It'd be awesome if DK can keep playing at a high level from here on out. One concern is JD's admission that he (DK) is not 100% (in terms of injury) at this point. I suppose all of the players are nursing various bumps and bruises at this time of the year.Link

That's a good point, GJGood. The only Pac-10 team I recall the Zips playing was Oregon St. in Corvallis back in the Faust days. If I recall, we gave them a decent game too, but this was before this particular OSU got decent again in football.I would figure the main reason you don't see these match-ups is because the MAC teams would rather keep more of the "payout" by playing at BCS schools that are closer to home. After thinking about this a little, I remembered that Toledo opened up at Arizona this season. I recall listening to the game on XM on the drive back from Syracuse. But this is certainly an exception and not the rule.

I'm kind of there with you skhorbotly. Oh I'll turn to the OU-UB game at times (mainly to see how they look in terms of stacking up against us) and I understand the logic behind rooting for OU, but it's getting to the point for me where I'm getting a little tired of hoping for "all the cards to fall in place" for us to win a MAC East crown. I say, forget the rest of the East (the crown is IN THE ZIPS OWN HANDS after all) and let's just roll the next four games and be done with all the "what ifs"! Go you mighty Zippers!!!