johnnyzip84

Excellent assessment RowdyZip. I voted "the same" on balance, because I thought we'd finish 5-7 or 6-6 and it looks like these remain the most likely outcomes. In a nutshell, the D is quite a bit worse than I expected, but this has been (so far) offset by better than expected output from the O. BTW, I am also of the opinion that a 6-6 record with this schedule is pretty good. Of course, I'd take a 7-5 mark in a second Go Zips!

I would.UConn is a charter member of the Big East .. there wasn't really a "dice roll" involved there. They had the inside track to join in football if they ever upgraded to 1-A. They've been in the BE for all sports since its inception.And as a UConn alumn, I can tell you that there won't be an initiative coming out of Storrs to add U*Ass anytime soon. They don't belong on the same field / court .. besides the fact that there's not really a lot of momentum in Amherst to move up to FBS .. UC anyway isn't going to clamor for them to be in the BE.And one other thing .. you are aware that U*Ass is in the middle of nowhere, right? It's farther from Boston than Athens is from Columbus, and almost as far as Toledo from Cleveland. As the bird flies, Amherst is closer to Albany than it is Boston. And with the 300 schools in Boston, including BC, BU, Northeastern .. it might be a stretch to label U*Ass as a big market grabbing team.Just my $.02Go Zips!Oh I think I get it The UConn/U*ass thing is a little like the problems between the Hatfields/McCoys, Jews/Arabs, Brown's Fans/Steeler's Fans etc. But when one looks at these conflicts, it's more often than not that the feuding parties have MUCH more in common than they care to admit My "roll of the dice" comment was overstated, I suppose. The point I was trying to make is that The Big East decided to take in an unproven (at least at the 1-A level) football member (I know, they had the right connections) with a somewhat unorthodox plan to go to 1-A (isn't Rentschler Field about 21 miles from campus?) over an established 1-A program (Memphis, ECU) when BC, VT, and Miami decided to leave. If I recall correctly, it wasn't like UConn had been dominant at the 1-AA level prior to making the decision to go 1-A. I think they made it to the 1-AA quarterfinals in 1998 under Skip Holtz, but for the most part they were OK but not great (we won't mention who won the 1-AA championship that year )In Northeast Corridor geographic terms, I suppose Amherst IS in the middle of nowhere. But this is relative. U*ass DOES have the 2nd largest enrollment in the state (behind BU, see link). I would think that U*ass grads are scattered throughout the state and region. It doesn't seem too unreasonable to me to think the Massachusetts could support two FBS programs if U*ass ever wanted to give it a go.Enrollment in Massachusetts' CollegesI'll request one last point of clarification, just for the sake of getting this in writing on a public forum. By "I would" I assume you meant that you would ignore them (it was my original wording, so I'm to blame for any ambiguity) as a possible future Big East member. I'll ask a more direct question. In your opinion, what is the probability that U*ass will ever be a football playing member of the Big East conference?BTW, I have absolutely NO allegiance or affiliation with either UConn or U*ass just to make that clear.Just my 1/100 of a cent (cash value of a coupon)Zip go the Zippers!

Not unless Lord Disney/ABC/ESPN says we can!

I wouldn't ignore UMass either, despite their current FCS status. In some people's eyes, The Big East "rolled the dice" with UConn a few years back and by most accounts this has worked out quite well for both parties. Having already lost Boston College to the ACC, I could easily see the conference wanting to get a team back in Massachusetts to bolster the "eastern" feel of the conference and provide a natural rival for UConn in all sports. Besides, NONE of these other schools can reach out to the potential market size of a UMass.

The depth chart has been updated. It looks like I only see Hazime (from the list of the wounded) added this week on the two-deep (as a back-up to Rash at Tackle). Marcoux is listed as the starting NG with Pendleton as a backup. The DE spot has Sewell in his usual spot (sure wish we could clone him) with Lemon in reserve.Akron/Army Notes and Depth ChartBTW, as I was looking over the defense, there is one player who stands out to me so far this year that has been way too quiet. We NEED captain Doug Williams to step up and have a big game this week. Let's Go Zips!

Pluto says regarding next year's home schedule " and a sixth contest possibly against a Football Bowl Subdivision school". Did he possibly mean to say Football Championship Subdivision? I mean, every other school Akron hosts next year is FBS, so why make the that sort of distinction for the 6th home opponent? It's unlikely that he would have meant BCS (as in BCS-conference) school, since we already have Indiana coming in. I realize that the revised naming convention, from D1-A to FBS and D1-AA to FCS has caused confusion, so I'm not surprised that a mistake like this could make its way into a column.BTW, anyone have any thoughts on who that 6th team might be. We discussed how it prabably can't be YSU (unless they agree to a one shot deal). I'd be very leary of brining in anyone from the MVC or Colonial, if they do bring in a FCS team.

No doubt. Maybe JD wants to surprise Army... Like I noted in an earlier post (must have been WAY back, maybe like post 6, can't remember that far back very well) There was a dude cheerleader on the sidelines this week who, I swear to God, looked to be as big as some of our linemen. With the hemorrhaging on the D-line, it's time to suit him up, put that footwork to use.GO ZIPS.SeeTeeZipWhy not? He (the converted cheerleader) would have about as much chance to play as Marquinn Davis I never did hear what's going on with Marquinn Davis. Go-Zips.com indicates his grades are OK.I was always intrigued by his reported size, speed and athletic ability. I don't recall seeing him on the sidelines the last two games.

No doubt. Maybe JD wants to surprise Army... Like I noted in an earlier post (must have been WAY back, maybe like post 6, can't remember that far back very well) There was a dude cheerleader on the sidelines this week who, I swear to God, looked to be as big as some of our linemen. With the hemorrhaging on the D-line, it's time to suit him up, put that footwork to use.GO ZIPS.SeeTeeZipWhy not? He (the converted cheerleader) would have about as much chance to play as Marquinn Davis

It looks like Williams will be the Knight's starter at QB. I hope he's a little less efficient and effective than he was during his last outing (7-7, 95 YDS, TD).

this board is also full of people who have so bought into the bs they've been fed the last 5 years that they're completely blind to reality. Luckily that disease is curable.... I was cured in about the middle of '07, hopefully some of you find the cure soon.I'm all for people having their opinions... I'm sick of the constant campaigning. I'm ready to leave this place.Why can't we just be fans?This is a message board. We discuss, argue, whine and talk about the team. This isn't a place to come and just blow smoke or be blind to reality.I don't understand what the problem is.Agreed! If we can't bitch, moan, whine, be stupid, contradict ourselves, and well be Zip fan(atics)s HERE, where can we do it?Perhaps the Richfield Colisseum..(sp) Or the Rubber Bowl (in 2009)

What does ESPN say about our "defense"?Ummmmm, not much good to say about them so far this year. I think I'm going to have to drink more beer to provide them moral support. Think that will help?Might I suggest the Akron Dopple Alt at OBC?In a shameless bid to up my postings here so that BuckUpChuck cannot call me nube anymore (isn't he clever?) I'm going to respond with an emphatic YES, although I really gravitate to the O'Hoppy Ale. See all the Zips fans (even those dysfunctional Zips/Suckeyes ones) Saturday!SeeTeeZipShameless? Sure. I'd even throw in pathetic, self-serving, childish etc. But seriously, I'm ready to root these Zippers back to life against Army from OBC this Saturday. Come on Zips. Let's get it together!

this board is also full of people who have so bought into the bs they've been fed the last 5 years that they're completely blind to reality. Luckily that disease is curable.... I was cured in about the middle of '07, hopefully some of you find the cure soon.I'm all for people having their opinions... I'm sick of the constant campaigning. I'm ready to leave this place.Why can't we just be fans?This is a message board. We discuss, argue, whine and talk about the team. This isn't a place to come and just blow smoke or be blind to reality.I don't understand what the problem is.Agreed! If we can't bitch, moan, whine, be stupid, contradict ourselves, and well be Zip fan(atics)s HERE, where can we do it?

What does ESPN say about our "defense"?Ummmmm, not much good to say about them so far this year. I think I'm going to have to drink more beer to provide them moral support. Think that will help?Might I suggest the Akron Dopple Alt at OBC?

From above: What about Cowles Stewart? Done for the year? Also, is Harvey's broken hand something that he might be able to play with? One thing is for sure. If Pendleton WAS in Fleming's doghouse, he now has a royal opportunity to make a rapid ascension from the doghouse to the penthouse and I sure hope he takes full advantage of it. I have no idea what the issues have been, but on the field I think this guy can make some plays.New Hypothesis: The 3-3-5 causes injuries to the nose tackle?

While Notre Dame is a conference member, they do not participate in football, which means there are actually only 8 true FB schools in the Big East. I find it highly unlikely (but not completely impossible I suppose) that ND would cast their FB lot with a 12 team Big East FB conference. Therefore, the Big East would probably need 4 new teams to reach the "championship game friendly" number of a dozen. I more or less agree with your "top three" of Memphis, ECU and UCF. I also wonder about a program like UMass. They''ve talked in the past about going D-1A (now FBS) and the way UConn pulled the move off in relative short order may provide hope for a similar school with similar upside. I like it that we are even being considered, if in fact we are. I think FB attendance for the Zips over the next few years will be the best indicator of just how viable UA would be to an expanded Big East.

I agree, zipboy. I just hope we can correct these mistakes against Army this week.

And our record is????????I understand that the won-lost record is the bottom line. However, I also think the details that go into the wins and losses are important as well. The current "value" of a program is sort of analogous to a stock quote, and often the traded value of a stock does not reflect its true value. It take some analysis to determine whether a stock may be undervalued or overvalued at a given point in time. I say this, because I think that if one objectively reviews Saturday's game (granted we don't have the benefit of game film) the Zips were cerainly as much to blame for the loss as Ball St. was. And Ball St. is probably going to have a pretty decent year. For whatever reason, the Zips managed to make pile 80% of this season's (so far) mistakes into one game.So now comes Army. Should be an easy win since Temple crushed them and they lost to a FCS team (New Hampshire), right?. Ooops, here come a few details though. New Hampshire is a solid FCS program and would compete fairly well in the MAC in most years. Army's QB Carson Williams was 7-7 for 95 YDS and a TD before getting injured against UNH and this totally tilted the game in UNH's favor. It was a hand injury (non-throwing) and Army had a week off, so Williams will probably play against the Zips (Link). If Williams can keep the Zips suspect D honest, the Knights option attack will be that much more difficult for a weakened Akron front to stop. This game could easlily turn into a shootout, and a shootout on the road in a place where we have NEVER won is by no means a "gimme".With the injuries on D, the Zip O will NEED to play a relatively mistake free game (ala Syracuse) for the Zips to win, IMHO. I'll bet that is on the minds of JD and staff as well.Army Link

AmenI hate seeing other Zips fans bash each other. BuckZip, and Sgm are great Zips fans and I'm proud to have them. Although they should get heat for defending OSU in ZippyLand, they should be treated with respect. The name calling going back and forth here is a little immature.So Bobby if you were a Grad of 2 schools and one schools board was bashing your other school for no reason, you would not defend it? Remember, I didn't come here and start this. Some nube jackass had to do it.That nube jackass would be me BuckChuck, and I in no way addressed you in my original posts. You can call me a nube of course, if you consider a middle-age guy who graduated from UA in the 80s a nube. I reveled in Suckeye agony last night, and it would only have been better if the Zips had executed earlier in the afternoon. If you're really so thin skinned that you cannot bear to have your Columbus team ragged on ON A ZIPS BOARD, that says everything about you, and nothing about the rest of us.By the way, you were the one who took the discussion into the gutter by (1) telling me to "STFU", and (2) calling another poster a POS and polishing the whole affair off with lashing out at the "idiots" who disagreed with you. <<--me laughing at you, again.GO ZIPSSeeTeeZipI keep laughing at you because you are a complete tool.A nube is a person new to the board. Hence your 16 posts. Obviously you are a new UA fan. LOL at your stupidity.If having been at the Bowl watching (in agony) and cheering (in vain) as the likes of Western and Eastern Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee thwart would-be OVC championship runs constitutes being a "new UA fan" then you are correct, BZ, STZ is a new UA fan

BALL ST DB DROPPED ABOUT SIX PASSES??? Exactly WHEN did these occur, besides in your imagination? Jack made mistakes, I will agree. But his WR's really let him down more often than not. The good news is these are correctable errors, and I sure hope these are addressed in practice this week.

We will not be the only team to give up 500 yards to that offense this year, make no mistake about it. And I'll ask you, RACER, what game were YOU watching???? If we execute and eliminate even 1/2 of the mistakes the game is a toss-up.

And Brady Hoke-y is lucky that Nate didn't get himself hurt when he still had him in there after that 1st down that sealed the deal. I also sat near the Belair Buffoons and they were truly "special". I am now an official CMU fan for 2008.At least the putrid throng of red and silver pieces of garbage my fellow Zip fans and I left playing with themselves at Ohio Brewing are no doubt in deep, dark depression at this time

Remember how our D couldn't stop Syracuse?... At the end of the third quarter, Syracuse has 55 total yards of offense against PSU. Helps put things in perspective. No excuses, our D is terrible. I think it's more related to the 3-3-5 scheme than the personnel. Fault the coaches for that one. I don't think having a healthier D line will make much of a difference either.What's funny is how certain homers got upset at those that said Syracuse sucks, that's why we beat them.Well, Syracuse does suck. UA just doesn't suck as badly...And I suppose Ball St. sucks too. There were way too many mistakes made today to beat a good, quality team plain and simple. The WR's DID (especially Bruce and Milller) make critical errors. But it's just a ridiculous knee jerk reaction to start calling for JD's head right now. There's a lot of football to be played yet. Having said that, the Army game could very well be a turning point for JD's tenure here. It's a game we should win, regardless of the injuries. If we make the same mistakes as we did today, we'll very likely lose to one of the worst FBS teams in the country. And 1-3 might be too big of a hole too climb out of. If the pressure wasn't on already, it surely is on this week in practice. I won't let a loss to what is likely the cream of the MAC get me too bent out of shape, but a loss to Army probably would.

I love it ZR!!! Bravo!!!!

Predictions? I SO wish I could answer with a take on that great Clubber Lang line from Rocky 3, as in “one word……..BAIN!!!”, but alas this is probably not the week for that Therefore, I am also going to ride the weather theme. The Zips fine stable of running backs rumble and slosh for over 250 combined yards with Jack managing the game well and doing enough in the air to keep the Cards honest. Ball St. outgains us in total offense by a fair margin, but BWill and Andre Jones EACH have long interception returns to swing the balance ever so slightly in the Zips favor Zips 40Ball St. 38And if I’m wrong, hey it’ll still be Octoberfest at Ohio Brewing!

I'm wondering how much of an effect this rain could have on the game. I'd like to think a strong and deep Akron running game might take full advantage