johnnyzip84

I believe this is because, while the MAC East has been consistently good over the last few years, it probably has reached an all-time peak this season in terms of overall strength. I also think that just because you might like to avoid facing a particular MAC East team in the MAC tourney, it doesn’t mean you don’t think the Zips have a good chance of winning a 1st round NCAA tourney game. IMO, there is more pressure on the Zips to win the MAC tourney than there is for them to win an NCAA game, if and when they get there. And I don’t think the team they’d likely face in the 1st round of the NCAAs will be significantly better than Buffalo or K.E.N.T.

That’s a very interesting article, GP1. Thanks for posting. I’ve thought about this quite a bit lately. The issue of player safety will continue to become more visible. Various TV shows have taken up the topic. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit there’s a small part of me that feels a little uneasy from an ethical standpoint considering I spend so much time and effort supporting a sport that leaves many damaged beyond repair. Here are a few thoughts as I read this: 1. His main notion is that football at the ground level could be destroyed by medical insurers backing out to protect their bottom lines. Maybe this is farfetched, but I wonder if youth/HS/college football could still survive in this scenario by simply requiring medical waivers to be signed by all players absolving the league/team/school financial liability due to injury. Is the love of football so ingrained in the American psyche that players and their families would be willing to sign such a waiver? 2. He discusses the immense economic blow it would have on the “small town” college football centers, like Clemson etc. Who’s to say, in this “post-football world”, that another sport or form of entertainment might not take the place of these local economic engines? And for those thinking about soccer (and I am a big fan), this sport has its own issues with regard to concussions and injuries in general. I don’t know what that replacement activity would be. But without football, all of a sudden the sports and entertainment landscape becomes wide open and totally unpredictable. 3. He points to the use of HGH as one of the culprits in the rise of injuries and that’s hard to dismiss. But I think equipment design and manufacture are at least as responsible. I’m convinced there can be more safety designed into equipment, especially if energy absorption characteristics are given higher priority. This will likely result in more expensive equipment, but I think most would agree at this point that this is a worthwhile tradeoff. This is definitely something to monitor from now on.

OK now that we've discussed the National Anthem (no, not the Radiohead tune) to death, does anyone have any more insight into spring workouts? NZF, I think this means you

I’m probably in the same camp as xu9697 on this. There was a time when I was hoping UA, Toledo, and Buffalo would either form the basis for a better league or leave together and join another league. But frankly I’m not sure if I still see the benefit with the changes we’ve been witnessing lately. NZF, I am REALLY happy you are “part of the ZNO team” and I look forward to your continued enthusiasm and insight as the football team begins to turn things around. But I think it’s unwise to assume the Big East will have that automatic BCS bid for long. In fact, if there even IS a BCS in a few years the structure will likely be completely different than it is now. That’s why I think Boise, SD St etc may have made short-sighted moves in joining the Big “Weast”. STZ, I completely understand the disdain of the MAC. You’re right that its perception, especially in the Big-10/MAC footprint, will always be, in GP1’s phrase, Dollar General. This is just me, but I’ve never been big on perception. It’s been proven that quality football CAN be played in the MAC, regardless of who acknowledges it or not. And I’m not sure the “better and more interesting road trip” argument is a strong one either. Almost ALL of those MWC/C-USA opponents would more than likely mean plane trips for the players and fans. That’s going to price these road trips right out of most fans’ budgets, even the diehards. Contrast that with the (apparent) approach the MAC is taking this year by including 2 away MAC tickets of choice (rivalry game excluded) in all season ticket packages across the conference. That’s how you help build rivalries. And let’s not forget, MAC East hoops and the MAC tourney at the Q have become a whole lot of fun. Like ZW said, there may be a compelling financial reason to leave, and this must be considered. I’m just not sure a possible move is as “fan friendly” as I’d like.

I think that's quite possible. Now I understand we're not talking about huge numbers at this point. But if you encourage, say 50-100 fans from the away team to attend games they otherwise wouldn't have attended, maybe it's the sort of thing that becomes a tradition and slowly builds from there. Why not do all you can to fill the empty seats throughout the conference? I know I'll take advantage, and typically I've mostly travelled to the "BCS" games in the past (other than K.E.N.T.).

Now THAT is a fantastic idea. Nice job on that, MAC office That's a great way to stir up "other" rivalries and increase attendance all the way around.

In other words, we're REALLY hoping Coach Bowden is the ANTI-ANELLO

Well said, Keener. Maybe if we brought these guys back for halftime?

I was doing my typical lunch time Zip daydreaming today, when I started to consider what would happen if Coach Bowden ever had the talents of Tree in his arsenal. I think it would only be a question of whether Tree would be Ed "Too Tall" Jones at DE or an even bigger Antonio Gates at TE.

I plan to wear blue, so I'll go 2 out of 3 with you One additional thing I'd like to see is a respectful sendoff for Coach Coles. We don't have a ZNO consensus on his coaching abilities, but I'd like to think we all appreciate him as a class act.

Here is a short soccer america article on the Zips' signing class.

I'm no wizard, but Miss State's loss to Georgia is one likely significant event.

How about the only Pro Football HOF Game I ever attended? I took my youngest, because he was a big Dolphins fan (JT has a little something to do with that.......well he and a dude named Marino) at the time. Got to see JT play a series or two and I also got to see ex-Zips WR Lavell Bailey run a few pass patterns for St. Louis. What I HADN'T bargained for was Canton's own Macie Gray stumbling through the anthem is a drunken stupor. She was flat out booed by her hometown crowd and rightfully so. I believe she did apologize later.

One more refrain

OK, let’s make this clear. I’m FAR from being an insider. Like many of us, I’m just a silly, long-time fan of a football program that has unfortunately provided modest reasons for optimism over the years. I am ecstatic that it looks like that’s all about to change! Thanks for the early review, NZF. I like the decision to start things off with Whitney’s classic rendition.

Here is a story by George Thomas of the ABJ on Coach Rembielak

Yeah I'm not sure how they do it with Title IX. I thought maybe they didn't have baseball, but they do. They also have men's soccer.

And I can't wait to hear what you hear about it

Link I have to think this puts additional pressure on Quinn to show significant improvement next season.

Thanks for straightening my memory out a little, NZF. I obviously forgot Coach Bowden's Salem stint PRECEDED his year at Akron. Maybe that helped give Faust and AD Adams the idea to bring Salem in for the opener? I have seen Coach's "speaking website" and I keep waiting for the bio to be updated to include the Akron head coaching gig There's no doubt. When reading through all of that success, it's really crazy that it took this long until a program like Akron reached out to him.

I was watching the Buffalo sports recap show on STO the other day, and I was very surprised to see that U@B has a men's tennis program.

Here is a related PD story on the availability of painkillers on college campuses.

I wholeheartedly agree with just about everything you say here. But as pointed out in the story, CJ was prescribed Percocet (Oxycodone) after his shoulder surgery. On his own, he later later obtained Oxycontin. Your point remains valid however. The prescription and distribution of painkillers within college athletics needs to be addressed head on and soon. My heart absolutely goes out to these families and I have the utmost respect for their courage in bringing this issue to light. May God bless them.

The line is 20.5 to 21. NIU might start fast coming off their home upset of Miami. But it will quickly go downhill for them from there. Zips 87 Huskies 59

Thanks for the insight on Coach Milwee, NZF I've always enjoyed real life stories that have a "full circle" twist. The older Zip fans will probably remember the very 1st game Gerry Faust was head coach of the Zips. Coach Faust lead the Zips to a 35-0 win over (then NAIA) Salem College of West Virginia that Sept night in 1986. Of course, Coach Bowden was leading the Zip QBs in the Rubber Bowl that game as well. And he would later be the head coach for Salem itself. A sellout crowd of 35000 witnessed somewhat of a yawner as Salem was not providing much competition, especially after their highly touted QB was forced out of the game early in the 1st half. Salem was moving the ball pretty well up until then. And just who was Salem's starting QB for that game? Why it was none other than Jimbo Fisher.