NewZipsFan

I'm bummed that I have to miss it also. It will be interesting to see how many people attend. I think it's really great for the players.

Pretty sure it is compensation in the same sport. Don't forget Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion QB Chris Weinke from FSU - he was 27 then - after spending 6 years with the Blue Jays organization.

How many LB's did this staff sign? Not sure myself. I know that we signed a few this year - but you never want to play freshmen unless you absolutely have to. I have a feeling that because Coach Amato is the LB coach, he may be being overly critical - and that unit will end up being very solid by the time the season starts. Just my opinion.

It is tomorrow - 8/12 from 2p-3:30p

And did you mean "DII team"? If most of them have the size of DII players - then that would answer your question... We need LBs that are DIA size/speed/ability etc...

Just because there are a ton of them, doesn't mean that there are a ton of them that can play at the level our coaches expect our players to play. (Unfortunately)

Exactly correct. Perfect explanation.

Yep - he has to sit out this year. He is practicing, attending all meetings etc.. Just cannot play in a game.

Avis Commack picked off a tipped pass and returned it for 6 very early in the scrimmage. I wonder if T-Buck was running stride for stride with him down the sidelines?

They don't have to be big names - just big time players! It looks like with only the three weeks our staff had to recruit, they found some players that were overlooked - Imani Davis, Conor Hundley, Pratt, Hakeem Lawrence, etc. etc.. These guys are proving to be great finds.

There are so many (too many) kids that come from backgrounds most of us could never even conceive of. Life is just so incredibly different for many young athletes. Which is why it is so hard, and unfair, to judge many of these situations. If the young man did not even get in any trouble - but was the victim of these incidents - we have to give him more than the benefit of the doubt. There are a lot of kids who grow up and are friends with other kids who do not have the same opportunities - whether athletically or academically - and unfortunately go down the wrong road. Guilt by association is just not fair (for kids and young adults). At some point in life, we all have to choose what is best for us - and that time is probably now for Jamel. He's a gifted athlete with a bright future - I for one am rooting for him to make the most out of his second chance at life.

Great news -- for all involved...

Winning two is step #1. The earlier in the season - obviously the better -- winning breeds winning...

Except that he's hoping that "QB Clayton Moore matures...."... It was written August 2nd. Clayton had been gone for 2-3 weeks at that point.

Love his writing. All in all...a very good piece. Dennis Dodd - CBSSports.com column

+1

Speaking of.... Honey Badger kicked off LSU team - breaking news

Coach TB will definitely get transfers that he really wants/can help the team. Too many one year guys - especially with issues- are not going to be the foundation for the team. It's not as easy to transfer from one FBS school to another as it was for the FBS players to transfer to DII North Alabama. Reid transferred to DII Valdosta State (he is from Valdosta, GA). I read yesterday that Ray Ray had hired an attorney and they were filing an injunction to force UM to take him back.

Agreed!

Hopefully you'll be patient - and not expect miracles this season. If we only win 3-4 games this season will that be enough? That's the one thing that concerns me about the fans -- unrealistic expectations. I have them -- but I'm not going to abandon ship if the team doesn't get to a Bowl game (again - I am a NEW Zips fan - so I don't feel the pain of many/most of you).

I'm confident that the renewal rate will end up higher than 85% - as that number is several weeks old already. And I'd also bet that the total number of season tickets sold will be significantly higher than last year and 2010 when all is said and done. Understand -- we are still 3 weeks away from the opener - and those approx numbers I threw out there were a few weeks old. Things are trending very, very well.

I'll bet those are questions that the coaches want answers to, also! It's only day #6 - I'm sure there's a long way to go.

Yes - thanks do much, George. Your descriptive writing really gives a great sense of what practice was like. I am very excited to see how far Zach D'Orazio will progress. He is a big kid with great hands and some decent speed. I think under Coach JB's tutelage he could become a really really good WR.

Wouldn't be allowed in the facility now. That's for dadgum sure.