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I wouldn't have a problem with that. But if every other program in the lower part of D-1A is doing it to notch an easy win on their schedule, aren't we hurting ourselves if we don't do the same? The prospect of starting most seasons with an 0-3 record would be a tough hole to climb out of. If it weren't for that, I'd surely want to see a higher level competitor fill that spot.

K92...That's a good point. Here's my question. Wouldn't it cost us roughly the same amount to get any D-1AA team in here for a non-conference game? If so, there's no real way out of this money-losing arrangement for us. But if we can get other schools cheaper, we should take it. The impact of our home attendance isn't going to be any better if the opponent is UAPB, or the worst D-IAA.

This game likely won't tell us much. If the weather stays as projected, I'm hoping to be tailgating again by the end of the 3rd quarter. I hope.

On this part I will agree with you. And this.

Exactly. Last season, when several of us were talking about his demeanor, and reporting some other things we were being told, some decided not to listen and call it "character assassination" or something. Maybe it took a few more games for the picture to become clearer to some. I want him out there because he's the most talented guy we have. But if the season isn't going well, or the situation deteriorates again, we might have to move on.

Then maybe you should know better than any of us that Boone, NC is not an "easy 5 hour drive"?

Wow. Do you work for the Western Carolina division of tourism? Including the "easy" cruise down the damn WV Turnpike. I'm really wondering if Steve has actually ever personally made that trip.

I can respect that. I definitely agree that there's some validity in that statement. Maybe our difference in opinion lies in the fact that I think I put much more importance on doing something....anything....that has some sort of national impact. Even if it's just for a week. I think our fans need that. They'd talk about it for years. I also think our "potential" fans would take note of that much more than they notice how many games Akron has won this year, or the fact that they won the East Div. of a conference that Akronites see as an insignificant entity. Quite frankly, I don't think the reward for winning the Division or the MAC Title is anywhere near what it used to be. Back in 1992, when Gerry's boys were 7-3-1, and on the cusp of winning the MAC in our first year in the league, we all knew that a bid to the Silver Bowl in Las Vegas was on the line. Everyone else went home. Today, maybe more than half of the MAC will get a bowl bid. And you're probably splitting hairs most of the time in determining whether the MAC #1 or MAC #4 got a better draw.

That's why we're all entitled to our opinion. But you missed the post I was commenting about. It stated that WINNING THE EAST DIV. would be more important than winning the Penn State game.

I know I've echoed this already. Lets just say that it's one thing when you are scheduling lower level D-1 schools that you know are going to "treat" your fans to a game where they will likely be heading home by halftime.........vs. scheduling them when the outcome is going to have a lot more question marks. Hopefully we'll reach a time....sooner rather than later....where we get back to that level. And this time, I hope we give ourselves more opportunities to score big wins.

Alright. So we get back to this old debate. For me, I'd vote 100% of the time that I'd rather knock off the #5 team in the country over getting to a MAC Championship Game (our Super Bowl?).

I know. I get it that some will find it laughable that we'd want to keep injuries undisclosed in a game where it likely will not matter. But for me, "playing to win" means you treat everything just like any other game. Lets be real here. Penn State certainly will make note of the fact that our top receiver will not be playing. I'd prefer that they don't know that.

Damn. That's not quite the "all in" scenario I like to see for a high profile game. Always the first to jump on the biggest stories in Zips Athletics. Actually, he didn't help us by "letting the cat out of the bag" on that one, and Terry let him know.

I hear ya. I'd probably last about 15 seconds on that thing today. I'm glad someone else was old enough to remember it. I'm not even sure if anyone still uses them.

Nobody here has disputed what was SAID. There's plenty that I choose not to post as well. Use your own judgement. I don't blame you. I just wouldn't anticipate that something like this wouldn't be commented about by people who know something about such a subject.

I was trying to point out that using your resources to foster healthy eating among your athletes is not new to D-I college athletics. I'm glad Daniel cut some body fat. But attributing this to miraculous gains in physical performance would be bizarre. And as a few others have pointed out (and I can attest), jumping 10" higher than they were a few months ago would be miraculous.

I hear you. My guess is the same as the others. It must have been very poor. Who knows why. I don't think you can attribute that kind of "leap" to a 7% drop in body fat, like the post indicates previously. Even in the 70s as teenagers playing basketball, we knew what kinds of machines and exercises we needed to work on to improve our vertical. I had a machine called a Leaper (does anyone else remembers it?) that spent a lot of time in my garage back then. I'm puzzled that he wouldn't have been working on maxing out his vertical long ago, knowing that he had potential D-I talent.

Rest assured that the previous staff was well aware of Big Dog's weight, and his assets/liabilities at that size, and did plenty to try to improve the situation.

Last year, I saw a guy who could lead the team in scoring by the time he was a Senior. With everything that's happened, I now see a guy who WILL lead the team in scoring his SOPHOMORE year.

Yes, I agree with that. Coney and Wolfe are the guys with the expectations to produce. I'm just hopeful that there's going to be some other help. We may have more depth than we anticipated. I hope.

Is anyone even talking about Kwadarius? Besides being a 1st Team Member of Akron's All-Time Best Name Team, I think he can be a very productive receiver for us. I don't know. I was really concerned about losing Lane and Natson the same year. But if Chapman successfully makes the transition, there's maybe about 6 guys that all have the potential to have good years. And if just one or two of the existing guys has made great strides in development, that becomes a packed receiving corp.

Just a tired Friday Night thought here.... I wonder how many times we use "if he/we can stay healthy" in these posts? Doesn't that variable negatively impact just about every team in any sport? Not just the Zips?

Yep. The dude just keeps proving himself. Unbelievable. https://www.stampedeblue.com/2017/8/22/16187024/jojo-natson-making-a-major-case-for-himself-early-in-the-preseason I think it's finally time that we tell all of the girls that "Size Does NOT Matter"

The height would be a little bit of an issue. You'd have to lower it through a hole in the roof to get it inside anywhere. That would be fun to watch.

Yes you did. I agree with you that PA liquor laws limit availability. Same with Michigan. And several others that even have completely dry counties.