UAZippers

I have no idea where to best put this, but it is looking more and more likely that the NCAA is going to get rid of the rule, for both football and basketball, requiring transfers to sit out for a year before becoming eligible for their new team. I remember a lot of people on this board talking about how much they disliked that grad transfers can play immediately when we were discussing Antino and Noah this past off season and this a another step further from that.

This is a tough game, but winnable. EMU seems to be the exact same type of team that they have been for a few seasons now: incredibly athletic and skilled, with no team chemistry and a lackluster coach. There is no excuse for a team as talented as EMU to be 1-3 in conference play. James Thompson might be the best player in the MAC and he seems to have matured a bit; I only see one technical on the season after averaging about 300 the past couple of seasons. They have a really good transfer from Robert Morris in Elijah Minnie, he is another big man that the Zips will have to find a way to contain. Outside of those two, Tim Bond, a MAC all-defense team member last season, is a great player as well. Looking at their roster, somehow they are actually younger than the Zips. They have 8 freshman this season and only one senior (Bond).

Whole bunch of whistles already again this game.

I'm not a huge fan of how it looks either. I do love how we are trying to innovate and not just jump on a trend though.

You think we will get a home game?

Ok, how much would you have bet someone if they said that Kostelac would make the first shot for the Zips tonight? I would have lost a lot of money.

That is as easy of a MAC schedule as I could have possibly hoped for. No Toledo or Western Michigan and NIU/Central Michigan at home. This is a schedule that if Akron wants to be considered a top MAC team, they go no worse than 6-2. There are only three games that should be toss ups: OU and EMU on the road and NIU at home.

The key for tonight is how well the Zips contain Willie Jackson, a guy who, if I'm remembering correctly, barely chose Missouri over the Zips out of high school and was rumored to be transferring to Akron before ultimately ending up at Toledo. The rockets were not a very good team before he became eligible a few weeks ago, but have been on a tear since he joined the starting lineup.

Height means nothing when the guy looks completely lost every time he steps on the court. I don't know why you feel that just having a tall person would drastically change the team's outlook. I had as high of hopes for him before the season as anyone else on this board, but he has done NOTHING to show that he deserves to play any meaningful time whatsoever. He is slow, awkward, and cannot seem to find the flow of the offense, let alone guard his man on defense. Its ok, there are very few freshman centers that are able to compete at the D1 level and most of those are playing for top 25 teams.

Even if we do suck as you say, why should Kostelac be the one to get the minutes? It's not like he is behind a bunch of seniors who are leaving after this season. He lost all of his minutes to a sophomore and one of his fellow freshmen. Next year, I expect him to be even further back on the depth chart with the addition of Riak. If the goal is to give time to future contributors, then I believe that the minutes are being divided perfectly.

I agree, I'm not happy with .500 football from my coach that is now in the latter part of his first decade with the team.

What awful defense by every player on the court.

Zips announce 12 signings, including reannouncing Eric Bentley and Reggie Corner Jr.. Bentley, Corner, Hall, and White are early enrollees. http://www.gozips.com/news/2017/12/20/football-signing-day-release.aspx

Which might be true, but doesn't mean that the Zips don't need a new OC. If Bowden is calling the plays then they need to convince him to give it up and hire someone who can be more effective.

They do have a punter!

Maybe, also possible it wasn't offered to him. Kelley is back next year, might as well give him some reps in case we ever need him.

I agree. I loved it. It's a killer's mentality. I'd much rather have a coach who does that rather than one who runs it up the middle every time on 3rd and 11.

You can say that, but I think the Zips were a not good football team this year who way over performed in games when they absolutely needed to. Is it his fault that the team is not great talent-wise? Yes. Is it due in large part to his coaching that they overcame the talent difference so often? Yes. What i hope to see (but doubt will happen) is an extension with a clause that increases salaries for his assistants fairly substantially with the condition that he removes some of the coaches currently in place. Particularly Milwee and Jeff Bowden.

I would be stunned if Bowden didn't get an extension. He brought a not great team to our second ever MAC championship appearence. I want to see a lot of change from the Zips in the offseason, but I doubt a change in head coach will be one of them. It would also be a huge mistake to let him coach a lame duck season. That is a good way to ruin recruiting for years to come.

I have been looking for any sign of one and as far as I can tell, there is nothing official. It blows my mind that the university didn't help arrange something.

Very sloppy game against an inferior opponent. Not much to learn about the Zips other than there is a lot of work left in front of them. I'm really happy to see Eubanks back, I didn't realize he broke his cheek. That is not a fun injury.

Well the Zips Gameday appearence today featured Lee Corso calling Bowden fat and Kirk Herbstreet saying there is no reason to have them predict the game because it is obvious that Toledo will win. Akron can hopefully gain a solid chunk of respect today.

There is a $20 ticket that includes a bus to the game and some other perks for students.

Attendance is about as good as I could have hoped. Both lower levels are pretty full, upper levels barren like always.

Kato takes the field to start.