zipsbandman

Before we mention the Syracuse win, let it be noted that they are getting HAMMERED 38-6 at home against Penn State, and that's just the halftime score. I will be shocked if they win a game this season. We are in for a long year. Kudos to those at the bowl who sat through that in the rain.

We and the rest of our conference mates have earned this reputation. Until we start winning on a consitent basis and put butts in the seats we will continue to be looked at as small time. I doubt they were saying this about Miami or Marshall in their glory days. I'm sorry, but when you lose to Buffalo and Temple the season prior you going to get your share of doubters. Obviously, we did a good job of taking care of business at Syracuse but the season is still young.

As one of their fans points out, the hyphen of the Rowdies mark is in the wrong spot. This is probably some ploy for them to create a rally cry for their pathetic football team or of course a ploy to vandalize ICS. I have a hard time believing someone on our side would be that stupid for that reason. Anyway, their stadium is ugly enough. It doesn't need to be vandalized.

If you look at the renderings there is a huge dorm complex shown adjacent to the stadium, and we own all that land. Why not build the dorm right there and wall off our property facing the bars?

Here is my idea. We own the land adjacent to the stadium. I say build a small dorm on the land next to the stands opposite the pressbox. That way you add some more housing to meet demands of the enrollment growth. Then pitch a huge fence blocking off the urban blight completely, and then let the Nemers hang out to dry until they are willing to negotiate or until we are ready to buy their land.

I do not want to see these clowns get any benefit from a new stadium. The way I see it is that this is a win win situation for them and they will do better with the development around them. Hopefully these guys have to pay sky high taxes and UA finds an alternate way to stick them.

I want to see this kid in uniform and on the field first, and I would like to see what he can do in the classroom. Every kid with his potential has not worked out for us. It has happened so much that nobody can really get excited. Yes, we need to win, but in our case taking in risky kids has hurt us more than it has helped us. Suddenly, we get picked last in this terrible conference, and I hate to say that they might have got it right this time.

Nice to see coach Brookhart taking advantage of it

That's what all losing teams say. It's gonna be a long season.

On a related note, an unnamed government official told me that aliens may or may not exist. He/She also suggested that washing machines may fly.

I am unimpressed by the recruiting. Now that we need to recruit real student athletes, we are bringing in guys as big as myself. I wonder if kids sense that we are at the end of a coaching cycle and realize that the zips are not going to win. We should be bringing in the best classes in this conference. I do not like where the program is going right now.

If we really want to get students and casual football fans in the stadium, I think we should serve alcohol in all sections of the facility. It would create the rowdy atmosphere that is college football. It's not like we have to card 80,000 fans like the major schools. We are talking about 20 - 30k fans. Just card 'em. The students are going to find ways to drink anyway. They'll either sneak it in or get hammered before the game. We need to use any means to get fans at games.

Bad news indeed. Ouch...OU without Bubba and O'Shea. Double whammy for zip fans.

Speaking of recruiting, Quickzips, I saw the big 33 roster and there is not a soul on either squad going to Akron and we recruit both Ohio and PA pretty hard. There is just no excuse any more. Our facilities will blow any other MAC school out of the water. I have a bad feeling on where JD is taking this program. I think rough waters may lie ahead.

UCF is the model example. They had a garbage team when they competed in the MAC. They were the butt of our jokes, but now here we are looking up at them. They built a new stadium and a new arena. They drew close to 50k when they HOSTED Texas. They had a vision, and they have a great chance to play in the BCS, and they already have 3 other big fish in that state. In order for any of this to be possible, we must get out of the MAC. Playing in the MAC kills our fan support. Look at Miami and look at all their championships. They draw flies in this conference. It is really hard to go to basketball games when the only games that really matter are the three played in Cleveland. The level of competition in football has gotten bad, and the days and times they make us play our home games are terrible. A BCS bowl is really a pipe dream.

What makes ECU special for the Big East?? Conference USA has REAL bowls in nice weather climates. The MAC is getting further and further north. Conference USA is the answer folks. Just ask Jim Christian. Make it happen Mack.

At this point, any way Akron could get out of the MAC I would support. We already know this conference is an abysmal basketball conference. Now, their marquee sport (football) is really going down the crapper. Losing our best bowl opportunity, the GMAC bowl, is going to be devastating. The nation is taking notice on how bad MAC football is and it will take years to get that respect back. Lets face it, CUSA still at least has a better national perception than the MAC. I know we have done nothing to help the cause and hopefully the administration will take action if we don't see improvement from our team.

I agree with many of the posts. This has to do with the medical school or an arena. We really have not spent $150 million on one single project...not even close. That is a TON of money. This leads me to think that there are other parties involved, and these parties are either Summa or the city of Akron or both. A medical school would be HUGE.....just HUGE. It is the one missing piece to an already strong research campus. It makes too much sense. Most major schools have medical schools. It adds instantaneous prestige. This could even be bigger than a new arena. However, I would gladly take the arena as well. Just think about it. What school in the MAC can pump $150 million for an arena AND fund a new stadium (which will be the best in the MAC)?? I'm hoping this mystery project is either of the above.

Proenza's got this down to a science. The green space will compliment Infocision very nice on gameday. A nice spot to toss around a football and tailgate.

This is a program changing kind of day. I can hear French now, "Humpty pushing the ball up the floor, blows by two defenders, no look pass to Zeke inside who throws the hammer down on top of <insert name of Can't's latest JUCO big man with a bad attitude>"It's turning out to be a big off season for the basketball program. I read somewhere that Dambrot claims that more teams are coming to him for scheduling options. The to-be-announced home and home will be big. I hear UMASS is interested. Also, the Lebron Nike deal will be a nice touch for the basketball program. The level of talent we are attracting is improving. It's a matter of when until the zips break NCAA barrier.

I think Zeke will enjoy his experience here. There is going to be a buzz around Akron his first year. Campus will really come alive when infocision opens its gates. The soccer team will probably be competing for national titles, and the basketball team will be Stacked. Congrats to Dambrot and his staff as well as marshall. In the words of Proenza, Wow.

Again, thank goodness for KD. Most coaches are more worried about their next job than doing their current one.

Tell Can't they can have the Nemers too.

Whoah where did that come from? I love it. Can't State gets it handed to them in the tournament and STILL losses their pride and joy. Geno Ford will be the replacement for Christian. From what I hear he is pretty good. They will still be tough, but considering we have a guy like Keith Dambrot I'll always like our chances. After next season, Can't can really go down the crapper once they lose their entire team of JUCO's to graduation.

Their season ends before ours!!