GP1

I think you are reading too much into a minor league baseball game with a bobblehead doll give away.

We lost 11. What does "A good number" mean? My original post uses the words "average talent". The MAC Championship team may have had average talent, but they were still better than the talent level from last year. Lack of talent makes a team predictable. A predictable defense is a sitting duck in the fourth quarter. The Zips had a huge talent problem last year and I hate to say it, they still do.

One should look at this in two ways. The point of view of the Aeros and the point of view of UofA. Before I go on, I think this was a good idea and probably a win-win for both parties. First, minor league baseball teams sell far more tickets before the season starts than during the season. Knowing that, did this give away have a positive impact on attendance for that evening and only that evening? There shouldn't be an expectation for this to have a long term effect on ticket sales. My guess is this was a win for the Aeros because they probably had an increase in attendance they might not have without this promotion or with another promotion. Secondly, UofA should do everything it can to bring alumni and friends with their families at least in the near proximity of campus with events. Partnering with the Aeros for something like this is a good move and probably didn't cost much money at all. I don't see how the University loses in an event like this. I also don't know how much they win, but I don't see a loss.

Your post takes me back to the MAC Championship we won with the coach TW fired. It was a high scoring game for the time (nothing compared to the points teams are putting up now around the country) and a defense with very average talent was able to make a key stop against a very, very good NIU offense late in the game that set up the miracle catch by DH. Not only did they make a key stop on that drive, they kept NIU out of the end zone twice in the fourth quarter and forced field goals. We don't need great players who crap their pants in the 4th quarter. In 2013, points get scored regardless because the rules are set up for them to be scored. Clutch play is more important than defensive rankings, etc.

I think the author sees things exactly as they materialized. Where I would be critical is he came close to articulating a good point about why this particular defense is struggling late in games and it applies to all defense. I think too many people in the media today don't understand the modern game and how it has drastically changed in the past few years. For example, the younger guys on ESPN are much more in tune about the modern game than guys like Ditka or Tom Jackson. Too many defenses these days are set up to either stop the run or stop the pass. I like a front four designed to be great run stoppers and the rest of the team to be great pass defenders. It's not an either/or thing for me. Stop the run, force a third down pass into a heavily covered defensive backfield on third and long and have a great pass rusher to apply pressure. Force turnovers and not punts. The main point was, in the clutch, a defense has to come through or rankings don't matter. The only rankings that matter are the standings. I like nothing more than the players for the teams I like playing their best at the end of games. If they can't, then what is the point of playing well the rest of the time if you can't win in the end? As the Zips get better, it will be fun to watch who the players are who come through and those who don't.

Article As the Zips improve, they will find themselves in more close games. Ideally, a team would like to have the ball to run out the clock with a lead. If that isn't possible, it is important to have a good defense that plays well in the clutch. Let's hope the Zips defense will play better in the clutch that my Steelers defense has played in the clutch in recent years.

I think Dalton will develop well, but never be a starter in the NFL. However, I do think he can make a team and have a really great paying job for a couple of years before having to take life seriously. The current economics of the NFL make it possible for a guy like Dalton who has a good, accurate arm and a good brain to go along with it to make a team as a low level/paid (in NFL standards) back up. I think he is in a really good spot right now and I hope he does well. If Zeke doesn't get drafted, there will be a lot of similarities between him and Dalton. Two guys who work hard and have a good head. Zeke will need to do as good of a job of selecting a team to sign with as Dalton has. Just because one doesn't get drafted doesn't mean there isn't a spot for them in professional sports.

Asheville Beer Festival For those of you who like beer, you would have loved this festival. The streets and brew houses were packed yesterday.

Article Zeke, Note point 1. It may not seem like it, but this is a great time of your life. Be aware of everything around you, embrace it and dive in. Sincerely, The Great GP1

It was a cheap rip off then and it has become a stale cheap rip off now.

You missed the point. The lack of original thought is what is so pathetic. It's a tired idea. I have a better idea that would drive more interest and attendance at UNCA games..... "Fear The Treehugger" The design would be a pot smoking hippie from Asheville choking a player from an opposing team for walking over a tree root. No lie. On the unca campus, a contractor can be issued a citation for running over a tree root with his vehicle.

I've made fun of university marketing departments for a long time because I think they don't have any original ideas and copy what everyone else is doing. I may have to take that back. Yesterday, I was at UNCAsheville for a pre-bid meeting and we had to walk through the basketball arena to get where we needed to go. I saw a poster on the wall that had one of the most creative and inspiring sayings on it I have ever seen a university put together. So, you may or may not know this, but they are the UNCA Bulldogs. On the walls, almost every poster said, "Fear the Dog". A great and creative idea.... What?... It is a copy of what?... Half the universities in the US have done what?....... Never mind......

So many streaks I'd like to forget....

Article This is something I didn't know and totally makes sense.

Article Probably the worst yet. AD loses money on selling beer to college kids. It would be funny if it wasn't for the fact these idiots make so much money.

It's different. The original was torn down. Google "The Odd Corner Akron" and you can images of the original being torn down. Brought a tear to my eyes.

I don't know if anyone watches Vice on HBO, but last night they had a great story on heroine and everyone should watch it. Story on Vice Episode Once someone becomes a heroine addict, there is a 9 in 10 chance that person will never recover.

See what happens when the Odd Corner gets razed in the name of the "building process". Guys have to go all the way to Medina County to rob a head shop.

It is very tragic. Crime rates seem to be going down in various categories and I hate to see one of our own cause it to go up. Hard to say why someone commits a crime like this. Sociopaths come from all walks of life and family types. It could be anything from he is an idiot to maybe there is some mental illness there that causes him to act out. If he is an idiot, good riddance. If he has some sort of mental illness that causes this problem, we should feel sorry for him and hope he gets well. If there are lawyers on the board, is the commission of a crime with gun in Ohio grounds for automatic jail time if found guilty?

Does aggravated robbery mean he used a gun?

Never. You will be watching your tax dollars support the house of cards that has been built. Americans should thank their local AD for this opportunity.

Still....no connection between winning and TV games.

You are right on the money. Throw in Boston College, Wake Forest, Miami, Baylor and Stanford. What do all of those schools have in common? All of them are private schools. The "building process" got so out of control that it now has to be financed with tax dollars. Without schools being supported by tax dollars, they are going to have trouble financing competitive football programs. Come to think of it, Northwestern, Duke, Vandy, BC, WF Miami, Baylor and Stanford might make an entertaining conference. It could be called something like The Big Ivy League.

Again, very strange logic and high school debate clubish. There are a lot of variables that come into play when a coach gets fired. Playing on ESPN is way, way, way down that list. Solich is the best coach in the MAC in terms of getting teams prepared to play and executing. OU isn't flooded with talent because of their espn games. In addition, he has an excellent recruiting strategy that involves using his network of coaches to find out which players BCS schools are going to take a pass on and getting them to come to OU. There is much, much more to the OU football program than playing on espn and I can't believe I have to explain it to one of their own.

I agree they are making more money than ever. The problem is they are spending it faster than they make it and nobody will stand up against the insanity.