GP1

Good article. It doesn't take 22 good players to win in the MAC which is why the rankings don't matter. It takes around six good players in the right positions, nobody worse than average at the rest and some good coaching to win in the MAC. This league is not complicated.

You know, if you change the word "player" to "fan", it would apply to many on this board.

Interesting indeed. Maybe it is as simple as they think he can play. Or, and I'm not sure about how all of the NCAA rules come into play, maybe they need to put a kid on track to graduate on scholarship for a year to boost graduation rates for the NCAA. Maybe they are looking around at what they have and they think they need some depth and this kid provides it. Maybe it's these reasons and more. Here is the answer I'm leaning toward though. TB and his staff are coming in late recruiting wise. It makes sense to give a kid, who has a developed body now, on his way to graduation and decent natural size, a one year scholarship to provide some depth. No need to panic and give out a scholarship to a freshman in the hopes he can play next year and in the future because they got a late start. Again...another smart move by TB and his staff. Anything this kid contributes on the field in a postive way next year is a plus for the team. We live in an either/or world. I'm glad TB and his staff can see more than two ways to do something.

I went to a Charlotte 49ers game last night against Xavier. Good league. I'd like to see Akron get X back on the schedule and some known A-10 teams. Dayton, UMASS, Temple and Xavier come to mind. Hell, throw in Charlotte so I can go se them play. The A-10 is a good league and one we could really test our progress against. I think we would compete well.

Chuck Amato This article was in the Charlotte Observer a couple of weeks ago. AP reprint. Not much discussion about a building process, but a lot about winning.

Big plays are critical in deciding NFL games. Think about Super Bowls...Riggins long run...Ward long reception in Super Bowl XL...Willie Parker long run...Bradshaw passes to Swan. The list is long. The Giants will make them. The Patriots don't have enough big play guys because they rely on the oxymoron "big play tightend". That player doesn't exist. He'll get some first downs, but not big plays. I love the Giants winning this game.

So do I. If you would like to go the extra mile, maybe you could build a Swensons next to my house....

Galley Boy!!!! Man do I miss that sandwich. If Vegas had to set a line on the over/under for the length of time it took between finishing a Galley Boy and sitting on the toilet, I wonder what that line would be.?.?

More punches thrown in that fight than your average bench clearing MLB fight.

When the Zips make the NCAA Tournament this year, he has to play better than he did against ND last year. Zeke needs to prove he can play against top flight centers in college basketball and not the junk in the MAC if he wants to prove he belongs in the NBA after his senior season.

As a new observer of the MAC, you will find out that strange things happen in this league. It wouldn't be outside of the world of reality of they won six. It also wouldn't be outside the world of reality if they only won 2-3. I'm leaning to 4-5.

2011 EMU Schedule EMU has been a traditional MAC bottom dweller for a while now. Two wins against cupcakes early allowed them to think they could win or at least be competitive. Look at the scores in the MAC. With the exception of Toledo, they were competitive in every game and ended up winning six. If we can win early, that confidence and momentum carries into MAC play and we become dangerous. The MAC is a strange league in that things can turn around quickly for a program and EMU is one of those examples. Who knows, we could be that example next year. Anything can happen in the MAC. We can win...we just need to set ourselves up for success in lieu of failure.

I think we have to beat UCF and/or FIU to have confidence and momentum going into the MAC schedule. If not, it becomes an uphill battle, but not impossible. Some of the teams in the MAC are as good as UCF and FIU, but the vast majority aren't. Experiencing winning early in a season against non-bcs ooc teams is important for the mental state of a team. They believe they can get the job done. 2-2 looks really good if you are a Zips. 1-3 is more of the same and we all know how that turns out. "The most dangerous team is a team with confidence and momentum." - Bill Cowher

I'm a big fan of a team having confidence and momentum. Our first four games are UCF, FIU, Morgan State and Tennessee. More difficult than what we started out with last year. The Zips needed to beat Temple early last year to establish some confidence and momentum. We didn't, and the rest is history. We need to beat either UCF or FIU in order to have some confidence coming out of the Tennessee game (BCS schools are where MAC schools go to cash checks). UCF and/or FIU are must wins for the Zips next year for their confidence and momentum. Last year I saw ECU vs South Carolina in Charlotte. ECU had some really talented kids, but their schedule was set up so they did not get much confidence or momentum early in the season. They were a much more talented team than 5-7 and should have had at least 7 wins. Shows how important a schedule is to establishing winning early and then carrying that confidence and momentum into league play. The Zips can't accept starting the season at 1-3 in the hopes that the MAC will provide relief. Starting the season 2-2 is necessary for a minimum 4 win season. It's the MAC...a 2-2 start could give us five wins and fans would be happy as clams. If we start out the season 1-3, only 3 wins could happen. It would be an improvement, but somewhat of a letdown depending on how we lose.

He should stop by my house for a beer if he is staying the night. However, Charlotte is a good place to connect.

I don't know how the food at The Big Dialer compares to the Rubber Bowl. If is the same food, my guess is not many people would take the risk of using the full $30.

Charlie was a once great coach. Now he is an old guy hanging on. He doesn't have anything to hang on for.

Great idea! I see they are charging for the event and that makes me smile. We are finally growing up. I would sell corporate tables, but that's just me. Maybe even sell food and beverage sponsorships, but that's just me. Maybe even give away reuseable bags filled with little Zipslike items...bags of course sponsored by a company and have their company logo on it...but that's just me. It's not about what is in the bag (a sleeve of golf balls and a t-shirt would be enough) as much as a bag with the sponsors name on it and the school logo that can be reused for whatever reason the owner wants to use it...but that's just me talking crazy.

I heard the same thing.

gz19, not addressing this note to you. I would hope the folks in Athletic Department can somehow plan a golf outing(s) without the head coaches or assistant coaches of any of our sports having to assist in any manner, other than showing up to hit the ball around a little bit. They have better things to do. Some schools are actually able to have a golf outing, tennis tournament and BBQ picnic all in the same day. An amazing feat?....No. Until we accomlish this simple, meaningless task, we my as well still be in Kansas.

Rumor has it, there is going to be a golf outing this coming summer.

Graduated in 1991. Masters Degree in 1993. I didn't grow up in NE Ohio so I lived on/around campus. Wife MBA from Akron...Undergraduate from Miami. One of my brothers went through the NEOUCOM program.

Then he would finish with, "If they give away free tickets at Acme, I'll try to get over my grudge about Dennison getting fired even though I never saw one of his teams play and go to a game...as long as the parking is free.

A lot of people do things for good reasons. For example, Newt cared so much about this country that he screwed a Congressional staffer behind his wife's back...at least that's what he told his ex-wife before asking her if it was OK for him to run around. I think Newt really wanted a three way...and I don't mean a plate of spaghetti with chilli and cheese on it. Newt and his home wrecking, Targaryen wife are going to make quite the pair on the campaign trail.

He was just trying to help his players.