GP1

StatsDidn't see the game. Didn't have to. Thank God I didn't. The one stat that sticks out to me is we only had 18 first downs. As I look at that stat further, 5 of those first downs came from OU committing a penalty. Feature RB with less than 50 yards...terrible. The score was 3-3 and the Zips allow four unanswered scores...when they finally did score, there were only 35 seconds remaining in Q3...terrible. Less than six yards per pass attempt...terrible. We allow OU to convert 71% of third downs....terrible. We convert 27% on third down...terrible.We stink.

Good stuff Dr. Dr Z.Our top line running back is showing consistent improvement over the course of the season. A little stumble against FIU in production of total yards, but they were a much better team than us and we still hung in. He has had 131 against EMU and 134 against UC. I'm a believer in this kid from watching his effort in the tosu game and his stats as the season progresses.This tells me the running game is in place to create play action for a QB....something critical to a pro style offense. The passing game has to be in rhythm with the run game for winning. In order for the other team to take our passing more seriously, we have to complete more passes and there has to be a deep threat. We need the QB to get the ball down field and a guy who can get open down field in order to be successful. The first piece is in place with the RB....the rest needs to follow.

....Or, they are the most unimpressive 4-3 team in the country. The have two wins against I-AA teams. They have been destroyed in two "rent-a-win" games. The were destroyed by Toledo. They beat Akron and CMU who have a combined win total against D-1A teams of....let's see....one.I'd still take their 4 and whatever over our inevitable 1-11.I would too, but let's not get carried away about the great "building process" English has going on at EMU. A bit of smoke and mirrors if you ask me.

....Or, they are the most unimpressive 4-3 team in the country. The have two wins against I-AA teams. They have been destroyed in two "rent-a-win" games. The were destroyed by Toledo. They beat Akron and CMU who have a combined win total against D-1A teams of....let's see....one.

This sort of reads like a Hemingway passage. Well done.

I would be interested in knowing when they run. Is it on first down and second down mostly resulting in third and long distance? Or, are they passing on first down and running on second down like they do in the NFL (I like this strategy because if the first down pass is incomplete, it can shorten the potential third down pass). NFL offenses spend the vast majority of their practices in their third down offense because it is so hard to get a first down in the NFL and it takes three downs to get one in many cases. Since we run a pro offense, it is especially critical to convert third downs out of shorter distances.I'm going to the Wake game at Duke tomorrow and will be in a bar to watch some of the Zips after the game. Looking forward to seeing the Zips win.

I respectfully disagree. There is nothing wrong with going up to a guy 4 seconds before half, winning 42-7 and saying, "You know. Theoretically, we could beat you guys 84-14 if the second half goes the same way the first half did." Or, "Did you guys just find out about this game yesterday?" Or, "You guys are going to get that guy who gave you a scholarship fired." Or, "The way you guys are playing tonight is a disgrace to college football." Or, a very fitting smack for the way UCLA's defense played last night, "Is this your first tackle football game?"I'm not a fan of one player telling another, "you suck", because the UCLA players already know that and there is little creativity. The average fan might be shocked to know the amount of trash talk that goes on every play. It's hard to hurt the blimp sized ego of most of the players with a few words. It is not OK to talk smack when another team is playing well and with pride in a close game. UCLA deserved no respect or sympathy for the horror show they put on the field last night.

Do you mean the fight only or the entire 3.5 hour broadcast of the game?

Eat too many and you won't crap for a week.

This phrase should be a permanent sign on the scoreboard.

I am a proud member of this group.

Reason ArticlePersonally, I don't care if they raise the taxes of everyone in Ohio to pay for Zips Athletics. History has shown, they have raised taxes for much more stupid things. That settles it, raise taxes 5% on everyone in Ohio to pay fo the Zips. Sounds like a great idea to me. Hell, go with 10%. Go Zips!!!

I like this prediction. The MAC is a funny league. When you think one thing is going to happen, strange things happen in the other direction. The Zips get their second of three wins for the season.

That is pretty much it. There is already I-AA that falls into D-1 somehow (probably has to so with sports other than football). I don't like it when people call my idea a "demotion" because it doesn't have anything to do with doing anything wrong. In fact, I think it can create a very positive change for college football for both BCS and non-BCS schools as long as the non-BCS school can get control of their own future.

I don't see us having to leave the ncaa. This is our chance to take control of our level of football, with like schools, and do something that better benefits all of the institutions, if executed properly. We need to either leave the ncaa or start our own level of football. Either one is fine with me.To me, it is interesting how easily all of this could happen without the "guidance" of the ncaa. I also find the adjustment of leagues by teams to be as orderly as it could be at this point. Change isn't easy, but the current changes seem to be happening without the distruction of the known universe of college athletics. This change is a good thing. We should take advantage of it and change on our terms.

How about the MAC and the S.belt. Better fit. They already play each other anyway.This is the chance I have been talking about for a while. It is happening without any NCAA telling these conferences what to do. Now is the chance for the non-BCS D-1A schools to combine into one league, break up into divisions and play each other at their level, on their own terms. It could be something exciting if they would just let it happen and not worry about the BCS schools and all the nonsense that goes along with being their doormats.West coast vs. east coast, different divisions, a playoff...this could be a fun change.

They drive to blossomWould they drive to Akron in February to see a concert? No....

Some of it is. Some of it isn't.

Gwinnett Arena would be a good example of the type of arena the Zips could have. I went to a concert there once and it was great. In lieu of 13,000 seats, we could have 10,000 seats. Akron could draw a lot of concerts, etc. that are just not large enough for whatever they call the arena where the Cavs play now. The conference center Gwinnett has is not needed...nobody wants to have a convention in Akron.For a private arena, the question always becomes, who would go there for events? Gwinnett Co. has a huge population base and there are a lot of people there anyhow. Who would drive from the Cleveland suburbs to a concert in Akron? There isn't much proof that would take place. As long as the University doesn't have to sink much money into this place, I say move forward. If they do, don't move.

Good post Lee and if we read between the lines there probably is some frustration. If someone could see in the mind of TW, we might see a guy who believes he has done everything he can, in terms of scheduling, to make this season tolerable. I think this is a great schedule and perfectly set up for a team to have early season success and then carry that success into the home stretch. If TW is using the scientific method to evaluate the program, he is probably eliminating the schedule as one of those reasons they are doing poorly...I would. Now he has to start looking at other reasons and this is how change happens.Now the questions become: Is it the coach? Is it the players? Is it the facilities? Was it TW's decision making? Is it the band? Do we need to build a playroom for the FB players to watch TV in?

IMO, we have one of the most favorable I can ever remember and future schedules will not be this favorable. We are one game into a three game home stand with a bye week. The Zips need to take advantage of that. I know there are more reasons to feel negative about the Zips than positive, but if you look at it, we have some games we can win. We are a bad team, but it's still the MAC and we can win some games.

Maybe he is focused on winning and not facilities. Our focus has been on facilities and not winning...that's the real joke with the football program.

This league stinks. We can win 2-3 games, but will we is the question.

What would you have us do? Nobody is knocking on our door. Destined for D2? Probably not. Fantastic? It's more the natural course of things. What is happening to the MAC is nothing more than natural selection. The strong push out the weak.

If a good kid and a bad kid are playing together, is the good kid more likely to become bad or the bad kid become good. The good kid is very likely to do bad things because it is easy to be bad. That's why good parents don't allow their children to play with bad children. No thanks on the merge. I can't think of anything "world class" about Can't.