GP1

.. snips..Agreed on the need for some extended patience here. Hipsher & Owens got 9 years. Kest should have lots of rope. This however, I think is garbage. I'll drop the BS card on you here.It has less to do with smarts, and everything to do with effort, motivation and efficient use of your time. There's required aptitude for nursing, sure .. but it's not mutually exclusive with talent on the basketball court. You sell today's students way short to have this opinion, especially as it pertains to a sport where the "next level" aka playing professionally is not a likely possibility.One of the great things about UA and the conference in which it currently resides is the recognition that it is the UNIVERSITY of Akron, and that the athletes are STUDENT athletes. To have some idea that we're going to have a varsity sport and bring in students just to do time, play the sport and walk away with a more easily obtained degree in {put your opinion here} is foolish. My experience tutoring and TA'ng classes at a BCS school with high level athletes studying engineering successfully tells me your argument / suggestion doesn't hold water.Go Zips.I think if you reread my original post, you will see I use the word "most". I did not use the word all. I stand by what I said.

Here is the cold hard truth of the WBB program at Akron (I don't think this is big news here). The program is absolutely terrible. JK should be given more slack than any other coach at the school. I say allow her ten years (8 more years) to straighten the program out (yes, it is really that bad). She has won at other places and I find it hard to believe that she may have already forgotten how to win BB games. If this team is not winning after 8 more years (some would accept just signs of life), then she should be fired and the program should be closed for good.I don't know what this hick girl from WV thought when she was signing a letter of intent to a D-1A school, but the reality of the matter is that most kids are not smart enough to play D-1A sports and pursue a difficult degree like nursing. Is JK too focused on sports and not academics? I don't know, but she will not get fired for her players graduating. I say good luck to this young lady and her desire to become a nurse, but she shouldn't blame Coach K. for her lack of ability to pursue the degree and play major college sports as well. She is just a good example of our society today. It is always someone elses fault when a person can't do what they want to do.

They stuck their nose into "the steroids issue" in MLB, didn't they?Anti-trust issues are more in the court of congress then some social cause.It is nothing more than grandstanding.

ECU is in the running. That place is a dump. The only interesting thing about ECU is their fan base. It is an combination of beach bums and red necks. I hear the tailgating is pretty good because of that.

I agree. More power to them. Nothing wrong with people making the best of any situation they are in.Eminent Domain is an interesting issue depending on who is going to benefit from it. Personally, I am a strong proponent of personal property rights. UofA could make this guys life miserable to the point that he had to sell. There is no need yet to go down the eminent domain road.Rasor had an interesting point about eminent domain in his blog. Interesting that it took him only one semester of law school to turn into a RINO.

I can't believe they have nothing better to do than look into this.

No, they were both invited to an open tryout for area players that the Browns usually conduct as a PR move right after the draft. Not to belittle those guys, but they aren't getting one of the Browns 30 draft workouts lol. Some guys have taken this opportunity and made good with it though, and its been a positive experience for many former Zips in the past.Chase Blackburn comes to mind. He was in some sort of a spring camp with the Browns, got cut and then picked up by the Giants. The rest of the story ends with him getting Super Bowl ring and being a solid contributor to the team. Nice work Browns.

It was the worst QB play since 1987. That year was far worse than last year.

Just a sidenote...... Believe it or not, asbestos is still used today. The EPA tried to ban it twenty years ago or so and the building materials companies sued and the courts decided that they couldn't stop them from using it. Fortunately most American manufacturers don't use it anymore but if you buy drywall or tile from Canada or Mexico it could be asbestos containing, so beware.You can still buy asbestos containing roof cements in the US. The asbestos is completely harmless as long as it is contained in the asphaltic products. They are much better products than the plastic reinforced cements.There is little difference between asbestos and sacarine. If you limit your exposure to asbestos to small amounts you will be fine. If you drink 1,000 cans of Tab a day with sacarine in it, you will probably get cancer. Thank your local trial lawyer.

First of all, let me say that I work in the construction industry.Unless I'm missing something, these drawings are only showing the site work. Typically, this involves grading and connecting the city sewer system, etc. to the structure. That is the work you guys see going on right now.I think they just superimposed the look of the stadium over the site work on the drawings (makes for a nice drawing for the client to look at). From what little they show, there is more than enough time to build this stadium between now and opening day. If the stadium is concrete in nature, most of it will be built somewhere other than at the site and brought in and assembled on site. If the contract has been awarded for the concrete work, the contractor will start to make the stadium at their plant and will have the pieces stored at their plant until they are needed. All of this will take place very rapidly once the support structures are in place.Enjoy the view.

This is all I want to know. Are they running the same offense as last year? If yes, is the QB at least keeping the ball every once in a while and running during the option?Are they going to water board us with the 3-3-5 defense again next year?

I am going with no season tickets and a large donation to the Z-Fund with the always helpful tax deduction.

Two things: First, people like to buy something they are comfortable with. With the MAC, they know what they are going to get. NC A&T? Binghamton? I don't think the average Akronite is interested in looking into these schools or taking the risk they may be really bad and a waste of money.Second, MAC schools can draw local alumni for the visiting team. There are plenty of OU, BGSU and Can't alumni around NE Ohio and they may come to the games and drive up attendance.

Does it have anything to do with a pillow fight and/or tickle fight?I TOLD you it was a quilting bee!! Gheeez...So, did a pillow and/or tickle fight breakout during the quilting bee?

Does it have anything to do with a pillow fight and/or tickle fight?

I tried to not post about this topic...I reall did, but I can't resist.All we are looking for here is a hint as to what happened. For instance, does the story start out as follows, "The girls we changing clothes getting ready for bed when one girl hit another with a pillow......." The fun thing to do here would be for each of us to add one sentence each and see where they story goes. Only one sentence at a time though.Have at it.

Mid majors or mid major? Each year, there does seem to be one mid major team that makes it deep. However, the trick is to be that one team with all the stars lining up at the right time. In order for UofA to be that one mid major, they first have to win the MAC. Eventually they will if they can score more points. After that, the Zips will have to overcome what will be a certain hose job from the committee after not making the tournament for over 20 years. I can see it now.....UofA vs. the second place PAC 10 team in Sacramento in the first round..... :(The point is that it takes a lot for a run like that to happen. Davidson doesn't make the tournament once every 25 years, they do it more frequently. Western Kentucky is a frequent NCAA team. Winthrop is a frequent NCCAA team and they won a game last year. The Zips are still a long way away from making the NCAA Tournament, let alone winning a game or two. It's OK to dream, but winning the MAC should be the goal at this point because if you don't win the MAC, you don't go dancing. One step at a time....By the way, I went to the Sweet 16 last Thursday. It was neat, but the games were a little dull.

You're right about Kennedy, but he hardly played last year because he was only the third best RB on the team. The problem with Jacq is that he is in the game every play. The problem with Kennedy is that he likes to run east/west too much.

That's an interesting statement. It sort of sounds like it contradicts itself, which is particularly amusing after the 10,000,000th time.Good point. I think after 10,000,000 times, everyone gets what I mean.

I agree with both of you. This is actually JD's 5th season coming up. There is more athletic talent on the team than any other time in the history of the program and it MUST start turning into wins on the field.I'll say it for he 10,000,000th time....If UofA does not get a QB that can win games, they aren't going to win more than five games next year. At that point, UofA will be looking for a new coach and everyone in NE Ohio can look forward to five more years of rebuilding and building. That's what it's all about in the MAC after all isn't it? A constant state of building and rarely a state of performance.

Here is why I will really miss Wood. Sometimes on this board I refer to "urban" and "suburban" players. Most of you probably look at that as a black/white comment. It really isn't and has nothing to do with race. Urban players are tough because growing up in a tough environment made them hungry. Suburban players, let's face it, are soft from a soft life. They play hard, but when you really need them, they disappear. Wood was as tough as you can get in the MAC. He didn't take crap off of anyone and provided a deterrent in the lane. He was not overly talented and had a bad wheel, but he still competed his butt off and was the toughness the Zips needed. Can you guys imagine what this year would have been like without Wood? ZERO lane presence. We need more players like Wood in this program. He was hungry and played hungry. As I scan the Zips roster, who is the next Wood? Nate L.? No way. McKnights (sp?) from the great farming community of Lancaster. Probably not. Bardo or McNeese...good kids, but probably not.The kind of toughness Wood has doesn't come from extra workouts or watching film. You guys will see next year how important that type of urban player is.

Nate is going to be a senior next year. He had better start developing into somthing soon. Nate goes through 3-4 minute periods in each game where he plays good and then disappears for the rest of the game. He must do better next year.Maybe this is a post for another topic, but KD really needs to develop a top notch offensive threat or he is going to become the Mike Fratello of college basketball. Fratello was a good coach who won a lot of games with average athletic talent and a defensive strategy. Never did Fratello win anything though. Good luck getting people to pay to go see defense. The Zips can no longer continue to have games where they score less than 65 points if they want to finally get over the hump and win the MAC. I hope Coach D can finally get around to developing a top notch offensive threat next year. If he can and with the good defense they play, 23-24 wins should be in the cards again next year.Anyhow, to the seniors, you guys earned your scholarships. Good luck in the future and don't forget to give to the Z-Fund.

I don't see why you have to be an ass about it. These guys aren't "easily replaceable" and you'll see that next year when we struggle to get 20 wins. JWood, Ced and Dials are one of the best senior classes in a long time for the Zips. These three are a major part of 50 wins in the last two years. Maybe you should stick to commenting on football.UofA will not struggle to get 20 wins next year. As bad as the MAC is after about the top 3-4 teams and as big of a cup cake schedule as we play, 20 wins will be easily achievable. Would everyone be more happy if I said "easily improved upon" in lieu of "easily replaceable"?All of that bad weather in the north must have all of your shorts bunched up.

The only two things I will miss about this senior class are as follows:1. Wood...I hope you guys realize how outmatched UofA is going to be in the paint next year without him. Even on a bad wheel, he was a Hell of a player this year.2. Goddard's "dryband". I would call it a sweatband, but since he never played, there was no reason to absorb any sweat. At least we don't have to read anymore "play Nick more" on the board.The rest of the seniors are easily replaceable. If any of you don't think so, you are kidding yourself.

The only send off fitting for that old girl involves a team of structural engineers and a truckload of dynamite.