GP1

Every game, we have to listen to the old cliche that "defense wins championships". Last night we saw a team try to win a game with defense late and failed. Anyone who is throwing a fit about Peterson not being in the game late is correct to do so. Akron didn't need defense with about five minutes to go, they needed someone in the game who could match Toledo's scoring point for point and Peterson should have been that guy. Logic tells me that with a six point lead late in a game, all you need to do is match the other team's scoring. Even if they hit a couple three pointers and you match them with two pointers, you still win by four.Defense didn't win the MACC in football, the offense did. Hell, the defense gave up 30 points and the offense had to save them in the end.Defense is important, but scoring is more important because of the pressure it places on the other team to respond in kind to what you are trying to accomplish.

Are you still surre about this? It looked more like Mike Fratello and Coleman Crawford last night.

Zips by five. They already beat them badly once this year. The only thing that is to worry about is the roll they are on. Teams that do well late season tend to do well in playoff type games. Akron will take them though.Winner take all Saturday!!!!!

This guy coached under John Heacock at YSU so that is a plus to me. John and my brother coached together at a small school in West Virginia called West Liberty State a long time ago. John has a GREAT defensive mind and if this new coached was able to absorbe some of John's knowledge, he will do a great job for us.

OOT on business, but the wife will keep me posted via Blackberry. I'll see everyone Friday.

That's funny. I sense a new t-shirt.

This all makes sense and the Browns are the more logical choice. Randle El will in all probability be with the Bears next year as he grew up in Chicago and wants to play for them. Pittsburgh is not going to resign him as they think Cedric Wilson will be able to take his place.

Do you really want to know? This could get ugly.

If you were a basketball fan living in say Zanesville and had no ties to either school, it would have been well worth two hour of your time watching that game yesterday on FOX Ohio. Both teams played hard and it was entertaining until the end.

I had no idea that as a league the attendance was so bad. That's really embarassing.

WOW, that's a little over the top.

Here are a few questions about Akron and the MAC to contemplate and respond to.1. Did the win yesterday give Akron enough momentum to make a legitimate run at the MAC Championship? We talked a lot about momentum last week. My answer would be a definite..................... maybe. If the NFL rule is true, teams that play well late in the season do well in the playoffs holds true for basketball, Akron is on shakey footing. They do need 40 solid minutes every game.2. Will the week off (not having to play Monday) hurt or help Akron? My answer, you play all year to get the days off, it can only help.3. Is Can't still the team to beat, or does Charlie Coles have his team in championship form at the end of the year the way he does every year? My answer, Can't is too athletic and has been there in the past. They are the team to beat. Miami doesn't have enough athletic talent for Coles to do anything with this year. I think this tournament comes down to Can't, Akron and Miami. Even with the Zips lack of momentum, I like their chances against an unimpressive MAC until the finals and I'll take our chances in a winner take all game against Can't. Anything can happen in one game and Akron proved yesterday they can beat them.4. Will KD play Peterson more after the performance Saturday? My answer I'm sorry to say is NO. KD is consumed with defense.5. Who could be an unlikely hero for the Zips in the Tournament? My answer.....Cedric Middleton. Frequently, tournament games come down to one player driving to the basket to win a game. Cedric is the one guy with the speed and quickness to make something happen. I hope it doesn't come down to this though.I'm done, feel free to respond or even add your own questions.

I was reading the Beacon at Dodies this morning and there was an interesting response to the question of why people don't go to Akron games on a regular basis. It's like on page 3 or 4 and is kind of a letter to the editor. Maybe Rasor can help. Anyhow, it is an outsider looking in and is a pretty good response. We sometimes complicate things too much and it kind of cuts to the chase.

I have one, the guy is a big phony.Long suffering just makes you someone who suffers. Winning makes you a champion. The guy didn't win anything. boy, you are one bitter bastard I'm more of a prick than a bitter bastard.

Four years? It seems a lot longer than that......I think I still had hair when DP came to Akron.

I could ask the same question to you. Don't get me wrong, I like Nick. Whatever he did in the second half did nothing to overcome the pile of crap he left on the floor the first half. The first half of the game was a disaster and he was a large part of it. On the whole, he played well all season. I'm just pointing to his play yesterday.If you want to look at which player's defense was exceptional, look no further than the effort Futch was putting out on defense right before he was thrown out. The guy was working his ass off. Most of the time he makes us scratch our heads, but he played one of his better games as a Zip yesterday.

I have one, the guy is a big phony.Long suffering just makes you someone who suffers. Winning makes you a champion. The guy didn't win anything.

I like Dials, but the fact of the matter is that he stunk up the JAR today. Crazy shots, turnovers, etc. were horrible. He almost single handedly put the game out of reach for the Zips in the first half.Futch played defense, especially late in the second half before he was thrown out, with a great deal of heart and determination.Peterson was awesome. I understand what ZipsWin! means about having Travis and Peterson on the floor at the same time and how it opens up the game.

Great stuff.

The reason the hard core faithful should not purchase the ring is because it will cheapen the accomplishments of those at the University who have EARNED the ring.If you purchase this ring, each time you wear it remember that you did nothing to earn it and I hope you feel some level of shame for buying it. Find another way to support the school. Here is an idea. Give a donation to the University of Akron Foundation for the value of the ring and designate it to football. That is a real and meaningful way to support the school and you get a tax write off. Buy some U of A clothes. Do anything, just don't cheapen the accomplishments of the people who have earned the ring.

Everyone can be replaced. The best thing about what Mike did at UofA is put the school in a good position to replace him. How did he do that? Easy, by doing a great job. Great managers and organizations create succession plans for the day they eventually need to be replaced or move on to another position. Mike T. and Mike W. created a great foundation for the future. It is now up to the new AD and his staff to build upon this foundation. The future of UofA sports is bright because of what Mike and Mike did here.Anyone who tells you that you can't get blood out of a turnip needs to look no further than what Mike T. and UAM did at Akron. When they came to Akron, things were a complete disaster and look at it now. The turnip is bleeding.Here is my tribute to UAM...A couple of years ago, I wanted to hold an American Institute of Architects tour at the new fieldhouse and recreation center. It had nothing to do with the Athletic Department. UAM assisted me in organizing this meeting even though it had NOTHING to do with his job responsibilities. It didn't take a lot of extra work for him, but he did the extra work anyhow. Most government employees would never take the extra mile for anyone, for anything. About 30 local architects showed up for the tour. The day and tour went off real well and eveyone was happy and impressed by the building. The difference between good and great is only 10%. UAM gave me an extra 10%. Thanks UAM. See you in Cincinnati.

Anyone who goes out to buy one of those championship rings should be ashamed of themselves. The players and coaches EARNED them. Suffering through years of losing does nothing buy qualify you for a dunce cap. I should be the first one in line for the dunce cap for all the crap I have shelled out good money for over the years to watch.Great ring though.

Did someone say free beer?

Interesting quote. The thing about peaking is that it assumes your on an upward trend. This team is not on an upward trend right now and is further from the peak than they were before they went to Nevada. I still believe this team can do well in the Tournament, but I hope the Nevada game does not signify a turning point when we all look back at the end of the season.

ESPN said this morning only two.