GP1

You guys must be too young to remember the Faust years. The 27% graduation rate and the constant parade of guys flunking out (not to mention the criminal activity) was something to see. Owens had too many suburban kids on the team to give the Faust recruits any competition in the flunking out game. If JD is going to turn things around, he is going to have to sign some marginal players. Marshall did it for years and still continues to do it. BUGS and Toledo have also experienced success in recent years doing the same thing. We may see more and more of this in the next few years. I'm glad to see that the OL is going to be more physical this year. JD really wants to run the ball and needs a line like that. Biggs took some big hits last year on the line and he is our best hope this year. He needs to take less punishment from much bigger guys. After all, there isn't much of him....... I'm more interested in the defense and who is going to be the #2 running back. I'll say it again. I think this upcoming team is going to be better than many expect them to be.

They are aiming high. Believe it or not, Ohio has the fifth highest tax burden in the US when all taxes are combined. They won't stop until we're #1.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/spor...es/11964038.htm This is like the second time in a week that the ABJ has been two weeks late printing a U of A related story. This is a story that could have been easily discovered and published by just reading this web site and downloading an Arkansas press release. Very strange. I hear next week they are going to print a story about a possible war in Iraq.

What I should have said was he will not start out of training camp next year. There is a good chance for him to play as a back up, but I don't see Frye being awarded the starting position out of training camp. Not because he isn't as good as Dilfer, but because it appears as if the Browns plan is to bring him along slowly and not start him next year. I don't think Limpwich, Chad P. or Ben R. were awarded the starting positions out of traing camp. I don't see it happening in this case either.

Don't take it so hard Zips Win! It's all in good fun. Good blast at me though!

I'm not exactly sure who Superman is, but I'll assume you are writing about Frye. Personally, I could care less what the Browns do, but signing Johnson is a good move for all of the reasons you said. I'll add one more. Every veteran QB needs someone to talk to at his level. Having a guy with experience backing up Dilfer gives the Browns someone who can give Dilfer advice at a level other than a coach. Being a rookie, Frye can't really offer any veteran advice to Dilfer and neither can Harris. At this point in Frye's career, I really don't see this move impacting his career. He wasn't going to start next year anyhow. Johnson also gives Frye and Harris someone who they can turn to for advice during the season when Dilfer may be too busy to tutor young players. If Johnson is still around after this year (I wonder if he will even make it past two-a-days), all of you homers really need to start worrying. The worst thing for Frye would be for Johnson to come in and play well after Dilfer gets killed behind that offensive line. If that happens, the idiot fans in Cleveland will demand a ten year contract for Johnson. Dilfer vs Johnson could be the new Tim C. vs KH debate. See............... In my magnanimous way, I have managed to write a post about Frye without mentioning his sub 45% winning record. It's a good thing I'm in a good mood today or I could have gone on about his never winning a big game, not being able to get a first down in the final six minutes against Can't in 2003 or even the disastrous losses to teams like Eastern Michigan, OU and CFU. But I won't because I'm in a good mood. Have a nice day everyone, I have a lot of driving ahead of me today. Here is something we can all agree about.

I'm pretty excited about the game being played on Thanksgiving. First of all, my wife and I are not from NE Ohio and we always wanted to stay home on a holiday and we never have been able to do so. Finally, a holiday that doesn't involve driving a minimum four hours. Secondly, I've always wanted to go to a game on Thanksgiving. I think this could be the beginning of a great tradition. They should play the Akron vs. Can't game, when played in Akron, on Thanksgiving every year. Play early in the season when playing in Can't. Notre Dame and USC do a similar scheduling twist with their games. I think it would work out real well.

This link has Akron playing Can't at 10:00 AM on Thanksgiving day. Is this true? http://www.miamihawktalk.com/discussion/vi...pic.php?t=22523

Try a couple of things. First, call the local ABC station in Cleveland and ask for the sports director and tell him your story. ABC owns ESPN and the guy may be able to help. Second, you could send an e-mail to Greg Brenda at WKNR. He works for ESPN on the weekends and may be able to help you get a copy. Lastly, call U of A Media Department and ask them.

Capt., This position has been vacant for several months and this guy is just filling the position. The school still has a lot of work to do buying property around the primary location by the fieldhouse. I don't think money is the issue as much as the property owners are not willing to let go of the houses. There will be a new softball stadium across from the new fieldhouse where the empty tennis courts are before a new football stadium is built. I hope I'm wrong. Take care everyone.

Though I was glad to see him get fired, I hope he has learned from his experience and does well.

He also made the team. The U of A press guide has him playing for the Browns in 1987. It also has John listed as one of the Capts. for the Zips in 1988. Hummmmmm. It's no wonder we couldn't move the ball in 87 or 88, one of our linemen was playing for two teams at once. John and I know each other from college and I ran into him and his wife Friday and we had a few beers together. He actually played for the Browns in 89 and 90, the Steelers in 91 and the Falcons 92-94. He also played for Sacramento in the World League when they still had American teams and he was all league and they won the championship when he was there. I wish U of A would correct their press guide for him.

Nice work. Williams was drafted but didn't make the team (if the U of A press guide is correct). The press guide doesn't even have him listed as a letter winner. Are you sure that is correct? Who was the first drafted by the Browns and made the team?

I'd like to see who gets this right. The Beacon didn't a couple of weeks ago. The U of Akron press guide even has this guy's professional information wrong. Question: Who is the first Zip ever drafted by the Cleveland Browns?

I think that you would be absolutely correct in saying Biggs didn't have a good back up last year. This year could be another story with the Kennedy kid from Florida. He showed pretty good in the spring game. I think Ringer won't see the field next year. I would like to take a second to stand up for the o-line a little bit because IMHO they take a little bit too much abuse. Were the rushing problems early last season a result of a bad o-line, or was it a result of personnel problems? Early in the season Ringer starts and all we see is lack of production and fumbles. Biggs (the MVP of last season) replaces Ringer and the team begins to win and is much more productive. Same o-line, same receivers, same QB, different results. Hummmmm....... It will be interesting to see what is said if we run this same topic next year at this time. My guess is that Clark will still be the best, but some short kid from Florida could move up the rating.

Doug Lewis is a great pick, but didn't a knee injury slow down his career the same as Payne? It all seems so long ago now......

Wally B, We have this new thing now called the "internet". You used it to post your message. You can use this new technology to buy merchandise and hve it sent to your house using this fancy new service called "UPS". GP1.

The first is easy. 1. Mike Clark. Not only is he the greatest running back ever, he is IMHO the best offensive player in Akron history. He could have played in any era in Akron history. When he played, the team was better for having him in the game. He looked a lot like Biggs, only slightly bigger. Look at the stats. In three years of starting, the least yards per carry was 4.3 his junior year. His senior year, when everyone with an IQ over 20 knew he was getting the ball, he averaged 7.3 yards per carry. Most importantly, when he played, the team WON. It is a crying ass shame the University has not retired his number. If they have, please correct me. 2. A healthy Brandon Payne. When he as healthy, he was explosive with not only quickness, but good speed as well. 3. James Black. Second all time in school history in total yards. He averaged 98.5 yards per game. Once ran the ball 52 times in a single game, can you say give me an ice pack. Two people could be third, but they don't have the records. First is Bobby Hendry who was a very solid player for three years. Second is Ty Nelson. Ty was fast and mean as a snake. Faust just didn't know what to do with him.

A football championship would be something that would generate increased interest for a new stadium. I overheard a couple of people talking at the Varsity A raffle about the stadium and I don't think we are as close to having a new one as we may hope. The property around the primary location is not as easy to get as we on this site may hope. I think we all were hoping to have a new stadium in three years and I really don't see that happening. We'll be lucky to get one in five years unless something drastic happens. The MAC Championship could increase the sense of urgency for a new stadium. The championship would be something not only the University could benefit from, but it would give northeast Ohio something to really hang it's hat on and generate future support (ticket sales and Foundation donations) for the school. Just look at the crowd for the Miami game last season. There was a great turn out for the game because the team actually had an important game late in the year. More than anyone else, I think Mike Thomas would benefit from the MAC Championship. He is a good man who has worked hard for the University and I believe has made some good decisions in hiring JD AND KD. A championship would solidify his position as Akron's best AD ever and move him on to bigger things which he will have earned. If we do win the MAC, he will be too expensive to keep around. When that new stadium is finally built, something in it should be named after him. I also think winning the football championship is more difficult than winning the basketball championship. In order to win football, you have to have a great season that gets you to Detroit where you play another team that had a great season. In basketball, you can have an average to above average season, get to Cleveland, and go on a run. Once in the basketball finals, you may end up playing a team that has gone on a nice run also and the Championship game is a #4 vs. #5 (if that is possible) in the finals whick makes it a much easier game to win. Anything worth having is difficult to achieve and I think football would be much more difficult to win making it much more valuable. Finally, a football championship would give the school national coverage for the MAC Championship and bowl game. While there is national coverage for basketball for the MAC Championship game, most March Madness games are only on television in local markets. The national coverage is much more important. By the way, did I mention bowl game. I went to a bowl game with my wife to see her school, Miami, play last December against ISU. Win or lose, the bowl games are a great experience for fans and for the schools themselves. I can still taste the red snapper with crab Creole sauce over it at Earnest's Orleans in Shreveport. Did I mention the crab claws with dipping sauce..... Anyhow, it's getting close to dinner time and I'm feeling kind of hungry.

Agreed!!!! Everyone stop posting. In fact, the people who run the site can take off my topic. I was worried that would happen when I posted it.

I was at a Reds game Monday night and I ran into a couple of OSU fans who had nothing but excuse after excuse for OSU. Everything from "Everyone does it" to the old reliable "At least they don't have guns". Soon, OSU fans will be as good as Notre Dame fans in making excuses for their team. As far as fan boards being an indication of overall opinion, I don't think that is a good measure. Look at this board. We all really care about Akron and 95% of the ALUMNI could care less. OSU is poised to go on another national championship run this year. Last week I was in Las Vegas and placed a $5 bet on them to win it all. The odds were only 12-1 which tells me everyone else thinks they are going on a run. We will see how these "pissed off" fans react to the off season problems if they hoist the Sears Trophy (or whatever they call it) again. My guess is that there will be a lot of people in Columbus with short memories.

I agree with everything you wrote Zipsrifle. I would just like to add to it. When JT says that the easy thing to do is kick a kid off of the team as he has in the past, he is completely being dishonest. The hard thing to do is to kick a kid off of the team and try to win without him. I think the truth of the matter is that OSU fans really don't care what the kids do off of the field as long as they are winning. I am also torn by this thought. My personal opinion is that I could care less what happens to Akron football players off of the field as long as they win. The winning would make the bull $#!+ much more easy to swallow. Would the ABJ be so forgiving if it was Akron players and they were winning MAC Championships one after another? I think they would be more than willing to bury the program. Especially that little prick Pluto. You all know I think Pluto's nice guy act is a bunch of BS. I'm going golfing Friday so I will not be in the Nation. Have a nice Memorial Day everyone. When you have the day off Monday, try to remember why.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/spor...es/11741913.htm There is a great case study in supply and demand waiting to happen in the Columbus drug dealing market. Now that OSU will have a tougher drug policy, we can make a couple of assumptions (which are debatable). First, OSU football players will have to go on their last binge of smoking pot. Secondly, the day the drug policy starts, the players will have to reduce their drug usage (maybe, again debatable). What does this have to do with supply and demand? Easy. The increased use of pot will drive up the cost of pot in the Columbus market. With the behavior of the Buckeye football team since Sweater Vest Jim took over, we all know a spike in their behavior can impact the entire market. The spike in their behavior will drive up the cost of pot as inventories are depleted. Following the spike in price, there will be an certain reduction in price after the drug policy takes over when inventories are replaced. My advice, buy stock now in Columbus drug dealers (CDD) until the day the drug policy is active and then ring the register. Take if for what it's worth. I just wanted to inject some economics into the board. Have a nice day everyone.

I'm 99% sure I know who Zips Win! is. If he is who I think he is, his list should become the "Official Top Ten Zips Basketball Players" list. He never misses a game and knows Zips basketball like the back of his hand. Good work Zips Win!

Scores in addition to wins.....nice work ITZ. I like your optimism. I think that win at Miami is realistic (mabye) and if it isn't, they are still looking at 7-4. There is also no reason to believe the MTSU will not be a win. If Ringer doesn't fumble the game away last year, we beat them. Beating NIU is also a possibility. NIU has a way of losing road MAC games on a regular basis. My biggest disagreement would be the 51-0 Can't score. I look for Akron to score a late touchdown and score a two point play with no time on the clock for a 53-0 win. No field goals in this game. Keep believing bro, you and I seem to be the only two on this board with any faith.