Special Memories from the Q

[Dave in Green]

I'd like to dedicate this thread to sharing special memories from the Q -- little things that each of us may have seen that may have gone unnoticed by most. This is not for recounting anything in the stats, from the highlight reels or media reports. This is for something you personally happened to see that you think others might enjoy sharing.One of the cool moments for me was looking down at the bench during the long timeout after Cvetinovic fouled out in the championship game. As you might expect, it was quite an emotional moment for the Serb who is all heart. As the coaching staff was giving the players instructions on how they were going to play the game out, I noticed that Humpty was talking to Nik. It wasn't just a few words, either. Humpty had his arm on Nik's back, the 5-9 player looking almost straight up at the 6-8 player, and just kept talking to him non-stop throughout the entire timeout. Neither of them could have heard a word the coaches were saying. From the expression on Humpty's face, I imagined that he was telling Nik not to worry, that the game was under control and that he had done all he could and played a big role in putting the Zips out front to stay.Seeing that close bond between the two true freshmen starters spoke volumes to me about how the Zips have come together as a team this season, and how things are only going to get better and better in the future.

[tpsjugglerdude]

I loved a few possessions before Nikola fouled out the Zips were on defense and a foul was called. While waiting for the shot, the Buffalo players circled up and Nik joined. They didn't notice for at least 15 seconds then one saw him and said something to him and he just shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "What did I do?" then he tried to rejoin again. Priceless.Another was that even though the security guards held the Rowdies back, they felt bad about it. One even went over and got a small piece of the net that was left behind and brought it over to Root4Roo. Very nice on his part.Once back at the JAR we waited a few hours for the team to come back. We made a line for the players for when they got off the bus. Nasty Nate was first off with the net around his neck and trophy in hand and went down and we all touched the trophy. Then every player came down through. KD gets off the bus and starts to go outside of the line and the players grab him and make him go through the fans. Then we all went into the JAR and KD turned on the lights in the arena and we all just kind of congregated around players, fans, family, and coaches.

[ksu sucks]

Once back at the JAR we waited a few hours for the team to come back. We made a line for the players for when they got off the bus. Nasty Nate was first off with the net around his neck and trophy in hand and went down and we all touched the trophy. Then every player came down through. KD gets off the bus and starts to go outside of the line and the players grab him and make him go through the fans. Then we all went into the JAR and KD turned on the lights in the arena and we all just kind of congregated around players, fans, family, and coaches.

And this is why Akron basketball is so unique. Not many division 1 schools in the country would allow something like that to happen.God Bless the University of Akron and everyone a part of it!

[zippyrifle32]

I loved a few possessions before Nikola fouled out the Zips were on defense and a foul was called. While waiting for the shot, the Buffalo players circled up and Nik joined. They didn't notice for at least 15 seconds then one saw him and said something to him and he just shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "What did I do?" then he tried to rejoin again. Priceless.

i saw that too. he just jumped into the huddle like he was one of them. then when he was on the block waiting for the free throw, he was talking to the buffalo player. i'd bet money it had something to do with the huddle thing.

[skip-zip]

I have to share something really cool with you guys...although it was also, in my opinion, complete BS. My wife and I left our seats behind the Akron bench and walked up the tunnel near the close of the cutting-down-the-nets festivities Saturday when we were approached by a woman and her son who wanted our ticket stubs. It turns out that they said that they were friends of the McKnights, and the son had played high school ball with them, and NOBODY was going to let them down that tunnel to a good viewing point of the post game festivities....and this was 30 MINUTES AFTER THE GAME WAS OVER. I was so happy to give them our stubs....it made my day. And it reminded me of what I saw just previous to that. Which was the trouble Akron players were having getting their parents or wives onto the court. Until a kind guard started allowing them, one by one, as they begged for permission, they simply were not letting anyone out there without intense scrutiny. But of course, it was just fine for those freaks from Miami to all go running out there a couple of years ago...EVEN BEFORE THE GAME WAS OVER (and as Keith pointed out, should have been a techinical). Did anyone else notice some of this? Is this another double standard that's applied to Akron?

[tpsjugglerdude]

The security guard flat out said and I quote, "If it had been 2 years ago you could have!"