Zips vs. flushes

[ZippyforPresident]

Nik, Z, and Nitro seemed like they were pumped to play in this game. The rest of the team looked like they didn't care to be there. Ken+ played defense like I wish we could.....Calling MAC player of the week....hello....hello....?

I wholeheartedly agree with every part of this statement. But I'll wager everything I have that the outcome on March 5th is entirely different; as well as the mac tourney. I just have that deep down gut feeling that Akron Basketball is gonna finish everything the right way this year.

[RootforRoo44]

at least we have a good soccer team...

Too bad 95% of the people (me included) dont give a crap about soccer.

I'm glad you don't really speak for 95% of the people even though you think you do!

I kind of agree...Soccer is not very important. Football and basketball matter most. You yell "at least we have a soccer team!" and most Can't people will say "who cares? It's soccer."

[Jake]

Nik, Z, and Nitro seemed like they were pumped to play in this game. The rest of the team looked like they didn't care to be there. Ken+ played defense like I wish we could.....Calling MAC player of the week....hello....hello....?

I wholeheartedly agree with every part of this statement. But I'll wager everything I have that the outcome on March 5th is entirely different; as well as the mac tourney. I just have that deep down gut feeling that Akron Basketball is gonna finish everything the right way this year.

I agree. And on March 5th, let's hope the AK rowdies use some originality and wit and not something on the order of Can't State SUCKS or regurgitate, "why so quiet?" We're counting on you AK rowdies. You help make a difference.

[RootforRoo44]

...and 2 of those 3 barely played in the second half, despite having good 1st halves. They didn't know what to do against us when Zeke was on the floor. He makes guys adjust there shot just be being in there. The one thing I hate about Dambrot is his rotations. He seems to worry too much about the other team's strengths as opposed to using his own. Instead of burying Can't with Zeke and Nik down low, he went to his "mini me" lineup with 3 guards with two being sub 6 foot. Can't simply countered with bigger guards. Nothing like a 5'8" guy guarding a 6' 5" shooter!

• Good to see me and the people around me weren't the only ones who noticed how moronic Dambrot's lineups were tonight.
• Zeke, according to the official stats (which are wrong, he had more blocks than they recorded, i just watched the game on tv again and counted them) had 6 rebounds, 4 points, and 3 (5) blocks. The guy was changing the game completely in the Zips favor with his play and essentially he doesn't play in the second half!
• You got Humpty ball hogging after Can't starts a run and attempting to play 5 on 1 for two straight possessions and he stays in.
• Also Brett McKnight has to be the laziest player on the team. Multiple times he just camps on the 3 point line and doesn't crash the offensive boards and multiple times his man beat him down the floor because he wasn't hustling. Why does Dambrot play someone who acts like he just doesn't give a damn?

You could go on and on, but flat out today Can't played like they wanted it more. Also, i brought 2 first timers today to their first Zips game and they were shocked at how bad/inconsistent the reffing was. I just laughed because it's gotten to be so bad that today I barely noticed.

[RootforRoo44]

Nik, Z, and Nitro seemed like they were pumped to play in this game. The rest of the team looked like they didn't care to be there. Ken+ played defense like I wish we could.....Calling MAC player of the week....hello....hello....?

I wholeheartedly agree with every part of this statement. But I'll wager everything I have that the outcome on March 5th is entirely different; as well as the mac tourney. I just have that deep down gut feeling that Akron Basketball is gonna finish everything the right way this year.

I agree. And on March 5th, let's hope the AK rowdies use some originality and wit and not something on the order of Can't State SUCKS or regurgitate, "why so quiet?" We're counting on you AK rowdies. You help make a difference.

Today wasn't original enough for you? We had 30+ tickets in the middle of their reserved seats and kicked about 15 people out of their seats who were sitting in them when we all went down a few minutes into the game. You should have seen the faces of the usher and cop who tried to stop us and realized we had every right to be there.

[zippyrifle32]

Nik, Z, and Nitro seemed like they were pumped to play in this game. The rest of the team looked like they didn't care to be there. Ken+ played defense like I wish we could.....Calling MAC player of the week....hello....hello....?

I wholeheartedly agree with every part of this statement. But I'll wager everything I have that the outcome on March 5th is entirely different; as well as the mac tourney. I just have that deep down gut feeling that Akron Basketball is gonna finish everything the right way this year.

I agree. And on March 5th, let's hope the AK rowdies use some originality and wit and not something on the order of Can't State SUCKS or regurgitate, "why so quiet?" We're counting on you AK rowdies. You help make a difference.

Today wasn't original enough for you? We had 30+ tickets in the middle of their reserved seats and kicked about 15 people out of their seats who were sitting in them when we all went down a few minutes into the game. You should have seen the faces of the usher and cop who tried to stop us and realized we had every right to be there.

really? they didn't revoke your tickets and threaten to throw you out and keep your money if you didn't move like they did last year at the women's bball game?

[ZachTheZip]

Nik, Z, and Nitro seemed like they were pumped to play in this game. The rest of the team looked like they didn't care to be there. Ken+ played defense like I wish we could.....Calling MAC player of the week....hello....hello....?

I wholeheartedly agree with every part of this statement. But I'll wager everything I have that the outcome on March 5th is entirely different; as well as the mac tourney. I just have that deep down gut feeling that Akron Basketball is gonna finish everything the right way this year.

I agree. And on March 5th, let's hope the AK rowdies use some originality and wit and not something on the order of Can't State SUCKS or regurgitate, "why so quiet?" We're counting on you AK rowdies. You help make a difference.

Today wasn't original enough for you? We had 30+ tickets in the middle of their reserved seats and kicked about 15 people out of their seats who were sitting in them when we all went down a few minutes into the game. You should have seen the faces of the usher and cop who tried to stop us and realized we had every right to be there.

really? they didn't revoke your tickets and threaten to throw you out and keep your money if you didn't move like they did last year at the women's bball game?

They didn't. But I'm sure they wish they could have. The house was packed, and it would have been impossible to remove the Rowdies without making an even bigger scene and giving them the attention they were seeking. And for the record, they didn't keep the money from the women's game. They were nice enough to give back refunds while kicking us out.

[Zip_ME87]

at least we have a good soccer team...

Too bad 95% of the people (me included) dont give a crap about soccer.

I'm glad you don't really speak for 95% of the people even though you think you do!

I kind of agree...Soccer is not very important. Football and basketball matter most. You yell "at least we have a soccer team!" and most Can't people will say "who cares? It's soccer."

Giving heed to Can't people...isn't that grounds for having your "Zip card" revoked?

[RootforRoo44]

at least we have a good soccer team...

Too bad 95% of the people (me included) dont give a crap about soccer.

I'm glad you don't really speak for 95% of the people even though you think you do!

I kind of agree...Soccer is not very important. Football and basketball matter most. You yell "at least we have a soccer team!" and most Can't people will say "who cares? It's soccer."

Giving heed to Can't people...isn't that grounds for having your "Zip card" revoked?

no it's giving WEED that's grounds for revoking. They are already stoned out as losers as it is, we shouldn't help them.Trust me, i LOVE Akron Futbol but the fact of the matter is no one really cares about soccer. If Akron went to a bowl game it would bring as much publicity and notoriety as going to the College Cup. Same as if we won a game in the NCAA tournament.

[InTheZone]

at least we have a good soccer team...

Too bad 95% of the people (me included) dont give a crap about soccer.

I'm glad you don't really speak for 95% of the people even though you think you do!

I kind of agree...Soccer is not very important. Football and basketball matter most. You yell "at least we have a soccer team!" and most Can't people will say "who cares? It's soccer."

I have to agree. While I'm sure everyone likes seeing the soccer team do well, it's definitely a secondary sport. 95 percent of fans live and die with football and basketball. I can honestly say, and I think most would agree, that I'd sacrifice everything the soccer team did this year for a win today. As it is I'm embarrassed to talk to my Can't State "friends" (yes shamefully I have them). Today was AWFUL. C'mon KD, I'm starting to doubt.

[Dr Z]

Settle down folks...we beat Can't and Buffalo, which we should be able to, at home and we'll be fine.

It's Ken+, if your not passionate about losing to Ken+, how in the heck....never mind.Sometimes it's the way a team can lose that upsets a fan. We went from having a chance of winning, to getting embarrassed.

[Zip_ME87]

I can honestly say, and I think most would agree, that I'd sacrifice everything the soccer team did this year for a win today. As it is I'm embarrassed to talk to my Can't State "friends" (yes shamefully I have them). Today was AWFUL. C'mon KD, I'm starting to doubt.

I can't believe any true Akron student, alum, or Zips fan would say that...for 1 regular season basketball game? You can't be serious. You live way too much for TODAY and TODAY ONLY, or perhaps, you are only a Zips' Basketball fan. That is an absolute HORRIBLE message to send to a great group of guys who accomplished so much and brought significant achievement and attention to Akron. Maybe I'm misreading that; maybe you really mean this year, 2010, since they haven't done anything in 2010, yet. (I know the Hermann and Coach of the Year were given in January, but they are 2009 season awards.) I have personal friends who are not Akron students or alumni, but came to Akron soccer games in 2009 based on my recommendation. They came because they love soccer and they kept coming back because they love the brand of soccer the Zips play. Unfortunately, I have yet to be able to say the same for Akron basketball or football.

[Dave in Green]

No passionate Zips fan feels good about what happened in the Can't game. But there are different kinds of passionate fans. Some are more negative and some are more positive. Crapping all over your team every time they play crappy is not the definition of passion. It's the definition of negativity.Positive fans don't like losing any more than negative fans. They just don't pile on when it's obvious that the coaches and players are already well aware that they didn't play up to their full abilities as a team, and that they let down all of their fans along with themselves.Adversity is an inevitable part of life. It's how we respond to adversity that defines us. I like the way the Zips responded to adversity at the end of last season when everything was on the line, and know they're capable of doing it again this season. That's what really matters to me.

[Zip_ME87]

No passionate Zips fan feels good about what happened in the Can't game. But there are different kinds of passionate fans. Some are more negative and some are more positive. Crapping all over your team every time they play crappy is not the definition of passion. It's the definition of negativity.Positive fans don't like losing any more than negative fans. They just don't pile on when it's obvious that the coaches and players are already well aware that they didn't play up to their full abilities as a team, and that they let down all of their fans along with themselves.Adversity is an inevitable part of life. It's how we respond to adversity that defines us. I like the way the Zips responded to adversity at the end of last season when everything was on the line, and know they're capable of doing it again this season. That's what really matters to me.

Agree. What I dislike more than losing to Can't is Zips fans who crap all over their own team or other Zips' fans/teams.

[Dr Z]

No passionate Zips fan feels good about what happened in the Can't game. But there are different kinds of passionate fans. Some are more negative and some are more positive. Crapping all over your team every time they play crappy is not the definition of passion. It's the definition of negativity.Positive fans don't like losing any more than negative fans. They just don't pile on when it's obvious that the coaches and players are already well aware that they didn't play up to their full abilities as a team, and that they let down all of their fans along with themselves.Adversity is an inevitable part of life. It's how we respond to adversity that defines us. I like the way the Zips responded to adversity at the end of last season when everything was on the line, and know they're capable of doing it again this season. That's what really matters to me.

Passion by definition, according to Webster, is any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate. Magic doesn't happen between now and the end of the season, progression by hard work does. Some of the things that concerned fans this time last year are the exact same things that were corrected by the end of the season to make us a better team. Some things need to "progress" this year to make us a better team by the tournament, no different. One thing that I see that will progress is KD learning how to use Zeke. I'm really excited to watch that. There is no mold of how to be a fan. Critiquing a player, coach or game is part of sports. Critiquing doesn't have to be negative. Just because you don't agree with someone doesn't mean they are negative. I don't agree with a lot of what is written here, but I love to hear other peoples opinions on the team that I root for. I would hate to see people stop expressing their opinion on ZN.

[bigzipguy]

For those of you downplaying the importance of the Men's soccer program compared to football and basketball,let me state that VERY FEW THINGS IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS SOUND SWEETER THAN : NATIONAL CHAMPIONS. And that is what the Zips Men's soccer program came within an eyelash of becoming!!!

[Dave in Green]

Yep, diversity is good. I learn from other people all the time. So I hope that no one ever feels discouraged from posting their honest opinions. But we always have to remember that the way we state our opinions reveals as much about ourselves as it does about the object of our opinions.Two extreme opposite reaction examples to adversity would be a] posting thoughtful suggestions about what a sports team might do in a similar future situation to produce a better outcome, or b] posting the equivalent of screaming and pounding on the floor like a 2-year-old throwing a tantrum.While everyone may be tempted at times to vent opinions that are closer to b], more people will be more receptive to those that are closer to a].

[zippyrifle32]

For those of you downplaying the importance of the Men's soccer program compared to football and basketball,let me state that VERY FEW THINGS IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS SOUND SWEETER THAN : NATIONAL CHAMPIONS. And that is what the Zips Men's soccer program came within an eyelash of becoming!!!

+1

[johnnyzip84]

I hated yesterday's outcome as much as anyone. It's disappointing to think that the program, at least for this season, probably will not become THE dominant team in this weak conference. That distinction may have to wait, from the looks of things. That's not to say that the Zips can't or won't win in Cleveland again this year. But I do agree that there is plenty of concern over how this year's team is playing on the road in the MAC. The win at OU was gritty, but far from awe inspiring. The upcoming game at Western will MOST LIKELY find the Zips at 3-3, with the weaker part of the schedule ahead of them. The GOOD thing about this, is that there remains plenty of time for the maturing process to take place. This team needs to play much tougher mentally and physically down the stretch. An example is Jimmy Conyers technical foul early in the game. This isn't to take anything away from how JC has played this year. He's been outstanding. Still, he needs to learn that when a K.E.N.T. weenie deliberately does something to get under his skin he needs to ignore it. This team needs JC's strength on the floor too much to be giving away playing time. You can bet that every other MAC team is going to take notice of this and try to disrupt Jimmy in future games. He needs to make them pay with his play on the court alone. Now go out and prove me wrong by bucking the Broncos in Kalamazoo! Go Zips!!!

[vmd9]

at least we have a good soccer team...

Too bad 95% of the people (me included) dont give a crap about soccer.

I'm glad you don't really speak for 95% of the people even though you think you do!

I kind of agree...Soccer is not very important. Football and basketball matter most. You yell "at least we have a soccer team!" and most Can't people will say "who cares? It's soccer."

I have to agree. While I'm sure everyone likes seeing the soccer team do well, it's definitely a secondary sport. 95 percent of fans live and die with football and basketball. I can honestly say, and I think most would agree, that I'd sacrifice everything the soccer team did this year for a win today. As it is I'm embarrassed to talk to my Can't State "friends" (yes shamefully I have them). Today was AWFUL. C'mon KD, I'm starting to doubt.

I don't care about soccer...but they win and never give up.

[RootforRoo44]

I don't care about soccer...but they win and never give up.

That is the most true thing ever stated on Zipsnation. When i think about a team i'm proud of i think of the Soccer team from last season. If the mens bball team had HALF the heart and put out HALF the effort that those guys put out last season we would have beaten Can't easily on Saturday.I may put Soccer in 3rd place in terms of importance, but those players are the best role models this university has...I know 100% of you agree as well.

[Z.I.P.]

I don't care about soccer...but they win and never give up.

Rather than join in on the childish antagonisms against one sport or another (ESPECIALLY the world's most played, most popular, and simply greatest sporting and cultural passtime) allow me to tell a little story. Eric Reveno, the men's basketball coach at the University of Portland was quoted by an ESPN announcer during their recent game vs Gonzaga. "My goal", coach Reveno stated, "is to have a basketball program that our soccer team can be proud of". Now THAT, I believe my former classmate, Keith Dambrot fully realizes is a high, but realistic goal. The fact is, Akron will not in our lifetimes be a national power in American football, or basketball. Let's accept and be proud that Akron is a football, or if you will "soccer" school. At least we have a team, while to state another simple truth

[skip-zip]

I don't care about soccer...but they win and never give up.

That is the most true thing ever stated on Zipsnation. When i think about a team i'm proud of i think of the Soccer team from last season. If the mens bball team had HALF the heart and put out HALF the effort that those guys put out last season we would have beaten Can't easily on Saturday.I may put Soccer in 3rd place in terms of importance, but those players are the best role models this university has...I know 100% of you agree as well.

1) I think our basketball team plays with plenty of heart and effort.2) The soccer team has more success than the basketball team because they also have more talent than most of the teams they face. Our basketball team doesn't have the same advantage going into many of their contests.

[Dave in Green]

Good points, Skip. The Zips are a mid-major team in basketball and a major team in every way in soccer. It's a monumental task to develop a national championship caliber program in any college sport. But it's relatively easier for a school like UA to develop a national championship caliber team in what is generally considered one of the minor American collegiate sports than one of the majors such as football or basketball. This comparison should in no way be interpreted as diminishing the accomplishments of the Zips soccer team, but simply calls out the reality of the collegiate sports pecking order in America today.As much as we're disappointed with the Zips basketball team for not consistently playing up to their full capabilities, at least there is progress over last season's team. After the first round of the MAC East last year, the Zips were 2-3 in conference play and 10-8 overall. This year's team has as much potential to grow from this point in the season as last year's team did at the same point.

[RootforRoo44]

As much as we're disappointed with the Zips basketball team for not consistently playing up to their full capabilities, at least there is progress over last season's team. After the first round of the MAC East last year, the Zips were 2-3 in conference play and 10-8 overall. This year's team has as much potential to grow from this point in the season as last year's team did at the same point.

They shouldn't have to "grow", as you mentioned they already did last season! They dont have their heads in the game...it's very apparent.