Give 'em hell Zips

[theboro]

While I was very disappointed with the loss last week, I had a feeling that we didn't get beat by a slouch. Y'all are looking pretty powerful right now.

Keep it up. Good luck.

An MT fan.

[InTheZone]

Thanks for the comments boro. I have a feeling you guys are much better than your record shows and are about to rip off a nice little winning streak. Also, one of you guys should email CBS and let them know you guys aren't 1-AA.

Sportsline article

ips report: Inside slant

Sep. 21, 2005

The Sports Xchange

Inside slant · Notes, quotes · Strategy and personnel

Even though it was against Division I-AA Middle Tennessee State, the Zips' defensive effort in their first win of the season, a 17-7 win over the Blue Raiders, has coach J.D. Brookhart feeling good about his team on that side of the ball.

After yielding 49 points to Purdue in the season opener, the Zips came back with the single-touchdown effort against MTSU.

"I sensed it last year," said Brookhart. "I think toward the end of last year we started to develop a certain attitude and this year, we're expanding on it."

With seven starters back from last year, there was continuity in place for the Zips. Senior linebacker Jay Rohr leads the team with 23 tackles through two games, while senior nose tackle Kiki Gonzalez has been an attention-grabber for the opposition, opening up opportunities for his teammates.

With the offense still trying to get itself together behind a new starter under center, getting a defensive effort like the one against Middle Tennessee State has Brookhart feeling good about the rest of the year.

"The defense simply shut down the run and put a lot of pressure on the pass game," said Brookhart. "They forced a lot of three and outs and were not on the field much. To give up only seven points to a team that played Alabama tough and that has much talent on offense as they do, it shows how great our defense performed."