Better......

[johnnyzip84]

11. Zipswin! is my early nominee for Zip fan of the year (if not the decade).

Wow... and the decade is not even 9 months old?!

This highlights the importance of getting the campaign started early!

[Captain Kangaroo]

11. Zipswin! is my early nominee for Zip fan of the year (if not the decade).

Wow... and the decade is not even 9 months old?!

This highlights the importance of getting the campaign started early!

His biggest competition will be from his wife.

Any chance they split their votes, and Zach sneaks in for FOTD? He should be up to around 943,456 posts by then?

[GP1]

3. I LOVED the way the staff had PN7 come out and immediately work with quick, possession passes. He actually got into a rhythm this game, and I think that was a big factor.

11. Zipswin! is my early nominee for Zip fan of the year (if not the decade).

Great point on the quick, possession passes. I thought the same thing at the time. It seemed to settle him down.

In the 1980s, Playboy Magazine rated the top ten party schools in America. For the first time ever in their rankings, WVU did not come in first place and was not in the Top 10. They placed a note at the bottom of the rankings saying, "Sorry WVU, we do not deal with professionals." I feel the same way about ZipsWin!. He is a professional Zips fan and should receive NO award as such. With that said, he is a Hall of Fame Zips fan if there ever was one.

[Dr Z]

He is a professional Zips fan and should receive NO award as such. With that said, he is a Hall of Fame Zips fan if there ever was one.

If he isn't recognized in due time by the proper establishment, ZN will have some kind of awards banquet for him (family).

Johnny, nice observations. I'm happy to see that our offense has found plays that we can successfully execute, now we can add and fine tune our play calling. PN7 is deadly on those swing passes, I see enough NFL starters and backups that don't execute that pass. That is another good play to have on film to make our future opponents account for.

[Zipmeister]

3. I LOVED the way the staff had PN7 come out and immediately work with quick, possession passes. He actually got into a rhythm this game, and I think that was a big factor.

11. Zipswin! is my early nominee for Zip fan of the year (if not the decade).

Great point on the quick, possession passes. I thought the same thing at the time. It seemed to settle him down.

In the 1980s, Playboy Magazine rated the top ten party schools in America. For the first time ever in their rankings, WVU did not come in first place and was not in the Top 10. They placed a note at the bottom of the rankings saying, "Sorry WVU, we do not deal with professionals." I feel the same way about ZipsWin!. He is a professional Zips fan and should receive NO award as such. With that said, he is a Hall of Fame Zips fan if there ever was one.

Two cents worth:

As I recall it was Wisconsin who failed to make Playboy's party school top ten because they were professionals.

The decade actually ends in three months (unless of course you incorrectly believe the first year in the Gregorian calendar was year zero).

[Dave in Green]

Adding to the "little victories" topic --

We have lost 1 fumble and thrown 1 INT through 4 games. That's pretty good. Penalties are also minimal. .....

I'm surprised that one of the PN7 bashers hasn't twisted that into something like "he's such a poor passer that even the defensive backs can't catch his throws."

But seriously, averaging .25 interceptions and .25 lost fumbles per game after 4 games is more than good. If we're going to criticize the Zips for the things they've been doing wrong -- and there's plenty to talk about there -- we should also acknowledge what they're doing right.

[Dr Z]

If we're going to criticize the Zips for the things they've been doing wrong -- and there's plenty to talk about there -- we should also acknowledge what they're doing right.

I'll give credit to the field goal kicking unit. Excellent job on Saturday. If it is due to hard work and practice, thank you, it paid off. Keep it up for two more months.

[skip-zip]

Adding to the "little victories" topic --

We have lost 1 fumble and thrown 1 INT through 4 games. That's pretty good. Penalties are also minimal. .....

I'm surprised that one of the PN7 bashers hasn't twisted that into something like "he's such a poor passer that even the defensive backs can't catch his throws."

But seriously, averaging .25 interceptions and .25 lost fumbles per game after 4 games is more than good. If we're going to criticize the Zips for the things they've been doing wrong -- and there's plenty to talk about there -- we should also acknowledge what they're doing right.

I certainly understand pointing out the lack of fumbles, interceptions, and penalties as some bits of good news in an otherwise awful start to the season. Agreed. And better yet, NO interceptions in our three games against I-A opponents.

But, I have a much harder time trying to understand your point that the lack of interceptions is a result of us "doing something right". As our resident stats man, don't you find it to be more of a statistical oddity that NONE of them were intercepted when you have one of the nation's worst passing effeciently ratings, and over 60% of the passes thrown in those 3 games were errant, thrown into coverage, deflected off of receivers hands, etc?

I'm thinking that "bashing" pretty much comes with the territory if you're a fan of any sports team that's performed to that level of futility.

[Zipmeister]

One more little victory...Zippy didn't kill himself on a Segway which is now more than you can say for the transport oddities inventor.

[cornbread]

One more little victory...Zippy didn't kill himself on a Segway which is now more than you can say for the transport oddities inventor.

The inventor, Dean Kamen is ok... He sold the company to a pretty cool english dude.

[Zipmeister]

One more little victory...Zippy didn't kill himself on a Segway which is now more than you can say for the transport oddities inventor.

The inventor, Dean Kamen is ok... He sold the company to a pretty cool english dude.

You are correct on both counts Corn. Dean IS still among us,. and Jimi IS cool (room temperature at this point).

[Dave in Green]

Adding to the "little victories" topic --

We have lost 1 fumble and thrown 1 INT through 4 games. That's pretty good. Penalties are also minimal. .....

I'm surprised that one of the PN7 bashers hasn't twisted that into something like "he's such a poor passer that even the defensive backs can't catch his throws."

But seriously, averaging .25 interceptions and .25 lost fumbles per game after 4 games is more than good. If we're going to criticize the Zips for the things they've been doing wrong -- and there's plenty to talk about there -- we should also acknowledge what they're doing right.

I certainly understand pointing out the lack of fumbles, interceptions, and penalties as some bits of good news in an otherwise awful start to the season. Agreed. And better yet, NO interceptions in our three games against I-A opponents.

But, I have a much harder time trying to understand your point that the lack of interceptions is a result of us "doing something right". As our resident stats man, don't you find it to be more of a statistical oddity that NONE of them were intercepted when you have one of the nation's worst passing effeciently ratings, and over 60% of the passes thrown in those 3 games were errant, thrown into coverage, deflected off of receivers hands, etc?

I'm thinking that "bashing" pretty much comes with the territory if you're a fan of any sports team that's performed to that level of futility.

Absolutely. In sports, bashing pretty much comes with the territory even with above average players and teams. In the most virulent bashing, anything that goes wrong is due to poor playing and coaching and anything that goes right must be dumb luck.

Let's say it has been pure luck that PN7 has not had more passes intercepted. Let's say that he's such a poor QB that his interception statistics should be as poor as the rest of his statistics and those of his receivers. Statistically speaking, that should even out over the course of the season and PN7's career at UA, and we should see the number of interceptions rise to an obviously poor level.

It's certainly unrealistic to think the Zips will maintain a .25 interceptions lost per game average, as that is beyond the abilities of most high level BCS teams. But if they consistently maintain a reasonably low interception level over the course of this season and the next couple of years, at some point you'd think some of the less virulent bashers might grudgingly admit that some aspects of the Zips game are not as bad as others. This applies to the fumbles lost stats, as well.

We'll see how the numbers average out over time.

[Big Zip]

I am one of those folks that is not convinced PN7 is going to be a great MAC QB, but I am one that also is willing to recognize his improvement from week one. I still believe his faults are the same as I've mentioned before but he has played better than I expected. I hope I am completely wrong and he turns into the top QB in the conference. It may be difficult to determine his greatness given the WR we have that struggle to hold on to the ball. If he can continue to work on his control (I don't know what else to call it) throwing the ball to the right place with the right velocity this may tick up.

I am still confused why Jalil Carter hasn't been moved back to DB to shore up the defensive backfield. It seems by taking him for the secondary and moving him to WR we have weakend our secondary and haven't improved our WR position. How is this productive?

I want to see more of Gary Pride. I think he can be a Devin Hester/Josh Cribbs type of WR that can be put in multiple formations including the wildcat. I like him getting the ball on the run with his speed and think it can be an extra dimension for our offense that keeps other teams off balance. It seems like our playbook is expanding weekly and I'm hopeful this is a new wrinkle we'll get to see this week.

On a side note I talked with Zach Dorazio's dad at a golf outing a couple weeks back about him playing DB and it sounds like he is plannnig on playing QB. (Time will tell.) If I'm thinking about this correctly he has been in school with the opportunity to work out and get stronger (not sure if he can be around the team) this year while he is not playing. He'll be able to join the team for spring practice, red-shirt next year (PN7's Jr. Year). His Freshman year of eligibility will be PN7's Senior year and we could have a QB that is starting his fourth year of college with Sophomore eligibility. Assuming he can play the position well that would be 21 or 22 year old kid with the ability to be our starting QB for three years. I know I'm jumping quite a few years ahead, but if it works out we could spend the next few years with PN7 at QB (steadily improving I hope) and a extremely capable replacement right behind him.

[xu9697]

On a side note I talked with Zach Dorazio's dad at a golf outing a couple weeks back about him playing DB and it sounds like he is plannnig on playing QB. (Time will tell.) If I'm thinking about this correctly he has been in school with the opportunity to work out and get stronger (not sure if he can be around the team) this year while he is not playing. He'll be able to join the team for spring practice, red-shirt next year (PN7's Jr. Year). His Freshman year of eligibility will be PN7's Senior year and we could have a QB that is starting his fourth year of college with Sophomore eligibility. Assuming he can play the position well that would be 21 or 22 year old kid with the ability to be our starting QB for three years. I know I'm jumping quite a few years ahead, but if it works out we could spend the next few years with PN7 at QB (steadily improving I hope) and a extremely capable replacement right behind him.

Sorry to bring OSU into the conversation, but OSU had a QB named Steve Bellisari about 9 years ago. I am convinced that, had he played Safety at OSU, you would be watching him on Sundays (or would have watched him for at least 6-7 years).

I have seen D'Orazio a couple times in person, seen highlights of him, read some things about him. From everything I have seen and read, this kid would be all-MAC at safety VERY early in his career. Not saying he cannot be a QB, but not sure if that is his best position.

[ZachTheZip]

On a side note I talked with Zach Dorazio's dad at a golf outing a couple weeks back about him playing DB and it sounds like he is plannnig on playing QB. (Time will tell.) If I'm thinking about this correctly he has been in school with the opportunity to work out and get stronger (not sure if he can be around the team) this year while he is not playing. He'll be able to join the team for spring practice, red-shirt next year (PN7's Jr. Year). His Freshman year of eligibility will be PN7's Senior year and we could have a QB that is starting his fourth year of college with Sophomore eligibility. Assuming he can play the position well that would be 21 or 22 year old kid with the ability to be our starting QB for three years. I know I'm jumping quite a few years ahead, but if it works out we could spend the next few years with PN7 at QB (steadily improving I hope) and a extremely capable replacement right behind him.

Sorry to bring OSU into the conversation, but OSU had a QB named Steve Bellisari about 9 years ago. I am convinced that, had he played Safety at OSU, you would be watching him on Sundays (or would have watched him for at least 6-7 years).

I have seen D'Orazio a couple times in person, seen highlights of him, read some things about him. From everything I have seen and read, this kid would be all-MAC at safety VERY early in his career. Not saying he cannot be a QB, but not sure if that is his best position.

Just last year, we had a kid named Devoe Torrence who was projected to be an All-American linebacker, but he chose instead to line up as a RB behind several established veterans. Then he quit the team.

[xu9697]

On a side note I talked with Zach Dorazio's dad at a golf outing a couple weeks back about him playing DB and it sounds like he is plannnig on playing QB. (Time will tell.) If I'm thinking about this correctly he has been in school with the opportunity to work out and get stronger (not sure if he can be around the team) this year while he is not playing. He'll be able to join the team for spring practice, red-shirt next year (PN7's Jr. Year). His Freshman year of eligibility will be PN7's Senior year and we could have a QB that is starting his fourth year of college with Sophomore eligibility. Assuming he can play the position well that would be 21 or 22 year old kid with the ability to be our starting QB for three years. I know I'm jumping quite a few years ahead, but if it works out we could spend the next few years with PN7 at QB (steadily improving I hope) and a extremely capable replacement right behind him.

Sorry to bring OSU into the conversation, but OSU had a QB named Steve Bellisari about 9 years ago. I am convinced that, had he played Safety at OSU, you would be watching him on Sundays (or would have watched him for at least 6-7 years).

I have seen D'Orazio a couple times in person, seen highlights of him, read some things about him. From everything I have seen and read, this kid would be all-MAC at safety VERY early in his career. Not saying he cannot be a QB, but not sure if that is his best position.

Just last year, we had a kid named Devoe Torrence who was projected to be an All-American linebacker, but he chose instead to line up as a RB behind several established veterans. Then he quit the team.

His issues seem to be deeper than where to play on the football field.

[Big Zip]

I'm hopeful he can be a good QB, but I believe as safety he could have been exceptional. I watched him play at Cuyahoga Heights and thought he was fun to watch at QB.....but a ball hawk at DB.