I remain baffled by this one...

[Captain Kangaroo]

From The Rasor Blog, speaking of Gino Ford:

In the aftermath of the MAC Championship game, he [Ford] showed his class by instructing his players not to gripe about the last play. The easy thing to do would have been to allow the media and fans to protest the victory, but he let Akron and Keith Dambrot have the moment.

Can someone tell me anything controversial about the last play of that game? What happened that merited a protested outcome?!

Why is it such a laudable attribute to simply accept defeat? Has society reached the point where basic sportsmanship is such a commendable act?

K.e.n.t. got beat in a great game. No "phantom fouls" or "no-calls"...no clock operator negligence...time simply expired and K.e.n.t. didn't score enough points to win. End of story. Actually, as far as end-of-game play controversy goes, there was no story.

Important notes for any idiot are listed below:

1.) The scuffle after the game wasn't a "play."

2.) Video of the Zips celebration as the clock expired showed a couple Zips players accidentally stepped on K.e.n.t. players that were laying on the ground. The Zips players temporarily stopped their celebration, and immediately apologized.

As far as controversial plays go...those with "protestable" game outcomes...where would YOU rate the 2011 MAC Championship game's final play?

On a scale of 1-10, "1" being completely devoid of controversy and "10" being an out-and-out criminal act, I rate it a "1."

[Z.I.P.]

Mike Razor is a Golden Flush!

[Dr Z]

McNees foul on the last shot????

[GP1]

I hate to pick on Rasor twice in a week, but he sees controversy in the Championship game like Glenn Beck sees Caliphates.

[Dave in Green]

History tells us if the play had been reversed, with a Zips player being blocked on the game's final shot, one or more Zips fans on ZN.O would have questioned whether the Zips player was fouled instead of getting cleanly blocked. That's just the nature of being a rabid fan reacting to a painfully close loss, whether or not the call was even close to questionable.

We Zips fans are pretty familiar with the general character of some Can't players, and it wouldn't have surprised us if some of those players had tried to rain on the Zips parade. If Ford was in fact proactive in telling his players not to make an issue out of the last play, then I do give him credit for having the presence of mind to try to do the right thing at a difficult time when there had to be many different thoughts running through his head.

[GP1]

History tells us if the play had been reversed, with a Zips player being blocked on the game's final shot, one or more Zips fans on ZN.O would have questioned whether the Zips player was fouled instead of getting cleanly blocked. That's just the nature of being a rabid fan reacting to a painfully close loss, whether or not the call was even close to questionable.

We Zips fans are pretty familiar with the general character of some Can't players, and it wouldn't have surprised us if some of those players had tried to rain on the Zips parade. If Ford was in fact proactive in telling his players not to make an issue out of the last play, then I do give him credit for having the presence of mind to try to do the right thing at a difficult time when there had to be many different thoughts running through his head.

What's all this have to do with the Caliphates?

[skip-zip]

From The Rasor Blog, speaking of Gino Ford:

In the aftermath of the MAC Championship game, he [Ford] showed his class by instructing his players not to gripe about the last play. The easy thing to do would have been to allow the media and fans to protest the victory, but he let Akron and Keith Dambrot have the moment.

Can someone tell me anything controversial about the last play of that game? What happened that merited a protested outcome?!

Why is it such a laudable attribute to simply accept defeat? Has society reached the point where basic sportsmanship is such a commendable act?

K.e.n.t. got beat in a great game. No "phantom fouls" or "no-calls"...no clock operator negligence...time simply expired and K.e.n.t. didn't score enough points to win. End of story. Actually, as far as end-of-game play controversy goes, there was no story.

Important notes for any idiot are listed below:

1.) The scuffle after the game wasn't a "play."

2.) Video of the Zips celebration as the clock expired showed a couple Zips players accidentally stepped on K.e.n.t. players that were laying on the ground. The Zips players temporarily stopped their celebration, and immediately apologized.

As far as controversial plays go...those with "protestable" game outcomes...where would YOU rate the 2011 MAC Championship game's final play?

On a scale of 1-10, "1" being completely devoid of controversy and "10" being an out-and-out criminal act, I rate it a "1."

Agree 100%

CLASS defines the coach on the losing end of the clock debacle in the MAC Title Game in 2007 congratulating Charlie Cole.

LACK OF CLASS defines the coach who continually showed his displeasure over Singletary being booted for punching Linhart.

Actions speak for themselves, and are often predictably a barometer for future behavior.

[Captain Kangaroo]

McNees foul on the last shot????

In hindsight, McNees should have laid on the ground instead of putting a hand in the shooter's face. Just to eliminate the horrible, tragic "controversy."

I love the Rasor blog, but sucking up to Ford and fabricating valor is pretty weak. I know he wants to be a sports writer one day...and you want to have Ford on your "Fave 5" in the unlikely event he's ever coaching at a major program (after the Bradley gig)...but come on....

Maybe it's just "Zips Fan's Guilt"... where a Zips fan is so used to losing these types of games they just don't know how to handle coming out on top? Could be a coping mechanism...I don't know...

God Bless Steve "The Hacker" McNees

[Z.I.P.]

McNees foul on the last shot????

In hindsight, McNees should have laid on the ground instead of putting a hand in the shooter's face. Just to eliminate the horrible, tragic "controversy."

I love the Rasor blog, but sucking up to Ford and fabricating valor is pretty weak. I know he wants to be a sports writer one day...and you want to have Ford on your "Fave 5" in the unlikely event he's ever coaching at a major program (after the Bradley gig)...but come on....

Maybe it's just "Zips Fan's Guilt"... where a Zips fan is so used to losing these types of games they just don't know how to handle coming out on top? Could be a coping mechanism...I don't know...

God Bless Steve "The Hacker" McNees

Well, if Geno's dream job is coach at his alma mater...then the "Bradley gig" might be the right path. Couldn't hardly go there straight from Can't.

[GP1]

CLASS defines the coach on the losing end of the clock debacle in the MAC Title Game in 2007 congratulating Charlie Cole.

There were some things that went on prior to that not painting such a rosy picture.

[GP1]

Maybe it's just "Zips Fan's Guilt"

Finally, there is a term for it. Akron media, and this includes Mr. Rasor, needs to understand that it is OK for the Zips to do well in sports. Especially high profile sports like football and basketball. We don't need to be stuck in a Terry Pluto world. The media should be holding the Zips programs accountable for when they do poorly and demand better when they aren't living up to their potential. Give praise when it is deserved and slam them when they deserve it as well. It's D-1A sports for crying out loud.

To Zips fans, it's OK if we win. I know it provides a different paradigm than the pile of crap we are normally fed, but the world won't come to an end if we get good.

[Captain Kangaroo]

History tells us if the play had been reversed, with a Zips player being blocked on the game's final shot, one or more Zips fans on ZN.O would have questioned whether the Zips player was fouled instead of getting cleanly blocked.

Then why did K.e.n.t. fans not protest "The Play"? Are you saying K.e.n.t. fans are somehow better than Akron fans? Rasor is the only person in the free world that saw some controversial, protestable travesty at the end of that game. I'm still waiting for a description of "The Play."

Ford didn't grouse at the end of the game because, believe it or not, there was nothing to grouse about. End of non-story.

[Dave in Green]

History tells us if the play had been reversed, with a Zips player being blocked on the game's final shot, one or more Zips fans on ZN.O would have questioned whether the Zips player was fouled instead of getting cleanly blocked.

The why did K.e.n.t. fans not protest "The Play"? Are you saying K.e.n.t. fans are somehow better than Akron fans? Rasor is the only person in the free world that saw some controversial, protestable travesty at the end of that game. I'm still waiting for a description of "The Play."

Ford didn't grouse at the end of the game because, believe it or not, there was nothing to grouse about. End of non-story.

Judging from your response, I'm obviously not doing a good job of explaining my position on this. Let me try to put it in clearer terms:

1. At least some Can't fans DID protest. We happened to be sitting in the midst of a number of Can't fans, and they were grumbling loudly about the refs missing the call. So, no -- no one is saying that Can't fans are somehow better than Akron fans.

2. There was no foul call to be missed. Replays showed that both blocks at the end of the game were clean. There was no controversy.

3. Ford telling his players not to try to start a controversy was the right move because there was nothing to grouse about.

4. If Ford had not told his players not to try to start a controversy, some of them might have. While their complaints might have been dismissed as being the sign of a poor loser, it still would have distracted from the Zips celebration. Therefore, its a good thing that Ford told his players not to try to make it a controversy.

Is it clear to you now that we are not debating whether or not there was a controversial call? We agree that there wasn't one, and I didn't read into Rasor's remarks that he thought there was one, either. Whether or not anyone thought there was a controversial call is irrelevant to the fact that Ford told his players not to try to turn it into a controversy.

As for Ford showing "class" in making that move, it depends on Ford's motives. If his primary motive was to prevent his players from raining on the Zips championship parade, then, yes, it was a classy move. If his primary motive was to prevent his own players from looking stupid by trying to turn a non-controversial call into a controversy, then he was just being smart.

Apparently Rasor elected to interpret Ford's move as classy rather than smart. Since I don't have the power to read minds and know Ford's intent at the time, my only observation is that, for whatever reason he had for doing so, Ford telling his players not to gripe about the last play was a good move for all involved.

[Captain Kangaroo]

2. There was no foul call to be missed. Replays showed that both blocks at the end of the game were clean. There was no controversy.

Thank you.

[Quickzips]

McNees foul on the last shot????

In hindsight, McNees should have laid on the ground instead of putting a hand in the shooter's face. Just to eliminate the horrible, tragic "controversy."

I love the Rasor blog, but sucking up to Ford and fabricating valor is pretty weak. I know he wants to be a sports writer one day...and you want to have Ford on your "Fave 5" in the unlikely event he's ever coaching at a major program (after the Bradley gig)...but come on....

Maybe it's just "Zips Fan's Guilt"... where a Zips fan is so used to losing these types of games they just don't know how to handle coming out on top? Could be a coping mechanism...I don't know...

God Bless Steve "The Hacker" McNees

Lost in a lot of the excitement following the championship game was the degree of difficulty on that block by McNees. Steve was at a bad angle and practically standing right on top of Rod Sherman when he released that ball. The block was absolutely clean. All ball. Go back and watch it on youtube, it really was a stellar play from Steve.

As far as everything with Geno Ford, who the heck cares?

[g-mann17]

From The Rasor Blog, speaking of Gino Ford:

In the aftermath of the MAC Championship game, he [Ford] showed his class by instructing his players not to gripe about the last play. The easy thing to do would have been to allow the media and fans to protest the victory, but he let Akron and Keith Dambrot have the moment.

Can someone tell me anything controversial about the last play of that game? What happened that merited a protested outcome?!

Why is it such a laudable attribute to simply accept defeat? Has society reached the point where basic sportsmanship is such a commendable act?

K.e.n.t. got beat in a great game. No "phantom fouls" or "no-calls"...no clock operator negligence...time simply expired and K.e.n.t. didn't score enough points to win. End of story. Actually, as far as end-of-game play controversy goes, there was no story.

Important notes for any idiot are listed below:

1.) The scuffle after the game wasn't a "play."

2.) Video of the Zips celebration as the clock expired showed a couple Zips players accidentally stepped on K.e.n.t. players that were laying on the ground. The Zips players temporarily stopped their celebration, and immediately apologized.

As far as controversial plays go...those with "protestable" game outcomes...where would YOU rate the 2011 MAC Championship game's final play?

On a scale of 1-10, "1" being completely devoid of controversy and "10" being an out-and-out criminal act, I rate it a "1."

On your scale Cap...I would -5.