Love for the Cricket and Jenkins!

[Zip Watcher]

HEY ZIPS FANS!!!!If you read anything before heading to the game READ THIS!I remember a few years ago before the team quit, how Pluto and some of the other fishhacks around these parts couldn't wait to immortalize Ball, Bosley & co. with retired jerseys @ the JAR. Many of us thought it to be premature since they hadn't won anything yet .. but another reason was that the Cricket wasn't yet recognized in that manner. I never had the pleasure to see Jenkins play.I'm as excited about Saturday's game for the Halftime ceremony as I am for the game itself. For someone whose love for Zips hoops was cemented permanently in my heart during the mid-to-late 80's, I think this day has been a long time coming. I know you can't be knee-jerk on these types of things .. that's how you end up with 6 retired numbers with a history of mediocrity (see the Cavaliers).This isn't honoring World B. Free for simply putting butts in seats. This is honoring two of the best ever to wear the Zips colors. Under Eric McLaughlin's watch, the Zips 85-32 with 3 postseason appearances (all in the first 8 years in DI I might add). Perhaps no other UA player has had that distinction since the Wyatt Webb era ended. Larry Jenkins went 86-22 and tallied 3 straight NCAA trips, with a National runner-up finish in 1972 (nb: Tradition runs deeper than 7 years friends!).So let's get some stories about Jenkins and the Cricket going .. anyone have any specific thoughts?!Here's one of mine, though it doesn't have to do with him lighting things up: I have a LOT of reasons for hating the Suckeyes. Many of them more recent than others. But probably the deepest seated dislike of Columbus State stems from the 1989 NIT game. That's the game that UA was winning at St. John Arena before one of Ayer's thugs put EM into the scorers table, ending his Zips career with an injury. Bush league crap from a bush league school afraid to admit they weren't the best team in the state that year. Columbus State went on to the NIT finals @ MSG that year .. but fortunately were taken down by my soon to be school, UConn on the beginning of its rise to dominance.Nice to finally honor Eric McLaughlin and Larry Jenkins. Get out there to welcome them home to the rafters of the JAR.GO ZIPS!

[zip37]

I SAW BOTH CRICKET AND LARRY PLAY-- IF I HAD TO PICK ONE AS BETTER, I WOULD NOT--THEY BOTH MADE EVERYONE AROUND THEM BETTER (JUST LIKE DJIII).WHEN WE PLAYED PITT @ THEIR HOUSE THE PITT COACH ASKED HUGGS WHO HE HAD THAT COULD COMPETE W/THEIR PLAYERS. HUGGS TOD CHAPMAN THAT HE HAD A LITTLE GUARD THAT COULD COMPETE W/ANYONE IN THGE NATION, I GUESS CHAPMAN LOOKEDAT HUGGS AS IF HE WAS AN ODDBALL.AFTER THE GAME (WE LOST), CHAPMAN TOLD HUGGS HE WAS RIGHT.