Miscellaneous

A poster on ZipsNation dug up this site, FearTheRoo.net.

It is a countdown to the day of the Penn State/Akron game. But it also seems to predict something else, perhaps the launching of a Fear the Roo fan site.

With GoZips.com undergoing some changes, it wouldn't surprise me if the university had a hand in this. Maybe we're looking at Hunter Yurachek's first big marketing move.

But probably not. After a domain lookup, I found that the new site is registered to Adam Sich of Akron. Sich created the site on Dec. 12. This was during the Fear the Roo hysteria between the MAC Championship and Motor City Bowl. Google and Yahoo searches revealed nothing about Sich.

FearTheRoo.net was chosen, I imagine, because FearTheRoo.com was unavailable. The latter has been purchased by an Internet site wholesaler out of Santa Monica, Calif.

Sich's page would be the Zips third fan site. ZipsNation.org is the clear leader, with UofAZips.com trying to establish a similar membership base.

• The Plain Dealer's Roger Brown noted all the coaches who have left Akron, putting a positive spin on it.
• Brown also reports the voice of Zips women's basketball is leaving. Tommy Gelehrter could be headed for Waddellville in southern Ohio to do the UC Bearcats games.
• Don't hassle me about this. I know it's a Zips blog, but these are desperate times. The Indians' slugger Travis Hafner must make the All-Star Team. How can you do your part to see that he makes the final spot on the roster? Vote here. Or download this photo illustration to use as your background. Or download this campaign poster. Photo illustrations are courtesy of Buchtelite art director Kiel Fleming.

Women's basketball

Here is an ABJ feature on coach Jodi Kest. It profiles her path from tomboy to head coach.

It appears Kest is a very hard worker and well-received by her players so far.

Men's basketball

I haven't posted a Tom Gaffney story on the blog in a while, so here is one.

It's a brief about Steve Swiech, the Zips 6-foot-9 stud recruit who will sign a letter of intent in November.

You won't see a Keith Dambrot quote about Swiech until then. In the spring, I talked to Dambrot about this year's class. Once the topic of 2007 recruits came up, his lips tightened. Understandably so. You don't want to screw around with the NCAA.

Men's basketball

The facts may not all be right. But that's OK.

USAToday.com breaks down each MAC team and gives a favorable review to Keith Dambrot's Zips.

Miscellaneous

Maybe I should go into the music blogging business.

Another quarrel has broken out on a previous post about classic rock icon Paul Rodgers.

Football

Zips target Robbie Frey, a running back from Lehighton, Pa., is gaining interest quickly.

Connecticut offered Frey a scholarship recently to go with the offer he already had from Akron coach J.D. Brookhart.

Football

I can't find the link to this story, but here is the story on ZipsNation.org.

The target is Aaron Williams, a 6-foot-1 linebacker from Pittsburgh. Scout.com does not mention Akron's offer. In fact, it doesn't even mention the Zips. That leads me to believe Akron entered the race late.

Toledo has offered Williams a scholarship. The linebacker also has interest in Connecticut, Iowa, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Rivals.com adds Ohio State and Marshall to the list.

• Speaking of Rivals, the site removed Vincent Hill from Akron's list of verbal commitments. Hill is a wide receiver from Maryland. Scout.com says the three-star prospect only has interest in Marshall and Pittsburgh. That worries me.

Football

A prominent football Web site noted the influx of Canadian football talent into American colleges.

It called Akron defensive end Jermaine Reid a player who could play "a major factor in the 2007 draft."

The site touts Reid as a run blocker. When I saw him play, he always seemed like more of a pass rusher. But what do I know?

(Correction: The site touts Reid as a run stopper, not blocker.)

Miscellaneous

In case you were confused, GoZips.com is different from ZipsNation.org. (Note the difference in the suffix.)

ZipsNation is the premier fan Web site and message board. GoZips is a place to get university athletics press releases and information about players.