Zips sports news, features and notes
- College baseball/Kent State 4, Akron 1: Flashes top Zips, get help from Bowling Green to win MAC title, earn top seed in tournament
- On the Record — May 18
- College baseball/Kent State 4, Akron 3: Flashes muster enough energy to top Zips, stay alive for top seed in MAC Tournament
- Kent State golf in fifth after two rounds of NCAA Regional
- Kent State-Akron in-game updates: Kent State wins 4-3
- Kent State 5, Akron 4 in 17 innings: Diamond Classic turns into real gem
- On the record: Ohio State, UA and KSU college roundup and recruiting news
- On the Record — May 14
- College sports — May 12
- Akron men, KSU women win MAC track titles
Four Zips sign free agent contracts
Football
They didn't hear their names this weekend, but Jabari Arthur (Chiefs), Davanzo Tate (Jets) Nate Robinson (Giants) and Kris Kasparek (Dolphins) will get a shot at the NFL.
Each signed free agent contracts.
Kasparek is excited about his opportunity with Bill Parcels.
Women's basketball
Tom Gaffney wrote an interesting story about the five Zips whom Jodi Kest dismissed for violating team rules.
Mack Rhoades supports the decision, which led to three starters, including Sarah Tokodi, being dismissed. Tokodi's dismissal comes as a surprise because she seemed like an ideal, good-character player for a rebuilding program.
Bills draft Corner in fourth round
Football
Reggie Corner is going to Buffalo as the Bills' fourth-round pick, No. 114 overall.
The aptly named cornerback is the fourth Akron player in as many years to be selected in the fourth round or better.
The Bills also chose a cornerback with the 11th overall pick in Leodis McKelvin from Troy.
Although Kris Kasparek, Davanzo Tate, Mike Schepp and Jabari Arthur did not get drafted, each will probably get an invitation to camp.
MACReportOnline.com projects two Zips to get drafted
Football
MACReportOnline.com discussed the draft potential for eight MAC players.
Two are Zips: Kris Kasparek and Nate Robinson. Kasparek is sliding down to offensive tackle, where he has more professional upside. Robinson has the NFL body, but his work ethic is iffy. Both could go in the sixth or seventh rounds.
Other Akron players to watch on Saturday include Jabari Arthur, Reggie Corner, Davanzo Tate and Mike Schepp.
Akron looking for three-peat in NFL Draft
Football
It may be a long shot, but Jabari Arthur, Reggie Corner and Davanzo Tate are trying to give Akron its third player selected in the NFL Draft in as many years. Some publications believe it's more likely that you might think.
That first story comes from the Buchtelite, as does this story about the rally to save Manny's Pub. The owner, Manny Nemer, claims his bar is "staying right here" and that $1.04 million is not enough to relocate. Make your own conclusions this time. I'm sick of getting nasty text messages about what I write.
Men's basketball
Zip Watcher, a moderator at ZipsNation.org, has a great idea.
He suggests the AK-Rowdies support Zeke Marshall, who will be in town for the King James Shooting Stars Classic this weekend.
Marshall is the best player Keith Dambrot has ever pursued. He is the No. 61 player in the nation, according to Scout.com.
Corner, Schepp visit Browns
Football
Departing Zips seniors Mike Schepp and Reggie Corner have visited Berea for private workouts with the Browns, according to Dan Kadar.
Property owners grasp at straws
Football
Harry Jackson, the owner of the Odd Corner and Akron alumnus, decided that he will bequeath his $2 million estate to Kent State because Akron is closing his business for the new stadium.
Jackson's money will go to the gays, lesbians, etc. at Kent State. Originally he planned for that money to go to the "alternative lifestyle" students at Akron.
Meanwhile, Manny Nemer is staging a march from his business Manny's Pub to the Student Union on Friday afternoon. This is to "raise awareness" for small business owners. Oh, and the march members will finish up their civic duty with a bunch of booze at Manny's, so certainly some profits are to be had.
With all due respect for Nemer, who is the definition of the American dream, and Jackson, who put away quite a stash from his small tobacco paraphernalia shop, this batch of sour grapes is pathetic.
The framers of our nation foresaw the need to take a private business or home for the public benefit. They had sympathy for these private business owners by requiring the government to pay just compensation.
We all know how this will end. If Jackson wants to take it out on Akron students, that's his perogative. Personally, I won't mind seeing that kind of money spent at Kent State anyhow. I also have skepticism that 1) he really intended to give the money to Akron and 2) he really changed his decision. (Your will is not final until you die.)
As far as Nemer goes, the university is offering him whiskey barrels of cash ($1.05 million). He has plenty to re-establish his bar -- which he intended to renovate anyhow. Jackson also got a sweetheart deal with the university setting him up with another spot on the other side of Exchange Street. Akron students would be justified in boycotting him.
This will all work out for everyone. Bitterness helps no one.
MACReportOnline.com breaks down the conference
Football
Dave Ruthenberg at MACReportOnline.com compiled blurbs about each team's spring.
Take a look. I wrote the Akron part.
Also, here is another link to Dan Kadar's Browns blog.
Rocky first year in Canada for Reid
Football
The Buchtelite's Adam Ferrise wrote about Jermaine Reid's first year in the Canadian Football League.
Reid got hurt last season, but he hopes his next year in "America Jr." will be more productive, maybe even catching the eyes of NFL scouts.
Speaking of the Buchtelite, props to Vincent Dorsey, who recently won his second John S. Knight Scholarship. It's good to see Akron pumping out solid writers like Ferrise and Dorsey, even though the university lacks a journalism school.
And while we're talking about Buchtelite people (or former ones), here is the link to Dan Kadar's Browns blog.
Recruiting updates
Football
As J.D. Brookhart and Co. travel the country in search of new Zips, expect the amount of scholarship offerees to increase.
Slow time for Zips news
Miscellaneous
Now that basketball season and football spring practices are over, there isn't much Zips news to pass along.
It comes at a convenient time for me because school is getting really hectic. I still look for news every day and keep my ears open.
Oh, and congrats to Roo Fan for winning the Ohio.com Bracket Challenge. Danny K's Picky Picks and Zipper10 rounded out the top three.
Speaking of Danny K, aka Dan Kadar, he has a Cleveland Browns blog on Ohio.com. I can't find the link this moment, but once I do, I'll post it.
KSU taps Ford to take over
Men's basketball
Kent State will tap current assistant Geno Ford to become its next head coach, the Associated Press reports.
As a former diminutive shooting guard at Ohio University, Ford knows the MAC. He will have plenty of talent next season, which should alleviate the acclimation process.
The question for me is: Will Ford continue to bring in quality junior college players, or will he rebuild with high school athletes?
