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Merry Christmas to all on this board, even those who I have blocked! I am very grateful for this forum. Thanks to the creators, moderators and thoughtful posters. I look forward to accessing this site each day. I believe the best is yet to come. And yes, Virginia, there is a winning football team coming to Akron.

Joe and coach Rodriguez do seem to find talent. But the unfortunate thing is It always seems to take 3 or 4 games to figure things out . We are competitive after that but having 3 or 4 losses before jelling makes a 6 or 7 win season pretty difficult

The crew from 2022 is certainly on the naughty list.

Just watched Wright State hold on at home vs EMU. I can't decide if I wish I was blind so I could never see that, or if I'm now going blind with how bad that game was.

I do not know how you found that..

The state of Ohio seems to be doing quite well when you consider there's over 350 D1 schools and only two from Ohio are in the bottom half. Also, love to see that one of them is OU.

Forget Santa, talk to the refs and hope they are listening.

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope santa brings you an #11 NCAA seed or better.

Indeed. I don't put much stock in bowl games but I will say the MAC isn't as bad as some think. There isn't much difference between a mid level ACC school and a top level MAC program. If not for the financial need of suicidal schedules, most records would be much better.

Toledo had a mid-season ranked Louisville on the ropes yesterday and Ohio beat UNLV who was in the running for a playoff spot late in the season. On top of what WMU did to kennesaw state, feels like a very strong showing for the MAC so far.

Man this is going to happen to us every single year barring some likely unrealistic elevation of the program. College sports are not in a good position right now, especially for the “have nots”.

The dangers of Elon Musk's X, where anyone can get themselves verified.

Elite offensive team (look between the Yale and Baylor logos).

If Wayne Campus had a team and beat Kent we'd never let them hear the end of it

Feels that way. The difference, though, is there’s plenty of potential returning, albeit with limited production at some positions. The roster JoeMo took over was badly depleted in both talent and depth across a number of positions. On top of that, a good handful of the returning players who had upside never developed and left after JoeMo’s first year. On the bright side, other teams across the MAC are losing starters and all-conference players as well, which could lead to 2026 being wide open again.

Yet another one developed by Coach JRod who had few to no offers coming out of high school, now heading out the door to get paid. What really stings about losing Morris is his ability to adequately play anywhere on the OL when needed.

This might be BGs year

Concord's?

UMASS opens their first conference game with a 10 point loss to Kent State. OU down by 15 mid-way through the 2nd to BG. Have to think this might be Boals’ last season with the program if it keeps trending this way.

Watching Halligan last night and he reminds me a lot of Brian Walsh. Similar game and almost identical size. I like what his size brings to our rotations.

It's better than Gunsmoke reruns.

The Zips get a 10 days Christmas break before Concord comes to the JAR on December 29th. Concord currently stands at 6-3, playing a bunch of teams that belong on Captain’s list of teams he’s never heard of, including Frostburg State. In the confusing geography department, they’ve also played California of Indiana and Indiana of Pennsylvania. Kraig Gilbert, a 6’8” sophomore forward leads the Grapes in scoring at 19.2 ppg. 6’8” junior forward Boubacar Djigo averages a whopping 14.2 rpg to go along with 14.2 ppg. He played for Lutheran West in high school.

In grand scheme it doesn't really matter. We play them in a week. If we win they will no longer receive votes.

BuT tHeY'rE uNdEfEaTeD (With one of the worst SOS in the country)

Can't look past this one.

Merry Christmas. I'll take the first ever NCAA Tourney win, if Santa is still listening.

bivens is definitely a walk on. i didn't realize u were not listing them. got it.

Working on buying an 1860s Abner Doubleday CDV and I was reading into the backstory behind the lore. Did not realize the rumor of him being the founder of baseball started with an article in the Akron Beacon Journal in 1905.

Congratulations to Mitch Budler and Stefan Dobrijevic They are both included in top drawer soccer's top 100 player list (soph to senior) Mitch was 26 on their list. Stefan was number 36 on their list. https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-national-top-100/men

https://gozips.com/news/2025/12/21/womens-basketball-akron-earns-94-68-victory-past-le-moyne

Yes, I would imagine since they're hosting the next round they will be the favorites in most of these matchups.

Yes, this was coming but I hate to see that it is finally here. However this occurrence reminds me of the exceptional ability Joe and his staff have in uncovering and developing talent. When I see that we are in a serious rebuild again I take heart in the fact that we are in the same boat as other G5's and that we have a staff that can get us to a competitive level. Joe deserves credit for that. Even when I know Joe will have his annual unbelievable game losing decisions I still feel he will find a way to put a team out there that I can support. For that I thank him and the staff. Now about those decisions.....

Just keeps getting better and better for Michigan. 👍

While it is true the Zips have been 'clean' many years now. Let's be careful throwing stones. Even Groce - at Ohio, Illinois and early here - has his skeletons. I believe this rivalry can stand pretty tall, especially on the basketball side, without a running morality play. Let the past stay in the past. And let's enjoy what looks at this point like two (maybe 3) monster rivalry games that highlight the season. Just my opinion.

Gillespie can get the benefit of the doubt, but Kent has a track record of less than stellar character issues.

My guess is they feel there will be a solid enough base to make them competitive in 2026 with the retention of their 13–15 “quality” players, plus a decent recruiting class. I’d think this past year was more of a learn-on-the-job experience for their HC, where he found out football at the G5 level is a bit more difficult than at FCS. I don’t know if UMass has the right guy for the job or not, but I’d love to see Akron find a way to retain most of our best players.

Always open for good scuttlebutt: ... Went searching on the internet and chat-rooms and couldn't find anything - even a hint - about this or something like it. I checked KSU roster from last season and they did lose two guys, including the freshman kid from Akron. The other loss was a portal kid who started early, but was deep on the bench when he 'got hurt' during MAC play, then signed with a pro team in Brazil. He was injury prone before getting to Kent (never played a full season) so don't know how to read that one. Like above, willing to give the kid benefit of the doubt at this point.

Dang. Looks like we’ll be moving forward with a completely new starting 5..

I watched the NFL games today instead of the bowl games. I'm not sure what the powers that be hope to achieve by expanding the playoffs. Unless you're a fan of the teams playing, who is going to watch JMU-Oregon over Packers-Bears? The more they try to expand the playoffs, the more games that will overlap with NFL time slots.

It looks like there are several teams in the MAC with decent post players: Akron, Buffalo, EMU, Kent, Toledo, Miami and maybe one more I'm missing. At some point all of them will have a game where the whistle finds them early and they are sent to the bench. It will be interesting to see how the whistle blows against all these guys as the season wears on. Lyles-Gillespie should be a classic. Frankly, I hope the officials let those two guys officiate themselves. It should be a classic.

Thats a grown man game. Have to give Pinkie credit in one area - he tends to always have a flat out baller on his team.

Iona beat Vermont at Vermont! That’s impressive

Still a lot of MAC games to go. Based on MAC history, if UMass is indeed a top tier MAC team, a road win there will carry some weight in the standings down the stretch. Don't think Zips have to worry about that, and Kent already has come out of Amherst standing, but until the likes of Miami, Toledo, Buffalo or any other MAC contender walks out of there standing I'll take UMass at home most nights. As for Boals and TK ... still too early to write either of them off. Expect both to be above .500 on the season, albeit barely. The hot seat turns up next season, when their roster management/adjustment will be exposed as they try to improve. Also. If BG builds up a head of steam, they could be a darkhorse in this race by the end of January. Just my opinion.

Player autographs are available postgame

Bump for updates and a few notes. - EMU signed the largest class in the first signing period, with many of the signees being freshmen. - Toledo has lost nearly half their freshmen signees due to the coaching change. I don’t think that matters much anymore with the portal having become the more relevant recruiting source, but I thought it was worth mentioning anyway. - Supposedly, UMASS has used their NIL funds towards retention of 15 players, and 13 of them have indicated they will stay at UMASS. - I’ll continue to update this thread as I see more activity.

Its so interesting, this team has been so consistently good (at least on offense), people hardly ever talk about Tavari who could be MAC POY. The players that get the most posts are probably Barre and Halligan. We know what to expect from these established guys and they perform every night, its great

I was listening to the game while driving which can be distracting enough. Reading and responding to Zips Nation wasn’t prudent. But I don’t know what everyone else’s excuse is, shame!! Ha!! Great effort and response to the defensive challenge. Keep it going. Go Zips!!

I for one would be thrilled if the Zips are in a bowl game next year, regardless of where or who the competition is I will be excited....

Back with Minnesota