72 Roo

Against UAB the Special Teams did not show up and the defense showed up for only one half. That's disturbing, but I see three incidents in the game that are more troubling. First, with the Zips driving at the three and the two minute timeout coming up the offense is clearly waiting for the timeout to plot their next plays. Yet at 2:02 the center snaps the ball. Finley was surprised and barely covered the snap. A probable touchdown was lost. A field goal resulted. The lost points were the difference in the final score. Who was in control? Who was communicating?Who was listening? Second, Durham took the bait when a UAB O-lineman pulled him down after the whistle. Durham responded with a forearm shivers to the UAB player's chin. Right in front of a ref. We were hit with a personal foul and the drive, that may have been stopped, was renewed. On the sideline after the play Joe high-fived Durham, put his arm around him and joked. Where was the accountability? Finally, after a failed second half drive Joe tried to talk with a frustrated Finley. Joe walked after Finley talking while Finley walked away, never turning to his head coach. It took an assistant coach to turn Finley around to face Joe. An argument followed. Where is the respect for the head guy? Do these guys even believe in Joe? Joe may be an offensive genius, but there is not much evidence he is a capable head coach.

Thanks for providing these charts Catdaddy. I find them very interesting. Like you said they are as objective as you can get in this day and age. It I'll be fun to compare them as the season goes on. While I feel we had a dismal start, there are many more games ahead of us and many more chances to develop this team. As I look at it we will be as good as Finley goes. So far we are lousy.

Tonight was a fun night for Akron soccer. The OSU Buckeyes were a good opponent, but not a great one. We were the better team. Nonetheless I hope we continue playing them and build a rivalry. What struck me about the Zips was that, despite not playing our best, we got better tonight. We found we have good depth and the staff came closer to finding who are the players who need to be on the field in crunch time. Remember this season saw 8 players needed to be replaced. The coaches deserve credit for finding the players, building chemistry and continuing the Akron style of play. That is what brings players to Akron despite offers of NIL money that has been in the $30,000 range. This is a team to enjoy.

More thoughts: By the end of the first quarter everyone in the stadium knew Finley didn't have it. Why stick with him? When Johnson came in for the obvious running play the Zips still got the yards they needed. Let him stay in or go to Roggow. That gives us a chance. Finley doesn't give us any. The win is most important. How you get it is not. In the second half my buddy and I started watching Finley as the offense came off the field. Only once did a coach talk to him and it wasn't Joe. For an offensive genius Joe never said a word to his QB. Finley was alone. Only Johnson came over next to him and seemed to try to pump him up. If the guy is having a bad day help him. Coach him up. Nothing was done. Is Joe mailing it in? Finley on the other hand did not pump up his teammates. He sat and stewed. The only emotion we saw was when he attacked a Gatorade water cooler with his helmut. It was Johnson who came over and picked the cooler up and put it back where it belonged. Johnson seems to be a high character kid.

It is so exciting to be talking about marginal rates 2 days before one of the most interesting and competitive football opening games. I'm pumped! Damn the fact that this is a sports forum. Bring on more economics. It is more relevant and exciting. Who cares if we have a legitimate chance to be bowl eligible, providing Goodrich can get the NCAA to rescind its ban. I bet Moorhead is glued to this conversation. I know I am.

Thanks for the update Captain. This was like water in the desert for fans craving something about football. I believe this team will be improved and capable of playing good football. Still I do not have confidence we can go better than 5-7. We are on the right road to recovery if we stick to a long term vision.

Where did he go?

How did this go? I was in town for meetings and hoped to stop by, but The meetings went too long. Were there a lot of Zips there? Any thoughts offered on all the fall sports?

Seems like a great person. Welcome to Akron. I'm eager to see him on the field.

It's safe to say there is more to this story. I love the recruit, but I don't buy that we out-recruited the big boys. I would love to learn the real story behind this. The second thing I would love to answer is how long he will stay at UA if he is successful. We are, and will be, a stepping stone to greener pastures. I'll enjoy him while we have him.

I agree. There are still a significant groups of football supporters who are thirsting for any news on the program and the upcoming season. Too bad we can't get any information.

The logical next move is for Memphis to leave the AAC for the MAC. Remember you heard it here first. They have been dying to get on UMASS's schedule. The Sunbelt has nothing on the MAC.

I hope they can assist in helping him find a good Big, much like every other school needs.

Typical solution article on problems facing college sports i.e. fixit for the P4 and no mention of the G5 whatsoever.

Love it!