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Coach Amoto seems like a great guy .............. He said, "I've been here before and know that these kids look to the Coach to help them through situations like today (Marshall game). Yelling and screaming does nothing to help the situation, but they can learn from the experience of getting our tails kicked with patience and teaching and that is what the take away from today is" ................ Class guy These guys are experienced and have been in the "rebuilding" phase multiple times in their careers. The feeling that they gave me is that they truly realize the time it takes to put together a competitive and consistent group of kids ........... Not to down anyone and everyone wants to win, but every single coach and all support (Strength Coach, Head Trainer) said that the main thing right now is to get a group together that knows HOW to win. What it takes in the weight room, training room as well as on the field. The all also mentioned that they feel they are beginning to turn the corner. Also mentioned the HUGE need for upper class men leadership. No one was put down or on the spot, but the topic of player leadership was touched on by all coaches that we spent time with. I honestly have a very good feeling about this team and the direction. I , obviously, have not been through the years of being down like you all, but these guys have a plan from recruiting, to strength training (new strength coach). The 2015 class will be their 3rd recruiting class so the excuse of "playing with the prior administrations recruits" is pretty much out the window. The kids that my son spent time with over two days were very vocal about the positive change in coaching staffs and that it is a night and day difference....... The AD was extremely supportive of how things are progressing ............. Now I can't imagine that any Coach or AD would tell a committed recruit that things are not on the uptick, but they all seemed to have the same message and expectation to be better than last year. Hang in there Zips fans, I believe we will see continued improvement

As a new Zips fan, I understand the need for wins quickly. The fact, in my opinion is that the true test for this team this year will be to compete right up to the final week in the MAC. In spending time with Coach Bowden, Coach Stroud and Coach Amoto (my son was on his official visit), although they were very disappointed in the game and the play on both sides of the ball. Overall the coaches were pretty at ease for just getting their butts handed to them As Coach Bowden said ......"Two steps forward and one step back with today's outcome." He made mention of the injuries but was disappointed that the guys that needed to step up Saturday didn't. Coach Amato mentioned that his defense seemed lost and that every adjustment that they made seemed to open up another hole. The coaches talked about a mix of key transfers and young recruits for 2015 with emphasis on the offensive and defensive lines along with the need to fill some senior holes at LB, CB. The key to a successful 2014 season is to compete very strong in the MAC season and even possibly take the East and play for the Championship. The first two games were promising and the game Saturday took the air out of the balloon. I believe I saw post before the season that said the expectation was to go 1-3 in the out of conference games with opportunities to pull off an upset in 1 of the 3 (Penn St, Marshall and Pitt). Everyone seemed content with the play vs Penn State and Marshall was simply a steam roller. I would think that playing Pitt tough or even pull off an upset would put most fans back in the "we are making progress" camp.

Nothing really. Just watched the highlights objectively and came to grips with the fact that we got down early to a superior team and the game was over at 14-0. It has become apparent that these Zips are not a come-from-behind ball club and that they need to get an early lead if they are going to win some ball games this year. With the difficulty in scoring, the Zips have to punch the ball in when they've got it down at the goal line. In this regard they really shot themselves in the foot vs. PSU and MU. I realize that the defense is as strong as it has ever been but this is college football and you have to score points to win. Counting on the defense to shut teams out isn't going to work. 3 points against the Nits and 3 points against the Turd up until garbage time. That ain't going to get it done. Especially because neither one of those 2 defenses put me in mind of the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers. Lots to work on. They need to get it together because the MAC East is there for the taking with some competent play.

EA also says Chisholm, Hundley and Brumbaugh will be back against Pitt.

Thanks for the positive words. I've been saying it for awhile now: But Akron's coaching staff is one of the best we could have ever imagined having here. No need to push the panic button...this team will end up 7-5. I'll stand by my prediction because I was one of very few who said we'd go 5-7 last season.

Happy to say I was at that Crew v DCU game in Cbus in which Wil ran down Espindola, took the ball to midfield and served up the perfect pass to Jiminez who scored. Celebrated that with Wil and his family in the Crew Stadium parking lot after the game. Great guy, Great player. So proud that he's a proud former Zip! Hope he and the U23's qualify for the Brazil Olympics in 2016. I would love to see him in another International match. For those headed to tOSU tomorrow night, Wil will definitely be in the stands among the Zips fans. GO ZIPS! BeatTheBuckeyes!

As long as ADs can continue to use taxpayer money to fund their stupidity, I guess forever. When you lower the price of your product to the cost of a couple of Diet Cokes, it doesn't say that much about your product. Now the price has been set. This is a school that just issued a public bond for a quarter billion dollar renovation to their press box. A great example of how out of control the spending in college athletics has gotten. It's vulgar. For those of you financially challenged, when you issue a bond, you have to pay interest on the bond. That means the press box renovation actually cost the taxpayers of Michigan more than a quarter of a billion dollars. Congratulations to Michigan.

+1 I hope we have Zips fans show up in sizable numbers. I know Wil Trapp will be there and hopefully Chad Barson, too. fixed the 2nd sentence. I hate when I make typos and don't catch them because I'm in such a hurry to post.

I come to watch the Zips regardless of the opponent. They are all interesting to me, I guess. I don't believe in the fabled "Joe Akron" who's going to show up in droves someday. . . when we start winning. . . when we start bringing in interesting opponents. I don't believe in fairy tales & pipe dreams. What I believe in is supporting the school that you attended and earned your degree from. I realize I am an oddball but that is what I believe in. Joe Akron didn't care about Indiana or Syracuse. The only people who did care were the Zips die-hards and the traveling fans from those 2 schools. The only opponent Joe Akron or the "average sports fan" as Zach puts it, is going to come out to see would be the Buckeyes, which is never happening.