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Reading the comments after the article is ridiculous. I know Bowden isn't in the top tier of coaches, but the one guy is saying he has done nothing here. Obviously going from back to back 1-11 seasons to a bowl game is nothing to this guy.

Just a reminder - This is a thread focused on the Zips in the Idaho Potato Bowl.

About 150 loyal Zips fans in attendance here. UCSB is no cupcake.

Well, they are getting love because they are all together in their Zips FB gear...they probably aren't seen in town like that too often. However, sometimes, it takes an outside light shinning in for folks to see what they've really got going on here. I saw a tweet where a UA student described a phone conversation where his mom had excitedly reported that the Zips were going to the Potato Bowl and the kid was far less impressed. The Potato Bowl is another step in a long road to changing the culture. The influx of positive press locally and nationally helps not only the team with recruiting but the community and students to feel better about the program. The more we win, the more this will happen. I really like the tone/feel of this video that was part of the Bowl Media Guide: The best thing to do is out number the ridiculous comments with positive ones.

Sports Illustrated picks the Zips, 27-21.

It is sad that the players don't feel the love in Akron. I would be interested to know who they feel more jilted by, the fans or their fellow students? I think the fans show the players a lot of love. They don't get the love that the coaching staff gets, but they also don't take the scrutiny that the coaching staff takes, either. I know your son is a freshman and he doesn't have a frame of reference, but I wonder if we asked a senior if things improved on the love meter during his time in Akron. I know a former player that decided to transfer out for his senior year was partially due to the complete lack of respect shown to him from the student body which went as far as actually being openly mocked in the student union. Hopefully that kind of sentiment isn't around anymore.

A nice collection of practice photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1233491023331640.1073741838.145583715455715&type=3

I emailed a member of the South Point Classic staff and they said there will be a live stream and they were going to send me the link. I'll post it when he sends it over.