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The entire B1G comes into NEO to raid talent mostly leaving MAC teams to sort through the scraps to find the diamonds in the rough. What I feel is key if Akron ever hopes to get to the level that you are proposing is that we need to convince 18 year old kids that Akron provides them a better opportunity than a 2nd or 3rd tier B1G school (Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, etc.) I know many on here don't like OSU, but I feel that is a relationship that we should keep strong. Frankly whoever is the 2nd or 3rd string player at OSU, they are most likely better than anyone Akron has starting at said position. Whenever Urban Meyer comes a crossed a player that is frustrated that he can't break thru to being an every down player and wants to transfer, it is best he refers them to Akron.

Is it just me, or is Terry Bowden beginning to take a page out of the Howard Schnellenberger (Miami) book? Looks like TB is recruiting "The state of Akron". While Akron is not South Florida, by any means, you can make an argument that Summit County football is No. 3 in Ohio behind Cuyahoga and Hamilton (though Franklin and Montgomery are also very good). Regardless, it's an area you can build a program by keeping kids home. Plus, Schnellenberger's "State of Miami" was the three county SE Florida area (Dade, Broward, Palm Beach). A "State of Akron," of Summit, Cuyahoga and Stark is a top 10 (maybe top 5 region in the US for HS football). After locking up home talent, Schnellenberger focused on the rest of Florida. Bowden can do the same in Ohio and (nearby) WPa. Plus, Bowden will continue to get Florida kids with his ties to that state. The one area Bowden can't be like Schnellenberger is, after locking down the home front, trying to pluck some elite national recruits out of HS. But by using transfers, Bowden can (as we've seen) get kids who started off as national level recruits. ... Whether they are from NE Ohio or OOS. It may still take 2-3 more winning seasons to make Akron the MAC school of choice for kids in Cuyahoga and Stark. But the tide is turning in Summit. If he can continue the momentum, don't see any reason the Zips won't be in the mix for nearly any kid from the "State of Akron," and at least beating out fellow MAC schools and even the lower P5 schools for local recruits. While Schnellenberger's "State of Miami" approach turned Miami into a national power, a "State of Akron" (unless the Zips ever start beating out OSU, Michigan and ND for kids) won't have the same type of effect. But still should turn the Zips into a top 40 or so program, with top 25 aspirations on "up" years. I guess closer to home, we saw Mark Dantonio/Brian Kelly/Butch Jones do something similar at Cincinnati. Not only do I think something similar is fully attainable here, but think Akron has an even higher upside in 2016 than UC had in 2003 (when Dantonio took over). Overall, really love where this program is heading. If the athletic department stays the course (and can find ways to eat some short term losses financially), I definitely see a long-term payoff. Consistently winning with a bunch of hometown talent will draw bigger crowds. Winning and bigger crowds probably still never means P5 status, but with the huge TV market UA sits in the middle of, would ensure that Akron, worst case, is in the next tier (and I believe within the next 10 years there will be a P4 and a G1). Since there is a college football market outside of the P4, you better at least get in that next group, which will consist of teams that have winning traditions or are located in big markets. Continue to win and Akron can check of "yes" on both criteria. Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I like the direction this ship is going (along with pretty much every other men's program on campus). ... 2014 and 2016 Reese Cup winner (best men's AD in the MAC) and Akron will lead the MAC in the Director's Cup standings for at least the third (maybe fourth) year in a row. ... Really in Director's Cup, only two programs in the MAC over the last 10 years have consistently sniffed the top 100 ... Akron and, unfortunately, Kent. But that shows the upside the NEO market has if one of the schools can get out of the other's shadow. And sorry Kent, Akron is light years ahead in future potential.

And I have no idea why. He finished 3rd in the conference in INT/game and 7th in passes defended/game. According to Pro Football Focus, before the bowl season he had the third-highest coverage grade among CBs in the entire nation, and the highest among players outside the Power 5.

http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2016/06/caleb_porter_relishing_chance.html quotes from Ben, Zarek and Caleb

The Zips are currently at thirteen scholarships. There is one preferred walk-on. So far as I know <insert disclaimer here> Jordan Davis needs to pass two courses before he can apply to the university. I spoke with Isaiah Williams today. He plans to enroll second Summer semester. We want this level headed kid. He gets "it" about schooling. What an athlete. Both Creighton and Gonzaga are signed contracts.

I thought the team that blows was Western Michigan.