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I’ve been quiet on the board recently while I finished my (2 month) deck project, but I’ve been keeping an eye on the ebb and flow of fan reactions (and processing my own). We have been to every game so far this season - Including the lightning-cancelled Nebraska kerfuffle. I’ve read and agree with a lot of the statements of HOPE - hoping our defense was good enough to keep us in games while the new faces on offense could get in sync; hoping that our recruiting classes would start to pay dividends in better depth when injuries arose; hoping that the Zips could put it together and have that magical season. And this season has already had several highs and lows. The defense is even better than anticipated and the offense appears to need more work to get in sync than initially imagined. Add injuries into the equation and it’s a brutal reminder that a football season can be as much about attrition as it is about the X’s and O’s. Early in the year, I shared the belief that our offense would eventually be better than last year because I felt like, while the new faces were inexperienced, the new parts appeared to be talented and potentially more dynamic as a group. Last year we lived and died by the deep ball and the big play and we lived more often than died (at least in conference play). I felt like this season we were a more well rounded group (they all had different skill sets) that would be better able to attack opposing defenses in ways we couldn’t last year. While we have lived and died by the big play (even though we’ve seen far fewer than last year), I still feel like we are better equipped to have offensive diversity and not rely on the deep ball to bail us out. I have seen glimpses here and there, but they still haven’t quite put it all together - as evidenced by our last place “Points For” ranking in the conference. AR has been through a similar situation in his high school career where they transformed to a truly diverse and complex offense that was hard to defend. It can happen - it takes some risk and there are some lumps, it requires trust from coaches and openness to collaboration - but it can pay off! We were also at several Spring and Fall scrimmages and, not that it was my personal preference, I could get my head around why the coaches started KN1 - he helped the team get to the MACC game last season, he’s shown potential and ability, and they rightfully expected that a young QB with half a season under his belt would get better with more live game reps. The first scrimmage in the Fall that KN1 was “benched” by TB for getting into a skirmish with teammates was a watershed moment for a few reasons. AR got his first reps with the 1s, and he stepped up in the scrimmage and showed that he could lead this team (went 10-14, 71%, 177 yards 3 Tds) - it was after this scrimmage that TB stated AR was “pushing” KN1 and we had a real QB competition on our hands. As we all know, game reps are king to the development of any player - and particularly at the quarterback position. The Morgan State game was the first live game reps AR had in two years. He threw a pick in that game which was a good decision, as far as where to go with the ball, but was under thrown allowing the safety to get over to the ball. In the Miami game, for the read option - RB and QB aren’t on the same page as far as whose taking/giving the ball. It wasn’t a deal breaker because it was in mop-up duty but just goes to show with every QB, you have to allow for time to acclimate. I’m not sure what’s in store over the remainder of the season and whether they will give AR a shot to play with the ones, get game-week prep in line with being the starter going into the game, etc. AR does bring a set of skills which helps an offense’s overall efficiency - the pace and rhythm with which an offense operates when he’s under center can be a difference maker. And even though he may not be perceived as “explosive” - he can be an effective runner, as TB has said. KN1 has demonstrated some nice things this year. However, I think he sometimes tries to protect the ball too much and it becomes a detriment. It appears that he mitigates the risk he sees on the field by pulling the ball down and running. I’d imagine the coaching staff has made it very clear they want the QB to take care of the ball and I think sometimes KN1 looks at a play and says, “don’t like it”, pulls the ball down and tries to get what he can with his legs. This “indecision” can manifest as him holding the ball too long (which I see as a common complaint) but I think it’s more about him trusting his legs more than his reads. However, today I saw something I haven’t seen a lot of. On one play KN1 kept his eyes down field instead of running. He climbed the pocket, and hit his guy over the middle of the field. So there’s room for both young QBs to grow and that’s the challenge: finding the guy that can make the plays that are there to be made. You’re going to take your lumps with both young QBs - all QBs to be honest. I watch a lot of QBs and even Rodgers throws some head scratchers from time to time. It’s the nature of the beast. I think coaching is mostly about risk mitigation. Most coaches are conservative to a fault realizing that a lot of games come down to who make less mistakes - as evidenced by the W/L ratio of teams winning the turnover battle. I would like to see the offense run more route concepts with a primary read to the middle of the field, running clear outs help the receiver get open - especially against cover 2. This has been effective - KN1 hit Dre on that type of concept a couple times today. I will continue to hope that our offense will find a way to gel, even though that may not prove out in the overall record, MACC or bowl game appearances. TL;DR: Offense is young. They will make mistakes but also grow. Go ZIPS! Fear the Roo!

1. I love having the wagon wheel, but four straight wins over one of the worst teams in Div 1 would mean nothing if it wasn't Kent, we have just been extremely lucky that our rival has been abysmal for a while now. 2. Like you said, our team last year had no business being in the MAC title, I still don't understand how it happened. 3. That best record in our history is still only 7 regular season wins, that is a let down year for many programs. 4. As for the bowl win and BIG win, I am not a believer that a single victory should factor into a coaches resume too much. I can point out just as many losses in Bowden's regime that shouldn't have happened. I have seen many people here post their appreciation for Bowden bringing our program out of the gutter, but doubt that he can lead us to the next level. That is exactly where I am. I do not understand how you could possibly look at the Zips offense this season and think they are even adequately coached. If you want to say that the failures are due to youth and inexperience, then that is the coaching staffs fault as well. It is their responsibility to make sure that they have players that are ready to play. I was not happy with three straight 1-11 seasons, but that does not mean that I should now be happy with constant 5-7 win seasons. The problem with increasing the quality of a program is that expectations rise right along with it.

Gone from an 1-11 team to winning the Wagon Wheel 4 years in a row, a MAC East title with a team that shouldn't have made it in the midst of a QB controversy, and 3 bowl appearances, including a bowl win, best record since moving to Div 1A, and beating aquality B10 team for the first time, ever... The people who think Bowden's job is on the line are simply out of touch with reality.

Imagine how good we would be with an actual offense... This defense is fantastic. They have to go away from Kato. I have no idea what the justification is behind playing him over Ramart. On top of that, Milwee does a great job of magnifying Kato's flaws with atrocious play calls, including down-the-sideline throws that require pinpoint accuracy, which Kato doesn't have. Why we don't throw over the middle more is beyond me. I'm with a previous poster - Bowden either gets rid of Milwee, or they go together.

Milwee is pathetic

Did the folks at Cedarville get around to asking you to sign a paper stating that you believed the Earth is only a few thousand years old?

There is truth to your statement, but having to hold on to beat two MAC teams that are terrible (no wins against FBS teams) does not inspire confidence. That 2nd half yesterday was brutal and common for this program. Bowden did take over the worst program in the country and he has dramatically improved it. My issue is that we routinely have games where we have no chance of competing with the opponent. Getting housed by a one win Miami team and being totally out classed by Buffalo point out why ZipsNation is getting upset. I am not saying fire Bowden, but some changes have to be made or we are always going to be in the 5-7 win area. Be honest, if Kent and CMU were not two of the WORST teams in NCAA football where would we be today? I am glad we are winning the Wagon Wheel year after year, but do you know how many DI wins Kent has in the past 4 seasons? Five. It is clear that Milwee needs to go. Also, if anyone can explain why a school in NEO with the best facilities in the MAC cannot recruit enough solid o-linemen so that we can have a running game, please do so? Go Zips!

We better not. Milwee spent a lot of time getting several of the offensive players into the histrionics program when they had trouble selecting a major on their own.

I love that the Zips have a connection to every team in the USL semifinals. https://www.uslsoccer.com/playoffs NYRBII - Niko De Vera Louisville City - Morgan Hackworth’s dad, John, is Head Coach Phoenix Rising - Blair Gavin, assistant coach; Saad Abdul-Salaam (on loan from NYCFC) Orange County SC - Aodhan Quinn

You were half right.

Aodhan Quinn with the game winning goal last night in the playoffs https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/963165

https://www.siuecougars.com/sports/m-soccer/2018-19/releases/20181027yloosi Akron goalkeeper Ben Lundt made six saves including several acrobatic stops. SIUE senior TC Hull had the best attempt of the night for the Cougars unloading a right-footed bending shot from near the top of the 18-yard box, which Lundt was forced to push over the bar. "Their keeper was phenomenal tonight," SIU-E coach Sanchez said. "He was a difference maker."

https://gozips.com/news/2018/10/27/mens-soccer-egbos-game-winner-highlights-akrons-1-0-win-at-siu-edwardsville.aspx "Tonight was a great result for us," Akron head coach Jared Embick commented. "We stuck together as a team and fought until the end. We have to stay focused on ourselves and make sure we continue to work to improve this week as we have a big match next Saturday." The win elevated Akron to four points in the league standings and positioned the Zips with a potential victory past Western Michigan at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on Saturday, Nov. 3, to earn a top-two seed at the upcoming MAC Tournament to be hosted by West Virginia on Nov. 9-11. Akron needs a full three points against the Broncos coupled with a road victory or tie from SIU Edwardsville at Bowling Green to earn the bye.

"Larry Williams has to make a move. Insist Bowden make a move at OC. If not, I suppose we’ve gotta clean house (which I don’t really want to do). This product is not worth spending $$ to watch." "This is a ridiculous comment." Why is it ridiculous to state the obvious? We do not play good football! This team has no discipline. Look at the penalties especially the player control ones. Kato is stupid and runs to the other team's sideline so he negates their unsportsmanlike penalty. Brady bumps a ref and is tossed. Petersen is good for penalties every game. The OLine sucks and has done so for years. Council being out is no excuse. We are always bad on the line. The coaching is pathetic. Milwee is in over his head and Bowden won't make a change. We do not play well yet alone win against the better teams in the MAC. Our record is horrible against MAC teams with winning records. I totally reject the philosophy that says if you win you are doing OK. You can not build a program, nor a following, on that because the better teams will beat you when you have been used to winning ugly, like today. Remember Toledo and FAU at the end of last season. We should, and must, expect more than winning ugly and our program should be better.

'Turf' fields suck.

Actually Central Michigan has a very good pass defense - coming into this game the Chips ranked third in the nation in pass defense. In addition, Central Michigan's total defense (#40) was ranked better than Akron's total defense (#55) before this game.

Terry Bowden after the game was asked what he thought of his team’s offensive execution. He responded that he was in favor of it. Did anyone see what Walter Brady did to get ejected? The referee said he had an unsportsmanlike then another for hitting the ref. JK about the Bowden remark.

Lako had 23 tackles, today.

This is a ridiculous comment.

Nope. Just been from the area my entire life.

Two more wins and off to a bowl game!! Exciting times for Zips football!