Leaderboard

Fearless Forecast™ - Steve French texts Joe Dunn in mid-3rd quarter. @French_fired says - "How wuz the bus trip to Buffalo? LOL. Warm here in my living room with a Christmas Ale. LOL OMG Patterson's at the 50..the 40..the 30...10...5...another touchdown Buffalo....LOL...I still got it! #are_you_kidding_me, #here_we_go_again. #Sux2BScozen. LOL"

What kind of person should NOT attend Cedarville University? Seems like... me?

My opinion - I think his detractors feel he ran a loose ship. Infractions that some coaches might deem "suspendable offenses," were sometimes overlooked. The team's GPA wasn't the best...I think Arth improved on it by almost 0.7? He brought in some kids with a troubled history. Rodney Coe was booted off Iowa State. JoJo Natson was booted from Utah State. Brian Bell had some well-publicized problems in Florida that prevented him from entering Florida State. Tommy Woodson had his scholarship offer pulled from Arizona. Woodson and Bell had suspensions while at Akron. Woodson left, and Bell ended up playing-out his eligibility. Coe had a cup of tea in the NFL, and Natson would be returning kicks for the Browns if his knee didn't give out. So high risk, high reward... Bowden had his negatives, but I feel the guy did his best to bring the best talent to UA. Culture was important to him…I know this from his post-practice speeches covering topics like race, faith and community service. He always treated me and Dr. Z well, extending us the same courtesies he would to any member of the press. Chuck Amato was a great guy. Todd Stoud (Bowden's DC) is one of the best human beings you'll ever meet in your life. There were lots of good people on his staff. So it's not fair to paint the Bowden time as some lawless "Barry Switzer - Oklahoma" era. I think he's just an old-school coach.

WRONG THREAD.

I'd personally take the approach of selling out to stop Patterson and see if Vantrease can beat you. Granted it was against BG, I liked the changes the staff made to our DB's last game. Moving Watts to the outside, starting Cochran at FS, and adding Amankwaa to the other outside spot. I'd like to see them get tested more going into next year.

I certainly don't expect a Zips win. As I said elsewhere, hope the defense plays as if it is continuing to improve and doesn't allow UB to get big plays early. At least keep the game reasonable in the first half. Might have to try to control one aspect of the UB offense and hope for the best. With the secondary being as leaky as it has been, may want to send reinforcements there and try to make Patterson carry most of the load for them. Obviously he can do that. But Akron just can't give up a lot of quick scores through the air if they want to keep it reasonable. On offense Zips MUST run. Gibson is not ready to carry the load against a team like UB. Might even go with some 2 back and extra TE on a regular basis to beef up blocking. Throw to the backs and TE's. Try to run, dink and dunk to keep the defense off the field as long as possible. A decent performance against UB even a loss, helps for next season.

I was ecstatic when UA hired Terry Bowden, but as evidenced by the product on the field: The game has evolved beyond the Bowden family. I just can't see him being successful again in D1, unless it's in the deep south as a figurehead. But even that...does the Bowden name mean much to kids just coming out of high school? Probably not.

Maybe not.

Yes, it's a culture thing. Arth weeded out those that weren't going to buy into the culture and perhaps it did cost a win or two so far in his career. But I think the foundation he is building is going to pay off more than whatever setbacks came from it.

You guys realize that when Arth arrived over 70 players were failing at least one class. Stories of players falling asleep in meetings, missing meetings, constantly tardy, missed workouts, disobedience to coaches and staff was the norm. No administration is going to allow that. Hence the complete rebuild. Give Arth 2 years he will turn it around because of the character and quality young men he is bringing in.

So how'd those 38 stumble onto the roster?

Bad news, Darlington Nagbe is out with a positive Coronavirus test. Santos tested positive as well... https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2020/12/10/columbus-crew-darlington-nagbe-pedro-santos-out-mls-cup/3890337001/?fbclid=IwAR0A_p37yo7xyejnH1bzW-3M1A_DuTysEM5JmDutvpIXD04_XJhgD9MmIj0