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Wasn't going to post this season. But... Went to the game and for 1Q I saw a good RB running behind some decent blocking by the O-line. Problem was the when Temple adjusted and shut down the running game Akron didn't or couldn't adjust. All Temple did was sit back in a 2 deep, played a 3 or 4 man front and their linebackers and corners were able to react to stop the run or clutter up the secondary. Akron couldn't pass block, receivers were running into coverage and both Kato and Irons were afraid to throw the ball. Coaching staff didn't help with some of the play calling. I don't think either Nelson or Irons are real comfortable as pocket passers. Seems that maybe if you ran some play action like the Browns do with Mayfield and get them out of the pocket they might be more effective. Defense doesn't look a lot different, still not much pressure. That could have been a nice win for a struggling program. Next week might be the only other chance this season. Gulp!

I've tried to remain objective and balanced with respect to the Zips under Arth. I was not a Bowden fan for a number of reasons and thought it was a good time for a change when Arth was hired. While the team struggled through the transition I urged patience and asked others to not pass judgment on Arth prematurely. I sat back and hoped we would see steady improvement as Arth built his vision of the program. After yesterday, I think I've seen enough. The Zips were up 14-0 with 4:26 left in the first quarter. Over the next 43 minutes in the game they gave up 45 points while scoring only three. From Arth's postgame comments he thinks the long early Temple TD demoralized the team and impacted the rest of the game. If that's true, it's not a positive reflection on the staff that a single play can have that kind of impact. Rather than a demoralized team, I saw a team with less talent and worse coaching than a bad team playing a backup freshman QB. I could come to no other conclusion than that Temple's players were bigger, stronger and faster than the Zips players. I regularly saw Zips dominated at the point of attack and players out of position. I didn't expect vast improvement. I didn't even expect a win yesterday. I just wanted them to show some heart and be competitive. It doesn't help that while I await this improvement, our rivals to the east continue to improve their program in just the manner I hoped for the Zips. I realize that it's not necessarily an accurate comparison, but John Groce came into a completely dismantled program after KD left but with him we saw signs of steady improvement. Certainly, a basketball programs can be turned around much faster than a football program but we should seeing some signs of progress and improvement on the field 33 months into Arth's tenure.

Shades of the Titanic?!

I love that analogy, LZip. Feeney is Milwee. The head coach's boy who is under qualified and isn't making any progress after a few seasons. I have a hard time believing that our defensive personnel are actually as bad as they seem. There are some great athletes out there. However, they aren't put in any position to be successful. I've never seen a zone defense that allows for so many pass catchers to be open underneath with nobody within 5-10 yards. I feel like I'm watching Rob Senderoff basketball of trying to stick a square peg in a round hole. It's not working. Make some changes. Own that you were wrong and admit it. At this point, that may be the only way to keep a shred of respect from the fan base. Akron dominated that first half outside of 3-4 plays, which just goes to show you the difference between being good and bad in this sport. Catastrophic sequences like that have plagued this program for a long time, and unfortunately much like previous coaching staffs, they lack the ability to lead and motivate. The Irons pick 6 was pathetic, why is that play in the playbook and why would you run it at that point in the game? And I get he's young, but why is he trying to make that throw? That was when I knew right there. I might as well have left. One other thing. In the second half before the game was completely out of reach, Akron was driving somewhat deep into Temple territory. On third down, Irons got rushed and took a bad sack that knocked Akron out of field goal range. I believe a TD would have made it a one-score game. After the play, Temple received a taunting penalty. Great! First and ten at the 20, right?!?! NOPE!!!!! Joey Marousek, Akron's 9th string QB with a headset, said something and ran out onto the field, making the fouls offset, giving Akron a 4th and a mile out of field goal range, leading to a turnover-on-downs. P A T H E T I C. With that said, for my own good and sanity, I'm looking forward to the win next week, as meaningless as it will be. And then we open MAC play with two seemingly similarly bad conference opponents, so I look forward to talking myself into a couple of wins there haha.

I think you're onto something with this. I noticed it some at Auburn, but was willing to give it a pass. Coincidentally, we scored on Auburn when this OL wasn't in. I noticed it again yesterday....when the play breaks down, it starts with a certain OL getting beat on the outside the majority of the time. He doesn't seem to do well pass blocking in space. As for other thoughts on the game, Feeney just might be this staff's Milwee. I don't like the 4-2-5. We have DL who can't get off blocks or put pressure on QB. Puts a lot of pressure on our LBs...and the extra DB doesn't seem to make much a difference considering QBs seem to complete passes at will on us. We apparently changed up strategy on DL by going "smaller or more athletic" this year, including bringing in a number of transfers who haven't yet made a difference. I though they should have brought in a transfer DB to upgrade the position opposite of Watts, and it still would appear to be an issue. Kelley-Powell, a Michigan transfer, hasn't made a single play since he's been here. Any time we force the offense to punt, it seems like a miracle. Temple ran a very vanilla offense yesterday. Same 2-3 running plays with a couple pass plays mixed in.

So the game was played on a Saturday in what (from a distance) appeared to be great football weather, so at least attendance must have been good, right?

Fair enough. I guess my point was simply that I liked the fundamentals analysis of what was going wrong on the field. Helps me understand. No fan of Arth here, and I understand this is our only place to vent. Lee's post was a welcome break from mine and other just shaking our heads posts.

who is JB?

That would be an epic failure. This guy has no moral compass. I don't want a D1 program if you have to bring in that kind of guy to win.

He just scored for the Steelers on a blocked punt

Gilbert just recovered a blocked punt and ran it into the endzone. Well done!

Bowden creating a buzz for his team. Man do I miss these days

I agree with the excellent comments from the Z-meister. Also, looking at the number of posts, your grandson is a freshman. If his name is Colin, please relax. He is a tough player and will get his time. His high school film shows that he is an excellent player. It is difficult for true freshman to see significant time on the field. They typically need a year to bulk up a little and gain some strength to be competitive. Also, most coaches defer to the players who have been there for a year or two if all things are equal. Also, I would ask that you think about your comments regarding a family member. A few years back, there was a dad that would make posts about what he heard from his son was going on in the locker room with the team. It became quite apparent that he was reporting issues that should stay in the locker room as well as comments about his son, who was not that good. It was not long before his son was off the roster (I do not know the reason) and there would not be any additional internal comments being posted. The playing time for your grandson will end up as it is supposed to be. I wish you well and I hope that you continue to support all of the Zips, including your grandson.

On the 'belt tightening' subject, as soon as my wife and I walk in at gate 1 what do we see? Already long lines at concession stands. As we walked by I was looking at all the concession stands that were closed. That was most of them. Pretty much long lines all thru the first half at least. The point? The athletic department seems to want to pinch pennies when it comes to customer services as others have pointed out. I heard people grumbling after having to stand in line so long. If your someone who attends games occasionally or rarely, you don't want to see people waiting in long lines to get a pretzel or a beer or whatever. That isn't a way to get people to return especially when they have to watch a bad product on the field. Oh and remember they stopped giving season ticket holders food coupons several years ago. Seems a bit of 'penny wise and pound foolish to me'.

I agree he had the most successful season in Zips Football history. Nobody is taking away from that. But since he put Milwee in charge the team sank back down to the bottom. He also owns that. 2-6 in the MAC. Great coach. Helluva guy. Would love to sit and talk with him all day. But you can’t pretend he let the program fall right back into the hole he took us out of. Comparing his last couple years to Arth doesn’t help his case all that much…

Portland's assistant coach....is pretty good https://portlandpilots.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/coaches/ben-zemanski/2067

Did any of you suffer the misfortune of hearing Arth's postgame comments with Joe Dunn. Other than a lot of old tired cliches and looking on the bright side, Arth thought that the turning point was the long jet sweep for a TD. He thought that the players lost their confidence and positive attitude as a result of that play. That tells me that you are recruiting or training the weak minded, neither of which is a good reflection on the staff. No mention of failing to use a challenge on the real momentum changer. I shut it off pretty quick as the Dunn-Arth positive "some good will come out of this" was making my stomach churn.

I'm not in favor of allowing the faculty union making athletic decisions I'm willing (generous of me right?) to give Irons a mulligan on that interception. I'm sure it won't happen again. And, well, there's no question now who will be QB. Ohio U lost to a Duquesne who I didn't know had a football team.

The staff is in over their heads every bit as much as Ianello's crew. I'll always support UA, but today was the last time I'll be spending any money on football until somebody fixes this mess. Absolutely abysmal.

And we continue to be loved for the wrong reasons After Today This Program is Dead Its over for Arth He has no business EVER being on our Sideline but Backdoor Privilege got him the job Worst Decision in this Program's History that may put us in a financial and cultural debt we may never recover from on a FBS I-A level. A Shitty Football Program who can't draw fans to a stadium they have yet to pay off.

All I expect from a coaching staff is discernible progress from year-to-year. This does not look like progress.

Wow, is this bad.. So, we get a three minute review on this catch and no review on the Kato fumble/injury. How could Arth not request a review on such a huge play?

Well that's it for me. Was fun while it lasted. A real shame. This team and stadium in jinxed. Kato on crutches. All of you who wanted DJ, your time is now

Heck of a job by Embick to get this program back to where it belongs. Watched almost the entire match on my phone at the Indians game last night. Phenomenal match. The quick answer to their goal shows where this program is competitively.

And how exactly has Arth Faired? The hatred towards Bowden by some is just...astoundingly sad. Most successful D-1 Coach Akron has had. Sad day.

I’ll throw out another thought. How much has the belt tightening affected recruiting? Coaching? It looks like they can’t even afford to keep the website up to date. Let alone improve on recruiting, etc. We’re hearing about deep cuts in education, that’s gotta have an affect on the athletics budgets.