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The anti-directional invitational.

So last night on the CMU broadcast the announcers referred to the Zips as the "Class of the MAC". So I wondered how true that was so I went back and looked up the stats (I am retiring in two more days so I have the time at work 😂). So I did a spreadsheet over the last ten years not counting this year (I didn't want to cherry pick and make sure I included all of Akron's titles since 2009) and these are the results: Team Avg Wins Avg Losses Regular Season Titles Tournament Titles Winning Seasons Buffalo 11.9 5.6 2.33 4 9 Akron 11.5 6.1 4.5 1 (also first seed when the tournament was vacated) 7 Toledo 10.8 6.9 1.5 0 6 Kent 9.9 7.7 0.33 1 (bastards 😂) 7 Ohio 9.3 7.9 0.5 2 (double bastards 😄) 6 BGSU 8.6 9.0 0 0 (since 1968) 5 EMU 7.9 9.3 0 0 3 WMU 7.9 9.5 0.5 1 4 Ball St 7.4 10.1 0 0 4 CMU 6.7 10.7 0.33 0 3 NIU 6.5 10.7 0 0 1 Miami 6.3 11.2 0 0 1 Kind of shocking to me that Miami is worse than everyone in the west. Their sole winning season was last year at 9-8. A lot of the West teams winning season are like 10-8, 11-7 records. And without the NCCA success Ohio is sort of a middling MAC team (but sadly I do expect that is changing under Boals). But from all of this its clear to me that the class of the MAC over the past decade has been Buffalo. Their one losing season was 7-9 a decade ago. With that and their NCAA tournament success I think it's pretty clear they have been the #1 team. If we sneak it back three more years and grab two more of the Zips tournament titles then maybe we have an argument. :-)

Mumpfield was a freshman last year. Maybe this kid makes a similar year #1 impact? The opportunity for playing time will certainly be there. When you bring in one of the best skill position players from one of the best high school teams in the south, you’re allowed to get a little excited. Every great player was a freshman once. 🦘💪🏽

During an awful stretch in the game last night, one of the announcers made a comment to the effect that the MAC had so much talent that it was a shame the MAC is a one bid NCAA tourney conference. I actually said out loud "what game are you watching?"

And don't forget, we think we may still have a mystery 4-star commit out there! 🙏🤞🙏🤞

I haven't heard anything yet. Hopefully they do. To me it's like being a kid on Christmas morning.

The colors need to be the colors they are now, although I have to admit I did kind of like the gold chrome football helmets that were worn for a couple of games under Bowden. I thought that look would draw some more eyes to the program. I am not a fan of script Akron because not only does it seem to plain but being from central part of the state I see this script Ohio stuff all the time and I want my alma mater to be more unique. As far as the Z logo goes, it is OK and certainly is unique to us. I guess I am just a little old school in one way though. I have always liked the idea of representing Akron or the mascot more than just the nickname.... for example, if a team name is the Canton Leopards I could see a letter C or a Leopard logo but really am not in favor of the logo being the letter L. The thing I liked about the A-Roo most was it used the school name letter to create the mascot image. I thought that was both creative and unique to us while also maintaining my old school ideals without being too outdated. I am good with the Z though, just count me as not a script Akron fan. Biggest thing to me is keep the traditional Akron colors and font.

Like most fans, I saw a lot of potential in Irons. Great size, speed, arm strength and accuracy. Ball security was his kryptonite, and you'd like to think Joe will address that. That said, I'd be shocked if we went into next season with only the three incumbent QB's. There HAS to be a P5, 5th year QB transfer waiting in the Signing Day wings.

Because our incumbent OL is so dominant?

If...IF...IF (I refuse to get my hopes too high) these are the 3 OL we've gotten recent verbals from, here are the schools JoeMo & Co. beat for their services: Tyler Williams, Alpharetta, GA: Arkansas State Alcorn State UMass Miami (FL) Temple Toledo Tulane Alabama A&M Keylen Davis, Indianapolis, IN: Ball State Boston College Cincinnati Indiana Kentucky Miami (OH) Purdue Toledo West Virginia Ka'Marii Landers, Dearborn, MI: Kentucky Michigan State Buffalo Cincinnati Indiana KSUcks Michigan Nebraska Oregon Toledo West Virginia A lot can happen between now & receiving a signed LOI on February 2nd, so, until then it's only speculative. But if these are the three, then wow.

Ali just about cost us there chucking the ball after the travel.

There it is!

We said the same about Tribble guarding Insincere Carry & were left disappointed in the coaches’ seeming lack of defensive game plan and/or in-game adjustments. Still a little salty at Groce & Co. over that.

ABT- anybody but Trimble.

Curious as to who they stick on Rollins. I know I'd like it to be Tribble.

We absolutely cannot afford one of our patent slow starts. If we don't come out hitting on all cylinders Toledo's gonna run away with this thing early. We don't have a prayer if we get an ice-cold Trimble. If Trimble comes out cold against UT, should we consider bringing him off the bench? Start Dawson?

Toledo has had 4 stars sign in the past. Nick Rossi was a 4 star LB that we signed because we were going to give him a chance at RB. After he signed the recruiting sites changed his star rating to 2.

That's like compromising, and taking arsenic over cyanide. Fun old video, though. I'm sure I was there. 🍻

@kreed5120 good point on Miami. Had they been playing west teams twice a year back then I'm sure their record would have been much better. So just for fun I went back just for Akron and Buffalo another five years and it does tilt toward Akron but only if you go the full five. Another three gives Akron 2 tournament titles and the Bulls 1/2 of a regular season title but they are neck and neck in wins and losses. Adding the two more years at Akron 11-5 and 13-3 and Buffalo 3-13 and 4-12 does tilt the scale more heavily toward Akron. So lets go with Class of the <whatever> means you have to go back 15 years 😄

Yeah, except for Brimfield Northern Elementary..

Partial agreement here. MAC schedule can't come soon enough. Getting through 3 payday games is still likely to be painful.

We had another bad rebounding game against CMU. If we allow Toledo 16 offensive boards, like we allowed CMU, we will lose by double figures. Toledo is too good of an offensive team. We need to limit them to 1 shot opportunity per possession otherwise they will make us pay.

I have been saying the same for weeks, let's get another OL transfer to compliment Banes. We do have some good young offensive lineman that have some experience. If we add the freshman listed here and add another transfer, we will be in good shape on the OL in 22 and going forward. Now, we need a transfer QB. I do not believe Irons is the man. Then, a couple of frosh LB's and two additional frosh DL men and give them a year to get acclimated to FBS, and we will be in good shape going forward. Looking forward to rebuttals. In Joe We Trust!!!

Even if they decide to come to Akron it's highly unlikely that they will have any impact or even see the field for a couple of years.

Actual D1 beef on the line. This is going to be quite the turnaround story.

I hope you aren't implying that the hall monitor is too stupid to grasp cerebral humor. I for one have come to appreciate his well-thought out postings on Zipsnation. His insights have ranged from criticizing posters who posted comments that were not supportive enough of Zips football to applying the laser-focus of an outsider to the poor organization of the current staff and how it was preventing them from locking up commits because there was no way for prospects to contact them. All members of Zipsnation are urged to be more supportive of the hall monitor. In my mind he can do no wrong. .

Zipmeister may be under your skin only because he employs very cerebral humor to get his point across. He is no fool. Compared to Arth he loves this staff. He probably did watch Leave it to Beaver and by no means is he a youngin. Now if you are the Ward from Ward and June Cleaver fame you may find you have a lot in common with the Meister.

So assuming nothing has changed, we have OL from Detroit and Indy, and an unknown from Atlanta we are waiting on announcements from. Let’s go!

Have to imagine this is Indianapolis OL Keylen Davis.

Welcome Levi Stephens! How old were you when you attended first Zips ID Camp? ZipsNation already loves Levi!

A win is a win. Thank goodness Directional Michigan victories aren't .5 in the W column.

Ali has been so much better when he attacks the rim from the sides. That scoop shot has been gold for him the last few games. We need him to score when Trimble is cold. Freeman has been amazing on defense. He is so quick for a big.

It just doesn't feel like an ESPN+ Zips game without John Johnson and Blue Bangs trying to sell me a Toyota.

Maybe tell them it's the start of the second half. 😁

What is with the "give him a chance Coach" guy? What the hell is he talking about?

That’s my boy, Garv!

Both of those dunks by guys he was covering.

Absolutely scorching start. I'm expecting they'll be moving this to the main ESPN channel any moment

Based on his Hudl, he looks like a burner/player. Tyreek Hill was my initial comparison, and I stand by it.

In ESPN+. I like the ESPN+ scoreboard graphic that says CMU is 12-4 in the MAC and 15-8 overall.

Here we go again….

Three Star. I tried to find a 40 time, but couldn’t. Hopefully a burner out of the slot.

Me, too. I still remember my WTF? moment when Lee Owen's team ran out in the blue and yellow uniforms (although yellow was used in the basketball unis for a long time). I was always annoyed when KD's teams didn't even have a blue and gold uniform.

Huge welcome to the young man from Akron, Ohio Welcome, Levi

I'm with you man. I don't think any of these boys be the perfect fit. Let's get a real coaching staff in here that know whats what.