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Congratulations to the Columbus Crew 2 for finishing the inaugural (2022) season in first place overall (https://www.mlsnextpro.com/standings/2022/overall#season=2022&live=false) as well as the Eastern Conference (https://www.mlsnextpro.com/standings/2022/conference#season=2022&live=true) in part due to the outstanding play of Zips alum, Crew2 Captain midfielder Marco Micaletto and defenders Abdi Mohamed and Daniel Strachan as well as Zips 2023 recruit Caleb Borneo. The first round of the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, the Conference Semifinals, will take place Saturday, September 24, and Sunday, September 25, at the home of the two higher-seeded teams in each conference. https://www.mlsnextpro.com/news/first-round-schedule-set-for-2022-mls-next-pro-playoffs Saturday, September 24 Columbus Crew 2 (1) vs. Rochester New York FC (4) – Historic Crew Stadium (3:00 p.m. ET)

Winter is tracked based on Akron basketball. Once the MAC season rolls around, we know we're halfway through the 💩 weather.

It's a steal. Packs the long, cold winter with entertainment.

Do yourselves a favor....go to GoZips.com and click on the Menu tab, and pick "staff directory". Go down to "Communications and Marketing". Three people total. And rumor has it one of those three is not actually working, just sitting home collecting a check due to being let go. Go to a D2 college website and check out their Comm and Marketing staffs. Guaranteed triple that number. Or go look at any MAC school's staff, at least 8 to 10 admins, plus Grad students. Then, throw in the fact that new management at the U decided to not use PEG to produce and manage football "game day experience", you will see why there will not be "creative things to do" during the agreed-terribly long time out breaks....New Admin has been hitting home runs with coaching hires, but losing the game admininstratively, IMHO.

Penn State at 33 and Duquesne at !9 . Next 2 games are huge. Zips must get a W in both games. Cleveland State will also pose a good non league test. Cleveland State battled Ohio State to a 0-0 tie last night at Krenzler field. Sinisa has a done a great job at CSU.

Another one I can't watch, but will be listening in. Dave Skoczen is okay, but I miss Frenchy. He definitely wasn't what he used to be, but he was fun to listen to a lot of the time and told the story of the game very well. The complaining went a bit too far toward the end, but I'll forever miss listening to him call games. I haven't had the chance to watch much Liberty, so I'm thankful to a few of our posters giving a nice scouting report. With the report of the QB situation, the line has gone down a few points. The Zips are +26.5 as I write this. I look at Liberty as if they're a very good MAC team this year, perhaps the talent level of a team that's favored to win the MAC. With that said, they're in a bit of a rebuilding phase after losing a freak QB last year. And their coach, while a scumbag, is a hell of a coach. This is a very challenging game for Akron, but not impossible. While the SFU game was a near disaster, I think this will give us a better idea of what we're looking at with the Zips this year than any of the other three games. Joe said after SFU that in camp leading up to the game, he felt a sense of excitement and looseness, and once we got to September 1, he felt a cloud of anxiety over the team, and they played like it. Fortunate to get that W. Just as Liberty was fortunate to get one over So. Miss to open the season. The results the last two weeks have been extremely frustrating, so far beyond getting blown out when you know you're going to get blown out. A couple of fumbles in the red zone when moving the ball, dropped passes, dropped touchdowns, it's just been annoying. But I would much rather have that issue than overall constipation like we've seen on offense the last couple of seasons. At some point, you hope to see a breakthrough where those missed opportunities and field goals start turning into touchdowns. While I don't expect Joe to empty the playbook, I see this game as a great opportunity to show the college football world that Akron football isn't going to be what they think it is anymore. Liberty has won a lot recently, and their players know how to win. Akron's players have won just as often as they've eaten Thanksgiving dinner over the last 4 years. I don't expect to win, but I truly expect this to be a semi-competitive game. I see no reason why it shouldn't be. Here's how I will look at the results: 1. Zips get blown out and Liberty covers with ease--we've got a looooong road ahead, and will be fortunate to win another game, let alone two in MAC play 2. Zips keep it within a couple scores, and maybe even have a chance to tie in the second half--IMO, this should be the minimum expectation at this point. While I'm not expecting this to be a championship team in 2022, I'm going to hold Joe to a high standard, you can see it in his eye and hear it in his voice that he is going to get this going, and that he's not just going to bow down and accept mediocrity, even this year. While I wouldn't mind if he plays this one conservative and waits until MAC play to turn it up, I would like to think he would realize how much of a statement and how meaningful a win or competitive fight would be. 3. Back and forth game and the Zips either lose close or win close--The more this group can figure out how to win and play in close games, the better this season will turn out. It's almost a blessing that SFU went the way it did. They saw themselves pull out a close ball game where they trailed a lot of the way. And it was perhaps a bit of a wake-up call. In the previous regime, though they didn't play in many close games, when they did they would pee down their leg (Miami 2019, OU 2020, WMU 2021). I'm antsy. I'm ready to see Akron football turn the corner. It's been too damn long. I believe in you, Joe! Make us proud! Go Zips!

How big is this injury? Check out this article recapping Liberty vs Southern Miss. "What we thought was going to be the Charlie Brewer era at Liberty lasted only nine minutes. Liberty did not move the ball that well on the Golden Eagles during his time. I thought it was from poor play, but sources stated Brewer left with an apparent fracture hand. Johnathan Bennett stepped up and brought spark with the play of his legs. It reminded me a little of the Malik Willis days, but one problem for Bennett was inaccuracy. Bennett was 7/18 for 37 yards and two INT’s which everyone could tell you, that is not getting the job done. The second-string QB’s last play was a pick-six leading to a 10-17 deficit in the fourth quarter. Then out of desperation, Kaidon Salter, the third string comes into the game. Not only did his presence on the field look like he was QB1, but he won the game! He brought the Flames back from deficits of 10-17 and 17-24 in the fourth. He by far was the most accurate QB of the night throwing for 8/13 for 148 yards with two TD’s and one INT. Salter was also effective with his legs rushing for 65 yards and being the leading rusher. All of that in one quarter and 4OT periods is impressive." Also of note, Liberty gave up 252 rush yds on 54 attempts to Southern Miss. Maybe we'll finally be able to run the ball.

Zips sense there's a chance and score the 'W,' 25-19!

Thank you for repeating what I posted two days ago. I feel better knowing that you agree with me.

I believe this is year 4 of year 0 of a rebuild. I'll take Liberty minus 27. Liberty 38-7.