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Kirk Herbstreit was talking about Getsy last night, and I was hoping he'd say, "Get this Al. Mike Tirico and I called the 2005 MAC Championship Game in which Luke threw the game winning touchdown with under 15 seconds left in the game."

Before tonight's game at Western Michigan, the zips were #21 in RPI .5931 percentage 49 in strength of schedule (SOS) 20 in opponent SOS before the game , WMU was #47 in RPI .5553 177 in SOS 107 in opponent SOS after the game ended, the zips jump to #15 in RPI .6125 29 in SOS 27 in opponent SOS good job, ZIPS next opponent...Bowling Green is 90 in RPI Cleveland State has a 9-1-2 record and they are currently 46 in RPI

That's a great perspective to have. The tin lining of the last 3 years is that we won't be seeing football nearly that bad anymore. On top of that, when 2020 robbed us of a shot at a MAC tournament title in basketball and the chance to be at Infocision in the fall, I come to appreciate each game more and more for the sole fact that I love Akron and I'm lucky to watch my alma mater play in one of the nicest facilities in the country for really cheap. And no matter how many beatdowns and losses we've seen at Infocision, there's still no place I'd rather be on a beautiful fall Saturday. Just imagine how it would feel if there was a nice crowd and consistent winning over MAC competition!

I agree @LoyalZIP, I prefer the later in the afternoon kickoffs. I used to not really be thrilled about 3:30, but then once I got used to it I prefer it. I will say though, tailgating before a 12pm game has a certain feeling to it. Not sure what it is, but with the crisp fall air its a delight. Anyways, I am not really "caring" about this game in a sense of getting myself worked up like I tend to do. I really want the Zips to win, and I hope they play well. However, I am going to go and try to focus on the nice football weather, and the fact that the Zips are playing right in front of me. This season is flying by, and although the win column hasn't been what any of us have wanted, I am going to focus on the good. With that, I don't have anything to report on predictions and such. I hope for a win, but am going to enjoy the live football atmosphere regardless. However, I will freak out if I see ANOTHER wide open perfect pass be dropped again. That's unacceptable and I cannot be leisure about that LOL.

Happy Gameday Eve! How does everyone feel about the noon start? I'm not really picky either way when it comes to kick times, but getting to the stadium early in the morning has always felt a little strange to me. I'm a big fan of 2:00pm, early enough to be out of there in time to get settled in to watch the late games but late enough to get a decent night of sleep AND a nice long tailgate. Anyway, I'm going back and forth on this game. I truly believe that Akron can and should be in it for 60 minutes and have a chance to win the game at the end (much like BG), but like Vegas, I'm a lot higher on CMU than I probably should be. CMU, outside of that 2018 season (again, the last FBS team that Zips fans saw Akron beat at home), has been one of the most consistently successful MAC programs over the last 25 years. Akron has only beaten them once since 2003, which was also the last time Akron won in Mt. P. (I know, not relevant this week). Even the 2005 Chips came to the Rubber Bowl with Brian Kelly and spanked the Zips. I look at this year's CMU team the same way I'm looking at Oklahoma--They can't be that bad, right? But sometimes, they are. Unfortunately, the Zips in most cases are indeed that bad. With that said, Akron looks like a Division 1 football team once again. I thought the Liberty game may have been a fluke, but after a couple MAC games now, you can see they are far more competitive and match up with the opponent physically so much more. And while the defense has been bad for much of the year, it has shown flashes of being able to make plays, and like many others I feel they're put in position to be successful more often than not, they just aren't where they need to be skill-wise. The turnover numbers are what show this the most. As I said earlier this week, turnovers aren't luck, they're about position and effort, and then making the play. KJ Martin's pick against BG was just that--he played through the play and they were able to capitalize on a rare miss by the BG QB. I'm ready to admit that Akron has a good MAC offense. With that said, it can be one dimensional. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but establishing a true rushing attack is something that will need to be done in order to consistently compete and win football games. Any good MAC team over however many years has been good because they can run the ball. Even offenses like BG in 2015 or Kent the last few years that identify as throwing teams have rushing attacks to add a dynamic that makes them essentially unstoppable*. I like Price's development so far, he seems to have gotten over the dropsies, but I would like to see the line come together to get a better push and create some holes in the middle. Maybe some option with Irons too. Either way, I am confident that the offense can move the ball. They just need to be consistent and score TDs in the red zone far more often. So, CMU has a new OC that their fans hate, lost a couple stud O-linemen, and have a QB that is good-not-great to pair with one of the best backs in the country, who hasn't gotten much going. I would love to see Akron force CMU to win through the air. Richardson is no Rourke after all. And I want to see the DBs step it up. I like the defensive front and feel they are able to stop the run, but if they fail to stuff it early, I expect a very long afternoon at Infocision. I am looking forward to the matchup on the field and the duel between the two proven head coaches, that's going to be cool thing to see! At the very least, it feels great to have a head coach that isn't obviously in over his head. I grew to resent the previous coach because he sounded like he didn't know what he was talking about, and that's exactly what it looked like on the field. That's not the case anymore, and that itself at least makes me feel better. Go Zips!

https://fb.watch/g8obzDE3fu/ Tonight’s edition of Zips Live. Coach is just a joy to listen to, even when not talking Xs and Os.

For the Zips to win: The Defense has to finally play at the line of scrimmage. Can not let CMU get a running game going that it hasn't had all season. Don't allow CMU receivers to get 'underneath' the CB's and run across the field on slants and posts. Obviously, that would cut down on some of the chunk plays that the D has been giving up. The offense has to score early. Joe has some solid RB's,use them. Don't make Irons throw the ball 40-50 times. If Irons is healthy, get him moving,options,draws. If Akron has to start chasing points again they are gonna turn the ball over. CMU defense is not giving up much. Who wins? Hell I don't know!

I guess it boils down to how this country handles guns vs how they handle weed. Obtaining a gun legally is one of the easiest processes and the fact that he was in possession of an unregistered gun, shows there's more at play here. I'd say blaming it on someone else is just an easy way to get out of it. I'd assume that the "friend" that had the gun isn't a Division 1 athlete.

YES!

Agreed. Our current Zips squad is actually pretty physical compared to most seasons historically. While we may lack a Simon Spelling or a Perry Kitchen, this current roster has players willing to mix it up. I do not think WMU was overly physical. Some Bronco teams in the past were outright thugs. NOW, this upcoming match Monday vs. BGSU will definitely not be one for the meek. There will be blood. Players, wear a mouthpiece.

Physicality has always been our Achilles' heel. During the prime of the Porter days, we would always outclass our opponents skill wise. Most close matches occurred when the opponent was more physical (i.e. blOSU). I hate that style of soccer, but it is what it is. I didn't think WMU was too physical. I actually was more annoyed with their flopping.

Think Duquesne Promotions will hold a Dae Dae Night this season?

https://coloradobuffaloeswire.usatoday.com/lists/ranking-worst-teams-college-football-cbs-sports/?itm_source=parsely-api Akron is ranked #5.

Per MSU website... High School Prepped at Pleasant Grove High School under head coach Darrell LeBeaux … Three-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports … Top-30 prospect in Alabama per ESPN (No. 29), Rivals (No. 26) and 247Sports (No. 24) … Top-45 linebacker prospect per ESPN (No. 44), Rivals (No. 26) and 247Sports (No. 30) … As a senior, helped his PGHS to a 13-3 record and a Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A state runner up finish … Totaled 134 tackles, including 34.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks … Added nine pass breakups, 21 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery … Had 13 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble against Ramsey in the third round of the playoffs … Also lettered in track and field … Committed to MSU on November 12, 2019. Joe Mo recruit.

Joel Sangwa is a man!

I'm trying to appeal to cheap middle aged men (like me!).

Akron is one of the worst teams in the country. CMU will cover and then some.

I'm surprised, with the size and maturity of the guys we brought in on the DL, that's they have been so ineffective. I thought they'd make up for the thin talent at LB and DB, but it hasn't happened. The last non-BG D1 team we beat was CMU four years ago. Hopefully another Chipps "L" can bookend our 1,400+ day trail of tears, and we're subsequently poised for back-to-back "W's" on the 22nd! Hey, I can dream... 😀