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“Jock Strap Full of Kryptonite” – Spin Doctors “Fall: Some InfoCision Blues” – Johnny Cash “I’m One-winning” – Santana “Redzone Paranoid” – Black Sabbath “You’re 4th and 1” – Orleans “Kickers Just Keep Getting’ Harder to Find” – Paul Revere and The Raiders “99 Problems (and the Zips ain’t solved one)” – Jay-Z “Negative Yardage Carry” – Til Tuesday “Smells Like Crushed Spirit” - Nirvana

This week's advanced box score tells the story very well once again: https://collegefootballdata.com/boxscore/401416631 I wouldn't call Akron's out-gaining of Miami completely meaningless or shallow, though it is certainly not a moral victory. It is important to realize that Akron plays a successful offensive system, with a QB that can be successful in that system by using his arm and his legs. Okay, so the QB and passing game is successful. That leaves RBs and run game, defensive front stopping the run, defensive front creating pass-rush, defensive backs stopping the run at the 2nd level, and defensive backs creating havoc in the pass game. It also leaves FG kicking, punting, and kickoff/coverage. So yes, those yards matter, but everything else does too, and this program has a long way to go. After letting the game stew in my head for the last couple of days, I am coming out of it more optimistic than I did on Saturday around 4:00p. While I do agree with coach that a step back was taken Saturday, I think it was pretty much bound to happen at some point. Sure enough, it came against a good team that has been disappointing for a lot of the year. The Doctor has ordered our last few struggling opponents a prescription for a game against Akron, and they took it as directed. I agree that the defense played well and has played better lately, it just isn't a good defense by any stretch. I have a hard time putting into words what I feel about this defense. It kind of reminds me of high school hockey. In the state playoffs in Ohio, the juggernaut hockey teams play the worst teams in the state in the first rounds of the tournament. Most of the games are 10-0 mercy rules, but a few of them go down to the wire or end in crazy upsets. How do they do it? They are completely overmatched, but they decide to focus all they have on playing defense and not allowing the opponent to score at all costs. Any goals the worse team scores would be lucky or thanks to a breakaway. They expend all of their energy just keeping the opponent in front of them, and laying out to stop goals at all costs. Does that analogy make sense at all? I don't know. But when I watch Akron play defense, I see a front 7 that is capable of stopping RBs at the line at best, if not allowing 4-5 yard chunks on a good day. I see a front 7 that can get a pair of lucky sacks on a blitz that isn't picked up every once in a while, or they make the QB scramble after looking downfield for 4-5 seconds. I see a pass defense that prays for bad throws, prays for bad/simple routes, and prays that receivers don't get behind them. What does that all mean? This defense doesn't make plays, at least not many. Teams can pretty much have their way as long as they execute. Akron has had much worse defenses in the last 5 years, no doubt. But this one lacks playmakers. We will struggle or be lucky to win games without playmaking on defense. They don't force turnovers. Most of the few turnovers we've seen this year were thanks to mistakes from the other team or luck. Off the top of my head, the 2 turnovers at Liberty and the first pick at MSU are the only forced turnovers of the year. Morton had a shot against CMU, but the stripped ball went OB. Slim pickins. With that said, schematically, I don't have too big a problem with the defense. They just need better players, and hopefully the recruits & portal can make this an average MAC unit in 2023. As for the offense, I still have faith that they can somehow take one of these last 3 games. Worse teams with worse coaches (see 2021 Akron Zips) have done it, I'm hoping these guys can. One win would feel like 10 at this point. I am not great at analyzing offensive line play, but from what I saw Saturday, I must say I am in love with Kamarii Landers. That's not to say he's perfect, and he may have not have had a great game, but Akron hasn't had a true freshman offensive lineman look that good in a very long time. I wish we could fast forward to 2024 to see the other freshman join him along with a JoeMo QB in the backfield, a Sr. Alex Adams, etc. Speaking of Adams, on that first drive he definitely should have caught that ball over the top. It was a tough play, but he beat his man and DJ put it on the money. Maybe he lost it in the sun, I don't know. But that could have made the game quite a bit different. Also, the George fumble on the big catch is just icing on the Growing Pains cake. Just sucks, as one of the best plays of the day became one of the worst. Special teams are a mess. Gettman is an okay punter, he's not quite as reliable as I would like. The Miami punter was straight $ and hammered that thing downfield. I also don't understand the inability to keep the kick inbounds or kick it out of the end zone. After the last 4 years, it feels good to be disappointed and upset after an 18-point blowout. Last year, Akron lost home MAC games by 17, 35, and 38, including a road loss by 35, and you can throw in the ass-kicking at the hands of a bad Temple team at home. So Saturday pretty much continued to follow that silly Bowden mold. In year one, Akron has lost close in most games against similar competition level, with 18 being the big-loss outlier. I am still as hopeful as ever for the future, but I have pretty much come to grips with this team simply not being ready to win. They are fairly consistent, just not consistently good enough. We can still play spoiler a little bit here, and perhaps pick up a historic for the program win at NIU to close out the year. I'm disappointed with the make-up of the WIN/LOSS column, as it's been tough to have sad beers after all these games, despite many of them being close. I want at least one happy post-game beer before the end of the year. Just one! But my excitement level in Joe and the future of this program is as high as it has ever been. It's just about time to see what a full offseason and recruiting season with this staff in place can do, and that is without a doubt very exciting. Go Zips!

A home tournament match AND a first-round bye.

He was here so long, it seems like he is still here. Lol

I hate this song more than 1 wins seasons for the Zips.

I can confirm that we beat IPFW 2/3 halves that we played. We were away this weekend but cannot confirm the opponent or outcome yet. Rumor has it that it will be X-Garvin-GT2-Rique-Sammy with Trendon, Nate Johnson, Amani Lyles coming off bench. I'll try to find out who we played this weekend and deliver updates.

Bad Day: Daniel Powter The Winner Takes it All (the loser's standing small): ABBA Send in the Clowns: A Little Night Music Ship of Fools: Erasure Say a Little Prayer: Dionne Warwick Bulletproof: La Roux (for all the long-suffering fans)

Or, Gomer Pyle. https://youtu.be/7Jkkmb6jEAU

As the somber and defeated dwindling Zips fans (who look like the group below) file out next Tuesday night, this should be the soundtrack.

This is a huge deal, being that high locks a home playoff game in the tourney if we can just finish strong here!

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-men/d1/ncaa-mens-soccer-rpi #11 NCAA RPI ranking (through games of October 30, 2022)

Kato? LOL.

Hearing we scrimmaged the Alma Mater of one Ja Morant. Seems like we looked WAYYYY better than we did against IPFW and actually beat them by 3. Then played a third half with young guys and handled them again. Looking good going into SDSU

Heartbreaker - Pat Benatar The Impossible Dream - Man of La Mancha The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow - Annie (pardon the show tunes / all I got 😒)

The stats demonstrate that it is much more difficult to pass the ball inside the twenty than it is the rest of the field. The field shrinks down deep and the pass is easier to defend because there's so much less ground to cover and an additional boundary involved. That's why it's important to be able to run the ball.

De-committed from Ohio State to play here 💪💪

Lol, I'm obviously living in the past

My prediction for Mr. Ramirez - 2.5 against us.

As you all know… top 16 seeds get first round bye.

It used to be JUCO because the portal wasn’t really a thing that was used often. Now there are so many more players to choose from the portal compared to JUCO. I imagine this year there will be even more talent in the portal. If the rumblings are true, we are going to see a number of 4 and 5 star kids entering because they didn’t get what they perceived as promised their freshman year. Not to mention all the grad transfers, who the portal was originally geared towards in the first place. It really is going to turn into the Wild Wild West until some type of entity puts parameters on it. I like offering talented kids out of JUCO that could help us right now. Coaches can build relationships and find out more about them and make sure they are a good fit. From the sounds of it, they have far less time when dealing with portal players to make sure they are bringing in the right kind of guys.

I started last week's thread on Wednesday. That demonstrated the Zips fans' apathy. GoZips86 started this one on Monday. This demonstrates just wanting to get it over with! The Tuesday night lights part of the season is underway.

If the MAC were to drop men's soccer, yes, the Zips would be free to participate in another conference for that sport. The Big10 might be the best fit, as they only have 9 teams playing mens soccer. WVU played in the MAC when their conference didn't offer soccer, and waaaay back Kentucky was part of the MAC when the SEC did not offer soccer. And we are competitive with the Big10 year after year...

I think if you call the ticket office they will print tickets for you. They are doing the parking electronically if you are in one of the lots. The ticket office should be able to give you the link for that.

This is 100% the correct answer. Akron has no real running threat outside of Kato dropping back for a pass, eluding 1-2 defenders, and then taking off for some yards. The redzone efficiency will improve once we can get a run game that other teams have to respect. It puts you in more makeable down and distances, helps you on 3rd/4th and short yardage, and helps get receivers open on playaction.

Make's me so happy! So pumped to watch real athletes compete.

Up to #12 in Top Drawer Poll: https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-national-rankings/men

Truly just a great test upcoming with SDSU (KenPom 131) and us (KenPom 110). Murray State (KenPom 126) was also a great test, feels good going into the season.

"Doing It Wrong" - Drake "Ain't No Sunshine" - Bill Withers "How Do I Live" - LeAnn Rimes "Crying" - Roy Orbison "All By Myself" - Eric Carmen

And an even more appropriate for Zips football. "The Ones who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory."

Everybody Hurts- REM Just a Dream- Carrie Underwood Here Comes the Rain Again- Eurythmics Loser- Beck

Insane play by Jean Louis.

Okay, I really hate the non-stop music but if we have to have it, how about a playlist that reflects how we feel about Akron football the last 7 years and what we are seeing out on the field: “Sad Day”—The Rolling Stones “I Feel Like Dying” – Lil Wayne (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones You Can't Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones Wasted Time by The Eagles Anyone else want to add to the playlist?

that article is from April. I think we knew this. But a good reminder on a crappy day.

You are all missing the most obvious way to upgrade the MAC ............................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................New Logo.

These two issues are why I want out of the MAC. The only thing Steinbrecher is ahead of the game on is cancelling a MAC basketball tournament. At least 3 or 4 of the conference members' best sports either aren't supported by the MAC or are dying off in the MAC - Men's Hockey and Men's Soccer. Football and basketball are down, and the gameday atmospheres blow for the most part (doesn't even show well on tv). More than half the MAC doesn't carry their own weight and there's awful leadership at the top that isn't very open to adding talented schools to create a higher level of competition. Not a recipe for success as the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve and pass the MAC by. The conference still uses commercials from 10+ years ago that, at best, were shot in 720p.

I'll beat this like a dead horse, but I full-heartedly believe Guthrie is trying to get us out of the MAC. I think he wants to make Akron an attractive school to root for athletically. Football just needs to win, and that beautiful stadium should start filling up. Basketball has a winner, but needs an improved arena experience for fans. Soccer is soccer - We are Akron. We are Akron. We are Soccer Kings. Building an athletic department that goes from the MAC to say the American Athletic Conference is the type of resume builder that will land him the AD job at his Alma Mater - Syracuse.