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Here are a few random thoughts as we seemingly trudge into the second half of the season... The CMU game isn't a "must win." But is would be an "unbelievably a huge, uplifting win" game. Since 2018, any sort of Zips win has been followed with such a lengthy string of losses that you hardly remember it. We need a win in the worst way. Bullock is the obvious choice to finish the season. Undercuffler COULD win us a game or two...just as easily as he could throw us out them. Bullock has a chance to be the QB of the future, and this is the best opportunity for him to learn. And he does need to learn...he is far from a polished product. At least throwing the ball...running is a different story. He looks really good running the option near the goal line. And nifty when scrambling too. I'd LOVE to see him hit on a few long pass plays this week. I miss Alex Adams. He was such a difference maker last year. Drake Anderson is a good RB. But he doesn't break many tackles. I would love to see Kellom start getting some carries at Drake's expense. Like Undercuffler, Drake is a Sr and has had ample opportunity show his stuff. We're 1-5...time to get Kellom ramping up for 2024. Joe mentioned in his show that OL is the most difficult position to fill from the portal, since "everyone is looking for them, and there just aren't many out there." That why our OL discards were gobbled up by the likes of East Carolina and Liberty. If you're over 6' 2", 300 lbs, someone will take you. Losing Landers (grades) and Whigan (grad) didn't help us this year. I hope a lot of our incumbent guys stick around and get bigger/stronger for 2024. There's no guarantee anything worthwhile will magically appear in the portal. I still believe in Joe. Nothing in his past shows he won't turn this around. He can't be fired due to his contract ( I guess Kaulig could always buy it out). Guthrie would be a laughing stock if he fired such an accomplished coach only 2 seasons after undertaking The Mother of All Rebuild Projects. So he's back next year 100%. Heck...Faust and Owens got 9 years each. I knew a few guys from the Owens era. They always spoke of the frustration of the offense (who was always very effective), because the defense would be lucky to force 2 punts in any given game. "Do we have to put up 48 today to have a chance?" was a common jab at the defense by one OL. It's the opposite now. Other than a couple Irons runs, and maybe two Lingard breakaways...they've been really bad every week. No identity...no rhythm. No fun. What's the over/under on explosive plays by the Zips offense this week? I'd guess 1 or 2? In garbage time? That is the most puzzling thing about the 2023 Zips. This season has not been any fun. Ditto 2018 through 2022. A win against Kent, and either CMU or BG is the bare minimum I need to start feeling optimistic about 2024. Man, it would be nice to get a win in Mount Pleasant.

Indeed he now is. 😁

Hot damn. Perhaps most talented and deep team this season, with perhaps the most talented recruiting class on paper coming in. Situation is ripe for the program to jump up another notch.

A game this big deserves it's own early thread. The winner most likely wins the Big East Midwest division. Akron (9-0-4, ranked #3 in the country) - 2.15 Goals per game, giving up .538 (Fifth best in the country). Xavier 1.27 goals per game giving up 1.09. Only league loss to Georgetown, and also beat DePaul by three goals. Other two losses are Marshall and UT - Rio Grande Valley. Jerome Jolly is their leading goal scorer with 4. Should be a good one, but I expect no worse than a draw in this one.

I prefer to pay > double that in gasoline. lol

I'm getting amped up for this match already and it's still 2 & 1/2 days out! Go Zips!!!

Not after the small fortune I paid for FloFC.

Circumstances and a multiplicity of factors would seem to indicate a Zips loss this Saturday. Everything I know about competitive athletics points to this outcome. Should Zips sustain their first defeat, all is not lost. We would still be a good team. Akron would most likely still gain an NCAA Tournament berth. Once in the Tournament, anything can happen. A draw in this situation would be a positive result, against a quality conference foe, on their pitch, in October. However, should Zips leave Cincinnati with a victory over Xavier, Akron must be considered something more than just another good team. A win in this scenario would announce the Zips as a legitimate contender for the title. It would mean that this squad is special. "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief!" Let's Go Zips!!!

I have now seen Joey's injury dozens of times on ESPN+. It looks quite different on the recording, repeatedly in slow motion, than it did in person last night. I no longer believe the kick to Joey's head was intentional. Defender was simply trying to clear the ball from his own goal mouth. The lighting on Kenzler Field is relatively dim compared to most fields at the D1 level. Perpetrator of the kick was probably either #10 Pablo Kawecki or #11 Albert Portas. Not sure which Spaniard it was. The point is that I owe this player an apology for false accusation. I retract my vitriolic diatribe written while still hot from the match. May my sincere apology be accepted in the same spirit it is offered. A word of caution to young players: Do not attempt heading the ball while sitting on the ground, especially not in your opponents’ 6-yard box.

I’m a season ticket holder. Can I find his update posts somewhere?

I record it on Ballys. It is Must See TV during Football and Basketball season. Joe Dunn does a nice job. Great promo for UA - thanks to those sponsors for getting this produced for TV and YouTube.