InTheZone

Kreed and some others clearly want use this thread to lay bare their own politics and religious bigotry. I simply meant to talk about LU’s athletic program and what I’ve seen with my own two eyes. Their facilities and financial support are unreal, and now that they’ve hired a coach who has shown a marked ability to take multiple programs from the bottom to the top very quickly, I don’t think this is a wise scheduling decision for us. Let’s keep the discussion to football.

I've always been a fan of hosting Kent State early in the season. Attendance and the game atmosphere is so much better. Anyone remember when we opened the season with them in 2003. The ending sucked but the Rubber Bowl atmosphere was electric.

Freeze was hired right on top of the early signing date from what I can tell. Of the players that were left for February, the average star rating of the players he signed was well beyond our's. They signed a four star corner with offers from Clemson, Auburn, Virginia Tech, and many more . When was the last time we did something like that? You can hate evangelical Christians all you want to, but Liberty doesn't appear to have any problem recruiting. They were a playoff team in FCS and with the facilities and support I've seen first hand that they now have, they will be far beyond MAC level competition in short order. Dumb scheduling decision. If we're going to go on the road and lose, again, make it to an SEC or Big 10 team. https://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liberty_university/liberty-s-late-push-for-clark-and-land-pays-off/article_a5ec8cba-782c-53aa-a98f-40d595d78101.html Their basketball team also looks to be a lot better than ours with a roster full of black players. 23-5 and tearing trough the A-Sun.

My daughter had an AAU track meet at Liberty last year. Their facilities are absolutely unreal. Hands down top 20 in the nation, better than 90 percent of the P5 schools I’ve been to. In fact their entire campus was quite a sight. With Hugh Freeze running their ship now I don’t think we’ll be getting a million dollars to go down there and win. By 2022 we’re probably going to go down there and get worked. If we’re going to lose on the road, I’d prefer it to be to an SEC or Big 10 team. Another stupid scheduling decision, right up there with YSU

It didn't go all that well with Faust at first though. When Lee Owens first came in, Faust was still trying to show up at practices and sit in on coaches' meetings. Owens had to let him know in no uncertain terms that this wasn't welcome.

I've seen this kid play, he puts some nice zip on the ball. Will definitely add depth. He could've had a scholarship at a lower level so it sounds like he will come in with a chip on his shoulder wanting to prove something. Love getting these kinds of kids, as there's no risk, only upside.

I'm sure the University has a nice liability policy with a high enough limit to make this go away.

Some people thought Bowden was a pipe dream when I brought his name up in 2009

First of all let me just state that I am NOT a Bowden hater. I think Terry's done a great job picking up the shell of a program left by Ianello's incompetence and Brookhart's risky failures in recruiting. The program has stalled, but I think Terry can produce another bowl team if he can get past a rough set of circumstances this year. That being said.... If we endure a disaster of a season, which is very possible, and Terry gets let go, the possibility of Les Miles intrigues me. I've heard multiple commentators over the last month state that Les is desperate to get back into coaching, and yesterday Rick Neuheisal stated that he felt Miles most likely landing spot for next season would be a MAC school. Anyone have thoughts on Les Miles to the Zips? Unlike Terry, he has great connections across the Midwest and he's a big time name that hasn't been out of big time coaching too long. He's also got a national championship under his belt. In my opinion it would be a major coup for the program.

Penn State- L Arkansas-Pine Bluff- W Iowa State- L Troy- L Bowling Green- L Ball State- W Western Michigan Broncos - L Toledo- L Buffalo- W Miami (OH)- L Ohio- W Kent State- W The schedule this year is brutal. 5-7, but I hope I'm wrong.

I'd agree with you, I'd just like to know when those carries were coming. Was he truly splitting time with the Auburn commit and getting meaningful carries, or was he coming in for mop up duty? 13 yards a carry with the game hanging in the balance and 13 yards a carry in garbage time are very different.

Get this guy signed during the new December signing period. I am wondering why he only rushed for 658 last year though. I'm impressed that he did it on 50 something carries but why did he only have that many carries? Is he playing behind a better player? If a guy's not tearing it up at the high school level I really have to wonder how much an impact he's going to have in FBS.

Here's an article from his recruitment back in 2015. It appears we were one of the first schools to offer him. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2070897-4-star-qb-sheriron-jones-talks-decision-plans-being-a-cam-newton-look-a-like

I don't know how anyone could've enjoyed Zips football over the last decade without alcohol, but you do you fam.

I've heard good things about Kato. But he's young, and I'm sure the coaching staff would feel much better with a 5th year senior at the helm if Tommy's back to full health.

I'll second Otto's as a great stop for food and brew. My experience tailgating in 2013 was much better than what's been described. I parked in a grass lot close to the stadium and had some great interaction with PSU fans. They were very friendly and shared drinks and food with us. I found the actual stadium experience to be pretty lacking, as the fans weren't all that loud or into it. My PSU buddy condescendingly said, "Well it's normally loud, but it's just quiet because it's Akron." Well pal, Akron was giving you all you wanted for three quarters, and if we'd had any redzone offense that day, you would've lost, no thanks to your fans who sat there like bumps on a log the whole day. It was also the season opener for cripes sake, how can fans not be excited for that? My experience at other P5 schools playing the Zips has been they are just as loud and boisterous as any other game, so the problem is with the PSU fans, not the team they're playing.

I've been told the Zips are on his short list and there's mutual interest. He was a great player coming out of high school, I'd certainly like to see what he has left in the tank. http://tennessee.247sports.com/Article/Quarterback-Sheriron-Jones-leaving-Tennessee-Vols-football-progr-52593886

The obvious answer (and hope) is that Woodson firmly establishes himself, stays healthy, plays well, and takes the job coast to coast. But I've got a sneaking suspicion Bowden loves Kato Nelson's skillset, and wants someone with that skillset running his offense. Could be interesting.

Bottom line on Jerome: He's too slow and and not sharp enough in his routes to create separation and be an effective receiver in the NFL. It would've done him well to train as an RB and use his natural gifts as a power runner with good size, quickness, and lateral speed to make the transition to the NFL. His pass catching ability would also give him another tool to stand out as a 3rd down back. After watching him for two years at receiver here and then seeing him in the combine drills, I just don't see him as a successful NFL WR. His skill set would give him a much better opportunity to stand out in the backfield.

Hopefully he's learned to call an Uber. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/u-va-freshman-qb-nick-johns-a-former-gonzaga-star-faces-dui-charge/2015/08/10/46c8719c-3fb2-11e5-9561-4b3dc93e3b9a_story.html?utm_term=.1031463a371e

Can't say I'm surprised at his lack of success. Always struck me as a guy who liked to make excuses and wasn't a leader of men. Now in his 3rd year has head coach at Rhode Island, he has a stellar record of 3-28. http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-footbl/2016-17/schedule

Well if you think we have average DL's starting, what do you think's behind them? I'll tell you: Guys that aren't ready to play college football and will get blown 10 yards off the ball. Losing a starter on the defensive line doesn't just mean the back up steps up. It means guys that weren't even previously in the rotation are now going to get snaps. and a few plays of gaping holes on the defensive line can be catastrophic. We don't have the depth at that position to be having these injuries, and it's going to hurt us very badly.

I smell what you're cooking, and it's devastating

Anyone care to alter their predictions based on what we've seen thus far? I really thought we'd pull out W's against both Marshall and App, and we almost did, but I still see 9 wins on the table with the bowl game. I don't like us this weekend against WMU or against Toledo, and I think we'll lose to one of them again in the MAC Championship, putting us at 8-5 heading into the bowl game. I'll be happy with a MAC East title this year as the next step in our progression.

Great pics as always Z. Wish you'd been doing this when I was playing, I hardly have any pictures. I'm sure the current players love this.