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Not sure if this has been mentioned much, but UA could possibly do what places like Villanova (who plays some on campus and some at the Sixers place) do:Play a MAJORITY of their games at a renovated JAR (which UA and their donors will fund) and play 3-4 "marquee" games at the new downtown arena (which the county, city, etc. will fund.) As an example this year...the opener against Austin Peay, the Saturday night game against BGSU and the finale against Can't could be played at the downtown arena. Hopefully, as Zeke and the boys make their mark, marquee games will be against Pitt, Purdue, Louisville, etc. (keeping Can't in there too).I would love to see Akron go after things that Cleveland doesn't have= Indoor soccer and indoor lacrosse. This would give Akron more of an "eastern pull" and the soccer could really help capitalize on the success of the Zips men's soccer team. How about "The Akron Attack"!?!?!!? Also, if they could land an NBDL team that is the "farm team" for the Cavaliers, all the better.

1. Fake hand-off and decision seems to happen a lot faster.2. Actually did the fake hand-off and rolled the QB out/moved the pocket3. Really nice speed option used a couple of times out of the spread4. QB actually kept the ball sometimes.5. At times, lined up in normal spread formation (RB on side) and did not bother with the fake= went straight to a shotgun type passing play (and could have gone to a straight QB draw).Nebraska won 27-12, and this is what I noticed about their offense. Oh, and this was all IN THE FIRST HALF when they scored 0 points (had to hit the sack..a bit of a cold/old man syndrome!) They still looked better/crisper in what they were doing vs. what I have seen from Akron the past few weeks. Here's hoping we see a better looking spread (besides the ones at tailgates) tomorrow.

I think the better question is how many will be left if the stadium after halftime. Losing, rain and cold could lead to folks in the rich seats being able to easily count those that are left in the stands below them.

if we lose to OU, I will abandon hope.1. If you were realistic, you probably had us at 2-2 right now when you made your predictions. Yes, it is obviously more than the record, but we have already played the best 3 teams on our schedule.2. Two weeks to prepare for OU. I have little faith in the coaches right now, but if they have any hope those 2 weeks should help.3. All of our remaining home games are very winnable..once again, the competition we face drops off in a big way.4. Buffalo looks beatable. We may have to luck out at N. Illinois or BG.

I told you guys (as did a few others) that IU was much better than #11 in the Big 10. Of course, they could go in a deep slide after a gut wrenching loss.Speaking of deep slides...

While there may be those that want Zips football to fail, those folks are not on this site (save for maybe one or two "trolls").Great day of football tomorrow...GO ZIPS!!!

Perhaps he can be articulate in addressing to JD, Walt and Shane that he needs the damn ball!!!Again...another example of how many great kids there are (and they WAY outnumber the knuckleheads that typically get the pub).

I only brought it up b/c the commissioner of our CURRENT league alluded to it. And yes, I understand the 12 team thing.

And Ritossa from Kirtland who will be a Zip.

I think many just got ahead of themselves. This is really "year 1" of building Akron football to new heights. And while the stadium won't do it alone, the stadium coupled with improvements to campus, improvements in the city, success of other sports teams (soccer and men's baskeball especially), getting a big-time guy for b-ball like Zeke, high profile hires like Walt Harris, association with LBJ and HOPEFULLY the hiring of Wistrcill can be a big part of it. In the end, it is up to the coaches and the kids, and getting the right ones in both areas.As for expansion/contraction:I would hate to lose Temple, as I like the "Eastern Push" that the MAC has made with Buffalo and Temple. I wish they had a more "MAC friendly" facility, and I definitely wish we could take their other sports on as well (basketball isn't what it was. but it is still good and has name value).Can we kick someone else out? Unlikely that we would do that.Could expansion be the answer? Unlikely, but perhaps Marshall would come back and you could add Army and Navy for football. 16 teams seems rough. Play the 7 on your side and maybe 1 "rival" on the other side. Might as well break into 2 conferences if that is the case.If I could poach some C-USA and develop a new conference, maybe....Eastern 9 ConferenceAkronBuffaloTempleMiamiMarshallMemphisEast CarolinaNavyArmyI know that wouldn't happen, but nice football league from our perspective, and Memphis, Temple and even Miami to some extents have a nice b-ball history to go with our "budding history".

Zips 33Chips 31I watched last Saturday's game again last night. Rodgers actually did a lot of good things, and I only really think that 2 of the interceptions (last 2) were totally his fault/inexcusable.Coaches need to adjust to Rodgers skill, and JUST USE ALLEN AND TORRENCE!!! Enough with Shuford and Tuzze. Get the ball in Bowser's hands in any way, shape or form.D= get those one or two extra stops to get yourself off the field. You are doing a good job, but a better job is necessary.And, this week= JD, if you win, take the ball. PSU= they drive through us and we start losing field position battle right away. Last week..91 yards to paydirt. Get the ball and attack!!!SIDE NOTE:Steve Szaban sports radio show this am. The guy they had on (betting handicapper guy) said CMU over Akron is his under the radar pick (under the radar in that few people know that the MAC has football).

I don't know Ferri at all, but the first thing I thought of was, "An Army grad isn't going to be purposefully trying to hurt the program". Agreed that I hope it is just a minor blip.Ferri was here before JD I believe but JD has kept him around. JD also has final say on recruits, so Stewart and Jacq fall to him in some regards. But when you are dealing with 85+ kids, stuff's gonna happen. He cannot be held completely accountable. And, if he wins, little of it will really matter (that is the state of things).Let's not forget all the good these players and coaches do (think Alex Allen) and realize that if we are talking about 3 out of 100 or so coaches/players that 97% of the guys are doing the right things and working hard.

While I cannot make the Buffalo trip, IF Akron is still in it for the MAC, that BG 5:30 Friday game would be fun!

Great post!!! Totally agree on so many points!!BTW, the railing thing= they were being Nazis about that during both games on the North End ("building side")A. Put a Gold line that says don't cross ORB. Let people stand agains the rail ORC. If safety is a concern, add one more rail and let people stand there. I just don't get it.

The defense had a rough start on the 1st drive of PSU, and the last drive of 1st half against IU. Other than that, they have oftentimes been put in a tough position (short fields, offense in short drive necessitating D logging many minutes, etc.). I have been happy with their production, save for needing to put more pressure on the QB.

1. Brian Wagner is awesome.2. Bowser is awesome, and the coaches need to find more ways to involve him in the offense. 8-10 touches a game (minimum).3. Are we busting out new road unis? If not, seems bush league/half-assed. Do many teams update one and not the other? 4. gozips.com= step up and update the photo gallery. 2006 to 2008 in there, nothing for 2009 yet. Disappointing.5. Rodgers to Bowser TD vs. IU= watching it on TV (DVRd it) Rodgers looked to the left, middle then to Bowser. Nice work, Matt!!!6. The Info is still awesome and looked great on TV.

I thought of adding that, and I agree to an extent. Definitely thought some might include other, most specifically for the OL But I think that:A. If we had a dynamic RB, that line would be looking better. Same could PROBABLY be said for a OB, but...B. In many situations, OL has been stuck going 5 on 4 or even 5 on 5. A little help from a TE (unlikely) or RB would make a huge difference IMHO.

I am saying this, but not trying to be a "Debbie Downer". I still have great hope, just curious as to what concerns ZN folks the most right now.

I think JD's presser was quite good. He didn't sugarcoat too much, he blamed coaches/playcalling, and he seems to be remaining positive.If that is the depth chart, it is the right move.

I am not a fan of the spread, in general. My biggest issue with it, at least in regards to Akron, is it looks basically the same on every down. Ok, ok, ok...SOMETIMES we use 2 RBs. But it almost always goes up the middle or is fake and then pass. How about using some "max protect" at times and keeping those backs in there to block. How about incorporating a bit of option. Perhaps even a direct snap to an Allen or Bruce or even Bowser. Or, a little bit of moving the pocket/getting Rodgers out of the pocket. Finally, we need to be able to line-up in a "traditional" set in short yardage situations. Do we even have that package? IU uses the pistol, but not exclusively.

Are you trying to plant subliminal messages? Yes..and no. Right as I typed it, I thought..."would anyone pick up on that"? Nicely work!!!I'm not ready to give up on Rodgers yet. CMU might be rough, but 2 weeks to prepare for OU and the rest of the season will hopefully prove very beneficial for his development.

Tom Wistrcill has no ties to JD. He has to keep Porter and Dambrot around (and, of course, he DEFINITELY SHOULD), but the football coach is the one place he can make a splash. I think it might be time to start throwing names out there. Who does Wistrcill have good connections with? Folks at Wisky and Minny..so I would at least start casually looking at their assistants. And I know some hate the name and the coach, but Glen Mason was at Minny when Wistrcill was there. Tough to say if Tom likes the guy or not. I think we could do better, but I also think we could do worse. And, personally, I'm not totally giving up on JD...yet.

1. I am not a fan of the spread. Never have been. Watching this team for 3 weeks, I am beginning to DESPISE it. Now, obviously the spread works better when you have a QB that can run (and/or a coach that lets the QB run), a QB that can make the best decision and a line that can get in the proper spot to protect. 2. Since the spread will be here at Akron for at least 2009, please tell me they will at least work a little bit on under the center stuff for short yardage situations. It's one thing for the spread to be your main set. It is another thing for it basically being your ONLY set! Even IU mixed in some power packages with the pistol.3. IU is better than the 11th best team in the Big 10. My father-in-law and sister-in-law went to IU, and with my wife being from Indianapolis I have followed the team over the years. I think IU is going to finish btwn 6 to 9 in the Big 10. I believe they are better than Nwestern, Minnesota and Purdue, and they can hang with some of the other mid-teams.4. Rome was not built in a day. This is really year 1 in trying to build something. There is no reason that this team shouldn't win the rest of their home games at the very least. With that being said..5. This team lacks "special" players. I see 3, Wagner, Sewell and Bowser. Not having a special player at the RB or QB (Nicely could be that guy, but not this year) is a killer.6. Even in the spread, Harris, JD and Montg. need to do 2 crucial things= get Rodgers out of the pocket and use an extra blocker in drop back situations. 7. IU doesn't have the name, even though they are Big 10, and OSU/Toledo also played a part in the poorer than expected attendance. Once again, this thing is going to take time.8. You can point to MANY things in yesterday's game, but the killer was going from 2 & 4 to 1st and 31. I think there were about 5-6 minutes in the 3rd quarter, and we were moving the ball nicely. Should have been 24-21 or 24-17 with 2 minutes to go in the 3rd. That was the killer moment.

I think it is pretty simple:We win and Rodgers plays well, he is our starter. Ifwe lose and Rodgers plays well, he is our starter. We lose, Rodgers looks average to awful and Jacq is reinstated soon= Jacq back to starter.My prediction: barring injury to Rodgers, Jacq is done as our starter (and I predicted a huge season for Jacq..sigh).Side note:Don't sweat the burning of the redshirt too much (if it were to happen).Though rare, you could play Nicely this year if necessary and redshirt him next year. Boston College did this about 5 years ago. In addition, if Rodgers plays well and proves he can be the guy, I still think our situation for the next few years at QB looks good. And, if the program is doing well, chances are that we attract even more top prospects at QB.

I think it will be in the 22 to 25,000 range. OSU at Toledo is definitely not helping. The "casual" NE Ohio football fan might be more prone to check this one out if not for that game.