GJGood

Fired for 47-51 in 8 3/4 seasons. Although they went to bowl games in five of the last six years.I don't think that's the case about five of the last six years. They haven't been to a Bowl game since our meeting in the Motor City Bowl I don't think. He did go to a Bowl game in 3 of his first 4 years however.Since you sparked my curiosity:2003: Tigers end 32-year bowl drought, beating North Texas in the New Orleans Bowl to finish 9-4.2004: Tigers finish 8-4, including a loss to Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl.2005: Tigers finish 7-5, including a Motor City Bowl victory over Akron. All-American Williams rushes for 233 yards and three touchdowns to win bowl MVP honors.2007: Tigers finish 7-6 and return to postseason with a New Orleans Bowl loss to Florida Atlantic.2008: Tigers finish 6-7, including St. Petersburg Bowl loss to South Florida.Tommy West TimelineLooks like he's moving backward.I hear what you guys are saying and its just a name I thought I'd throw out there since he is the kind of guy that looks like he'd turn down bigger offers if he's happy where he is. That's the kind of guy I want. I do wonder though how easy it is to recruit to Memphis in Conference USA, not sure when looking at facilities if Akron might be an easier place to recruit to. I think most would tell you West is a good coach that always seems to have lesser caliber players than the opponents he was facing. The question to me then would be is he not good enough at recruiting or does he need to be at a school that will be more impressive to potential recruits?Anybody know the status of the head coach at the University of New Hampshire? If we go the FCS head coach route that might be an excellent choice.

What do you guys think about somebody like Tommy West? He was just let go by Memphis after being with the program for a full decade. He was the coach on the opposite sideline when Akron played in the 2005 Motor City Bowl.The fact that he stayed at Memphis when he had opportunities to go elsewhere may bode well for his staying power at a school like Akron which has much better facilities than Memphis for football and arguably a more fertile recruiting area as well.

Yeah, I heard the Syracuse and Gardner-Webb thing yesterday too. Plus I have heard a couple of my Cinci Bearcat friends say we are supposed to be in the queen city as well, so my best guess is that the @Cincy game is still going to happen.I'd like to see us add a low level BCS team or mid-level non-BCS team to round out the OOC schedule. I'd like to see us play someone like Iowa State, NC State, or even somebody like Air Force for example.

The two most media-covered teams in NE Ohio.Recruiting won't be really impacted, since if we are going after these kids they will likely have already seen the stadium. The biggest benefit would be non-athlete students seeing campus for the first time, and adults seeing the changes that might change their perception of Akron as a smaller version of Cleveland State.Well, I was thinking the players would get to experience the facilities that you don't see from watching a game on TV or from the stands. Plus, it can't hurt to have the stadium on TV again this week, this time with a team from Cleveland on the field. I believe in the old saying "out of sight, out of mind" so at least the Zips name and logo will be being displayed again to a viewing audience.

Part of the reason for the afternoon time is because the basketball team is playing Friday night. The game time wasn't set until mid-season and it was probably decided to go with the football game in the afternoon once it became apparent where this season was headed. Had the team been in contention for the division you'd have to think they'd be playing at night and the basketball game would be an afternoon affair.I know the crowd will be small but I hope its not emabarrasingly so at the stadium Friday. All you guys that have their significant others going out to shop for Black friday should grab your buddies and go see a football game. Also, a good time to try to talk anyone you know who hasn't seen the stadium yet into going.

After the Zips UAPB plays a bunch of BCS conference schools consecutively and, of course, all are on the road. I'd like to see these good Zips teams get maybe three games like that but not 8 or 9 like they have. Now if we could get home and home deals with more teams then I'd be more in favor of it. I actually like the way Akron is scheduling now somewhat. I could see bumping it up some but I like the idea of trying to play the bigger name schools at neutral sites instead of always having to go on the road.The one thing I disagree with KD on is that he has said the only way Akron is making the NCAA tournament is if they win the conference tourney. That is only true if we play consistently average or weak non-conference schedules. I remember two years ago all the experts were saying our arch rival would be a very likely at-large team in the field of 65 if they hadn't won the conference tourney. There is no reason the same couldn't be true with the Zips if they have a great season and the schedule gives them a respectable RPI. Just don't make the schedule a kamikaze mission either like UAPB has done.

Glenville-Massillon this week at the stadium...I guess it can't hurt from a recruting standpoint.Don't expect quite the crowd as last week's playoff game though.

I don't want any FCS schools. I just think its wrong in principle. Teams with 85 schollys should only play other teams with 85 schollys. Plus, its a little harder to live down if you lose. There are plenty of FBS schools we should be able to beat or at least be fairly even with. I love the FIU game. I imagine that is part of a home and home series, does anybody know?

Lets see, if a coaching change is made by the AD you'd have to think he'd be interested in guys he's familiar with. The AD came from Minnesota. We'd want a guy with Ohio ties.Glenn Mason, anyone?Still, if a change is made I'd like to at least see some form of continuity with the QB...changing Nicely's coaches could set him back a step that is why Walt Harris would probably be right at the top of the list. That being said, if Brookhart is given the axe, would Harris be interested in staying at a school that got rid of the guy who brought him there in the first place?

Why does it seem that every year Akron opens their season with a team that has already played a game? I still say thats why we lost to UALR a few years back.Therefore, due to nerves and whatnot and the fact that APSU will not be very intimidated after being in Knoxville's sea of orange I think this game will be closer than it should be, or would be if it wasn't the opener.APSU 69Akron 76

I've heard many people say that Akron is in the Glenn Wilkes Tournament, but can anybody explain to me how exactly this is a tourney? The matchups are all predetermined.Personally, I'd like to see the Zips get into an early season eight team three guaranteed game tourney as often as possible instead of something like we have these first four games. I can't argue with who we may be playing though, that has got ot help the SOS and RPI.

Two words...LOCAL RECRUITS

The rest of the names sounded familiar but where is this Akron University to which the article keeps referring?Its hard for me respect much in an article that can't even correctly name the place on which they are reporting.

But getting ND merely on the schedule and getting them to play Akron on the road are two totally different things. Really think they'd ever do that?

If other receivers in New York are emerging and it looks like Hixon's time will primarily be on special teams there, then why would have to trade a player of Cribbs' caliber to get Hixon? I think there may be a way to get Domenik without it being for Cribbs when you just look at how valuable each othe players currently is to their respective teams.I do agree that Hixon would be a very nice fit in Cleveland, and I am only a so-so Browns fan. I just can't stand the other three teams in their division!

I totally agree here. Although if Gradkowski was to get hobbled or was entirely ineffective I could see charlie getting on the field and eventually being the #2 guy behind Russell for the remainder of the season. I think the only reason Gradkowski is ahead of Frye is that Gradkowski has played for that offensive coordinator before so he has more experience in that system.

I'd love to see charlie get another shot and do well. I could be a Raiders fan for the first time in my life if he becomes the starter.I don't think he ever really had a supporting cast or good consistent coaching in Cleveland and they never really let him do anything on Sundays in Seattle, although you've got to think his time with Holmgren couldn't have hurt him.The thing is, if he plays now in Oakland I don't think his situation is any better now than it was in Cleveland. No QB can play very well for Oakland right now and thats not necessarily being critica about the guys they have at that position. It is a team sport after all and they seem to be missing some major pieces while the QBs always seem to get the blame.

If a head coaching change is indeed made don't forget that we have assistants with head coaching experience themselves. You have to wonder if they'd be in the running. Also, the University of Minnesota has a few very highly thought of assistants from what I hear. Where did the new AD come from again?I don't really have a preference which way we'd go in a coaching search whether it be an FCS head guy or FBS assistant. On some good staffs it is really the assistants that make the team what it is moreso than the head guy. If we were to go the asst coach route I'd want one of those types of guys. Other times it is the HC that brings everything together while the assistants would be less than stellar if they were in charge. In a coaching search I don't think you can say you want a guy that is a head coach for sure or say you want a top assistant from somewhere either. I think you have to look at both.That being said, I'm not sold yet that there is going to be a change at all. There are some who think it takes more than one year for a new coaching staff to gel and the Zips made a number of changes this past offseason.

I just want to know where the offensive line went? Four returning starters from a very solid unit last year and this year they all look like freshmen. Sure, this team has plenty of problems from special teams to injuries to bad coaching decisions etc... but to me this team would be a lot better despite all those things if the O-line would block enough for the backs to run the ball and the team could pass protect aginst the blitz at least a little bit. I still haven't figured out why this experienced unit can't or at least doesn't.

Who is this guy? #19 T.J. Marchese ...I see he was a PK at Dublin Coffman, that school is legendary for having talent at that position. they have sent quite a few kickers to BCS schools and some to the NFL if I'm not mistaken.Anybody know anything about this guy?

OK, so maybe it was a different punter but I still say abandon the rollout punt.

Do any of the coaches recognize the difference in Stec's punts between the roll-ot style and standard style? Abandon the rollout punts! Terrible rolling out all year, two boomers standard style today.

Actually I'd like to see them both have down years, that would be the best scenario for anybody else in Ohio.

Thanks Gilbert. Thin body huh? That's all we need at the PG (again) Have you actually seen this kid play -- what's YOUR assessment? How many other D1 schools were interested enough to offer a scholarship?If memory serves me right, former Zip hoopster George Phillips was from Lake Forest, Illinois...I wonder if there is a connection there somehow.

I have to respectfully disagree. There is no historical evidence showing that selling a youth ticket increases attendance or increases future attendance.Well, there may not be any evidence of this at Akron. I'm not sure. I know I can never remember a youth price there, just general and student. I know it must be seen as a positive at various other sporting events not affiliated with the university or they wouldn't continue to do it though. I know there are youth prices for many professional sports.Regardless, even if there is no evidence that it would increase attendance does anyone think that having a youth ticket price would be a negative? I haven't seen a large number of youths at Akron games in the 15 years I've been going. I certainly don't think that a decreased child price would cause much of a loss of revenue at all. It could, however, make it seem more affordable to some which may get more people through the gates and one would logically assume could only increase revenue. I do understand that it may not be a proven thing to do but I doubt it would be a harmful thing to do either.