Captain Kangaroo

He didn't. Hence the reaction you see above (I wouldn't call it "shock").

He's a strange dude...

Looks like a drop-in replacement for Coney/Chapman in the slot next season. His HS coach sure found a lot of ways to utilize him. Fun highlight film to watch.

Look Out for the Cyclone Running Game

"Don't be surprised to see the Wagon Wheel back at MAC Media Day in 2018." Strong words from the Record-Courier scribe.

Memphis Football 2017 27 wins in the past 3 seasons. As of today, favored in 10 of their 12 games in 2017. Less than 4 point underdogs in the other two. Beat BG 77-3 last year. etc.

The same Will Barto that people thought was a D-2 talent? We're mad about "losing" this kid? Memphis is a step down from Akron? They went 10-2, 9-4 and 8-5 in their last 3 seasons, against better competition than the MAC. Paxton Lynch was a 1st round NFL draft pick. Bizarre....

So let me get this straight...the Zips received a commitment from a kid with the following accolades: The Stark County Defensive PotY First team All-Ohio Division 1 Father that played 4 years for the Zips, and also played multiple years in the NFL. And this is the straw that broke the camel's back and necessitated the soap box rant huh? We don't want this kid coming to Akron? Bizarre.

Corner still has some academics to address before he can play. The coaches I spoke to are confident he'll get the work done in the classroom and the Zips will have an elite level football player in 2018.

Great job, AJ! Nice touch that it was set in front of the Jayson Taylor backdrop!

Here is the last installation of my MAC Media Day interviews. I was able to speak to Coach Bowden for 10-or-so minutes. The event was much more well-attended than I anticipated. With so many different radio, TV, print and blog reporters vying for everyone's time, it was pretty difficult for a reporter to get an uninterrupted audience. I'd have prepared, and handled it differently if I did it again. This interview started in the hallway...then went into the TV studio...then we went back out in the hallway...and then back in the main ballroom. 10 "interview minutes" took roughly an hour and 15 minutes "real time" to complete. Coach Bowden Also - a few people said they had difficulty with the Warren Ball interview. Here is an embedded link that should be easy for anyone to open (same interview as before, just in a more user-friendly format). Warren Ball

I was able to speak to Warren Ball for a short bit. Another super representative of UA! During my interview with Zack, a very loud, incredibly talkative Munch Bishop was interviewing Coach Bowden immediately to my right. The audio recording was a complete wreck with those two in the background, so I had to transcribe it. Things settled down when I spoke to Warren, so here's the audio. I realize I have a long way to go as an interviewer. But Warren is awesome. I think you'll like what he had to say...it's way better to hear his voice that it would be to read it in print. Note - The Wagon Wheel did make an appearance at the Hall of Fame. Audio Interview with Warren Ball

Short Interview with Zach Guiser Upon introducing myself, Zach said he was a big fan of ZipsNation.org. He said the guys on the team like the site, especially the game day photos posted by Dr. Z. Zach’s an awesome kid. You couldn’t ask for a better representative of The University of Akron and Zips Football. Question: “What does the Wuerffel Award nomination mean to you?” Zach: “I’m really excited about it, considering what the award represents. Beyond that, I’m really proud of what our team has been able do in regards to service to the community. I’m a member of the Student Advisory Committee (S.A.C) and we do an award every year for the Program with the most community service hours. I haven’t tallied up the numbers yet, but the football team is over 400 hours this summer alone. We’ve really made it a point to volunteer our time to the community as much as possible on a regular basis. I wasn’t always as heavily into community service growing up, but being part of the football program has opened up the door to do so. Coach Gildersleeve has a points system for the guys on the team regarding community service, and I think that brought out the competitive side in me to join in and try and do well. I found I have a real passion for it." Question: “With the rigors of Division 1 football, and school, and your personal life, how do you find the time to volunteer. And not just showing up…but volunteering at a level where you’re under consideration for a national award?” Zach: “Well…I have an amazing girlfriend that takes real good care of me…cooks me meals and things like that. I have an amazing support staff at UA, and…if you are really passionate about something, you make the time for it. Same with anything else in life, I guess.” Question: “How’s your health?” Zach: “I feel really good right now. I hurt my elbow in the Western Michigan game last year, and had to sit 4 games. But I was able to finish-out the season against OU. I’m in good shape…definitely the most athletic I’ve been in my career.” Question: “How is it different now being a senior/role model, as opposed to being a star-struck freshman of a few years ago?” Zach: “It’s a lot different. When I was a freshman, I got a sports-hernia surgery on my third day of camp. It took me a long time to recover. When I came back, I was probably one of the most non-athletic kids on the team. Not that I came in unathletic, but it was hard to recover. The seniors treated me pretty rough…I was the ‘low man on the totem pole’ for sure. But I try to remember that and be a role model for those lower-level guys, like I once was. The walk-ons that don’t know quite what to do yet…I try to be there for them. I remember one time, on your board, someone called me “Rudy”…that was a big inspiration for me. Someone was really upset that I was #1 on the depth chart…it was quite the insult…I don’t know who it was, but I didn’t forget reading it. You know…I can’t blame anyone for thinking that though…coming back from that injury, I just wasn’t near 100% and was playing pretty bad. It was a big motivation for me…but now I’m all healthy and ready to go.” Question: “What do you like about this year’s secondary the most? Coach Bowden says it’s the best it’s been since he’s been here. Zach: “We have a lot of experience. I’m the only senior back there, but we have Alvin Davis who started last year and is a really good football player, Jordan George has started a lot of games, and he’ll be at corner, Darian Dailey doesn’t have much experience yet, but he’s one of the fastest kids on our team. And Kyron Brown has a lot of experience, and some interceptions too. But what I really like the most is the personality of all the guys. We don’t have that guy that’s selfish…who gets upset with the coach’s calls. I’m just really excited about this group of guys and can’t wait to get started.” Question: “Although camp hasn’t even broken yet, is there anyone in the secondary that’s caught your eye as a “wow” sort of player? Zach: “Jordan Riley is a really good athlete…but it’s tough to say much right now because we haven’t played much football. You know Alvin (Davis) didn’t come it until the first day of camp last year, so we didn’t even know who he was, and he ended up playing a lot for us as a true freshman. You never know how things play out.” Question: “So what’s it like trying to tackle Warren Ball?” Zach: “We haven’t actually gone up against each other very often. We both didn’t play much in spring ball. But…man…it’s one of those tasks where you’re gonna go low…absolutely…just like tackling Sequon Barkley… Samaje Perine …I’ve played against some really good backs…Joe Mixon…” “You know that’s one of my biggest nightmares…the A-gap opens up and you’re playing deep-middle…and one of those guys is just coming at you full steam…it’s tough, but it’s fun. It’s a challenge. Sometimes you get run over, but as long as you make the tackle it’s all good.” CK 7-27-17

Looking at the Zips East schedule, I can't see a 4th place finish happening. I expect to win the East. East Division 1. Ohio (11), 131 - Had Jojo Natson held on to an easy TD catch the Zips beat the Bobcats, in Athens. We get them at home in 2017, and we'll be starting a QB that isn't a mid-season converted WR. OU's strength was their defense, and they graduated a lot on that side of the ball, including DE Tarell Basham (80th pick - Colts). This is a game the Zips MUST win. 2. Miami (12) 129 - Zips beat Miami handily in 2016. Martin has Miami back on track, but they're hardly a juggernaut. Definitely a winnable road game. 3. Bowling Green (1), 88 - 6 turnovers, a WR playing QB for the 2nd half (a reason for a few of those turnovers), and we still were in a position to win with 2 minutes remaining. A late INT and a fumbled punt return sealed the Zips fate, but BG is a bottom-tier MAC program that the Zips should beat in 2017. 4. Akron, 79 - While the Zips are certainly capable of beating themselves, luckily they cannot play themselves. 5. Buffalo, 41 - These guys were 2-10 last season. The Zips won’t lose to Buffalo at home. 6. Kent State, 36 - The Zips won’t lose to Kent at home.

I will try to post some info from the Media Day later today. A couple quick notes: As previously mentioned by other ZN.o members, Jest and King are out for 2017. It is planned that they attend a JUCO, and return to Akron in January. They had a GPA that was ok per NCAA standards, but fell short of the requirement to play at Akron. King's academic shortcomings were a bit of a surprise, as "..he never had any problems with grades at Miami." Brian Bell is definitely with the Zips in 2017. If he's not on an official roster, I can't control it. The loss of Jest and King isn't really seen as a deal-breaker. Jest needed to get into football shape, and King never played a down for the Zips anyhow...so it is tough to consider him a "loss." Newcomers Brimmage and Sampson are expected to make early impacts.

Zips already penciled-in as a win for the Cyclones

Lots of opportunities to crack the Zips OL depth chart in 2018.

A forward that took 14 three's against Ohio State.

His weight is a huge concern. Pretty scrawny even for a guard?

I bet West Dayton State would play us at the JAR.

I think your post is roughly as accurate as me saying your dream tailgate party consists of funneling warm Schaefer beer with Zach the Zip at an indoor 4H auction site.

My opinion - He didn't stick around for a 6th year of eligibility to sit out the Penn State game. He returned to play football. As a P5 recruit, the nationally televised Penn State game is where he'd like to strut his stuff. The Zips OL is pretty good. I think he can do some damage against Penn State. And that would be a big help to Woody and the air attack. An argument could also be made to sit him against AK PB. Why play in a meaningless blowout? So if he skipped both, he's down to 10 games left in his career. Is the kid here to play football, or make weight lifting videos? Smoke 'em if you got 'em. At least for the 1st half of each game, and then make a decision to sit him based upon the scoreboard.

Makes sense that Hanson's greyshirt status has been upgraded to "roster player." i plan to attend the media day next week, so I'll see what's going on.

Looks like you are correct. Penguins / Flashes on November 11th at the JAR.