Captain Kangaroo

I don't see how were're the "surprise of the league?" We've beaten no noteworthy opponent. 3-3 is where just about anyone would have predicted us at this point. I don't think we're a "puzzle" either. We-are-who-we-are...an essentially star-free team that, when we play mistake-free football can be competitive with anyone at our level. Our defense continues to improve, and will be near the top of the MAC (3rd...4th best...) when all is said and done. Our offense needs to step it up. We need to start consistently scoring 30+ if we want to have a winning season. I'm not puzzled.

We're getting into the "dog days" of the schedule too, where those nagging injuries don't seem to go away, and practices get less and less fun. With WMU coming off such a tough game, and the Zips coming off a comparative "bye week," you'd hope we have some fresher legs than the Broncos. If we can jump on them early, I like our chances. If we start off slow...as we have in all three losses...the game will go as the oddsmakers predict. I was at the Hudson/Stow game last night. Up 14-10 at the half, Stow on-side kicked to begin the 2nd half. They recovered, and immediately scored a TD. Hudson never recovered. I'd love to see the Zips get a little creative on Saturday. We need to do something "extra" if we're going to beat a team like WMU on the road.

He'll certainly get the opportunity to play early in his career. We graduate our top 3 RB's (although Sands is making a good case for Top 3 consideration right now).

The highlight film definitely doesn't floor you, but he put up some big offensive numbers against good competition, and has a 3.8 gpa. We're short-handed, so getting a capable, quality kid like him is probably a good fit for the 2017-18 Zips.

You're selling yourself short.

Maine and Canton are the early favorites, IMO. Celtics remain very thin at the 5 position.

Kwad+Coney+Chapman+Wolf is not a bad set of wide-outs. They should be getting the lion's share of the playing time. Next season, the door is wide open for the young guys.

Would "win" be too strong of a word?

I was able to attend a few of the August scrimmages, so you could compare his arm strength and accuracy to his three competitors (Kato/Johns/Kelley). His opportunities were limited because he was definitely redshirting in 2017 and the other guys needed to audition, but he noticeably stood out. You will like him.

Assuming the invested candidates remain in Akron in 2018, there will be an extremely interesting battle for the starting QB position. Kato is the leading candidate at this time, but Alex Ramart is really really good. I'll enjoy the Zips 2017 stretch run, and think about '18 in a couple months....

He and Hauser are both former walk on's, and both had INT's in Saturday's game. Reinke is another "impact" walk-on. In the past 2 years Bowden has shied away from the 5th year grad transfers and instead invested in grayshirts and walk-ons. Seems to be a more stable, sustainable route?

Hoban update

Per former Zips Marketing Director Mike Waddell the change from "pee yellow" (Mike's words) to the existing blue and gold was made: 1.) Because Akron is supposed to be - "Blue and Gold" 2,) The pee yellow and navy colors were the same as Kent State. And you don't want the same colors as Kent State.

Quickie interview with Ball State’s OL Vinnie Palazeti at the July MAC Media Day Question: "You were 4-8 last season. How is Ball State a better team this year?" “We're bringing back 5 offensive linemen with game experience. We’re returning guys like this (points across the table to RB James Gilbert) – 1st team All-MAC. Our quarterback is now a true junior. We’ve got a lot of really good prospects coming in from the south at wide receiver, so offensively we’re gonna be really good.” “Last season we had a sophomore quarterback and sophomore running back…we had a young backfield, and older guys at wide out. We had a bit of an inexperienced offensive line last year, but we were still third in the conference in rushing. Bringing back those younger guys from last year, now with game experience, is going to be a big positive for us this season.” I realize no Pulitzers will be handed out for that one, but I thought it was interesting to hear the opinion of one of their better players.

If we're donning the Moving A, then you gotta have an old school honorary Captain!

Anyone else find it funny that George corrected himself - Kwad Smith was a Junior and not a freshman. But in the column above it he mistakenly lists sophomore Deltron Sands as a freshman?

Awesome kid and fantastic representative of the University. Insanely bright future ahead of him! Sucks that we're not halfway through the season and we've lost our offensive and defensive captains for the season. Next man up.

Won ugly tonight but it's a win. Beat Ball State next week and we'll be at .500. It's a "must win."

It looks to me like someone handed the column to The ABJ, whose only responsibility was to write the headline.

Most-detailed MAC Pregame Write-up in the History of the World

Congrats to the soccer team! Awesome win!

Bowden reflects on the game

Who could?

One team knew how to win, and the other didn't. Plays like lobbing that 2nd qtr end zone INT into triple coverage or missing a 34 yard field goal just aren't want winning teams do. To allow the opponent to go 97 yards for a TD at the game's end shows you don't know how to close it out. Our offense had time to drive down the field and win the game. Not a ton of time...but getting possession with 1 minute to go was enough time to work with. TW tossed a quick INT. It reminded me of the end to last year's App State game. We made a nice comeback (down 31-14). We had 2 minutes remaining to tie, or win it, and ...and sack-sack-sack. Their defense knew how to close a game out. The Zips really needed that win. And gave it away. The margin for error on a bowl-eligible season is now razor-thin, with WMU and Toledo looking like losses. I hope the team and staff figures it out. There's no way the Zips can afford a loss this week. They need to pull off a convincing, statement-making win. Make it fun to be a Zips fan...for the first time in...in way too long.