Captain Kangaroo

I like his brevity.

For a spring game the crowd was ok. Nice to have the band there. Agreed that Finley is the hands-down starter. Need him to stay healthy. Special teams is scary. At least the FG kicking. Zips were trying a couple different holders, so maybe that contributed to some of the misses. But if nothing changes, fans will be sweating out every FG, whether it's a 27 or a 45 yarder. In the two scrimmages I attended up to the spring game, Wasel was the 3rd QB, and Roggow was 4th. Neither got very many reps up until the spring game. Both played a fair amount last Saturday and Roggow looked much more comfortable. Jordon Simmons looks to be the #1 RB. Seems to have both power and speed. Kellom looks to be #2. To be honest, I'd put Blake Hester at #3. He had a nice spring. Defense looks solid. Corners played well. Stout up front. LB's are the strength. OL has a ways to go. Hopefully it gets sorted out in August. Adrian Norton looks like the #1 WR. Walker and Campbell seem to be solid. I hear JD is on the road, meeting with a couple Portal WR's this week. Seems like Joe is happy with the assembly of talent he has this season. I'd like to think in Finley can stay healthy that we'll finally see Joe's offensive reputation manifest itself on the field. It should be MUCH better than when Irons, Tahj and Undercuffler were taking snaps.

I’ll wait for three wins in a season, and build from there.

#12 with the INT!!

How the hell was he still playing? I think he was recruited by Brookhart?!

I guarantee you will leave the event satisfied that you got to see #12 knock a few heads and play some ball. It will be worth your trip.

The “controlled scrimmage” is fine. Full contact. Offense vs. Defense. I enjoyed the last two Saturdays. Hardly any difference from a split squad scrimmage.

I never thought I’d see the day when Utah Valley was bigger than Akron.

If I waited an entire season to play, expecting to get substantial PT in 2024-25...and then found out my team just recruited a bunch of upperclassman...and, I can transfer elsewhere without sitting out...I would be moving on to greener pastures faster than a rolled up tee shirt to NW Akron's skull. Tribble, Freeman and Ali were complete dinosaurs, graduating as seniors from the same school they began their college careers. In today's NIL/Portal era no kid is going to wait his turn for playing time. As Chris Rock once said - "You're only as faithful as your options". Kid's options are endless today. I'm ecstatic with the caliber of talent and experience Groce has signed in the past week. He had to do it, because today's AD's don't have the patience of AD's from even just 5 or 6 years ago. It's a business on both ends now...the kids can pack their bags and leave as they please...and coach's can eschew player development by bringing in bucketloads of new, seasoned talent before they can even sweep up the confetti from the previous squad's conference championship.

Nice. I might attend this year. Not worth the drive to Michigan, but Canton is a different story.

Cornell Bio I watched him play a couple times this year. Love him. What a great pick up.

I'm with you on this one. A couple years ago Chris Spielman was complaining how, back in the 80's he was eating ramen noodles as a staple. But when he went into the stadium on a Saturday he saw giant posters of himself, and stands filled with his #36 jersey and he wasn't allowed to take a penny as the University raked in piles of cash...all for the cost of an in-state scholarship. Chris had a very valid point. But Akron, and most other programs were strapped for cash before the NIL was instituted. Now they have to come up with an additional few hundred thousand dollars (or more) every year to pay the players who're already getting all the benefits you listed above? I hate the portal. I hate the NIL program. I miss the "You play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back of the jersey" mentality. The "old way" wasn't perfect. But it had a lot more plusses, and "team-ism", than today's game. It didn't need to undergo such a drastic abomination.

Other info from the scrimmage - Kellom was the starting RB. #9 Jordon Simmons (Sr. Michigan State transfer) was the second RB, and broke a nice 35 yard run early in the game. He also started the 2nd half. Blake Hester broke a 30 yarder in addition to his 2 TDs. Starting OL was: TE: Newell LT: James Jayvin LG: Keon Kindred (Maryland transfer) Center: Tyhler Williams RG: Colin Lyons RT: Josh Blanchard (USF Sr. transfer) Next OL was: LT: Nick Stopiak LG: Keylan Davis Center: Max Mobley RG: Jerrod Burrell RT: Jonas Mann Starting 3-man front: Edge: Jon'Trell Mixon Edge: Andre Proffitt Nose: Nathan Kapongo 4-man front #1: Edge: Bennett Adler Interior: Marcus Moore Interior: Lama Lavea Edge: CJ Nunnally 4-man front #2: Edge: Bennett Adler Interior: Andre Proffitt Interior: Lama Lavea Edge: CJ Nunnally Perez missed a 35 yarder. Wiley was on kick offs and was the PK in the second half

About 46 degrees and sunny today. Fair amount of wind. Outside the field in Lot 9 it felt 15 degrees colder. Just like a typical Akron game day.😀

Offense and defense both made big plays. Best the Zips have looked in recent memory. Finally showing some depth, experience and talent.

Yes. 🙂

I was able to attend today's scrimmage. It was offense (blue)/defense (white), just like last week. Below are some notes and pics - #15 Ben Finley continues to impress. Had a couple nice TD tosses. Zips fans will find this kid an absolute breath of fresh air. Unflappable...doesn't get rattled after a bad pass or a WR drop. Accurate. A different level of QB than we've seen in an Akron uniform for a while. You will all love him. Ben can run if needed...but we gotta keep this kid healthy. Ben zips one over the middle. Tahj started the scrimmage. Other than a couple spot appearances by Wassel and Ruggow towards the end of practice, he and Ben split the reps. In the right situations, Tahj is dangerous. He was wearing the "can't hit me" green jersey today, so rushing attempts aren't all that informative...but he obviously is a handful for a defense when he decides to use his feet. Steele got only a series or two, but did toss a TD. Ruggow got one series. He'll definitely benefit from a redshirt. Not a knock on him...he's just got a lot to learn. #22 Charles Kellom had a great day. He looks like he will definitely contribute this year. Two receiving TD's! (this one off a Finley swing pass). Nice TD celebration by Charles & Co. #22 pulled in a 35 yard TD on a 3rd and 18 from Ben Finley. This was Steele's 5 yard TD toss to Adrian Norton. At the 5 yard line, lined up behind redshirt Fr. TE Aiden Diaz, Hester scampered around the left tackle for a rushing TD. Hester had 2 TDs today, and the OL lifted the diminutive RB to the sky. #17 Justin Campbell, a Ball State transfer, had a couple nice grabs, including this one over the middle from Tahj. The defense made some big plays today. Here, #11 Davonte Golden-Nelson jars the ball loose for a turnover. Here you go, @taylormade28 🦾 Big Ben meets with Soph. WR Paul Davis and Charles Kellom after Kellom's long TD reception. Steele Wasel had the "best hair award" last week. Hester nabs the honor this week. Great day for Blake. He got a lot of opportunities, and delivered the goods with a couple TDs. This OL sat out todays scrimmage. A familiar face is again prowling the Akron sideline. The scrimmage concluded with a pick six of Tahj Bullock by #13 Freshman Rodrick Hunter! Joe was as positive as I've ever heard an Akron coach after the practice. He emphasized he felt they got better today. He told the team they should be very pleased with how they executed. Pleased, but not satisfied.

Zips baseball may not win, but apparently they can fund-raise?

Once was 110% committed to Wofford. Then Iowa State. Then OU.

I would be shocked if it were even 10% of that number.

Too bad Dawson left. He'd have felt right at home with the new guys.

I'll get a better one next time, I promise.😀

I didn’t make enough notes on the OL and DL. My excuse- it was spring ball for me too…I haven’t done anything like this for a game or practice since before the pandemic. 😷 😀 I will make that a priority if I can attend this coming Saturday.

He's what I could glean my first look at the 2024 Zips - Ben Finley saw the field as the #2 QB behind Tahj Bullock. It won't be long before he assumes the #1 position. He hit receivers downfield, whether they were open or in traffic. He moves the chains. Looking forward to watching him in an upcoming scrimmage. Seems like a nice kid too. From observing the player interaction on the sidelines, the other players seem to like him. Finley tosses one deep. Finley reads the D. Myles Walker reels in a 40 yard TD pass from Finley. Noah Perez is still hanging around. Steele Wasel saw a fair amount of action. He seems more confident this season. More purposeful with his actions. It wouldn't shock me to see him pass Tahj as the #2 QB at some point. Tahj received a fair amount of PT Saturday, but seems to be a distant 2nd to Finley in the QB race. Steele tosses a screen pass. David Jester arrives too late to block a PAT. Look out for Bennett Adler this year. I thought he was somewhat of an unsung hero last season. Solid, durable. And sneaky-strong. I'd predict 5-6 sacks for him in 2024. #36 Dante Jackson handled most of the punting today. Very windy...you couldn't tell much from what came off his foot. Adrian Norton handled the punt return duties. With mixed results. He misjudged one that bounded over his head. Braydon Ruggow saw some action. As expected, he looked overwhelmed. Tossed a bad ball on an out pattern that should have been an INT. Missed a wide open seam route for a TD. Nowhere to go but up for him. 😀 Joe speaks to the 4 QB's who saw action today. A little chilly, but overall a really nice day for an outdoor scrimmage. I wish I had hair like Steele. Owen Wiley lines up for a PAT. Then, my camera battery died. Other notes - Finley pulled in a high snap and hit Adrian Norton on a quick slant for a 7(?) yard TD strike in the second half. Perfectly placed ball, and Norton showed nice hands pulling it in while also keeping his feet inbounds. After the play he took his helmet off and got flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Joe was pissed and stopped the practice to forcibly remind every player they can cost their team a game with their reactions to adversity, as well as prosperity. Not much news on the RB front. Marquese Williams saw a few carries. He's a little guy. In the post practice mid-field gathering Joe singled out Fish and McCoy as guys that have been outstanding so far. He also brought in three of his former players (not Zips) to say a few words to the guys. He also mentioned the portal opens on Monday, and if any player isn't fully committed to turning the Zips program into a winner, they should use it. Joe also voiced the players can't be thin-skinned. They need to listen to bad stuff in order to improve. Overall, to me, Joe's leadership style strikes a nice balance of being very direct and honest with the players, while also letting them know how much he cares about them and their success.

Yes. Busy day afterwards so I will post some pictures and thoughts tomorrow morning. My big takeaway of the day was - Finley is accurate. Short and long throws, in traffic, he hits his target.