UAZipster0305

The MAC has stability because it is a garbage conference that no one wants in. Also, very few member schools are attractive for promotion to other conferences. Believe it or not though, the MAC used to advertise that it had the largest alumni base of any D-1A conference. This is surely not the case anymore given that the power conferences have expanded in number; however, it does underscore that the MAC does not fail because of too few potential fans.

This is Caleb Porter level dominance. Never truly a rebuilding year even when there is a lot of turn over on the team...amazing! The accomplishment is especially incredible given how terrible the program was when Coach Kest took over. Unlike men's soccer, there wasn't tradition or a recent history of success to build on. I hope she stays at Akron for a very long time!

Pretty much any other school we'd be competing with for a slot in CUSA would not have great overall facilities. An arena is the only part of the puzzle that is missing for us. There are plans on the table, which I expect would be enough to placate league officials. Keep in mind, aside from NIU, no other school has the media market that we do, and that is a huge part of the appeal.

This is where having beautiful new facilities and big name coaches really matters. If league officials visit they will no doubt be impressed. Moving to CUSA would give UA a more national profile as well. Could this be what finally allows the locals to see UA as a national research university rather than just a city college and commuter school?

Looking exclusively at this situation as what do we gain from moving from the MAC to CUSA, it might not seem favorable. However, if you consider that two or three other MAC schools may leave to join CUSA and we are left behind, the MAC becomes highly undesirable. Would you want to be in the MAC if NIU, Toledo, and Ohio left? I wouldn't! Besides, a north-south divisional alignment in CUSA would not be too bad travel-wise. CUSA would be a huge upgrade in competition for soccer.

Yes, you are correct. The "center snap" was invented on Buchtel Field, not the "forward pass."

Hard to say if those guys would have succeeded at UA or not. Likely so, but I'd also note that none of those guys stuck around to build a program. They had a couple really strong seasons and left for greener pasteurs. If we had a miracle coach, we would likely be back to the same old shortly after he moves on. I know we would all love to have such a problem on our hands though.

I have come across several articles online mentioning that UAB is likely shutting down its football program. Although not discussed in the articles, many of the comments describe that the University of Alabama system is governed by a centralized Board of Trustees. One of the members is Bear Bryant's son who is seeking to undermine UAB and divert as many resources to Tuscaloosa as possible. Thankfully, the Ohio system does not have a centralized Board of Trustees yet somehow OSU still manages to have a vast majority of the resources and attention. Prior to the Big Dialer being built, I think it would have been a reasonably responsible decision to shut down UA's football program. After the iCoach debacle, I really thought this should have happened in favor of a more widely utilized basketball arena and debt servicing on the Rec Center. It is amazing how far the millions of dollars for the Info and annual football budget would go towards other sports or being invested in academics. I loved seeing us beat Pitt, and I think Bowden has done reasonably well bringing us out of the abyss, but I am not sure we will ever be dominant to the point that the Big Dialer is regularly close to capacity as the administration envisions. If a person with the brand of Bowden can't achieve that here, what coach could? If no one, was the investment in the program worth it? I don't know. Just as soon as I think about recent seasons being so embarassing, I also consider John Heisman has an uncelebrated history at UA, the forward pass may have been invented at Buchtel Field, and we have over 100 years of football tradition. Two separate UA players made huge interceptions in the Super Bowl (and one was nearly the MVP), and I had classes with both of them!. Another was Defensive Player of the Year in the NFL and will soon be the first UA Hall of Famer.

I was at the Georgetown-Syracuse game today. It is the first Tournament game I have seen live other than at Akron. Syracuse dominated but neither team was terribly dangerous in the final third, and neither team used the width of the field. Lots of choppy midfield play. The Georgetown facilities were nothing to speak of either. Overall, I was not impressed, but Coach Porter spoiled all of us. Let's hope Embick has us making deep runs in the Tournament again soon.

Remember, Bickley was recruited to Akron at a time when players with his speed wouldn't come to Akron if we paid them. Thanks, iCoach. Also, our big receivers weren't making big plays on Saturday. Hence, some changes in the offense. Bickley will score a big TD in a big game before this season is over. You should be rooting for Bickley because the success of the team partially depends on it. Enough though; I have no desire to argue indefinitely with you about this. I just felt the need to provide some balance here.

GP!, I don't feel that you are being objective about Bickley. Big deal, he fumbled the ball. All players will do that if they get enough touches. He's not fumble prone, and that fumble was not necessarily due to his size. Did you see Bickley's catch into traffic near the goalline in the 4th quarter? He took a big hit, held onto the ball, and stayed on his feet after initial contact. If our other "big" receivers were so much better than him, he wouldn't be third on the team in receiving yards, and our coaches wouldn't be giving him touches. Bickley's size is one of the reasons a player with his speed is in the MAC. He is a good player for us, and he is still young being only a sophomore. I'd like to see him get the ball more, particularly when the offense needs a spark. However, I like how his skills are currently utilized overall. Even though we don't have many casual fans, perhaps those that do exist like Bickley because of success in spite of his size? Afterall, he is highly identifiable on the field because of it. Warrick Dunn anyone?

Tight game at half. The Miami offense adjusted to our QB pressure and started running and making quick throws. Seems to be good coaching...Miami will likely be a force in the next couple of seasons.

Nice safety. And BUGS up 14-0 at Ohio.

Our punter is outstanding! He has to be in contention for an All-American award.

Very sloppy so far: penalties, drops, and a turnover. Elite football teams don't make those mistakes. Let's clean it up!

The offsides stat could be quite telling. ..plenty of those for us. That is either because guys are being lazy or the timing of runs is a half step off. The latter is the mark of a team that has not fully gelled yet. I hope that is the case. Too bad the penalty was not converted. It would have been great to salvage a tie from this trip. Let's get UAB on Saturday! Onwards and upwards, Zips!

Coastal Carolina up 3-0 at NC State!

We really needed that! Good start to the second half.

Meanwhile Coastal Carolina is up 1-0 at NC State. I never thought I'd see the day when the football team dominates an ACC opponent on the road while the futbol team gets dominated.

Judging by the gametracker, we are getting dominated. Down 2-0 and WF has had a ton of shots and corners. The only notes for us are substitutions, offsides, fouls, and saves. No shots or corners to speak of. The Jekyll-Hyde home-away character of our team is disconcerting.

I agree. Our D can hold until half, and it's only 7-0. Keep it close late into the game!

Nice defensive play like we needed! That is a long field we're looking at though.

7-0 is manageable, but we seem nervous/intimidated unlike against Tennessee and Michigan.

Three mistakes defining the game so far.

Good defensive series!