TXZipFan

You are right we had 2 not one, I forgot about Mark Jackson, otherwise none of those players you listed are why we had a highly ranked class. David Harvey, Aaris Reed, Sean Hakes, and Igor Iveljic are why last years class was highly rated. I mean c'mon, here's the reasons for each player...Harvey- Obviously his play this year speaks for itself, but he was once a 4 star recruit and had offers from Ohio State among many big schools.Reed- Had offers from North Carolina and was getting all kinds of interest elsewhere and he chose us.Hakes- At one point had an Ole Miss offer (til their Offensive Staff was fired), along with Colorado State, BG and he chose us.Iveljic- Last but certainly not least, the #6 kicker in the NATION!!! I know he didn't play this year but he's gonna be a stud... you don't get ranked that high for no reason. I see these guys being way more valuable to Akron's future then the guys we lost. And with the class we're putting together I have no worries.

Last year we lost only one of the highly rated recruits the RB Boone and the rest of our top guys made it. I know in years past it's been that way but I think the better we get the better quality recruits we're getting(athletically and academically). Our two 2 star OL are definitely getting in, Estrada should be here in spring, and Simkovich was in good enough standing for Michigan State to take him so I'm sure he'll be fine. This class will be solid that's for sure. The line is such an important part of a football team so as we might not be seeing headlines about this years class next season, they could be the most important class in the past few years. "Games are Won and Lost in the Trenches."

Well, Jim Pry Jr. that is... Former Zips Coach Jim Pry's SON was recently fired from his job where he had been promoted to assitant Head Coach at Louisiana Lafayette. Not that we need a new coach but I was a BIG fan of coach Pry and his son's name caught my eye as I was reading this update on ESPN.com.Update

They're not a bad team and it helps add more east coast exposure for the MAC. He did kinda pul that outta thin air, but it really isn't a crazy idea. Like I said it would really help with getting the MAC further exposure with the east coast. The broader the conference can be location wise the better, it would only help with expanding television coverage and bowl chances. Actually the bowl chances need to be addressed by the MAC, because I believe 4 teams from the MAC should be participating in bowl games every year. So c'mon MAC teams let's sweep in the bowl games and earn this conference some more respect!!!

We only have around 15 scholarships leaving so I think we should only have a few more positions to fill on our board and we'll be done. It's very rare for us to be talking about this we it's 2 months from signing day!!!

I'm sure Rodgers will talk to him about it asap cause no kid is more likely to change his commitment than one who's coaching staff is leaving!!! GO ZIPS!!!

Also if you look at the cost it's right in our price range too. Which makes me wonder why we think 40 mill will only get us a smaller stadium (25k-30k) rather than the 45k that Rice-Eccles seats, and it had sky boxes!!!

72 Roo is right. We really haven't prepared the O-line for the future by getting them PT this year. BUT I think the fact that our QB's that are gonna be battling are all more mobile than Luke. So I'm definitely very excited to see how this goes next fall. I still feel like we will struggle but we're working towards what this young team will look like in two years, when we have a young but experienced QB and the most talented skill position players in the MAC. As well our line should be young talented and have a couple years under their belt.I'm very excited to see how everything comes together this spring, it should be a good indication of how the season is going to go this fall.

http://www.collegegridirons.com/mountainwe...clesStadium.htmThis stadium would be PERFECT just make a few adjustments and I would be very pleased. I also love the amount of Boxes!!!

You're right we definitely need a big hitting safety, I feel like our safetys this year did alot of arm tackling and never really laid any body out, consequently the missed alot of tackles as well. If you know the kid personally you need to have him send his tape to Akron. Maybe after seeing what he's got they get on him.

Conference USA gets more guaranteed bowls, the MAC gets 2, that's why Marshall left, a better chance to make a bowl.

YEEEHAWW he's from TEXAS!!! lol!!! I like it... we're gonna be able to recruit the DFW area if we get another TX player, that would make it one player from Plano and one from Fort Worth, both from good programs... I LOVE IT!!! There is definitely some untapped talent down here, I know alot of people are against it, but it's some of it is probably because I don't think any school in TX takes Prop's, but there is so much talent to go around down here it's CRAZY. It also doesn't hurt to be playing @ North Texas next season.

Hahaha I wanted to throw it out there because I don't think he'll be getting any better offers, unless he's offered the head coaching job somewhere smaller, but I don't think many colleges could sell it and he's worked with JD (JD worked for him, I wonder if he could swallow his pride and be a coordinator for a year or two for us?). Probably not an option but definitely worth taking a look at. Our offense has really dropped off since Coach Pry left and I think it would be just the quality boost we need to take us to the next level.

I found the guy to help JD get our offense back on track... Link

"real MAC fans" versus pretend... hmmm... well if we beat the defending National Champions and knock them off a 23 game winning steak that would benefit the MAC more than the Gators winning the title. As well it bodes better for our team directly rather than some BG coach who took a MWC team to the BCS winning the title. So on this very rare occaision I say GO BUCKS!!!If the Zips knock off the team that lost the national championship game the year before, it's like "wow that was HUGE!!!", but if they knock off the defending national champs and a team that hasn't lost in 23 games it's ON THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED!!! something to the extent of "Fall from Grace" or something to that extent.

Good Point JD is pulling these recruits with a CRUMBLING stadium that's OFF CAMPUS.

Dude no offense but down here in TX, we've got bigger h.s. stadiums, and we will pack a 32-40k seat stadium if it's on campus guaranted.

JD just keeps rolling in recruits... I love it!!! This team two years from now is gonna be NASTY!!! Just imagine all the young talent we've got right now when they're Juniors combined with the redshirts for this last class... I really like the direction we're headed!!! (even with this disappointing season)

I wants snooping around about College Football Stadiums and found this info quite interesting. When I look at Univerisity of Akron football and then compare it to Florida Atlantic Univeristy football, I think "the Zips would wax FAU any day of the week!" You're probably wondering about the FAU reference, well they are also currently in the process of upgrading their stadium situation. As both Akron and FAU are "mid-major's" you would think we both would be envisioning the same thing right, or Akron would be setting their sights higher due to a better up and coming program??? FAU's proposed vision/plan/budgetIt will blow you're mind what they have been discussing and proposed!!! Very similar to what we all dream Akron would set it's standards to.

OSU over Florida... definitely want the Zips to be the team to knock them off.

Actually that is the only thing that strikes me... BTW he was named First Team Freshmen All-American by Rivals.comhttp://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=614131Seems to me it's the only thing they screwed up.

Regardless of record or ranking, as a Zips fan I am still entitled to not like them... sorry. If it makes you feel any better I hate Michigan and Texas just as much, basically every school but the Zips, add the fact that we play them next year... personally i'm not a fan. If I was on a OSU site hating you could say something but if you got a problem with a Zips fan on a Zips website refer to your co-favorite team poorly I don't think you have much ground to stand on.Go Zips Baby!!!Still yet to confirm that the UNT game is before we go to Slow-lumbus???

Aren't we playing North Texas before the Suckeyes???

As it should've been... Senior Day was not the time to get CJ snaps (that should've happened earlier).

Analyst, I think you are passing judgement on a coach before he even gets all of "his guys" playing, and that's not fair. JD's system works, it's a matter of whether the players can execute it. This year they were stuck with a QB who has had a few good games (MACC and a few others) and was extremely inconsistent (tho he put up big #'s, which isn't too hard to do in the MAC). I have never seen a team succeed with an inconsistent QB. Look at the situation, how many elite athletes would want to come to Akron Ohio and play in a crappy stadium? The reason these players are coming here is because of JD and the vision he has for this program. He has taken a team that really didn't have too much going for them to a team that has the talent and needs to get their act together and perform, which will come when they actually have a leader that they can follow on the field. Somebody has to step up because a coach can only do so much from the sideline. That's why I like kids from winning h.s. programs because they bring that winning attitude with them. I will be very upset if we lose JD to a bigger program and I'm kinda glad we had the season we did so we don't have to go through any more growing pains while bringing in a whole new staff. Don't call me a die-hard supporter either because it's JD's job to evaluate the character of the players he's got and put the best players on the field next year. If they don't make large strides toward taking this team where the envision it, the you'll hear alot of complaining from me. But I don't think JD is to blame for this season.