Blue & Gold

I think this is actually a really good article. Lots of stats I personally wouldn't have known hadn't GT published them. And I didn't get the vibe GT was saying we might sink back to a 5-7 level. I just got the vibe that the D is much weaker than the O & is still a work in progress. "The primary issue revealed itself in last week’s 45-38 loss to Appalachian State at InfoCision Stadium. Backup running back, Jalin Moore, subbing for the team’s starter, rolled up 257 yards rushing on 39 carries against the Zips, the first time a back had bruised a UA defense that way in more than a decade." And Bowden is apparently willing to tighten the rotations & keep the best players on the field as much as possible: “We need to go out there and find the best 11 people and keep them on the field as long as we can and make sure each person does his job,” Additionally, Amato states he's not thrilled with the intensity with which the D is practicing throughout the week. I won't post the quotes because I've posted so many already. Lol. Give Ohio.com a click.

^^ It's telling when your Defensive POTG is a S (Guizer) and the highlights all show him making plays ~10 yards downfield.

Here's the article. ABJ/Ohio.com http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/university-of-akron-football-lack-of-tackling-chemistry-on-defense-a-source-of-concern-heading-into-game-against-rival-kent-state-1.714970 Defensive coordinator and associate head coach Chuck Amato knew it wasn’t going to be easy given the amount of talent that is gone off of last season’s stellar unit. But the struggles the Zips have had on defense are something UA fans are not used to seeing. “I’m not either,” Amato said. “You can tell the fans that. I’m not either.”

Excellent post, Zach. Thank you. I know we've been saying this for years now, but UA Athletics could learn a lot by simply spending some time with the guys down the street. Here's another article on the RubberDucks from today's ABJ. They've been selected to represent the Eastern League as a candidate for the John Johnson President's Award, which, I guess, goes to the most outstanding franchise in minor league baseball. http://www.ohio.com/sports/rubberducks/rubberducks-selected-as-eastern-league-s-nominee-for-top-honor-in-minor-league-baseball-1.714947

I couldn't believe the # of DL who Amato was subbing in-and-out in the App State game. None of them, of course, could stop App State's monster OL (much like Wisky), but it bodes well for how we'll hold up in the MAC East. I saw all these guys play on Saturday: Jamal Marcus Se'Von Pittman Darius Copeland Jelani Hamilton Brennan Williams Davon'te Jest Deon'Tae Moore Daumantus Venkus Christopher Spruil Ibrahima Camara And that's without Boxen. They were all pretty good... but none of them were often in the backfield making plays against App State. App State won the push on the line of scrimmage just about every time.

I have no idea. Oh, and btw, in re-reading my post about Featherstone and George, it sounds like I'm comparing the two and am dissatisfied with Featherstone's play & thus missing George. That's not what I meant. I was just attempting to point out that we're pretty stacked at S. Guiser Turner Featherstone George

King Sanders of Woodridge. 6-0, 200, 4.4. I find this guy intriguing as I've been hearing his name for a few years now. http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/king-sanders/9m-omjkxEeS00gAmVebEWg/gendersport/football-stats.htm http://www.hudl.com/athlete/5374035/king-sanders

He's built like an NFL QB & throws darts like one. But Danny's on-field production is... meh. I'd be happy for him to rep UA, but he probably made the right call by de-committing from OSU if he actually wants to see the field in college. Hoban RB Todd Sibley also de-committed from OSU and is now a Pitt commit. It'd be nice to see him in Akron blue & gold, not Pitt blue & gold.

I've got a friend who is a student at UA & works at a restaurant. Every Saturday she works from 12-8, so that pretty much consumes her entire day.

#20 Featherstone is a good one and is only going to get better. He's a true sophomore but didn't play last year (academics?) so may get an additional year? I miss seeing Jordan George being a hammer out there at S.

It is honestly insulting.

Sounds like K.e.n't starting QB, Malik Miller, is out for the Akron game. His backup, George Bollas - a local product of Aurora HS - was simply unstoppable at the HS level, but hasn't shown the ability to throw with enough accuracy to be a successful QB at this level.

I try not to get too worked up over attendance. If we average ~20,000 one day, that will be a very respectable mid-major number & we'll have a really nice game day experience.

I'd go with 33% full. With most sitting in the west stands. I was sitting in the west stand on Saturday, so looking across at the east stands, the stadium as a whole appeared emptier to me than it actually was.

It's K.e.nt week! And here is a promising sign concerning local media coverage: Ohio.com already has a story on the Wagon Wheel running today (Monday). http://www.ohio.com/lifestyle/history/local-history-wagon-wheel-prized-trophy-of-akron-kent-state-football-game-has-muddy-origin-1.714548

Hate to say it, but these K.e.nt State videos are far superior to ours. We need to step up our productions by a quantum leap. http://www.kentstatesports.com/index.aspx?tab=football&path=football

True beast.

I think it'll take a number of successful years for Zips football to be enveloped into the culture of NE Ohio. Or a Top 25 ranking could give it an immediate jolt. But that's not going to happen... at least this year.

Zips Look to Continue Big-Play Ways Against Appalachian State http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/university-of-akron-football-zips-hope-to-continue-big-play-ways-against-appalachian-state-1.713921

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUBfyZODX_U App State Pre-Game Hype Video. Thought this one was kinda lame, actually. Whatever. Go Zips!

Saw this guy play last Friday night in Youngstown against Mooney. He is straight diesel. He's one of those athletes who is b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l. in pads. He was clearly the best athlete on the field at all times. For either team. Not close. He's fast. Fast off the edge - though probably not beefy enough to play DE in college. But who knows. Looks more like a LB. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown & no one was close to catching him from behind. He coasted the final 40 yards. At 6-2, 215 it was beautiful. I'm surprised STVM doesn't have him at RB. I'd be trying to get the ball into his hands as often as possible. Also surprised STVM didn't use him at WR. Only kickoff return & defense. I think we got the proverbial "steal' with this guy.

Wow! That's a classic!! At least that settles the debate over how "Appalachian" is pronounced.

http://www.ohio.com/blogs/ua-zips/university-of-akron-zips-blog-1.277207/video-previewing-the-akron-zips-2-1-versus-appalachian-state-1-2-1.713728 Really nice video preview of the App-State game from GT & the ABJ.

App-a-LAY-shun App-a-LAY-chun App-a-LATCH-un At least the Mountaineers don't have to sit through games on ESPN3 being called Eh-kron.

Jim Dennison & Jim Tressel look like they could be brothers.