Blue & Gold

IMHO, if offered, we should jump at a move to the AAC. Nothing here you can't easily google but I'm bored this a.m. AAC: UCF Cincy UConn ECU Houston Memphis Navy USF SMU Temple Tulane Tulsa It's simply personal preference, but there are really only two schools out of that group which kinda make me just shrug my shoulders: ECU & Tulsa (though Tulsa has great soccer.) I honestly do enjoy our current rivalries with Ohio, K.e.n.t & Buffalo and our blooming rivalries with NIU & Toledo. But again, I'm not sure but it may just be because I'm a huge Zips fan that I enjoy those rivalries. I do know that we need to do something to distinguish ourselves from the other MAC schools in the state. There are just too many of them. Off the top of my head, I think I remember reading that Ohio has the 2nd highest number of D-1 football schools in the country, trailing only Texas. For a state who's population is shrinking, that's just too many. We need to stand out. A move to another conference (even Conference USA, let alone the AAC, and the ACC pipe dream) would do that.

I may have had a brain freeze on my prior post. I thought the AAC was a P5 conference. 1. Big Ten 2. ACC 3. SEC 4. Big 12 5. Pac-10 You're right. Disregard my above point about being a perfect fit for the AAC - if we're limiting our discussion to the P5.

Right. Read the article, Balsy. It's disgraceful. And, btw, I didn't say we should boycott it or ban it from taking place, or censor anything at all. Just speaking my opinion on the matter that it is terribly inappropriate. Freedom of speech, you know. Kent being Kent.

IMHO, a new basketball arena would be a prerequisite to admittance to a P5 conference.

I'd absolutely love it if we were able to join a P5 conference. I enjoy the MAC, but I believe that's just because I'm such s huge Akron fan. I'm not sure we'll ever really win the attention of Joe Akron while competing in the MAC. It's just not taken seriously enough on a national level. We'd be a good fit for the AAC and have a natural rivalry with Cincy.

Kent being Kent. I just puked in my mouth after rolling my eyes so hard I now have a migraine. http://www.ohio.com/news/education/tamir-rice-s-mother-to-be-keynote-speaker-at-may-4th-commemoration-at-kent-state-1.678736

Yeah, unfortunately I agree with this. The stadium is so beautiful but those banners look pretty tacky.

IMHO I believe our primary focus should be on scheduling name P5 schools, even if they're only known for football (Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan), to do something... anything... to spark more local interest in the team. The program is currently in a rut. A high rut, to be sure, but a rut nonetheless.

Man... only 2:34 of highlights? Most of those highlights involved Tra'Von Chapman, btw. Woody's the man but Tra'Von looked to be putting a nice touch on those passes.

I just saw that on twitter. Thanks for posting. Our postseason record really leaves much to be desired.

Thank you.

http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/20160418/sunday-special-ncaa-ruling-looks-bad-but-is-it/?Start=1

Idk, but I say Zipsoutsider almost certainly meant Van Edwards. I wasn't able to attend the spring game, but I was impressed with the burst Edwards has in the handful of carries I saw from him last season.

Akron Sees No Future for RubberBowl, Would Like it Torn Down http://www.ohio.com/news/local/akron-sees-no-future-for-rubber-bowl-would-like-it-torn-down-1.676518 (I couldn't find that old RubberBowl thread.)

Ohio.com post-game story. http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/ua-football-plenty-of-positives-emerge-from-spring-game-for-zips-1.676497 The offensive line will be young, but in this game, they, for the most part, looked solid giving Woodson ample protection.

Informative summary! Thank you! (I'm out of likes for the day and it's only 6:20 a.m. Lol.) I'm hoping for more of these from those who were able to attend. Go Zips!

This unpleasantly surprises me. I thought with DeAndre Scott, Larry Hope, Jordan George & Bryce Jones we'd be stout at DB.

You guys are nuts, Lol. I LOVE the Z logo! I think it's cool & the kids say it's "sick." Lol.

Game day article. http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/university-of-akron-football-zips-drawing-the-blueprint-for-2016-season-1.676328# Offensive line: The first unit, which allowed few sacks during practices, appears to be set for now. Of paramount concern is whether or not it can maintain cohesiveness. Linebackers: Judging by the team’s roster, John Rachal, Travonte Junius and Ullysees Gilbert III are expected to start.

Nice article on Hakeem Lawrence & Mykel Taylor-Bennett. Our WR corps could be special. http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/ua-football-two-early-terry-bowden-recruits-making-impression-in-spring-practice-1.675576

Good post. I absolutely agree that it's nearly impossible for us to get an NCAA at-large bid. However, the primary reason I really want to see us amp up our scheduling is not for a possible at-large bid, but for our local perception. People in the Akron area still think we're small-time and not worth coming out to see. I believe we need to do something radical to break that perception. We need to go on the road and play the big boys in their houses, not worrying about any return game what-so-ever. We need to not worry much about our 21-game winning streak. The only time I ever hear it mentioned is when Akron is on t.v. & the announcers are looking for something to talk about. What are the other schools? Kansas, Gonzaga, Duke, Ohio State. They never mention that 21-game win streak when those teams are on t.v. because I don't think anyone really cares. Recruiting? We'll still have a good record, even if it's a 19-win season.

Several unheralded players have unexpectedly opened some eyes. With the loss of two standout interior defensive linemen, the Zips needed someone to step up, and junior Darius Copeland has done so, Bowden said. “He’s making me feel good that we won’t have any drop-off after losing Rodney Coe and Cody Grice,” Bowden said. “He’s playing that position at a very high level. I suspected that he could.” That's extremely high praise from Bowden & sounds almost too good to be true.

He's one of the hardest hitters I've ever seen. Jordan George reminds me of Bre'. He's just somehow often in position to deliver punishing hits & it appears he loves to do so.

UA Football: Zips seeking big plays in Saturday's scrimmage, seek consistency from new linebackers http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/ua-football-zips-seeking-big-plays-in-saturday-s-scrimmage-seek-consistency-from-new-linebackers-1.674835 Meh, article this time. GT kinda mailed this one in. There are two quotes from Bowden. Looks like the starting LB's for the Spring Game may be Ulysees Gilbert III, Brian Bell & John Rachal. I'm going to bet that our starting LB's come August are Gilbert, Bell & Jamal Davis - Davis is probably gonna take this spring to learn the D, but he should be a difference maker in the MAC.