Blue & Gold

💯 I just posted the same in another thread.

I hope we keep our yearly game vs. Ohio. We haven’t been keeping up our end of the bargain but it’s still a good rivalry whose fan bases don’t care much for each other. Gotta keep rivalries like these alive.

I’d like to see them offer Massillon LB Dorian Pringle. He’s from Copley. 6’0” 225-ish. But he’s currently committed to BUGS. He was D2 NEO Inland Region co-defensive POTY.

Are you saying it doesn't seem as though he's being developed?

DJI commenting on the rather difficult 40-yard(ish) sideline throws obviously required in JoMo's offense.

I love Joe Dunn. He's one of us. Plus, I think he does a good job. I don't know how he's remained so positive and optimistic through all these years.

I thought he looked pretty smooth, and with his stature I thought next year he'd probably be taking George's place as a relatively big possession receiver.

Entered the TP. Does anyone know if this is a significant loss?

Ouch. Caleb was pretty good 😕

That's disappointing. This would be an elite team with him in the mix. He's more versatile than Sammy. Man did I love what the Zips would do on defense w/ Freeman down low & Ali and Dawson on the wings. TOUGH! At least we'll have he and Dawson on the wings next year as we break in two new bigs to replace Freeman.

You're right. Silly idea to stoke a natural rivalry to increase attendance. Much better to just keep "thinking outside the box" and tarp our bleachers and play our games in Florida. It should be an annual W to begin each season. And the SteelTire Trophy game would draw better than Gardner Webb or Morgan State. I'm the very last person on this board who wants us to drop to FCS. But if JoMo can't get us to the point where we'd at the very least handle our business vs. YSU ~80% of the time, maybe we should drop. And, if they'll have it, we should schedule Pitt as often as possible in all sports.

💯💯

You're right. I heard that too... maybe read it on here? But JoMo's constantly looking at his IHOP menu on the sideline & communicating with someone, i.e., it sure looks like he's calling the plays. And besides, I don't think our program's at the point where he can delegate that responsibility... especially considering how our offense underperformed all year. I don't want JoeMo to pull another Bowden & derail his career here by refusing to take back play calling duties from a young underling who isn't yet ready for the responsibility.

I've gotten that vibe as well... which leaves me feeling very empty inside 😶

💪💪😎💪💪 SWEEEEEEET!! (Out of reactions for the day.)

Do you think we could use playing at OSUcks next year to help us land a better P5 transfer QB than if OSUcks wasn't on our schedule? Do you think this gives us any recruiting advantage which we didn't have prior to this game being announced?

I still feel we were just a mediocre QB away from 5, maybe even 6 wins.

What would you're thinking be if YSU agreed to play in Akron every year?

If our program was even close to the level of Toledo's I'd be absolutely stoked about facing OSUcks. As it is, we're almost certainly in for a nationally televised shellacking which will only serve to make Joe Akron's eyes roll even harder at the already nearly unthinkable prospect of actually supporting the Zippers. I already suffer enough workplace abuse from the absurdity of actually being a fan of our local team. I can only shudder when I imagine the abuse I'm going to be taking next August. In August of this year I actually had a co-worker ask me, "Are they still called the Zips?" And this is in Akron!!! 😡😡😡 '25 schedule looks spot on. Shockingly, it looks like it was actually put together by an intelligent adult who has a clue as to the currently inglorious state of our football program. However, this is UA Athletics, so they could certainly still screw it up... maybe they'll add Alabama or Georgia? 😂 This year's schedule was also perfect for a potential Top 25 ranking but we couldn't come anywhere close to capitalizing. Ugh. Here are two things we should do. 1. We need to work overtime to renew our rivalry with YSU. We need rivalry games because we desperately need meaningful games. Rivaly games are a way to (artificially) manufacture meaningful games... even if the games aren't meaningful outside of the two schools' fanbases. Look at how excited we were - and how Akron twitter blew up! - after we beat lowly KSUcks this year. YSU is another natural rival who would bring a large contingent of fans to the Info to make for a potentially great environment. Bring back the Steel Tire Trophy! Make the annual Akron-Youngstown State Steel Tire Trophy game our opening game every year! An annual tradition! (I know, I know... YSU doesn't want to play in Akron every year... to renew the rivalry they also want us to make alternating trips to Youngstown... or something along those lines... that's deserving of its own conversation). 2. Make KSUcks our first MAC game every year. a) Both teams are still in contention for the MAC East at that point b) midweek MACtion has not yet started laying waste to MAC football attendance, and c) the weather is still nice. a+b+c=a perfect storm for a fun game day environment at the Info. Rocket science, I know. These are two seemingly obvious, no brainer moves. Moves which are so obvious that I simply can't imagine fully functioning adults in the UA Athletics department haven't been fighting tooth-and-nail for these for years. So, for some reason it's probably easier said than done. It does seem that ESPN has us by the balls. Do we have any say in our conference scheduling? At all? Or are we 100% ESPN's b*tch?