UA1987

While watching the game what are some good potato treats: Latkes... It's potato soup weather... scalloped potatoes, chili fries, are sweet potato's allowed? JoJo's and canned brown gravy (nah)

I'd like to see a good JUCO running back in our 2016 class too (Justin Crawford?).

Kortokrax scout team defensive player of the year? I expected him to compete for a starting OL position next year. http://www.gozips.com/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/20151213i1ndwn

I like our matchup with Utah State as it is an opponent that we have never played. To me that's one of the fun things about watching a bowl game. I sure hope a Zips player does not try snowboarding as a beginner prior to the Bowl. First, it's very humbling (takes about 5 lessons to get up to speed) and second you can be sore afterwards as you use muscles you never knew you had. Try snow tubing out in Boise instead.

Akron would probably be a 14 point dog at Boise, but I think this would be an interesting invite. They have a true freshman QB and a strong running game, which plays into our strength. It would be a tough go and I'm sure Bowden (likes offshore fishing) and the bunch would prefer a warm climate game.

Just noticed Bob Davie brought New Mex. back from the dead (7-5 with victories over Air Force and Boise State). Based on our attendance low due to too many losses, I'd have to say Akron's turnaround is tops in the NCAA after hitting bottom for three years (maybe attendance will trend up now - but I think we need a break out huge year and sustained pattern to make it happen). I believe we beat New Mex. back in the Faust years. Rematch for best turnaround program?

It might not be over for Chapman in some capacity, but for the game to slow down (as you hope it will for him) he has to know what he is doing. I stand by my comments on Lane (I don't shirk them like you do) that were made early in the season (I also held out hope for him) as our QB's were looking too much at Lane to the exclusion of the other receivers. This made it too easy for defenses. At the time, Lane was also having trouble with his route running and blocking. Lane is effectively a Junior now, and has a year under his belt at receiver. He has come a long way. I'm happy to hear he is embracing the position, and if he keeps at it he could be really good.

Try some true humility and a little integrity. Below is a quote from you prior to spring ball (there are many more): 'Hard to recruit top notch QB's when you have been the perennial cellar dwellers. Teams collect them like a dog collects fleas. Look how many we have that will never see the field. Let's hope that Chapman takes us to the next level so we can get better recruits at that position in the future.'

Ah yes, I see Scott is a Junior. Thought I heard someone say he was a Senior - should have verified. Good for us. Just a suggestion, you may want to place an IMHO every now and then in your posts lest you sound like an ass. Interesting you brought up Chapman - you touted him for 9 months and what happened - disaster. I do hope the kid gets it together. Anyhow - we are all Zips fans - bring home the Wheel!

Back for Rivalry Week. Still burned that we changed our offense with so many Seniors on that side of the ball in such a critical year, but Woodson and the Offense started a few games ago to learn their positions. TW has changed in that he does not hold on to the ball too long when a Read Option play is called and his receiver route recognition is getting better. I like his durability and his character (thanked a kid at the CMU game that was cheering at the field level rail for the Zips). Thomas is still young, but we have a QB that we can win with this FryeDay. Also, I'm impressed with the job Funk is doing with the O-line. I hope we can keep him. I like Lane's improvement, but he needs to work on being a force on the field when the play does not call his number. I like Wolf and how about Davis having a great senior year. Wish we had Alexander for 2016, but I think he will be out of eligibility. I'd like to see Bell being more of a force on special teams, ala Nick Rossi, but he is still a teenager I believe. JB1 and C. Grice are getting a lot of well deserved pub, but what about Seniors Scott and Evans. Give them a big cheer at the game, as well as all of the Seniors, who are about to put the Zips back on the map as a legit TURNAROUND program! Go Zips!

Penalties were the difference between this year and last? It was the inability of the offense to move the ball this year. I've had enough. Moderators please remove my userid from this forum. I'm done.

From what I've seen, Lane is more of a liability than an asset on offense right now despite his performance yesterday. Throw to Wolf and give Senior Pratt some looks.

Anyone else want to comment on Dave's assumption that we were most likely going to lose against Pitt this year despite beating them last year and having a half dozen transfers that made us stronger in 2015, and having it be a home game? Dave, I saw that game against Pitt, Pitt was a game we won in 2014, the Zips should have been there in 2015, but our offense (QB) let us down. My office Bowden backer stuff has been thrown in the garbage. It's time to win, and we are not going to get there, right now, with Chapman at QB.

Chapman has had an offense changed for him, a productive, when healthy, fifth year senior QB benched for him, and played a big part in a terrible beginning of the year loss to Pitt that that was a winnable game with some offense. If Chapman would have played the whole game against Savannah State, the outcome may have been much closer. I'd say he's had his chance and now it's clear that Woodson has stepped up. This new offense does not play into Pohl's passing strength as the QB must run about a dozen times a game and, therefore, we may not see too much of him, due to injuries, unless the O just does not move the ball. Chapman may have had 4 stars out of high school, but his head is not together now as he is forcing throws, running with the sidestep jitters, and can't seem to even hand off OK to a running back half the time. Chapman needs more work, but with maturity he could be the guy down the road. For now, I would work him into the offense with about 5 niche plays of some sort (as a decoy or main focus) a game to see if he can help to work some magic for the Zips.

Woodson won the job today. He should get most of the snaps this week, if not, something other the first two games stinks in Zip Ville. Still hold out hope for Pohl. Chapman needs much more work as he seems too jittery, but he should find some niche for Akron. I thought Savannah State put up a good fight after losing their starting QB 2 weeks ago. As a Zips fan, I can sympathize with them. Lastly, I don't think it necessary for opposing teams to cover Pratt when he is as no one throws to him anymore (Wolf only gets a look every now and then). I know Andrew had some drops last year, but this change is striking.

Dalton had a great year, but Charlie Frye had 11,049 yards, 63% completion rate, 64 TD's and 32 int's. This is the best QB I've seen in an Akron uniform. Bowden would probably have benched Charlie in favor of Chapman.

I watched Paul make a couple of kicks like he didn't care what happened. Pohl's lackluster body language after being put in late in the second half was commented on by the ESPN3 TV guy right before he got slammed by that linebacker. Marcus showed his frustration at the end. These could be tip of the iceberg observations. Savannah St. comes in at a critical time. This football squad could be about ready to implode unless someone gets to the wheel and steers us to some victories.

In the post game radio interview, Bowden focused on his defense as the reason the Zips lost due to the Pitt score right before the half. Either he is delusional or he is playing head games with the fans. It appeared to me that before the radio interview that he (or someone) told French and Dunn to not bring up Chapman, Pohl or the offense as they were not discussed. I understand the ESPN3 TV guy said Bowden was intoxicated with Chapman as he kept playing him despite the poor play. I think Director of Player Personnel John Nemec (Chapman's high school coach) has led Bowden down this Chapman path and it is leading the Zips to ruin. Pohl seemed to try to take a head hit on his last carry just to knock himself out of this nightmare. The Zips are in big trouble and something needs to change very quickly. I hope Pohl is ok and he gets back into the starting QB spot. Bowden pulled this last year when he replaced Stein for Sullivan and then switched back. Lets hope he comes to his senses and he does the same with Pohl. I do expect whoever the starting QB is next week is going to have a good game, but this may only hide our real deficiencies.

Back-up OL Mike Casimos out for the season (ankle). This hurts as he was one of our first in guys in to spell our starters.

Appeared to be a scrimmage game, with little regard to the outcome, for the Akron offense as it seemed to be used to determine who plays the rest of the way with all the QB substituting. Tough to take considering what Zips fans have been through (we at least would like to be competitive). I still say play Pohl the rest of the way and work the other guy into the offense as a badly needed playmaker and backup QB. This all should have been worked out by now. I talked to a few people on the streets about the Zips and they said 'no we don't follow them' and a game like this explains why.

I always try to go to the Cattleman's Steakhouse in Stockyard City when in Oklahoma City.

If Akron can stay close early, this will be a game as we gain confidence and they lose it. If OU jumps out to a 14-0 1st quarter lead with an Akron offense that is struggling we are in big trouble. Akron's offense must reach the end zone early to give the defense hope that this thing is winnable, which could enable turnovers on jumped routes and big hits. I'm thinking a 28-6 win by the Sooners, but I cannot rule out a 'shock the world' type effort as Bowden's teams have been known to play well in these situations and because the Zips have their best team in years (maybe of all time).

Dylan Evans (focus of this article) is exactly the kind a athlete I'd go after in recruiting. He's smart, a team player, patient, and is now ready to enjoy a big year with the Zips. Watch him have a monster year as a Senior. Come to think of it, I could be describing Kyle Pohl in this same way.

Might be at a Stark Trek convention