UA1987

Any team in any conference can go South for a myriad of reasons: Northwestern, Temple, UConn, NC State, Florida, Purdue, TCU, West Virginia, Virginia, California to name a few. Some of the other reasons: coaching (including game plan), schedule, injuries, suspensions, penalties etc...

For 45 years Toledo would not play Akron. Then in 1992 they came here and I saw one of the great Zips games of all time. Toledo had a few pro-prospects on their team and were favored to win. But the Zips played tough and with no time left on the clock Darren Alcorn booted a 56 yard field goal to win the game. The fans that were there stormed the field. Let's do it again.

Dalton Williams threw for about 1,200 more yards, 120 more completions, and 14 more TD's last season compared to Pohl. I'm not saying Pohl is having a bad year at all because he's done a very good job while playing injured half the time, but there has been a drop off on offense this year. It could be that we miss Suel that much as he had 76 receptions and compiled 820 yds in 2012. Terry is on it and will add the talent we need to improve. Now on to Toledo...

Of the 33 pass attempts only 5 (15%) went to MTB (2), Smith (2), and Dillard (1). None of these three (about half of our receivers) caught a ball, but they sure did get less than their share of attempts by Pohl this past Saturday. Was Pohl looking for D'Orazio and Bickley too much and was this the thing that hurt us on third down conversions and almost cost us the game or were MTB, Smith and Dillard just not open much of the time?

I noticed that MTB did not catch a pass.

http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/ua-footbal...s-week-1.444520

Wondering if some of our Florida athletes got to see snow for the first time this week. Maybe we could somehow use this as a recruiting tool to attract Southern recruits. Kidding.

We should open as a 7 point favorite or close to that next week.

Purdue's new alt. helmet design - look familiar? http://btn.com/2013/11/02/clothes-call-pur...ternate-helmet/

As has been said, the entire defense played great, but I think Moses McCray's name deserves to be mentioned. As in the Michigan game when Caponi was out, McCray stepped in and took on Can't's offensive line to free up our linebackers and was in on 5 tackles himself. I had my eye on Grice too and he was being held most of the game. Happy for everyone involved - including the fans. The program has officially turned with this victory. Go Zips!

Look for gambling by the coaches in this one. I think Can't will try a fake punt as we tend to drop everyone back too quickly. I've got to think Bowden has something ready to take back momentum if need be or hammer in the stake.

Also JZ, last year Can't was plus 20 in turnover margin, which was one of the best in FBS. This year so far they are -2. You'd have to look at each turnover to see, but I think luck had a fair amount to do with this favorable 2012 stat for Can't. On Saturday. I look for Can't's offense to try and provoke personal fouls on our D, based on our penalty history this year, with more than the usual blocking/pushing for second after the whistle, trash talking, hidden punches, disguised tripping etc.... I'm hoping that McCray, Hollis, Holmes and the rest are reviewing how to handle this adversity and how to use it to our advantage.

I remember the 2006 game at their place. I had seats right behind where Akron was keeping the Wagon Wheel Trophy, which was very close to Akron's bench. At the end of the game a gang of Cant's players ran over to our side of the field and started throwing around Akron's training equipment till they found the thing and then hoisted it up to their fans. I'd like us to return the favor. Reasonably though, they probably should keep the Wheel in a neutral area once the game starts and then have reps award it to the winning HC or player Captain in order to avoid a team on team fight or some Frat prank one of these years. I haven't noticed recently, but maybe there is a quick award ceremony now.

Have you been eating the wrong kind of shrooms. Your posts have been from a Separate Reality.

I like your scouting report. Can't also ran well (225 Yards) against Ball St. and sacked Wenning twice. Maybe the key is to keep it out of Wennings hands with our own time of possession drives, and when he does have it pressure him. Hundley may need some more playing time to win.

Maybe Joe could do a Corso prediction thing at the end of the show - kidding - he'd put the Zip's helmet on everytime

Rossi will be in the mix at LB too as he is a Junior. Named the 'Defensive Player of the Game' after the Miami win. He had two big forced fumbles and numerous tackles that helped win the game. In Fall camp he out worked just about everyone.

Thanks George. Anything on Capi's injury and is McCray ready to go?

Zips win on a last second field goal 30-28 after losing the lead with 2 minutes to go. I don't know but, keep in mind that Can't almost beat Testicle Tech.

I believe Joe was Director of Sports Marketing at UA for 22 years. Once, I saw him outside the Rubber Bowl, years ago, when Faust was here, working alone on a UA fan involvement booth with a microphone trying to get people to impersonate Faust for a prize or ticket. All they had to do was say something like ' I think this is the best in the Country Joe' in a raspy voice and they would be done, but only one or two tried that I saw. Joe did everything he could to get people to attend football games after we went Division IA. I'm guessing this was his #1 job objective. Pretty tough assignment I'd say. Interestingly, Joe came over from the dark side - he graduated from Can't. Frenchy also is not a UA alum - he went to OU, as most fans know.

Joe has done (Dunn) a very good job in a difficult situation - marketing and reporting on Zips Athletics. He actually has fun with what he is doing and is truly a Zips fanatic - maybe the most fanatic of them all. If you have questions, call his radio show (Big Time Sports 3-6 weekdays 1-866-372-1350), and I think he'll try and give you an honest answer about anythng Zips related.

Injuries are starting to thin out our depth. I believe I heard Frenchy saying something about Mizell's ankle in pre-game. It would be nice to have a bye week this coming Saturday, but a least Akron does not have to travel.

Brown, March, and Freeman had monster games in Dekalb. Evans is the surprise of the year on defense. Did not see McCray in the stats. Hollis played a back up role, but must have been effective in occupying lineman as the rest of the defensive line was in this game. It appears some of our transfers and 5th year players are finding it tough going. Hoping for them to regain traction at Miami.

Supposedly, they changed to an option offense in 2013 like Army or Navy, but are also trying out the spread. Agree with you in that I'm not too worried about our defense handling this attack and our special teams giving up points is a concern.

http://www.statfox.com/cfb/injuries.asp Hirschman appears to be ready to go, if needed