UA1987

The Holiday bowl this year reminded me a bit of the September Akron NU game with the second half resurgence and defensive takeaways, but this time it was not Akron but NU making the amazing comeback. Of course this was lost by the analysts. Robert Smith had a disrespectful tone in the post game discussion about NU's Akron loss. He now has now joined my a-hole list. Happy to hear Fitz is staying at NU. They are even uttering the phrase 'National Champions' as a target. Love it - Go Cats! - my second team near the second city.

I happen to agree with a lot of what Zipsoutsider says. I'm a long time Zips fan of over 30 years (not as loyal as Ron from Canton, however- the most dedicated all sports season ticket holder alum of the University). I thought Bowden should have stayed and more money should have been spent on some better asst. coaching. This and last year's recruiting classes have looked better and the Northwestern game was truly something. By the way, I spent some time with NU's asst. AD before the September game and he was very complimentary of Bowden (the AD sent me a note after our win also). Anyhow, that's all done now, so we have to hope for the best, but I see a lot of oversimplification in this discussion and it seems some do not even read replies, attachments or respond to questions (you 94zipgrad - see my previous question). I have to wonder if LW was not given orders to start an attendance upswing NOW; therefore, he felt compelled to take a drastic action. I hope to heck it works out.

Can you give further info? Not that I disagree, just interested.

I agree. Bowden could possibly stay in the players lives by doing something with Christian Fellowship for all sports on campus, while attempting to keep players on the football team and retaining the 2019 recruiting class during the transition.

No sense talking to you. You have been blocked.

Point (if you read back) - high school recruiting numbers are is down in the N/E Ohio area. Can we still be called a hotbed like in Marla's article - nope. Good recruiting area, yes, but there has been a significant drop and the hotbeds are now in the south. Interestingly, we just lost our Florida pipeline until we see what the new HC can do. I'm hoping for the best.

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2018/10/18/Western-Pennsylvania-WPIAL-high-school-football-talent-decline-recruiting/stories/201810170104 Here's an interesting read. Cleveland mentioned later in article. Any N/E Ohio city could just the same be mentioned. Anyhow to keep this topic sensitive, I'm surprised Marla didn't say in her article that Williams should consider Condoleezza Rice for HC.

Northeast Ohio? Sure some good players come out of our region, but it is not what it used to be that's all I'm saying.

I'm from Warren originally. It's been in a constant economic depression for years and getting even worse (Lordstown). That's N/E Ohio last time I looked at it. The high schools were combined about 15 years ago due to declining enrollment. The area used to be a hotbed. Some good players come out of there don't get me wrong - but a hotbed - more like a hot stool (innuendo).

Bro - ha ha ha that's funny - take a look at Cleveland - used to be a city of 1,000,000 now 300,000. Columbus is solid, but they don't call this area the rust belt for nothing.

I'm not a big fan of what kent thinks is the 'it factor'. In football we cannot recruit internationally like other UA sports. N/E Ohio is not the hotbed it used to be for football talent - families have been migrating out of here for decades. Agreed that the right person is out there - Fleck is abrasive, but I'd like someone like him - a young guy that works 18 hours a day with two things in mind - getting better every day and winning football games.

You are conveniently missing the possibility that maybe our running backs were the problem. Akron has had a difficult time recruiting top running backs until the 2018 class. So bad that I think our lowly rival has had better players at RB over he last couple of decades. Grading lineman is difficult and usually only coaches have this info. Darryl Funk upgraded our line play when he came here from Michigan, but the question is did Ekkens maintain the level of play. I think he did a good job. The point is now moot - lets hope we get a good hire, the recruiting class stays in place, and players don't transfer.

I think I proved my point (you may want to try to spell correctly in yours). 'Next man up' is coach speak that has found its way to the bar. I don't like cliches. Good luck to the next coach - let's hope it's not an Iannello type hire.

This year: Undrea Bullard 6 6 305 Bryce Peterson 6 2 300 R J Kelly 6 3 300 Brandon Council 6 4 325 Trevor Brown 6 5 300 Nick Fazio 6 3 305 Rueben Durkee 6 5 285 Kyle Ritz 6 5 315 Shawn Muldowney 6 4 300 Hunter Corne 6 4 305 Landon Forman 6 5 280 Rich Kallay 6 5 320 Austin Sample 6 3 300 Not to mention 4 true freshman. Depth is not a problem. Maybe coaching? I don't think we as fans know. I would always build a team with the most brutal OL I could manage. If there is help needed here I would welcome anything that makes the Zips the most feared OL in the MAC.

To me the problem with our running game is that we have not been able to recruit good backs, till last year. Why were we not able to recruit RB's- bad press from those bottom dwelling years. We now have a stable of very good young running backs and this will definitely improve our running game for 2019. Would I like to see improvement to a bone crushing OL - heck yes, but I think we have a decent lineup. Our 3rd team right tackle, Muldowney, played pretty well yesterday I thought. Next year, as far as athletes go, I'm concerned about the defense. Our D/E's look like Ward, Sampson, and Meeks. Our D tackles appear to be Jest, Brimage, Baptiste, Hanson and Hawkins. Might have to move Hanson to D/E, if he is fast enough. Linebacker also is a concern. I guess we'll see if Arslanian can play at 5' 9". Bubba seems to have the heart of a lion so I'd bet he makes an impact. The way I see it, the time is not now to make a change at head coach. If Bowden stays he needs to unwrap the offense and get some better coaching there, if the athletic department gives him the money. On the defensive side I like Stroud. Go Zips

Maybe with all these money games, we can use part of the cash to get an OC in here that can get this offense going and pay other good coaches a little more to stay. I think our talent on the offense next year would look appealing to a good OC. Stroud will have a job next year rebuilding the defense. I would not like to see a wholesale firing of this staff. No need to worry about Milwee as he might surprise everyone and pick up a job at a lower level.

I believe Brady did not play the first half due a targeting penalty from the last game (maybe already mentioned)? Also, have not heard why, Boxen did not play (listed on GoZips as participating but I did not see him). If i'm right about Brady the loss of these two hurt in the first half, but with Brady's return and an adjustment to hit the center in the second half the defense pulled together. I think they moved Brady to DT for parts of the game.

Is Boxen not playing?

CMU has a deceiving 1-7 record. Their score against Buffalo was better than Akron's, they played NIU close, and they have a 1 point loss to Ball State. For some reason Central Michigan always gives the Zips trouble. I expect a 6 point spread in the favor of Akron, with an error margin of +-7.

I've had my eye on EMU the last year or so. They are playing good football. This year they have victories over Purdue and Toledo. Watch out for the Eagles. They have a big game with Army this coming weekend at home, which will tell us more as Army is 5-2 and kicked the snot out of Buffalo.

Bell was injured in the Northwestern game. but came back later to play. I think he had been nursing a hamstring injury and it got worse in Buffalo.

Now that we are friends I have to ask are you anedonic? Ohio only beat the birds by 1. I was entertained by this game and loved the outcome. Poor Can't losing two by 1 point this year and their only win is against a FCS team. I do hate to say it , but Sean Lewis is recruiting well so these games will continue to hard fought in the future. Our schedule going forward is difficult. Would you believe it if I said that Eastern Michigan may be our toughest game left? Probably not.

I don't know what everyone is talking about in previous posts. What a great win! Did anyone notice the players out for the OT coin toss. Did Kent send out only Matt Bahr and no one shook hands? Anyhow, I thought the Zips played pretty damn good. How can you feel bad about an overtime 1 point away victory against your rival especially when they screwed up! I love it! Go Zips!

I take it the season ending OL injury is Council?

Apparently, their new QB went to Auburn, Ole Miss, then went JUCO prior to Kent. He has 7 TD's and 8 INT'S so far. Had 78 yards rushing in the 1 point Ohio loss. Akron will have to fire on all cylinders to win as I expect Kent to be ready to play. It would be interesting to put a microphone on a few players to hear what is being said on the field. Look for tempers to flare. I would not want to be on the bottom of the pile in this one (watch for turning ankles and broken fingers). In other words - a rivalry game. I hope not to see any taunting or walking over downed players as that is low class.