cornbread

+1-2 for not including "grammar/ spelling discussions" in the poll

What are the best things to talk about in offseason following 3 wins, a new staff we do not know much about, no 3-3-5 scapegoat, etc?

I read the book.I guess I did try to shut down the argument because I don't see the point in arguing inside the constraints they had setup already( warm vs cold). But here I am... posting again.If there is a potential difference that reflects on the football field, ala Diamond's book, it will point towards things economic, resource driven, or cultural. Something along the lines of a stable and prolonged booming regoinal economy that produces a bunch of athletic babies... or some region begins to tap into resources that were untouched by college football. For example, the hispanic community could start to produce major college athletes and benefit the first teams that have access to that pool or talent.But then I dont see a point in that, given the national prominence of college football, and our global society. Kids are constantly recruited from across the country. I read that book at least 5 years ago while commuting on the metro to and from work in DC every day. You? I find it very interesting to discuss the potential long term health of college football programs in different parts of the country, if for no other reason than to look for hope in this little cold weather city. I will say though that while trying to shut down the discussion you actually bring to mind some great info from the Diamond book having to do with technology, tool sets capitalized on by cultures and the fact that demographics almost never come down to "where is it warm and easy to live?" In the historical context, places being relatively warm and hospitable have almost nothing to do with cultural and technological advances made by human civilization. This discussion can be as complex or simple as we'd like to make it, but again I come back to the most recent polls, which are the most current and simple way to measure program performance I can think of.

There has got to be something better to argue about. The weather, seriously? If you want to get into anthropological debates over this stuff, get a relevant base in the subject by reading Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond.Maybe you will find something the explanations over the rise of modern civilization to apply to high school football athletics in different climates. I don't think there is anything there but who am I to judge?

Happy new year everyone. Lets not suck it up as fans in the new year

That was a hell-of-a-game and performance by number 7. I do not think it is fair to get down on the MAC for losing that game. We are, however, northern ohio football fans... who has the place to tell us how to feel about football given the years of torment endured?

I don't think the 3-3-5 decision was made by the linebacker coach. I would lay that at JD's feet... plus they barely used that this year. They called it the 3-3-5 but they always had someone on level with 3 LBs. More like a 3-4

Does anyone know if they are planning on a special teams coordinater?I'd love for the Zips to dip into their bottomless pit of money and get one. In reality, there is not bottomless pit of money and they can barely afford to pay competitive salaries to their head coach let alone their assistants. There will be no special team coordinator.Special Teams Coach = $13.99 @ book store

It is a positive.I was a MAC football fan before I was a zips fan because of those games. Every sports bar in America is tuned in during them. Kids being recruited by those MAC schools are reminded to watch and tune in. Exposure is good. Anyone arguing against this is defending the honor of the MAC conference and Akron against common sense.

Is GP1 hacking into people's accounts and posting as them?

What are you talking about? do you still watch football?TE and FB present potential mismatches for the defense. You send a big te over the middle against tiny dbs, and you can hopefully get him the ball. If a slower LB covers your te and has run responsibilities, maybe you can beat him with a quick seam. A fb can your be your everyman. From a 6th lineman to a power option in your run/pass game. nothing to do with tds or first downs.

Brian Wagner ran the ball pretty well in HS. Not break away speed but 4.5-6 is pretty nice @ 225 pds.He will be too small for the middle linebacker spot in a 4-3 defense and we do have alot of OLB talent. It might make sense.

Nobel prize winner, pending economic disaster from previous admin averted, ending war in Iraq, finishing the job in Afghanistan, and now health care for all. I am sure that if he had the time, he would run a progressive style offense with a defense grounded in realism.

He seems like a middle linebacker to me, but I bet he can be successful at both.I think he is too skinny. I am going to send the athletic department a few vats of peanut butter to his attention.thank you..watched him closely in the emu game..he had problems covering their tight end,working in space...might be a big safety in a 4-3 IF he can roam the field..The lbs were in zone against emu. The td was a flag route i think. the lbs were covering hooks and seams. I thought he did well in coverage for a frosh.I was thinking of the wrong game. EMU had no touchdown passes. Their best receiver for the day was a TE. He had 3 receptions for 35 yards.35 yards is pretty good.

He seems like a middle linebacker to me, but I bet he can be successful at both.I think he is too skinny. I am going to send the athletic department a few vats of peanut butter to his attention.thank you..watched him closely in the emu game..he had problems covering their tight end,working in space...might be a big safety in a 4-3 IF he can roam the field..The lbs were in zone against emu. The td was a flag route i think. the lbs were covering hooks and seams. I thought he did well in coverage for a frosh.

Having a previous player like Clausen declared for the draft as a junior will be a nice tool to wield on his shortened recruiting season this year.

He seems like a middle linebacker to me, but I bet he can be successful at both.I think he is too skinny. I am going to send the athletic department a few vats of peanut butter to his attention.

Does Wagner move to the sole middle linebacker spot or do they take advantage of his speed and move him to Will or Sam and blitz him more?

They miss him already at Notre Dame.There are other forums (like www.irishenvy.com) that I cant read from work. I can see the forum topics but nothing else. They are talking about it.Any MAC school, or Big East, ACC, or lower Big Ten school would be proud of this hire. He is one of the "it" assistants right now. Conventional wisdom has shown that good assistants eventual become good head coaches. I remember hating Tressel when he was hired. It seemed like tOSU hired someone through back room dealings and that we deserved someone better. I think John Gruden was a candidate at one point? I forget. Winning has a way of helping the forgetting process.

$100 that the kid changes majors after a few semesters. And leave high school coaches alone... most don't make much and they are just trying to do the best for their kids. I remember talking to mine about potentially playing somewhere. The process started out well enough... but not many places wanted slow, 5'10" linebackers as additions to their recruiting class. Coaches don't have a much of a vocabulary for telling kids they coached for 4 years to say things like, "They don't want you."1 in 17 HSFootball players play in the one of the 3 NCAA divisions. it has got to be around 1 in 1500 to 2000 kids actually get to play DI. linky

I am pretty happyWe are effectively getting the best coach left on ND's staff. Say what you want about Notre Dame, but the school is under immense pressure to win. We want people who had that pressure. Akron is in a good position to take a chance. It is like betting on a gut-shot straight draw after the flop. Go all in and bring up the pressure. Chances are good that you get a nice pay off. I am sad that we are not getting Mangino... i was looking forward to this for a few years.

DATA HAS BEEN PLOTTED!data.bmp

I dont think it is right to be angry at high school kids over recruiting. They have a lot of pressure on them at a time when they are trying to figure out a lot in the lives.On top of that, they are hormonal. Good luck being a Hoosier you goofball kid.

tOSU is a national joke and will get taken apart by Oregon. tOSU lost to Purdue. That should be enough said. However........They shut down the Big Ten? Wow! That's almost impressive considering Big Ten offenses shut themselves down and all the defenses have to do is show up. I can't think of an elite offensive player in the Big Ten.They shut down USC? Wow! USC is the fifth place PAC 10 school and they still LOST to them at HOME. Everyone shut down USC. tOSU's defense couldn't shut them down in crunch time when good players and good coaches rise or fall.tOSU and Notre Dame are becoming the same team. Everyone talks about them yet they are irrelevant. tOSU has the advantage of hiding in the Big Ten and playing MAC schools for most of their OOC schedule. ND is just lost.Tressel is 93-21. 6 Big Ten championships1 National TitleRespect commands itself and it can neither be given nor withheld when it is due.Eldridge Cleaver

Mangino head calmly looks into your soul and calms you...Plus... if the Browns keep Mangini... think of the hijinks those two could pull in the Northern Ohio area. Think of the potential for Mangino/Mangini themed who's-on-first routines