ZachTheZip

Good interview.

We should be favored in at least three games: Morgan State, UMass, and CMU. Win the games you're supposed to, and surprise a team or two, and you get 4 or 5 wins. Realistically, three wins should be the expectation. I hope we exceed expectations this year.

It's up in the bookstore now. Personally, I think I'll pass.

If we're talking about the recruiting impact, then scoring an upset in one of the first two games is crucial. It tells recruits in Florida that we're not worse than their worst teams.

Suspended from a bunch of fake games. They'll probably let him play against us.

Quarterbacks 12. Akron — The comforting news is there's no position battle. Stephen A. Austin senior transfer Dalton Williams is the starter for the Zips. Clayton Moore and Patrick Nicely have both transferred so this is going to be all Dalton, all the time. Williams didn't start at SFA so I'm not sure how he'll stack up against the rest, but it'll be a steep learning curve and Williams' role is merely to get through the season as painless as possible. Kyle Pohl is a redshirt freshman and my guess to be the backup, since the rest of the QBs are true freshmen.

I'm just wondering if anybody knows how season tickets are selling this year? Also, how many were sold last year? I have to imagine that sales are up, but I would guess it would not be by too large an amount. Fans are cautious and most people in the area have been continously burned by their sports teams to the point where they're in a perpetual wait-and-see mode.

I get the impression that the team appears more talented than the previous coaching staff made them look.

Running Back 7. Akron - I'm going to take a big risk here. Jawon Chisolm is, like Anthon Samuel or Branden Oliver, a bonafide talent at running back. He was Akron's lone consistent offensive threat last season and played the second half of the season at less than 100% health - and still just missed a 1,000 yard season. The offensive line and the offensive system at large are both changing drastically, which balances out Chisolm's individual skill and the depth behind him. If the team gels early enough and he stays healthy, he has an outside shot at challenging Oliver for the conference rushing title - but that's a really big if. Right in the middle of the pack. I think Chisholm's better than that, but I don't know if his running style will allow him to put up huge numbers in the new offense.

Moving from its current place on Ghent road to a new location down the road in Copley. Presumably the Zips Live radio show will be moving with it. Also, they're adding a whisky and craft beer store to it.

And some burritos.

It will be interesting to see the depth chart evolve. I have a feeling that we'll see a lot of new faces on the first and second teams; players who didn't thrive under the previous system, or simply had their talent mismanaged now have the chance to show what they have.

PD article ABJ article

At the end of the day, it's not like Dalton could do any worse than Nicely or Moore. It would be quite difficult to not do better, in fact.

The University of Akron's Facebook page posted this:

If a senior-to-be has earned his degree and not exhausted his eligibility (four years plus a redshirt), he can play immediately at a school that offers a graduate program that his original school does not offer. If a senior-to-be has not earned his degree, and has not exhausted four years of his eligibility (was not redshirted), he can sit out a year and play the next. If a senior-to-be has been redshirted and has not earned his degree, he would have to transfer to a lower division and would only have one year to play.

Wide Receivers 9. Akron - The Zips are awfully deep in this spot, led by junior wide receiver Keith Sconiers (639 yards, 5 TDs) to go along with experiences wideouts Marquelo Suel (417 yards, 4 TDs) and A.J. Price (196 yards, 1 TD). Little-used starting tight end Rhyne Ladrach (62 yards) also returns.

Offensive Line 13. Akron - The Zips' O-line is less experienced than the year before for a second time in a row, plus they are implementing a new offensive style under Terry Bowden and his staff. This is the smallest line in the conference, and they will probably struggle to be drastically better than last season despite their experience. Unless a bunch of freshmen step up in a big way, it's hard to argue with this one.

CJ James is risky? Looking at Greg Reid's story, it doesn't sit right with me. Something seems off about him, like he's more trouble than just what's been reported. I don't want him near the program.

I'd rather not.

Released by CSU, but an NCAA waiver is required to be able to play immediately. The CSU release just means that he is released from scholarship and doesn't have to pay his own way while he sits out.

Have to assume he will sit out this year. Still, getting a starter from another FBS team can only help, especially when the current number of players we have who could start on another FBS team doesn't seem very large.

According to the Mountain West board, the starting DE from Colorado State is transferring to the Zips to follow his position coach. Thanks to a certain poster for the scoop!

The first game after a major distraction is always the hardest.

Good find.