72 Roo

It's OK to be concerned about three freshmen, if they do start. Yet this team has tremendous talent and may be super explosive. We may be a team that outscores our opponents while we learn to shut them down and prepare for the playoffs. My congratulations on your lineup. I'll ask Jared if he cares to comment, which he won't, of course.

I think Deltran Sands will be our leading rusher. I can't see him getting more than 1,000 yards, but I'd love to be wrong.

Ok my friend. Since I said it may be a tough year I'll try to explain why I think it might be. First, of our first four games we play more talented teams in Nebraska, Northwestern and Iowa State. We could be 1-3 at the end of four. Then we move into the regular season against MAC foes. Our OL will have 4 new faces. Keep in mind that our OL has never been in the upper echelon of the MAC so that's a question mark. Our QB is unproven but talented. Kato carries our hopes but he has yet to prove anything. Our RB's are also unproven altho' we hope Deltran can realize the promise he showed before injury and the rest show potential. Our WR's have only one proven one returning in Kwad and no incumbent TE. On D we have been pathetic on the DL altho' there is much hope here too. But keep in mind the only proven pass rushers we have are Boxen and Davis. Do you detect a theme here again? Our LB's will be good, maybe even great. The DB's have talent but have to show they can shut down opponent's passing game. We sure as hell didn't do that in our last two games against Toledo and FAU. When you look at our special teams you see that we have consistently been at the bottom of the MAC. A coaching change should upgrade that standing. Yet we have no reliable FG kicker. Our KO's are horrible, rarely reaching the end zone. Punting may be a plus. A respected football coach once told me that when you are a coach looking at the season you identify all the question marks you have. Then you realize, at best, only 50% of them will pan out. As you can see above we have lots of question marks. They all won't pan out. That may be what ultimately holds us back. We are getting better, no doubt, but we have big problem areas to solve. There is potential to solve each area but nothing that is proven in them. Just potential.

Thanks for posting. I know this is going to be a tough year, but I am getting more and more fired up. Go Zips!

B & G and LZ, I couldn't agree with you more that we need to do all we can to keep coach Mounds, but, unfortunately, we will lose him. We may grow to be a good place to be, yet we will not be able to offer the money nor the prestige of a P5 program. It sucks and I hate it, but that is reality. Let's enjoy him while we have him. On another note I love our recruiting. The talent pool is getting deeper and wider. Your announcement that Jonah will be available this season is a game breaker. Defenses will not be able to focus on Kwad and/or MTB. Kato will have more time in the pocket. The running game will be harder to shut down as D's will have to spread out. All credit to TB for continuing to rebuild our program. Things look much better!

It was made public in the spring although there was no big announcement as to the special teams coordinator change. TB may have done that so as to not embarrass his brother, but it was long overdue. Unfortunately TB forgot to make the change at OC. Damn it! Makes you want to drink, but I enjoy any chance to have a cold one.

I think the check is still in the mail, but I'd rather have a beer at pre-game and get to meet ZNO members.

OK LZip I'm bored and I'll bite. I don't care for many of these predictions. I don't think we are a fifth place team in the East. I agree we have many question marks, especially on offense, but I don't think Buffalo, BGSU or Miami are better than us. All were picked ahead of us. I do think OU is probably better. That being said we can beat all of them. To my way of thinking this predictor does not know what we have ready to put out on the field. They are unproven in many spots, but they are quality now, not like the Akron teams of old. This will be a challenging year for us. Yet we have weapons, depth and a growing sense of confidence. We are not fifth.

Z.I.P., it was indeed a long time ago. Our pool was at the south end of Memorial Hall and rumor was that records set there didn't count because the length wasn't officially 25 yards. But that was only a rumor. Can't help on the last year of men's swimming.

That man was Andy Maluke, a former Zip lineman who went on to coach several sports including men's swimming as you have noted. He got his Phd in physical education. He was direct but fair, a good man. He loved Akron always wanting the best for the school regardless that we were small potatoes then. Hope that helps from an old guy

Oh....... wow..... I am so excited . No doubt this will save the athletics budget, solve our enrollment problems and electrify college fans across the country

For our sake and his I hope he gets a medical hardship waiver. He is a difference maker who we can sorely use. It is a fact we are rebuilding at the OL and WR positions. But we may emerge stronger and better than last season thus catching a few teams by surprise with our explosiveness. That may be just the ticket we need to win several of our toss-up games, which we have many.

B & G, please interpret I think it's good

Good point. Yes you are correct about KD. But think about it, his hire supports my opinion. He was a proven, successful coach having led programs at Tiffin, Ashland, Central Michigan and Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary HS. He had a history of turning around poor programs. Happy Fourth everyone. Thanks to all vets on this website.

Imagine if Stevens was part of a coaching staff that was 5-31 in conference over the last two seasons and 18-42 over all games during that time. Butler would never had promoted him. They expect more and they know past success is the best and foremost predictor of future success. Promoting from within when you have a very successful program is what I want so we may be on the same page. Jared followed Caleb in men's soccer and I supported, even lobbied, for that.

Yes, but remember Illinois is still picking up most of his coaching salary due to the years he had remaining when fired. Your point supports my argument that the university is protecting the football and MBBall budgets. Even soccer had a cutback in that Jared lost ( two years ago) his director of operations and he has not been replaced. I understand why UA did this, but I expect the revenue situation to improve regarding both sports. I feel it will happen with MBBall but football is a longer proposition. Still it's the AD's job to find resources to support competitive program. That hasn't happened.

Too many Akron only offers. But definitely better than in the past.

ZIP, sadly I agree. This hire either says they don't care or they don't have the resources. I believe it is the latter. I don't know for sure, but I believe Williams was told his budget was limited and if he wanted more money he had to go into the football or MBBall budgets. Being unwilling to do that he hired a caretaker, a person who has no history of turning a program around. Jodi left the program in an Ianello-like state. We are now the worst in the MAC. Williams knew this was coming as the season unfolded. He had time to prepare. If this is the best he can do we really need to question his ability to lead and grow.

I listened to the interview and was disappointed. Melissa did not energize the listeners as to the vision she wants to bring. In fact there was very little confidence built regarding her faith in herself in turning the program around. The interview further indicates to me that athletics cares little about being at the top of the MAC in WBBall. Melissa did talk about three returning players that she was excited to coach in the upcoming season, but who in the hell gets excited about returning players from a three win team. A major overhaul is needed and there was zero discussion on that. You win with talent first, then with coaching. There was little confidence built here that we can expect both. I wish i could be more positive about this but that's just the way I see it.

Z.I.P. echos my feelings. WBBall is the feature program of women's athletics. This hire tells us a lot about what is going on behind the scenes in athletics. It is a safe hire, but by no means an exciting one. I truly hope Melissa is able to break the downward spiral of WBBall. i don't see a reason to believe she is capable. She was part of one of the most disastrous periods in WBBall history. As a recruiting director she did not bring in any talent. Kest lost her effectiveness for reasons I do not know nor understand. Melissa bears some of the blame, especially if she is going to get credit for the better years Kest had. Giving her the HC position does not make sense unless Williams had no money and that would explain why he let the Ashland coach slip to BGSU w/o a fight. There is nothing here to excite the Zip faithful. It actually causes more concern than excitement for Zip athletics.

You passed on the obvious .... "it's 8:50 on a Friday night and Kent stills sucks!"

I saw Jaison and the rest of his Trotwood Madison team play Hoban in the state playoffs in 2016 in Columbus. His 6.25 time for the 40 was evident big time. I thought the Madison OL was poorly coached. Hoban dominated them even though Madison was far bigger. They made no adjustments at halftime and the final score was a near 40 point win by Hoban. I hope he is ready to improve his feet and his explosiveness. I trust the coaches saw something in him that can be improved and he will be part of the steady talent upgrade we are seeing in our team. If he's ready to work he made a super decision to become a Zip.

I think you are too casual in assessing the performance/roductivity of our OL. They have not been good for 3 years and the rebuild that they are undergoing now does not give any indication that they are ready to blow any DL out of the way. They will need at least a year to gel. That leaves this year in serious question. But I like your optimism.

Amen brother! That would be great news

Jerome was a hell of a player for us and I am glad he came to Akron. I rooted for him then and I hope he has a good future. Yet focusing on this issue now brings into question his decision-making and maturity. Too many athletes feel it's all about them. Humility is in very short supply. This may be another example.