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72 Roo

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Posts posted by 72 Roo

  1. No panic here with this team. Of the 11 starters who played in the national semi-final only two started last night. Cohesion, chemistry, anticipation and comfort were not what they will be by mid-season. Jared has a great team to work with and is building it the right way. The Zips will be where we want them by the end of the season. Remember Butler returned 8 of last season's sweet sixteen starters plus one 2017 starter who was injured at mi-season. We played well against them and at times dominated. Nice job boys. kick NCSU's ass.

    • Like 3
  2. This writer's tongue was firmly planted in his cheek. It was very funny, but also it pissed me off. We will continue to get this arrogance from P5 schools until we beat a few. Then the narrative will change. Until then let's expect it and keep focused on continual improvement. 

     

    One final thought: I'd love to see the author write this way about Ohio State. Say what you want about the Buckeyes, but you do this kind of crap and Urban will beat you 50-0. Will SB Nebraska be laughing then? 

  3. Some good points Here. I see Brady fitting in a rotation. He will make Davis and Reinke up their games, of which they are capable. We will be able to keep our DE's fresh and have their motors running the whole game. I see them bringing big time pressure. Any opponent who thinks this edition of D is like last year's is in for a rude awakening. 

  4. 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.

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  5. 17 hours ago, Balsy said:

     

    Everyone keeps saying how this is going to be a tough year...how is it going to be any more tough then last year?  (I am legitimately asking I've kinda had Zips football on the back burner after the MAC East championship game).

    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. 

  6. 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!

     

    • Like 1
  7. 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.

    • Like 1
  8. 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. 

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  9. 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.

    • Thanks 1
  10. 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 :P 

  11. 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.

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  12. 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. :thumb::thumb:

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  13. 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.   

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  14. 1 hour ago, LZIp said:

    Did Williams not make a big time hire (on a very smart contract) in Groce last year after the unexpected departure of KD?

    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.

    • Like 1
  15. 15 hours ago, Z.I.P. said:

    The situation seriously reminds me of how the women's soccer program was treated with -- was it back-to-back interim coaches effectively before Noreen Herlihy was hired as part of a "long-term plan".  They're just playing around, with no idea and little or no concern about developing a winning program.  Very sad.  I hope those with any input rate the AD's effectiveness on his treatment of women's sports at the UofA!

    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.

     

     

    • Like 1
  16. 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. 

    • Like 1
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