ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net

Playing the Phil Savage card now huh? Love it! Who's had more fun rooting for their team in the last 20 years, Penguin fans or Akron fans? If you stop attending games, the consistent home fan base in attendance will drop from about 2,000 to 1,999 immediately, and then will grow once the team wins. You'll come back when you realize it's more fun to watch the Zips win games than to lose them.

Lee, I respect your opinions. Your posts are well considered. However, regarding this talk of "no man's land," that's exactly where this program has now been during the D-1/FBS experiment. It's been 25 years of not really belonging. This was a good, solid 1-AA program. Elevating to D-1 has brought nothing but failure to this program. It's time to end the mistake and take this program to its rightful place, in FCS. Think about it. Are ANY posters confident that this team would win consistently in FCS these days? I'm not. So, the reality is that this team, which is supposed to have escalated its level of play to FBS level in the last 2.5 decades, has not only failed in that regard, but has fallen through the previous floor. They are actually worse and less competitive, almost as if by magic, than they were before the move to D-1. Instead of a smaller, FCS program that competes and wins and can draw, say, 12-15K and hold the attention of a local fan base, UA has become an embarrassing joke on the field. Few are willing to follow this team, no local HS coaches want their kids at Akron, the coaches can't recruit decent talent, local residents are mostly scornful, nobody wants to be associated with the stink of this program. It's no freaking fun. Programs that have successfully grown from FCS to FBS have done so on some reasonable time frame. Whatever the formula for success in such a transition, UA blew it, and it's too late to fix that. Are the few remaining UA football fans going to stick with a program that rewards them with one or two meaningful games every 25 years? Wouldn't it be better to enjoy a smaller-scale program that would win games, provide actual positive entertainment value, put some local fans in the seats?

How many years, exactly, would you like to throw down the drain? It's been 25. 25 more?

....said the fan beaten by the Zips for the last 25 years. I declare this 25-year D-1/FBS experiment to be a failure. It's time to take a hard look at FCS.

By now Terry must realize that this is not a "normal" losing program. I have concluded that the stadium on campus, the name of which should not be spoken because the company that purchased naming rights is an exploitative scam machine, is in fact Akron's very own FACTORY OF SADNESS. I've asked the question several times over the last couple of seasons, normally to be disregarded, about why UA is so deeply bad, why all of the facilities upgrades have done nothing for the program. Whatever the answer, I've concluded that Akron will never succeed at FBS football. The reasons almost don't matter to me anymore. It's been 25 years of D-1/FBS play, only 7 winning seasons, and none with more than 7 wins. Are you kidding me? To boot, against ALL odds, they have inexplicably gotten worse AFTER all of the new humdinger facilities. Something is deeply, deeply wrong with this picture. If Akron were going to find a way, surely it would have happened by now. Akron football isn't the Cubs. There's nothing lovable or cuddly about these Zippers. It's god damned depressing. This is the one thing that Proenza will never get right. Akron will not win in FBS. It's time to admit that 25 years of life-sucking horribleness is enough. I would say the program should drop to FCS, but I'm not convinced this program would win at the FCS level. Wouldn't everybody really be healthier and happier without UA football going forward? I also want to publicy apologize to Gerry Faust. I've always pictured him in my mind as the definition of college football coach loser guy. But guess what? He came here at the inception of D-1, played an Independent schedule in the worst facilities in the country, and god damn it he won some games. That's something today's bunch of loser clowns (and I'm talking to coaches and players over the years since the campus upgrades began) haven't done. Just gray and disgraceful is what this program is. Jesus H Christ, I hope that there is a Doctoral candidate on campus looking for something to study. It would be fascinating to dive deep into why this sad sack program is just such a bummer, so discouraging, so craptacular. If you are an Akron football administrator, coach, recruiter, or player, you should punch yourself in the nose and cry yourself to sleep tonight. That's what you're all about, and you've dragged all of us to that place with you, damn you. I'm done actually believing in this program or even hoping for better. It really just needs to be drowned in the tub.

I've seen the recruits listed as they've committed, and based on the comments I see from other posters who I presume know something about FBS prospects, I wonder about the class so far. Regarding GP1's comment that the tone of my message was that it may be impossible to win at Akron, that is exactly what I'm worried about; not that it's metaphysically impossible to win at UA, but that there is something deeper than we normally consider, something that seems to make the "total package" presented by the university, campus, city, etc, unattractive to recruits. It's not like we have some up years wherein we're awesome, and are just in a down phase right now. Other MAC programs, EMU excepted, have seemingly all had the ups to go with the downs. Even our "up" years are less than awesome. When the other MAC programs have "up" years, they beat solid FBS programs, they wind up nationally ranked, they crush UA. Even during 2005 UA wasn't that kind of program. I would offer that UA suffers from something deeper. Terry is the highest profile guy we're ever going to see at UA. If he doesn't impact recruiting, and by extension the on field product, immediately, it cannot be done at Akron. We'll see how he does, but I don't see kids rushing to be here yet. I think there are factors that have to do with the saturation of big time football, options nearby for players, something to do with UA's lackluster history in football, arriving on the D-1/FBS scene too late, perceived prestige of program, or some confluence of factors that may always prevent UA from succeeding at the FBS level. When UA couldn't even reel in Winters last year, I was pessimistic about the program and was one of those advocating for a potential move to FCS. Let's see how Terry does, but if he doesn't succeed, UA's goose is cooked at the FBS level as far as I'm concerned. You can say it's early to be in "jump" mode, but this team is 1-8 and getting worse each week, with the potential to win one more the rest of the way. Terry had better be able to recruit his ass off going into next season.

I just don't get it. I've seen it happen but don't understand how UA could vastly improve the campus and its athletic facilities, and yet the football program fields likely one of the few worst teams in all of FBS. We all know that Bowden and his staff brought initial hope for a turn around. I was ecstatic during the early games when the offense scored a ton but now the Zips are back to rock bottom. So, even with the coaching of a highly successful staff this is a one win team. Factory of sadness indeed. I can't stop thinking that there is something deeper and more "broken" than the coaching staff, some structural explanation for the fall of this program. If UA cannot win more than one game a year playing in the MAC, with Terry Bowden as the head coach, in a newer stadium, on a newly attractive campus with A+ facilities, where does hope come from? Akron, in spite of the newer facilities, does not appear to be an attractive choice for FBS-type players. I don't know how the 2013 recruits look, but if Terry and his staff are unable to recruit some serious winners, this coming year, the question will be why players won't come here? Why could UA recruit better when they played in the Rubber Bowl than they do now? What is it that is so unappealing to potential recruits? For those who would answer simplistically that "we cannot recruit because we lose games," that cannot be it. All of these other MAC programs find a way to be at least be middling. Can't has turned it around, and quickly. Ball State was up, down, now up again. They all compete, except for Akron. For those who are in touch with the program on a deeper level, what do the kids who refuse to be recruited by Akron say about why they will go just about anywhere but here? That's what I want to know. Lastly, I will wait to see what Terry does with this first full recruiting class. If Terry Bowden, who could sell snow to Eskimos, can't sell seriously good players on playing for him at Akron, and I mean right now, then I will become extremely skeptical, again, about long term prospects for UA football. If Terry can't make it happen, that tells me that there are deep, troubling, structural issues that will not be resolved by the hard work of a solid staff. I have no idea what might be lurking under the surface, but something is keeping good players from wanting to give it a go at Akron. Someone PLEASE help me understand.

Me no likey. How's the recruiting class looking for next season?

Phase I, to me, has been to produce an on-field product that can hold my attention. I actively worked to avoid even thinking about the Zips as they fell into the abyss under Ianello. The program was like a cosmic focus of sadness and I couldn't bring myself to watch it. I was a guy calling for the program to consider the drop to FCS. This year they haven't won but damn it they are fun to watch. I'm entertained as hell by this team, although it's also enraging to watch the mistakes and the points-scored-against. So, to recap: Previous elicited emotion: pure, abject sadness. Current elicited emotions: excitement, glee, rage. A few twists, increasingly adaptive coaching, a couple more solid players, younger players working into the scheme, these things should bring us into the win column a little more often. I see positive steps here, and minimally I can say I now look forward to watching the team play. I'm OK with that until TB has had the chance to bring in more players.

OK then, it's time for Minute Maid Zips Stadium. Or how about Goodyear Stadium? Albrecht Park? Aren't there any solid corporate citizens left in town that can support naming rights at UA? Or, we could continue on the current track and go with Payday Cash Stadium, or perhaps Plasma Cash Stadium, or Asian Massage Park.

UA's association with, and promotion of, Infocision will become a huge black eye, far more important than what some lame jerk-off coach did to damage the football program. Maybe UA can find a large human trafficking ring to sell naming rights to when the Infocision deal is complete.

Having now read a couple of well written articles about Infocision, the company, I very much wish that UA were not entangled with them. It is not good to have that company's name representing the university in any way, IMO. I'd like to think that naming rights contracts would include clauses allowing organizations to dump the sponsor. Infocision is an exploitative outfit. Is this the kind of company that can/will underpin the local economy in the long term? Does UA really want to partner with a company that specializes in manipulating people over the phone for donations while lying about how much of the donated amounts actually go to the charities represented? Does Infocision bring skilled, rewarding jobs to the community? How many middle-aged people are scraping away in cubicles for minimum wage for the Taylors right now? Disgusting. Do they add to the middle class, to stability in the local economy? To say that Infocision is a dubious presence in the community is to be generous.

The two calls hurt, no doubt. At least one of them was a terrible call. My impression is that as the "institution" of football, led by the NFL, works toward the lessening of head injury to players, or at least toward creating the impression that the game cares about these injuries, many bang bang plays that involve impact to the helmet and/or the snapping of the offensive player's head, will bring the yellow flag whether warranted or not. I'm just adjusting my expectations in games to expect the flag in these situations. Really though, overall, I prefer to wish that the Zips had played defense today. It's always so easy to blame the refs. If we stop even one of the Miami drives in the second half we win the game. Lastly, I must say that it's awesome that in a thread involving DIG, I'm the less emotional one, possibly more clinical in my analysis in this case. I can't remember the last time that was the case. KEEP UP THE PASSION DAVE IN GREEN! NZF is surely rubbing off on you and I like it!

It's fantastic that the complaints by Zips fans are about losing a laser show, super close shoot out. I'm still living in the TB honeymoon period. After watching this team suck hard since 2005 I'm just happy as hell to be entertained by a Zips team. I literally couldn't watch this team the last couple years so I'll refrain from complaining at this juncture. If TB and Amato can build ANY kind of defense this year going into next, this team is going to be hella. I will annoy those of you complaining about the refs, however, by saying that when you allow 1,000,000 points by the opponent you're usually going to lose. Akron put up virtually no defense today. That's the reason for the loss, not the refs.

The notation that you are a "Zips junkie" is wrong. You are a gadfly. Why oh why are you posting OU drivel on an Akron board? To steal a line from Phil Savage, ____ you, go root for Buffalo.

I also watched on espn3 and was pleased with the amount of coverage/commentary went Akron's way. Much time was spent focusing on the Bowden family and resuscitating Akron football. It was a good watch.

As we watch and love the seeming rise of the UA football team I find it incredibly annoying that there are at least two posters who take every opportunity, on a Zips board, to press the case for a different MAC program. It seems every thread is peppered with flies in the ointment. This is not a Party U/Bobkitty board.

Zips football is fun to watch again! Bam! I think they're going to win a few MAC games and reward the fans. Good times ahead people.

Zips' ball. Halway through the 3rd, Zips' on O, tied against the Vols. EEFFFFFFF YEESSSSSSS.

CATCH THE BALL!!!!!!

At this point there is essentially no way the Vols "win" this game. A win against a MAC team that involves struggling the way they are is a loss for a program like Tennessee. Imagine if the Zips actually score more points and win for reals! I am LOVING this Zips team. Gawd what a nice change after the Ianello years.

Ouchie. Time for some stout D.

Suel pulling defenders along for the ride! GO ZIPPERS!

Work on your level of clarity, Debbie Downer.

You have to be kidding. Conflicted? Considering the circumstances, you are today's winner of the Glass-Half-Empty award.