Spin

If this is a double post, I apologize. AKRON - After being invited to rookie mini camps on a tryout basis, University of Akron football players Deryn Bowser and Andre Jones have signed free agent contracts with the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively. Bowser, who has been assigned #10, and Jones, who has been assigned #32, officially signed one-year contracts on May 17. Jones will be attempting to make the team as a cornerback/special teams player. For a complete list of current Zips in the NFL, CLICK HERE. Playing professionally in the CFL are Dennis Kennedy (#32 Edmonton Eskimoes), Jabari Arthur (#88 Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and Jermaine Reid (#99 Hamilton Tiger-Cats). Bowser, who missed the final six games of his senior season (2009) due to injury, still lead the team with five touchdown receptions and ranked fourth on the team in receptions with 21, while his 307 receiving yards ranked third on the squad. Bowser was on pace for an impressive season prior to a season-ending injury during the Buffalo game in week six. He caught the Zips' lone score at Penn State to open the season, then, in week two, made his mark in Akron history by scoring the firs touchdown in InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field history. Bowser would go on to score twice more in the 41-0 victory while hauling in a total of eight passes for 86 yards. The Los Angeles native was a third team All-Mid-American Conference pick in 2008, catching 64 passes - which ranks sixth on the UA single-season list - for 785 yards and four scores. He ranked sixth in the MAC and 60th in the NCAA in receiving yards per game (65.42), while ranking eighth in the league and 46th in the nation in receptions per game (5.33). Bowser was named MAC East Player of the Week, catching five passes for 7 yards and making one of the more dramatic catches in Wagon Wheel history. Down four with a minute-and-a-half to play and the Zips' facing 4th-and-11, Bowser elevated to make a highlight reel touchdown reception to put Akron up three - a game the Zips would win in overtime. In one-and-a-half seasons at Akron, Bowser had 85 career receptions, to rank 17th on the UA all-time list - for 1,092 yards with nine TDs. Jones, one of the most versatile athletes in college football over his career, will first attempt to make the Chiefs playing corner back. In his career, Jones started at both safety spots, both corner back spots and wide receiver, while playing quarterback in the "wildcat" as well as being one of the nation's most dangerous punt and kick returners. In one game alone at Syracuse this past fall, Jones started at receiver, played corner back, played quarterback and served on the special teams. In his career, Jones scored by fumble recovery (64-yard strip and return), by reception, by rushing and by kick return. Despite playing just half of his senior season (2009) at wide receiver, Jones still tied for the team lead in touchdowns (5), led the team in receiving yards (553) and ranked second on the squad in receptions (33). He caught four TD passes and rushed for one, that coming at quarterback in the Zips win over Can't State. He was named third team All-MAC at wide receiver by Phil Steele Magazine. He had two games with over 100 yards receiving yards, a career-high 154 on six catches at Northern Illinois and 114 on eight receptions at Bowling Green. And, despite playing just six games on defense, Jones still ranked 15th on the team in tackles with 21. As a junior, Jones' first season at wideout, he was named third team All-MAC by the league's coaches catching 47 passes - 15th on the UA single-season list - for 678 yards, playing just 10 games at receiver. He led the Zips and ranked third in the MAC with seven TD receptions. He was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week for getting five receptions for 100 yards and a score in a win at Army. His first two years at Akron was spent on the defensive side, where he ranked no lower than fourth on the team in tackles. Also, he led the MAC and ranked 11th in the NCAA in punt returns in 2007, averaging 14.5 per attempt (16 attempts for 232 yards). Also that season, he did not have enough attempts to rank among the NCAA nor MAC leaders, but averaged 32.8 yards on his nine returns. One of his returns has gone down as one of the greatest in school history as he took a lateral from Alphonso Owen as part of an 89-yard, game-winning free kick return at Western Michigan (39-38). For his career, Jones caught 80 passes for 1,231 yards and 11 touchdowns in 17 games at wide receiver. On defense, in 28 games at safety and corner, Jones registered 184 tackles, including 4.5 for losses and one sack, with seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, four interceptions and 10 pass breakups. On special teams, Jones returned 36 career punts for 348 yards (9.7 avg.) and 29 career kicks for 686 yards (23.7 avg.). In 10 rushing attempts, Jones gained 85 yards for an average of 8.5 yards per carry.

just watch and learn...

Would you rather compare World Cup to Baseball World Classic numbers?

Soccer and baseball are very similar when you think about it. If you just take a glance, both look like there's nothing going on. Both are relatively low scoring in NFL/NBA land. If you look a little deeper, you see an incredible amo9unt of strategy and decision making going into every play. Every pitch. Every swing or take. Every dribble. Every pass. In both the defense sets up depending on the opponent and the situation. Soccer even has different formations depending on the situation. The kicker (no pun intended) is if you ever stepped into a set of soccer cleats, went out on a field, and played a full 90 minutes, you would see what sets soccer apart from any other sport. Science tells us it's the most physically demanding sport in the world. You have to look past your prejudices that have been socialized into you, find a team you have a "rooting interest" in, and let yourself get drawn in. Then you will understand.

Don't kid yourself. I bet the WC draws better ratings in the US than any of the baseball games on TV during that time.

I think the problem is we recruit locally for several reasons (budget, warm weather schools). Locally players are drawn away from baseball. Peer pressure. The football head coach gets ahold of them and calls them names if they play baseball instead of lifting. It's just where the emphasis is in this part of the country. High school football games on TV, on the 11:00 news, front page of the paper. Meanwhile in a school like Wadsworth, we have a great ball team, put all 8 seniors into college, and nobody talks about them. It's all about the underachieving football team. The state champ wrestlers feel their pain, trust me. We're recruiting for baseball players in a football culture. And I question the recruiting when none of the 8 Wadsworth players came to Akron. A couple went to Can't State and another YSU IIRC.

You only get better by playing someone better than you. And, if you do beat a Michigan or an Illinois, it makes your whole season. Players who wanted to go to those schools and play well against them can walk with their head held high the rest of their lives. You get on TV, your school gets it's commercials out to the whole country. It puts you on the map, especially if you don't embarass yourselves (like holding tOSU to 3 first half points a coulpe years ago). It's a good way to get on the map.

Anyone know when it will be closed?

Ya cuz that rivalry philosophy is absolutely KILLING tOSU...

At first I thought it was funny. But then I thought, well, it is Delonte...

To maintain the attendance standard, they count each fan twice. Once in the area outside the stadium, and then when they go in. The count the cheerleaders too, and the players, the band, the announcers, people in cars driving by. That was sarcasm, in case anyone wondered. They don't count people in cars. Do they?

Handing out tickets for the sake of getting people to come isn't the answer. Just ask the Force... But if you work with another organization, like Acme Stores back in the day, you're not giving away anything. If you get a poster in a tire store or a fast food joint and say "If you get your oil changed here this month..." or "If you buy a rediculously big burrito full of rice and little else..." then there is a value on that ticket. You're getting your name and logo in those stores. That some of us remember the AcmeZip game in 2010 means it was an event. The more I think about it, you may be right about the kids. After being bombarded with the kid stuff at baseball games, hockey games, arena "football" games, not to mention the loud obnoxious garbage we're hammered with at Cav's games, let's let football be football. We'll let the Aeros and Monsters run the circus.

Judging by the Aeros, and the teams who did well at the Coliseum despite not playing a "big three" pro sport, I would say: Have a nice convenient comfortable venue. Check. Get the clothing and memorabilia out there. People like to wear clothes of their favorite teams. It makes you legitimate. Get the clothes into department stores and sporting good stores. I know, dead horse, but it bares repeating. Stay off of SportsCenter. The only time a mid-maj or a minor league team makes SportsCenter is for something really really bad. Starting QB kicked off, coach resigns under the pall of recruiting violations, that all spells "train wreck" to the consumer. The opponent is not important but being competitive is. Beat the BGSU's and Northern Illinois'. The Aeros draw nice crowds playing Altoona and New Brittain. And beating them and winning championships. Bringing in Indiana if you can compete with them will attract the big time college football fan, but when you give up 56 to Temple, big time college football fan knows you're not even a mediocre mid-major. Save that for later. Make it a fun event for everyone in the family. I'm a purist and don't like the sideshows at games, but they are popular with the kids. And all those kids pay admission and could be lifelong fans. Advertise. Advertise the family aspect. Advertise the FOOTBALL. Eastern Ohio is football central. We have high schools that outdraw most colleges. Get with a marketing partner like we had with the Acme/Zip games. Just don't expect them to pay the whole thing like we did Acme. We need the exposure. We need people to come out and see the team beat the BGSU's and Northern Illinois. Giving away seats is better than playing in an empty stadium. The Zips have one thing on the Aeros, is they have local talent. Make that known. First things first, win MAC games. Play non-conference games you can win. Market. Advertise. Remember the kids. Look at the Aeros, they're a perfect case study in selling non-big-time sports.

I wonder if it's for a PR. The campus is within a few seconds driving time to several level 1 trauma centers, adult and pediatric, certainly a lot quicker than a flight can get there. Even where I work, 20 minutes from a trauma center +/-, it's quicker to transport by ground... Hopefully it was just a PR event.

That does bring up an interesting point. Just how do you define "FAN"? Am I a true fan of the US National Team if I have never paid to see them in person? The Italian National Team? When I was first able to drive, TTed Stepien owned the Cavs. There were nights only 1500 people were at the game. Does that mean those of us 1500 who are still alive are the only "true" Cavs fan? And everyone else is a fair weather bandwagon jumper? How many games do I have to attend to be a "true" fan? How many innings on the radio or TV? I'm sure everyone has a different answer to that. Could the guy in the bleachers who bangs on the drum call you a fair weather fan because you have missed X number of games in the past 40 years? It's all relative.

This is a tired old excuse that carries very little merit. The fact is, Mark Shapiro is incompetent. The team can't draft, overpays for washed up has-beens (the latest, Russell Branyon), and pays big money to sign free agents to platoon (ie Dave Dellucci in 07). The coaching at the major league and AAA level is horrible, year in and year out the Aeros are a threat to win the title. Yet by the time these guys make it to Cleveland, they act like the simplest fundamentals are beyond them. I don't hear anyone in Tampa Bay whining about the salary disparity. Florida has two rings. Arizona has one, St Louis has one. Colorado went. It's all just an excuse for an owner who doesn't want to invest in a real management and a real roster who can win, even though this market has proven over and over it will support a winner. I do support the pro and college teams teams who at least try. Once the football team melted down last season, I was done. I put all of my support on a program that deserved it so much more, the soccer team. I refuse to waste time and money on a circus run by clowns. Now this year, I'll start supporting the "new" football program (and the "new" Browns) unless they prove they don't deserve it. But the Indians? They're dead to me. It's much more fun right here in Akron at Canal Park.

Thanx, that'll come in handy...

It's just incredible how year after year, Caleb keeps the talent coming in.

Dude, you need to lay off and find a life. Seriously, this man crush you have on me, its not healthy.

If you attract 4 new students and make them buy a bunch of books they don't need, you made up your cost right there...

Here's my impressions of you. You seem to be highly educated, and intelligent. Although some characteristics (like spelling and tact) are missing. Never mind the fact that sarcasm blows right over your head and out the window. You may have an important position with the U. From your posts, I gather you are in Accounting or Political Economics. Something prudish. Not Law though. Wrong set of debate skills for Law. On the lighter side I picture a small man with gray/white hair, bad comb-over, Clark K.E.N.T. glasses, black high-water pants, white dress shirt complete with pocket protector, ZNO.org on one browser, thesaurus.com on another. Instant Messenger open but there are no friends. Bottle of Maalox and half-empty bag of taste-free rice cakes on the desk. Am I close?

And your pretending that your retorts arn't filled with insults are even more priceless. Thank you as well, ass hole! If my pointing out your every back and forth waivering, and every response you ignored as insults, you have very very thin skin. I'd call you a sore loser but that might completely ruin your psyche... Or if I compared you to the nerd on the playground who answers everything you say with "I know you are but what am I?" Same elementary mentality. You might even resort to FOUR letter words. Then we'd ALL be impressed!!!! Being called "ass hole" by you is a compliment.

Sounds like a Phil Savage reply.

I may restart my dynasty, as from what I understand the Info will be in the game this year. Actually I have Zips artwork for Madden 08 on PC, along with other schools. I may switch over to that as it seems easier to get around in, has AutoPass, and it's a heck of a lot easier to enter player's names.

And for the record, I don't hate GP. Don't always agree with him, but certainly don't hate him. I have a lot of respect for his debate abilities. For the most part.