Ham

I expected that we would control the trenches. What happened there? Next week will be hopeless. Mich will name the score unless both sides of the ball step it up. The bright spot is fighting back from adversity, and finally have the final bounce go our way!

HELL YEAH! I think GT got after the "right" story. I look for a major leap in performance in our running game. Pass protection was good, completions % was good, but YAC was yuck! I think we will not only see some completions down field, but also more YAC. Major difference in the game? We will control the trenches, and that is where one wins football games. One guy that stood out last week, ZP, won't see the field much this week!

I don't think it's a must win. It's a will win. We didn't show up with our A game last week. TB will have everyone ready for this one. I'm sure it started last Thursday with coaches and players, and we will see the same turn around that we saw last year. B & B will make some noise. CJMz will make some noise, literally! I think all the TR's saw that they need to show up in practice if they want to see the field. With a couple extra days to prepare, they will have their chance to win pt. The Dukes are a quality FCS team, but we will be ready to take care of business. Zips 49 Dukes 13

How many sacks did we have last year? QB hurries? We are already half way there this year after one game against a quality opponent! I believe that JM is just the ticket to allow our OL to come together. I look for B & B to put some spark in our passing game. We need to trust TB in bringing this team along. You just can't polish a young team in the summer. Even though we do have many upper classmen, they have had only one year in this system at most. Some have had only a few weeks. By December you will have a very different attitude!

Its not that they don't belong; they come unprepared.

After last year playing in the tropics at FIU, I'll bet they have a 3rd platoon in mind for light duty, particularly receivers and DB's.

I think Rant is on the right track, but I think we will see more points.

what depth chart?

I'm with Balsy: Zips by 3! I seem to remember that we gave them 3 TD's last year. I don't see that happening this year. It looks like our D will be hard to run against and we have some people who will actually get to the QB. If Zack is right, and our revamped O line comes together, we will control the ball and put up some points. And down the stretch, our depth will keep us from wilting in the tropical conditions.

Just a note on Iowa State. Their RS Fr put up 67 in a summer league game a couple weeks ago. They have a couple other guys who are lighting it up as well. By Christmas, these guys should be ready to give us a game!

No insight with the players, but consider position changes.

If you watch your opponents QB run for 200 yds., you tend to rethink your position on running QB's.

The world is not perfect, and life isn't fair. Just like the big boys can pay their coaches a lot more, they will be able to pay their players more. That only scratches the surface of potential problems. Is the QB worth more than an OL? etc? What about nonrevenue sports? "Revenue sports" that loose money? Walk-ons? If the rule book were thrown out, there would be 50 or 60 schools that could compete in the Professional College League with only a few realistically able to compete for the title. Have fun with that! If I were in charge, I would try to keep the present conference structure as close as possible. Restructure revenue sharing to help schools like Akron fund their programs. I would pay the FB and BB players a fixed salary on top of their scholarships; perhaps $200/mo. I would fund that with contributions from the NFL and NBA. After all; colleges are basically feeder programs for those leagues. It would only cost them $30 million or so, chump change. How would one get the pros to get on board? Congress gives them a pass on anti-trust laws. Congress could pass a franchise fee law to fund a government subsidy to the D1 schools. Like it or not, the term "student athlete" is not what it once was.

These young people have full time jobs with their sport. What family doesn't struggle to pay college bills. Even if tuition and room & board are covered, there are plenty of other expenses. Put temptation in front of these youngsters, then what do you expect? Some will crack. It could simply be trade that old jersey or play mule to have a little change in your pocket.

Maybe all he ever had was a preferred walk on offer.

BB had a great run, but I'm ready to see what TB & staff can develop this spring. Weight room & mat drills will show dedication, but lets see who steps up when they put the pads on!

I think the emotional roller coaster will wind down this week. The heart this team has shown all season will will be more evident over the weekend as they take charge and win two.

No doubt about it!

PLUS ?! And I wish the Mods would make that offensive quote at the bottom of his posts disapear.

Did you see him against the Zips in the Grantland Rice Bowl?

One maddening point, Zeke altered several shots, but those high arching shots still managed to find the bottom of the net.

Z.I.P. coined this in the realignment thread, but I thought it deserved more attention. BowdenBall was a good idea for this season, but somethoing new will be needed for the future. I think AKronMaction could gain some traction, and help us feed off the Mac's success particularly if the Mac has a good bowl season.

That Ames HS team was state champs. Elder Mac was coaching Iowa State at the time. His son committed to UNI, but they released him to allow him to follow his dad to Creighton. The kid is a gym rat; he plays really smart. Whatever we do to take him out of his game, he will find our weak spot. I think the best aproach will be to rotate as many people as we can to give him as many differant looks as we can to keep him off ballance. You don't want to let him get into a rythum. (geese, I wish I could spell!)

Thanks guys. I was just trying to remember the yeay. I was in Chicago visiting my NW grad son for Thanksgiving and wanted to take the whole crew to the match, but I was chaced home by the blizard. We are hoping for a rematch in Hoover!

REGULAR season. I saw Mac play in HS. He was overshadowed by his teammate, Harrison Barns. Its only 2 hrs trip for me to Omaha. I'll be there.