roodi

The Zips are a tream with little on offense and mediocre everwhere else, including coaching.Bowling Green 45Akron 24

Unless the team absolutley implodes or Brookhart is caught in the janitor's closet with a cheerleader, he doesn't get the axe this year for a losing season. However, if next year is not a clear success, i.e. 8 or more wins, then he has to go. I'm already very unsure about his ability to recruit and coach. He has some abilities, but it seems that Akron has become his testing grounds. He was inexperienced when he came form Pitt and remains inexperienced. Four years to work the bugs out is enough.He didn't inherit a program on its knees. It was slightly less than mediocre to mediocre and it has remained on this level. Next year is time to make a move: winning season, MAC East Championship...a bowl of some kind.

Probably will happen within 72 hours. Brookhart is gone. The UC (Thomas) - Brookhart connection seems very likely. If I'm a Bearcat fan (and I'm not), I would not be too happy with this selection. Brookhart is smart and will be successful but he has a lot to learn....the Big East is not the place to learn the postion of head coach, etc. Bearcats should look elsewhere in the MAC. How Frank Solich, having turned around Ohio (9-3 regular season, playing in MACC, going to first bowl since 1968, etc.), is not a candidate for the UC job...I'll never know. He should have been the guy three years ago. However, it could be that Mr. Solich is simply a man of his word and understands loyalty - somthing Mark Dantonio doesn't get.In any case, is coaching-change season fun!?!?!!?

Here's my two cents (sorry if I am repeating others' sentiments):I have a very good feeling about the Miami game and the remainder of the season. Okay, so being in this situation after U of A won the MACC last year is no fun. All that work of the devil down the way on I-76...err I mean K-E-N-T's progress is also hard to endure for many.However, all that aside, Akron has been in mediocre to poor shape in the first part of the season the two years that JD has been in charge: 1 - 4 to begin the 2004 season and 3-4 to begin last year's championship season. So, the team being 2-4 this year perhaps disappoints us, but it shouldn't surprise us or discourage us.Like most of you out there in the Zips Nation, I beleive in JD Brookhart. He's young, and perhaps he's made some mistakes. However, I have confidence that he'll have this team ready on Saturday against Miami. The MAC is often this way. One year you're the champion (and most unexpectedly so, I might add), and the next year your struggling. I like the parity and the surprises. In any case, Akron's season is far from over; 7-5 or 8-4 might not get a bowl bid this year, but who wants to blow thier nose on a 7 or 8-win season. I don't. So, let's get the grills out. Splurge on some good beer this time , stuff the kids in thier Zippy gear and LET'S GO to the game.The Univeristy of Akron forever - Miami never!!!!!

Being born and raised in Cincinnati, I offer this kind advice for anyone going to the UC-Akron game. Use the campus parking losts even if you think it's a rip-off. Leaving your car anywhere on the outskirts of UC's campus is a whole lot of unhappiness waiting to happen. Pay the parking fee. Your windows, CD players, and your Corinthian leather will thank you.Go Zips!!!!!

flushes are not ready for a championship, but they are better and playing at home. Akron 20 - K-S-U 17 in overtime.

Let's cool it on the Faust bashing. Sometimes people are not suited for college coaching regardless of their great success in H.S. This was ND's fault more than Faust's. He jumped at an opportunity that never should have been offered. Coach Faust was a great HS coach. Moeller, though still a power, has never quite been the same since he left for ND. I can't say that his record at U of A was steller, but he did go 7-4 to post the school's first D-1 winning season. and latwer went 7-3-1. True, the coaching problems were particularly evident in the last 3 years (fumble, fumble, fumble). Also, let's keep in mind that the transition from D-IAA to D-I was a difficult process and is still not complete. As proud as we are of the team and JD, the program has yet to arrive a true D-1 stability with losses to schools like Middle Tennessee, Ball State, etc. When Akron knocks the crap out the teams it should (Central for instance) AND the teams it shouldn't (NC State), then we can strat to talk about real stability and D-1 status.Let's also not forget that Akron made a big mistake by kicking Jim Dennison to the curb when they decided to jump to D-I.

I'm glad to see the stadium plan is progressing....won't exactly be warming our arsses on the new seats next season, but at least the plan is underway.I'm too lazy to make specific references to your comments, but I have to give a blanket agreement to most of what I've heard. The plans seems to be on the understated side. Consideirng th size of the U of A, the size of the city of Akron and the surrounding area, I would have bet the plan would be for a stadium with an initial capacity of 40,000 (yes, in a bowl configuration!) with the potential to expand to 50,000. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was OSU's stadium or crowd. I saw a documentary on the construction of Ohio stadium. At the time (1930s), many people thought it was crazy to build such a big place. It took almost 15 years before the crowds showed up in full force. The stadium size corresponded to the aspirations of the football program. Love the Buckeyes or hate them, they made the right decisions. If U of A confines themselves to a minor league vision of the stadium (25,000 seats ), I'm afraid that will set the limitations for the future development of top-20 D-I football in Akron (There is room for another consistent winner, I beleive).I have to say as well that I'm less than impressed with the firm hired to do the plans. If I'm right, this is the same firm that renovated Ohio Stadium. If so, no thanks. This company took one of college football's nicest stadiums and turned it into something between a prison and a GM plant. The new clashed with the old. There is a distinct industrial look to it that I personally find unappealing and out of character with Columbus. However, it may be that the OSU suits forced them to take such steps against the better judgement of the designers....don't know.There...and I didn't mention that school down I-76.....

By the way, thanls for the MACbbs link. perhaps I would be better off there (sniff sniff)

Sorry to repeat myself regarding the topic, but there are many issues here. I didn't realize that anybody would find both postings and attribute them to me...or be "irritated" by them.Well, at least one person is with me, in part.Don't get me wrong. I love UA and the Zips are my primary team.I guess part of my perspective comes from living in Columbus, where the OSU-Michigan rivaly often turns into stupid hatred and, of course, dumpster fires.Speilman often get son the readio here and talks about how he wants UM to lose all the time. Yeah, that makes sense. The what kind of rivalry would that be if UM came limping in to the OSU-UM game at 0-11? Go Zips!

Can't is not as bad as people thought following the loss to what turns out to be an above-average Minnesota team. Miami, it seems, is on the decline under the new coaching staff. This is one of those MAC moments where the loser can rise up and make a difference in the conference. Based on three games, who's willing to bet on anything? All I've seen so far is a Zip team capable of a lot but not able to execute on the next level. I still think UA is on the way to a nice season (7-4, 8-3), but my money would be (if I were a betting man) on CMU, WMU and Ohio with Can't State as a spoiler late in the season (winning as many as 5 games this year).Can't might need a few weeks for the offense to click, but they don't really look that bad at all.Akron needs a better schedule! All those road games in a row, etc. are not ideal to put it lightly.Go ZipsGo Can'tGo MAC

I'm new to this forum, but in the short time I've been here I have seen a lot of hatred of(not rivalry with) Can't State. I have degrees from Can't and Akron, so I'm in a difficult positon when they play each other. However, with the exception of the UA/Can't State game, I pull for both teams to win. I heard one perosn say they didn't want to go to the UA-Can't State (at Can't State) game because they didn't want their money going to help the Can't program (admission, concessions, etc). I guess I'm alone here, but relishing Can't State's seemingly endless futility in putting together a football program is counter-productive. The traditional MAC bottom dwellers are some of the reasons why the conference lacks respect outside of our region. Can't State, Ohio, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, etc. have horrible programs (last 20 years). This drags down the entire MAC. This has and will continue to hurt MAC programs that are on top (bowl bids, etc.).It's just not good for UA to have weak conference opponents. By the way, Can't State beating Miami-Ohio is significant (not that MU is any good this year). I know it pains many of you, but Can't State might be on the upswing...finally. This is good! Does anybody really take pleasure in success if it comes when your opponents have one hand tied behind thier backs? Would an 11-0 or 12-0 season mean much to a real D-1 program if all the wins came against D-2 and D-3 teams?Be true to UA first, but root for the other MAC schools to succeed as well. Did it feel good when Toledo beat Kansas? For me, yes! What if Can't had beaten Army? Would that have been a good win for the MAC and for UA indirectly?Can't we all just get along?

25,000 would be a sell-out in the Rubber Bowl? I though the RB held around 40,000.I'm going to game on Saturday with my three-year old. We're coming from Columbus, Ohio. I hope to see a full hous eor close to it.JB

What's all the hostility toward Can't State? Okay, fine, it's the whole "We've got grass and trees" mantra from the past, right? The Can't football program is, without a doubt, awful. They suck. Okay. I get it. The rivalry between UA and Can't State is fun, but it would be better if Can't were better. Therefore, I don't get all the hostility. You want to stir things up? Try talking trash with guys from Miami, CMU, or any other decent MAC school. Verbally abusing Can't at this point is like the Varsity football player kicking the 7th grader around after school. It proves what exactly? By all means, go to the game in Can't. Cheer on the Zips. Enjoy the victory and feel proud that you're a Zip, keeping in mind, of course that using the word "we" is a relative thing. Are WE really responsible for the outcome of these games? Be a good fan. Don't pick a weak enemy to ridicule. The tables turn very quickly in the MAC.Why am I on the fence here? See below:BS in English-Education from Can't State University 1991 MA in English from The University of Akron - 1996 I love both universities. So, there. Call me what you will.Go Zips!!!! Pray for the flushes

Reading some of the comments to the film, I'm convinced that most of these posters never saw the inside of a HS football locker room. You think this guy's over the top? This is nothing. My high school coach wigged out at on a level far higher than this. The man pulled his own hair out, broke clipboards over his own and our heads, kicked us in the ass, tackled us, beat his own nose with a football until the blood ran down his face. He was nuts...and we loved him. He beat Moeller when he was at Cincinnati Woodward (probably in the mid 1970s). Crazy old school coach....too bad this generation is dying out.JB

After PSU and NC State we are #43 in the nation in defense I would HOPE (and doubt) we give up 42 points this year to any team left on the schedule. I hope everyone is right about UA over CMU. However, what's been interesting about the MAC over the years is the dark horse winning it all (Akron last year, for example). You just don't have that very often in, for example, the Big 10. How often would the bottom dweller win the Big 10 the following year? As was noted, Akron's D is ranked 43. Okay, nice statistic, but what does this really tell us about the D when Colorado State is marked at #1? It's early yet, my fellow Zips.I'm not trying to jinx the Zips, I'm just not sure Akron's up to this game. As I said, I think CMU will be a surprise in the MAC this year. Though illogical, I guess, last year's drubbing (31-17 was it?) increases my apprehension. Last year I thought, ok, the Zips are ready to roll. Instead, they demonstrated that they were still very suspect.

Hi,I'm a 1996 UA graduate living in Columbus, Ohio. Sadly, I don't get up to Akron very often. What's the news on the idea to build a new stadium on campus? I think this would be grerat for many reasons..though expensive I admit.

I love the Zips and think they're headed for a fine season, but something makes me very worried about CMU. My heart says Akron 35 CMU 17, but my logic tells me CMU 42 - UA 28. Don't know why I have this sense, but I would bet that CMU is the breakout team in the make this year along with Ohio.Go Zips!