johnnyzip84

John Pont Bio

ESPN story covering the press conference. ps. Z.I.P. I enjoyed your post on Razor's blog!

I think IF there's a chink in Terry Bowden's armor, it COULD BE in D-1 level recruiting. Much has been written about how he lead mostly Pat Dye recruits to that splendid 11-0 season at Auburn years ago. It's also no secret that Tiger fans felt the talent level on their team was dipping in the year or so leading up to his leaving "the Plains". At Samford and at UNA he could rely considerably on D-1 transfers. A few Lion fans have chimed in on ZNO to voice their displeasure of his reliance on them while at UNA. So Akron is the first FBS/D1-A stop of Terry's where he will need to build (sorry GP1) the program primarily on his recruits without the benefit of having D-1 transfers coming in to play right away. I'm not saying he can't be successful. You'd think his name, coupled with the excellent facilities, should account for something on the recruiting trail. I'm merely pointing out that this represents a different challenge for him. I think if he gets the players to come here, he'll succeed greatly. Can he get enough players to come here?

Well Z.I.P. I was wrong about WMU versus Purdue, although it's pretty hard to overcome SEVEN turnovers no matter who you're playing. Still, the MAC is a respectable 2-1 heading into Toledo's game versus Air Force. BTW, isn't WR Jordan White one incredible player? That left-handed grab towards the end of the 1st half was simply amazing. He almost singlehandedly willed the Broncos to that illusive bowl victory depite the turnovers. He'll join fellow Bronco WR Greg Jennings in the NFL I believe.

My god I hope not. Lets hope Bowden tunrns out to be a marquee coach, we just got rid of our marquis one. You're right. Anyone who managed to witness all 4 quarters of each home game over the last 2 years, definitely qualifies as a sadist. Guilty as charged!

Here is another summary assessment of the new FBS head coaching hires. You have to love this quote: It's nothing that ZNO didn't already know!

I'm not sure if I've seen anything about this guy or not before on this thread. He's Kyle McKinnon, a RB from New London, Connecticut. UA is apparently his only D-1 offer, and who knows whether the hiring of Bowden will influence this or not.

Like I said, there wouldn't even be a discussion about D-II football on this board if it wasn't for the fact that some people were pushing their agenda for Winters as coach. Agree. Interesting. Then any discussion regarding Bowden's time at UNA, his schemes, his approach, his tendencies, his staff (some of whom will no doubt find themselves in Akron), must be irrelevant. I'll try to remember that.

Nice find, Dave. It's always good to get a pertinent perspective from another part of the country.

This game featured the BEST FCS (I-AA) had to offer against the best D-II had to offer, and it was played in Youngstown. How does a 17-14 YSU win remotely advance the idea that there is a huge difference between FCS and D-II? Ahh this hypothetical "could Wayne St have beaten the Zips in 2011" will never be answered, so I think I'm just going to drop it myself. Sorry about my wise remarks. It's just not that important. We've got a very good coach fo 2012!! Go Zips!!!!

Tells us all we need to know about you. Akron lost to freakin' Gardner-Webb. And you think the national runners-up couldn't have knocked off a 1-11 team that had stopped playing for its coach? That tells us all we need to know about YOU, my deluded friend. The difference between Div. II (WSU) and I-AA (GW) is pretty huge. I wonder what Jim Tressell would have to say about this, based on the 1994 YSU/UNA clash. Yes, that's right, YSU won the 1-AA championship in 1994 with a 14-0-1 record and struggled mightily with the D-II North Alabama Lions. Hey, look who YSU beat by a combined 96-24 in the three weeks after the UNA game? And look who YSU beat 28-14 in the I-AA championship. If you'd like to keep spewing your "if I've never experienced something, then of course it's never happened", provincial ignorance, nobody can stop you. And Chaminade once beat #1 Virginia in basketball in the 80s. It happens, but he wasn't saying that it never happens. Rare examples to the contrary don't make the difference between their respective divisions any less significant. Maybe I misunderstood, but his statement about the difference between D-II and FCS being pretty huge seems to have been made to strengthen his doubt that Wayne St would have been able to compete with Akron in 2011. History shows that, more often than not, the upper echelon of the lower division is usually superior to the lower echelon of the upper division. Long-time MAC fans certainly have learned this the hard way. BTW, since moving to FCS (I-AA), Gardner-Webb has lost TWICE to D-II teams.

Tells us all we need to know about you. Akron lost to freakin' Gardner-Webb. And you think the national runners-up couldn't have knocked off a 1-11 team that had stopped playing for its coach? That tells us all we need to know about YOU, my deluded friend. The difference between Div. II (WSU) and I-AA (GW) is pretty huge. I wonder what Jim Tressell would have to say about this, based on the 1994 YSU/UNA clash. Yes, that's right, YSU won the 1-AA championship in 1994 with a 14-0-1 record and struggled mightily with the D-II North Alabama Lions. Hey, look who YSU beat by a combined 96-24 in the three weeks after the UNA game? And look who YSU beat 28-14 in the I-AA championship. If you'd like to keep spewing your "if I've never experienced something, then of course it's never happened", provincial ignorance, nobody can stop you.

Since East Mississippi CC is in the same conference as Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (EMCC beat MGCCC 34-30 in the 2011 opener), Milwee has to be somewhat familiar with LR8. Is making a run at EMCC QB Wallace for 2012 much different than making a run at MGCCC QB Moore for 2011? One thing that might separate Wallace is that he was the national junior college POY in 2011. Oh and his old A-State Rivals bio lists him at 6'4". Since he red-shirted at A-State before going JUCO, you have to wonder if Gus Malzahn might not make a run at him too.

They can go swimming together in the cement pond in the natatorium. I hear they have a hot cousin. It's all good. Awe he ain't comin' here. I hear he was fixin' to be a double knot spy!

I'll bet your suite friends all agreed with you, some even chuckling a bit

No they wouldn't. There is a huge difference between the size and mentality of a person between the ages of 16 and 18 compared to a person between the ages of 18 and 23. It's men vs. boys and the men win. I think you're giving a cliche of a response, while forgetting that so many Moeller players were heading right to top-level BCS schools the following fall. A typical high school player might not be good enough to compete against a D-II college plaer. A typical Moeller player in the 1970s?...Absolutely. No way.... You're dreaming. 17 year olds can't compete against 22 year olds in football as a team. Different levels of college can compete...not high school vs college. +1 The only high school teams throughout football history that are an exception are the Massillon Tiger teams under Paul Brown. That was a completely different era however, and it's more of a statement of Brown's brilliance and innovation than anything else.

BETTER! Sheesh, what idiot asked this stupid question anyway?

The Mentor Patch has more details on Chris' struggles and his family's hope to reach out to other addicts. The details are heart wrenching for sure. Thoughts and prayers to Scott and Cindy during what has to be an especially painful Holiday Season.

At season's end, Broderick Alexander was our best running back. But personally, I'd move him to LB to help cover for the loss of Wagner. Alexander probably was the best overall back at the end of the year, but only because Chisholm developed a strong case of "don't hit me" along the way. Jawon didn't run like that early in the season though. I have to wonder how the heavy workload and subsequent nagging injuries played a part in his later reluctance to risk contact. Still there's no question in my mind who has a bigger upside. Breakaway speed like that is hard to find. I like your suggestion of moving Alexander to LB.

+1 PD Link The part about seeking out LO to join his staff will raise a few ZNO members' blood pressures!

I also believe #44, assuming he stays and has gotten over his mid-season penchant for avoiding contact, could really shine in T-Bow's spread. Although I think a few other backs will contribute.

3-5 but only because we have T-Bow!

Interesting. No names come to mind and maybe that is a good thing. Maybe the type of person he is looking for would be more appropriate for where we are today. The one thing he really lacks is the connection with Ohio coaches. He will need to get some guys connected around Ohio, Michigan and W. PA. Somebody earlier (on another thread maybe) mentioned his brother Jeff who has been with him at UNA coaching WRs. His previous time here was so brief, it's hard to imagine there being strong enough ties remaining from that period.

I think you meant "Dear Lions"

The hire is graded at a B+, by AOL/Sporting News. That sure was quick.