Ballingirl

But once again. the RB doesn't sell beer, so there went that ides out the window

Akron 24Toledo 16

It's not that I'm giving up on my teams, but it's called being realistic. I know exactly how Akron made it to the big game last year, and I never doubted them the whole way. The thing is, while OU has something to play for against Can't this Saturday, Can't has a whole lot more to play for. Can't actually sees the ring in their viewfinder. After being 1-10 last year, what more of an incentive do they need. They are the closest they have been in forever. And whether they killed these teams or "squeaked by", a win is a win and they play to win. I am a true fan, but I don't live in a bubble. We had our chance and we blew it....3 times to be exact, but I have full confidence that they will make it to another bowl if they play to their ability. And as far as NIU beating us out for the International Bowl, we played them in the MAC championship last year. Our attendance at the game blew their out of the water. While the bowl committee looks at records and talent, the also look at attendance b/c that means money for them. Perfect example is 2 years ago when we were the only bowl-eligible team that did not get a bid. Why you ask? Because Marshall was able to bring more people. We beat Marshall, but they could bring the people. The got the bid, Akron got left to sit at home and watch the game.

I don't care who the Qb is next year, CJ or Hakes, neither of them are getting playing time. I was simply stating that regardless of WHO the QB will be next year, SOMEBODY needs to get some time. We would hope that JD knows what he's doing, but in all reality, there are a lot of good guys leaving the team this year. It would not surprise me if JD leaves at the end of the year also. With JD giving up 6 figures to start coaching football in the volunteer position, it is obvious he wants to go far in this position. If he gets an offer from anywhere else that is even barely above Akron, he'll take it.

No way, no how is Akron going to the MAC Championship. Everyone needs to let it go and just hope we make it to a bowl game! It will K.E.N.T. vs. CMU with CMU taking it all the way!

Consider what you just said....that CJ isn't getting reps b/c JD knows what he's doing and obviosuly CJ won't be the one taking Luke's job next year. Nobody BUT Luke has gotten reps this season. Luke isn't going to be here next year. If CJ isn't taking reps b/c he's not getting the job next year, noone else has gotten reps, and Luke isn't going to be here next year, you are saying we won't HAVE a QB next year. Someone has to do it. CJ or not, someone should be taking reps.

If play up to par, we will have no problem winning out the rest of the season. Bad news is, although miracles DO happen, it would be one of the biggest miracles for Can't to lose 3 games the rest of the season. That is the only way Akron would make it to the championship. Even if there's a tiebreker, Can't would take it b/c they beat us. As much as we hate to admit it, K.E.N.T. is going undefeated in the MAC this year!

Agreed zff......if it takes one person getting suspended for that behavior in order to make an example to the rest of the team, so be it! You make the mistake, you suffer the consequences!

Not at all. What would we look like if we sat Luke every time he fumbled the ball or threw an interception? His butt would have been on the bench since the first game! It's called nerves and CJ needs a second chance to get comfortable.

Totally agreed!! This whole process of gaining control needs to begin with standing his ground! To begin, Crouch and McPherson both quit the team this year. Answer me one question....why are they still playing? Crouch is backing starting. McPherson was not suited up last night, but was still on the sidelines. As a coach, why would you let players come back that choose to put themselves over the team, and throw a tantrum and quit when they don't get what they want. If they want to see the Zips on the field on Saturday evenings, they should have to do it from the stands. There are guys out there who work their butts off and are still there for the good of the team. And second, there should be punishment for the actions of guys on the field last night. Cobham for one, after his little stunt byt the sideline, I understand JD was in his face, but there better be some consequences, whether it be at practice or sitting out for games. The near-fights, penalties and overall attitudes were unacceptable last night. JD, if you realize there's a problem, let's do something about it! I've seen your children at games, and I can guarantee they wouldn't get away with that crap towards you and your wife. Let's use the same mindset with your team!

Not great, but a good game by the Zips last night! J. Reid had one hell of a sack to start off the string of 6 sacks for the game, followed with 2 by Kiki and an amazing run-down and sack by Groza. Defense played a hell of a game. It was nice to see the offense play too. The OL was finally giving Getsy some time to throw. I have a few complaints though, simply b/c with so much talent and potential on the team, we should have KILLED the sweaters last night! First, we called the play to a TE, FINALLY!!! I realize Kasparek dropped it, but try the play again throughout the game. Start hitting him more often, and he will get used to having to catch the ball! It was nice to see CJ put in the game. Again, I know he fumbled it on the 1st play, but give the boy another chance. That was a tense situation to be thrown into. The boy is bound to have crazy nerves. Give him a chance to play through those and show his stuff. I must admit though, at least it seemed to have pushed a button in Getsy knowing that someone was on his heels. After CJ went in, Getsy played a hell of a lot better. Maybe JD needs to make that sub a little more often to light a fire under Getsy! And last, is it just me, or does it seem JD has lost control of his team? Beginning with Cobham's little stunt by the Akron sideline. After that, there were, once again, way too many stupid penalties. Attitudes flying out of control, near fights on the field, talking that doesn't cease until the refs and teammates have to pull them away. JD needs to let these boys know who's the boss. Make an example out of 1 person that attitudes and stupidity are not acceptable, and the whole team will settle down. Put some more work in this week boys, and I'll see you at Glass Bowl Stadium next Saturday!!

I agree with most of the grading, especially on the fact that Brookhart doesn't say anything about the coaching. He said they had some mistakes, but that's about it. He told the team in meetings that they haven't had confidence in this year's team. When you start a season off with a coaching staff that, to the team, admittedly doesn't have confidence, how do you expect the team to PLAY with confidence? There has been consistent bad play calling. Am I the only one that saw, on 3rd and 26 at Cinci, a pitch to Kennedy was called? He has averaged like 3 yards every time he has the ball? 3 yards isn't going to do much on 3rd and 26. That's coaching right there. And I admit, the defense hasn't lived up to the hype so far, but they have been on the field most of every game. It's hard to play that much and not get worn down. By the second half, those boys are exhausted. I am looking for Kiki and Jermaine to bring in a total of 4 sacks against Miami, and the defense as a whole are going to be racking up the tackles and TFLs. TEs have had some dropped balls, but they need more chances. I would to a coaching staff and a QB that USE their TEs. Kris K. was on the mark every time last year, but he has hardly had a chance to show his stuff again this year. We constantly go to Kennedy and Jabari. Defenses can read our plays like a textbook. They know what's coming before they get on the line. Mix up the playcalling, and we will be the comeback team that we were known as last year, even if it doesn't take us all the way this year!

Agreed. There is no excuse for the way we played against Can't. To come that unprepared against your archrival and get smeared across the field tells me there are serious problems with this team. I don't care how good they were. We are the defending MAC champs and should be ready for big games. We'll be extremely lucky to finish .500. You have to look at the facts here. We may look pretty bad right now, but there is a reason. It is hard playing 6 out of your first 7 games away from home. It is the lack of home field advantage and it is the exhaustion of traveling. For the Penn State game, the team got home past 1:00am, NC State, they hit the airport straight from the stadium, CMU, they arrived home after 1:00am again, and Cincinnati was well past midnight. Then to get up and have something to do with football from noon to at least 8pm every Sunday. After awhile, that takes a toll of these guys. Can't was a horrible mistake of expecting the same bad team they played last year. They simply were looking past that game. Knowing many of the boys on the team, they were exhausted and come gameday, they were lacking the energy they normally have. After a bye week and with 4 of the next 6 games being at home, that rested up, healed, energetic team will come back and show the home crowd that they havent lost their spark. The glass is half full, getting ready to be filled to the top! I agree that we don't have a shot at the MAC title again, but I will be heading to Toronto to watch the Zips battle in the first ever International Bowl on January 6, 2007 b/c the Zips are going to win out!

We just had a bye week, injuries finally had a little time heal, I'm calling Akron 38Miami 20in front of a crowd of 10,200, simply b/c it's only our 2nd home game and it's Homecoming/Family weekend! GO ZIPS!

There will be a crowd for the simple reason that it is only our 2nd home game of the season. The only ones that have traveled to watch the team are friends and family of the players (with the exception of the Can't game b/c it was so close). They haven't had the chance to see the Zips play but once so far, and that was a win. Anyone who knows anyone about the teams in the MAC knows that Akron has 4 of the last 6 games at home, and the chance to win out!! I will be there pregamin' with my grill and my Coozie and will for sure be in the stands screamin' and yelling as the Zips take the field!!! GOOOOOOOOOO ZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have a good shot at the International Bowl.

Igor was arrested and charged with assault. He was suspended from football and the University

As I said, you can look at the yards and think....WOW!!! This guy is good!! But if you actually watch the games, he has those yards b/c we had amazing receivers and a RB that could make up for his overthrown passes and bad handoffs. I agree with your point that there have been a lot of dropped passes this season so far. But the thing is, you have to look at the percentage of bad passes and sacs compared to the percentage of dropped passes. Every game, there are more passes thrown 20 past the receivers than passes dropped by the receivers. My point is, he doesn't know how to go through his progressions. Between the number of times he has gotten sacked and the number of interceptions he has thrown, he should be on the bench. Say Jabari Arthur got the starting position at QB last year. If he performed like Luke has been, he would be on the bench. The only reason Luke isn't is b/c he is a "good-ol-boy" of JD's. You know it is possible for people to make someone else look good! However, if you watch the game instead of looking at statistics, you will see differently. Pro scouts obviously have, considering they have backed off the pursuance of Luke since the CMU game.

With is only being the 2nd home game this season, I'm putting my number in as 11k. And 7,500 will be Akron fans. If this proves to be as good of a game as I am expecting, I better see all the fans on their feet cheering when the Zips bring it! If not, I am going to personally kick all the "dead beats'" asses!

I would like to see CJ on the field. I know Luke is JD's guy. That is why he has been on the field for 1 1/2 seasons even though he can't get the job done. The only reason he broke the records that he did last year was b/c he had an amazing offense fixing his mistakes. He had Biggs making 15 yard runs on bad handoffs where the play should've resulted in 4 yard losses. He had Hixon and J.Mont making diving catches that, due to the pass, should've been incomplete. MAC Championship, for example. The catch Hixon made in the endzone was by no means easy. He had 3 defenders covering him, and the pass was short. Luke got credit for that pass b/c Hixon was able to cover the mistake. I would like to at least see what CJ can do. It can't possibly be any worse than what Luke has shown!

I don't believe it is the winning aspect of the game. Look at the Cleveland Frowns. Now I, for one, am one of the biggest Browns fans you will meet, but truth is, they suck! That doesn't stop tickets from selling. That doesn't stop tailgating parties and all that good stuff every Sunday! Attraction is the problem at Akron. There needs to be more done to attract people. I know it sucks having the Rubber Bowl so far from campus, but do more to make people want to come. Miami is the perfect example. The school sets up tailgating parties for people. The school provides the monster speakers to blare the hottest music and has hotdogs and games for the fans before the game. Now, I know Akron is trying with their weekly "ZipFest", but lets get real. Grown college students don't want to go pay $5 for a beer, $8 for food, and jump in an inflatable toy! They want the hottest tracks blaring from 6 sets of speakers. They want $2 bottles and $1 hot dogs. Cheap alcohol, food and music is what attracts college students. The more students you attract to a game, the more fun the stands become. Fun crowds are what Akron needs!! And compared to the boring, non-cheering, over 50 crowd that attends now, nothing will liven that up like a bunch of full-bellied, dancing, half drunken students chanting "Fear-the-Roo" walking into the stadium!!! And for the love of God, the Rubber Bowl needs to get into the new Millennium and start selling beer at the games. If they want to make more money, the already drunk students will be even mored psyched to get into the stadium and drink some more! Now your older folks will say "that's asking for trouble. That starts fights." It does at every stadium, but fact is, every other stadium sells beer, and it hasn't been enough of a problem to stop them. There comes a point where all the drunkards will join together to cheer on the team that they love! That's what makes a game fun, and that's what draws crowds. So the next time you are sitting in the hard seats at the half-doomed Rubber Bowl, get up off your feet and cheer on your beloved Zips. Until you do that, you can't complain about the lack of fans or the lack of enthusiasm from the team. I know I wouldn't have excitement about playing in front a bunch of lazy, "here-cause-I-got-free-tickets", deatbeat fans!

Even if we did fall into it last year, who cares. Point is, all those players that were injured last year helped us get there, they are gone this year. All these MAC teams lost their star players, and we have almost all of ours back (with the excpetion of some receivers). We have the talent that stepped up in their place, if they start using their talent. So common sense says this: If we won last year b/c all those players were hurt, this year they're gone and we have ours back, it says we should be there again this year! But like I have said before, we need to first knock down some egos, get back to our old coaching style instead of these damn trick plays that don't work and start playing like a team with a few key leaders! Until that happens, they will be lucky to finish .500!

In Igor's defense, the fight was deserved. Here's the situation. The guy came up and punched Igor in the back of the head and then ran and locked himself in his room. Igor saw the kid the next day and let him have it. Now, I know that everyone will say "he should be the bigger man and walk away and let it go." But I know if someone is a big enough puss to hit you from behind then run and hide, he deserves what he has coming. And then to press charges when it happens? This kid needs the true crap beat out of him. At least be man enough to come at his face and except the consequences.

Crouch was suspended last week because of his actions during the Can't game. He got pulled and didn't like it. He came to the sideline and basically acted like a child. He threw a tantrum and yelled at the coaches instead of adressing the situation after the game in the coaches office like an adult. The coaches told him Kemme was going to be starting the Cincy game because of his actions. He didn't like that either, so he went into the coaches office and proceeded to cut loose again. They suspended him. He was only out for a week, so he will be playing in the Miami game.

There's a few problems with the team this year:1: Coaching: Nobody knows how to look past the 1st page of the playbook. We run Kennedy 85% of the time using the same 3 plays. Defenses know exactly where the ball is going that 85% of the time. Against Cincy, it was 3rd and 26 in the second half of the game. The play called was a pitch to Kennedy, from which he gained his usual 3 yards. Why on 3rd and 26 are they running the ball? I understand there's been some problems with our passing game, but a lucky catch is more likely than gaining 26 rushing yards. 2: Underclassmen: There are young guys on the team this year that are thinking they have a free ride to victory. #2's on the depth chart are making excuses of why they can't practice, and are still wanting (and getting, coaches) to play in the games. What ever happened to the theory that if you don't put in the hard work during the week, not getting to get the glory (or lack of, this year) on Saturday afternoon? If you are hurt enough to not practice during the week, sorry but you can watch the game from the bench. There is an excess of laziness and individuality. Everyone wants the personal glory, but doesn't want to put in the hard work and teamwork to get it! After the game, a #2 on the depth chart was complaining about his lack of playing time. He told his family "Screw this team...I can't wait to get into the league!" These guys come in here thinking they know everything and they aren't willing to be coached. 3: Leadership: The offense needs someone to step up and be a leader. Everyone is to blame on the offense. Luke was 16-33, and granted there were 6 dropped passes. But what happened to those other 11 attempts? There were passes thrown 20 yards past the receivers. He needs to learn to go through his progressions. If a receiver is covered, go through your other options. And for the love of God, learn how to get rid of a ball without getting sacked or throwing an interception!! And these receivers need to go back to the fundamentals of running a route and CATCHING THE BALL!!!!4: Team menatlity and character: If I have to hear 1 more person crying about playing time, I'm gonna kick them! You are not a freshman in high school anymore. It's the big leagues now boys. Coaches play the guy who is ready and able to play. You have a bad week at practice or aren't doing your job, then sit down 'cause there's someone else ready to get 'er done! You want the starting position, or you want the next ball, then get out there (in practice or a game) and show the coaches that you not only want it, but you deserve it!!!These boys better learn how to pull it together and do it quick. I have never seen a team with this many return starters (and soooo much talent) throw it all away! At this point, you boys better hope you finish .500!