Balsy

That doesn't mean there aren't multiple people whose name is Dave, that people know outside of here. DIG left because of the antics of several members on this forum. Unfortunate really, I miss the guy.

There I agree with you. Except I think an unintended result may not be the reduction of coach salaries; instead it might be the raising of tuition "student fees" to supplement the loss of $$$ due to the tax. Because where there's a hole, it's gotta be filled. The Top-tier programs will continue business-as-usual; while the middle-to-bottom will either have to sacrifice those borderline contracts or raise tuition student fees, to compensate.

That doesn't help.

Are we talking about GP1 or DIG?

That's very interesting! Thanks for posting!

Man, is there an echo in here? ...thanks for repeating exactly what I just wrote.

Wait what? When did I minimize that game? I've been ridiculed on this forum by other members for talking up that game. Most exciting game I've ever been too! And yes beating a ranked team would be a huge moment for us and I will be celebrating. My point still stands: 2013 Michigan was not the 2016 Penn State or the 2015 Oklahoma Sooners (the two most recently ranked teams we've played). We had an actual chance to beat Michigan with the team that we had and the game plan. There is no way in hell we were going to beat Penn State and Oklahoma, regardless of the game-plan or players. This is why I made the comment about it being almost as much luck, as to when a team is going to be ranked when we play them. Sorry if I triggered you Skip.

My bad. I thought he had been. My memory escapes me.

Between these opponents: 2018: Nebraska, Northwestern, Iowa State 2019: Illinois, UAB, Troy 2020: UAB, Clemson I don't see it happening through 2021. I agree it's a goal, but there's a little luck involved. The last couple of years the ranked team that we've played that year has been, frankly, a championship caliber team. Having the Expectation of a MAC team beating a National Championship team isn't realistic. We got lucky with the 2013 matchup with Michigan; they were clearly over-rated and we got them at the time of the year before the rest of the country realized they were overrated. We might get lucky between Nebraska, Northwestern and Illinois that one of them will be in a similar situation...less likely with Iowa State, UAB and Troy. I think we need to focus first on beating a Big-10 team. Any Big-10 team. And within the next two years we have the opportunity....NEBRASKA! Nebraska seems to be the lowest hanging fruit. They lost to NIU this year, and are as much a bottom dweller of the Big-10 as we have faced in recent memory. Beat Nebraska, and then find a way to get a 9-win season in 2019.

First off, welcome back. Missed ya. Second: Hopefully it was a large serving of crow... Third: Hopefully you remembered the friendly wager. Akron 7-5 WMU 6-6

There is no humor in

At least some members are willing to say what their expectations are, verses whining all the time.

GoZips dropped the ball on it too. Why didn't they have a write-up that their football coach's contract has been extended by two years? Hell, the UAkron website too for that matter.

Which is, by extension of the logical progression of that idea, is to fire him. This entire discussion was done in the context that 2018 was the final year on his contract/

For the record, I was not the one who devolved it into politics.

Now that it's been established in the Bowden Extension Thread that Bowden's contract has three more seasons on it (18, 19, 20) I think it's fair to start discussing what our expectations are for the Bowden Regime going forward. Discuss your opinions here; musts and hopes. Since there are three more years on the contract, my expectations would be Musts, to see progress in this progrum: 2/3 years bowl appearances No season less then 6 wins 8-win season (looking at you 2019) Another MAC Championship appearance (Win the MAC East outright, not on tie-breakers) Sprinkles on top: Another Bowl Win MAC Championship Win 9-win season (here's looking to you 2019)

How did I know that would be your response? Don't play stupid lilroodude. If you don't extend the coach's contract, what happens to the coach? (they don't come back...aka FIRED). Coach Paul Haynes was fired after Kent State didn't renew his contract. A notch against extending his contract, is a notch for firing him. Don't be stupid. You anti-bowden people are becoming unbearable.

Zips don't make it to MACH Championship, FIRE BOWDEN! Zips make it to MAC Championship for the first tim in 12 years, FIRE BOWDEN! Y'all are starting to sound like a broken record.

There's already a chart I've put together in the Recruiting section that has them separated by year. Now it doesn't have scholarships, but it has the players on in by class and indicates (RS) status or not. I update it 2-3 times a year. If you'd like a copy of it to work with, PM me. EDIT: NVM, I missed where you've already posted it...

Go Away. You won. Time to move on. Either become a (secondary) supporter of the Zips, or go away. We don't need trolls.

Don't you have better things to do? Go away.

And somehow we beat them...

This is why I am not an AD.

@Blue & Gold So here's the $1-million question: these are the two most talented recruiting classes (albeit young) Akron has ever had. What's the reasonable expectation for the Zips going forward? Assuming Bowden get's a 3-year contract extension, making 4-years Bowden is locked in: I'd say the Reasonable expectations are (in no particular order): -Season less then .500 is unacceptable. Frankly, anything less than a 7-win season is unacceptable. -Bowl games 3/4 years -Another MAC Championship Appearance (I say another because good-lord is the MAC polar, but by "another" we need to win the MAC East outright) -Win against "Known" G5 Team (Northwestern and Nebraska are hanging on the tree next year...Illinois in 2019...) -9-win season (I'm looking at 2019 for this...two years of getting young players developed, freshman this year (Like Kato) will be Juniors...we play @Illinois, vs UAB and vs Troy. That's the season I expect something HUGE. 2018 we will still have a relatively young, but talented, team. Wish List: -MAC Championship -Several BIG wins in one season (against non-MAC teams) -Another Bowl Win -10-win Season I'm willing to say here and now that 2019 is my do-or-die season for Bowden. I need to see something dramatic happen by that season. And I think that is beyond fair, as the official ZNO Bowden Cheerleader. Now, go ahead and hate my opinion y'all.

People say "exceeded expectations" because what they thought this team would be by the end of the year, mostly because people (and the media) were doom and gloom. What ever word you want to use in front of expectations, you can't make the arguement that they didn't do that this year. They made it to the MAC Championship. If that's the expectation (as it should be because we hadn't been there in years) then they made it.