Lee Adams

Lets not complain too much after what happened on Saturday. Enjoy the fact that they got into 2 post season football games. Been a long time for that. BUT, hopefully Bowden/Amato has these guys a little better prepared for this one. Don't want another blowout 1) on national TV or 2) in an area where Bowden tries to recruit. Doesn't do the MAC any good for the future either if teams aren't competitive in post season.

Was AT the game. First,Ford Field is GREAT Some random comments.Neighborhood is pretty rough though. Toledo is the BEST team in the MAC hands down,notwithstanding their 1 loss. They have lots more SPEED and more SKILL at critical positions,certainly far more so than Akron. That HC is from Mount UNION!!!! Akron's DEFENSE was overwhelmed in the first half.I said the first half not the entire game. I include in that realm KICK COVERAGE which was awful. They didn't tackle well certainly. The D-line and linebackers were chasing a lot in the first half. I know the offense was sputtering in the first half,but this was one of those games when no matter, The defense NEEDED to make a couple more stops early but did not. Got better in the second for whatever reason. But,no doubt the poor kick coverage killed them because even though the defense gave up way too many big plays, there were too many short fields for Toledo after kicks. Better look there for next season. Offensively,no question the offense sputtered especially in the first half. The O-line was being beaten at the point of attack a lot and Toledo was able to pressure the QB(whomever he was) and run down the backs. Toledo was quicker. Please don't try to hang the loss on Nelson. Its like somebody elsewhere said. Everybody loves the back up QB until.... I was talking to a guy sitting behind us in 105. We were both puzzled when Bowden pulled the plug on Nelson so early. Certainly,Nelson was struggling. But,a significant part of that was because the O-line couldn't keep the rush off of him and the running game was going nowhere,again. Frankly, we were not sure what Woodson was going to add on the positive side under the circumstances. Not really anything we hadn't already seen from him. And,in the post game Bowden clearly stated Nelson is the QB of the future. Nelson and the offense were better in the second half but,the O-line had a BAD breakdown on a backside blitz when Nelson got creamed and fumbled. Pretty sure I saw a Tight End(umm) trying to grab the blitzer form behind just as he hit Nelson. I am still not convinced that Nelson and the other QB's wouldn't benefit from bring in an assistant who could help 'coach up' the QB's a little better. But, this was one of those games against a much better team when not being able,or willing to try to control the ball on the ground to keep Toledo off the field could have kept it closer and made Toledo play 'honest'. The officiating wasn't great but didn't cost Akron the game. I thought the Toledo fans were 'bush' when they were cheering the player who got called for targeting and was ejected. Know the rule. Even if you don't like it it WAS targeting. Now,Bowden has to make some changes in order to build on this. Can't be sub-500 next season. Have to consistently get 6 Conference wins and be in the mix for Detroit.

Been there a couple times before. Stayed in Dearborn before. Great place to watch a game.

The Akron Athletic Dept. seems to be acting as if there was some kind of overwhelming demand for tix from Akron fans. There will be tons of TU fans at the game.They apparently still don't understand that only the diehards will go to Detroit. The rest will sit on their asses and watch a few minutes on TV. I remember in 2005, there were more people at the Motor City Bowl than at the MAC Championship game. The front runners will stay home. The AD needs to get its head out of their behinds when it comes to 'markerting' this program.

Still have not seen a seating chart on Gozips.com.

Staying in Dearborn. Staying away from downtown. We are a few miles from The Henry Ford. Will hit that on Sunday.

May not be exactly a 'neutral field. I am looking at the Ford Field website seating chart. Looks like Toledo may have already sold most if not all of their seats in the lowe rbowl. Nothing is showing as available on that side. There are still seats available on the Akron side right in the middle of the lower section. We will see.

Not gonna continue this conversation. U saw what U saw. I saw what I saw.

Can't blitz that much against these guys. They will hit big plays. Before U no it U are down by 2 TD's. Akron has to score first but its gonna happen if they get a tight end and RB's involved early. Defense will have to play way over its head to win this one. Nelson will have to be more composed than he was against KSOO.

Not the same team. Not the same coach. '05 was a better squad and NIU was not as good as this TU team. Hope the Zips can pull a rabbit out of the hat but who cares? At least we get to go to Detroit.

After watching him all season you might be on to something. He has difficulty catching. But is bulky enough to be at a DL or LB spot inside. Then,MAYBE they get the second coming of Cody Grice by using him in the backfield on short yardage. That would be a site!

Never did the B.ball Tourney. Just remember in 2005 I went to the ticket office and they already had the tix. I was able to pick out the specific row and seats I wanted. Actually got 2 seats on Row 15,Aisle by going to the Flash Seats website. I can sell them back if I want or can there also. Yes,if Toledo wins they are 'home' team.

I went to the Info. ticket office bright and early Wednesday AM. Nobody else there. That was AFTER I got on the GOZIPS site to try to buy tix. The seat mapped was blocked. What they are apparently doing according to the guy in the office is taking your money but not being able to tell you where you will be sitting much less give you a ticket. He claimed they would not actually get there allotment until after the Friday MAC games. He said that if Toledo won they would be the 'home' team and Akron the visitors. He said if NIU came out of the west Akron would be the 'home' team. He said that would determine which side of Ford Field each teams fans would get access to tix through the schools. He also said the ticket office would not be open on Saturday or Sunday. So Monday would be the earliest you could know where you are being seated or to buy tix if you hadn't already given your money. Not sure what diff. the home or away designation makes if you are on the road anyway. I finally went to the Ford Field website. There were some seats already opened up in the lower levels on each side of the field in the same sections that will be released to the two schools. I was able to pick the seats I wanted(aisle). Bought two on each side and will sell the two I don't need on the website.

Check out his completion % for the entire season in the MAC. I don't think its anywhere close to that number. Like I said. Bowden better not overthink this. If the offense had really been hitting before Woodson had his brain cramp that MIGHT be different. But it wasn't. No next year. Start Nelson and see what happens!

Thanks

Hopefully Bowden will not over think this QB thing. Right now with Nelson he might go out as a MAC Champ. There is no next season now! Not so with Woodson. Go Kato!

I wanna change my vote on who will win. I thought I punched up Akron by 7 or less not KSOO. Please change my vote!!!!

Think the Zips will win. But, when I look at some of the IN CONFERENCE stats I just get the uneasy feeling that this thing might be closer than we would like. KSOO is #10 in rush D at 222.1/game. Akron is at 213.0/game-#9. In total D KSOO has a significant edge #8 at 384.6/game. Akron #10 at 439.0/game- #10. KSOO is actually#1 in Pass D-162.4/game. KSOO is#8 in Rush Off-139/game. Akron is #12(last) at 99.1/game. No RB's on either side in top #10. Passing Off. tips Akron's way. KSOO is #10 at 164.7/game. Akron at #5-239.4/game. Caveat on that stat is all but 2 of Akron's games were with Woodson at QB. Might be different if Nelson had a few games under his belt. Zips Red Zone Off. and Def. are significantly better. Akron is +8 in Turnover Margin(#1). KSOO is last at -7. KSOO is #4 in Sacks By at 16. Akron is #9 at 10. KSOO is last in Sacks Against at 32(thats a lot). Akron is at #7 at 13. What to make of it? Because Nelson we assume will be at QB again things should open up a little more for the ground game. KSOO has s decent secondary so it looks like teams are trying to run first. Looks like they can be pressured into sacks and TO's. Get on them early(like in 2005) and don't give them any hope of coming back. But,let a team like this hang around with turnovers or big plays....Thats why I think it will be a little too close for comfort. Zips have to play like they want to be division champs.

Any 'big bodies' coming back at WR. Nelson needs a guy the size of Wolf to see downfield. Have enough of the 5'9"/5'10" guys.

Take your shots when you get them if you are an Akron fan. IF, the weather is decent(for November 21) and the Athletic Department makes at least a little more effort to pub the game and its potential positive consequences they might get a bigger ACTUAL crowd than expected. Put some ads in the ABJ. Put some stuff on the more popular radio stations. Spend some damn cash promoting your product. Problem with the OU game was most assumed a blowout on the OU side. Why come to watch that? There is a little more fan connection with the K.SWho game. Look,in 2005 several thousand people actually showed up for the Blizzard Bowl with those guys. Same scenario,win,you are in. If that many showed up under those conditions(some of us are still around) they can get a decent crowd on a far better Tuesday night.

If you watched OU walking off the field to the tunnel after the game a number of them kept looking up at the scoreboard shaking their heads in disbelief. I was particularly amused when I saw their O-lineman #65 who threw the cheap shot chop block at the goal line which ended up costing them a TD(and 4 points) staring up in disbelief. Priceless.

Nelson is a very different athlete when compared to Woodson. Bowden said it himself in the post game press conference. He said,not someone else that Nelson just opens things up for the offense. And he does. Bowden knew for a long time the difference in the type and level of physical talent between Nelson and Woodson. He saw it every day. Maybe he just wanted to be loyal to the senior for as long as he could. I get that. But,the offense sputtered around a lot up to and including the win over WMU. Just wonder why we didn't see more of Nelson during the season. We have to hope that Zips don't end up 6-6 after being on the verge of the biggest accomplishment in Bowden's tenure. NOTHING is better for Akron than at least finally playing again for the MAC Championship. If this team gets there,Bowden will be back unless he wants to retire. Have fun with this! Who knows when we see it again.

What do you think? But,to those who haven't deliberately or inadvertently forgotten history it tells me they better grab the ring NOW.

1992 was not he 'best team'. Got to look objectively at the 2003,2004, or 2005 teams. Frankly,the '05 team that won the MAC Champeenship with JD,Getsy,Hixon,and the 'Bowling Ball' Biggs at RB was the best IMHO. That team beat the 'best' team,NIU in the MAC twice that year.

IF, they beat Portage CC he gets 2 more. If not and misses the MAC Champ game by losing to a really bad team,nothing. Re-evaluate. Frankly,by accident,Kato Nelson may extend Bowden's time at Akron. After seeing Nelson for two weeks I wonder what the coaching staff was looking at in practice all season. Beat KSWHOO.