And this is why I had the Zips at 3 wins.
It's tough to go out and get the right QB when you have a recent history like Akron or any other struggling G5 school.
You will have a guy like Sanders at Colorado woth the name to flip a team in a year, but those guys are hard to find and the exception and you usually can't get them at what a G5 school can pay them and their staff.
Truthfully, there will probably be a lot of games that can go either way. Winning 1 or 2 of those early could create the shift needed to get to the 4-6 win category.
Akron:
MAC East pre-season coaches' poll:
1. Ohio (9) – 63 points
2. Miami (2) – 52 points
3. Buffalo (1) – 51 points
4. Bowling Green – 35 points
5. Akron – 26 points
6. Kent State – 19 points
I don't think my 3-win prediction is all that different from the mainstream outlook.
I guess I would rather be realistic and not throw a fit when the Zips don't do as well as the hype would lead people to believe.
I do realize that getting hyped about unrealistic expectations and then dissolving into vitriolic diatribes is a way of life in NE Ohio, however.
It takes a couple of years to realize the value of HS signees, in most cases. I am not saying the program is a lost cause - I threw out my prediction, and we will see how close I am around Thanksgiving.
You will pick up a few talented players, but teams in Akron's position are lucky to break even with the talent lost, and they aren't able to build the depth needed to win, quickly.