zipsoutsider

Bowden delivered for the U, first bowl win, MAC East title, signature P5 upsets, including first B10 win, most wins in a season as a D1 team, 4 consecutive Wagon Wheel wins, etc.... so far, LW just blows a lot of hot air. The firing of Bowden will only be a success if he replaces him with some one who produces superior results. So claiming the firing demonstrates his competence is ignorant until we are a couple of seasons removed. Strikes against him: 1. No change in game attendance, 2. No dramatic improvements in the budget 3. Firing a head coach two weeks before signing day without having a replacement ready. Who knows what the fallout from that will cost the program 4. Sounds like he went soft with negotiations with Nebraska, despite all of the bravado for the press 5. Was at the helm when decision to focus on recruiting primarily in Ohio was made 6. No notable accomplishments

You gave zero examples of independent team success...nothing that ties directly to Williams. Plus, it was under his watch that the mandate to focus on recruiting primarily from Ohio was pushed. Oh, but you probably believe the best talent comes from Ohio, too.

William's is a fool and deserves to be fired if he will accept that deal.

He has no accomplishments po lishments as far as I can see. I 100% agree with @UAZipster...WilWilliam's is all about himself.

Why not call for the resignation of LW, too? What has he done for Zips football? No more fans in the seats, no real advocacy or changes in the way the MAC does things. Nothing that is really notable, period.

I always love the "what I've hear" comments...so full of merit. What we do know is that the team never stopped fighting. The second half against South Carolina was evidence of that.

You are 100% correct. Zips could be undefeated and you will not see more buts in the seats. Fails to recognize how bad the Zips were and the damage to the reputation. Lives in the Land of Make Believe...

Speaking of chumps....

I would also be in favor of football spending/donation cap. After a certain dollar amounts need to go back into the school in another form or to a charity.

They may not remember the 1-11 seasons, but the reputation has stuck. It is not like the Zips have a large following that has helped change the perception and if you do not follow Akron, some of the team's accomplishments likely went unnoticed. Second, the recruits might not remember 1-11 but their parents and coaches do. Lastly, is the university going to limit the budget for out of state recruiting like they have recently announced? I know people, here, have a high opinion of Ohio high school football, it is the kids from CA, TX, and FL that are generally the highest recruited kids each year.

Probably not. Mounds will move on and up.

Neither team has had three consecutive 1-11 years to recover from. I think, you, among others, greatly underestimate the damage done to the brand by those years. If you compare those teams 20 year records, neither team was close to being as bad as Akron was. If you go back to 1997, NIU was bad, but overall, there is no comparison. Good luck to the Zips. IMHO, Williams is interested in making a name for himself. He will take a gamble on coaches until he finds one or gets fired, himself. He does not have the chops for the job. Maybe he will find a PJ Fleck, who has a good year and then drains the pipe on his way to a P5 program. A new coach may di OK for a year or two with the talent ,here, but years 3 or 4 (if he is still here) will not be pretty.

You obviously have not read my other comments. G5 football is going down the toilet. I don't think we will attract recruits that can get us there.

Lol, I am amused with your definition of bei g take. to task.....almost I am by the poster who think that UA is likely to attract a better coach. None of the names mentioned provide a lot to look forward to, honestly.

Nope. It would not have been shady, it's part of the game. A lot shadier crap goes on in recruiting than that. I wonder which players will be requesting a release. If I was @CDMac's kid, I would be seriously considering it. Getsy might be a favorite for Zips fans, but not much of a recruiting draw. Honestly, none of the names in the ESPN article were very inspiring.

Firing a coach two weeks before signing day. Brilliant. Unless they have a ringer lined up, this should have waited until Janiary.

Those 7 are on Gasser.

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Seems like a likely inaccurate read...Bowden gave Muschamp his first coaching job. Muschamp probably agreed to the game as a solid for Bowden. It amazes me that so many, here fail to realize the perks the Bowden name gets the team.

This elusive next level does not exist in a sustained fashion in the MAC and is becoming a thing of the past in all G5 and weaker P5 schools, thanks to the college foootball playoffs. Sollich has never won a MAC championship. Again, a division title, four straight wagon wheels, two bowl bids, and couple of signature P5 wins are significant accomplishments coming out of three straight 1-11 records, especially given the climate we have today. Fleck had one above the mark season at WMU, which he largely I horrified and has gone on to be a yawned at Minnesota. You guys seem to be enamored with the idea of getting a cult personality, some mythical messiah to lead you to the promised land, which is clearly undefined. In the world where the NCAA broke G5 and lower P5 programs for money, top recruits sit on the bench for 4 years, watching elite players, so they can be a part of something special. High school football is in decline, across the country. Try taking a look at the larger picture instead of a myopic one that puts when we have a rough, but still respectable year. Or, fire Bowden, go through a string of maybe-can coaches until you happen on one who has a lot of luck and wins the MAC only to leave for the revolving door at some weak P5 school.

Solich did not take over the worst program in Div. 1.

1. Kato has improved and after Northern Illinois, which I consider his true breakout game, he mentioned that the difference was that he watched a lot more film. Judgement had been Kato's issue and it seems that he has figured out that the more he prepares, the better he will play. He is more than good enough to lead the team at QB when he does the prep work. I think it took him a while to get into a groove yesterday, but I think an injury in cold weather always takes little more time to warm up. 2. Dre Williams, Nate Stewart, Boogie Knight, and Maverick Woolfley. Our upper classmen on offense have largely been underwhelming. These kids all have talent, probably more talent than any other group of Zips WR group in the Bowden era. Timothy Scippio worked his way into the rotation, yesterday. I will be interested to see what he can do, too. 3. We are really losing only Ritz on the OL. Corne, Council, Treveor Brown and Peterson will return as solid starters and we also have some nice sized Freshmen ready to step up. The OL had some nice halftime adjustments, yesterday, that gave Kato time to throw. These young guys will get stronger and we return some decent experience on the OL. 4. The D returns some solid players: Alvin Davis, Jest, Lako, Glover, DeAandre Brimage, Arslanian, Zaire Jacobs, Butler, and Meeks, to name a few. I think there are some guys who have talent but who have been sitting behind some talented guys, too, like Jeffrey Lubin. The 2 largest off season question marks for me are the run game and who will kick and punt for the Zips next year. Glasser has been, arguably, the most consistent performer of the year. He does not put up huge numbers but he is pretty consistent. Kick-offs were much better, mostly out of the end zone. For the run game to improve, something needs to happen with the OL. Not sure if that means a new OL coach is needed or if it has been all strength and size.

Looking at some of the young talent that has worked it's way in on D, we are more ready for that transition. Honestly, our D line has not been stellar. Jamal Davis has had a good year, but we have not had a lot going on up front on D. Ohio and any other team committed to run against us, manhandled the D line If we are honest, apart from Northwestern, we lacked physicality on both sides of the ball. Maybe Gildersleeve is the one who needs to go.

I think the win over Northwestern set up unrealistic expectations. I never thought we would be that competitive this year. We were picked to finish fourth in the MAC. Most other people are not really surprised by the results. The offense has gone through a rebuilding season and the QB was injured as things started coming together. That happens. Why are people so shocked and dismayed. You could probably put together a one and done championship team with a coach without scruples and he would be gone the next year. Is that what you want? Ir would you rather build a perennial contender? We are pretty close to being that perennial co te der. Frank Solich has never won a MAC championship. Would you fire him, too?