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MTSU is certainly a good comparison for numerous reasons. I think we've discussed this one at length before, but I guess it's appropriate to bring it up again whenever a "no way Akron will get an at-large" poster appears.

I think you're right. Here's one thing to look at (sorry for linking a red and silver page to this forum). http://scarletandgame.com/2014/10/30/ohio-state-football-warren-ball-moved-3-tailback/ According to this, he "moved up" to the #3 spot at one time in 2014, but only after one guy left the program and another was injured? So, he was apparently 5th on the depth chart at that time.

Didn't his dad just leave a post on another thread about the transfer?

I think a lot of people are waiting to see if this is the magic addition that we need this year, including me. Here's my take, in response to your assumptions: If all this was about was that he was behind the last two starters, wouldn't he have certainly stayed for another year? Can't we guess that he might be buried much further than that on the depth chart, and had no prospect of playing next year? So, assuming that there were no other issues, one has to be at least a little concerned about what might be left of his talent since he's played very, very little football over the last 4 years? Regardless, if this guy was a legitimate 4-Star recruit out of high school, we certainly owe it to ourselves to give him enough carries to see if he has it.

That's an entirely different point, but I agree. I thought it was rather odd. I think the MAC Championship from 2005 would be a far greater accomplishment to warrant a banner than recognizing that we simply played in a Bowl Game that very few people even knew about, and it doesn't even exist anymore.

Hey, the ABJ pays so much attention to Zips Athletics that they write that we WON the 2005 Motor City Bowl. Woo Hoo

One thing that really caught my attention was how much we were working on passes to both sidelines. When coverage was soft, we went wide with a quick pass. When coverage was tight we lobbed over the top of the CB. It seemed like I was that scenario 50 times yesterday. I wonder if this is an early indication of what we wanted to work on with the WR corp because this is how we might be planning to attack defenses this year?

I would be thrilled beyond belief. I see this upcoming season boiling down to two things: 1) Blocking in the running game on offense with an inexperienced OL. 2) Tackling in the running game on defense with an inexperienced LB corp. The passing game on offense should be fine with the big play guys we have in there, especially with the return of Bennett. The passing game on defense should survive with two very good Defensive Ends that should be more than ready to rush MAC QB's to their full potential.

I hadn't taken a chance to comment on this. Congrats to Jeff. I was starting to think that he might have gotten himself stuck in a declining situation for too long. The recent news down there might have been his final cue to get out while he could. And I'm pleased to see that he got something better than a "rehab" job. I wish him the best.

I applaud you for bringing up the bigger picture. There are far more opportunities to make an impact than waiting for the NCAA tournament, and we don't do it. Those who keep touting the "just win 3 games in Cleveland" philosophy fail to realize that this has only given us 3 chances in 10 years. However, if what we have to market ourselves right now is a long stretch of consistent winning that can only be matched by a few other teams in the country, we BETTER be talking about it as often as we can. If we didn't, I'd be pissed. You don't just ignore an accomplishment like that. That's just common sense marketing.

I'll agree with you on this point, that this was not a good development for us. Not only did they get IN, but they got IN with a #10 seed. And now the Selection Committee can boast that they made the right decision by sneaking another P5 team in there, and possibly use that justification to make a similar decision again next year. This is why I was pulling for teams like Wichita and Gonzaga and even Villanova (yes, another "non P5" also) to make deep runs in the tourney. Those types of teams performing well is probably the best hope that an Akron, or anyone like Akron has to influence any change in the future of the selection process.

Not this fan. Fortunately, it hasn't happened to us. And it better stay that way. I remember the OT game against Bethune-Cookman about 5 years ago. That better be as close as it ever gets.

Actually, I am not even sure if that game is a good example of the types of games we are talking about here. I'm sure when they scheduled that game, they did it to add to their long list of "cupcake games" that they book every year, and they got quite a pleasant surprise. They surely didn't schedule that to have a semi-competitive contest against a formidable mid-major.

There has indeed been some reluctance to schedule a good amount of those games, and I don't agree with that. But there are other things going on too. I wish I could direct you to some of the people who tried to schedule the Suckeyes ever since the NIT in 1989.

I wish you could have listened in on some of the phone conversations I had with friends and relatives who live in Cowlumbus after that embarrassing loss to Texas-Arlington. But, here's a great clip that shows the reaction of the Suckeye fans after that game. http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400817525

Right, but since the matchup was brought up, I still used it as a example of a Top Team losing to a mid-major. If it was at home during a "bought" game, there'd be some pretty angry people fans out there. Those who suggest that this would be no big deal are nuts. There isn't a top program in the country that would view Akron as a "good loss". Nobody.

Of course. I'm sure all of Tar Heel Nation viewed it as a "good loss", as some people are suggesting. I never said it would ruin a program. Read again. Let me take that one step further. You're a die-hard NC fan and you wake up the next morning after a home loss to Northern Iowa. How do you feel? I assure you that your reaction would not be "no biggie...they are a good team".

I've often felt that we were not pursuing those games enough. But please don't fool yourself into thinking that any of these programs have something to gain. A loss at home against Akron would be a devastating blow to a Top program. I wouldn't call it "poison", but we're a threat and a risk because we're basically still a disregarded (yet successful) program. And most of them get plenty of opportunities for Top-50 wins during the conference schedules.

Hey Guys, go back to that link again above. It was updated this evening with a video interview with Mayock, and he talks extensively about Jatavis.

And this just came out today. Mayock now has him #5 at his position !!! http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000651172/article/mike-mayocks-2016-nfl-draft-position-rankings-30

Unfortunately for him, it ended up being more than a simple traffic stop. He was DUI, had weed in the car, and no front plate. Watch the footage. He also called himself "officer", and could only recall about 5 letters of the alphabet.

Very true. But the people in Dayton could very easily Bandwagon with the "larger" programs in the State, and they don't. Cincinnati and OSWho are very close, and they also both play major football.

I'm not entirely surprised because I've been there. Very loyal following, and they don't give a damn about the Suckeyes, who are only an hour away. And notably, Dayton is a smaller city than Akron. Sad. That's why I felt so strongly that a potential win over the Suckeyes a few weeks ago could have really left an impression of some of the people who live in Akron who bandwagon with them, and disregard Akron as some insignificant entity.

I actually didn't even think about the similarities in team's makeups when I started the thread, but you're right. One other item that has not been mentioned is that they come from a conference that has virtually been forgotten after the massive shuffling of leagues a few years ago, so that's always nice to see too.

Dr Z, you just reminded me to post this one. Did anyone else watch the USA vs. Guatemala soccer game the other night? The play-by-play guy mentioned how much Yedlin has blossomed since playing at "The University of Ak-Ron" in his European-pronunciation voice. I watched the entire game, and I think it was the only time that any player's college affiliation was ever mentioned.