Jrship35

Sorry to beat the off season training drum ............. But I do think that this off season will be of utmost importance. In my son's two visits, we spent a lot of time with Coach Gildersleeve (S and C coach) and Coach Stroud (Director of S and C), and was very, very impressed with the sell on the new philosophy in the strength and conditioning program. It will be Coach Gildy's first full off season as the S&C Coach (GA last year). What I believe needs to be considered is that most of these guys come in and are 2 star and below ranked (if you buy into that crap). The reason they are rated as such is for the most part because of their size and the fact that they may not have been "marketed" well enough (attended the costly camps, hired a recruiting service to market them etc.). They simply, for one of many reasons, have not gotten themselves on the recruiting map.......... The kids that are more physically advanced and better genetically have been gobbled up by the big schools. The kids that UA attracts (most anyway)don't fit into the physical "mold" of what the power 5 schools are looking for (doesn't make them bad athletes). ............. Quote from Coach Stroud : "We, unfortunately, are probably not going to get those genetic freaks that are ready to step right in and play at a high level when they walk on campus. We have to develop them" ................... Reasonable quote if you ask me.. These guys need time to develop in size, strength and speed ......... Case in point, on my son's second visit, (when he went through all of the physical and prior injury analysis by the trainers and team physician), we spent about an hour discussing where Coach Stroud thought he needed to be coming in and where he envisions him playing (size wise) into his sophmore season (after a red shirt year I'm sure) and how they are planning to get him there (diet and the areas of big opportunity in strength). They were detailed in discussing the differences in the training philosophy (Strength and fast twitch muscle agility vs. the prior philosophy of just strength). Unfortunately, the gains don't happen overnight and during the season, the philosophy is more of a recovery and maintenance program, thus the major importance of the off season program. Some of these kids come from high school programs that are not extremely advances (no offense to any program) and have a tough time transitioning to the "grind" in the weight room and agility training. Some have some pretty bad lifting and training habits from high school that need to be changed. I stand by my earlier posts that I do believe the talent level of recruits in the 2013 and 2014 classes (more the 2014 class) are visibly better on film than prior to Bowden. As for transfers (from other programs of JC), they are necessary and will be necessary for the foreseeable future (IMO), but obviously will not be the foundation of the program (or shouldn't be). You would hope to (or I would) be able to find that WR who can stretch the field (as we need), or that feature RB (as we hopefully have coming) that make immediate impact. We would obviously hope to get transfers with a couple of years of eligibility that a string of one year guys. Recruiting has taken a hit for sure with the outcome of this season, I know there are a few guys that my son met while on visits and have kept in touch, that are much colder now about UA than at mid season. And I would think that some of the "higher level" recruits that may have had big interest in UA are a bit colder .............. But that remains to be seen. Does anyone have access to or know anyone close to the S&C department to be able to get some insight of the "physical benchmarks" (bench press, clean, squat, 40 times, shuttles, etc) of the players and how they progress over the off season ? That will give us a insight of where we will be going into spring 2015 ................. Don't mean to sound like a know it all, just trying to give insight ..................................... LOL, and hope !!!!

I'm gonna step out on a limb and say that the majority of folks would embrace the black unis more ...... To your point above 92'........ If they were winning Everyone wants the fan buzz that Oregon gets with Nike or the Maryland unis with Under Armour......... The Oregon unis yesterday were terrible (IMO), but were more digestible when you see them throwing up all them point I don't think the trend is going away ...... Heck I remember the press that Penn State got when they put the players names on their backs a few years back

I can tell you that the black and gold unis were one of few things this season that caught the attention of recruits ........ Several recruits that my son met and twitter with along with his current team family raved about how "tight" those uniforms and helmet are ........... Not arguing your point, but just giving a perspective Hell I wouldn't care I they wore pink, as long as the play on the field was up to the potential Just sayin ......... OK maybe not pink, but you get the point

This should be an interesting BS laden press conference by Coach Bowden ....... What can you say after that mess ??

I have tried to be positive throughout the season, but that was terrible coaching on both sides of the ball .......... Period, end of season

Thata way to piss it away

Thata way to piss it away

Thata way to piss it away

C'mon defense .... Damn

Are you freakin kidding me ....... W T F ?

They are dominating our D-line so far

3rd and 14 run ....... Nice call.

Sounds to me like there IS progress being made in the program ....... Just sayin Happy Thanksgiving everyone ..... Thanks for the dialogue in my rookie season a a Zips fan !!! Looking forward to the "off season" analysis ...... Don't forget the off season !!!! Equally important ..... I believe this is the first off season with Coach Gildy as strength coach and Coach Stroud as the Director ...... But I am a rookie.

I was going to ask the same ? Is he sitting out or something ?

LOL ................. Then I guess I stand corrected Bring him on

And how many of those players have failed drug tests on multiple occasions ........

We agree to disagree ............. I believe he would have to sit a year wouldn't he ?

Unfortunately I don't think we need to take the chance .............. For 1 season ? http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2014/11/ohio_state_football_buckeyes_d.html

Three hour ride from ATL ....... Nice !!!! Hope it happens

Hear Hear !!!! Great point Not that my son is multi star recruit (but a straight solid football player) .... But I have heard so much BS spewed from so many coaches (I can only imagine the crap these high profile 18 yr old recruits hear) that it is tough to trust a word from any of them. ............ The actions you mention above are the proof in the pudding (even suggesting the former UA team physician that now practices here in my area regarding an injury) After spending time with Coach Bowden on three occasions, seeing emails from and hearing my son's conversations with him and Coach Stroud, I am pretty convinced of their commitment to these young men. Anything can happen in college football Coaching, so nothing is a lock, but the fact that my son feels comfortable that this staff will be at UA for his 4-5 years (as do I ) .... Was certainly a nice check mark to have on the top 5 list. Good group of guys/gals that we have dealt with thus far (from TB down )

Sorry Sir ................ No intention of showing you up Sir !!!

LOL ........ I was kidding Coaches: My son loved the Coaches first of all .......... Of all of the Coaching staffs he has met and spoken with during the recruiting process, he has built the strongest relationship with Coach Stroud........... Great guy with a ton of coaching experience (and playing),.............. All of the Coaches he spent time with (Bowden, Amatto) were great and all seemed to share the same vision of the program and laid out the rebuilding plan the same (which is on track as they laid it out) Facilities: I have to be honest that on the ride up on the first visit, I was thinking to myself (Akron? really) ......... But when we got up there and toured the facilities, my reluctance disappeared. Excellent facilities ... Comparable to the SEC facilities in the niceness (if that's the word) .......... Only much smaller scaled. Playing time: My son is about 3" short for the SEC (obviously I'm bias) ...........He has talked to and visited most of the ACC, AAC and Sun Belt schools and feels that Akron is a perfect fit for him. He has been in a high school program that is run like a college program (going for third straight state championship and got second when he was a freshman). The defense Coach Amotto runs is the exact defense he has been in since 8th grade so the transition to the program should be smooth. I can see the probability of him being red shirted to add weight, but he is very solid technically. Coach Stroud and Bowden both said that he reminds them of Cody Grice (which is a nice comparison). Coach Bowden told him he would like to use him in goal line situations like Cody as he is a pretty punishing FB ............... He is 6'1 245 LBS now and would like to come in June at 260 lbs............... Probably will be a 290 lb guy as a RS Sophmore Education : Akron has his degree program (Exercise Science) No family in the area He is also excited about the potential of being a part of building the program .......... Again I'm a bit bias, but he fits the mold of what Coach Bowden talks about when he says they want to recruit "good character" kids that know what it takes to win. .......................... He should be a solid player and contributor to the program (he better be !!!)

Right on point Sir !!! .............. The rebuilding plan seems on track if you take the emotion out and view it objectively (not offense to anyone as I understand the frustration). Could/Should have been a much better season from a record perspective (which is what die hard's were excited for with the 4-2 start) I would aggressively argue with anyone who says the talent level in the Bowden's first two signing classes isn't at least one level up. ............. Next year will be the true measuring season (I know that's pretty easy to say now) ........ There is alot of talent that was red shirted (That would be the benefit of a bowl game .... A few more practices) Also please don't forget that the most under rated and overlooked part of the program is also in the "rebuilding" stage ............. The strength and conditioning program !!! Completely different philosophy and program than before ............... There is the "field" part of the program (practice and games), that yields all the attention (and is the bottom line), and the "off season" (and in season) weight room and S&A program and the "administrative/marketing" part of the program (which includes recruiting)................... All being changed So you have "Old program" players (not that that is necessarily bad) used to one training/practice discipline and the "New Program" philosophy that is totally different in ALL program aspects, and you have new recruits and transfers that you are introducing to the program and changing their habits from High School or other programs. Also you have administrative staff people from the old program that you are also changing philosophy with ....................... Tough task when it was THAT bad (as I understand it) It is a large ship not a speed boat ............. Unfortunately cannot change direction that fast. I look forward to maybe joining you all (or y'all in the dirty south) next season for some tailgating !!! That's my rah rah speech for the day !!

Ouch .............. LOL

Montgomery would be nice ,,,,,,,,,,,,, Could make that trip sure from the ATL !!!