GP1

Why not? Would it have been too much to have gone from 5-7 with a QB that had won 8 of his last 11 games to 10-2? With six games to go, Zips fans should have expected a 9 win season minimum. A win over BG would have given 10. The funny thing about the "building process" I have had to listen to about for almost 30 years now is that those who believe in it use it as a way to excuse away failure or not reaching your full potential....that, somehow, we shouldn't expect much because it is a process that provides slow improvement that will lead to great things down the road somewhere, but not in the current season of course because things have been so bad for so long that is too much to ask. We were on our way to a great season this year...not three years from now, but THIS YEAR! Akron was in the midst of what I like to call a "winning process" six games in. The had a QB that the team had won 8 of 11 games around, they limited turnovers, they had a good defense, they had some good running days, they blocked, they tackled, they were OK at catching passes and in general showed they knew how to play football. The "building process" is about ideas that may or may never happen. The "winning process" is about executing in a way that makes you better than the other team today. That's the difference. It's about competition, not plans and any other pile of horse poop the "building process" people want us to believe.

I've had just about enough as well. In all seriousness, I'm just about at the point of tuning out permanently. I really can't take much more of the utter stupidity that goes on around this football program. Sometimes I feel like I'm in one of those psychological studies where you put a test subject in a room with 6 other people and the 6 other people are actors. The actors start to act like they smell smoke when there is none and over the course of time, the test subject will claim to smell smoke as well. A small percent of people never claim to smell smoke. I would be in the small percentage because I would tell the rest of the room they were full of crap and insane. Bowden is trying to tell us something right now that is just not true and I've had enough of that as well. In the next coming weeks, I'm going to make a personal decision as to whether or not this football program is worth another second of discussion or even wasting time watching a second on another game. I sure as shit never going to spend a couple of thousand dollars flying and staying the weekend in Akron with Mrs. GP1 to go to a game in Akron again. I've really just about had it. I'm not even angry at this point. I'm just about defeated.

You're over thinking it. Pohl isn't a Bowden Ball guy so Bowden doesn't want him in the game so he dodged a real answer with one covered in altruism. Pohl is just a plain, old, ordinary QB that wins 8 of 11 games without aggression or excitement. There is no room in this program for that type of player so you have seen the last of him.

Almost 30 years of abuse hasn't been enough? 4-2 starts with a chance to have 8-9 wins means nothing if you can have 7 wins three years from now. Have you learned noting about the "building process"?

What you thought it was is exactly what it is. We aren't getting what it is because we don't have a QB on the current roster to give us Bowden Ball. So, we have to settle for plain old boring winning with Pohl or exciting losing with Woodson. Seems to be a tough spot for Bowden. Doesn't see to be that tough of a spot to me.

When Bowden talks of Woodson, he gets all excited and uses words like exciting and aggressive. Why? Because Bowden just isn't a coach, he's a brand...Bowden Ball. He wants everything about the program to be about Bowden Ball. The problem he has is Pohl is the better QB if you are looking for someone who does things like keep turnovers down, but he is going to do little exciting or aggressive; however, he wins. Bowden doesn't want that type of player at QB but at the same time he wants excitement and aggression without all of the mistakes that can lose a game. He wants a brand guy. A successful brand guy is very hard to get and the Zips don't have a single one on the team. The guy who comes closest to fitting the brand is Woodson. Woodson is everything Bowden says he is, exciting and aggressive. He is also something that Bowden can't say he is and that is turnover prone. Bowden passes his insertion into the game as a spark for the team. If the last two weeks are any indication, that spark will burn down the house eventually, but he keep Pohl on a short leash. Turnovers will destroy a team faster than anything. He continues to shovel Woodson on to the field in the hopes that some magic will happen and the turnovers will stop. It's not going to this year so we have to do the best with the cards we were dealt. Early in the year someone made a comment on the board about Bowden doing what is right for Akron with the existing players. Maybe Bowden made it. In the end, I think he believes Bowden Ball is right for Akron and I believe he is right for believing that. Our problem is we don't have anyone to fit the QB bill in Bowden Ball right now in a way that will allow us to WIN. So, we need the bridge player that may not be desirable for Bowden Ball, but wins. Pohl is the bridge until a better brand guy is developed or recruited. Bowden is at a crossroad. Does he want to risk losing with Woodson to build the brand, or does he want to continue to win with a guy who isn't anything he wants in a QB but wins? The other major problem is Pohl is only a junior. If he ended up being successful this year starting every game (we were on that way with a 4-2 start to the season), it presents Bowden with a huge problem for next year. If you want Bowden Ball, how do you bench a QB who maybe won the MAC East for you, beat a BCS team and maybe took the program to a bow game, but doesn't fit the Bowden Ball mold? Somehow you have to move that player along. Pohl isn't exciting, but the team wins around him. Woodson is exciting, but the team loses around him. It really isn't a tough choice for me because I value winning and QBs who have teams win around them over everything. I'm not promoting a personal brand though so the decision is made much easier.

Just sort of connecting dots.

Chase Blackburn just got done yelling at the crowd from the video board. Its too hot to be that active.

One does more of one thing that can't be done if you want to win. They aren't equal.

ZipsWin! said he was clear to play. That's enough for me.

They all have egos that big.

Don't create fantasy for yourself.

Doesn't matter. Bowden doesn't want him on the field. BTW, 8-3.

Unless he graduates. Why sit the bench in D1 when you can start in another division?

Bowden isn't looking for a reason to be proven wrong. He is looking for a reason to be proven right. If there are 30 reasons why he is wrong and one showing him to be right, he will believe he is right. The whole Woodson vs. Pohl issue is Bowden's solution to a non-existent problem. If Pohl plays and does well, it eliminates possibilities for Bowden being right with Woodson. Woodson has to play in order for Bowden to be presented with reasons for being right. I've already said it once, but I'll say it again. Pohl isn't going to be at Akron next year because he isn't wanted by the coaches. When we discuss future QBs, he shouldn't even be in the discussion. He should be spending some of his time over the next few weeks researching what school he wants to transfer to in order to finish out his career. There is a good chance he'll never play another play for Akron. Interesting finish for a guy who went 8-3 in his final 11 starts AND had the team on pace for a 8-9 win season. Bowden may throw him out next game since the team has lost all confidence and momentum to put a final nail in his coffin and reinforce his Woodson decision, but in general, it's over. Lastly, hats off to the defense. Keep working hard guys. This isn't your fault.

The discussion of fair vs. unfair is not the one we should be having over his comments. My problem is he is trying to cover bad personnel decisions in altruism. Whenever I hear comments like that, my BS meter goes into full alert. A decent press pool would roll over a coach with follow up questions after a nonsensical answer like that. Most reporters are just trying to get a comment for their story so they can get to the free post game buffet before all of the good stuff is picked over.

Why should't we criticize Bowden for horrible personnel decisions? Why is he immune from criticism? I do agree he has turned it around. I guess we'll find out exactly how far he has turned it around in the next nine weeks. One could say it could be a COMPLETE turnaround. Specifically, he may have turned around a team that had gone 8-3 in its previous 11 games with Pohl starting to one that goes 3-8 in its next 11 games. Like I said, it could be a complete turnaround....the kind we should avoid. I said it a couple of weeks ago and I'll say it again. This team will struggle to finish out the season 3-3 without Pohl at QB.

I'm going to throw this idea out there for the board. If you really step back and think about it, it isn't outside the world of reality. So, before anyone reacts, just take some time to think about it. Bowden benched a QB that went 8-3 in his last 11 starts. Bowden is now playing a QB who could easily go 3-8 in 11 starts. He's already 0-2 with nine remaining. With the way he plays, going 3-6 over the next nine isn't outside of the world of reality. He lost a close divisional game last week against a terrible team while throwing two INTs with one being when the game was on the line. Yesterday he stole a loss from the jaws of victory from a team that could be worse than OU. That about covers the methods whereby a team loses in the MAC. There are only so many Howards and Kents on the schedule that will allow a turnover machine like him to win. Since there are few Howards and Kents, there will be few wins. It has nothing to do with whether or not Bowden wants to win and everything to do with bad management. In defense of Woodson, the poor management will not be good for him long term either. There is some talent there. Right now, all he is learning how to do is lose and that is a horrible lesson. This is not the kind of experience he needs. Bowden is in a very tough spot right now. He benched a winner for a guy who doesn't. Moreover, the guy he wants is his pet project. Get ready, because there could easily be three more years of what you saw yesterday.

For those of you who don't have a lot of time to read, I'll translate Dave's post for you since I agree with it......Bowden is full of shit.... My take, Bowden doesn't want a guy who has won 8 of his last 11 games because Woodson is his pet project. I don't think it is any more complicated than that. Pohl is not getting a fair shot and will always be on a short leash or on the bench. As soon as the year is over, Pohl should immediately transfer out of Akron to another school because it is never going to be a good place for him to be. Go somewhere that will appreciate a guy who survived one of the worst periods in a school's history and got things turned around. Pohl has been through a lot and has earned better. Or, just take your scholarship and graduate. Don't kill yourself Kyle, you'll never get a fair shot. Spend less time studying your playbook and more time screwing girls. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm absolutely furious over the destruction Bowden has heaped on this program in the last two weeks. This is absolutely terrible. If you want me to create an even bleaker picture, Woodson has three more years in front of him to give us more of what we saw today. By the time this season is over, Bowden will have ruined Woodson. Pet projects never go away as long as the guy who brought them to the school are around.

The bowl in Alabama would take us. Either of them. The real question is whether or not we can get to six wins.

Would it be too low to call it a clown show? After all, the leader has orange hair?

Only the energy from the WoodSUN matters now.

Because he isn't Bowden's pet project.

What makes you think they will be any better?

I have a theory about winning games. It involves making big plays and winning turnovers. Since I didn't see every play of the game and therefore am not qualified to discuss the game, I have two questions. First, which team had the most plays over 40 yards and how did those plays turn out? Secondly, how was our turnover margin? PS. Pohl is still 8-3 in his last 11 starts.