GP1

I'm a huge Zips fan just trying to inject a different spin other than the normal stuff we read on zipsnation.org/welovecharlie/heisthegreatest/footballplayer/ever/atanyschool/howwillweever/getanother/six/winqb

I hope all of you are correct. A lot still depends on who comes out early this year and how others and 5 do in their bowl games. Try outs will also be important. I don't know how the coaching staffs work at the bowls he is playing in, but if JD could get on the staff of his team I think it would help his confidence in the game. I think JD was a strong pole for 5 to lean on last year when things weren't going well. Right now, 5 is not the flushy pick and he could get over looked. A couple of things that may make scouts shy away is the significant decline in passing yards from 2003 (3,549) to 2004 (approximately 2,650). The decline happened in a pro style offense. I know there were changes in players, one less game and no I-AA teams on the schedule, but 1,000 yards is a bunch. In fact, it is about a 25% reduction. Also, he was not able to show what he can really do because he was running for his life. Which leads me to another point. If he didn't get the chance to show what he can do, how can Kiper make the comments he does? And, how do any of us know how he will do? I certainly don't, but I have my suspicions. The bad news for 5 is that Kiper is the only guy who can be as frequently wrong as he is and still keep a job. One thing Big Ben is proving right now is that more than anything, NFL teams need winners. For whatever reason, when Ben steps on the field, his teams win. They don't play for fun in the NFL, they play to win. Some teams may look at 5 and say, "Only 21 wins in four years and only 19 wins against D-I teams. Can this guy win? Will our fans have a fit if we draft a guy from Akron?" I don't know the answer to that either as I am just a guy with a computer and a key board, but I'm looking at the press guide now and I don't see any really big wins. In fact, there are some losses that really stick out more than wins. Losses that a great player can single handedly win did not happen. We all like to point to the two Marshall wins, but my guess is that Limpwich would have found a way to beat us on two good wheels in 2002, I'd like to kid myself into believing differently, but I can't. Limpy was too good of a player and won too many games to let that one get away. The win we had against Marshall this year was against a vastly inferior team to what Marshall has put onto the field in the past. Finally, every Zip in recent memory who has made the NFL has been the best player on the team. For example, Dwight Smith (the greatest football player to put on a Zips uniform) and Jason Taylor were the two best players on the teams their final year. Was 5 the best player on the team this year? I personally think Biggs had a significantly greater impact on the team this year than 5. He carried the team to 5 of their 6 wins and they were a completely different team with him in the starting line up. I would like to know how many Division I-A QBs had at least 2,600 yards. My guess is that at least half did. Anyhow, the bottom line is that 5 is going to make an NFL team and make a Hell of a lot of money whether he ever plays or not. I only have one thing to say about that.......GOOD FOR HIM AND SEND MONEY BACK TO U OF A.

I wonder how long Solich will be at OU. He didn't need the job, because he still has three years left on his Nebraska contract. I also heard Turner Gill resigned at Nebraska. Maybe he is going to OU to be the offensive coordinator.

G-P, Excellent work. Good reading here in my cell, I mean, my hotel room. Anyhow, the past staff ran a roll out passing game. This type of offense can help to hide a lot of poor offensive line play by moving the QB away from the pressure. This year, we did not see a line used to the type of play JDs offense requires. I'm confident the line will be better next year. One starter back and Hein coming back is a good start. Hein was a good back up and with more reps in practice he should be even better next year. The transfer from Pitt has playing experience, although on defense, in a big conference. He is athletic and should adjust well. Two more spots.....Kaplan is a giant with talent. He could impress next year. One more spot........There are quite a few back ups on the list above. Surely one of them can make a contribution and we can develop depth around the others. As far as Charlie being picked by the Browns, I only have this to say. There is probably not another QB in the draft more practiced at running for his life than Charlie. He would be a perfect fit for that team.

Getsy should fall right into place. From what I hear we should all be pleased with his performance next year. I just hope the kid is a winner. We have all had enough years of average seasons. It's time to start winning.

Let not your heart be troubled Capt. We can't get them all. Maybe these kids are going there with a chance to play right away. That sometimes happens with a down program like EMU. I'm not certain of the position, but we did get a lot of kids from there last year. We could be in a position where the kids that came last year will start next year and there is no opportunity for the kids immediately from Glennville in the next 2-3 years.

You could easily argue that the team would have gone 3-8 with the old coaching staff. Loss at Can't would have happened. Loss at OU could have easily happened. They would have easily blown the Marshall game with the old staff. What makes you think the old staff would have beaten MTSU? Trust in the new staff. These guys are professional college coaches. Not high school coaches who want to become college coaches like the old staff was.

This is a great testimonial as to the quality of coach JD is bringing to the program. I'm sure he will find another good one. Best wishes to the Verdugo family. I've met both him and his wife and they are really good people.

How fitting. Just so everyone knows, my wife graduated from Miami and we are going to go to Louisiana for their bowl game so I can have my nose rubbed in shit by not only her, but all of the Miami alumni for three whole days. They are too polite to say anything, but we all know what they will be thinking. While I am looking forward to a vacation with my wife, it will be a reminder of what could have been. Keep the faith though. This program is going in the right direction. Merry Christmas everyone.

Wizard, Your logic would dictate that football was better when they ran the single wing and wore leather helmets. That just is nonsense. The womens game is what it is, a slower version of a more superior product. Now go and take a ride in your Model T. After all, it is the way Ford intended us to drive when he invented the car.

Let's just hope Charlie remembers his old school. He can make the check out to "The University of Akron Foundation".

If the kid has not graduated yet, then would it be safe to assume that if he passes the ACT or SAT with the required score he could play next year? Quite honestly, I could care less whether a kid has a criminal past or not. I want to win the MAC. Let's not kid ourselves. Nobody sits around Sunday through Friday worrying about what the Zips are doing on their time off from football. Let's win now! Sign him JD!

Someone asked what happens if there are not enough teams with six wins. I have the answer. It is from the NCAA Rules, Chapter 23, Section II. "If in the event that there are not enough bowl teams, those writers in ZipsNation.org with more than 20 posts will play in a bowl. In order to even the playing field, the opponent of Zipsnation.org will be required to stay awake for 48 hours prior to game time and consume 15 shots, per player, of Jack Daniels one hour prior to the game." I like our chances guys. Now go get a work out in. We may have some work to do.

Good Lord this is great news!!!!! Well deserved by both JD and 5. I understand that there are different voting blocks for awards, but I still can't believe the BG QB was named first team all MAC QB. Our best years are ahead of us.

Green Bay would be an excellent place for 5 to go. Two years sitting behind a Hall of Fame QB and learning from him could be the best possible situation for a young QB. Not only that, GB usually has a decent team which will benefit any young QB. If you doubt that, look at the garbage Couch had to play with and look where his career went. Not only that, 5 has a similar type game to Favre in that they both move and throw on the run very well. A gambler is always fun to watch. 5 just has to be careful ice fishing. If he falls asleep on drifting ice while fishing on Lake Michigan, he could get frost bite and lose his hand, but the probability of that happening is probably very slim. One other thing. Who in the heck votes for first team all MAC? I've had my doubts and written some unflattering things about 5 in the past, but one thing I am certain of is that he is a much better QB than the guy at BG. The guy couldn't hit the broad side of a barn in the biggest game of his career against Toledo. Maybe I'm thinking too much in terms of passing, because if that is what decided it, Frye, Betts and the guy at Toledo (I have trouble with Polish last names) would win hands down over the BG guy.

Nice work zipper. UAM did an outstanding job this year. The real question is what else could they have done? Probably nothing. What they did do worked well. We had 17,000 at the final game. Normally the final game gets about 2,000. Good work UAM. As far as the coaches leaving, I really doubt that. Even if they did, how could we hold someone taking about a $500,000 a year pay increase against that person. If anyone out there says they wouldn't take the money, they are a liar. JD would be stupid not to take the money. You have to make hay while the sun is up. Remember, we have things like UAM because this is a business.

I think the information came out of the part of his body that touches a chair when he sits down.

USA Today now has us in the Houston Bowl. All the jumping around is making me nervous. I hope things are not sliding away. Maybe we were all premature with our hopes. We should know more after this weekend.

I had heard that Akron was trying to get out of the Purdue game. I hope they do. A good start to the season would do wonders.

Thanks for the correction. I'm a little surprised Alleman is moving to OL. He was really a good DE. Wasn't the back up lineman, I think his name was Heim, a junior also. If so, it will be a much better line than I had thought.

First, great job Zips for your effort and continued improvement this season. Winning five of the last six games is no small task. After the game I was having a beer in the parking lot and I couldn't help but be excited about next year and the direction of this team. Normally after the last game I am sick aobut the prospects of having to send the money in for season tickets the following year. It was like flushing money down the toilet. This year, I would write the check today and not think twice about it. What we saw this year was just the beginning of a successful football program that is going to win a lot more than 6 games a year in the future. Next year, we have a QB coming that has played two full seasons and one fall practice in this system. Quite honestly, I don't think we are going to miss a beat at the QB position (easy homers, this is not a slap at 5). This offense does not ask a lot out of the QB. Heck, the biggest challenge 5 had this year was keeping himself alive behind that OL. He will have to go to therapy in the future to deal with the flushbacks of standing back there. We have a transfer in Andy Aulman from Massillon who lettered two years at a big time school playig defensive line. With KiKi, they should make a good line and improve the players behind them. The OL can only get better. Past years we had a roll out passing game and that can hide a lot of bad offensive linemen. They need faster linemen who can come off the ball quicker than what we are seeing. Without a better line, we can't get the running game going and without that there will be no passing game. Some therapist will be seeing 5 and Getsy in back to back appointments if there are no improvements. The running back position is in good hands next year with Biggs and Ringer coming back. We need to bring along some linebackers for next year. This position must improve. We need to make some more tackles behind the line and bring guys down when we make contact. With this 3-3 defense they play, we will be in better position with our defensive backs next year because the DL will be applying more pressure next season with the improvement in players. The WRs have to improve and I think those young kids from Glennville will greatly help us. If I remember correctly, there were no seniors at WRs. Let's bring in some JUCO players who can help immediately on the OL and maybe a linebacker. The size and maturity of an older player always helps. Also, it will create competition for positions that they have not had in the past. Bright days are ahead of us my friends. Don't look back.

Redhawk95, I hope you didn't leave your medication at the Rubber Bowl. It's probably theh worst stadium in college football.

I actually sit when I type in my posts.

While the Zips played well enought to win last week, they MUST play better this week or they can't win. Other than 6, nobody played very well. I saw Miami play in person this year against Toledo when I was traveling on business. They are a very solid team that does a lot of different things well. Can the Zips win.......Hell yes! Miami is good, but if the Zips play the way they did late against Marshall, they most certainly can win. Four full quarters is a must to win a close game.

I don't agree that the ABJ is trying to save face. They are too stupid to come to the realization as to how stupid they acted when LO got fired. All of the players Pluto mentions in his article, with the exception of 5, are average Division I players and were below average recruits in high school. The new coaching staff is getting the maximum effort out of this team. If Pluto is mad at the University for firing LO, he should write a negative article about the President or the AD or anyone else he feels is at fault. It is not JD's fault that LO was fired and he should stop taking digs at JD. It isn't a very Christian thing to do and everyone knows what I mean. It is starting to look as if our Bible thumping friend Pluto has a sneaky mean side. Perhaps he should read the "do unto others" part of the good book again. There are also some good lines about flaunting your beliefs but not living them as well.