GP1

Yes. He did get to start because of that, but the injured QB came back as a WR because Owens put all his chips in on Frye. I don't think play calling would have changed anything. I do know more accurate passing against Temple would have resulted in at least one more TD. I do know an easily made FG that was missed against Indiana is made, the Zips have another win. Player performance at critical moments was terrible. Players win games and players didn't come through. The next QB will be interesting. I'm guessing he will come from the same system somewhere else.

Good post and I think the betting line is very close to accurate based on team statistics. Emu averages around three points more per game on offense than Akron and approximately three points less given up on defense. As embarrassing as last week was, Miami has a great MAC defense and getting shutout should not have been much of a surprise for anyone. Akron will play better. Football games are still win on turnovers, points off of turnovers and big plays (+40 yards). I know this is asking a lot this season, but if U can just get the ball from his hand to a receiver down field or maybe a Lingard long run, the Zips can win. The hard part in bad seasons is motivation once hope is lost for a bowl game. The Zips are playing for nothing and that's around the time when guys throw in the towel. Seniors and soon to be washout portal players are quick to give up. Emu can still make a bowl by winning their two final games. That's pretty good motivation for a Mac school. With all that said, take Emu giving up the points. You'll be waiting forever for U to complete a long pass and the motivation for Emu will be too great. Take the over, whatever it is. Disclaimer: I'm pretty good at watching college football and understanding what goes on in and around teams. I'm horrible at picking based upon betting lines. If you bet based upon my advice above seriously, you're an idiot.

The question to me is, how does a team build a fan base? The first instinct is to say winning builds a fan base. I can't deny it's a good start, but losing teams can build fan bases and when the team begins to win, a generation of dedicated fans can exist. The Pittsburgh Penguins went through some really bad years after Mario and before Crosby. They were losing and playing in easily the worst arena in the NHL. Ticket sales were terrible and there were rumblings of them leaving the city. To generate attendance, they had college ID nights. The old arena has two balconies that were basically unused at both ends. If a college student showed their ID, that kid could buy something like a five dollar ticket general admission for the balcony. There were long lines to take advantage of the offer. The Pens got good, built a new arena and started winning. Now, they have a couple of generations of dedicated hockey fans that sell out games regularly. They aren't even particularly good now. The college ID nights don't exist because they aren't needed. Akron just needs to get people in the stadium. Get people on campus using any means possible and let them have access to the games by sitting in general admission. I don't care if it's free.

I'm not sure Franklin isn't on thin ice. They are loaded with talent and not doing enough with it. If not now, when?

There in lies the problem. The future is not defined after two years.

I have a major concern. Better play calling wouldn't have resulted in more wins. Maybe less fan agony, but not more wins. My concern is, with less than a handful of games remaining in Joe's second season, the future QB is nowhere to be seen. Maybe he's not on the team, but I don't see much in recruiting that's promising. Maybe he is on the team, but not on the field to start the season, or yet.I don't know. It's concerning. John Wolford is a good example because his first season was Clawson's first season. However, Charlie Frye could also be a good example. Lee Owens decided to live or die with Frye. He only won four games in each of his first two seasons while taking a beating. In fact, his winning percentage went down in his second season when college football went to 12 games. His last two seasons the Zips had winning records. In every organization, people have to solve problems. If a manager has 5 direct reports, each of those five people have five problems to solve totaling 25 problems. The manager can't take his five problems and add the other 25 problems of his employees for a total of 30 problems. Smaller problems have to be solved down the trough. As far as I can tell, one of Joe's five problems during last off season was to find the future QB to be put on the field this season, and I respectfully submit he failed at that. I don't think he should be fired, but he needs to get this problem off his desk. Clearing problems is extremely important for organizations.

I'm going with #1. Probably 90% of schools have the same problem.

There are a lot of things to sell. Each person buys differently. My guess is the ham handed way schools sell their product results in a lot of bad choices and is the reason so many are in the transfer portal. Studies on human buying behavior have shown people buy in five stages and in order: 1. The sales person. Does the sales person understand the needs of the prospect. In recruiting, does the recruiter understand what the kid wants out of a school. This is difficult because of the way the human brain develops. Humans are not capable of making truly rational decisions until 25 years old, so many kids have ideas of what they want but the ideas are not well thought out. This is why meeting the parents is important, but since offers are made to kids before anyone actually has a conversation, a breakdown can take place. Recruiting would be a better process if scholarships could not be offered until after New Year's, but there is a lot of stupidity chasing money in college football. 2. The Company. In recruiting it's the school. A kid wants something. Has that school helped others in his situation get what they wanted. 3. The Product. Is what that company or school selling something that solves your problem or giving you what you want or need? 4. The Price. Is what you need to solve worth the money? Not a big deal for scholarships, but maybe a bid deal for P5 schools and NIL. 5. Buy. Everything can be perfect down to the price and circumstances are such the person doesn't buy, or in this case select another school. Maybe a kid just wants to be closer to home. Apply this to Akron football and see what you come up with. Remember, your motivations are not the same as another person's.

You could sell them on an offense that would complete passes down field if only they had that star recruit behind center. You could sell the star recruit on the necessary parts for success being in place except for him.

Good post. They are probably going to need to work on defensive depth. They do have a good defense, but if the offense still struggles next year they will need a lot of fresh, competent bodies during games. The grad transfer QB probably works best at this point. Joe burned two seasons without his guy behind center. Can't wait to develop a freshman for a couple of years. I see someone gave a thumbs down to your post. NE Ohio fans are a funny bunch. I think they enjoy losing more than winning.

So, I had to drive from Spokane to Seattle and survive rush hour traffic. Listened to the Zips broadcast on XM. I have a question. Does Joe get paid a bonus to say the Zips are in four down territory or should go for it on fourth regardless of how stupid of an idea it would be?

At least he'll have a doctorate.

Or , do they devise a game plan that works against Miami?

This is a fantastic idea and surprisingly so for a MAC school. Everyone in Akron knows these places and they resonate with alumni of all ages at some level. Well done!

Out of curiosity, raise your hand if you were at the game and stayed until the end.

Akron can be a really good program. The key is they have to play every quarter as well as they played the fourth last night or at least close to that level. If Akron played three good quarters, they would have won 52-10. Really good teams can have one bad quarter, but not three. The Zips need to string some good consecutive quarters together.

Lingard is a legit D1 talent and by far the best player on the field for either team last night. Lingard would get playing time at a lot of P5 schools. I can't say that much about many of the players last night.

I like when really good players talk trash. He isn't one of them. His behavior is reckless and dumb.

Almost the exact same thing happened to me.

Fishing would be just as entertaining as the game.

People used to say this about schools like Wake Forest and Kansas State years ago. It doesn't have to be that way.

I don't own a bulldozer.

We could also fix this problem.

Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, Akron stays in the MAC so they need to make what they have work.

Never going to happen. Come up with another solution.