bigjim

I agree 100%. The current Zip fans are great and really are die hards. But, we do not have the number of fans to fill up the Big House like the Wolverines, or even the Info. I loved going to school at the University of Akron. I had many great experiences and memories. My only regret is not being able to participate in a game like Alabama Auburn or OSU Michigan. The closest that I came was the 86 basketball run to the NCAA. We started out with 20 fans and ended up having weekday parties and filled the JAR for the OVC run and championship.

I found a couple of articles. If these have been posted, I apologize. One looks to be recent regarding Ohio State's Kevin Wilson, the others are a few days old. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/update-on-akrons-coaching-search/ar-AAR6eTy?ocid=uxbndlbing https://247sports.com/Article/Akron-coaching-search-Ohio-State-OC-Kevin-Wilson-reportedly-drawing-interest-from-Zips-176556382/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/packers-qb-coach-luke-getsy-a-candidate-for-akron-hc-job-per-report/ar-AAQPoJo?ocid=uxbndlbing

I have read many comments in the 'Head Coach Search' thread where there is no basis for the comments. Unless someone has inside information or is a personal friend or acquaintance of these potential coaches, it is just speculation that the board members know the goals of these potential coaches, their situation, and their wish to come to Akron. However, Zips Nation members knows the University of Akron and can make fact based comments on the good reasons for potential (head and assistant) coaches to come to Akron as well as the bad reasons for these up and comers to stay away. I am really looking forward to the Nation to list all of the positives and negatives of the University. My positives and negatives are below: Reason to Coach Football at the University of Akron -Very Good Stadium and Facilities, i.e. fieldhouse -Great Zips Nation forum and members such as Bigjim, LZlp, Blue and Gold(both of you), Clark (the OSU fan), Football Grandma, etc. -Northeast Ohio is a hotbed of high school football talent ready to be recruited -Good young freshman talent on the roster -New coach might be in line for a significant raise if they are position coaches (not QB coach) at P5 schools or FCS coaches Reasons not to coach at the University of Akron' -Akron has been the 'Graveyard of Coaches' -Administration/Guthrie support, many cuts recently and I am very skeptical about Guthrie -Zips Nation members such as GP1 -Northeast Ohio high school talent does not want to attend the University of Akron -Limited upperclass talent on the current roster, must use transfer portal -Established P5 coordinators may have to take a pay cut to become the head coach, budget issues -Very little student support and attendance at football games for many years -Limited Alumni support and nearly empty stadiums -City campus, although the campus has greatly improved over the years, it is still urban. I am really hoping the members who know and understand the University comment. The President and AD do not know near as much as the great members of this board. Go Zips!!!!

Yes he is. He is a fine young player. In addition to him, I believe Williams is also a very good young running back. The season started with this position at great depth. We had Gest, Dollard, and I believe another player who I cannot recall his name. Now, we are down to Norrils and Williams. I hope the new coach puts a great emphasis on keeping this two young excellent running backs that will help us win games in the future.

I never criticize high school athletes. I try not to criticize college athletes, but I am not always successful since I am human and vocal. As for pro athletes, all is fair game. The same is true with coaches at all levels. With that said, Rodriguez has shown to be one of the worst coaches I have ever seen. The decisions that were made (will not comment on personnel decisions since it may criticize college athletes) were awful. I know he was hired by Arth. A good manager always hires employees that are smarter than him/her so that they can be successful. In reality, most managers hire employees that are not as smart, so that they can control them. This looks to be the case with Rodriguez. I truly hope that the next coach does not keep Rodriguez on his staff. We will be doomed.

I basically answered this question for 2022 in the 2021MACtion post the day before this thread was started. I gave 2 MAC examples of teams using the portal and grad transfers to greatly supplement young talent as the details were shared on air. Akron has a lot of good young talent, but 19 year olds cannot typically compete with 22 and 23 year old athletes. The new coach can get bowl eligible quick by following this equation, even with the killer schedule next year.

Speculation or fact based comment? I am hoping for the latter. We need to get the recruiting moving and work on keeping the good players.

Thank you for keeping the tradition.

I would take that progress.

Not sure where to post this, so I will here. I watched No. Illinois beat Buffalo in OT this week to go to 8-3 (6-1 MAC), and there were a couple of significant points. First, No. Illinois was winless last year, and the second is that 80% of their roster was freshman or sophomores. The third point that was made was that they added some significant upper classmen through the portal. As I rewatched the Akron Kent game last night, I heard the comment that Kent probably led the country in the amount of grad transfers that they signed so that they have a significant amount of seniors on the roster. This was needed to provide experience as the young players developed. I see some very strong parallels to my beloved Zips here. So, if Akron finds a good coach, uses the portal and transfers well, I believe that the Zips can make the jump to a top tier MAC team next year. On offense, the top players are mostly freshman at the QB, RB, WR, and OL positions. On Defense, the Line, LB's, and DB's are mostly freshman and sophomores. We need Bubba back at LB, and our DL is very thin and weak. So, if we can utilize the portal and grad transfers to add upperclassmen, the Zips can significantly improve. This will allow our young players to mature and get stronger and better so that they can be very good when they are juniors and seniors. Akron can be the next No. Illinois and go from last to first in the MAC if it is done correctly. I (and others) have made these points in the past, but the comments from this weeks games helped pull everything together and into focus. So, AD Guthrie, get off your derriere and hire a good coach, get some good upperclassmen from the portal, keep the good young players (and there are many of them), and let's have a 2022 season that we can celebrate for a long time. Go Zips!!! (no, I am not high to write this article, I truly believe in this blueprint)

I hope that you root for your son's alma mater, unless they are playing the Zips and you are an alumuns. I am rooting for Cincinnati to make the CFP, but it is highly unlikely under any scenario. And I will root for all of the MAC schools in bowl games. All MAC wins only elevate the conference.

At least Clarks Buckeyes are up 42-0 in the 2Q with the ball and 4 minutes to go in the 1H.

You are kidding, right? Coach O makes Arth look competent.

For the year? Forever? Please provide more details and sources.

Thank you

You are correct. Seems like a long time to spend in college unless he is getting a masters or more.

That would be 6 years at the University. I hope he has 2 degrees and is working on a masters like Finchen is doing.

1. That is why I asked for a confirmed story, not some speculation. 2. Even an out of shape Bubba will be better than anything that we have. Look at the yards and points we have given up over the last few weeks.

Ok, I will try to lighten up, Francis. I just think that if you love OSU and were able to go to college, you should have gone to that school. I have worked with many people over the years who went to different schools, but when their alma mater played the Suckeyes, they would dress up in OSU gear. I had a very good friend who I graduated from the University of Akron with, asked if he could join me for a game. He met me in Lot 9 wearing Buckeye apparel. He got many negative comments and near threats over his outfit at the tailgate. I bought him an Akron Jersey to cover up his shirt. I just think your number 1 college love has to be your alma mater. It is for me and I am proud to be a graduate of the University of Akron. Speaking of triggers, there are many people on this forum who speak negatively toward Buffalo and Kent State. They are called many different names on this forum, which I think is worse than my Suckeye comments. Just look at the game threads, of which some are confusing. I hold no ill will toward these schools. I do not know any Akron graduates who root for Kent or Buffalo, unless maybe their spouse went there. I know several people who went to Kent, and I respect them. Thanks for allowing me to explain myself. However, after writing this post, I decided that I will not lighten up regarding the Suckeyes. Go Zips!!! Proud to be an University of Akron alumnus.

Maybe I missed it, but does anyone know the status of Bubba? Based on the early reports, I expected him back last week, but I have not seen anything on his status. If anyone knows a confirmed story, I would appreciate it. Thanks,

A couple of comments: -Very kind words, I hope he wrote it and not the University -Please get some public speaking practice, you will need it in the business world -I believe you have been at the University for 6 years, I am glad you have 2 degrees and will have a Masters soon. -Good luck in the future!

I grew up with tractors, hay fields, and cornfields. I would never slander the hardest working profession in the great USA.

Wow, what a really crappy thing to say. I did not grow up in NE Ohio, but I went to the University of Akron and now I live north of Akron about 45 minutes. I live in a beautiful town in NE Ohio with great schools and kind and generous people. I have had multiple opportunities to move and have chosen to stay where I am at. I have tried to support outside views on this forum (except OSU Suckeyes), but you have gone overboard. You are truly an @$$hole who has added nothing to this board but complete ignorance. Please, stay the f away with your ignorant comments. Personally, I am glad you moved your wife out of NE Ohio. I do not want anyone in Ohio who would be stupid enough to be with you. I will continue to love and support the University of Akron and Northeast Ohio. God Bless!!!

After the last two games against two very solid MAC teams, I am thinking that letting Arth go may have been a mistake. Every week, the Zips play with the most freshman of any team. They are starting to come around and Arth's vision of a long range rebuild is coming to fruition. They found the QB Gibson (it took Arth much longer than it should have). The RB's are beginning to play well. The OL is coming together when Gray is not playing. They have a couple of very good WR's. On defense, the Line is awful and needs help from the transfer portal (I posted on this in the past), I am thinking of 3 transfers while the youth develop. They need to go to a 4 man front since their 3 is not successful. When Bubba gets back, he and Boateng will make a great pairing at LB. The DB's are young, but are improving. Get a couple from the transfer portal to help next year. The DL made a couple of big plays, like the pick 6. However, they got run over for over 300 yards which is unheard of, and it should have been more. They are awful. I am curious to see how the Zips play to finish the season. If they are competitive, they are setting the stage for the future. I hope Guthrie makes the right choice and the key players stay around. Otherwise, there will be many more bad seasons and the attendance at the stadium will drop to nothing. Go Zips!

When the receivers were open, he got it out quick. When everyone was covered, he held the ball. This is where the backs need to get out in the flat as the last option.