Z-P Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 What really turned around the 04 season? Guys buying into the new system? Running the players guts out before the season? Genius of the staff? Is it possible the Seniors took over the team after the 4th game and willed them forward? Most specifically the OL (dissed as much as they were), Superman, and Blackey? I've heard some interesting buzz recently, and while I'm all Staff, Plan and Direction Oriented, all of a sudden, I'm not so sure credit went where it was deserved. Time will tell.............. Check it our for yourselves if you can..................but you probably can't. nm ILFSITF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingZip Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 Spill some scoop for us. It's an anonymous board so if you have something lay it out for us. I would have a hard time believing the OL did much as far as leadership. Most lead by example, which they did not. Same goes for Blackburn - not a real inspiring senior season. Frye is the reason for the turnaround - he and a weak middle schedule and divine intervention at the bowl against Marshall. No Charlie-all-the-way at Ohio and at home against MU and the Zips are 4-7, people are second guessing the coaches left and right, and no one is pumped. Regardless of how the season turned around, it did, the recruiting class was awesome and I am excited about 2005. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipsrifle Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 I think the reason for the success wasn’t just the coaches, or just the players, it was the team. The coaches are the leaders of the team, if they don’t have it together, then the team won’t win. In addition, you can have a great coaching staff,but if the players don’t care, then you won’t win either. IMO, both facets of the team continued to believe in the system set out by the coaches and because of this, the season was a success. Is JD truly a great head coach? Time will answer that question. The seniors no doubt gave their all and should have nothing but fond memories of the Bowl being packed for big games this season. In the 10 years I have followed Zips football, this past season was without a doubt the most exciting for me. I don’t have the inside track, don’t personally know anyone on the team, and am no expert on football, but I don’t see how this past season could have happened if everyone wasn’t on the same page. JD was able to find something extra in the Zips this season, something that LO couldn’t find. For that reason, I believe JD is what Akron has been looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingZip Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 Well typed Smartshooter. I like my football like my sauage - I do not care about how it get's made as long as it is on my plate and tastes good in my mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipsrifle Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 King, I have to believe that everyone on the field gave 100%. Did 5 have more ability than anyone? Yes. I just don't believe that the team didn't give it their all. I have to agree that Frye carried the team on 11/5, but have to disagree with the OU game, Lefall had a hell of a day. What got this thing started? Can't. Who stepped up at the Can't game, the D. Once things got rolling, last season it seemed like everyone was focused on the next game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 I'm going to say this for about the 5,000th time on this board. The reason the Zips played better in the middle of the season was three reason: 1. Biggs, 2. Biggs, 3. Biggs. The play of Frye was good throughout the year and didn't change whether they were playing Penn State or Ball State. What changed was the starting running back from Ringer to Biggs. The Zips were able to move the ball with him, control the clock more and keep the defense off the field more. No secrets here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipsrifle Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 Very true GP1. Like I said, a team effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckzip Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Agreed. Biggs made a huge impact. When Frye has a running game, it takes quite a bit of pressure off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 I'm going to say this for about the 5,000th time on this board. The reason the Zips played better in the middle of the season was three reason: 1. Biggs, 2. Biggs, 3. Biggs. I disagree. We had "Biggs" in 2003. It was Bobby Hendry. The 2004 difference wasn't Biggs, it was the fact that the new staff wasn't Frye-centric. While Lee Owens chose to run the ball 5 times vs. Miami in 2003, JD knew he had to rush 15+ times in ANY game if only to keep the 2004 opponents honest. Lee Owens' favorite running play was the maddening "delayed draw", usually on 3rd and 8. Saw it a hundred times. JD ran that play once. Biggs caught screen passes. How many times did Owens call a screen pass for Hendry? I can't recall one. JD found ways to give Frye time to pass without keeping the RB in to pass block every down. Owens always defaulted to simply keeping Hendry in the backfield. Yes the seniors "came together" when they seemingly could have given up. However, I give credit to the new staff for instilling the fight in those guys. The coaching staff can't go on the field and tackle or catch the passes, they can only teach and motivate. I think the 2004 seniors responded to the coaching as much as they did their own competitiveness. I summary: If JD would have had Hendry in the backfield instead of Biggs, our 2004 record wouldn't have been any different. The difference wasn't Biggs, it was the fact that JD knew how to use a running back, even though he had an NFL-caliber QB under center. Owens didn't. And on a slight tangent, I'll say the Owens DID know how to run the ball. The McCray, Culler, Payne, Gray, early-Hendry era teams could pile up some decent running yardage. But as the Frye era evolved (under Owens), the running game became a forgotten game. My 2 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 I disagree. We had "Biggs" in 2003. It was Bobby Hendry. Biggs caught screen passes. How many times did Owens call a screen pass for Hendry? I can't recall one. All good points Capt. However, the fact that Biggs could catch made him a better back than Hendry and his hands of stone. Hendry never provided a spark when he played. Biggs did. Perhaps Hendry wasn't really given a chance, but I just think he was another one of the suburban kids Owens loved and he never really produced. I also think you are correct about the team being Frye-centric when Owens coached. Owens put all of his eggs in one basket when he decided to stick with Frye instead of Sparks and I don't think it paid off for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Hendry never provided a spark when he played. Biggs did. Perhaps Hendry wasn't really given a chance, but I just think he was another one of the suburban kids Owens loved and he never really produced. To say he never produced is pretty unfair. He's something like the #9 rusher in U of A history and had some very nice 100+ games (Wisconsin is just one that comes to mind). Marcus Sanders....there's your poster child for "never produced." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipsrifle Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 I also think you are correct about the team being Frye-centric when Owens coached. Owens put all of his eggs in one basket when he decided to stick with Frye instead of Sparks and I don't think it paid off for him. Miami, 2003. Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckzip Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 Hendry was a pretty solid back. he wasn't spectacular, but he had alot of heart, and determination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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