Erick Howard

[Zipmeister]

FYI, there is a good chance he wont qualify this year.

I'm gonna love reading your future posts.

[Buckzip]

This will be no different than most of the bigger name recruits JD got. He will never play for the Zips.

[Lee Adams]

Some info from a friend of mine who is a Hoover football fan and season ticket holder. Howard has tons of talent as a running back, but his true position would be inside linebacker where his size and speed made him a devistating tackler. He didn't play every down on defense during highschool, just the ones that counted. He has been in alot of trouble during his HS career and currently lives with his HS head coach. His mother is a real piece of work. She moved to Vegas for a while and left him with the coach. Since the move things have improved academic wise, but maybe not enough to graduate. He has an older brother who is currently attending Akron.

howard may graduate but may not have enough GPA and or test scores to qualify..apparently he has or will take the act multiple times...he is having his hand hled in hs just to qualify...if he has to go prep school and makes it there who knows where he will end up...would be a shame to waste a tough runner like that which akron needs badly at lb..

[g-mann17]

Some info from a friend of mine who is a Hoover football fan and season ticket holder. Howard has tons of talent as a running back, but his true position would be inside linebacker where his size and speed made him a devistating tackler. He didn't play every down on defense during highschool, just the ones that counted. He has been in alot of trouble during his HS career and currently lives with his HS head coach. His mother is a real piece of work. She moved to Vegas for a while and left him with the coach. Since the move things have improved academic wise, but maybe not enough to graduate. He has an older brother who is currently attending Akron.

howard may graduate but may not have enough GPA and or test scores to qualify..apparently he has or will take the act multiple times...he is having his hand hled in hs just to qualify...if he has to go prep school and makes it there who knows where he will end up...would be a shame to waste a tough runner like that which akron needs badly at lb..

Ok that's twice now. Why are you going to sit there and say things like that when you know nothing about this kid? Honestly. Could his grades be better? Sure. Does he have to deal with things that most of us don't? I would say yes. Can't speak for you, but I know my dad didn't die in an industrial accident that devastated my mom and the rest of my family just before I went into high school. I know my mom never left me with my HS coach to go to Vegas for any period of time. And I know that I didn't have the Ohio media in my face 6 months out of the year because I was best player in the state two years in a row.But yeah the kid is having his "hand held".

[Zipmeister]

Some info from a friend of mine who is a Hoover football fan and season ticket holder. Howard has tons of talent as a running back, but his true position would be inside linebacker where his size and speed made him a devistating tackler. He didn't play every down on defense during highschool, just the ones that counted. He has been in alot of trouble during his HS career and currently lives with his HS head coach. His mother is a real piece of work. She moved to Vegas for a while and left him with the coach. Since the move things have improved academic wise, but maybe not enough to graduate. He has an older brother who is currently attending Akron.

howard may graduate but may not have enough GPA and or test scores to qualify..apparently he has or will take the act multiple times...he is having his hand hled in hs just to qualify...if he has to go prep school and makes it there who knows where he will end up...would be a shame to waste a tough runner like that which akron needs badly at lb..

Ok that's twice now. Why are you going to sit there and say things like that when you know nothing about this kid? Honestly. Could his grades be better? Sure. Does he have to deal with things that most of us don't? I would say yes. Can't speak for you, but I know my dad didn't die in an industrial accident that devastated my mom and the rest of my family just before I went into high school. I know my mom never left me with my HS coach to go to Vegas for any period of time. And I know that I didn't have the Ohio media in my face 6 months out of the year because I was best player in the state two years in a row.But yeah the kid is having his "hand held".

Maybe when she headed for Vegas she should have left him with an English or Math teacher instead of the coach.

[Dave in Green]

It's disappointing to see how low some people can go in trashing a high school kid from an obviously disadvantaged home. But I suppose it's not unexpected based on the far uglier stuff to be found on forums across the internet, particularly in those with the loosest standards.What's more disappointing to me is that ZN has such loose standards as to allow this kind of talk to go on, even if the Zips banner is "unofficial."Maybe I'm missing it, but as far as I can see, ZN has no published standards. So how does one know what's acceptable and what's not? Trial and error?Are there other Zips fans reading this who would like to see ZN have clearly published and strictly enforced standards that are more representative of what you believe should and shouldn't be allowed on a forum representing Zips fans?

[cornbread]

It's disappointing to see how low some people can go in trashing a high school kid from an obviously disadvantaged home. But I suppose it's not unexpected based on the far uglier stuff to be found on forums across the internet, particularly in those with the loosest standards.What's more disappointing to me is that ZN has such loose standards as to allow this kind of talk to go on, even if the Zips banner is "unofficial."Maybe I'm missing it, but as far as I can see, ZN has no published standards. So how does one know what's acceptable and what's not? Trial and error?Are there other Zips fans reading this who would like to see ZN have clearly published and strictly enforced standards that are more representative of what you believe should and shouldn't be allowed on a forum representing Zips fans?

I agree. We should be mean about Can't stuff, not our own recruits.If you want to be mean on the internet, the preferred form is trolling. At least then you are doing something someone, somewhere may find funny.A form of trolling is RickRolling.Leave the kid alone who was given a chance to attend Akron on a scholarship when the other schools backed down. He probably won't make it. But who knows?

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

It's disappointing to see how low some people can go in trashing a high school kid from an obviously disadvantaged home. But I suppose it's not unexpected based on the far uglier stuff to be found on forums across the internet, particularly in those with the loosest standards.What's more disappointing to me is that ZN has such loose standards as to allow this kind of talk to go on, even if the Zips banner is "unofficial."Maybe I'm missing it, but as far as I can see, ZN has no published standards. So how does one know what's acceptable and what's not? Trial and error?Are there other Zips fans reading this who would like to see ZN have clearly published and strictly enforced standards that are more representative of what you believe should and shouldn't be allowed on a forum representing Zips fans?

Actually, I feel exactly the opposite. Considering the roughly 15 routine posters here (yes, there really are that few), about half of them are marms who feel compelled to stifle the other posters and shut threads down. New, interesting, "inside" information here is about as common as JD Brookhart wins, and the ratio of self-styled mamma-poster-wannabes is way too high. I find myself less interested every month in checking in with ZN for these reasons. How about:1) Something interesting happen here from time to time to draw interest from new fans and posters?2) If you don't like the tone of a post or a thread, click out of it. Admonitions about the merits of a thread, or the virtue of the points made, only serve to make this an uninteresting place over time. Has it occurred to some of you that a SPORTS forum that would be completely friendly and unoffensive for, say, a moderator's young kid would also, by definition, be a boring and uninteresting place for adult sports fans to hang out? Boring old farts and marms, fire away. It doesn't matter since I check in once every week or so anymore...

[Captain Kangaroo]

Boring old farts and marms, fire away. It doesn't matter since I check in once every week or so anymore...

If you want, I'll give you your ZN subscription fee back.

[Dave in Green]

People say a lot on ZN that I may personally disagree with. I always feel free to express my disagreement, and expect others to disagree with me. That's the way it should be on a forum about sports or any other subject. There's nothing wrong with having disagreement. There's no good reason to be disagreeable.It's not a choice between anything goes or nothing goes. It's a case of having rules that prohibit certain behaviors that are generally considered to be in poor taste by most reasonable people, whether they be children or adults. For example, despite the fact that ZN has no written rules (that I've been able to find), we all know that certain posts have been and will continue to be removed by the moderators in the best interests of ZN and its members. The only question is how close one can push it to the edge of good taste on ZN before one or more moderators decides a line has been crossed.I personally believe that permitting adults to make ugly and demeaning comments about a high school kid from a disadvantaged home cheapens and demeans any forum.I personally would like to see the bar raised a little bit higher on a forum that bills itself as the unofficial web home of Akron Zips fans.

[zippy5]

dude, he said he was havinh his hand held, big whoop. Try blowing it out of proportion a littttttle bit more eh? if you don't like the rules, don't come here.

[Z.I.P.]

Some info from a friend of mine who is a Hoover football fan and season ticket holder. Howard has tons of talent as a running back, but his true position would be inside linebacker where his size and speed made him a devistating tackler. He didn't play every down on defense during highschool, just the ones that counted. He has been in alot of trouble during his HS career and currently lives with his HS head coach. His mother is a real piece of work. She moved to Vegas for a while and left him with the coach. Since the move things have improved academic wise, but maybe not enough to graduate. He has an older brother who is currently attending Akron.

howard may graduate but may not have enough GPA and or test scores to qualify..apparently he has or will take the act multiple times...he is having his hand hled in hs just to qualify...if he has to go prep school and makes it there who knows where he will end up...would be a shame to waste a tough runner like that which akron needs badly at lb..

Is this the so-called trashing post you all are writing about? It didn't even sound critical to me! But I would request the poster correct the spelling and grammar errors and return it for a grade.

[Captain Kangaroo]

People say a lot on ZN that I may personally disagree with. I always feel free to express my disagreement, and expect others to disagree with me. That's the way it should be on a forum about sports or any other subject. There's nothing wrong with having disagreement. There's no good reason to be disagreeable.It's not a choice between anything goes or nothing goes. It's a case of having rules that prohibit certain behaviors that are generally considered to be in poor taste by most reasonable people, whether they be children or adults. For example, despite the fact that ZN has no written rules (that I've been able to find), we all know that certain posts have been and will continue to be removed by the moderators in the best interests of ZN and its members. The only question is how close one can push it to the edge of good taste on ZN before one or more moderators decides a line has been crossed.I personally believe that permitting adults to make ugly and demeaning comments about a high school kid from a disadvantaged home cheapens and demeans any forum.I personally would like to see the bar raised a little bit higher on a forum that bills itself as the unofficial web home of Akron Zips fans.

Ease up there, Barn.

[Dave in Green]

Barn here. Sorry bout aimin for the bullseye and puttin a hole in yer roof. Let's try to get er fixed afore the spring rains.My previous critical posts overstated the situation and didn't properly express my thoughts. They were not referencing any single comment in this thread, but the questionable tone of a few comments I've read recently in this and other threads.I agree with about 98% of the moderating decisions made on ZN, and disagree with about 2%. I'm talking about raising the bar an inch or two, not a foot. I'd rather see ZN forum members and moderators err on the side of slightly higher standards than slightly lower standards.That's all, nothing more.Back to Zips sports talk.

[MDZip]

Another angle on Mr. Howard from the Beacon.http://www.ohio.com/sports/high_school/83503302.html

[zen]

As an administrator of another (non-sports) community, I can tell you that the issue of free speech vs. moderation is often brought under scrutiny.Aside from the more obvious areas of hate-speech, blatant trolling, public safety, and the personally directed insults and slander, most of the issues that come up fall within a large gray area. When it comes to moderating people's opinions, well, I just don't like to do it, even when opinions can be so strongly disagreeable to most, the whole point of a "forum" is for a discussion to occur among people with differing perspectives. What it usually comes down to for me is a (obviously and unfortunately) subjective valuation of "intent". If someone's intent appears more so to provoke offense or to personally insult, and less so to actually communicate a topic related opinion, then I am willing to take action. However, the gray-area phenomenon gets somewhat controversial among members who decided to judge "intent" differently than I, or my staff, do.All that said, I think my point is that it should be up to every website owner and staff to determine for themselves how to moderate. Not every site should be the same, and while there are always going to be members who disagree with moderation style (one direction or the other) and you are never going to make everyone happy, the staff only need to conscientiously try to stay consistent and true to their own ideals. ...blah blah blah... I didn't mean to ramble so much. I think ZN does a nice job of allowing opinion to be heard and debated. Sometimes people don't like other people's opinions, and sometimes they even take offense to them. Opinions are like arseholes. Everyone's got one, they are often offensive, and you can't take them away.

[Sergeant Zip]

Howard a long way from playing with Zips

[Lee Adams]

It's disappointing to see how low some people can go in trashing a high school kid from an obviously disadvantaged home. But I suppose it's not unexpected based on the far uglier stuff to be found on forums across the internet, particularly in those with the loosest standards.What's more disappointing to me is that ZN has such loose standards as to allow this kind of talk to go on, even if the Zips banner is "unofficial."Maybe I'm missing it, but as far as I can see, ZN has no published standards. So how does one know what's acceptable and what's not? Trial and error?Are there other Zips fans reading this who would like to see ZN have clearly published and strictly enforced standards that are more representative of what you believe should and shouldn't be allowed on a forum representing Zips fans?

[xu9697]

Howard a long way from playing with Zips

I got the distinct feeling that Tressel was sending a veiled message to a player like Howard, who may consider a military school.“Jamel Turner gained the most at Fork Union,” Tressel said. “That is a tremendous experience for any kid ... if you ever talk to Eddie George, that was a turning point in his life.”George went to Fork Union before coming to Ohio State and winning the Heisman Trophy.If Tressel IS doing this, my guess is b/c he cares about the kid, NOT b/c he so desperately wants/needs him at OSU. They are SEVEN deep at RB this year, with only 1 senior. And really, there is no new news in this.If Howard plays for the Zips this year or any year...great. Good for him, potentially good for us. But I happen to think we have GREAT potential at RB with Alexander, Martin and Torrence. One or two will emerge. Nicely, the OL and finding 2 WRs to complement LaFrance will be the key to this year on offense. Our RB position will be OK (keeping in mind we have 3 other freshmen RBs coming in as well).

[Captain Kangaroo]

I got the distinct feeling that Tressel was sending a veiled message to a player like Howard, who may consider a military school.“Jamel Turner gained the most at Fork Union,” Tressel said. “That is a tremendous experience for any kid ... if you ever talk to Eddie George, that was a turning point in his life.”George went to Fork Union before coming to Ohio State and winning the Heisman Trophy.

I read it as - The writer is an Ohio State supporter and knows his readers want to read Ohio State stories. The writer is connecting his own dots and the story is strictly conjecture. If it were really a slam-dunk that, if Howard attended a prep school, Tressel would snatch him up in 2011, Howard would be at the prep school.

If Howard plays for the Zips this year, or any year...great. Good for him, potentially good for us. But I happen to think we have GREAT potential at RB with Alexander, Martin and Torrence. One or two will emerge.

Alexander was put in a nearly impossible position last season, going from practice squad to starting RB 1/2 way through the season. But when he played he never showed that he could break initial contact. He has a great deal of weight room work and technique drills to practice before I say he's a #1 RB. I hope he can do it.Martin has always been injured. I can't bank on him for anything. If he could stay healthy, he's our #1 RB, hands down.To this point in his college career, Torrence has needed his hand held every minute. It will be interesting to see how Ianello handles him. Like JD, does he assign someone to stay on him 24/7 to keep him on track with his classwork. Or does he tell him - Grow up. It's sink or swim time.I worry about our RB's in 2010. They all are very unproven. None were better than Joe Tuzze last season.

[MaxZIP]

[i worry about our RB's in 2010. They all are very unproven. None were better than Joe Tuzze last season.

Do you think they will be better in a power run scheme instead of that lame attempt at a running game last year?

[Captain Kangaroo]

I worry about our RB's in 2010. They all are very unproven. None were better than Joe Tuzze last season.

Do you think they will be better in a power run scheme instead of that lame attempt at a running game last year?

We'll have a true Freshman FB. That concerns me.It's one thing to run a power formation. It's another thing to run it effectively. I'm as happy as the next guy to be rid of the delayed shotgun hand off. But an entirely new playbook, coupled with an entirely unproven stable of RB's, concerns me.

[xu9697]

I worry about our RB's in 2010. They all are very unproven. None were better than Joe Tuzze last season.

Do you think they will be better in a power run scheme instead of that lame attempt at a running game last year?

We'll have a true Freshman FB. That concerns me.It's one thing to run a power formation. It's another thing to run it effectively. I'm as happy as the next guy to be rid of the delayed shotgun hand off. But an entirely new playbook, coupled with an entirely unproven stable of RB's, concerns me.

In reality, when your team is 3-9 just about everything should concern you. I guess I just have a little more faith in what I saw from the 3 RBs, and with at least 2-3 new ones, I feel more comfortable in finding 2 that can get it done. But...will OL play get better...will we adjust to new coaching...will Nicely show improvement from a nice start...will we have enough quality DL...there are PLENTY of things to be concerned about in 2010, no doubt.

[Dr Z]

I'm as happy as the next guy to be rid of the delayed shotgun hand off. But an entirely new playbook, coupled with an entirely unproven stable of RB's, concerns me.

I would bet that our offensive line plays better in the pro style offense than it did last year in the befuddled spread. If I were an offensive lineman, I would be very excited about the change of scheme. I'm hoping they will make our RB's look good. Boy would it be nice to have Tuzze in this offense.

[RACER]

torrence can run the ball if given the chance.i now jd pulled him because he fumbled,and he tried to bounce plays outside.i think jd really blew not playing him more last year.all of the rb fumbled last year.none of them seemed to have the talent of torrence.hopefully the new coach can handle the situation better.if someone is better at rb then great.i think last year jddid not play the best rb.