The incredible shrinking roster

[ZachTheZip]

I was curious who was asked to leave or who left on their own from the football team. Looking at the roster comparing this year and last year, here is who is no longer listed. As far as freshmen go, I don't know if some of them never became eligible or if they were here and then quit.

If anyone knows where these players went, feel free to fill in the blanks.

Freshmen:

WR Mike Bizzarro - Quit before season

RB Giorgio Bowers - Quit mid-season

WR El'Rico Jones

RB Tamir Turpin

Sophomores:

DE Ben Bertsch

WR Nadir Brown

RB Nate Cope

DE Abdullah Homayed

DL Derek Johnston

DB Thomas Miller

TE Joe Petrides

LB Nate Schuler

RB Norman Shuford - Transferred

RB DeVoe Torrence - Quit before season

OL Joe Vidovic

QB Jared Wackerly

LB DeAngelo Williams

Juniors:

P Eric Lee

LB DaVon Moore

DL Joe Rash

WR Shawn Roberts

LB Aaron Williams

Seniors:

DB Tyler Campbell

RB LeVon Morefield - Quit mid-season

TE Mike Polinski

LB Viktor Rajek

WR Richard Sandilands

OL Jason Sekinger

[ZipRoo]

"Hey, Mister Smarty Pants! I'LL be the judge of who stays and who goes, ya GOT that? All of these J.D. guys, they STINK...stink, I tell ya. Are you questioning ME? The Recroooting Czar?!"

[Big Zip]

ZipRoo I love the Richard Kind pictures and responses from ICoach....I think you need to create an alternate ID on here Recrooter In Chief or something though specifically for the picture posts....uncanny how they look alike.

[ZipRoo]

"Would it be too subtle if I make Brookhart's recruits sit in these chairs?"

[Wally B]

I'm curious,

I've heard that iCoach only had 4 recruits this year... Is that true? What is their status?

[Roo2]

Not sure on Petrides, but there has been a guy on the sidelines every home game wearing a #92 jersey w/no pads. It could be that he's sitting out the season for some reason, or it could be a walk-on that took his number. Don't know why he wouldn't be listed on the roster, but they haven't exactly kept that up to date this year. Last I looked Bowers was still listed...

[Buckzip]

See Captain Kangaroo, I'm not the only one that notices this stuff.

[ZachTheZip]

I'm curious,

I've heard that iCoach only had 4 recruits this year... Is that true? What is their status?

We have 10 verbals thus far for the 2011 class.

[Zipmeister]

I'm curious,

I've heard that iCoach only had 4 recruits this year... Is that true? What is their status?

We have 10 verbals thus far for the 2011 class.

I believe he means for 2010 Zachster.

[zippy5]

El'Rico Jones never made it through camp. I could've told you that would happen. Not even sure if he made it to camp. The kid went to a high school near mine. Not only was he probably not D-1 talent, he had a great knack for getting in trouble and getting bad grades.

[UA Fan]

"Honey, I shrunk the football team !"

[ZachTheZip]

You can add Sophomore CB Marvase Byrd to that list. At this rate we won't have any sophomores left on the team by the end of the season.

[Buckzip]

You can add Sophomore CB Marvase Byrd to that list. At this rate we won't have any sophomores left on the team by the end of the season.

What the hell is going on here? It is very unusual for players to leave during the season.

[ZachTheZip]

You can add Sophomore CB Marvase Byrd to that list. At this rate we won't have any sophomores left on the team by the end of the season.

What the hell is going on here? It is very unusual for players to leave during the season.

I have heard that the new coaching staff has made it very clear to the players that they are not wanted on the team, and are there only to fill things in until the staff can fully recruit a team of their own.

I don't know if that's true, but it explains why so many players are leaving in the middle of the season instead of sticking it out and then transferring over the summer like most player who want to leave do. It also follows along with the coach's statements that he is looking to follow the Al Golden approach to rebuilding - i.e. blowing up the team and starting from complete scratch.

[GoZips]

You can add Sophomore CB Marvase Byrd to that list. At this rate we won't have any sophomores left on the team by the end of the season.

What the hell is going on here? It is very unusual for players to leave during the season.

I have heard that the new coaching staff has made it very clear to the players that they are not wanted on the team, and are there only to fill things in until the staff can fully recruit a team of their own.

I don't know if that's true, but it explains why so many players are leaving in the middle of the season instead of sticking it out and then transferring over the summer like most player who want to leave do. It also follows along with the coach's statements that he is looking to follow the Al Golden approach to rebuilding - i.e. blowing up the team and starting from complete scratch.

One thing is for sure ... he sure blew up the team.

[Dave in Green]

I have heard that the new coaching staff has made it very clear to the players that they are not wanted on the team, and are there only to fill things in until the staff can fully recruit a team of their own.

I don't know if that's true, but it explains why so many players are leaving in the middle of the season instead of sticking it out and then transferring over the summer like most player who want to leave do. It also follows along with the coach's statements that he is looking to follow the Al Golden approach to rebuilding - i.e. blowing up the team and starting from complete scratch.

There's nothing unusual about coaches telling players that if they're incapable of raising their level of performance up to expectations that they're going to be replaced by someone who can. Anyway, I seriously doubt that players performing at the level of Brian Wagner are being told they aren't good enough to be Zips and should feel free to look for other opportunities.

[ZIPFB#1]

I would not be so sure of this. I do not think anyones position is secure...even Brians.

[MaxZIP]

I would not be so sure of this. I do not think anyones position is secure...even Brians.

BW could start at QB next week if he likes. Play the man whenever and wherever he wants. He is our best player and should be the leader of the entire team next year. Brian loves the game and maintains a high level of play despite the performance of the team as a whole. He never takes a play off.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Look at Dambrot giving the "boot" to multiple hoops Zips last season.... maybe iCoach went to school off his exodus plan?

On the surface the football house-cleaning looks bad, but we've got 3 years to see if it is the right move.

I hate being the absolute worst college football team in the country as much as the next UA alumni. But if the solution to the problem was jettisoning a large chunk of the team, and that solution works, I'm all for it. Whether it is, or isn't, it's what we've got.

Is iCoach Al Golden Jr., or Shane Montgomery Jr.?

I don't see this "plan" yielding a 6-6 record. It's either insane, and we are going 4-32 over the next three seasons. Or the guy is a genius, and we're in a bowl in 2013. It's going to be one or the other.

[ZIPFB#1]

I would not be so sure of this. I do not think anyones position is secure...even Brians.

BW could start at QB next week if he likes. Play the man whenever and wherever he wants. He is our best player and should be the leader of the entire team next year. Brian loves the game and maintains a high level of play despite the performance of the team as a whole. He never takes a play off.

I feel the same way you do...but I know Brian doesn't. (feel secure) Thats why he plays like that every play. He does love the game and plays with heart. He has never played QB, but I would still like to see him in the shot gun!

[ValleyBoy]

I am new to this site. I also know very little about the Zips football program. I am just a fan of college football.

Either you have hired the right man as head football coach or you have hired the wrong man.

I do know that sometimes a new head coach has to clean house to be able to reach the goal that is set for the program.

The question to ask is the head coach running off players to open up spots on the roster or is he running off the dead wood.

I would expect that your head coach has a plan for building a winning football program if he does not have his head up his backside.

I would expect that each one of yours players has been informed of what is expected of them to be a member of the football team. I also expect that each player that is doing what is expected of them by the coaching staff is still on the team.

The one's that are not doing what is expected of them,so what if they have left the team.

From another thread I read where the team played hard the last game even though they lose the game. Well I can tell you that any team will not win very many games if they do not play hard all the time.

Are the player left on the team buying in to the coach's system.

[ZachTheZip]

I don't think the coach is removing only the dead weight, but also quality student-athletes in order to free up scholarships for recruiting, even though he hasn't proven that he can recruit any semblance of talent to a school like Akron. How do you sell a recruit on joining a team and playing under a coach who might at any moment go back on his promise and take away your scholarship? It doesn't look trustworthy and it sends a message to potential recruits that he's not a good enough coach to win with players that aren't perfectly suited to his system.

Many more defections are to come after Friday's game.

[scottditzen]

Great first post.

Welcome to the forum!

I am new to this site. I also know very little about the Zips football program. I am just a fan of college football.

Either you have hired the right man as head football coach or you have hired the wrong man.

I do know that sometimes a new head coach has to clean house to be able to reach the goal that is set for the program.

The question to ask is the head coach running off players to open up spots on the roster or is he running off the dead wood.

I would expect that your head coach has a plan for building a winning football program if he does not have his head up his backside.

I would expect that each one of yours players has been informed of what is expected of them to be a member of the football team. I also expect that each player that is doing what is expected of them by the coaching staff is still on the team.

The one's that are not doing what is expected of them,so what if they have left the team.

From another thread I read where the team played hard the last game even though they lose the game. Well I can tell you that any team will not win very many games if they do not play hard all the time.

Are the player left on the team buying in to the coach's system.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Many more defections are to come after Friday's game.

F-ing UA graduates. Curse them.

[GP1]

I don't see this "plan" yielding a 6-6 record. It's either insane, and we are going 4-32 over the next three seasons. Or the guy is a genius, and we're in a bowl in 2013. It's going to be one or the other.

I with you. The only thing I can hang my hat of hope on now is the fact that the Miamioh coach won one game last year and may very well go to a bowl this season.