The Lone Ranger rides for Akron

[Dr Z]

I'm just telling you what I've been told.

Have you ever heard the saying "consider the source?" I can think of at least four of your posts off the top of my head this should apply to. It doesn't make it okay to post something just because "somebody told it to you."

[Dr Z]

Worst news from the ABJ article: Former Zips lineman Andy Alleman will not be back in the radio booth this season. He has accepted a sales position out of town.

Best news: The two kickoff returners will come from junior safety Josh Richmond, sophomore receiver Antoine Russell and freshman Tyler Williams.

I'm excited to see Tyler Williams.

[K92]

If you compare ZN.O to other MAC boards in terms of quantity of threads and amount of activity, this forum is right at the top. Must be doing something right.

[gozips19]

With Little out who takes his place? Also with Gilmer being injury prone are the back ups at lb ready to step in and pay? Will Frosh lb Justin March get playing time? What about Miller? Does Rossi start to see snaps at two positions?

[Blue & Gold]

With Little out who takes his place? Also with Gilmer being injury prone are the back ups at lb ready to step in and pay? Will Frosh lb Justin March get playing time? What about Miller? Does Rossi start to see snaps at two positions?

I'm anxious to see what RFr Jamar Williams (5-11, 210) can do on the field. He was rather highly thought of coming out of HS.

[xu9697]

This board is downright TAME compared to other sports forums I frequent.

As for Moore starting...unless you have "The GUY", everyone is always more excited about "the next guy". If Moore stinks it up weeks 1 and 2, some on the board will be contemplating thoughts of D'Orazio. Just the way it goes.

Whoever the QB is...better hope that those around him are better too. A good QB can make good players great...but he can not make bad players good.

[gozips19]

With Little out who takes his place? Also with Gilmer being injury prone are the back ups at lb ready to step in and pay? Will Frosh lb Justin March get playing time? What about Miller? Does Rossi start to see snaps at two positions?

I'm anxious to see what RFr Jamar Williams (5-11, 210) can do on the field. He was rather highly thought of coming out of HS.

agreed. he was on the 2 deep coming into fall. if this team is going to be decent the front seven needs to play at a high level. someone will need to step up that doesn't have a lot of experience.

also really excited to see if ty williams can contribute right away and how they plan on using him. again some big if's but if he's ready he could be a fun one to watch.

[GP1]

Technically Nicely still has time to transfer down to one of the many D2 programs in the state and start immediately. A good D2 coach in need of a QB could have him enrolled in classes and on the practice field tomorrow afternoon.

He could probably start, but leaving now would result in him having to pay for his own tuition. His best move is to stay at Akron and graduate. Injuries, Moore becoming a head case, etc. could result in PN starting again down the road. I'd like to see him stick around just in case....

[zip403]

I dont think NICELY can transfer, NOW that school has started. Im sure IANELLO waited till class started to announce the decision just so he could prevent PN from transferring this semester. Also on the boards, I had ready about some altercation between Russell and Nicely on a bad pass Nicely thru to him. That was D'Orazio who through the bad pass.. NOT PN. As Anderson Cooper says... JUST KEEPING THEM HONEST

[skip-zip]

1.) There are a few people on this board to claim to be have the “Inside scoop” or talk with or fraternize with players or former players, THEY ARE LIARS!

There ARE people here who talk to the players. Some of us have classes with them; some of us are fellow students who do them same things as them on campus. Sorry you weren't so popular.

I agreed with NotSoOldZip at some level in his observation that some people on here claim to be know-it-alls. But, that's not a reason to put an umbrella over everyone here and say that they don't know what they are talking about. Some people have better connections in different sports than others. Some people know certain individuals involved in Akron athletics that others don't know. And they come here to share it, and it's very valuable to me as a Zips fan. And I do believe that most people here are simply just interested in exchanging information and/or sharing their individual expertise, and are not using this forum to boost their own egos by somehow trying to prove that they are the supreme, all-knowing Zips fan.

[g-mann17]

Soooooo anyway....

Clayton Moore is the starter. Will see some option out of the team this year?

I also like the stable of Clydesdales we have. Love to see Rossi, Grice, and Bailey in the backfield at the same time.

[ZachTheZip]

http://blogs.clarionledger.com/rwalker/201...ore-louisville/

Interview with Moore.

[johnnyzip84]

http://blogs.clarionledger.com/rwalker/201...ore-louisville/

Interview with Moore.

Nice find.

Gotta love this exchange:

RW: Do you ever talk to former high school teammate Dennis Thames (now at East Central Mississippi CC).

CM: Yes, I talk to him about two weeks ago. I’m recruiting him hard. I really want him to come up here with me. He was like my brother and he was such a good player. I talked to him and told him to keep his head up. he is a lot like me, an SEC guy that ended up in JUCO. But he can still make it.

Thames Rivals Bio

[Dave in Green]

That is one impressive interview. Gotta love his attitude. I'm liking Mr. Moore more and more.

I'm also liking this:

Dennis Thames

40: 4.4 secs

[Buckzip]

Soooooo anyway....

Clayton Moore is the starter. Will see some option out of the team this year?

I also like the stable of Clydesdales we have. Love to see Rossi, Grice, and Bailey in the backfield at the same time.

We have depth at RB/FB. Rossi was a highly rated LB. We are a little thin at LB.

I appreciate Coach I letting him play where he wants, but someone needs to let him know that if he ever wants to be paid, it will more likely come on defense. IMHO

[ZipZipHooray!]

That is one impressive interview. Gotta love his attitude. I'm liking Mr. Moore more and more.

I'm also liking this:

Dennis Thames

40: 4.4 secs

Clayton Moore="The Truth In Action" , enough said. Are you ready for some football!!!

[Hilltopper]

Sounds like a leader to me. We definately need a leader at QB.

[Dr Z]

Soooooo anyway....Clayton Moore is the starter. Will see some option out of the team this year?

Never seen him play in my life. iCoach seems pretty set on running a system. That system is pro style. I would be surprised to see him run some kind of option. But iCoach did say both QBs will play this year, so maybe he's not afraid to get his starter hurt running options. Too many hits for my liking though...unless he is Julian Edelman-like.

[Dave in Green]

Moore seems intensely dedicated to doing whatever he needs to do to have a chance at playing in the pros. Playing a pure pro style offense in college is probably in his best interests.

[xu9697]

Moore seems intensely dedicated to doing whatever he needs to do to have a chance at playing in the pros. Playing a pure pro style offense in college is probably in his best interests.

Unless he is going to end up playing in Canada!

Either way...if he ends up in CFL, NFL, UFL or Arena...very likely he was successful here!

[Zipmeister]

http://blogs.clarionledger.com/rwalker/201...ore-louisville/

Interview with Moore.

Nice find.

Gotta love this exchange:

RW: Do you ever talk to former high school teammate Dennis Thames (now at East Central Mississippi CC).

CM: Yes, I talk to him about two weeks ago. I’m recruiting him hard. I really want him to come up here with me. He was like my brother and he was such a good player. I talked to him and told him to keep his head up. he is a lot like me, an SEC guy that ended up in JUCO. But he can still make it.

Thames Rivals Bio

Thames would be HUGE for us at cornerback.

[Lee Adams]

This is a big deal for fans who want to see something different from the Zips this season. There's nothing quite like a rookie QB beating out a veteran before the first game of the season to rekindle fan interest in a losing team. Of course it's almost impossible for the rookie to live up to expectations in his first start.

Moore will be immediately thrown into the fire against a big, fast tOSU defense. Lacking Nicely's experience with the Zips' offense, it could really look ugly at times. But maybe we'll also see a few bursts of goodness that will give us hope for the rest of the season.

We all saw Nicely's strengths and weaknesses under game conditions. We don't yet know what Moore's are. But we think we know he's at least more mobile than Nicely. Not that you want your QB running all the time and constantly exposed to big hits. But it really does change the nature of the offense to have someone who's better able to scramble out of danger and perhaps create something out of a busted play.

Exciting times.

My first time to post on the board as a ZIP alum. I have been reading and see how everyone was so quick to bash NICELY. I feel for the kid. Cant imagine HOW you can play for a bumbling idiot like IANELLO. I hated those youtube camp practice interviews. Looks Like Coach I is trying to make PN his skapegoat. I was at several of the games last season. PN got so abused. NO protection,,he took some huge hits and always got up. Hes an athlete , and showed his leadership skills by his never giving up and always fighting. I NEVER saw him throw a helmet down or cuss on the sidelines like MANY college and pro qbs do when things go bad. Always kept his composure. Thank you PN7. Your a class act and great role model for my kids. I was at the Spring Game. CM didnt impress me much. AT 6'1 I think The Lone Ranger is going to need his HORSE to be able to see over that OSU Defense. Its not Mississippi Juco Football. I hope the best for my ZIPS this season but the QB was NOT the problem last season,,however its an easy person to blame. It starts at the TOP..and thats COACH I.

Not that Ianello is an idiot. Thats not fair. I was actually hoping that Nicely would at least get to start the first couple of games to see if a year in Ianello's system helped him improve. Coaches should be able to help improve a player's performance. I think he deserved that since it seems that none of the other QB's appeared to perform significantly better during the 'pre-season'. A 'suit' from the athletic department told me at the practice last Saturday that Moore would likely be named the starter mainly because Ianello recruited him. Who knows? Sets up an interesting dynamic if Moore for some reason doesn't work out in his first year in the system.

[skip-zip]

This is a big deal for fans who want to see something different from the Zips this season. There's nothing quite like a rookie QB beating out a veteran before the first game of the season to rekindle fan interest in a losing team. Of course it's almost impossible for the rookie to live up to expectations in his first start.

Moore will be immediately thrown into the fire against a big, fast tOSU defense. Lacking Nicely's experience with the Zips' offense, it could really look ugly at times. But maybe we'll also see a few bursts of goodness that will give us hope for the rest of the season.

We all saw Nicely's strengths and weaknesses under game conditions. We don't yet know what Moore's are. But we think we know he's at least more mobile than Nicely. Not that you want your QB running all the time and constantly exposed to big hits. But it really does change the nature of the offense to have someone who's better able to scramble out of danger and perhaps create something out of a busted play.

Exciting times.

My first time to post on the board as a ZIP alum. I have been reading and see how everyone was so quick to bash NICELY. I feel for the kid. Cant imagine HOW you can play for a bumbling idiot like IANELLO. I hated those youtube camp practice interviews. Looks Like Coach I is trying to make PN his skapegoat. I was at several of the games last season. PN got so abused. NO protection,,he took some huge hits and always got up. Hes an athlete , and showed his leadership skills by his never giving up and always fighting. I NEVER saw him throw a helmet down or cuss on the sidelines like MANY college and pro qbs do when things go bad. Always kept his composure. Thank you PN7. Your a class act and great role model for my kids. I was at the Spring Game. CM didnt impress me much. AT 6'1 I think The Lone Ranger is going to need his HORSE to be able to see over that OSU Defense. Its not Mississippi Juco Football. I hope the best for my ZIPS this season but the QB was NOT the problem last season,,however its an easy person to blame. It starts at the TOP..and thats COACH I.

Not that Ianello is an idiot. Thats not fair. I was actually hoping that Nicely would at least get to start the first couple of games to see if a year in Ianello's system helped him improve. Coaches should be able to help improve a player's performance. I think he deserved that since it seems that none of the other QB's appeared to perform significantly better during the 'pre-season'. A 'suit' from the athletic department told me at the practice last Saturday that Moore would likely be named the starter mainly because Ianello recruited him. Who knows? Sets up an interesting dynamic if Moore for some reason doesn't work out in his first year in the system.

Again, this might be a huge understatement, but our current situation likely leaves us with nothing to lose. And as a few people mentioned, at the very least, it's defnitely done something to rejuvenate fan interest. I was getting phone calls almost immediately after that announcement was made. That would have never happened if we were simply going to "stay the course".

[Captain Kangaroo]

Again, this might be a huge understatement, but our current situation likely leaves us with nothing to lose. And as a few people mentioned, at the very least, it's defnitely done something to rejuvenate fan interest. I was getting phone calls almost immediately after that announcement was made. That would have never happened if we were simply going to "stay the course".

I don't believe a QB change does anything to rejuvenate fan interest. Poll 100 people in Summit County and ask them "Who is Clayton Moore?" If one says - "The starting QB for the Zips" I'll wear a K.e.n.t State Basketball orange jumpsuit for a continuous week.

I was, and continue to be in Nicely's corner. He was pressed into service as a true Freshman in the train wreck that was Brookhart's final season. And if anyone want to blame the 3-9 season on Nicely...just stop it. Seriously.

Year #2 Nicely has to learn an entirely new offense, under a new coach, with a swiss cheese OL, and WR's that couldn't catch a ball or run a route to save their lives.

Nicely was great in the Buffalo finale. He through some awesome passes into a tough wind, on a ridiculously cold day. And the WR's did a nice job of getting open and catching the ball.

People questioned Nicely's leadership...I've seen the season-ending games between 2 horrible teams in year's past. "The Who Gives a Damn Bowls." Nicely lead his team to a "W" in a game where he easily could have tanked it. It showed his capabilities and moxie.

I've never seen Moore throw a pass. Maybe he's great? I hope so. But Nicely was dealt an impossible set of circumstances in his initial 2 years @ UA. I would like to have seen what he could do now that the UA football "drama tornado" has seemingly stabilized. Hope he doesn't transfer.

[GP1]

I was, and continue to be in Nicely's corner. He was pressed into service as a true Freshman in the train wreck that was Brookhart's final season. And if anyone want to blame the 3-9 season on Nicely...just stop it. Seriously.

Year #2 Nicely has to learn an entirely new offense, under a new coach, with a swiss cheese OL, and WR's that couldn't catch a ball or run a route to save their lives.

I've never seen Moore throw a pass. Maybe he's great? I hope so. But Nicely was dealt an impossible set of circumstances in his initial 2 years @ UA. I would like to have seen what he could do now that the UA football "drama tornado" has seemingly stabilized. Hope he doesn't transfer.

I don't disagee with any of this with the exception I'm not in either of their corners and not against one of them either. I just wanted the best man to win. Let's hope it works out that way.

There is a flip side to all of this though. Sometimes (not everytime extreme thinkers) when a player, especially QBs, experiences a great deal of losing, he never recovers. Two years is a heck of a long time to take a beating and it wears on the mind. I know players like to talk about confidence, but none of us really know what he thinks when he is laying in bed at night alone. Many of these players become, for the lack of a better analogy, like shell shock victims from WW I. It's always on their mind and it makes them nervous.