Brian Wagner status

[jupitertoo]

I was surprised to read in Rasor's blog that Wagner is thought to be looking to transfer. Has that been discussed here? I hadn't heard that rumor.

[Dr Z]

...Wagner is thought to be looking to transfer. Has that been discussed here?

...is rumored to be considering a transfer to a school where he can get more NFL attention is what was written by Mike. And yes discussed here.

Like I said in the other thread listed, this should be PW's second phone call Sunday night.

[Hugo42]

Like I said already he already his release papers it's a little to late

[ZipRoo]

He should've left two years ago when TW saddled him with the worst alleged "coach" in D-1 history. Did anyone really expect different results than the debacle we've witnessed over two seasons? Shoot, Wagner needs to look out for #1 at this point, and try to ensure an NFL career.

Thanks, YouTube Tom W. Ianello is the gift that just keeps on giving. I scratch my head in wonderment: How in the world did you ever get this job?

[GP1]

Wagner will get as much NFL attention as he deserves right here in Akron. No need to transfer.

[Jalapeño Zippy]

Wagner will get as much NFL attention as he deserves right here in Akron. No need to transfer.

This is true. Jason Taylor didn't transfer, nor did Charlie Frye, Chase Blackburn, Domenik Hixon, Dwight Smith..... Hopefully someone didn't put something in his head. Wags symbolizes hard work and is an important piece to this team. Sad day...

[g-mann17]

Like I said already he already his release papers it's a little to late

That is fully likely, but "being too late" isn't something that should be in a new coaches vocabulary.

Besides the fact he doesn't need "release papers". He is a red shirt junior, that means he likely graduated or will soon. He can transfer to any school that doesn't have a graduate program that Akron offers and play for one season. No release necessary.

[GP1]

Wagner will get as much NFL attention as he deserves right here in Akron. No need to transfer.

Hopefully someone didn't put something in his head.

I agree. If they did, they are lying to him. Wagner is a solid MAC player and not an NFL player. Doesn't make him a bad player...makes him a guy who needs to stay in school and get a degree.

[K92]

Brian recieved his bachelor's degree last Saturday.

[GP1]

Brian recieved his bachelor's degree last Saturday.

With the current job market, it might be a good time to stay in school at Akron and get an advanced degree.

I'll be interested to see how many other D-1A schools are lining up to sign an undersized player with a knee injury that forced him to miss the last game. See you on the field in The Big Dialer next fall Brian.

[jupitertoo]

Brian recieved his bachelor's degree last Saturday.

With the current job market, it might be a good time to stay in school at Akron and get an advanced degree.

I'll be interested to see how many other D-1A schools are lining up to sign an undersized player with a knee injury that forced him to miss the last game. See you on the field in The Big Dialer next fall Brian.

Wow, way to stay classy with one of the Zips' only highlight players, GP1.

[zippyfan34]

Brian recieved his bachelor's degree last Saturday.

This is the key. If he had to sit out a year I don't think he would do it. If he can transfer without sitting out a year since he got his degree (not sure of the exact rules around this) I could see why he might do it. I would much rather him stay. I don't think you will get that much better exposure at a lower tier power 6 school than he can get at Akron. Just perform on the field and at the combine and the scouts will find you.

[zipdiehard]

I agree with GP1 in that he is a good MAC player, but probably not an NFL player. I also agree that there are probably no big name teams lining up to get him for just one year. I don't see any real sense in transfering unless he just wants the hell out. If he was a stud player heading to the NFL I could see chancing sitting out a whole year just for one year. On that thought, any word on the extent of his injury? Perhaps it is bad, and the thinking is that he was going to sit out next year anyway...

[K92]

I'm not sure what degree Brian earned last week, but it wasn't the degree he planned for. It's my understanding that he was unable to schedule some of the classes he needed for his actuary degree because they conflicted with football practice. If I am not badly mistaken, I believe he still wishes to become an actuary.

I enjoyed watching Brian play for 3 years. I will miss him.

[jupitertoo]

I agree with GP1 in that he is a good MAC player, but probably not an NFL player. I also agree that there are probably no big name teams lining up to get him for just one year. I don't see any real sense in transfering unless he just wants the hell out. If he was a stud player heading to the NFL I could see chancing sitting out a whole year just for one year. On that thought, any word on the extent of his injury? Perhaps it is bad, and the thinking is that he was going to sit out next year anyway...

If he earned his degree, no requirement to sit out, right?

[GP1]

Brian recieved his bachelor's degree last Saturday.

With the current job market, it might be a good time to stay in school at Akron and get an advanced degree.

I'll be interested to see how many other D-1A schools are lining up to sign an undersized player with a knee injury that forced him to miss the last game. See you on the field in The Big Dialer next fall Brian.

Wow, way to stay classy with one of the Zips' only highlight players, GP1.

My post is intended to be neither positive or negative.

My personal opinion about Wagner is he is a good player, but he makes too many tackles too far behind the line. Like everyone else on the team, he can be replaced.

Since I have to spoon-feed this post, let me start by saying the next statement applies to everyone remaining on the team. If anyone doesn't wan't to come back next year, they shouldn't let the door hit them on the way out. They are a group of players who went 1-11 the last two seasons and only beat one D-1A team and lost to a I-AA team. While Coach I was a problem, there wasn't much effort being put out on the field at the end of the season so they are complicit in the failure as well. There is plenty of guilt to go around when things go as bad as they did.

[GP1]

I don't see any real sense in transfering unless he just wants the hell out.

I would understand if this was the case. I can't imagine how horrible the feeling of going to practice would have been last year. The thought of another possible season like the one we have had would be crippling to many. Everyone has a breaking point.

[FBJunkie]

Brian recieved his bachelor's degree last Saturday.

With the current job market, it might be a good time to stay in school at Akron and get an advanced degree.

I'll be interested to see how many other D-1A schools are lining up to sign an undersized player with a knee injury that forced him to miss the last game. See you on the field in The Big Dialer next fall Brian.

Wow, way to stay classy with one of the Zips' only highlight players, GP1.

My post is intended to be neither positive or negative.

My personal opinion about Wagner is he is a good player, but he makes too many tackles too far behind the line. Like everyone else on the team, he can be replaced.

Since I have to spoon-feed this post, let me start by saying the next statement applies to everyone remaining on the team. If anyone doesn't wan't to come back next year, they shouldn't let the door hit them on the way out. They are a group of players who went 1-11 the last two seasons and only beat one D-1A team and lost to a I-AA team. While Coach I was a problem, there wasn't much effort being put out on the field at the end of the season so they are complicit in the failure as well. There is plenty of guilt to go around when things go as bad as they did.

I agree with this - a LOT of his tackles are after at least 4+ yards. He is a great hustler - no doubt about that - but doubt he would even be a starter at a major program much less the NFL.

[hiroad1]

Apparently our defense was designed to get Wagner to the football and make tackles. He may have been moving to the ball more than most guys at LB, and thus some of the yards given up when making plays. He gave us everything he had all the time though.

Regardless, he has a right to do what he believes is best for his future.

I'd like to see him stay, and he would certainly help us. If he leaves, it is just one more part of a large rebuilding effort the next coach faces.

With or without Brian, the new coach has a tough task ahead of him.

[Zipgrad01]

Apparently our defense was designed to get Wagner to the football and make tackles. He may have been moving to the ball more than most guys at LB, and thus some of the yards given up when making plays. He gave us everything he had all the time though.

Regardless, he has a right to do what he believes is best for his future.

I'd like to see him stay, and he would certainly help us. If he leaves, it is just one more part of a large rebuilding effort the next coach faces.

With or without Brian, the new coach has a tough task ahead of him.

This is hilarious..now it is the "lets talk about how average Wagner is" thread. The kid is a tackling machine. Part of the reason he made so many tackles down field is because he was either dropping into coverage or shedding offensive lineman that devoured our pathetic DL and got to the 2nd level.

I have watched many Zips games with former coaches and college players and most all of them say "who in the hell is that kid?" I will take their opinion over the forum guru's.

[hiroad1]

Apparently our defense was designed to get Wagner to the football and make tackles. He may have been moving to the ball more than most guys at LB, and thus some of the yards given up when making plays. He gave us everything he had all the time though.

Regardless, he has a right to do what he believes is best for his future.

I'd like to see him stay, and he would certainly help us. If he leaves, it is just one more part of a large rebuilding effort the next coach faces.

With or without Brian, the new coach has a tough task ahead of him.

This is hilarious..now it is the "lets talk about how average Wagner is" thread. The kid is a tackling machine. Part of the reason he made so many tackles down field is because he was either dropping into coverage or shedding offensive lineman that devoured our pathetic DL and got to the 2nd level.

I have watched many Zips games with former coaches and college players and most all of them say "who in the hell is that kid?" I will take their opinion over the forum guru's.

You misread MY intent. I was defending his play relative to the comments that he gave up too many yards.

[Zipgrad01]

Apparently our defense was designed to get Wagner to the football and make tackles. He may have been moving to the ball more than most guys at LB, and thus some of the yards given up when making plays. He gave us everything he had all the time though.

Regardless, he has a right to do what he believes is best for his future.

I'd like to see him stay, and he would certainly help us. If he leaves, it is just one more part of a large rebuilding effort the next coach faces.

With or without Brian, the new coach has a tough task ahead of him.

This is hilarious..now it is the "lets talk about how average Wagner is" thread. The kid is a tackling machine. Part of the reason he made so many tackles down field is because he was either dropping into coverage or shedding offensive lineman that devoured our pathetic DL and got to the 2nd level.

I have watched many Zips games with former coaches and college players and most all of them say "who in the hell is that kid?" I will take their opinion over the forum guru's.

You misread MY intent. I was defending his play relative to the comments that he gave up too many yards.

Sorry, I wasnt meaning to quote you, just this whole topic in general and where it is heading.

[Lee Adams]

Brian recieved his bachelor's degree last Saturday.

With the current job market, it might be a good time to stay in school at Akron and get an advanced degree.

I'll be interested to see how many other D-1A schools are lining up to sign an undersized player with a knee injury that forced him to miss the last game. See you on the field in The Big Dialer next fall Brian.

Wow, way to stay classy with one of the Zips' only highlight players, GP1.

My post is intended to be neither positive or negative.

My personal opinion about Wagner is he is a good player, but he makes too many tackles too far behind the line. Like everyone else on the team, he can be replaced.

Since I have to spoon-feed this post, let me start by saying the next statement applies to everyone remaining on the team. If anyone doesn't wan't to come back next year, they shouldn't let the door hit them on the way out. They are a group of players who went 1-11 the last two seasons and only beat one D-1A team and lost to a I-AA team. While Coach I was a problem, there wasn't much effort being put out on the field at the end of the season so they are complicit in the failure as well. There is plenty of guilt to go around when things go as bad as they did.

I agree with this - a LOT of his tackles are after at least 4+ yards. He is a great hustler - no doubt about that - but doubt he would even be a starter at a major program much less the NFL.

Great guy to have on your team at this level. He sticks out even more here because the defense has been so bad. He might stick with some NFL team that is looking for a 'run through the wall' special teams guy. Once you make a team if things fall right you might get a chance as a position player. Too bad everyone on the D didn't have his motor.

[Dave in Green]

Use the Add Reply button instead of the Reply button to post without quotes.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I will miss watching Brian tremendously. He was one of the only bright spots for the Zips over the past three horrific seasons.

The NFL visibility excuses (as the reason for departing) are a bunch of garbage.

You get one shot to play college ball. He has 5 total wins in the three years he's played at UA. Next year will be ugly again, regardless of the messiah we hire. There was room on the Titanic life boat for one more, and it appears he's taking the seat.

I hope Brian lands somewhere where his new University gives him a chance to walk off the field a winner. He deserves it.

Anyone remember when pre-season MAC Defensive MVP Nate Boyd (linebacker) left the Zips after Faust was fired? He was quoted as "wanting to walk with God." He then dropped out and worked at a bicycle factory in the East Liverpool area. Ultimately, he returned.

That's my only precedent for hoping Wagner returns. The two situations are eerily similar.

If Soccer Guy can be happy for Ben Speas, I can certainly be happy for Wagner, wherever he ends up. Hopefully he'll announce his college as "The University of Akron" on Monday Night Football in a couple years.