Its going to be Terry Bowden

[g-mann17]

Quick blurb during halftime of Maaco bowl.

[Zip Watcher]

Screw those schools and their shortsightedness...proof that college athletics is run by idiots.

I'm really excited today!!!!!

What he said.

[akzipper]

I'm interested to see what happens in terms of season ticket sales. I'm happy with the hire, but I'm still a little weary of what will happen next year. I know a lot of people around here will be renewing, but really I don't expect a big hike in sales. Unless we see a hurricane of JUCO recruits, including a Cam Newton type I don't see that much excitement from the general public. I hope I'm wrong, but this is what I expect.

Also interested to see who he will bring in as assistants. Bring in his dad and brothers and I'm sold! haha

[Hilltopper]

I know Akron is down right now, but high school technically is a lower level. Faust had a highly successful run at Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1962 to 1980, where he built the program from scratch. The Crusaders under Faust had a 178–23–2 record and included seven unbeaten seasons, four national prep titles, and five Ohio state titles in his last six seasons.

Now if one of the criteria is success at a higher level, there is definitely a difference between Gerry and Terry.

Faust won big at Moeller because he was able to recruit the best HS players from 3 states. Once he had some actual competition in recruiting and talent, he couldn't win. Apples and oranges.

[akronzips71]

I hope he can find some JUCO guys who can play and are attracted to a big time coach.

Do we now have the biggest name coach in Ohio?

[g-mann17]

I hope he can find some JUCO guys who can play and are attracted to a big time coach.

Do we now have the biggest name coach in Ohio?

Pound for pound we do.

I would say Urban Meyer is a little bigger still.

[Zipmeister]

I know Akron is down right now, but high school technically is a lower level. Faust had a highly successful run at Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1962 to 1980, where he built the program from scratch. The Crusaders under Faust had a 178–23–2 record and included seven unbeaten seasons, four national prep titles, and five Ohio state titles in his last six seasons.

Now if one of the criteria is success at a higher level, there is definitely a difference between Gerry and Terry.

Faust won big at Moeller because he was able to recruit the best HS players from 3 states. Once he had some actual competition in recruiting and talent, he couldn't win. Apples and oranges.

So, I think we agree that Gerry had success at a lower level, or are you saying Moeller was at a higher level than the Zips?

[skip-zip]

I know Akron is down right now, but high school technically is a lower level. Faust had a highly successful run at Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1962 to 1980, where he built the program from scratch. The Crusaders under Faust had a 178–23–2 record and included seven unbeaten seasons, four national prep titles, and five Ohio state titles in his last six seasons.

Now if one of the criteria is success at a higher level, there is definitely a difference between Gerry and Terry.

Faust won big at Moeller because he was able to recruit the best HS players from 3 states. Once he had some actual competition in recruiting and talent, he couldn't win. Apples and oranges.

So, I think we agree that Gerry had success at a lower level, or are you saying Moeller was at a higher level than the Zips?

Gerry's Moeller teams would have beaten teams like Wayne State. But, they were still just a high school. I wouldn't use this example to say that Gerry coached at a low college level. Running a high school program, no matter how big, is so much different than running any college program.

I don't want to cut on Gerry at all. We always have to keep in mind that Gerry had mild success here, with absolutely NOTHING to work with, at the infancy of our D-1A years. But, as much excitement as Gerry generated, this is going to be much bigger. Bowden has Gerry's notoriety, plus the high level success history. This is going to be huge.

[GP1]

Gerry's Moeller teams would have beaten teams like Wayne State.

No they wouldn't.

There is a huge difference between the size and mentality of a person between the ages of 16 and 18 compared to a person between the ages of 18 and 23. It's men vs. boys and the men win.

[skip-zip]

Gerry's Moeller teams would have beaten teams like Wayne State.

No they wouldn't.

There is a huge difference between the size and mentality of a person between the ages of 16 and 18 compared to a person between the ages of 18 and 23. It's men vs. boys and the men win.

I think you're giving a cliche of a response, while forgetting that so many Moeller players were heading right to top-level BCS schools the following fall.

A typical high school player might not be good enough to compete against a D-II college plaer. A typical Moeller player in the 1970s?...Absolutely.

[GP1]

Gerry's Moeller teams would have beaten teams like Wayne State.

No they wouldn't.

There is a huge difference between the size and mentality of a person between the ages of 16 and 18 compared to a person between the ages of 18 and 23. It's men vs. boys and the men win.

I think you're giving a cliche of a response, while forgetting that so many Moeller players were heading right to top-level BCS schools the following fall.

A typical high school player might not be good enough to compete against a D-II college plaer. A typical Moeller player in the 1970s?...Absolutely.

No way.... You're dreaming. 17 year olds can't compete against 22 year olds in football as a team. Different levels of college can compete...not high school vs college.

[johnnyzip84]

Gerry's Moeller teams would have beaten teams like Wayne State.

No they wouldn't.

There is a huge difference between the size and mentality of a person between the ages of 16 and 18 compared to a person between the ages of 18 and 23. It's men vs. boys and the men win.

I think you're giving a cliche of a response, while forgetting that so many Moeller players were heading right to top-level BCS schools the following fall.

A typical high school player might not be good enough to compete against a D-II college plaer. A typical Moeller player in the 1970s?...Absolutely.

No way.... You're dreaming. 17 year olds can't compete against 22 year olds in football as a team. Different levels of college can compete...not high school vs college.

+1 The only high school teams throughout football history that are an exception are the Massillon Tiger teams under Paul Brown. That was a completely different era however, and it's more of a statement of Brown's brilliance and innovation than anything else.

[Buckzip]

I remember back a few years back that people thought USC could beat the Browns or Lions. LOL.

The worst NFL team would completely destroy the best college team.

Same logic.

[zippy_ua_00]

I remember back a few years back that people thought USC could beat the Browns or Lions. LOL.

The worst NFL team would completely destroy the best college team.

Same logic.

Exactly, the worst pro team has a team full of the best players in college.

[johnnyzip84]

George Thomas article in the ABJ regarding the influence the facilities had on landing Bowden.

One interesting morsel here is the fact that Bobby Bowden was apparently excited for Terry the more he (Terry) told him about the job.

[tbozeglav]

George Thomas article in the ABJ regarding the influence the facilities had on landing Bowden.

One interesting morsel here is the fact that Bobby Bowden was apparently excited for Terry the more he (Terry) told him about the job.

also, according to TW from yesterday's presser, Bobby will be making some appearances at some events to support Terry. Mentioned spring game as one instance.

[johnnyzip84]

More good stuff from Marla Ridenour of the ABJ on Coach Bowden's journey.

[Dr Z]

More good stuff from Marla Ridenour of the ABJ on Coach Bowden's journey.

Nice story Marla. It must be refreshing for the BJ to have a good/interesting story to write about.

[GP1]

Nice story Marla. It must be refreshing for the BJ to have a good/interesting story to write about.

Good point. Not only a good story, but a media savvy guy who knows the media and interacts well with it.

[Zipmeister]

Faust won big at Moeller because he was able to recruit the best HS players from 3 states. Once he had some actual competition in recruiting and talent, he couldn't win. Apples and oranges.

So, I think we agree that Gerry had success at a lower level, or are you saying Moeller was at a higher level than the Zips?

Gerry's Moeller teams would have beaten teams like Wayne State. But, they were still just a high school. I wouldn't use this example to say that Gerry coached at a low college level. Running a high school program, no matter how big, is so much different than running any college program.

I don't want to cut on Gerry at all. We always have to keep in mind that Gerry had mild success here, with absolutely NOTHING to work with, at the infancy of our D-1A years. But, as much excitement as Gerry generated, this is going to be much bigger. Bowden has Gerry's notoriety, plus the high level success history. This is going to be huge.

Glad to see that Skip wouldn't use my example to say that Gerry coached at a low college level. Neither would I. I still contend that high school football is at a lower level than college football regardless if the best high school team could beat the worst college team (the idea of Moeller beating Wayne State was humorous). The criteria I commented on was suggested by Quick (I think), who wrote one of his three criteria for a new Akron coach was "proven ability to win at a lower level." That's at a LOWER LEVEL, not at a low college level.

[Lee Adams]

No they wouldn't.

There is a huge difference between the size and mentality of a person between the ages of 16 and 18 compared to a person between the ages of 18 and 23. It's men vs. boys and the men win.

I think you're giving a cliche of a response, while forgetting that so many Moeller players were heading right to top-level BCS schools the following fall.

A typical high school player might not be good enough to compete against a D-II college plaer. A typical Moeller player in the 1970s?...Absolutely.

No way.... You're dreaming. 17 year olds can't compete against 22 year olds in football as a team. Different levels of college can compete...not high school vs college.

+1 The only high school teams throughout football history that are an exception are the Massillon Tiger teams under Paul Brown. That was a completely different era however, and it's more of a statement of Brown's brilliance and innovation than anything else.

Don't know about Massillon either but its too much of a stretch to think any high school team could beat a DII college team. Too much maturation takes place between 18 and 23. And no matter how bad the college team,it is still collecting more good players in one place than even a team like Moeller could recruit.

By the way,those Akron teams Dennison had just before Faust took over in '86 weren't THAT bad. They were 10th in the 1-AA poll in '85. They went to the 1-AA playoffs in '85. They were 8-3 regular season. '84-4-7,'83-8-3,'82-6-5. As a wise man once said the cupboard wasn't exactly bare when Faust came in.

[GP1]

As a wise man once said the cupboard wasn't exactly bare when Faust came in.

The myth of Jim Dennison continues. Am I the only one who is unimpressed with the guy's record at Akron. Sure, he is a good guy, blah, blah, blah. The six years he coached in I-AA, they only had winning records three of those years. One of them, they only went 6-5. The year before the playoff appearance, they only won four games. Never once won the OVC. Maybe I'm wrong and someone can point me to the greatness, but I'm not seeing it.

Faust inherited good talent for a I-AA team, but it wasn't what the school needed to move to D-1A. I saw it up close. The seniors that were on the team in 1987 weren't nearly as good as a lot of the freshmen Faust was bringing in. To call it bare would not have the direction the program was moving in perspective. Robert Lyons and John Buddenberg were good players who could have played at the highest level, but that was really about it. In order for the program to move forward and improve, Faust had to get rid of the Dennison players to make room for better talent. He did so pretty quickly with guys like Shawn Vincent, Oz Jackson, Brett Jackson, Mike Johnson, Ty Nelson, etc.

[Lee Adams]

The myth of Jim Dennison continues. Am I the only one who is unimpressed with the guy's record at Akron. Sure, he is a good guy, blah, blah, blah. The six years he coached in I-AA, they only had winning records three of those years. One of them, they only went 6-5. The year before the playoff appearance, they only won four games. Never once won the OVC. Maybe I'm wrong and someone can point me to the greatness, but I'm not seeing it.

Faust inherited good talent for a I-AA team, but it wasn't what the school needed to move to D-1A. I saw it up close. The seniors that were on the team in 1987 weren't nearly as good as a lot of the freshmen Faust was bringing in. To call it bare would not have the direction the program was moving in perspective. Robert Lyons and John Buddenberg were good players who could have played at the highest level, but that was really about it. In order for the program to move forward and improve, Faust had to get rid of the Dennison players to make room for better talent. He did so pretty quickly with guys like Shawn Vincent, Oz Jackson, Brett Jackson, Mike Johnson, Ty Nelson, etc.

Are you saying you don't think Dennison or someone other than Faust could have upgraded the talent to MAC level? There is no myth about Dennison. He did what he did at the D-2 and 1-AA levels. Thats all. Lots of teams have been making the jump to D-1 and have had to upgrade talent. Nobody used the word 'great' either. Dennison had decent talent and a decent record for the level Akron was playing at then. Maybe he could have succeeded where Faust didn't. Maybe not. Maybe someone other than those two could have handled it better. Who knows? The move to D-1 just didn't work out all that well.

[GP1]

Are you saying you don't think Dennison or someone other than Faust could have upgraded the talent to MAC level?

I don't think Dennison could have upgraded the Zips. He is/was a DII coach with DII ideas.

[g-mann17]

I don't think Dennison could have upgraded the Zips. He is/was a DII coach with DII ideas.

Which is more of a college coach then Faust, who was a High School coach with High School ideas.

I like Faust, I went to one of his football camps when I was in high school. But don't pull out coaching level. His plan failed at Notre Dame and was very average here and prior to Notre Dame he only had Moeller as experience.