Meet Coach Bowden

[akzipper]

A lot of problems to be solved, but winning cures most of those things.

We're going to win at Akron, we're going to compete for a MAC Championship at Akron, and we're going to bring the Wagon Wheel back to Akron.

I listened to the presser on 1350 and I don't know about the resta y'all but I raised my fist in the air when he said that part about the Wagon Wheel.

To me the Wagon Wheel doesn't mean as much as winning the conference and bowl games. I mean I hate Can't just like everyone else, but I want to to strive to be bigger and better, thus leaving Can't in the dust!!!

[jdurbinakron]

A lot of problems to be solved, but winning cures most of those things.

We're going to win at Akron, we're going to compete for a MAC Championship at Akron, and we're going to bring the Wagon Wheel back to Akron.

I listened to the presser on 1350 and I don't know about the resta y'all but I raised my fist in the air when he said that part about the Wagon Wheel.

To me the Wagon Wheel doesn't mean as much as winning the conference and bowl games. I mean I hate Can't just like everyone else, but I want to to strive to be bigger and better, thus leaving Can't in the dust!!!

Can't is a big win for Akron. For me at least beating Can't is like OSU beating Michigan. I agree. I had the same feeling of raising my fist in the air when I heard that. They should bring Bowden in for the Can't game in a few weeks to address the fans to hype up the Akron crowd. It would be great.

[johnnyzip84]

ESPN story covering the press conference.

ps. Z.I.P. I enjoyed your post on Razor's blog!

[mes102]

[Blue & Gold]

Thanks for posting that, mes102. Last night I had a little trouble understanding him. That video does a nice job of showing just how ruckus it was in there for both the basketball team and T-Bow last night.

You can tell T-Bow is excited to embrace his HC's role as an important and prominent face of both UA and the Greater-Akron community.

[ZipRoo]

Thanks for posting that, mes102. Last night I had a little trouble understanding him. That video does a nice job of showing just how ruckus it was in there for both the basketball team and T-Bow last night.

You can tell T-Bow is excited to embrace his HC's role as an important and prominent face of both UA and the Greater-Akron community.

I don't know who's more excited about it, B&G....Bowden or UA fans! It's clear from the outset, this man will be one of the biggest assets Northeast Ohio has had in a long, long time. He can do no wrong in the eyes of Zips fans, who've waited decades for someone to truly LEAD them.

[K92]

I was hoping someone would post a video so I could see it again! Thanks mes!

I gotta tell ya, T-Bow got me out of my seat, clapping, smiling, hootin' and a hollerin'. Is there any better way to say hello to Akron than with a heart felt "Go Zips"? This guy has his P.R. skills down tight. I realize all this warm fuzzy feeling won't mean a damn thing if he can't win. The shine will wear off quick if the Zips continue to stink up the field, but what a start! T-Bow has been an unbelievable shot in the arm for a football fanbase that was feeling lower than an ant's belly. People were standing up and cheering him as he made his rounds last night. Great atmosphere and it sure as hell felt good to be a Zip last night.

[Dave in Green]

After ruminating on this for awhile, I've decided I really don't like the T-Bow moniker for Terry Bowden.

UA has finally gotten a coach whose name resonates at a national level. Why change it to something that only confuses the rest of the country into mixing up an old and respected college coaching name with a trendy young QB who never has and never will have the remotest connection with the Zips?

Anyone is free to call Terry Bowden by any nickname they want. But to me he will remain Coach Bowden.

[K92]

It's all in the pronunciation, Dave!

[Dave in Green]

It's fun to go back two years when the last discussion about a new head football coach was going on and read what we were saying about Terry Bowden. For example, I was cautious about the idea back then and recommended that UA should do a careful study on why Bowden was not getting more attention from other schools looking for a proven winner. Whatever UA found this time around apparently asnwered those questions.

ITZ's Choice for Head Coach

[skip-zip]

I was hoping someone would post a video so I could see it again! Thanks mes!

I gotta tell ya, T-Bow got me out of my seat, clapping, smiling, hootin' and a hollerin'. Is there any better way to say hello to Akron than with a heart felt "Go Zips"? This guy has his P.R. skills down tight. I realize all this warm fuzzy feeling won't mean a damn thing if he can't win. The shine will wear off quick if the Zips continue to stink up the field, but what a start! T-Bow has been an unbelievable shot in the arm for a football fanbase that was feeling lower than an ant's belly. People were standing up and cheering him as he made his rounds last night. Great atmosphere and it sure as hell felt good to be a Zip last night.

Good post.

We KNOW, and the players KNOW that this is a guy who has won in the SEC, the absolute highest level of the highest division of college football. There's an INSTANT trust that the guy knows what he's doing. We all bought into his rah-rah speech last night because we all know that he knows what he's doing. Other's will do the same, including donors, fringe fans, area businesses, etc. And these things will add to our ability to win.

I expected him to be a Gerry Faust with a higher level of success under his belt, and I think last night is an indication of that. So, for those who weren't here in 1985, fasten your seat belts. This is going to be an exciting ride. And hopefully a ride that won't end anytime soon.

[Blue & Gold]

I love T-bow's enthusiasm! His energy is contagious. He's happy to be in Akron and proud to be at Akron and that is exactly the type of person Akron, as a whole, desperately needs more of - especially from such an influential public figure like the football HC.

I was truly demoralized when Paul Winters turned down the job. I saw PW as a "steady-as-she-goes" stabilizing presence that our in-shambles program needed. For a few days it seemed as if no one wanted to be head football coach at Akron, not even a homegrown product, despite the millions of dollars poured into our football facilities. However, with the hiring of coach Bowden, man, is it readily apparent that his personality is probably exactly what this demoralized fan base really needed. PW would never have excited Akron's fan base like Terry already has and like Terry did last night. That's not a shot against PW (I don't get standing ovations as I walk around the JAR either). It's just an appreciation of the effect our new head ball coach brings, and will bring, to the entire university/city/region.

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

I love T-bow's enthusiasm! His energy is contagious. He's happy to be in Akron and proud to be at Akron and that is exactly the type of person Akron, as a whole, desperately needs more of - especially from such an influential public figure like the football HC.

I was truly demoralized when Paul Winters turned down the job. I saw PW as a "steady-as-she-goes" stabilizing presence that our in-shambles program needed. For a few days it seemed as if no one wanted to be head football coach at Akron, not even a homegrown product, despite the millions of dollars poured into our football facilities. However, with the hiring of coach Bowden, man, is it readily apparent that his personality is probably exactly what this demoralized fan base really needed. PW would never have excited Akron's fan base like Terry already has and like Terry did last night. That's not a shot against PW (I don't get standing ovations as I walk around the JAR either). It's just an appreciation of the effect our new head ball coach brings, and will bring, to the entire university/city/region.

+1+

I felt very much the same way when PW declined UA. I'm also very excited about Bowden now. We'll see if he can turn the team around but my oh my what a refreshing change from Ianello! How idiots like Ianello get, and keep, jobs is beyond me. I defy anyone to convince me that Ianello is a recruiter. No way in hell did kids join any program because of Ianello, anywhere, ever. They joined programs in spite of him. Anyway, yeah to TB and GO ZIPS.

[akzipper]

People...stop bringing up Winters!.

We have a coach that is 100x better than some guy who's happy coaching Wayne State or whoever it is. I never wanted him from the beginning and would have been received by the community as a "who is that?" hire. Do you have any evidence that UA even offered him the job? or did he decline to interview. There's a big freaking difference, even though everyone is acting like he was offered the job and turned it down.

Stop acting like Bowden was our second choice. When realistically he 100x better than anyone else we had a chance at getting!

[Zip_ME87]

It's fun to go back two years when the last discussion about a new head football coach was going on and read what we were saying about Terry Bowden. For example, I was cautious about the idea back then and recommended that UA should do a careful study on why Bowden was not getting more attention from other schools looking for a proven winner. Whatever UA found this time around apparently asnwered those questions.

ITZ's Choice for Head Coach

Now that you resurrected that thread, I must say I've changed my mind as well. At that time, I was concerned about spending so much money on a football coach that the AD might damage our other sports. Unfortunately, he further damaged Akron Football. None of us know how this will play out, but I now think Terry is a great hire and will totally support him. I have confidence in his head coaching ability and love his enthusiasm. His introductory press conference was great, and I loved his energy at the VCU game. GO ZIPS!

[K-Roo]

People...stop bringing up Winters!.

We have a coach that is 100x better than some guy who's happy coaching Wayne State or whoever it is. I never wanted him from the beginning and would have been received by the community as a "who is that?" hire. Do you have any evidence that UA even offered him the job? or did he decline to interview. There's a big freaking difference, even though everyone is acting like he was offered the job and turned it down.

Stop acting like Bowden was our second choice. When realistically he 100x better than anyone else we had a chance at getting!

In fact.. Football Scoop says Bowden was the only one officially offered....

"Akron: This afternoon we spoke with sources very close to the process. After those talks, we believe that Terry Bowden is the only candidate that was technically offered the job."

I think Winters was "exaggerating" the meeting. As were other reports.

[akzipper]

People...stop bringing up Winters!.

We have a coach that is 100x better than some guy who's happy coaching Wayne State or whoever it is. I never wanted him from the beginning and would have been received by the community as a "who is that?" hire. Do you have any evidence that UA even offered him the job? or did he decline to interview. There's a big freaking difference, even though everyone is acting like he was offered the job and turned it down.

Stop acting like Bowden was our second choice. When realistically he 100x better than anyone else we had a chance at getting!

In fact.. Football Scoop says Bowden was the only one officially offered....

"Akron: This afternoon we spoke with sources very close to the process. After those talks, we believe that Terry Bowden is the only candidate that was technically offered the job."

I think Winters was "exaggerating" the meeting. As were other reports.

I would just like to be able to read a thread about Bowden and not have to read about Winters "turning down the job" or whatever. We landed a better coach, no reason to keep bringing up other "candidates" now, unless we're talking about assistants.

I'm just glad people from Zipsnation weren't allowed at the press conference like they wanted to be. I could just see the questions now..."So Terry after Paul turned us down, why did you step in" or "Hey Terry so great to meet our second choice". Please get your facts right people, be grateful that we got a better coach, and give him respect! Then maybe if he turns this team into a winner he might consider staying. Instead of thinking of Zips fans as the ones who wanted the other guy instead and got stuck with him...

[gozips19]

Anyone have espn insider????

Article titled The Bowden Plan. Would love someone to post a summary.

Here's the link The Bowden Plan

[Dr Z]

Football Scoop says Bowden was the only one officially offered.... "Akron: This afternoon we spoke with sources very close to the process. After those talks, we believe that Terry Bowden is the only candidate that was technically offered the job." I think Winters was "exaggerating" the meeting. As were other reports.

Damage control. Unfortunately there are politics in college football.

[Blue & Gold]

Anyone have espn insider????

Article titled The Bowden Plan. Would love someone to post a summary.

Here's the link The Bowden Plan

This post deserves it's own thread. I'm afraid it's going to get buried and lost in here. I'd LOVE for someone with ESPN Insider to recap this article for us!

[Roo2]

Anyone have espn insider????

Article titled The Bowden Plan. Would love someone to post a summary.

It's not much, really. Just says that Bowden thinks he can use the stadium and stuff to recruit talent to Akron. It uses some quotes from the ABJ article. There was another little article on espn insider yesterday about how Bowden was a "tremendous hire" for UA. It gave a funny little line about the Chuck Amato talk: "It appears Akron's future is so bright, someone has to wear shades. And we all know which coach that will be."

[gozips19]

Thanks Roo2

[johnnyzip84]

It's pretty cool to have your HC quoted in a story like this

[ZachTheZip]

Terry Pluto talks about his conversation with coach Bowden at the VCU game.

[NewZipsFan]

It's pretty cool to have your HC quoted in a story like this

Don't forget that Coach Bowden was a member of the media for over 10 years. He built a lot of great relationships with the nations top writers, broadcasters and analysts. There will be even more media attention because of those relationships, on top of the buzz generated by his return to the FBS level.