Akron Football Press Conference

[Dr Z]

"Defense wins championships, I would hope we would be relentless on defense. But I'll be my own offensive coordinator. We'll chuck the ball downfield and go. We are not going to be in a huddle. If I can get a snap up before the defense is ready every single play, we are going to do 85 snaps a game."

[GP1]

Allow me to translate this quote. "Defense used to win championships and most fans still think it does so I'll break out this tired cliche in this presser. It doesn't. I would hope we would be relentless on defense, but it really won't matter because we will be scoring so many points the other team won't be able to keep up. See what Toledo did this season? I was smart enough to earn a law degree so I don't like hanging around stupid people. I won't be spending a lot of time on the defense."

I'm really looking forward to watching this team play. We are finally pulling this school into the modern world of football. Great job TB!!!!!!

I'm going to the beach. Happy New Year everyone!!!!!

[Big Zip]

I've said it another thread, but I need to put it here too -- what a amazing night and day difference between iCoach and Bowden. You could not have to more polar opposite personalities. iCoach never appeared to be happy to be here and Bowden makes you feel like this is the only place he wanted to be.

I'm very interested to see the influence his belief and passion for Akron has on recruiting. I have to believe his dynamic personality coupled with the University committment to the program will be a pretty impressive sales pitch.

[K92]

Defense can still win championships if you can recruit enough blue chip prospects that have all the physical tools. That's never going to be the Zips. We need fundamentally sound defenders that play with heart and contest every yard. Even though the Zips defense has been poor, they received no help from our 3 & out offense. I don't know what NFL coach said it, but I denver hearing it as a kid, something like "you can scheme on offense, you need the players on defense". Hopefully T-Bow will scheme well.

[g-mann17]

Allow me to translate this quote. "Defense used to win championships and most fans still think it does so I'll break out this tired cliche in this presser. It doesn't. I would hope we would be relentless on defense, but it really won't matter because we will be scoring so many points the other team won't be able to keep up. See what Toledo did this season? I was smart enough to earn a law degree so I don't like hanging around stupid people. I won't be spending a lot of time on the defense."

I'm really looking forward to watching this team play. We are finally pulling this school into the modern world of football. Great job TB!!!!!!

I'm going to the beach. Happy New Year everyone!!!!!

We're not going to get into a big thing here, but...

We all did see what Toledo did. Blow their shot at the MAC championship because they didn't have a defense, almost lose a bowl game to a team that only runs the ball because they didn't have a defense.

Points matter, you have to score a lot. But bottom line, you don't win if you can't stop the other team.

[K92]

I've said it another thread, but I need to put it here too -- what a amazing night and day difference between iCoach and Bowden. You could not have to more polar opposite personalities. iCoach never appeared to be happy to be here and Bowden makes you feel like this is the only place he wanted to be.

I'm very interested to see the influence his belief and passion for Akron has on recruiting. I have to believe his dynamic personality coupled with the University committment to the program will be a pretty impressive sales pitch.

You said it. As we were listening last night I told my wife the same thing. Personality is important and Bowden has personality. One thing I really liked was how Terry said it was going to take everybody to make the Zips successful. Players, coaches, administration, students & community. I think he is right.

[Dave in Green]

The object of football is to score at least 1 more point than your opponent. Doesn't matter if the difference comes from having a better offense or defense than your opponent. It's the combined offense and defense that has to be better.

Traditional, hardcore football fans tend to have greater appreciation for shutdown defense, and get excited watching their team play smash-mouth defense and beat an opponent 3-0.

Modern, casual football fans tend to have greater appreciation for wide-open offense, and get excited watching their team go back and forth, up and down the field in beating an opponent 63-60.

Whatever combination of offense and defense Bowden puts on the field, it's going to have to outscore enough opponents to produce enough wins for fans to consider the Zips to be winners.

Given the same number of wins and losses, Bowden's Zips will attract more modern, casual football fans and put more butts in seats at InfoCision Stadium with a wide-open, high-scoring offense than with a shutdown defense.

[Dr Z]

Personality is important and Bowden has personality. One thing I really liked was how Terry said it was going to take everybody to make the Zips successful. Players, coaches, administration, students & community. I think he is right.

Agreed K92. Polar opposite of the last stiff.

PS Good question from Mike. The real answer would have been funny. I think TB gave good answers to the questions asked.

[ZipRoo]

A good defense and mediocre offense equals boring football. When all is said and done, football on a Saturday afternoon is "entertainment." When your team does not move the ball or score, as we've seen the past few seasons, in particular, even hardcore fans stop coming. It's not fun anymore.

The Browns could take a lesson, as well. They tried the "shorten the game, score few points" strategy with Mangini and others, and yet, the only season of true excitement for the team was 2007, when the offense was wide-open and scoring at will. Braylon, Joe J. and K2 made great targets. Every QB needs to have receivers he can count on. Holmgren destroyed McCoy's chances here by forgetting that basic fact.

I've seen better receivers at Mount Union than the Zips have fielded recently, guys who knew how to get open. I'm willing to give T-Bowden a pass and let him call the plays because he's earned that opportunity.....something the worthless Shurmur never did.

OFFENSE brings fans. When there's a prevailing sense that your team is overmatched and will not score in each game, the stadium sits empty. Bowden seems to grasp that, and it's just shocking that the prior regime was so, so clueless in that respect.

[zippy_ua_00]

Im getting no sound. Is anyone else having this problem

[johnnyzip84]

Here is Todd Porter's (Canton Repository) take on the press conference. Not suprisingly, he brings up Bowden's comments on Stark County in particular. I wonder if a career HS coach like Whiting at NW would ever consider a spot on Terry's staff?

[Zip Watcher]

Nice of the PD to send someone down I-77 to cover it.

[LZIp]

A guy with a personality like TB is exactly what this football program and University need. The more I think of it, the more I am considering that he is actually a better fit than Tressel. The past paced offense he says he is going to run is going to draw people who really aren't into football and make them interested.