Todays spring game

[Captain Kangaroo]

Agreed. I don't have much interest in starting a freshman on a lousy team.

What was Peyton Manning...Troy Aikman...hell...throw in Charlie Frye in their 1st season?

If one of the upper-classmen gives us a better chance to win games (than Pohl), then they should start.

If the competition is a wash, or Pohl is better, it's time to give the kid the nod and see what he's got. If he can't cut it, then throw in one of the old guys.

[zipsfan33]

Pohl definitely threw a few bad passes, but lets remember he was trying to avoid the rush and hurried them. In a real game he could side-step or take off possibly. It coulda been a Browns "Charlie Frye" as he was trying to make something happen and it could be chalked up as a freshman mistake.

[Lee Adams]

Was at the game. Didn't see that Williams played all that badly. Threw a couple of picks. But,I think he might have thrown the ball 50 times. Its gonna happen in this offense. Moore had couple of nice runs and had at least two passes knocked down at the line. Threw the ball decently at times. Too early to tell about Pohl.

In this offense the QB has to make a good decision quickly. Its a rythym passing game.

Hopefully one of these guys will get some separation from the others over the sumer.

[GP1]

Agreed. I don't have much interest in starting a freshman on a lousy team.

I could watch a frosh start on a lousy team as long as the lousy team was competitive and the QB showed the ability to take the experience of his first season and take a huge leap in results his second season. I know people don't like my Wake Forest comparisons, but I use them because they do so many things right with very little compared to other ACC schools. We do so little with so much compared to even MAC schools, but that is going to change soon.

Tanner Price is Wake's QB. He will be a junior this coming season. Since I go to all of their games, I've seen him play a lot. His frosh year he was a true frosh on a lousy team. Very hard to go to the games and watch them go 3-8. If you read his bio though, he had an excellent season for a Wake frosh QB. Better individual stats than Riley Skinner (rhymes with winner) who was one of the best college QBs I've ever seen play. If we play a frosh QB next season, he has to perform well like Price did his frosh season. If the wins aren't there, but we are competitive AND the potential is there to improve a great deal between his frosh and soph seasons, then play him. A player should improve the most between those two seasons. Look at Price. He goes from a 3-8 QB to a 6-6 bowl season QB at a school like Wake that isn't known for football.

If we started a frosh QB next season and he went 3-9 and then 6-6 his second season, we would all be jumping for joy. It would be what we should expect out of a good coaching staff. Going from 3-9 to 4-8 wouldn't do anything for me and a waste of that QBs frosh season. This program needs to make a huge leap after next year. One game improvements are nothing but "building process" nonsense.

[GP1]

If the competition is a wash, or Pohl is better, it's time to give the kid the nod and see what he's got. If he can't cut it, then throw in one of the old guys.

If Pohl is better, he should start and they should stick with him all of next season come Hell or high water (see my post on Tanner Price). There is no need to go Cleveland Browns on a young Zips QB if they believe he is the future.

One other thing. Manning, Aikan and 19 win Charlie never had to walk into the disaster of a program this program is in (until they prove otherwise). There is still a lot of work to be done and winning doesn't come easy. Especially at Akron.

[skip-zip]

NOW you all see why Dalton Williams COULDNT start at his old 1AA, to bad Bowden is playing the good ole boy still and gave him a scholarship because hes friends with one of Bowdens old Grad Assistants. One good thing, the smartest QB was NICELY,,he bailed from our sinking ship after you all threw him under the bus SO MANY TIMES. He WON more games then any other qb on the roster and BOWDEN had the nerve to put him at 4th string. Cant wait to see how this season plays out,,,you have lost my respect Coach Bowden

Are you the reincarnation of that Akron Football character?

When a coach of Bowden's caliber talks about an open competition for starting jobs in the fall, but virtually eliminates a former starter from that possibility after only a few practices in April, when some of the other candidates have never even played a game at all, that tells me everything I need to know.

[g-mann17]

Are you the reincarnation of that Akron Football character?

When a coach of Bowden's caliber talks about an open competition for starting jobs in the fall, but virtually eliminates a former starter from that possibility after only a few practices in April, when some of the other candidates have never even played a game at all, that tells me everything I need to know.

Same here, it tells me he is a biased southerner...

Biased against bad QB's, sorry about your luck Patrick, my wife always thought you looked like a dentist maybe you can work on doing that.

[K92]

Did they have any new swag at the game? Posters, pocket schedules, static stickers? Anything with the new Bowden Ball or Bowden Backers logos? Hell, I haven't even heard the results of the t-shirt contest!

[johnnyzip84]

Did they have any new swag at the game? Posters, pocket schedules, static stickers? Anything with the new Bowden Ball or Bowden Backers logos? Hell, I haven't even heard the results of the t-shirt contest!

They had both posters and pockets schedules with the Bowden Ball logo I'm sure they have bunches left over.

One thing I forgot to add is that I thought the meet-and-greet in Stiles Fieldhouse after the game was reasonably well attended (perhaps 1000?).

[Captain Kangaroo]

Hell, I haven't even heard the results of the t-shirt contest!

"None of the above", in a landslide.

[AKSportsFan]

"Akron Vision" won the t-shirt contest.

[Zipmeister]

"Akron Vision" won the t-shirt contest.

I thought that shirt had a pretty good chance especially since the contest was sponsored by the Akron Optometrist Association.

[NewZipsFan]

Have skimmed this thread - not read every post.. so I apologize if I am making points already made..

First of all -- the QBs ALL rotated back and forth between the first and second team offenses. Coaches wanted to see how each of them did with the 1's. Don't forget also - that the O-line played BOTH ways the entire game.. we basically had 7 O-linemen for the entire game (due to injuries etc).

Please also remember, that, yes, Dalton was a "back up at an FCS school"... but he was the backup to the WALTER PAYTON AWARD WINNER (the I-AA Heisman), Jeremy Moses. Shannon Dawson - was the Offensive Coordinator during Moses' time at SFA (with Dalton as a backup). Dawson played for Dana Holgerson at Wingate, and is now the OC at WVU. He ran the same offense that Coach Bowden runs - which means that Dalton KNOWS this offense. Here are some tidbits on that offense at SFA with Jeremy Moses as the starting QB:

Stephen F. Austin

- In 2010, Dawson guided the nation’s No. 1 passing offense (362.2) and No. 4 scoring offense (36.3), ranking No. 6 in total offense (442.9).

- The Lumberjacks led the Southland Conference in all three categories, as well as pass efficiency (137.23)

- Quarterback Jeremy Moses was a two-time All-American, two-time Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year and won the Walter Payton Award, given to the Player of the Year in the NCAA FCS Division

- Moses finished his career as the school and league’s all-time passer, setting records in completions (1,151), touchdown passes (121), passing yards (13,061) and total offense (12,853)

- In 2009, his offensive squad led the nation in passing yards (343.7) and was No. 2 in total offense (468.9), No. 6 in scoring offense (34.9) and No. 10 in pass efficiency (147.8)

- The Lumberjacks led the Southland Conference in all four categories and was second in scoring offense

- Moses led the nation in touchdown passes (40), was third in passing yards (317.2), fourth in points responsible for (18.5) and fifth in total offense (320.5)

So - I guess if you're going to be a backup -- not a bad guy to be playing behind.

I think the game went exactly the way the coaches would have wanted it to go. The First Team Defense was the best unit on the field. Defense wins Championships - period. However, the first team offense was able to score 14 points on them - so its obvious that the guys are picking up the new offense and executing. The 2nd team offense (with the qb's rotating back and forth) did very well -- showing me again, that the offensive players are getting comfortable in the scheme. We know we have issues with depth on defense - and playmakers overall. Those issues are being addressed, and we will be in a better position in the Fall.

There were a LOT more than "a few dozen people" at the game... The University was very smart - and opened the Club Level to the public. Not only because the weather was cold and rainy - but to show the fans what great amenities are available on the Club Level.. so you didn't see a lot of people sitting in the stands. I've heard only very positive remarks about the attendance --- at least double last year's.

Good things are in store for 2012!

[skip-zip]

So - I guess if you're going to be a backup -- not a bad guy to be playing behind.

It's still a very legitimate question to ask how a guy who was not a starter at a lower level could suddenly be considered good enough to be a starter at the highest level. Who was originally recruting him? Why didn't he just go to another FCS school to try to become a starter? Was anyone else pursuing him? Did we discover this "hidden gem", and everyone else was somehow asleep at the wheel?

I don't know much, so I still obviously have a lot of questions.

[NewZipsFan]

It's still a very legitimate question to ask how a guy who was not a starter at a lower level could suddenly be considered good enough to be a starter at the highest level. Who was originally recruting him? Why didn't he just go to another FCS school to try to become a starter? Was anyone else pursuing him? Did we discover this "hidden gem", and everyone else was somehow asleep at the wheel?

I don't know much, so I still obviously have a lot of questions.

I've stated this before in another thread --- but "ponder this"... Coach Bowden really had NO CLUE about the existing QBs on the team (or any other players for that matter). Was the record and stats from the past two seasons really indicative of the ability and talent of the players? Did the film give an accurate assessment of the team? What he did know was: a) he knew the exact offense he was going to install and run and b ) he knew that Dalton KNEW that offense and was capable of running it. Does that mean that the other QBs couldn't/wouldn't learn the offense? Of course not. But in a "worse case scenario" kind of situation - he chose to bring in a QB (the most important position on the field) that he knew was able to run it effectively. He knew more about Dalton than any existing player on the team. Now, after four weeks of Spring, Coach Bowden obviously knows the QBs; what their strengths and weaknesses are, and will ultimately choose the guy to be the starter who gives us the best chance to WIN FOOTBALL GAMES. There is no question in my mind - not one iota - Coach Bowden will choose the BEST 11 players to start. He does not play favorites when it comes to the playing field. Period.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I've stated this before in another thread --- but "ponder this"... Coach Bowden really had NO CLUE about the existing QBs on the team (or any other players for that matter). Was the record and stats from the past two seasons really indicative of the ability and talent of the players? Did the film give an accurate assessment of the team? What he did know was: a) he knew the exact offense he was going to install and run and b ) he knew that Dalton KNEW that offense and was capable of running it. Does that mean that the other QBs couldn't/wouldn't learn the offense? Of course not. But in a "worse case scenario" kind of situation - he chose to bring in a QB (the most important position on the field) that he knew was able to run it effectively. He knew more about Dalton than any existing player on the team. Now, after four weeks of Spring, Coach Bowden obviously knows the QBs; what their strengths and weaknesses are, and will ultimately choose the guy to be the starter who gives us the best chance to WIN FOOTBALL GAMES. There is no question in my mind - not one iota - Coach Bowden will choose the BEST 11 players to start. He does not play favorites when it comes to the playing field. Period.

You say "Coach Bowden" like Frank Caliendo-Madden says "Brett Favre."

[NewZipsFan]

You say "Coach Bowden" like Frank Caliendo-Madden says "Brett Favre."

LOL... What should we call him? My mother always taught me not to use pronouns when talking about someone "with authority", and definitely not to call them by their first names. And personally, I believe that all of the coaches should be addressed as "Coach". Can't stand it when "reporters" like Erin Andrews address head coaches by their first names - especially when coming off the field at half time... "So, Mack - what are you going to do in the locker room to keep your QB from throwing interceptions in the second half?"... Or the famous, "So Bobby - you had 8 holding penalties in the first half... what will you do during half time to keep t hat from happening in the 2nd half?... COACH Bobby Bowden responds, "We're going to pray...."... CLASSIC

Coach Bobby Bowden "melt down"

(actually - after just re-watching that, she originally called him Coach, and then at the end said "thanks, Bobby"...lol)

[ZachTheZip]

My only question about Dalton is why he never transferred to pursue a starting opportunity somewhere. Why was he content to sit on the bench for four years? In the FCS, players don't need to sit out a year to transfer, so that's not it.

[skip-zip]

My only question about Dalton is why he never transferred to pursue a starting opportunity somewhere. Why was he content to sit on the bench for four years? In the FCS, players don't need to sit out a year to transfer, so that's not it.

Thank you. That's exactly what I'm wondering. He played at a lower level, AND sat the bench for 3 years, but was possibly D-1A talent? I'm puzzled.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Erin Andrews can call me "Bobby" anytime.

[NewZipsFan]

Thank you. That's exactly what I'm wondering. He played at a lower level, AND sat the bench for 3 years, but was possibly D-1A talent? I'm puzzled.

He was planning to start - and play in the offense that he learned for three years. In January, SFA hired a new Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach and a new outside receivers coach....and, well - we all know what happens with coaching changes -- different schemes, etc. etc...

[skip-zip]

He was planning to start - and play in the offense that he learned for three years. In January, SFA hired a new Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach and a new outside receivers coach....and, well - we all know what happens with coaching changes -- different schemes, etc. etc...

Hmm. But, if he was D-1A talent, wouldn't you think that a new, incoming OC and QB coach at a school like Steven F. Austin would be doing eveything possible to get him to stay for his senior campaign? After he had been in the program for 3 years already? And with the HC being the same?

Again, it's a very puzzling situation. Alot of questions.

[akzipper]

Hmm. But, if he was D-1A talent, wouldn't you think that a new, incoming OC and QB coach at a school like Steven F. Austin would be doing eveything possible to get him to stay for his senior campaign? After he had been in the program for 3 years already? And with the HC being the same?

Again, it's a very puzzling situation. Alot of questions.

In all honesty I just don't think he's good. But I'm in no way a football genius, or scout. He just didn't impress me in the spring game, but I guess in his defense none of the 3 did. Hopefully they step in up this fall.

[ZachTheZip]

The thing is that despite all that's been said, DW was still right there with our other two QBs, or only a small step behind at most. And he was clearly ahead of at least two of our QBs that got converted to WR. That tells me that the QB position is not in great shape. We'll have to wait until the other three QBs (Steve Franco, Dan Harding, and Marcus Prather) come in this fall to see where we really stand. It's entirely possible that none of the QBs that played in the spring game will start against UCF.

[skip-zip]

The thing is that despite all that's been said, DW was still right there with our other two QBs, or only a small step behind at most. And he was clearly ahead of at least two of our QBs that got converted to WR. That tells me that the QB position is not in great shape. We'll have to wait until the other three QBs (Steve Franco, Dan Harding, and Marcus Prather) come in this fall to see where we really stand. It's entirely possible that none of the QBs that played in the spring game will start against UCF.

I'm afraid that could be the case as well.