Game 4 - Akron at Tennessee

[Captain Kangaroo]

We all remember Coach Iaintbowden talking about a "process," which pretty much translated into, "We are really hopelessly awful, and if we work real hard we have a chance to just be really bad sooner than anybody thinks."

I-11-ello's "process" was a descriptive term used to buffalo people that what they saw on the field wasn't indicative of what was really going on.

My favorite part of the Tennessee game was Coach B going for the win. Unlike JD, who was content to run clock and punt 19 times per game when he faced a Top 20 opponent, Bowden came up with an aggressive game plan and tried to win the game. And he almost did it. Dalton Williams was only about 3 mistakes away from being a legend.

[GP1]

I-11-ello's "process" was a descriptive term used to buffalo people that what they saw on the field wasn't indicative of what was really going on.

My favorite part of the Tennessee game was Coach B going for the win. Unlike JD, who was content to run clock and punt 19 times per game when he faced a Top 20 opponent, Bowden came up with an aggressive game plan and tried to win the game. And he almost did it. Dalton Williams was only about 3 mistakes away from being a legend.

The "process" is contrary to Yoda's quote,

People, whether in corporate America, coaching, etc., like to discuss process when they don't really know what they are doing. It's actually become a societal problem the country now faces. Leadership in this country doesn't know what to do with their leadership positions. They can make it look like they know what they are doing using tools like Six Sigma, but in reality, they do not know what they are doing.

Doing is better than trying. Failing with a full ass effort and belief you can succeed is better than trying. The Zips did more than try Saturday.

Rejoice in doing. Learn from not doing. Reject trying. A Jedi Knight you may become.

[K92]

Everything will shake out and we will see who has what now in conference play. The jury is out. Neither I nor anyone else knows with any accuracy how every MAC team will fare from here on out. Everybody has an opinion, though. That's fine. Even though it hasn't showed up in the win column yet, it is my opinion that the Zips are the most improved team in the country. At the end of last year Akron had a Sagarin rating of 198. I will wager no team will gain more positions in this particular poll than Akron, year over year. I will put my money where my mouth is. This is the last time I ever want to compare where we were with where we are. Comparing Ianello and Bowden is like comparing a three legged mule to Secretariat. I am going to try my best not to do any more comparisons.

I don't know how many wins our great improvement will translate to. Nobody does. That's why they are going to play the games. Personally, I like our chances. Before the game Saturday, I said to a parent of a player that I was really looking forward to league play because i thought we would win some games in the MAC. He looked me dead in the eye and said "I think we can win 'em all".

The staff believes.

The players believe.

The parents believe.

When is the fanbase going to catch up?

GO ZIPS! SMASH MIAMI!

[NewZipsFan]

Ok -- I had almost been afraid to pop in and read the thread - mostly because I had been so adamant that we would win the game (since January when I saw the schedule - BTW).. Man oh man was it close! The score, obviously, was not indicative of the game we played Saturday night.

When Tennessee first took the field for pre-game warmups, I actually said out loud, "who is this NFL team walking in here to play the Zips?"... Holy s** - those guys are just dadgum BIG. And FAST. They may not be the team their fans want - or what they've enjoyed over the years -- but DADGUM - honestly those players are just a lot bigger and a lot faster than our guys (and their backups are just as big and fast).

But after watching the game, I'll take our TEAM any day over them. Our kids played ANOTHER hell of a football game -- giving 100% effort on every single play - for 60 minutes - in front of 80,000 SEC fans and that dadgum Rocky Top playing every 30 seconds! Tied at halftime -- are you kidding me??? Did you see their lines compared to our lines? They had to outweigh us individually by 75 lbs plus at every position! And guess what? No sacks on our QB (who obviously was playing through some pain -- and I don't blame DW one single bit -- he made some throws that I know he wants back badly - but played valiantly under great pressure and through all of that noise, etc..) -- we stopped the run up the middle (which is the SEC's bread and butter) time and time again.. Their speed was just scary at some points -- two weeks ago, we don't make those arm tackles/saves -- they would've all broken for TDs. Our players are flat out getting BETTER every single week.

I'm so proud of the way they played! How about our RFr kickers?? Stein 4-4 in FGs 2-2 in PATs!! The first FG (45 or 48 yds) in that stadium with 80,000 people? And he nails it! Wow is all I can say. So happy for him -- that game will give him the confidence to keep kicking like that all the way through our conference schedule.

So - yes, I was wrong. We didn't actually get a "W" in the record books.. But as far as I'm concerned, it was a W. I'll go on record now -- we go 8-0 in conference play. I cannot see one single reason why it is not POSSIBLE. Yes, there are some very good teams on the schedule. But guess what? Every one of those teams has the Akron Zips on their schedule - and they need to start getting worried!

Go Zips! BEAT the DADGUM MAC!

(Injury update - Zach D'Orazio has a broken fibula, will have surgery and is out for the season - dadgummit! Justin March has an ankle sprain - could be ready this weekend, though. We got out of there relatively unscathed.)

[K92]

Preach it, NZF!

[Blue & Gold]

ESPN3 has the game archived. I've watched the first half of the Tennessee game a few times now. If you're able, access the ESPN3 archive and check out Avis Commack's pick-6. But look for #45 Justin March. Incredible play for #45 - not only does he get the sack, but he then ABSOLUTELY DE-CLEATS a Tennessee OL on Commack's return. JM absolutely obliterates the dude - completely raises the guy up off of the ground and pancakes him onto his backside.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Injury update - Zach D'Orazio has a broken fibula, will have surgery and is out for the season.

The kid is cursed with injuries. Too bad...he was becoming a solid #2 WR, and a consistent go-to guy for Williams. Hopefully one of the other WR's seizes the opportunity to fill the void. Pratt comes to mind.

[johnnyzip84]

NZF, you were far closer to the pick of the century than many of us thought possible Although it really upsets me that ZD is out for the year, we appreciate the early news. He was really coming into his own, too! Hopefully, he heals perfectly and is ready for 2013.

Adding to Keener’s central point, why would any of us look at the rest of the schedule and see ANY of the remaining games as “unwinnable”? The improvement from week-to-week is glaringly obvious. Every MAC team (save for possibly OU, and I believe they will grossly overlook the Zips) has thus far revealed at least one “chink in the armor”. As long as a few key players stay relatively healthy the rest of the season, we should have a fighting chance in every single game. If the improvement continues from week-to-week, I REALLY like our chances to finish the season with a bang

[Blue & Gold]

(Injury update - Zach D'Orazio has a broken fibula, will have surgery and is out for the season - dadgummit! Justin March has an ankle sprain - could be ready this weekend, though. We got out of there relatively unscathed.)

Ouch. He was quickly becoming one of my favorite Zips.

It's really time for L.T. Smith to step up & fulfill the potential Coach Bowden sees in him.

[Class of 82]

Ok -- I had almost been afraid to pop in and read the thread - mostly because I had been so adamant that we would win the game (since January when I saw the schedule - BTW).. Man oh man was it close! The score, obviously, was not indicative of the game we played Saturday night.

When Tennessee first took the field for pre-game warmups, I actually said out loud, "who is this NFL team walking in here to play the Zips?"... Holy s** - those guys are just dadgum BIG. And FAST. They may not be the team their fans want - or what they've enjoyed over the years -- but DADGUM - honestly those players are just a lot bigger and a lot faster than our guys (and their backups are just as big and fast).

But after watching the game, I'll take our TEAM any day over them. Our kids played ANOTHER hell of a football game -- giving 100% effort on every single play - for 60 minutes - in front of 80,000 SEC fans and that dadgum Rocky Top playing every 30 seconds! Tied at halftime -- are you kidding me??? Did you see their lines compared to our lines? They had to outweigh us individually by 75 lbs plus at every position! And guess what? No sacks on our QB (who obviously was playing through some pain -- and I don't blame DW one single bit -- he made some throws that I know he wants back badly - but played valiantly under great pressure and through all of that noise, etc..) -- we stopped the run up the middle (which is the SEC's bread and butter) time and time again.. Their speed was just scary at some points -- two weeks ago, we don't make those arm tackles/saves -- they would've all broken for TDs. Our players are flat out getting BETTER every single week.

I'm so proud of the way they played! How about our RFr kickers?? Stein 4-4 in FGs 2-2 in PATs!! The first FG (45 or 48 yds) in that stadium with 80,000 people? And he nails it! Wow is all I can say. So happy for him -- that game will give him the confidence to keep kicking like that all the way through our conference schedule.

So - yes, I was wrong. We didn't actually get a "W" in the record books.. But as far as I'm concerned, it was a W. I'll go on record now -- we go 8-0 in conference play. I cannot see one single reason why it is not POSSIBLE. Yes, there are some very good teams on the schedule. But guess what? Every one of those teams has the Akron Zips on their schedule - and they need to start getting worried!

Go Zips! BEAT the DADGUM MAC!

(Injury update - Zach D'Orazio has a broken fibula, will have surgery and is out for the season - dadgummit! Justin March has an ankle sprain - could be ready this weekend, though. We got out of there relatively unscathed.)

Sorry to hear about D'Orazio. I hope he can keep his chin up and be as good a leader on the sideline as he was becoming on the field.

P.S. No shame for being an optimist. The genuine willingness to be optimists and believers... if given just half a chance... is why they call us fans (short for "fanatics") in the first place. Right? You predicted a win, and they played like a team that believed they could win and left it all on the field. I salute you, brother, for having their back and for having faith!

[GP1]

How about our RFr kickers?? Stein 4-4 in FGs 2-2 in PATs!! The first FG (45 or 48 yds) in that stadium with 80,000 people? And he nails it!

Forgot to mention many of us did. Feeling the Force he is. Not since the days of Derr I have felt this confidence.

[Dave in Green]

A process is only as good as the people trying to implement it. The right people + the right process = the right results. Coach Bowden is the right person using the right process, and the results are starting to show.

[NewZipsFan]

Forgot to mention many of us did. Feeling the Force he is. Not since the days of Derr I have felt this confidence.

Awesome. Too bad the kid is probably too young to appreciate it

I'm sure y'all know that his older brother is the kicker for Bowling Green (has NOT had a good year, unfortunately) - so in two weeks it will be the left-footed kicking Stein Brothers on the field together. Would hate to be that family that weekend.. I've read somewhere that their younger brother is also a left-footed kicker at their high school (in Cincinnati I think)..

Haven't seen the MAC players of the week yet -- but if Stein isn't the special teams player - I will call B.S. from the top of Infocision.

[GP1]

A process is only as good as the people trying to implement it. The right people + the right process = the right results. Coach Bowden is the right person using the right process, and the results are starting to show.

Before Yoda tells Luke, "Do, or do not. There is no try.", he gives him a good piece of advice. "You must unlearn all you have learned."

Winning with many of the same guys who went 1-11 last year, Master Bowden will do. Introduction of a "winning process" based upon trying to win in lieu of a "building process" based upon doing whatever, has Master Bowen implemented.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I will call B.S. from the top of Infocision.

I did that quite a bit last season.

[johnnyzip84]

I did that quite a bit last season.

[K92]

After the game an older Southern Gentleman told us in his slow & deliberate drawl, "I don't know how many games y'all will win in your conference, but I don't think y'all will have to sit through too many boring football games".

Another younger fan stated that if the talent levels had been switched, Akron's coaching & desire would have made the Zips winners by 100 points.

We received a lot of good feedback from an unhappy fanbase. They seemed to be very accurate & honest in their assessment of the Vols. I hope they turn out to be as astute in their assessment of the Zips.

[NewZipsFan]

And its official -- Robert Stein MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week!!!

Way to go Robert Stein!

[johnnyzip84]

And its official -- Robert Stein MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week!!!

Way to go Robert Stein!

Outstanding and well deserved!

Hmmm I wonder if he'll get some love on the coach's show tonight?

[Dr Z]

Robert Stein MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week!!!

One of the biggest surprises of the game for me. Well done! Keep up the good work, hopefully he'll hit some game winners for us this season.

[GP1]

And its official -- Robert Stein MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week!!!

Way to go Robert Stein!

Proud of himself he should be. Smoke some weed with the Wookies to celebrate, he should.

[BIGCEE]

Let me throw this question out there, how do you'll feel about Commack seeing some work at WR, and is it possible. He was a highly rated receiver coming out of HS before he switched to corner, and if so how would you line him up so other teams wouldn't pick up on h so easily?

Talking about the long ball

[Dr Z]

...how do you'll feel about Commack seeing some work at WR

I don't think we are lacking in the WR dept. If we were...possible, but the way the corners played this Saturday, his value to the team lies on the D side of the ball. It's going to be fun watching coach Amato getting pressure on MAC QB's with the coverage we are able to provide on the outside.

[Dr Z]

Tennessee does not run the ball.

Tennessee run 46 times for 232 yards averaging over 5 yards a carry.

I heard TB interviewed before the game. He stated the Vols running game was his biggest concern because the Zips were undersized upfront compared to the Vols. He said they would play a lot of 8 man fronts to try to stop them, but obviously they couldn't stay in the 8 man front too much. He stated they would show 8 and drop out of it in multiple occasions. I love the to hear this kind of stuff before the game. I can't remember the exact stat they showed during the game...something like the Vols offensive line averaged 319 lbs and the Zips defensive line averaged 269? Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong. All things considered, I think the defensive line played well, getting into the backfield multiple times and making some key stops on obvious run downs.

[scottditzen]

I just want to stop by and say that you all played a great game last night. I was there, and like most Vol fans, totally underestimated your team. We did not think you guys would challenge us, but you played superb, and your offense is loads of fun to watch. Give him time, and ole Terry will have you guys turned around in no time. And also, if you went to the game. What did you think of Knoxville, the school, and Neyland? Sorry for all of the construction going on around the stadium tho.

Go Vols

Go Zips

Classy Vols fan!!!!!

Unfortunately I couldn't make it down to the game, wish I could have. But one thing I do love about Knoxville is this band:

http://yunglife.bandcamp.com/