ZIP IT!

[Wally B]

Enough of the doomsday prophecies!

As Dr. Evil would say:

Zip it.... zip it good..

Take a look at my zipple

there once was an old lady who lived in a sh.....

Hung Tao..... (subtitle.. Zip it)

All thoughts of saturdays loss being equivalent to the end of the world need to stop. They only serve to make the posters look like ignoranuses (ignorant and a*hol's), and I have yet to see anyone post anything that remotely comes close to actually justifying their claims. I mean, come on, someone actually stated that our basketball program has been a disgrace over the last decade and suggested the #1 soccer team in the nation (in addition to its reputation as the best overall program) has no chance in the college cup.

The best are the comparrisons to cant?? really?

Ok, consider this. Just a few years ago Can't was so abysmal they there were actually calls to disband the program. Hazell came into a losing team w/ some talent and started to turn it around. This year they exploded on that strength coupled with a few breakout players. They are now ranked #25 nationally, while enjoying their first successful season since 1973 when they were ranked #19. That's 39 years people. We WON the MACC through the efforts of Hixson in 2005. 2005, that's only 7 years ago, not 39. TB was given a turd and he polished it the best he could. but it was still a turd. They showed heart throughout the season in what I believe will serve as the building blocks of our future. THIS TEAM CAN STAND PROUD IN THAT REGARD!

For reasons that have been stated by those who know (repeatedly), things will get better. I may be far from home, but I will ALWAYS shake the hand of any current player for the effort they gave over this trying year.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been here longer than most. (I was in the Rubber Bowl for the Oust Faust student protest) but the posters on ZN seem to fall into 3 categories. 1-former players who know what they're talking about. 2-long time zips fans who are able to see the big picture. and 3 - realtive newcommer whiners who cant see the forest through the trees.

To the first group - thanks for your honesty and continuing support.

To the whiners - time for a reality check. Our issues are well known but as Can't is proving, not insurmountable. the old Bowl was an issue. iC was an issue, our depth IS an issue. These things have been and will be corrected in time, and if you know of someone other than TB whose better positioned (and willing) to do something about it then say so! Until then, I could care less about what you think is or isn't wrong with the program or UA in general. No one is forcing you to be here.

At this point I am not embarrassed by the team, but I have been by your innane comments. That is all, I am done. so please, zip it for now.... thx..

Wally

[zipsfan33]

Nice job Wally... It will get better no doubt!

[Class of 82]

Hi Wally,

First, a frustrating football season with so many areas of marked improvement... other than in wins. PLUS a disappointing loss by the basketball team = ... doom and gloom.

Throw in the Browns, Indians and Cavaliers, and every northeast Ohio frustration of the past (along with future ones that many people are certain will occur but haven't happened... yet) comes bubbling to the surface and spilling doo doo all over our front porch.

But I'm with you. I get tired of it as well.

As Captain Kangaroo explained to his heartbroken son, it isn't easy being a Zips fan. It will be painful, and it will be hard. And it will be tempting to just chuck it to the side and fine some other wagon to jump on. A lot of people have. Some people will. But I can't do that. I won't do that. Lots of reasons for it, with loyalty being the first that comes to mind. But a close second is the certainty, first, that a better day will come and, second, that today's bitter pill will eventually make tomorrow's sweet success even sweeter.

I don't know exactly when our day will come, but it will. And I'm going to be there come what may.

All the best to you,

Class of 82

P.S. GO ZIPS!

[Zipmeister]

Enough of the doomsday prophecies!

As Dr. Evil would say:

Zip it.... zip it good..

Take a look at my zipple

there once was an old lady who lived in a sh.....

Hung Tao..... (subtitle.. Zip it)

All thoughts of saturdays loss being equivalent to the end of the world need to stop. They only serve to make the posters look like ignoranuses (ignorant and a*hol's), and I have yet to see anyone post anything that remotely comes close to actually justifying their claims. I mean, come on, someone actually stated that our basketball program has been a disgrace over the last decade and suggested the #1 soccer team in the nation (in addition to its reputation as the best overall program) has no chance in the college cup.

The best are the comparrisons to cant?? really?

Ok, consider this. Just a few years ago Can't was so abysmal they there were actually calls to disband the program. Hazell came into a losing team w/ some talent and started to turn it around. This year they exploded on that strength coupled with a few breakout players. They are now ranked #25 nationally, while enjoying their first successful season since 1973 when they were ranked #19. That's 39 years people. We WON the MACC through the efforts of Hixson in 2005. 2005, that's only 7 years ago, not 39. TB was given a turd and he polished it the best he could. but it was still a turd. They showed heart throughout the season in what I believe will serve as the building blocks of our future. THIS TEAM CAN STAND PROUD IN THAT REGARD!

For reasons that have been stated by those who know (repeatedly), things will get better. I may be far from home, but I will ALWAYS shake the hand of any current player for the effort they gave over this trying year.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been here longer than most. (I was in the Rubber Bowl for the Oust Faust student protest) but the posters on ZN seem to fall into 3 categories. 1-former players who know what they're talking about. 2-long time zips fans who are able to see the big picture. and 3 - realtive newcommer whiners who cant see the forest through the trees.

To the first group - thanks for your honesty and continuing support.

To the whiners - time for a reality check. Our issues are well known but as Can't is proving, not insurmountable. the old Bowl was an issue. iC was an issue, our depth IS an issue. These things have been and will be corrected in time, and if you know of someone other than TB whose better positioned (and willing) to do something about it then say so! Until then, I could care less about what you think is or isn't wrong with the program or UA in general. No one is forcing you to be here.

At this point I am not embarrassed by the team, but I have been by your innane comments. That is all, I am done. so please, zip it for now.... thx..

Wally

Great post Wally!

I think you may have come up with a more appropriate mascot for us - The Turd with a Heart.

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

I am truly not trying to be a smart-ass when I ask who the "better" fan might be: The one who looks at the history of this program and has the best interests of the program, team and fans, at heart in thinking that success might be found in going "back" to FCS? Or the one who believes that anything other than blind faith in the direction of the program is disloyalty?

[Zipmeister]

I am truly not trying to be a smart-ass when I ask who the "better" fan might be: The one who looks at the history of this program and has the best interests of the program, team and fans, at heart in thinking that success might be found in going "back" to FCS? Or the one who believes that anything other than blind faith in the direction of the program is disloyalty?

I'm no polling question expert, but I think your question might be a tad slanted.

[Wally B]

I am truly not trying to be a smart-ass when I ask who the "better" fan might be: The one who looks at the history of this program and has the best interests of the program, team and fans, at heart in thinking that success might be found in going "back" to FCS? Or the one who believes that anything other than blind faith in the direction of the program is disloyalty?

The issue lies not with ones concern for the interest of the players, rather in failing to see the forest through the tree's. Claims of an embarrasing collapse belie the ugly truths of the iCoach era. Poor to nonexistent recruiting, exaserbated by focing out an innordinate number of scholarship players. The 2012 teams perfomance throughout the season suggests improvement has occured. This is something that was never evident w/ iCaoch. It is a disservice to our team to suggest otherwise. They did the ugly work we all knew was in front of them. They gave us a reson to hope. They laid the foundation for TB to build a program. Lest we forget it was a job where everyone knew how bad it was and TB was the only one willing to do the work.

This isn't blind faith, it's a recognition of all the facts involved, evaluated through maturity. I am not calling out any individuals, all viewpoints are openly welcomed. But the rankor has been innapropriate, and it detracts from what I consider one of the most honest and indepth resources for any NCAA program.

Go Zips! and thanks to all of the ZipsNation!!

[bUAkronG]

For the record, I don't fit into any of those three categories

I am a relatively new Zips fan(post 2005) who is cautiously optimistic about the direction of the program. I like to think I have a decent knowledge of football. Saturday was unbelievably disheartening to watch, yet, like you and others, I will be watching next Tuesday in hopes for something positive to end the season on.

Fret not, Zips fans. It will be worth the heartache once it all plays out for us.

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

The issue lies not with ones concern for the interest of the players, rather in failing to see the forest through the tree's. Claims of an embarrasing collapse belie the ugly truths of the iCoach era. Poor to nonexistent recruiting, exaserbated by focing out an innordinate number of scholarship players. The 2012 teams perfomance throughout the season suggests improvement has occured. This is something that was never evident w/ iCaoch. It is a disservice to our team to suggest otherwise. They did the ugly work we all knew was in front of them. They gave us a reson to hope. They laid the foundation for TB to build a program. Lest we forget it was a job where everyone knew how bad it was and TB was the only one willing to do the work.

This isn't blind faith, it's a recognition of all the facts involved, evaluated through maturity. I am not calling out any individuals, all viewpoints are openly welcomed. But the rankor has been innapropriate, and it detracts from what I consider one of the most honest and indepth resources for any NCAA program.

Go Zips! and thanks to all of the ZipsNation!!

It's not as simple as blaming Ianello. What "magic" are you trying to recapture? Because if Ianello was that bad, there must have been another coach who consistently achieved at a high level so that you KNOW that the program belonged at that higher level, right? The problem with that logic is that this program has never had a blockbuster season post D-1 jump. We're now 5 coaches into the D-1/FBS era. Akron has squeaked out a handful of 7 win seasons IN 25 YEARS and backed into that "magical" 2005 post-season. This was never a major program and has been little more than early season chaff for major programs. It cannot be that I'm the only one who is tired of the abuse. How can it be a good thing to continue this FBS charade, when this program has never belonged in that mix? The only attention this program brings to the university and its fans is negative. Akron football equals sadness. There is no measure by which it is positive for the university to field the worst program in football year after year.

I believe that negative attention is probably why locals treat the program with scorn. Akronites certainly don't hate Akron soccer or Akron basketball. Bring up Akron football with Joe Akron and he becomes scornful. I now believe it's because of the perennial negativity that Akron football brings to the university and the city. Nobody wants to be associated with the stench. I seriously doubt that would be the case if Akron played good football at a lower level. Akronites love the Aeros. They don't care that the Aeros are AA. I think Akron fans would embrace, at some reasonable level, a winning program at the FCS level or D-II. A solid winning program stocked with local kids would probably average 12-15K in home attendance and would bring positive attention to the university and fans. Hell, it's not like we'd be leaving the Big 10 for craptown. We already live in sports craptown by being in the MAC. Bottom line is that there is no upside for Akron to stay FBS in football. It's all downside. Hell, Terry came here from D-II right? Where's he going to go? He's been at lower levels for a goodly amount of his career. Who better to guide us back to where we belong, and create a winner than Terry? Gerry and Terry, bookends. That has a nice ring to it.

[ZippyRulz]

I think the Trustees will give it a couple more years to see what TB can do. No offense to the OVC or MVC or North and South Dakota but the MAC really is a better place for us.

[Class of 82]

Bottom line is that there is no upside for Akron to stay FBS in football. It's all downside. Hell, Terry came here from D-II right? Where's he going to go? He's been at lower levels for a goodly amount of his career. Who better to guide us back to where we belong, and create a winner than Terry? Gerry and Terry, bookends. That has a nice ring to it.

Well, at least the cat's out of the bag now, eh?

This is just more of the same pessimism and negativity that drives me crazy about Akron. The glass is always half empty here. No belief in a bright future. No vision of the possible. "Where we belong" is always something lesser.

I get that you're discouraged and down. I mean, fine. I really do get it. We're all disappointed. But you'll have to pardon a lot of us for not buying what you're selling.

[akronad]

@STZ-what were you expecting? TB gave us the heads up way back that this was not going to be a very good team this year. And, he was right. Those that were thinking that things were going to turn around instantly were totally misguided. I feel your pain. As a life long Zips fans, this stings! But in all the years that we have been D-1, I think TB is going to give us the best chance to win. For me, when the season started, I was looking for only 1 thing, IMPROVEMENT. We did improve. The attitude of the players was much better. They nevcer gave up. The coaching staff has fighting since day one and will continue to find ways for us to improve and become a better team. Icoach left us directly behind the 8 ball with no place no go, which sucks for the kids on this team. Without even looking at who we are recruiting, I can guarantee you that we will again be improved next year and we will win more games.

[Aaron]

I, like most of you, was REALLY down on Saturday. I couldn't believe we just became the worst team in FBS. Still, Bowden promised two wins this season, and thinking back on things once Sunday rolled around, I really feel like that Miami game was a win for us.

Our players did NOT lose that game, some terrible refereeing which led to some sanctions from the MAC gave Miami that undeserved late TD. When Terry Bowden has an entire team healthy and relatively fresh, he can do some special things with them.

I echo the sentiment that 'Lee Owens' expressed elsewhere on the board - recruiting has ALWAYS been an issue for the Zips. Even our better coaches could not recruit more than 'just good' classes. We had some good years, and Owens could build on some moderate success to get his recruits, but I believe that even then the rubber bowl held back our classes from being really great. With the re-investment in the football program, a few years like Owens had now should mean GREAT recruiting classes for the Zips - leading to the breakout seasons that we see time after time for other teams around the MAC.

Akron has certainly been mired in mediocrity for decades, but I believe that the investments in our football program will bring us out of it. If it wasn't for how incredibly bad Ianello was at coaching, I believe that TB would have gone 4-8 or 5-7 this year with just a few more healthy guys available. I believe that TB can coach, and that he will recruit. It takes time to build up, but I believe that once we hit 'mediocre' again, we won't stay there long - a mediocre team plus our excellent facilities and competent coaching should put us up to excellent quickly. Right now, we're unfortunately working from 'worst in FBS' to 'mediocre'. It's an unpleasant, long journey that I hope we will not have to repeat again in my lifetime.

[hiroad1]

Undoubtedly, all UA fans have been generally frustrated with the results of the program for some time. Still, IMO, any talk of dropping to a lower division is crazy and counterproductive.

Why? Because a decision like that has to be taken in the context of the strategic objectives of the larger university, not just the current state of the football program. If UA wants to be a 40,000 enrollment university, it needs (again, IMO) to have athletic programs that garner the media attention needed to be relevant on a big stage too. It needs athletic programs that add to the student experience expected at a university of that size too.

Further, everyone really should look at the link in the topic "New Championship to Feature 6 Bowls". Look at how the NCAA views the world. We are already in a second tier. Do we really want to drop this university to yet a lower tier?

For me, we are where we need to be right now. Can't go higher, and shouldn't go lower.

I'm willing to dig in and give Bowden and Proenza my support to try and achieve their objectives.

[lance99]

Akron football equals sadness.

How can you say that? There are people here on this site, including myself, that have followed the Zips for many years. For me, this is "my team!" Do I like the losing? Heck no, but the only time there should be sadness(or anger if you prefer) should be when we loose the Wagon Wheel.

I believe that negative attention is probably why locals treat the program with scorn. Akronites certainly don't hate Akron soccer or Akron basketball. Bring up Akron football with Joe Akron and he becomes scornful. I now believe it's because of the perennial negativity that Akron football brings to the university and the city. Nobody wants to be associated with the stench. I seriously doubt that would be the case if Akron played good football at a lower level. Akronites love the Aeros. They don't care that the Aeros are AA. I think Akron fans would embrace, at some reasonable level, a winning program at the FCS level or D-II. A solid winning program stocked with local kids would probably average 12-15K in home attendance and would bring positive attention to the university and fans. Hell, it's not like we'd be leaving the Big 10 for craptown. We already live in sports craptown by being in the MAC. Bottom line is that there is no upside for Akron to stay FBS in football. It's all downside. Hell, Terry came here from D-II right? Where's he going to go? He's been at lower levels for a goodly amount of his career. Who better to guide us back to where we belong, and create a winner than Terry? Gerry and Terry, bookends. That has a nice ring to it.

No disrespect, but that is defeatist talk. Dropping one level means that you gave up altogether. You need to give it time.

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

IT HAS BEEN 25 YEARS PEOPLE.

[Aaron]

IT HAS BEEN 25 YEARS PEOPLE.

Exactly. Why did it take 22 years to get an on-campus stadium? Why did the Rubber Bowl go 20 years between needed renovations? Why did the University just give up on it for the last 12 years of its existence?

Moderate football success, instead of being nurtured to something greater, was instead stifled. Do you think the same attitude exists now? We will need to find some moderate success first to see where it NOW leads. Hasn't enough changed in the past few years to warrant an attempt at moderate success in FBS, and we as fans can hope it will be nurtured and supported into something greater this time around?

[ZachTheZip]

Before Ianello, we had a record of 106-152-3. Not great, but aside from a couple terrible years it wasn't all that bad. If it weren't for the MAC's horrible bowl arrangements in the past (until just a few years ago, they only had one, for the champion, and everybody else sat at home even if they had 9 or 10 wins), we would have gone bowling six times in that span.

Don't use the past few years to paint our whole time spent in the FBS. We were always hopeful, throughout that entire span. Success was always just a few bounces of the football away. We've had our share of bad luck, but things weren't nearly as bad as you make it seem.

[Class of 82]

IT HAS BEEN 25 YEARS PEOPLE.

So what? K.e.n.t football hasn't won a MAC championship in 40-plus years... and lost 12 out of 15 Wagon Wheel games not too long ago (all, by the way in that 25-year period you keep harping on). They're making a pretty credible run at a championship now, and they've had a good Wagon Wheel run of late.

Yet, you're just so certain that Akron can't do exactly the same? You say those who reject your take are the ones being unrealistic? Good grief.

[Dave in Green]

With only a small chance of avoiding a third consecutive 1-11 season, there's no question that Zips football is at its lowest point ever. So it stands to reason that Zips fan morale would be at its lowest point ever. The fine details of this ugliness have been posted here in excrutiating detail by fans who have either completely given up or are close to it. The possibilities that Coach Bowden is in the earliest stages of turning around the program have also been presented by less pessimistic fans.

I don't know that there's a lot to be added to the conversation that hasn't already been discussed. UA is not likely to consider making any major changes in the football program until the end of next season at the earliest. So what's going to happen is going to happen regardless of what we fans have to say, no matter how pessimistic or optimistic. Zips football fans have put up with a lot for a long time, and it may seem unfair to be asked to wait just a little longer to see if this might finally be the time that things begin to change for the better. But, for the near future, that's UA's plan. So that's what we have to live with, no matter how skeptical some may be.

[Wally B]

IT HAS BEEN 25 YEARS PEOPLE.

It's almost as though you are yelling at yourself. You keep repeating simple and ill-informed statements that few if any on here are willing to legitimize, and loudly repeating yourself won't get us to listen. Dude, it won't work, We're not deaf. We simply refuse to drink your koolaid. Your attempts to legitimize your feelings by focusing anything negative you can extract, ignores the greater truth's we've already discussed here ad nauseam.

Like any program, our successes and failures are the product of multiple factors. Institutional support, economics, stadium issues, recruiting, gambles on players with questionable backgrounds (Harvey?)..... etc.... It's as though we've been remodeling a house. At this point, we've gotten through the worst of it, and most everything is new. Recognize that we're on the right track, and give it time to mature.

Still, you have a talent. If you wish to continue with your hyperbole, i suggest heading over to the MAC board and check Louis Kitton's posts, he's the master. You may also recognize him as OUfootball, Kit-Cat, Airport KC, etc..

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

It's almost as though you are yelling at yourself. You keep repeating simple and ill-informed statements that few if any on here are willing to legitimize, and loudly repeating yourself won't get us to listen. Dude, it won't work, We're not deaf. We simply refuse to drink your koolaid. Your attempts to legitimize your feelings by focusing anything negative you can extract, ignores the greater truth's we've already discussed here ad nauseam.

Like any program, our successes and failures are the product of multiple factors. Institutional support, economics, stadium issues, recruiting, gambles on players with questionable backgrounds (Harvey?)..... etc.... It's as though we've been remodeling a house. At this point, we've gotten through the worst of it, and most everything is new. Recognize that we're on the right track, and give it time to mature.

Still, you have a talent. If you wish to continue with your hyperbole, i suggest heading over to the MAC board and check Louis Kitton's posts, he's the master. You may also recognize him as OUfootball, Kit-Cat, Airport KC, etc..

How about this Wallaby? I'll remain in the fact-based world, where objective reality rules the day. You remain wherever it is you reside, in your mind, a magical place where, suddenly, and after 25 years of non-success, this program will become a winner. Terry Bowden appears to be a credible coach and to have hired a credible staff, but there are ZERO facts, that you can point to, that support your contention that this one-win program is just about to turn the corner. You and I both want them to win, but I believe much greater success would result from reclaiming their natural place within the larger football order. If TB turns them into a winner, I'll be happy to be wrong, but I don't think I am.

[Dave in Green]

Zips yards gained per game:

2011 - 277.8

2012 - 435.8

Opponents yards gained per game:

2011 - 427.2

2012 - 449.2

Change:

Zips +158 yards per game

Opponents +22 yards per game

Net change +136 yards per game difference in average yardage in favor of the Zips

Zips points scored per game:

2011 - 14.2

2012 - 26.4

Opponents points scored per game:

2011 - 38.5

2012 - 35.7

Change:

Zips +12.2 points per game

Opponents -2.8 points per game

Net change +15 points per game difference in average points in favor of the Zips

The typical 2011 game was a 38.5-14.2 Zips loss.

The typical 2012 game was a 35.7-26.4 Zips loss.

Yeah, I know, a loss is a loss is a loss. But if you don't like the direction this is going, you're brain dead.

[MaxZIP]

It will be interesting to see if key departures can be replaced next year. We as a fan base should be careful to understand the impact of 1 and 2 year players. Is the statistical improvement fools gold? The ultimate short term success of this program will ride on coach bowden's recruiting classes.

[Dr Z]

It will be interesting to see if key departures can be replaced next year.

I used to say this at the end of every year. Especially when Frye left, that was the last time I have ever said that.

If a coach has a plan, we should continue to get better every year. Like John McKay's five year plan.