FSU Transfer

[Kangaroo Craig]

I just received a tweet confirming that former FSU DL Moses McCray has been granted a 6th year of eligibility and he will transfer to Akron for his final year.

[mbalsinger]

This looks great to finally have confirmation like this. Any idea if his history of injuries will negate the potential help that he could bring?

[Zipmeister]

This looks great to finally have confirmation like this. Any idea if his history of injuries will negate the potential help that he could bring?

I predict his impact on our program will be equal to or greater than the Bain influence.

[Lee Adams]

Somebody who FSU didn't need because he couldn't stay on the field. He will be on the field here...yes/no?

[Captain Kangaroo]

McCray was caught up in a numbers game where FSU decided to go with youth. He wasn't substantially better than the youth, so FSU told him if he wanted to play, to move on.

We will also be getting another FSU transfer (OL).

And an OL from Wisconsin (with 2yrs immediate eligibility).

And, potentially, a big OL from Pitt.

CJ Mizell still has classwork to pass. Amato's #1 priority is to make sure he passes.

2 DL's from Colorado State are on their way.

The Colorado QB is expected to give Pohl a run for his money.

[Dave in Green]

@Captain Kangaroo, you should play golf more often. Lots of good news there.

[LZIp]

McCray was caught up in a numbers game where FSU decided to go with youth. He wasn't substantially better than the youth, so FSU told him if he wanted to play, to move on.

We will also be getting another FSU transfer (OL).

And an OL from Wisconsin (with 2yrs immediate eligibility).

And, potentially, a big OL from Pitt.

CJ Mizell still has classwork to pass. Amato's #1 priority is to make sure he passes.

2 DL's from Colorado State are on their way.

The Colorado QB is expected to give Pohl a run for his money.

Holy sh**, I like.

Any word on the potential eligibility of the others you listed?

[ZachTheZip]

McCray was caught up in a numbers game where FSU decided to go with youth. He wasn't substantially better than the youth, so FSU told him if he wanted to play, to move on.

We will also be getting another FSU transfer (OL).

And an OL from Wisconsin (with 2yrs immediate eligibility).

And, potentially, a big OL from Pitt.

CJ Mizell still has classwork to pass. Amato's #1 priority is to make sure he passes.

2 DL's from Colorado State are on their way.

The Colorado QB is expected to give Pohl a run for his money.

Nice to see that the trenches are a priority.

[Dr Z]

We will also be getting another FSU transfer (OL).

Henry Orelus was rumored to be transferring to Kentucky back in February, maybe he changed his mind as to where to transfer to?

[jupitertoo]

Henry Orelus was rumored to be transferring to Kentucky back in February, maybe he changed his mind as to where to transfer to?

Question for Zips fans. Is this the way you want your coach to be building this program? A plethora of one-and-dones sure seems to me to be about sprucing up his resume for one good year and then bolting rather than building a strong base.

[Zipmeister]

Henry Orelus was rumored to be transferring to Kentucky back in February, maybe he changed his mind as to where to transfer to?

Where ever he lands, I'm fairly certain he will have a Bain-like impact.

[Zipmeister]

Question for Zips fans. Is this the way you want your coach to be building this program? A plethora of one-and-dones sure seems to me to be about sprucing up his resume for one good year and then bolting rather than building a strong base.

Yes. It should help in the short-run and hopefully make it easier to get better high school recruits in the future.

[ZachTheZip]

Question for Zips fans. Is this the way you want your coach to be building this program? A plethora of one-and-dones sure seems to me to be about sprucing up his resume for one good year and then bolting rather than building a strong base.

Question for you: How do you expect Akron to be able to recruit enough talented linemen to turn things around when we're only winning one game a year?

[jupitertoo]

Yes. It should help in the short-run and hopefully make it easier to get better high school recruits in the future.

I would ask, then, how a high school recruit would look upon a coach who might always decide to grab a blue-chipper for a year, thereby blocking your way to a starting position after having invested your time/sweat, etc. For example, if Pohl gets sidelined by the new QB from Colorado, how do you think prospective QB recruits would view that?

It's no secret (I think) that I am an OU grad, though teach at Akron. A lot of Ohio fans were disappointed with the start of Solich's tenure, but he kept telling everyone he was building a total program that would feed on itself from year to year. I think he's done that based on the past four seasons. If I were in Buchtel Hall and the JAR, that would be my direction to Bowden.

[jupitertoo]

Question for you: How do you expect Akron to be able to recruit enough talented linemen to turn things around when we're only winning one game a year?

By guaranteeing playing time; not by sending signals that they might get screwed out of playing time if a blue-chipper wants to finish his eligibility with you.

I suspect Bowden prefers this approach for resume reasons, not for the best interests of Zips fans. He did the same thing at that small DII school, right?

[Captain Kangaroo]

Question for Zips fans. Is this the way you want your coach to be building this program? A plethora of one-and-dones sure seems to me to be about sprucing up his resume for one good year and then bolting rather than building a strong base.

Due to our coaching turnover, there is a big void in the Junior and Senior classes.

Do you feel it is best for the University to play a bunch of Freshman and Sophomores and try to beat the likes of Toledo and OU?

Or is it best to create some competition and depth with D1, 5th year transfers? Try to win some games in 2013 instead of 2015?

How many offensive lines full of Freshman and Sophomores are competitive?

The Zips have won 3 games in three seasons. K.e.n.t. did that in a month last season. A couple times.

Did you see any of the back up QB's in the Spring? They were terrible. We need a 5th year guy to push Pohl, and as insurance if he falters or gets injured.

One-and-done 5th year seniors are necessary for the Zips. Unless they want to win 3 more games...over the next 3 seasons...again. It has ZERO to do with Bowden's resume.

[GP1]

I would ask, then, how a high school recruit would look upon a coach who might always decide to grab a blue-chipper for a year, thereby blocking your way to a starting position after having invested your time/sweat, etc. For example, if Pohl gets sidelined by the new QB from Colorado, how do you think prospective QB recruits would view that?

A player doesn't get his playing time blocked. He blocks his own playing time by not being as good as the guy in front of him.

If the kid from Colorado is better than Pohl, isn't that the guy we want playing. It's major college football (sort of), not a welfare program for guys who stick around.

[GP1]

Due to our coaching turnover, there is a big void in the Junior and Senior classes.

Do you feel it is best for the University to play a bunch of Freshman and Sophomores and try to beat the likes of Toledo and OU?

Or is it best to create some competition and depth with D1, 5th year transfers? Try to win some games in 2013 instead of 2015?

How many offensive lines full of Freshman and Sophomores are competitive?

The Zips have won 3 games in three seasons. K.e.n.t. did that in a month last season. A couple times.

Did you see any of the back up QB's in the Spring? They were terrible. We need a 5th year guy to push Pohl, and as insurance if he falters or gets injured.

One-and-done 5th year seniors are necessary for the Zips. Unless they want to win 3 more games...over the next 3 seasons...again. It has ZERO to do with Bowden's resume.

Clearly, you don't understand the "building process"...

[mbalsinger]

Question for Zips fans. Is this the way you want your coach to be building this program? A plethora of one-and-dones sure seems to me to be about sprucing up his resume for one good year and then bolting rather than building a strong base.

You're joking right? If Bowden was interested in building his resume, he wouldn't have come to Akron. I have more respect for Bowden than almost any college coach (especially those at successful programs such as Alabama, OSU etc...) because it takes some guts to put your already good resume on the line to rebuild a program such as this one. Our one-and-done QB last year was excellent for Pohl to learn behind, and to learn from. And that "one-and-done" QB has become a part of the Zip family for life.

[Dave in Green]

After three consecutive 1-11 seasons, I'm OK with Coach Bowden trying to jump-start the program with a limited number of talented transfers. Talented HS players are more likely to sign up for a college program on the rise. I would not be as receptive to large numbers of transfers over the long run, which would not be necessary once UA becomes a more viable destination for larger numbers of talented HS players.

[K92]

I would ask, then, how a high school recruit would look upon a coach who might always decide to grab a blue-chipper for a year, thereby blocking your way to a starting position after having invested your time/sweat, etc. For example, if Pohl gets sidelined by the new QB from Colorado, how do you think prospective QB recruits would view that?

It's no secret (I think) that I am an OU grad, though teach at Akron. A lot of Ohio fans were disappointed with the start of Solich's tenure, but he kept telling everyone he was building a total program that would feed on itself from year to year. I think he's done that based on the past four seasons. If I were in Buchtel Hall and the JAR, that would be my direction to Bowden.

Coach Bowden is addressing lack of depth. He said so last night. The Zips are woefully thin at some positions and the staff is desperately trying to bolster the lineup with some guys that have played at the D-1 level. That is called smart. Much better to try and address your weaknesses with this approach than to cross your fingers and hope that we don't lose key players to injury.

If the holes aren't filled, the Zips are in huge trouble. How can you survive if you lose Kyle Pohl? Pughsley? Grice? Presley? Caponi?

You can't.

Coach Bowden is smart.

The only "blue-chipper" that may put an existing player's playing time in jeopardy is C.J. Mizell. Whether or not C.J. even makes it to campus has yet to be seen, never mind how he will fit in and perform. Jamel Turner was a blue chip guy coming out of H.S. and he hasn't stolen much playing time from anyone to date.

[K92]

You're joking right? If Bowden was interested in building his resume, he wouldn't have come to Akron. I have more respect for Bowden than almost any college coach (especially those at successful programs such as Alabama, OSU etc...) because it takes some guts to put your already good resume on the line to rebuild a program such as this one. Our one-and-done QB last year was excellent for Pohl to learn behind, and to learn from. And that "one-and-done" QB has become a part of the Zip family for life.

I could not agree more. Bringing in DW13 was a fantastic decision and I hope that someday people will look back and say that Dalton was the beginning of the turnaround for the Zips. The hand-wringing about bringing in transfers is a real laugh. Competition is a good thing. Everyone doesn't get a trophy for outstranding participation in D-1 football.

[Zipgrad01]

I want to win games NOW. Bowden is doing what he HAS to do in order to try to win games and build a program. Terry has to build some depth, create some competition and win games NOW, which is the only thing that will help with recruiting. The only kids that want to go to a school because you guarantee them playing time typically aren't very good. I have seen those guys for the last decade. I want high school recruits to come to Akron because we have a good school, nice facilities, a great coaching staff and a football team that competes for conference titles and plays in bowl games. Bowden knows exactly what he is doing. Ianello absolutely destroyed this program. Terry is bringing it back from the Abyss. I am astounded at the speed in which he is bringing in upgraded players.

[Lee Adams]

We will see in August won't we?

[K92]

It's not as if the staff is putting all their eggs in the transfer/juco basket. They are recruiting as well as possible. The staff is high on Zach Guiser coming in. He was described as a 4.3 student who is a gym rat. That is the kind of player they want to recruit. Smart with a great work ethic.

We have a staff now tasked with filling a lot of holes and I think they are doing a great job. The last coach ran so many people off that they couldn't even run a proper practice, never mind have any depth to effectively compete in an actual game.

It is not hyperbole to say that Rob Ianello almost killed off Zips football. Bowden & staff came in and took on a very bleak situation and it took a lot of guts to do that. Coach Bowden said at the dinner that he knows how bad the fans want to win, but he also said to understand that our desire pales in comparison to the staff's desire.

If other schools come calling for Coach Bowden's services, it is because he turned around a program that was on life support. I would be extremely sad to see him leave for greener pastures, but...

If that happened, it would be the first time in the history of our program that someone wanted to poach our coach.