zippy5 Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Toledo looks defeated. I'm feeling a let down game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balsy Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 I guess a bowl game or potential MAC title is less to play for than a moral victory. What a stupid comment... I still stand by my original statement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 So what's your scouting report so far?I'm a little surprised that it went as I suspected, especially the over/under. Akron can compete at home against the team that played last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
you am i Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 Speaking as a half-Rocket half-Zip fan, I think that last night's defeat is going to linger for Toledo. Listening to the players and coaches talk after the game you could tell they were demoralized by the NIU loss. Toledo has an excellent runner named David Fluellen, a legit NFL prospect, but he was hurt about a month ago - back and ankle - and he has not played much since. He was pretty much a non-factor last night. If Fluellen is at 100%, Toledo most likely wins. If he is still hurt and the Rockets are still a bit hungover from last night's loss, Akron can take them. Based on what I saw last night, I doubt Fluellen will be at 100% for the Akron game. I think the Zips can take them, and I did not think I would be saying that even a few weeks ago. I spent time last week browsing the Toledo football message board and there were a few NIU posters chiming in. A few of them were pretty cocky, but I guess they have earned that right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 Speaking as a half-Rocket half-Zip fan, I think that last night's defeat is going to linger for Toledo. Listening to the players and coaches talk after the game you could tell they were demoralized by the NIU loss. Toledo has an excellent runner named David Fluellen, a legit NFL prospect, but he was hurt about a month ago - back and ankle - and he has not played much since. He was pretty much a non-factor last night. If Fluellen is at 100%, Toledo most likely wins. If he is still hurt and the Rockets are still a bit hungover from last night's loss, Akron can take them. Based on what I saw last night, I doubt Fluellen will be at 100% for the Akron game. I think the Zips can take them, and I did not think I would be saying that even a few weeks ago. I spent time last week browsing the Toledo football message board and there were a few NIU posters chiming in. A few of them were pretty cocky, but I guess they have earned that right. As always, I appreciate your insight, YAI I put your above statement in bold, because it's exactly what I've been thinking today. Up until a few weeks ago, I didn't give the Zips much of a shot in this one, regardless of a potential 3 out of 4 win streak (which happened, of course) heading into it. But when Bulls QB Joe Licata burned the UT secondary (albeit when most thought the game was over) for 400+ yards, it gave me a little hope. Now with NIU possibly taking some of the fight away from the Rockets, I agree the Zips have a shot. UT's D-Line has impressed me, but if the UA O-Line can play reasonably well against them I think both Pohl and Chisholm could have nice games. Russell will be a difficult match-up with his height and speed, but Owens looks erratic enough that the Zips might be able to get away fairly unscathed. Any chance you'll be making the trip? I enjoyed speaking with you in the Glass Bowl last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 Fluellen was hurting for Toledo, but NIU was missing their two best receivers. I don't think Toledo wins if all three are healthy and playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UA1987 Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 Senior Day 11/29 - Nice job staying with Akron and turning the program away from the doldrums Broderick Alexander Anthony Holmes CJ James Nordly Capi - Junior? Malachi Freeman Bill Alexander Emmanual Larty Sean Graves Keith Sconiers - medical redshirt? Austin Bailey Zenel Demhasaj Henry Orelus Nico Caponi Joe Petrides Jarrod Pughsley Dee Frieson Jon Root Jerrod Dillard Moses McCray Albert Presley Conner Seeman Paul Skolmutch Please go ahead make any corrections to the list. Any pro prospects? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 Beating Toledo sure had a major impact on NIU's status in the latest BCS standings: No. 14 Northern Illinois moved ahead two spots, but more importantly, the Huskies jumped fellow unbeaten BCS hopeful Fresno State, which fell one spot to No. 16. Northern Illinois beat Toledo 35-17, while Fresno State dismantled New Mexico 69-28. The 10-0 Huskies are now the top team from outside the BCS automatic-qualifying conferences and could qualify for a BCS bowl if the season ended today. Northern Illinois or Fresno State would earn a BCS slot if it finishes in the top 16 and stays ahead of the champion from the American Athletic Conference. The American's UCF fell one spot for the second straight week to No. 19, while No. 20 Louisville moved up a position. Fresno State fell because No. 15 Wisconsin jumped four spots after a win at Minnesota. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 Toledo opens as a 7.5 point favorite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDZip Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 Beating Toledo sure had a major impact on NIU's status in the latest BCS standings: Good for NIU but it may only be a one week phenomenon. They have WMU while Fresno has a better San Jose State team and both will face good but not great teams in their conference chmapionship. The AAC, the league that they need to stay ahead of, has no conference championship, which might work in their favor in this scenario. This will be interesting to see how it plays out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
you am i Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 As always, I appreciate your insight, YAI I put your above statement in bold, because it's exactly what I've been thinking today. Up until a few weeks ago, I didn't give the Zips much of a shot in this one, regardless of a potential 3 out of 4 win streak (which happened, of course) heading into it. But when Bulls QB Joe Licata burned the UT secondary (albeit when most thought the game was over) for 400+ yards, it gave me a little hope. Now with NIU possibly taking some of the fight away from the Rockets, I agree the Zips have a shot. UT's D-Line has impressed me, but if the UA O-Line can play reasonably well against them I think both Pohl and Chisholm could have nice games. Russell will be a difficult match-up with his height and speed, but Owens looks erratic enough that the Zips might be able to get away fairly unscathed. Any chance you'll be making the trip? I enjoyed speaking with you in the Glass Bowl last year. I'm definitely making the trip to Infocision. Following both of these teams this year has been a lot of fun. I'll be cheering both teams on. It is now being reported that the UT running back David Fluellen has an ankle fracture and is likely done for the year, including any bowl game. Watching him in the NIU game, it was clear that something was very wrong with him. His backup is a freshman, Kareem Hunt from Willoughby South. He is explosive. Keep an eye on him. I was glad to see NIU move up in the standings. I think it was because it was a Wednesday night game with no other games on and so, for the first time, a lot of voters got a good look at them for an entire game and were impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 I'm definitely making the trip to Infocision. Following both of these teams this year has been a lot of fun. I'll be cheering both teams on. It is now being reported that the UT running back David Fluellen has an ankle fracture and is likely done for the year, including any bowl game. Watching him in the NIU game, it was clear that something was very wrong with him. His backup is a freshman, Kareem Hunt from Willoughby South. He is explosive. Keep an eye on him. I was glad to see NIU move up in the standings. I think it was because it was a Wednesday night game with no other games on and so, for the first time, a lot of voters got a good look at them for an entire game and were impressed. I've seen Hunt on TV and he is a very dangerous back. It'll be a challenge for the Zips to contain him. If you get a chance, stop over in Lot 9 under the scoreboard to say hello and have a snack and/or a beverage. I'll be there around 10:30 am, but several others will be there much earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDZip Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Latest USA Today Bowl projections have 6 MAC teams going including Toledo out to Boise (nice if we can send them there "cold") and NIU to the Fiesta Bowl (I now hope they do, let the MAC be the conference that sticks it to the BCS in the last two years of it's existence) but the AAC gets an automatic slot so watch the Fiesta Bowl match NIU against UCF. I bet it happens. They also have BGSU against Notre Dame in Detroit - would love to see that one as well. We picked a bad few years to suck since MAC bowl bids have been flying off the boards the last few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 Removing the snow for tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msopher Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 I still stand by my original statement. And I still think its an idiotic one. I wasn't expecting Toledo to beat NIU but after being up 10-7 at halftime and then make no adjustments and completely fall apart in the second half ensures that this coaching staff is not ready to take Toledo anywhere. This game worries me because...well maybe...Akron is good enough to beat Toledo. We have talent but our coaching staff looks so overmatched in games that its nauseating. A win over Akron secures a bowl game...that's enough motivation for our players. And it certainly overcomes the moral victory card. Akron does have talent to beat Toledo and if this game comes down to coaching decisions...we're screwed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 ... Akron does have talent to beat Toledo and if this game comes down to coaching decisions...we're screwed So you say you're missing seeing Ianello coaching the Zips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziptrumpet87 Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 So you say you're missing seeing -------- coaching the Zips? Who??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 This game worries me because...well maybe...Akron is good enough to beat Toledo. We have talent but our coaching staff looks so overmatched in games that its nauseating. Akron does have talent to beat Toledo and if this game comes down to coaching decisions...we're screwed Wow. Let me say this...... At times, I've felt like Bowden may have lost some "sharpness" by being away from coaching in the big time for so long. But, I think he still rates very high on the "knows what he's doing" meter. He certainly has not had the success he's had, over and over again, with different teams in different leagues, by lacking in coaching or decision making ability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 Wow. Let me say this...... At times, I've felt like Bowden may have lost some "sharpness" by being away from coaching in the big time for so long. But, I think he still rates very high on the "knows what he's doing" meter. He certainly has not had the success he's had, over and over again, with different teams in different leagues, by lacking in coaching or decision making ability. Skip, I think you are misunderstanding msopher's statements. He's a Rocket fan (a seemingly decent once at that) who comes here periodically to post. It's Campbell he's criticizing, not Bowden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 Skip, I think you are misunderstanding msopher's statements. He's a Rocket fan (a seemingly decent once at that) who comes here periodically to post. It's Campbell he's criticizing, not Bowden. Gotcha. I thought it was really harsh if he was talking about TB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 A win over Akron secures a bowl game Huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 Huh? It's true. A newly instituted NCAA rule requires teams with bad coaching staffs to have 8 wins to be bowl eligible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msopher Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 Skip, I think you are misunderstanding msopher's statements. He's a Rocket fan (a seemingly decent once at that) who comes here periodically to post. It's Campbell he's criticizing, not Bowden. I went to grad school at Akron for a year so I will always have a soft spot for the Zips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msopher Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 It's true. A newly instituted NCAA rule requires teams with bad coaching staffs to have 8 wins to be bowl eligible. I would think an 8-4 MAC team has a much better chance of securing a bowl game over a 7-5 record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balsy Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 I went to grad school at Akron for a year so I will always have a soft spot for the Zips. I'm glad you have a soft spot for the Zips . However, Akron's going to pull off the upset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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