2017 MAC Media Day

[LZIp]

I wonder if our 2 late commits with impressive offer lists pre injury are still coming - Williams and Meeks.

[kreed5120]

59 minutes ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

I will try to post some info from the Media Day later today. A couple quick notes:

 

As previously mentioned by other ZN.o members, Jest and King are out for 2017. It is planned that they attend a JUCO, and return to Akron in January. They had a GPA that was ok per NCAA standards, but fell short of the requirement to play at Akron. King's academic shortcomings were a bit of a surprise, as "..he never had any problems with grades at Miami."

 

Brian Bell is definitely with the Zips in 2017. If he's not on an official roster, I can't control it.

 

The loss of Jest and King isn't really seen as a deal-breaker. Jest needed to get into football shape, and King never played a down for the Zips anyhow...so it is tough to consider him a "loss." Newcomers Brimmage and Sampson are expected to make early impacts.

Thanks for the updates!

[LZIp]

1 hour ago, LZIp said:

I wonder if our 2 late commits with impressive offer lists pre injury are still coming - Williams and Meeks.

I think I answered my own question as one says UA and the other retweeted something indicating they are going to Akron as of June. Though them not being on the roster seems odd (what else is new), so greyshirts could be possible?

 

https://twitter.com/dredre_123?ref_src=twsrc^tfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2F247sports.com%2FPlayer%2FAndre-Williams-57233

https://twitter.com/KosherDyl44

[zipsoutsider]

I don't believe they can be listed on the roster until they are enrolled in classes. If they are not yet enrolled, as in taking summer classes, that could 've part if the reason why we don't see them.

[LZIp]

3 minutes ago, zipsoutsider said:

I don't believe they can be listed on the roster until they are enrolled in classes. If they are not yet enrolled, as in taking summer classes, that could 've part if the reason why we don't see them.

I just don't understand why they wouldn't be enrolled just like the other freshman are?

[zipsoutsider]

1 minute ago, LZIp said:

I just don't understand why they wouldn't be enrolled just like the other freshman are?

 You aren't enrolled until you are taking classes. Many freshmen come early and take classes, but not all do. There are too many little factors as to why some do and some don't to really have a rule of thumb. 

[Captain Kangaroo]

Short Interview with Zach Guiser

 

Upon introducing myself, Zach said he was a big fan of ZipsNation.org. He said the guys on the team like the site, especially the game day photos posted by Dr. Z.

 

Zach’s an awesome kid. You couldn’t ask for a better representative of The University of Akron and Zips Football.

 

Question: “What does the Wuerffel Award nomination mean to you?”

Zach: “I’m really excited about it, considering what the award represents. Beyond that, I’m really proud of what our team has been able do in regards to service to the community. I’m a member of the Student Advisory Committee (S.A.C) and we do an award every year for the Program with the most community service hours. I haven’t tallied up the numbers yet, but the football team is over 400 hours this summer alone. We’ve really made it a point to volunteer our time to the community as much as possible on a regular basis. I wasn’t always as heavily into community service growing up, but being part of the football program has opened up the door to do so. Coach Gildersleeve has a points system for the guys on the team regarding community service, and I think that brought out the competitive side in me to join in and try and do well. I found I have a real passion for it."

 

Question: “With the rigors of Division 1 football, and school, and your personal life, how do you find the time to volunteer. And not just showing up…but volunteering at a level where you’re under consideration for a national award?”

Zach: “Well…I have an amazing girlfriend that takes real good care of me…cooks me meals and things like that. I have an amazing support staff at UA, and…if you are really passionate about something, you make the time for it. Same with anything else in life, I guess.”

 

Question: “How’s your health?”

Zach: “I feel really good right now. I hurt my elbow in the Western Michigan game last year, and had to sit 4 games. But I was able to finish-out the season against OU. I’m in good shape…definitely the most athletic I’ve been in my career.”

 

Question: “How is it different now being a senior/role model, as opposed to being a star-struck freshman of a few years ago?”

Zach: “It’s a lot different. When I was a freshman, I got a sports-hernia surgery on my third day of camp. It took me a long time to recover. When I came back, I was probably one of the most non-athletic kids on the team. Not that I came in unathletic, but it was hard to recover. The seniors treated me pretty rough…I was the ‘low man on the totem pole’ for sure. But I try to remember that and be a role model for those lower-level guys, like I once was. The walk-ons that don’t know quite what to do yet…I try to be there for them.

I remember one time, on your board, someone called me “Rudy”…that was a big inspiration for me. Someone was really upset that I was #1 on the depth chart…it was quite the insult…I don’t know who it was, but I didn’t forget reading it. You know…I can’t blame anyone for thinking that though…coming back from that injury, I just wasn’t near 100% and was playing pretty bad. It was a big motivation for me…but now I’m all healthy and ready to go.”

 

Question: “What do you like about this year’s secondary the most? Coach Bowden says it’s the best it’s been since he’s been here.

Zach: “We have a lot of experience. I’m the only senior back there, but we have Alvin Davis who started last year and is a really good football player, Jordan George has started a lot of games, and he’ll be at corner, Darian Dailey doesn’t have much experience yet, but he’s one of the fastest kids on our team. And Kyron Brown has a lot of experience, and some interceptions too. But what I really like the most is the personality of all the guys. We don’t have that guy that’s selfish…who gets upset with the coach’s calls. I’m just really excited about this group of guys and can’t wait to get started.”

 

Question: “Although camp hasn’t even broken yet, is there anyone in the secondary that’s caught your eye as a “wow” sort of player?

Zach: “Jordan Riley is a really good athlete…but it’s tough to say much right now because we haven’t played much football. You know Alvin (Davis) didn’t come it until the first day of camp last year, so we didn’t even know who he was, and he ended up playing a lot for us as a true freshman. You never know how things play out.”

 

Question: “So what’s it like trying to tackle Warren Ball?”

Zach: “We haven’t actually gone up against each other very often. We both didn’t play much in spring ball. But…man…it’s one of those tasks where you’re gonna go low…absolutely…just like tackling Sequon Barkley… Samaje Perine …I’ve played against some really good backs…Joe Mixon…”

“You know that’s one of my biggest nightmares…the A-gap opens up and you’re playing deep-middle…and one of those guys is just coming at you full steam…it’s tough, but it’s fun. It’s a challenge. Sometimes you get run over, but as long as you make the tackle it’s all good.”

 

CK

7-27-17

[K92]

I'm pretty sure I apologized for the Rudy comment but now is a good time to revisit that apology and say to Mr. Guiser how wrong and sorry I am for typing it.  It's one of those things you wish you could take back but can't.  It was really just a smart aleck comment with no mean-spirited-ness intended but obviously, that's not how it was taken.

 

Sorry, Zach.

Edited July 27, 2017 by K92

[Zipgrad01]

4 hours ago, K92 said:

I'm pretty sure I apologized for the Rudy comment but now is a good time to revisit that apology and say to Mr. Guiser how wrong and sorry I am for typing it.  It's one of those things you wish you could take back but can't.  It was really just a smart aleck comment with no mean-spirited-ness intended but obviously, that's not how it was taken.

 

Sorry, Zach.

I am right there with you. I remember watching him in practice in the beginning and thinking he looked like an average  high school kid. He turned into a solid player for sure. 

[72 Roo]

Capt'n, thanks for the information. I'm starved to learn as much as I can about this year's edition of the Zips. I predict a 6-6 season, but I relish any hope that can change that for the better.

[MDZip]

18 hours ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

Short Interview with Zach Guiser

 

Upon introducing myself, Zach said he was a big fan of ZipsNation.org. He said the guys on the team like the site, especially the game day photos posted by Dr. Z.

 

Zach’s an awesome kid. You couldn’t ask for a better representative of The University of Akron and Zips Football.

 

A really good reason right there to stay as positive as we can on this board.

[skip-zip]

1 hour ago, MDZip said:

A really good reason right there to stay as positive as we can on this board.

 

Let me just say this.   Many coaches who make players better use styles that are on opposite sides of the spectrum.   Individual athletes can even respond differently to different types of feedback.  And personally, I don't feel that I would have accomplished what I did if it wasn't for my own father criticizing my effort, my work ethic and my lack of self-motivation to improve when I was younger.  

 

I'd actually have my concern about any athlete who can't channel negative criticism effectively, because D-1 athletes who are 18-22 years old have certainly already been getting plenty of it for years.  This would not be the first place where any of our athletes have seen/heard someone tell them how great they are, or how bad they are.  Even long before the social media age,  some of us would love to read newspaper articles about us, and others would ignore it.  Some would laugh at what it said.  Others would get pumped up and go out and work even harder after reading it.  Everyone is different.   

 

You're entitled to whatever opinion you like.  I respect that.  But your post seems like it was written in a way that implies that we ought to be positive about comments about players if we want them to perform at their best.     

Edited July 28, 2017 by skip-zip

[kreed5120]

As a ZN.o community I don't feel we rip into any particular players too harshly.I'm sure if you look hard enough you might find a few posts where someone was too harsh, but the exception.

[MDZip]

1 hour ago, skip-zip said:

You're entitled to whatever opinion you like.  I respect that.  But your post seems like it was written in a way that implies that we ought to be positive about comments about players if we want them to perform at their best.     

skip, nope actually not what I was driving at, maybe a should have explained a little more. I don't think what we do likely matters too much in terms of motivation, that's more up to the individual and coaches. I was implying more that since it appears players (from any team) probably do check the board at least occasionally (and we know so do recruits and parents of recruits) that perhaps a group of boosters that appear to support UoFA athletics might be a good front door for all of them. Your opinion certainly has some validity since Zach mentioned he did get some motivation by being called Rudy, but that's not that much of a criticism. But if I'm an athlete at UofA (or a recruit considering UofA) and I see the primary booster group bitching and moaning about how awful UofA athletics is perceived to be by the people who support it most, it might give me second thoughts about whether I'd made or was making the right choice. Certainly a time and place for well-warranted criticism but that was more my point of trying to paint a positive picture of UofA being a good supportive place  (as opposed to a safe space ;-)).

Edited July 28, 2017 by MDZip

[LZIp]

Everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinions of coaching/admin/players/etc, but I agree with @MDZip 100% on the effects it could have. Just something to consider before hitting the post button.

Edited July 28, 2017 by LZIp

[Captain Kangaroo]

I was able to speak to Warren Ball for a short bit. Another super representative of UA!

 

During my interview with Zack, a very loud, incredibly talkative Munch Bishop was interviewing Coach Bowden immediately to my right. The audio recording was a complete wreck with those two in the background, so I had to transcribe it. Things settled down when I spoke to Warren, so here's the audio. I realize I have a long way to go as an interviewer. But Warren is awesome. I think you'll like what he had to say...it's way better to hear his voice that it would be to read it in print.

 

Note - The Wagon Wheel did make an appearance at the Hall of Fame.

 

Audio Interview with Warren Ball

 

 

[skip-zip]

2 hours ago, MDZip said:

skip, nope actually not what I was driving at, maybe a should have explained a little more. I don't think what we do likely matters too much in terms of motivation, that's more up to the individual and coaches. I was implying more that since it appears players (from any team) probably do check the board at least occasionally (and we know so do recruits and parents of recruits) that perhaps a group of boosters that appear to support UoFA athletics might be a good front door for all of them. Your opinion certainly has some validity since Zach mentioned he did get some motivation by being called Rudy, but that's not that much of a criticism. But if I'm an athlete at UofA (or a recruit considering UofA) and I see the primary booster group bitching and moaning about how awful UofA athletics is perceived to be by the people who support it most, it might give me second thoughts about whether I'd made or was making the right choice. Certainly a time and place for well-warranted criticism but that was more my point of trying to paint a positive picture of UofA being a good supportive place  (as opposed to a safe space ;-)).

 

I see where you're coming from now.  Good post.  

[zipsoutsider]

2 hours ago, skip-zip said:

 

I see where you're coming from now.  Good post.  

I think there is also a difference between posting a critique of a player's actual performance than to go into a character assisnation or to rip into them based on a recruit's film, alone. There seems to be never a goid reason for character assination, especially if it comes from a single source, like one player. Players rarely have all of the facts and almost never represent the coach's thinking. 

Edited July 28, 2017 by zipsoutsider

[zipsoutsider]

As usual GT demonstrates his prowess at using many words to say very little:

 

University of Akron football: Coach Terry Bowden, players confident of bounce-back season after disappointing 2016

[skip-zip]

Incredibly informative, as always.  

[Blue & Gold]

On 7/28/2017 at 0:17 PM, Captain Kangaroo said:

I was able to speak to Warren Ball for a short bit. Another super representative of UA!

 

During my interview with Zack, a very loud, incredibly talkative Munch Bishop was interviewing Coach Bowden immediately to my right. The audio recording was a complete wreck with those two in the background, so I had to transcribe it. Things settled down when I spoke to Warren, so here's the audio. I realize I have a long way to go as an interviewer. But Warren is awesome. I think you'll like what he had to say...it's way better to hear his voice that it would be to read it in print.

 

Note - The Wagon Wheel did make an appearance at the Hall of Fame.

 

Warren_Ball_(2).m4a

Thanks so much for the interviews! 

[zipsoutsider]

Akron Head Coach Terry Bowden on bouncing back from four straight losses to close out last season #MACtion #zips @SBNationCFB pic.twitter.com/FRAqfp2HXb

— SB Nation Radio (@SBNationRadio) July 26, 2017

[zzx]

On 7/27/2017 at 9:45 AM, LZIp said:

I wonder if our 2 late commits with impressive offer lists pre injury are still coming - Williams and Meeks.

 

Both Freshman WR Andre Williams and LB Dylan Meeks have surfaced on the roster -- along with some other new names

Edited July 30, 2017 by zzx

[Balsy]

CK you're a gentleman and a scholar.  You've almost inspired me to dust off my pen again.

[zipsoutsider]

4 hours ago, zzx said:

 

Both Freshman WR Andre Williams and LB Dylan Meeks have surfaced on the roster -- along with some other new names

There are 102 listed - 3 more will make the camp invite list. I am assuming 1 of the three will be Bell.