Transfer Portal

[akzipper]

Guess the good thing about ignoring Zips football for the past 3 seasons, I don't really get upset with these transfers. 

[a-zip]

Coach M needs to talk to Gibson asap if he hasn't already.  You lose the leader of the offense it is not a surprise the best receiver follows.  Maybe it is too late. 

[Dr Z]

32 minutes ago, a-zip said:

Coach M needs to talk to Gibson asap if he hasn't already.  You lose the leader of the offense it is not a surprise the best receiver follows.  Maybe it is too late. 

If he wants him, I'm sure he will communicate with him. Shouldn't be hard to sell coach Moorhead's offensive philosophies. I would guess coach Moorhead will bring in a veteran transfer to "compete." 

[Let'sGoZips94]

If Konata doesn't think he can make it to the NFL at Akron - especially with Moorhead - then I don't want him here. Soon enough, this team will be full of guys who see a path to the NFL through Akron. If Moorhead talks to ZG5, Mumpfield, etc., and they end up staying - awesome. Otherwise, good luck with your next school. 

[clarkwgriswold]

The reality of college sports is that the P5 teams poach talent from lesser conferences.  Who knows if Mumpfield would have stayed if the Zisp were successful.  Good luck to him.  With regard to Gibson, I'm not going to lose any sleep on that one.  He looked good at times but at others showed why his best offer was from Chattanooga.   I'm trusting Moorhead will bring in a P5 recruit transfer equal to or better than Gibson.

[zipsoutsider]

I think college football fans need to move on from the position of hating on players who enter the portal. Portability is here to stay, and it is more fair for the players. They usually move on for better opportunities and better facilities. For years there has been an expectation that the player be more loyal to the program. than the program is loyal to the player. 

 

If coaches keep open lines of communication they have a chance of winning the player back.

[94zipgrad]

14 minutes ago, zipsoutsider said:

I think college football fans need to move on from the position of hating on players who enter the portal. Portability is here to stay, and it is more fair for the players. They usually move on for better opportunities and better facilities. For years there has been an expectation that the player be more loyal to the program. than the program is loyal to the player. 

 

If coaches keep open lines of communication they have a chance of winning the player back.

I agree the portal is here to stay and good for the players.  I would disagree that most players use it for better opportunities and facilities.  Some get the opportunity for better programs but most are not happy with their circumstance and are looking for an opportunity to play and need to move to a lower level, lower level program within P5 or down to a G5 or even down to FCS or D2.  In Akron’s case other than Brandon Council most our players are struggling to get opportunities at the FBS level let alone move up

Edited December 7, 2021 by 94zipgrad

[zipsoutsider]

27 minutes ago, 94zipgrad said:

I agree the portal is here to stay and good for the players.  I would disagree that most players use it for better opportunities and facilities.  Some get the opportunity for better programs but most are not happy with their circumstance and are looking for an opportunity to play and need to move to a lower level, lower level program within P5 or down to a G5 or even down to FCS or D2.  In Akron’s case other than Brandon Council most our players are struggling to get opportunities at the FBS level let alone move up

Fair point. I sort of included more playing time in the bucket of better opportunities, in my mind.

 

[94zipgrad]

22 minutes ago, zipsoutsider said:

Fair point. I sort of included more playing time in the bucket of better opportunities, in my mind.

 

With 1% or less going pro I wish more would consider their field and education more

[zipsoutsider]

25 minutes ago, 94zipgrad said:

With 1% or less going pro I wish more would consider their field and education more

I agree, but I don't think it is realistic. I have been astonished by how many kids who don't even see the field still think they are going to the NFL.

 

I wish the NCAA included trade schools better suited for a different type of student athlete, too. 

[Fight For Zippy]

A couple posts on Twitter are referring to Zach Gibson visiting Nebraska this weekend. I wish him luck and hope he get picked up. This kid made some huge strides from 2020 to 2021. Imagine what he could have done at Akron with more time to throw.

[ziptrumpet87]

Betting Zach Gibson ends up at GT

[Let'sGoZips94]

19 minutes ago, ziptrumpet87 said:

Betting Zach Gibson ends up at GT

 

That's easy money. From Georgia... Brother is a 2022 GT commit at OL...

 

ZG5 was a bright spot for Arth. Waiting so long before committing to him (only after 2 other QBs were hurt) exposed Arth's inability to play the best talent available. 

[Captain Kangaroo]

If Joe can address Irons’ ball security issues, and the Zips OL issues, we would be in good shape with Irons at QB next year. 
 

Definitely trust that Joe will bring in a quality veteran qb to compete for the job too.

[LZIp]

2 minutes ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

If Joe can address Irons’ ball security issues, and the Zips OL issues, we would be in good shape with Irons at QB next year. 
 

Definitely trust that Joe will bring in a quality veteran qb to compete for the job too.

Agree completely on both comments. Irons has a lot of potential if he can take care of the ball, but bringing competition in is also important.

[GoZips86]

I'd be fine with Irons. He needs some help, but I really like his potential and I trust in Coach Joe getting the best out of him. However, like previously stated, any competition is welcomed. Are there any Oregon bench warmers looking for playing time? 

[ZippyRulz]

1 hour ago, ziptrumpet87 said:

Betting Zach Gibson ends up at GT

 

A few other transfer QB names in that article. Maybe a future Zip?

 

[LZIp]

Some info on the interest Mumpfield is receiving:

https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/2021/12/09/konata-mumpfield-discusses-leaving-akron-power-five-offers-coming-in-and-rutgers-interest/

[zippy-claws]

What Coach Joe and others of the G5 coaches can do to improve their teams, in my humble opinion, is figure out a way to convince moderately talented recruits that are being courted by P5 teams that, being here and being a #1 or #2 at your position and playing every game is better than being the #6 through #8 at the big schools at their position, (especially QB!) where their going to run the scouting squad and get their brains handed to them every day by the first team offense in practice, and the chances of them starting, or even playing minimal minutes is non-existent.  And I think the transfer portal is proving that, like @94zipgradsaid above, regarding moving down.

[clarkwgriswold]

12 minutes ago, zippy-claws said:

What Coach Joe and others of the G5 coaches can do to improve their teams, in my humble opinion, is figure out a way to convince moderately talented recruits that are being courted by P5 teams that, being here and being a #1 or #2 at your position and playing every game is better than being the #6 through #8 at the big schools at their position, (especially QB!) where their going to run the scouting squad and get their brains handed to them every day by the first team offense in practice, and the chances of them starting, or even playing minimal minutes is non-existent.  And I think the transfer portal is proving that, like @94zipgradsaid above, regarding moving down.

 

That convincing becomes easier when they sit for a year or two and come to the realization that they're never going to be "the guy" at their P5.  That's the beauty of the portal.  It's much easier to convince that 20 year old after he figures out that he's not the end all be all than it is to convince the same kid at 17 or 18 when he's been the top guy in his geographic area and had smoke blown up his keester for 2 or 3 years by all those around him.

[Blue & Gold]

21 minutes ago, zippy-claws said:

What Coach Joe and others of the G5 coaches can do to improve their teams, in my humble opinion, is figure out a way to convince moderately talented recruits that are being courted by P5 teams that, being here and being a #1 or #2 at your position and playing every game is better than being the #6 through #8 at the big schools at their position, (especially QB!) where their going to run the scouting squad and get their brains handed to them every day by the first team offense in practice, and the chances of them starting, or even playing minimal minutes is non-existent.  And I think the transfer portal is proving that, like @94zipgradsaid above, regarding moving down.

I agree. I think the Portal is going to benefit the G5 schools more than it will hurt them.  

[GP1]

26 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

I agree. I think the Portal is going to benefit the G5 schools more than it will hurt them.  

The free movement of labor is only a good thing. It opens the door of opportunity for both sellers (players) and buyers (schools) of labor. 

[Captain Kangaroo]

1 hour ago, Blue & Gold said:

I agree. I think the Portal is going to benefit the G5 schools more than it will hurt them.  

I'm not totally sold on it. The Portal isn't going anywhere, and student athletes now have the same ability to come-and-go as coaches...but I don't think it is good for college football.

 

I would be pulling my hair out as a coach after spending a ton of time wooing a kid, only to have him bolt the program for any of the myriad of reason kids transfer now-a-days. 

 

I hate that Senior Day now consists of clapping for a bunch of mercenary grad students that you watched for a year or two. 

 

I like that the portal allows a downtrodden program like the Zips to get mature bodies and turn things around quickly. But I don't like that future "stars" bolt early (Mumpfield could have broken Matt Cherry and Jabari's records, and now he's gone). It's a shame a Freshman that doesn't get immediate PT bolts a team like the Zips, where he'd have been a starter as a Junior/Senior, and ends up at Slippery Rock. 

 

Hopefully Moorhead and his staff can create a culture where the bulk of kids the kids buy-in to each other, and being a Zip, and don't feel like starting over elsewhere. 

 

I think the surprisingly low number of incumbent Zips in the portal today (I expected 20+ by now) speaks to them enjoying the UA experience, and seeing some hope that the new regime will give them a chance to start winning at the place where they've invested so much to-date.

[RowdyZip]

34 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

I agree. I think the Portal is going to benefit the G5 schools more than it will hurt them.  

Let me preface with I think the flexibility of the portal is necessary and the right thing to do for the kids.

 

Where it may hurt G5s is with developing star talent and keeping them onboard for 4/5 years, essentially turning G5 into minor leagues for P5 on occasion.  Biggest downside I can see here is the connection to the fans.  Bringing guys in from the portal is great, but most often those will be 1-2 year guys.  I think we'll miss out on the development/attachment of some guys, like we saw back in the glory days (for me as an undergrad) with folks like Charlie Frye, Bobby Hendry, Dennis Kennedy.  

 

I think a lot of guys will have an attachment to the program, but others will have a big first year, like Mumpfield, and pull P5 offers and be out the door.  Will his skills and success translate?  Maybe.  Or he'll find himself on the pine when he could've been starring here.  Hoping coach puts that bug in his ear. 

 

A lot of kids will bet on themselves to be a star on the bigger stage, and that's fine.  It should  be their choice to have.

[LoyalZIP]

The portal very quickly shows us who’s in and who’s out when it comes to players fitting a coach’s culture. Of course it can be frustrating at times when you think you have a good, young prospect who bolts for what we consider a dumb reason (Jermaine Marshall, MBB), but for the most part I think it helps a coach keep a group that is truly bought in. The bad locker room guys can be shown the door, and guys that are unhappy elsewhere and want more accountability, different play style, etc. can come aboard. So I guess I don’t really see it as a good or bad thing, it’s just a new part of building a program. Something that can help coaches be more accountable for how they run things. And I feel good about our football and men’s basketball leadership and their ability to manage this aspect.