2021 Season Discussion

[zippy5]

 

[Blue & Gold]

I like that he mentioned the DL as a position group which stood out. I’m also excited to Oran Singleton on the field. His HS highlight tape was laughably (in a good way) amazing.

[Ham]

Some people looking at the roster can't see any hope.  I don't think they realize how little it takes to elevate in the MAC.  Our very young OL managed to run block pretty well last year.  A year of conditioning and maturity along with a QB delivering the ball a little quicker could produce putting points on the board and keeping the D on the sidelines.  I am perplexed that we aren't hearing anything about Irons.  I expect him to push Kato.  It looks like we shored up the D.  Looking at the roster won't tell the story.  We just need to see come September.  In the MAC with a roster full of average talent,  all you need to be successful is to add in a few exceptionable players.  Time will tell if a few exceptions will show up for the Zips this fall.

[Zipmeister]

58 minutes ago, Ham said:

Some people looking at the roster can't see any hope.  I don't think they realize how little it takes to elevate in the MAC.  Our very young OL managed to run block pretty well last year.  A year of conditioning and maturity along with a QB delivering the ball a little quicker could produce putting points on the board and keeping the D on the sidelines.  I am perplexed that we aren't hearing anything about Irons.  I expect him to push Kato.  It looks like we shored up the D.  Looking at the roster won't tell the story.  We just need to see come September.  In the MAC with a roster full of average talent,  all you need to be successful is to add in a few exceptionable players.  Time will tell if a few exceptions will show up for the Zips this fall.

 

It would also be helpful if every other team in the MAC is worse this season than they were last season.

[Blue & Gold]

UA football team will have to wait on running back (Dollard), but there is depth (Williams, Norills, Gest)

[bigjim]

17 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

UA football team will have to wait on running back (Dollard), but there is depth (Williams, Norills, Gest)

The link says that this article is only available to subscribers, of which I am not.  I am guessing many other members of the nation are in the same boat.  Can you cut and paste the article?  thanks in advance

[NWAkron]

As of the opening of camp Friday, Dollard was not on the field with his teammates. He was already suspended for spring practice and he is likely looking at time away from UA and the football field into the season.

“It’s totally out of our hands,” Arth said after the team’s practice Friday. “Teon is going through the process, through university protocols and we do not make exceptions for athletes. He has to go through this process as any student would. The timeline is what it will be. We have no control over that.”

Arth gives Dollard credit for doing the things necessary to return to the field, including a grade-point average above 3.0, but Dollard will have to defend his actions related to the weapons charge in a hearing with the office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

“I’m not allowed to weigh in,” UA Director of Athletics Charles Guthrie said. “Tom’s not allowed to weigh in. There is no influence from athletics. It’s a university situation and it’s no different than a biology student getting in the same situation.”

[NWAkron]

That leaves Arth with having to answer the running back question once again and while it is an issue, it’s not necessarily a concern as it was when he first arrived at UA.

“I think it’s a position where we have to learn more about the guys we have,” he said.  “We thought we had great depth … the guys we have in that group are more than capable.”

The Zips list eight other running backs on the roster, Arth has mentioned Toledo native Jonzell Norills, Michigan State transfer Anthony “Ant” Williams and Cole Gest as those with near-term potential.

None of the three have much in the way of experience. Although it’s only one day of practice, Arth said they are hungry and they’ve put in the work necessary to compete for the job.

“There’s a high expectation among our group and they’re holding each other to a higher standard and it’s been really good to witness that,” Arth said. “It’s been really good to be able as a coach to step back and let your players lead a little bit.”

Norills (5-foot-10, 210 pounds) has flashed in practice situations. Gest, a 5-foot-9, 195-pound sixth-year senior, produced his best while a freshman at Indiana when he rushed for 428 yards and caught 10 passes for 83 yards and Williams, 6-foot-1, 210, arrives after getting lost on the depth chart when Mel Tucker took over as coach of the Spartans. In his two seasons in East Lansing, Michigan, he rushed 42 times for 123 yards and a touchdown and caught seven passes for 82 yards in 14 games.

[ZippyRulz]

fyi, the ABJ is offering 6 months for $1 and you can cancel any time thereafter. Arguably, their coverage of Zips football for the season is worth at least $1 😐

 

 

Edited August 8, 2021 by ZippyRulz

[Blue & Gold]

1 hour ago, bigjim said:

The link says that this article is only available to subscribers, of which I am not.  I am guessing many other members of the nation are in the same boat.  Can you cut and paste the article?  thanks in advance

Oops, sorry, man.  NW filled you in.  Dollard has to go before a council @ UA and they're not treating him differently just because he's an athlete.  Dollard is going through with the process and Arth is proud of him for that.  Neither Arth nor Guthrie have any say or sway in the process.

 

He expects Dollard back, but it may not be at the beginning of the year.  Until then Ant Williams, Jonzell Norills, and Cole Gest seem very capable of contributing at the position.  Arth noted he appreciates Williams' and Norills' ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.

 

That was the gist of the article.

[NWAkron]

https://sportsnaut.com/mississippi-rebels-football-reaches-100-percent-vaccination/

[Cykron]

On 8/7/2021 at 5:12 PM, Zipmeister said:

 

It would also be helpful if every other team in the MAC is worse this season than they were last season.

 

 

Buffalo did its part.

[Blue & Gold]

10 hours ago, Cykron said:

 

 

Buffalo did its part.

IIRC Kyle was picked Preseason 3rd Team All-MAC.  Hope he has a good year.  (Just not on October 23rd.)  

We just lost another Stow QB, Evan Bainbridge, to BUGS.  (Not certain how hard we were honestly recruiting him, but we did offer a scholly.)

[clarkwgriswold]

5 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

IIRC Kyle was picked Preseason 3rd Team All-MAC.  Hope he has a good year.  (Just not on October 23rd.)  

We just lost another Stow QB, Evan Bainbridge, to BUGS.  (Not certain how hard we were honestly recruiting him, but we did offer a scholly.)

We can only hope he's not a Van Trease or a Crum.

[monrowe]

2 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

We can only hope he's not a Van Trease or a Crum.

Evan Bainbridge, plays basketball🏀 for Ashland.His brother Owen plays football🏈 and was recruited by BGUS.🥴

[clarkwgriswold]

5 minutes ago, monrowe said:

Evan Bainbridge, plays basketball🏀 for Ashland.His brother Owen plays football🏈 and was recruited by BGUS.🥴

Well aware.  It looked like Evan might stick at PCCC at one point.   Ashland will be a good spot for him.  Solid family.

[Cykron]

11 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

IIRC Kyle was picked Preseason 3rd Team All-MAC.  Hope he has a good year.  (Just not on October 23rd.)  

We just lost another Stow QB, Evan Bainbridge, to BUGS.  (Not certain how hard we were honestly recruiting him, but we did offer a scholly.)

 

 

Hoping Buffalo has some breakout performances from its receivers.  

[zippy5]

Hoping not

[zipsfan33]

I actually saw an Akron Zips Football commercial!  I couldn't believe my eyes! 

[NWAkron]

I know that excitement is building.  Go Zips!

[Captain Kangaroo]

9 hours ago, zipsfan33 said:

I actually saw an Akron Zips Football commercial!  I couldn't believe my eyes! 

Did it feature Teon Dollard?

[LZIp]

For anyone interested in following media: 

Zips Live most Tuesdays at 7 on 640 WHLO starting today. https://gozips.com/news/2021/8/28/general-zips-live-airs-tuesday.aspx

Zips Football Weekly on Bally Sports Great Lakes on Thursday evenings

[LoyalZIP]

It seems like if we see Dollard at all this year, it may not be for a few weeks. Maybe this will turn into a Quincy Diggs situation. Either way, it's a shame. I'm looking forward to see what this RB corp will look like now. Norrils is a good prospect and Williams brings experience and a good frame.

[LZIp]

A couple things the new AD is doing to fill the Info. Seems like more than we ever saw from Larry W, I think.

 

 

[Z.I.P.]

4 hours ago, LZIp said:

For anyone interested in following media: 

Zips Live most Tuesdays at 7 on 640 WHLO starting today. https://gozips.com/news/2021/8/28/general-zips-live-airs-tuesday.aspx

Zips Football Weekly on Bally Sports Great Lakes on Thursday evenings

I've noticed "Bally Sports" covering some MLB teams this season, so had to research.  Apparently Bally -- the casino operation -- bought out Fox Regional Sports network(s)?  None of them appear on any cable system I can find where I live, while I have in the past found Zips football and basketball coaches shows on Fox regional stations during prime time in Hawai'i -- middle-of-the-morning on the continent.  FWIW...