2023 Season

[MangoZip]

On 4/20/2023 at 9:18 AM, LoyalZIP said:

2023 Zips Day of Giving--Football

 

https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/ZipsAthDOG23/team/Football

 

 

Fortunately there was a nice $10k donation to make this respectable, still far from the goal. 

[catdaddyp]

7 hours ago, MangoZip said:

Fortunately there was a nice $10k donation to make this respectable, still far from the goal. 

Wow. Baseball, Men’s Soccer, and Swimming & Diving raised more money than football. Can’t say I saw that coming. Weight room seems a bit of an afterthought.

[Blue & Gold]

9 hours ago, catdaddyp said:

Wow. Baseball, Men’s Soccer, and Swimming & Diving raised more money than football. Can’t say I saw that coming. Weight room seems a bit of an afterthought.

We Zips football fans have been beaten down and dragged through the mud for... really our entire lives.  There was a one-year respite in 2005 but then we fizzled again after that. And we haven't just been sub .500, we've been absolutely abysmal. Most folks around town think you're nuts if you're a Zips football fan.

 

But in Coach JoeMo we trust.

 

A glimmer of hope: In 2005 we won the MAC East, won the MAC Championship Game in Detroit, and then a few weeks later ~30,000 Zips fans drove back up to Detroit for the Motor City Bowl.  So... hope springs eternal.

[72 Roo]

We also had a glimmer of hope when Bowden took the Zips to Boise and beat Utah State for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. That was a sweet game and we had hope, which went to the gutter until Joe arrived.

[Blue & Gold]

16 minutes ago, 72 Roo said:

We also had a glimmer of hope when Bowden took the Zips to Boise and beat Utah State for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. That was a sweet game and we had hope, which went to the gutter until Joe arrived.

You're correct.  How'd I omit that?  Okay, two good years in my lifetime 😭

[catdaddyp]

1 minute ago, Blue & Gold said:

You're correct.  How'd I omit that?  Okay, two good years in my lifetime 😭

The day in the sun is coming my friend!

[akzipper]

Obviously not 2023-season related, but 2024-26. Do we think it's even remotely possible the Browns could use InfoCision Stadium again to play a season while their stadium is being renovated? Every article says Columbus is the most likely destination, but that makes no sense and is just speculation. Canton has been suggested too. Which is fine, but not nearly as nice as InfoCision. Especially with the press box, suites, club level, etc. I find it odd that nobody is even mentioning Akron. I'm sure UA and the surrounding businesses would love to host the Browns for a year or two. Probably just a pipe dream but I hope the Browns at least consider it. 

Edited April 24, 2023 by akzipper

[GoZips86]

1 hour ago, akzipper said:

Obviously not 2023-season related, but 2024-26. Do we think it's even remotely possible the Browns could use InfoCision Stadium again to play a season while their stadium is being renovated? Every article says Columbus is the most likely destination, but that makes no sense and is just speculation. Canton has been suggested too. Which is fine, but not nearly as nice as InfoCision. Especially with the press box, suites, club level, etc. I find it odd that nobody is even mentioning Akron. I'm sure UA and the surrounding businesses would love to host the Browns for a year or two. Probably just a pipe dream but I hope the Browns at least consider it. 

The closer the Browns are to Berea for training and such, the better in my opinion. Not sure why Infocision hasn't been mentioned, I agree. Akron would be CRAZY (city and campus) to not try to solidify hosting a season or 2. 

[Zipmeister]

2 hours ago, GoZips86 said:

The closer the Browns are to Berea for training and such, the better in my opinion. Not sure why Infocision hasn't been mentioned, I agree. Akron would be CRAZY (city and campus) to not try to solidify hosting a season or 2. 

 

Our chances would dramatically increase if we just increase seating capacity by 45K to 55K.

Although this is unlikely because it would require the university to open more than three refreshment stands for the pro games.

[GP1]

In recent years, the Los Angeles Chargers played in the 22,000 seat soccer stadium in LA while their stadium was being completed. It isn't about the seating capacity. It would be about everything else. Akron would have to prove it could significantly increase the ability for the Browns and NFL to advertise and present a great game day experience. Switching out fields alone on a weekly basis would be a huge effort. 

 

For a year or two though, I think the NFL would like nothing more than one of it's long time franchises playing in Canton with the backdrop of the the HoF. It makes the most sense. Heck, the NFL spends a lot of money there already. My as well use it. 

[catdaddyp]

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/mac-football-2023-all-conference-team
 

Some interesting selections on 3rd and 4th teams.

[blueandgold]

1 hour ago, catdaddyp said:

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/mac-football-2023-all-conference-team
 

Some interesting selections on 3rd and 4th teams.

Until we start winning consistently and putting up some big numbers, we will be overlooked and disrespected.

[catdaddyp]

5 minutes ago, blueandgold said:

Until we start winning consistently and putting up some big numbers, we will be overlooked and disrespected.

A couple guys made the 3rd and 4th team that I thought should have been on the 3rd team at the end of last year in Daniel George and Nate Thompson. Nice to see Hester as a KR, Nate Williams, and Banks get a little recognition. Lingard on the 3rd team too and he hasn’t played a down. If this team plays up to their talent level, this list will be flipped on its head. I’m betting we have several defenders make an all conference team by the end of the year too.

[Zipmeister]

4 hours ago, catdaddyp said:

A couple guys made the 3rd and 4th team that I thought should have been on the 3rd team at the end of last year in Daniel George and Nate Thompson. Nice to see Hester as a KR, Nate Williams, and Banks get a little recognition. Lingard on the 3rd team too and he hasn’t played a down. If this team plays up to their talent level, this list will be flipped on its head. I’m betting we have several defenders make an all conference team by the end of the year too.

 

If you were disappointed in these individual predictions, you have a real treat coming when these guys predict the place the Zips will finish in the MAC East.

[Let'sGoZips94]

Select TV Announced for MAC Games

 

Notable: Akron @ Kentucky is at 7pm on ESPNU

[Blue & Gold]

 

[Let'sGoZips94]

The Big Ten is the MAC's *****. Akron may continue the streak.

[catdaddyp]

44 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

The Big Ten is the MAC's *****. Akron may continue the streak.

Good read. Out of all those matchups I’d actually say Akron is the best bet. I think there’s a snowballs chance of Toledo beating Illinois. The writer focuses on what Illinois lost and not what they return (and have added the past two offseasons). One of the best front sevens in the Big10 and potentially all of college football. Good luck to Toledo running the ball against that crew. Fat chance Toledo does much defensively against an OL that is likely to have 3 players drafted, a stout RB room, and some extremely talented WRs. I feel like this is another instance where the writer is more focused on the name on the jersey vs what’s actually happening. Props to him for recognizing Akron as an up-and-comer though.
 

 

[Blue & Gold]

1 hour ago, catdaddyp said:

Good read. Out of all those matchups I’d actually say Akron is the best bet. I think there’s a snowballs chance of Toledo beating Illinois. The writer focuses on what Illinois lost and not what they return (and have added the past two offseasons). One of the best front sevens in the Big10 and potentially all of college football. Good luck to Toledo running the ball against that crew. Fat chance Toledo does much defensively against an OL that is likely to have 3 players drafted, a stout RB room, and some extremely talented WRs. I feel like this is another instance where the writer is more focused on the name on the jersey vs what’s actually happening. Props to him for recognizing Akron as an up-and-comer though.
 

 

For almost two decades I’ve been surprised Illinois can’t get something going. They haven’t done much since the Juice Williams days. Maybe they can start getting some traction in a weak-ish B1G West. (Though I heard the B1G may do away with divisions next year? Just Illinois’ luck.

[catdaddyp]

33 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

For almost two decades I’ve been surprised Illinois can’t get something going. They haven’t done much since the Juice Williams days. Maybe they can start getting some traction in a weak-ish B1G West. (Though I heard the B1G may do away with divisions next year? Just Illinois’ luck.

The funny thing is, hardly any of the media outlets were talking about Illinois and their defense before the season began last year and now most are acting like they won’t be able to recover from their losses. I am a big Bielema fan (didn’t used to be) because I appreciate when a coach recognizes his previous mistakes, is open about them, and makes corrections to better himself. His stance is “we’ll play anyone, anywhere” and I think viewers can see that mindset by how physically Illinois plays. They were one of my picks to surprise last year and I think they will take the next step and challenge for Big10 top tier status this year. They had Michigan on the ropes last season, so they aren’t far off. Similar to us, they still needed to learn how to win consistently as evidenced by dropping games to Indiana and Michigan State.

[catdaddyp]

Phil Steele’s Preseason All-MAC:

1st Team = Alex Adams (WR) & Bubba Arslanian (LB)

2nd Team = TJ Banks (TE)

3rd Team = DJ Irons (QB) & Daniel George (WR) 

4th Team = Lorenzo Lingard (RB), Ryan Johnson (DE), Nate Thompson (S), Blake Hester (KR)

[GP1]

17 hours ago, catdaddyp said:

The funny thing is, hardly any of the media outlets were talking about Illinois and their defense before the season began last year and now most are acting like they won’t be able to recover from their losses.

Illinois is the NC State of the Big Ten. There isn't a good reason for them to be average to below average for a long time, but they are. Maybe it's just what they are and will never be anything else. NC State has a series of Bielemas and have done nothing with them.  Lou Holtz's best finish was 9-3 in 1973 and that was long before he really became a Hall of Fame coach.  Other Bielemas were: Chuck Amoto who was the big name DC from FSU, NC State graduate and never finished above 4th place in the ACC. Next was Tom O'Brien who was also a pretty big name and never finished above 2nd place. Next, Dave Doeren who was a lesser name and has been there for too long for a guy who has had only 2 second place finishes.

 

The Zips have been bad for a long time and if someone told you the University had a secret plan for failure around a football program, it would almost be believable.  In the world of the MAC, Akron has a better chance of being a top level team than NC State does of being a top level team in the ACC or Illinois in the Big Ten. NC State has made some, what appeared at the time to be good decisions around their football program (way better than Illinois), but they are still really average. Until JoMo, Akron has as a whole made catastrophic decisions around the football program. Heck, the first mistake was probably was moving to D1 even after the NCAA basically begged them to not do it and then hired a guy who had no idea what to do to build a D1 program from nothing and his support system was the fired, former coach who had no idea how to build a D1 program. Owens was a high school coach and better suited for D2 where he underperformed for years. Brookhart had the background at time and was a "good" coach, won the MAC, had one player make horrible personal decisions that torpedoed any potential success. Bowden was washed up and lazy. I Coach and the last guy are sort of like when your favorite team loses the Super Bowl and someone asks you what you thought of the Super Bowl and you respond with, "What Super Bowl?". I seriously can't even remember the last guy's name as I type this. It's almost what in the legal world is called a "crime in progress" and we have all been accomplices in the crime.

 

In my opinion, for the first time in the program since the winter of 1986, Akron has made good decisions around the football program. I don't consider JoMo to be a "good" hire.  I consider him to be a GREAT hire. For the life of me, I know his reasons, but I don't understand why he came to Akron. I sure am glad he is here though. The program is now in a position to be the success it should have been since the opening of The Big Dialer.

[zipsfan33]

3 minutes ago, GP1 said:

Illinois is the NC State of the Big Ten. There isn't a good reason for them to be average to below average for a long time, but they are. Maybe it's just what they are and will never be anything else. NC State has a series of Bielemas and have done nothing with them.  Lou Holtz's best finish was 9-3 in 1973 and that was long before he really became a Hall of Fame coach.  Other Bielemas were: Chuck Amoto who was the big name DC from FSU, NC State graduate and never finished above 4th place in the ACC. Next was Tom O'Brien who was also a pretty big name and never finished above 2nd place. Next, Dave Doeren who was a lesser name and has been there for too long for a guy who has had only 2 second place finishes.

 

The Zips have been bad for a long time and if someone told you the University had a secret plan for failure around a football program, it would almost be believable.  In the world of the MAC, Akron has a better chance of being a top level team than NC State does of being a top level team in the ACC or Illinois in the Big Ten. NC State has made some, what appeared at the time to be good decisions around their football program (way better than Illinois), but they are still really average. Until JoMo, Akron has as a whole made catastrophic decisions around the football program. Heck, the first mistake was probably was moving to D1 even after the NCAA basically begged them to not do it and then hired a guy who had no idea what to do to build a D1 program from nothing and his support system was the fired, former coach who had no idea how to build a D1 program. Owens was a high school coach and better suited for D2 where he underperformed for years. Brookhart had the background at time and was a "good" coach, won the MAC, had one player make horrible personal decisions that torpedoed any potential success. Bowden was washed up and lazy. I Coach and the last guy are sort of like when your favorite team loses the Super Bowl and someone asks you what you thought of the Super Bowl and you respond with, "What Super Bowl?". I seriously can't even remember the last guy's name as I type this. It's almost what in the legal world is called a "crime in progress" and we have all been accomplices in the crime.

 

In my opinion, for the first time in the program since the winter of 1986, Akron has made good decisions around the football program. I don't consider JoMo to be a "good" hire.  I consider him to be a GREAT hire. For the life of me, I know his reasons, but I don't understand why he came to Akron. I sure am glad he is here though. The program is now in a position to be the success it should have been since the opening of The Big Dialer.

It's Tom Arth, how I wish I could forget! 

[GP1]

2 minutes ago, zipsfan33 said:

how I wish I could forget! 

The only thing you can do is let your mind go blank when the topic comes up.

[catdaddyp]

6 hours ago, GP1 said:

Illinois is the NC State of the Big Ten. There isn't a good reason for them to be average to below average for a long time, but they are. Maybe it's just what they are and will never be anything else. NC State has a series of Bielemas and have done nothing with them.  Lou Holtz's best finish was 9-3 in 1973 and that was long before he really became a Hall of Fame coach.  Other Bielemas were: Chuck Amoto who was the big name DC from FSU, NC State graduate and never finished above 4th place in the ACC. Next was Tom O'Brien who was also a pretty big name and never finished above 2nd place. Next, Dave Doeren who was a lesser name and has been there for too long for a guy who has had only 2 second place finishes.

 

The Zips have been bad for a long time and if someone told you the University had a secret plan for failure around a football program, it would almost be believable.  In the world of the MAC, Akron has a better chance of being a top level team than NC State does of being a top level team in the ACC or Illinois in the Big Ten. NC State has made some, what appeared at the time to be good decisions around their football program (way better than Illinois), but they are still really average. Until JoMo, Akron has as a whole made catastrophic decisions around the football program. Heck, the first mistake was probably was moving to D1 even after the NCAA basically begged them to not do it and then hired a guy who had no idea what to do to build a D1 program from nothing and his support system was the fired, former coach who had no idea how to build a D1 program. Owens was a high school coach and better suited for D2 where he underperformed for years. Brookhart had the background at time and was a "good" coach, won the MAC, had one player make horrible personal decisions that torpedoed any potential success. Bowden was washed up and lazy. I Coach and the last guy are sort of like when your favorite team loses the Super Bowl and someone asks you what you thought of the Super Bowl and you respond with, "What Super Bowl?". I seriously can't even remember the last guy's name as I type this. It's almost what in the legal world is called a "crime in progress" and we have all been accomplices in the crime.

 

In my opinion, for the first time in the program since the winter of 1986, Akron has made good decisions around the football program. I don't consider JoMo to be a "good" hire.  I consider him to be a GREAT hire. For the life of me, I know his reasons, but I don't understand why he came to Akron. I sure am glad he is here though. The program is now in a position to be the success it should have been since the opening of The Big Dialer.

While I do think it’s only a matter of time that Akron is a top level team in the MAC under Moorhead (or even the top team ), I wouldn’t go as far as saying Illinois doesn’t have as much of a chance in the Big10. Ignore history and take a look at what is currently happening. Illinois went from 2 wins in the COVID year (granted not as many games played, but I honestly don’t know if they would have won more than 2 anyway) under Lovie Smith, to 5 wins in Bielema’s first year (including an upset over Penn State) and 8 wins in Bielema’s second year (did not lose a game by more than 8 points until the bowl game where they lost to Miss State by 9 - not a single blowout loss.) Recruiting, culture, and development/coaching is what sets programs apart. I don’t have an inside connection to either Akron or Illinois, but both seem to now have the culture part in order, development of players is clearly taking place, we’ve witnessed some excellent coaching, and recruiting (where I can really vouch) has picked up tremendously. One of the biggest downfalls for the Illinois football teams in the past was losing top instate talent to their competitors. For the most part, Bielema has walled off the state and is now keeping the best talent home. Illinois has the 2nd highest retention rate when it comes to the portal under Bielema and have used the portal selectively when improving the roster. Wining 8 games last year and barely losing to Michigan was not a fluke. Illinois, as hard as it is to believe, is on the doorstep of being a Big10 challenger. Bielema has assembled a phenomenal coaching staff (only whiff was at OC in his first year, which he quickly corrected) and has now put together 2 very strong recruiting classes with a 3rd shaping up nicely. 
 

Akron is a year behind Illinois in recruiting, but Moorhead has accelerated the process by stringing together two strong portal classes. Zips played like a P5 team the last two games of the season in the terms of physicality. That, in and of itself, has me excited about this year. While the offense will certainly be strong again, I think the defense is really going to surprise, especially if we have a pass rush.

 

If I’m wrong, I’ll certainly admit it. Although, I rarely am when it comes to turnarounds. That being said, I was wrong in the amount of games we would win last year. Not sure if anyone could have foreseen the way we lost a few of them. 2023 season can’t get here soon enough.