Previews, Predictions and Game Thread: Game #10 vs. UMass Tuesday Nov. 4th @ 7pm ("MACTION")

[GP1]

Almost every time I think about UMass joining the MAC, I throw up a little in my mouth. But if they are going to give us a win like this on a regular basis, maybe they aren't so bad. 

[csims0917]

We’ve entered a new tier above the bottom tier. It’s progress man. I think we finally have the personnel to play the Moorhead offense he’s wanted to do for years. Just took a lot longer he or any of us expected. Let’s finish the season strong. Post season ban be damned 
 

the key for me this offseason is how we handle the QB position. Moorehead wanted a big QB in the portal and got Finley which imo outside of two slow starts has been great in Mac play. If he can develop Roggow or get another portal guy to continue the growth then he needs to be extended. 

[csims0917]

Just now, csims0917 said:

We’ve entered a new tier above the bottom tier. It’s progress man. I think we finally have the personnel to play the Moorhead offense he’s wanted to do for years. Just took a lot longer he or any of us expected. Let’s finish the season strong. Post season ban be damned 
 

the key for me this offseason is how we handle the QB position. Moorehead wanted a big QB in the portal and got Finley which imo outside of two slow starts has been great in Mac play. If he can develop Roggow or get another portal guy to continue the growth then he needs to be extended. 

And resolve the grades ofc 

[Captain Kangaroo]

On 10/27/2025 at 6:15 AM, Captain Kangaroo said:

I see a 41-17 Zips  beatdown of UMass next Tuesday, setting the table for a fun, intriguing Akron/Kent match up the following week.

Chapter 2 of the prophecy is fulfilled. 

[Hilltopper]

7 hours ago, Reslife4Life said:

If you really tried you might even be able to make it up to the suites with a regular ticket

Not a chance of that happening. The bew regime has really cracked down security.

[kreed5120]

9 hours ago, GP1 said:

Almost every time I think about UMass joining the MAC, I throw up a little in my mouth. But if they are going to give us a win like this on a regular basis, maybe they aren't so bad. 

 

Someone else is now the MAC's punching bag instead of Akron/Kent competing for that "honor" each year.

[kreed5120]

9 hours ago, csims0917 said:

 

the key for me this offseason is how we handle the QB position. Moorehead wanted a big QB in the portal and got Finley which imo outside of two slow starts has been great in Mac play. If he can develop Roggow or get another portal guy to continue the growth then he needs to be extended. 

People were talking about wanting him fired as little as 2-3 weeks ago. Let's not go ahead and put the cart ahead of the horse. We have to see 6-7 wins next year before any discussion of an extension comes into play.

 

Even then something needs to be done about the buyout terms of these deals. A coach can leave for another school and it only costs him 10%-20% of the contract value. If a school fires a coach they're on the hook for damn near 100% of the remaining base. 

[1981 grad]

I got the impression that when Johnson came into the game as the 3rd QB at the end of the game that he was told to run the ball since we had a big lead and just run out the clock.  He then threw a pass and we almost scored.  He was immediately yanked so Brookhart could run out the clock.  At the end of the game I saw Moorehead go to the Mass coach and it looked like he was apologizing for the pass at the end of the game.  These are my impressions but I just cannot see the coach throwing the ball at that point in the game.  

[akzipper]

17 hours ago, Reslife4Life said:

You can sit anywhere you want in the stadium. If you really tried you might even be able to make it up to the suites with a regular ticket

 

I had an intern job within the athletic department about 10 years ago. I was actually amazed at how easy it was to get literally anywhere in the stadium or JAR if you just "looked the part." Just by wearing a Zips polo and khakis nobody ever questioned me. I watched almost every game from the press box, club level, field or even courtside even though I wasn't actually working. 

[exit322]

51 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

People were talking about wanting him fired as little as 2-3 weeks ago. Let's not go ahead and put the cart ahead of the horse. We have to see 6-7 wins next year before any discussion of an extension comes into play.

 

Even then something needs to be done about the buyout terms of these deals. A coach can leave for another school and it only costs him 10%-20% of the contract value. If a school fires a coach they're on the hook for damn near 100% of the remaining base. 

Yes, this year needs to end 6-6 and next year needs to improve on that before an extension makes much sense.

[MangoZip]

22 minutes ago, exit322 said:

Yes, this year needs to end 6-6 and next year needs to improve on that before an extension makes much sense.

But unfortunately, the problem still exists, this will probably be another completely different roster next season. Many players that have some success this year will move on and who knows what they will replace them with. Building a program, especially in a situation like Akron, is more difficult than ever

 

[kreed5120]

5 minutes ago, MangoZip said:

But unfortunately, the problem still exists, this will probably be another completely different roster next season. Many players that have some success this year will move on and who knows what they will replace them with. Building a program, especially in a situation like Akron, is more difficult than ever

 

Yes, I'm sure Gant will get some MWC or AAC money. I'm not sure what other starters have remaining eligibility, but we will lose guys on our offensive and defensive line to programs who have more NIL. Maybe even 1-2 to teams in the MAC.

 

It's why I said getting to 6-7 wins next year. We really can't expect 8+ wins annually when we have to rebuild our team every year shopping the clearance rack for bargains. You can get  lucky here or there and find good value, but not possible year over year.

 

Fortunately going 5-3 in the MAC is possible most years because half the conference (ourselves included) is FBS bottom feeders.

[Hilltopper]

1 hour ago, akzipper said:

 

I had an intern job within the athletic department about 10 years ago. I was actually amazed at how easy it was to get literally anywhere in the stadium or JAR if you just "looked the part." Just by wearing a Zips polo and khakis nobody ever questioned me. I watched almost every game from the press box, club level, field or even courtside even though I wasn't actually working. 

Not anymore. Everyone has to get a wristband. They check.

[MangoZip]

Does anyone know IF this team can make it to 6-6, is there honestly a realistic chance that the bowl band could get repealed? 

[exit322]

31 minutes ago, MangoZip said:

Does anyone know IF this team can make it to 6-6, is there honestly a realistic chance that the bowl band could get repealed? 

If Akron can demonstrate the grades are improving, I suspect there is a realistic chance.  But I don't know if there's any way to know this.

[kreed5120]

26 minutes ago, MangoZip said:

Does anyone know IF this team can make it to 6-6, is there honestly a realistic chance that the bowl band could get repealed? 

 

Do you really want to see a repeat of our game against FAU? Any average MWC, AAC, or SunBelt team would likely mop the floor with us.

 

The team has improved. We're at least able to compete with and/or beat the worst of the worst in FBS. I don't see us in a position to compete with average to above average FBS rosters.

[exit322]

18 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Do you really want to see a repeat of our game against FAU? Any average MWC, AAC, or SunBelt team would likely mop the floor with us.

 

The team has improved. We're at least able to compete with and/or beat the worst of the worst in FBS. I don't see us in a position to compete with average to above average FBS rosters.

 

Getting to go to a bowl game and experience that for the players may be something to keep more of them here if the alternative is meager NIL money somewhere else.  Yes, I'd rather have the bowl game.

[kreed5120]

31 minutes ago, exit322 said:

 

Getting to go to a bowl game and experience that for the players may be something to keep more of them here if the alternative is meager NIL money somewhere else.  Yes, I'd rather have the bowl game.

Money talks. I like my job, but if a recruiter called me and offered me an additional $50k to do the same exact job elsewhere I'd have my 2 week notice submitted tomorrow.

 

Edit: You have to remember we graduated and/or spent decades being fans so we have loyalty to the school. These kids have come from all over the country. Maybe have spent 2-3 years in Akron at the most. They don't hold those same loyalties.

Edited 53 minutes ago by kreed5120

[UAZipster0305]

Man, if we could have only been in this kind of form against Wyoming and UAB...

[clarkwgriswold]

1 minute ago, UAZipster0305 said:

Man, if we could have only been in this kind of form against Wyoming and UAB...

 

If Wyoming and UAB would have been in UMASS kind of form...