The Transition of Akron football

• Pick6

  

  I know not many people on here care about Akron, but the Zips football program has been being talked about lately, so i figured I'd start a thread on the recent news of the program.
  
  The history of Akron football isn't a good one. In 1987, Akron made their debut in D1-FBS with former Notre Dame coach, Gerry Faust as their coach. The Zips have never had any real success, only having one MAC championship and one bowl loss since making the jump to the FBS level. The most wins they have ever gotten in one season is 7. A new stadium(30k capacity,allegedly expandable in 2 stages to 68k) and state-of-the-art field house have been recently built with visions of the program going to the next level. The AD, Tom Wistroll, decided to hire his buddy, Rob Ianello, who was more or less known as a recruiter from Notre Dame. That plan fell on its face, and ended badly as RI was fired (officially) via phone call on the way to his mother's funeral the day after a 68-19 loss to Western Michigan.
  
  The coaching search then began. It started off with high hopes as there were many who thought there was a chance that we could get old OSU coach, Jim Tressel. Many wanted him, even though it potentially meant bringing the baggage (show-cause) that came along with JT. Tressel turned down the offer, however, offered to be on the search committee. The next candidate that is believed Akron had went after is Paul Winters. Paul Winters is an "Akron guy", much like Keith Dambrot. He played and started his coaching career at UA. PW took a D2 Wayne State program from bottom feeder to D2 runner up this season. However, he turned down Akron to accept a new offer from Wayne State. This seemed like an all-time program low for many. Next was Scott Loeffler, Temple OC, who reportedly turned down the job offer as well.
  
  Then a member of the search committee reached out to Terry Bowden (who started his coaching career at UA as an assistant under Gerry Faust). Bowden had great interest in the program. He flew into Cleveland-Hopkins to meet with UA officials and accepted the job that night. He then began putting the staff together. Snagging Terrel Buckley from FSU, while hardly even promoting him. Then added Chuck Amato, who was the HC for NC State when Philip Rivers was there, and more importantly DC of the Noles back when they were yearly national contenders.
  
  The staff so far looks like:
  
  Head Coach - Terry Bowden (North Alabama Head Coach)
  
  Director of Football Operations - Ben Murphy (North Alabama Director of Football Operations)
  
  Offense:
  
  Offensive Coordinator- Terry Bowden (North Alabama Head Coach)
  
  OL Coach - Alan Arrington (North Alabama Offensive Coordinator / OL Coach)
  
  QB Coach - A.J. Milwee (East Mississippi CC QB Coach)
  
  WR Coach - Jeff Bowden (North Alabama WR Coach)
  
  Unknown- John Pont (Miami Ohio Grad Assistant)
  
  Defense:
  
  Defensive Coordinator / Associate Head Coach - Chuck Amato (Unemployed while recovering from cancer)
  
  DL Coach - Todd Stroud (Colorado State DL coach)
  
  LB Coach -Chuck Amato (Unemployed while recovering from cancer)
  
  Safeties Coach - Mike Woodford (New Mexico DB Coach)
  
  CB Coach - Terrell Buckley (Florida State Assistant S&C Coach)
  
  
  Some believe that Akron football is a "sleeping giant". Some are even calling Akron the "FSU of the north" with TB getting the "guys" back together from the time they were all at FSU. That moniker may be already starting to come to reality with this: http://akronsportsnow.com/fsu-cb-transfers-to-akron/ . Bobby Bowden is promoting the Zips and the program is getting more notority than ever and there hasn't even been a game played yet. However, with TB's resume and the staff he is putting together (best in the MAC), I expect the Zips program to get turned around and quick.
  
  Future is looking bright! Go Zips!
• THE4RINGZ

  

  I am glad to see this resurgence at Akron. Always exciting to have the Zips be above average.
• sportswizuhrd

  True freshman Arrington Jenkins and junior cornerback Avis Commack will be transferring this offseason following their suspensions after a pair of felony arrests last month, the school said Friday.

  Commack, a fourth-year player who graduated in December, was charged with felony grand theft after allegedly stealing a fellow student-athlete's iPad a week before his graduation. The same weekend of his arrest, Jenkins was arrested for allegedly stealing a motorcycle off the back of a truck at a neighbor's house and dragging it into his apartment just down the block.

  According to a news release, Commack has decided to outright transfer. Coach Jimbo Fisher said he likely will try to play at Akron, where a team of coaches with FSU ties has just arrived.

  http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-01-06/sports/os-avis-commack-arrington-jenkins-florida-state-01-20120106_1_coach-jimbo-fisher-greg-reid-fsu-hall
• Jughead

  

  ^^^Solid! :laugh:
• Pick6

  

  ^ Who cares. He is being charged for a stolen Ipad. This is the only trouble he has ever been into. I know every other MAC school wishes they could get a 4 star DB/WR from Florida. Lets not act like OU only plays with Saints (Boo Jackson).
• vball10set

  Pick6;1042879 wrote:^ Who cares. He is being charged for a stolen Ipad. This is the only trouble he has ever been into. I know every other MAC school wishes they could get a 4 star DB/WR from Florida. Lets not act like OU only plays with Saints (Boo Jackson).

  Oh, is that all? :rolleyes:
• Pick6

  

  vball10set;1042882 wrote:Oh, is that all? :rolleyes:

  yep. I dont care if Bowden gets guys with character issues. I care about winning.
• goosebumps

  

  Winning is nice, but a University football team represents the university. I don't want thugs on my team. So I'll encourage them to go north to Akron from now on.
• Pick6

  

  goosebumps;1042916 wrote:Winning is nice, but a University football team represents the university. I don't want thugs on my team. So I'll encourage them to go north to Akron from now on.

  well you are going to have thugs on your team whether you like it or not. some just accept it, other try to pretend they dont.
• dave

  IMO Bowden lived off his father's name in the 90s when daddy was still around. When he walks into a kid's house now they won't even know who Bobby was, or if they do they will remember his mediocre teams at FSU his last 5yrs or so.
  
  I think Akron was trying to pull off what OU did with Solich, but there really aren't many similarities.
  
  Going after a criminal who has 1 yr of eligibility is ridiculous, hopefully that doesn't happen.
• Pick6

  

  dave;1042954 wrote:
  Going after a criminal who has 1 yr of eligibility is ridiculous, hopefully that doesn't happen.

  Kind of like how Auburn did with Newton? Didn't see a bunch of people criticizing them for that. I think its even more acceptable for a school like Akron to do it because of their recent history of being shit. A player like Commack can come here and help win a few games for Akron for them to get some interest from recruits on a MAC level. Lets be honest, recruits as a whole are bandwagon jumpers more than anybody. Look at the recruiting class Auburn had last year as a result of them winning the title.
• Y-Town Steelhound

  

  Good for Akron. The spot for #3 Ohio school is still up for grabs (despite what delusional OU fans may want to believe after recording their first ever bowl victory). Toledo had the momentum before losing their coach, Hazell has Kent State moving in the right direction seemingly but it'll take a few more years before we can really determine his impact. Miami was also on the upswing before losing their coach to Pitt (for two days or whatever til he beat up his wife) and now they look to be back at square one. BG has been stuck in the same place since Meyer left, and Solich is doing a fine job at OU (though not yet ready to crown them).
  
  Bowden was a good risk for a program like Akron, we'll see the results in a few years. For now they're still just a soccer school haha
• Pick6

  

  First team All-MAC and second leading tackler in the nation, LB Brian Wagner, has decided to use his final year of eligibility with Rich Rod at Arizona. Wagner came to Akron as a walk-on.
  
  http://mobile.arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-wildcats/2012/1/8/2692146/brian-wagner-arizona-wildcats-transfer
• dave

  Pick6;1043032 wrote:Kind of like how Auburn did with Newton? Didn't see a bunch of people criticizing them for that. I think its even more acceptable for a school like Akron to do it because of their recent history of being shit. A player like Commack can come here and help win a few games for Akron for them to get some interest from recruits on a MAC level. Lets be honest, recruits as a whole are bandwagon jumpers more than anybody. Look at the recruiting class Auburn had last year as a result of them winning the title.

  Are you really comparing some cornerback who doesn't see the field at FSU to Cam Newton?
  
  Even so, Newton paid his dues and went to JUCO for a year. Is Bowden going to suspend this kid for a few games for his crime? It's a poor way to start out if you allow someone to come in there and play immediately like that. He's not going to help Akron win a few games.
• Pick6

  

  dave;1043762 wrote:Are you really comparing some cornerback who doesn't see the field at FSU to Cam Newton?
  .

  He hasn't seen the field a lot due to some injuries. But its not like scrubs are playing ahead of him or anything. FSU has a pretty good secondary. Whats wrong with comparing them? One stole computers and one (allegedly) stole an Ipad. I'm not saying he is going to bring the same success Newton brought to Auburn lol. Newton didnt pay his dues, he still got to play, and ended up being the #1 overall pick. Sounds like he made off pretty well to me.
• Tiger2003

  

  Akron will still suck.
• Pick6

  

  Tiger2003;1044452 wrote:Akron will still suck.

  Guess we will have to wait and see. I'll be happy with 4 wins this season.
• chicago510

  

  Transition to Jim Tressel?
  
  I kid, I hope Akron can get off the mat. No reason for them to be that bad.
• Jughead

  

  Pick6;1042879 wrote:^ Who cares. He is being charged for a stolen Ipad. This is the only trouble he has ever been into. I know every other MAC school wishes they could get a 4 star DB/WR from Florida. Lets not act like OU only plays with Saints (Boo Jackson).

  I would have went with someone other than Boo (bar fight) to back up your claim of OU players not being saints. Melvin Payne (breaking and entering and eluding arrest via Greyhound bus) would be a more appropriate example.
  
  http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2010/6/2/1497435/fulmer-cupdate-ohio-football
  
  The difference, OU's coaches/administration immediately dismissed him from the team. In Akron's case, they are actually in the running of recruiting a player with serious background issues, something the the Mid American Conference does not take lightly.
  
  
  
  With that said, best of luck to Akron. I really hope that they can rebuild their football program, and this seems to be a good hire.
• se-alum

  

  Akron has to take players with questionable backgrounds, if they want to be competitive any time soon. Once they build the program, they can be more cautious with recruiting, but right now, that's not an option if they want to win. If the kids come to Akron and screw up, then you can kick them off the team. They may just come to Akron, behave well, and help Akron be a better football team.
• wkfan

  se-alum;1044642 wrote:Akron has to take players with questionable backgrounds, if they want to be competitive any time soon.

  Bowden will have no trouble with this.....
• JJ68

  

  Pick6;1042902 wrote:yep. I dont care if Bowden gets guys with character issues. I care about winning.

  Great more thugs to rob students. That's all we need at Akron.
  
  I have most my classes in the stadium. I will have my car parked right across the street off campus with my gun loaded just in case these thugs try to pull anything.
• Pick6

  

  JJ68;1045059 wrote:Great more thugs to rob students. That's all we need at Akron.
  
  I have most my classes in the stadium. I will have my car parked right across the street off campus with my gun loaded just in case these thugs try to pull anything.

  If you dont live here you have nothing to worry about. Nothing ever happens on campus nor right off of campus during the day lol. Plus most of the robberies arent students robbing students.
• Pick6

  

  se-alum;1044642 wrote:Akron has to take players with questionable backgrounds, if they want to be competitive any time soon. Once they build the program, they can be more cautious with recruiting, but right now, that's not an option if they want to win. If the kids come to Akron and screw up, then you can kick them off the team. They may just come to Akron, behave well, and help Akron be a better football team.

  well said.
• vball10set

  I'm shocked that there are actually 25 posts on a thread about Akron football