Terry Bowden finds himself in an unfamiliar situation as he enters his fifth year as University of Akron football coach.
After four sub-.500 seasons with the Zips, Bowden is coming off a winning season (8-5) and the program’s first win in a bowl game.
“The winning is over, it’s now, ‘What are you going to do now?’ It’s much more relevant,” Bowden said after his first training camp session with his team Monday morning at InfoCision Stadium.
Certainly, the season comes with higher expectations from fans and the UA community. But that’s also true for Bowden himself, who has expressed in prior interviews his confidence regarding the upcoming season.
With a new offensive line and linebacking corps, no one would blame Bowden if he chose to downplay his expectations. Instead, he said he is looking forward, and there’s every reason Zips fans can share his optimism.
Why? Contrast his first fall camp with the one now starting. When Bowden and his staff arrived that first summer, they brought a steady flow of transfers and fifth-year seniors just before the start of school.
This year, there are exactly three.
Offensive lineman Logan Tuley-Tillman arrives with two years of eligibility as a reclamation project from the University of Michigan after he had off-the-field issues.
Meanwhile, sophomore linebacker James King (6-foot-2, 208 pounds) and junior placekicker Jon Semerene have also joined the team after a coaching change at the University of Miami allowed Bowden and his staff to put their Florida connections to good use.
The Zips had already landed 6-foot-5, 302-pound defensive lineman Jelani Hamilton as a transfer from the Hurricanes.
“There are some situations where [new Miami coach Mark] Richt’s trying to get his roster where he wants it, trying to bring in a lot of young people,” Bowden said. “So we have some connections there that presented us with the opportunity to look at a kid a little bit later than we might normally have.”
Day 1 observations
• Even though the team practiced in helmets but not pads, it was easy to see why the coaching staff was happy running back Warren Ball transferred to UA from Ohio State. At a rock-solid 6-foot-1 and 232 pounds, Ball looks like the prototypical running back — big and strong. In his case, the size belies something else — speed. Ball has deceptive second and third gears.
• Running back Van Edwards showed why he’s in the conversation to be part of the running back rotation when he crashed through the offensive line to daylight on a run that would have been a TD in most games.
• With the Zips looking to fill holes on the defensive line, sophomore defensive lineman Brock Boxen looked fairly active Monday, registering a sack.
• Starting quarterback Thomas Woodson is showing more maneuverability in the pocket while his backup, Tra’Von Chapman, looks more comfortable in the offense.
• The defensive line went by the nickname “The Fantastic Four” last year. This year they’ve chosen “The Dream Team,” defensive end Jamal Marcus said.
Rockin’ start
UA will host its inaugural Touchdown Music Fest, which will feature Soul Asylum, from 1-6 p.m. prior to the home opener against VMI on Sept. 3. The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m.
The festival is free to the public, with gates to the Lee R. Jackson Track & Field Complex opening at noon. General admission tickets for the game start at $10.
George M. Thomas can be reached at gmthomas@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Zips blog at www.ohio.com/zips. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeorgeThomasABJ.