UofAZIPS.com Blog

       VS        

Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007, 7 p.m.

Cleveland Browns Stadium, Inaugural FirstMerit Patriot Bowl (Line: Akron 5 pt. favorites)

Radio:  Sports Radio 1350/Akron, WERE 1300/Cleveland, Steve French, Frank Stams, Joe Dunn

TV:  ESPN Regional (NY) - ESPN Plus

Internet:  GoZips.com, worldwide Internet broadcast

ARMY GAME NOTES 

Poor Starts for Both Teams…
We mentioned earlier this week that Army has a 5-31 record in the month of September.  Well, it looks like the Zips aren’t that impressive in starting off the season either.  Akron has lost all three of its season openers under the direction of current head coach J.D. Brookhart, losing to Purdue once and Penn State twice. 

The Zips are 3-12 in season openers since joining the Mid-American Conference in 1992 and 4-16 since becomming Division I-A, now called Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

On Neutral Turf…
The Army game will only be the 9th time in Akron football history that they’ve played on a neutral site.  The Zips have played twice in Barberton and Cuyahoga Falls.

Defense takes a hit…
One of the strengths of this year’s Zips squad is the defense, with nine returning starters…uh, make that eight.  Jared Cecchetti will miss the Army game and possibly the next two with a foot fracture that he suffered in the final week of preseason camp.

I would like to link you to the complete game notes, however, they still have the game notes from the Ohio U game last year on gozips.com.  Sorry. (They also spelled “Patriot” Bowl wrong too on this week’s game notes! shhhhhh!)

Return to Glory?

The Plain Dealer reports today that the U.S. Army may kick butt in the middle east, but their fortunes on the football field have not been so successful.  Army hasn’t had a winning football season since 1996.

LOTS OF EMPTY SEATS

According to MACreportonline.com ticket sales for the first Patriot Bowl are going extremely slow — so slow, that there will likely be more orange showing from empty seats in Cleveland than at the B-G game. 

PROPS TO JACKSON

In a class act, Zips QB Carlton Jackson supports coach Brookhart’s decision to start Chris Jacquemain, according to the Beacon Journal.

LET THE LIGHTS SHINE

Since the drawings of the new football stadium didn’t contain lights, there was some speculation that Infocision Stadium may go in the dark.  Well put all speculation to rest.  According to Akron Media Relations, the stadium will have sufficient lights to comply and accommodate national television broadcasts.  In addition, the light standards will be beyond the seating area — music to the ears of Zips fans who have been sitting behind poles since 1940!

EXPOSING THE ZIPS

Akron A.D. Mack Rhoades says in the Buchtelite that the Zips are going to get all kind of pub from ESPN.

News from around the MAC

The Mid-American Conference begins its 61st football season this week.  The MAC Web site has a run down on Week 1 action.

Target CMU
Central Michigan Life (The independent voice of Central Michigan) is reporting that everyone is gunning for the Chips now that they are defending MAC champs.

Lame Slogans
Every now and then, a team comes up with a slogan that becomes their mantra for the season.  Well, according to BG News, Bowling Green has come up with a doozy.  Get this.  “When the pride is back, fear is next.”  If that’s not enough to make your hurl your Wheaties, what is?

Temple of Faith
Now that the Temple University Owls are full-fledged members of the Mid-American Conference, the Temple news says, “There’s no more excuses,” for the team that has won four games in the last four seasons.  Temple, which joins the conference as a football-only member (unfortunately) is the 18th school in MAC history to sport a team on the gridiron.

Looking Pro

Three MAC teams will play home games in NFL stadiums this week.  Temple, which plays all its home games in Lincoln Financial Field, will host Navy;  Northern Illinois will play Iowa at Soldier Field in Chicago, and of course, the Zips play Army in Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Jerry Glanville

USA Today has an interesting article today on former Oilers and Falcons coach Jerry Glanville, now the head coach at Portland State.

Contact Don Olson at:  donolson160@yahoo.com

THE PREDICTIONS BEGIN          

 The prognosticators are starting to prognosticate.  We have already mentioned that the line on Saturday’s game puts Akron at five-point favorites vs. Army.  Nick’s Picks on Vandelay.com has the Zips coming out on top 20 - 10.

Since the game is being played in Cleveland Browns Stadium, there are plenty of seats available.  Considering that, we couldn’t help but notice that two 50 yard line seats are going for $149.95 on ebay.  I’m not sure what the face values of the tickets are, but I did observe that two tickets in the same section are going for $44 and $49 on a ticket broker Web site. That’s a combined $93 — quite a discount when you compare to the ebay price.  Other broker sites have Dawg Pound seats going for $20.

A lot of similarities

In his weekly news conference Tuesday, new Army Head Coach Stan Brock said the Black Knights and Zips have a lot in common.

“They work very hard all the time. We have seen that evident in all the film we have watched. Special teams, I think they have some question marks similar to what we have. It’s going to be two teams playing against each other in that first game when you don’t have a lot of information. We are going to have to go in and figure it out while we’re out there.”

More on Coach Brock’s comments on goarmysports.com.

Tailgating for the Army Game

Zips fans are wondering where to tailgate this Saturday.  The Univeristy is sponsoring a buffet on Mall C, which is inbetween Cleveland City Hall and the Old Courthouse on Lakeside Ave.  Well it looks like Zip fans will have company.  The West Point Society of Cleveland is also planning a tailgating party on Mall C, from 1500 to 1800 (that’s 3 to 6 p.m. for us civilian folks).  The menu?  Chicken, Pulled Pork, Baked Beans, Salads, Fruit, Cookies and MREs (Meals Ready to Eat).  Just kidding on the MREs!

Where to go?  Well, the Cleveland Air Show is going to be going on over at Burke Lakefront Airport, so parking in the Muni Lot may be a little dicey.  The Indians are also playing at home Saturday night.  You can try your luck up on the Mall near the “official” tailgating parties.  The best bet may be to set up shop in the Port Authority parking lot off W. 3rd St. near the stadium.  One thing is evident, GO EARLY!

THIS IS UGLY!

ESPN U has come out with the “Bottom 10,” a ranking of the ten worst teams in college football.

Unfortunately, the Mid-American Conference has three of its members on the list — Temple (3), Buffalo (4) and Eastern Michigan (6).

Kudos to Florida International.  The Pirates of the Carribean have the displeasure of being numero uno!

In other news around the MAC

The Toledo Blade reports that despite having two of the MAC’s leading rushers, the Falcons of Bowling Green will go to the air — does that make sense?

Why do teams from BCS conferences always seem like they have to rationalize playing teams from the MAC.  That’s the feel of an article in good ole’ Bluefield (WVA) Daily Telegraph previewing the upcoming contest between Western Michigan and the Mountaineers.  Personally, I like the Broncos chances in this one.

Speaking of Western Michigan, the Canton Repository reports that the Cleveland Browns have cut former Bronco receiver Kendrick Mosley.

…and finally, congratulations to former Zips softball standout Rachel Kraus, who just landed a job as a coach at Wisconsin.

 Contact Don Olson at:  donolson160@yahoo.com

INJURIES, TRUST BEHIND QUARTERBACK DECISION

In his weekly news conference, Akron Head Football Coach J.D. Brookhart revealed all that he and his staff took into consideration when choosing sophomore Chris Jacquemain to start at quarterback over Carlton Jackson. 

Brookhart said both players had a good camp, however it came down to a matter of who they could count on to make less mistakes and give the team a better chance to win.

Jackson will start the first series of the second quarter because Brookhart said, “He deserves to play.”  However, Brookhart ruled out the possibility that the Zips would platoon the quarterback position.  “We looked at the two quarterback system, and it’s just not feasible. It doesn’t give a good voice to the team.”

Another article on Brookhart’s news conference appears in the Akron Beacon Journal.

Brookhart’s quarterback decision is also touched on in The Plain Dealer’s MAC Insider.
CECCHETTI MODEL STUDENT/ATHLETE

Zips senior defensive tackle Jared Cecchetti is profiled in the Buchtelite as Coach Brookhart’s model recruit, who does well in the classroom, as well as the gridiron.

Buchtelite reporter Vincent Dorsey writes that the Zips offense will have a new look this year, emphasizing the run with Dennis Kennedy leading the way.

ALCOHOL SALES POSSIBLE AT INFOCISION

The most interesting news out of a Buchtelite article on the new football stadium, is that the possibility exits that alcohol sales are still being discussed.  Such a move would require action by the board of trustees, according to the article by Adam Ferrise.

With Luxury suites, loge boxes and club seats costing beau coup bucks, you can bet Zips fans will be hoisting a frothy one in the new house.  “A mountain of goodness in a mixed up world.”

ZIPS BY 5

The early line on the Patriot Bowl scheduled for this Saturday at Cleveland Browns Stadium puts Akron at five point favorites against the Black Knights of Army.

The Zips are not getting that much love on the Army Football Forum.  As one poster writes, “…if we lose, we better hope that Rhode Island, Tulane and Temple are quite bad, because we ain’t beating anyone else if we cannot beat Akron…”

One Army fan thinks the game is being played in Akron!  Lets hope this guy isn’t routing convoys or anything directionally oriented.

Since 1997, Army is 5-31 in the month of September.  Here’s hoping their streak continues.

YouTube Promos

There are some, shall we be a little kind and say, kinda funny, promotional announcements on YouTube.com shilling for the first Patriot Bowl.

Ticket information for this weekend’s game can be found on the official Patriot Bowl Web site of the Cleveland Sports Commission, which is the sponsoring organization.

Contact Don Olson at:  donolson160@yahoo.com

ARROGANCE OR THE TRUTH?

My friends and family can’t understand why I’m not a big Ohio State fan.  This will be the subject of a future blog.  As for now, let’s examine the comments of Purdue Head Football Coach Joe Tiller.  In an article on BoilerStation.com, coacher explains why some Big Ten teams are forced to enter into a 2 for 1 arrangement (two home games for one road game) with mid-major conferences, such as the Mid-American.

I can understand the financial reason for all this, however, that Big Ten arrogance comes through in the following quote from Tiller:

“MAC teams are filled with pretty good football players who all salivate at the thought of playing a Big Ten team because that’s where they wanted to play. Emotionally, you always get a great game out of a MAC team.”

Gee coach, do you think a student athlete may have picked his or her school based on things such as:  academic program, geographic location, financial considerations?  Maybe one of their parents went to a MAC school?

Yes, as much as Coach Tiller may be in denial over this, it is possible a student-athlete picked a MAC school over a Big Ten school because they wanted to be at the MAC school!

ZIPS IN THE NFL NEWS

The Plain Dealer’s Tony Grossi blogs that Charlie Frye has taken the lead in the Browns quarterback derby.

MORE MAC PREDICTIONS

The Buffalo News says there are five teams that should challenge for the MAC Championship — and Akron isn’t one of them.

The Midland (MI) Daily News finally gets around to publishing the 2007 football predictions by the MAC News Media Association.

Other news from around the MAC…

The Buffalo News says UB tailback James Starks is aiming high this season.

The outlook for Northern Illinois is up in the air.  So says an article in The Daily Herald in Arlington Hts., IL.

Ball State is proud of their stadium after a $14 million upgrade.  Article in the Muncie Star-Press.

 Contact Don Olson at:  donolson160@yahoo.com

Well, since Don did such an excellent job with the You Tube find, I thought I would unwrap a beta project we have been working on at UofAZIPS.com.  We effectionately call it Roo-TUBE. It is as collection of Zips videos on the web at http://www.uofazips.com/.  As with most content you will find at UofAZIPS.com, it is based largely on contributions from Zips fans. So please consider sending your Zips videos for us to post.

If you’ve never performed a search on The University of Akron or Zips on YouTube.com, you may be in for a little bit of a surprise.  There is a virtual plethora of material.  Some of it is good, some not so good, some kind of funny.

Without a doubt, our beloved marcupial Zippy, is the star of the show.  Someone at the U must be in a televsion production course.  There are videos such as:  Zippy gets a physical, Zippy Cooks and Zippy in Art class, to name a few.

This video, for instance, takes an in-depth look behind the costume — asking the question on the tip of everyone’s tounge — who is the real Zippy?

 The site — the Cleveland State Convocation Center — Zippy and other mascots play a game of basketball.

In one of the more interesting videos, a UA co-ed takes Zippy home to meet the  parents.  One problem — Zippy is a girl as is plainly seened by her pouch — not that there’s anything wrong with that! 

Everyone knows that Zippy is a hip dude.  But his hipness goes to another level with the “Zip Set” Zippy rap.

Zippy is loveable, no doubt, but don’t go messing with her pouch or she will attack.

There are some uploads on the more serious, and useful, side.  Zips head coach J.D. Brookhart takes a look at the upcoming football season in this video.

 As many times as I’ve seen it, I just can’t get enough of the Getsy to Hixon pass that won the 2005 MAC championship.

Another football favorite is the Akron victory at North Carolina State.  The last drive is captured in these ESPN video replays.

  Cavaliers star LeBron James weighs in on his special relationship with childhood friends former Zips Dru Joyce and Romeo Travis.

 And finally, we close out with the Akron Blue & Gold being performed at a commencement ceremony at E.J. Thomas Hall.  Let us all please rise!

 We cheer the Akron Blue and Gold.
We cheer as the colors unfold.
We pledge anew, we’re all for you,
As the team goes crashing through
Fight! Fight!
We cheer The Akron Warriors bold,
For a fight that’s a sight to behold.
So we stand up, and cheer and shout,
for the Akron Blue and Gold.
Ziiip! Zip go the Zippers!
Ziiip! Zip go the Zippers!
Akron true, Gold and Blue,
All for you, and the Zippers too!
Z-I-P-S gooo Zips!

There are many, many more UA related uploads.  If you find one that’s interesting, feel free to drop me a line.

Contact Don Olson at:  donolson160@yahoo.com

Platooning Quarterback

Jacquemain (l) & Jackson (r)

Yesterday came the news that Akron football coach J.D. Brookhart has decided to use a platoon set up at quarterback with sophomore Chris Jacquemain starting the games and Carlton Jackson playing the second quarter.  There’s an article today in the News-Herald in Lake County, Jacquemain’s hometown newspaper.

Has a platoon set up at quarterback EVER worked for any team?

I will defer to coach Brookhart’s good judgment at this point.  Perhaps one will emerge as the number one guy as the season gets underway.  Lets hope the situation is solved before we head into Columbus and Bloomington to take on those Big 10(11) teams.  In the meantime, blogger Mike Rasor has more on the decision.

USA Today Picks Akron 3rd

The University of Akron Zips will finish in third place in the MAC East.  So says USA Today as they published their College Football Preview today.  Ohio U is predicted to come in first with Kent State second.  It looks like the Zips have a lot to prove this year, with a platooning situation between two rookie quarterbacks and only four starters returning on offense.

The Defense seems to be in better shape with the return of eight starters, but only one returning on the line.

USA Today doesn’t think there are any Zips players worth watching, as you’ll read in their Mid-American Conference preview.

In another pre-season preview, The Myrtle Beach (SC) Sun News says “Parity Reigns Supreme” in the MAC this year.

In other news around the MAC:

The Morning Sun (Mt. Pleasant, MI) says the Central Michigan secondary is second to none.

The Western Michigan beat reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette says there are five things that will determine whether or not the Broncos win the MAC, as predicted.

Three linebackers are determined to bring Eastern Michigan’s football program around, so says an article in today’s Ann Arbor News.

The OU Bobcats struggled through their final scrimmage, according to an article in the Athens Messenger.

Quaker Hall

A lot of media reports have been making hay out of the University’s decision to buy Quaker Square for $22.7 million, especially the Columbus Dispatch.  Coverage by the Beacon Journal has been more balanced.  More on the Quaker Square quagmire on Pho’s Akron pages.

MAC Football Preview Show Debuts on FOX Sports

Don’t forget to catch the premeir edition of the MAC Football Preview Show on FOX Sports Net, tomorrow at 11 a.m. This season, the show will be hosted by Michael Reghi, and our friend, Jeff Phelps, who is a Kent State grad, but don’t hold that against him.  More on MAC Report Online.

AK-OLDIES To BE!

And finally, more than one thousand University of Akron students will cram into E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall tomorrow.  When they exit, they will be college graduates. In addition to being better prepared to face life’s challenges, they are now eligable for membership in the AK-OLDIES!  I mean, lets keep our priorities straight!  Can you say, “Pony keg at the bowl?”  Congratulations to  the Class of 2007.  Details in the Canton Repository and news release from The University of Akron Public Relations Department.

Contact Don Olson at:  donolson160@yahoo.com

This just handed to me…

Sophomore Chris Jacquemain gets the nod at QB.

News Release from Akron Media Relations.

PD Picks Akron 4th in MAC East

Akron is picked to come in fourth place in the MAC East division by The Plain Dealer beat reporter Elton Alexander.  He writes that the Zips may contend if either quarterback Carlton Jackson or Chris Jacquemain “emerge.”  He picks Ball State to win the West and Miami to win the East.

Also in today’s PD, Alexander takes a look at the beatings that MAC teams take when playing opponents from the BCS conferences.  However, the sting from the beatings is mitigated by the large pay days MAC teams receive.

Akron will receive $375,000 for traveling to the Ohio State horseshoe, $150,000 for its game in Bloomington against Indiana, then a surprising $325,000 with their road game at UCONN.  Are you as surprised as me that the UCONN game is paying that much?

The PD also has a closer look at the Ohio members of the MAC as today they published their College Football preview.

 Summa Shut Out?

The Beacon Journal’s Bob Dyer, one of our favorite columnists, called around to various sports editors who say they’ll use Infocision Stadium, but not Summa Field to describe the new Zips stadium in their articles.

Bob has a few suggestions about what else at the stadium can be sponsored with naming rights, such as The Beacon Journal mouth guards!

Quarterback Decision Today?

As there are various reports about who is going to win the University of Akron quarterback derby. The News-Herald in Lake County profiles local product, Chris Jacquemain of Mentor.

Hammering the Competition

As a former shotputter, your’s truely knows how thankless being a field (as in track and field) man is.  The Zanesville Times-Recorder gives some love to sophomore UA hammer thrower Stevi Large, the Mid-American Conference Women’s Field Performer of the Year.

Large is a former state champion from Sheridan, Ohio.  

Good luck Stevi! 

photo: U of Akron

Contact Don Olson at:  donolson160@yahoo.com

New Feature

Welcome to a new feature on the blog – ZipsWire.  This is where you will find news and commentary about all things U of A, sports and otherwise.  It will be your one-stop-shop for links to news about the University and its athletic program.

Your comments and input are robustly – don’t you love that new word that seems to be popping up lately? – robustly encouraged.  Also, feel free to spout off on the message boards on UofAZips.com, where you can give your opinions on just about anything.  It’s also a great way to keep up on what’s going on with the AK-OLDIES.  You can link to the blog and message boards on UofAZips.com off of the home page on AKOLDIES.com.

Quaker Hall?

The state Controlling Board has approved the University’s request to purchase Quaker Square.  Can you imagine being a student and staying in one of those round rooms?  A long way from the, can we say mundane, surrounds of Bulger Hall.  I wonder what student will stay in the room once used by Bruce Springsteen?  I was at his concert at the Coliseum in 1978 where the Boss quipped, “I was staying in the round room that used to be a grain silo.  I was lying on my bed wondering – was it oatmeal or whole oats?”

Article in the Beacon Journal

Another article in the Columbus Dispatch

Pluto on Brookhart

Beacon Journal Columnist Terry Pluto says Zips head coach J.D. Brookhart takes some of the blame for last year’s 5-7 record.  Brookhart continues to impress.  I personally will be disappointed when Pluto leaves the Beacon.  Let’s hope he continues to comment on the Zips when he moves north to The Plain Dealer next month.

Ya’ll Say Fore!

An article in the Athens (GA) Banner-Herald profiles new Akron Golf coach and Clemson grad Nick Goetze.  The new Zips coach comes to the Hilltop after working as a financial consultant in Athens the last couple of years.  Good luck coach Goetze!

That’s it for now.  Check back often for commentary and links to UA news.

Contact Don Olson at:  donolson160@yahoo.com

It’s always difficult to predict the outcome of a team’s season in college football, especially in the MAC, and especially with Akron.  In 2005, few expected much from the Zips, hoping they’d just improve and possibly contend.  They ended up winning the MAC Championship and losing a nail-biting Motor City Bowl.  Last year, many expected Akron to run away with the MAC East, to return to the Title game, and to reach the second bowl game in school history.  The season ended up being a huge disappointment, highlighted (or in our case, lowlighted) by a shocking defeat to Kent State (seriously, how many predicted that?). 

But even so, everyone loves predictions.  So I base these on what I saw last year, what each team has returning to its roster, and…well…my basic gut feeling. 

Season Schedule

W vs. Army

L @ Ohio State

L @ Indiana

W vs. Kent State

W @ Connecticut

L @ Western Michigan

W vs. Temple

W @ Buffalo

W @ Bowling Green

L vs. Ohio

W @ Miami

L vs. Central Michigan

Final Prediction – 7-5 (5-3)

A final record of 7-5 is a lot better than most are predicting for Akron.  Still, I believe they’ll finish just short of the MAC East title and will most likely be passed over when Bowl Selections are made. 

Feel free to leave your own predictions in the comments section!