Zips Ambush Black Knights
By Jason Roberts | September 20, 2008
West Point, NY - Akron forced 5 turnovers and put up 358 yards as the Zips beat the Army Black Knights 22-3.
QB Chris Jacquemain was 14 for 25 for 203 yards. Andre Jones lead the Zips with 5 receptions for 103 yards. Dennis Kennedy carried the ball 19 times for 71 yards. Andrew Johnson (10 carries for 53 yards) and Joe Tuzze (4 carreis for 23 yards) also helped the Zips’ offensive effort.
Akron had only one turnover and had 9 penalties for 60 yards.
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Akron Opens Against Big Ten
By Jason Roberts | August 30, 2008
Madison, Wisc. - The Akron Zips Football season officially begins today in Madison, Wisconsin at 1:00pm. It’s the beginning of what was hoped to be a much heralded football season as 2008 ushers out the final year for Akron’s football stadium. But the team’s lack of returning experience could make this a difficult year to watch for Zips fans.
Akron will open today at the Badgers’ Camp Randall Stadium (80,321). Wisconsin’s coach Bret Bielema puts his 21-5 record up against Akron coach JD Brookhart’s 22-26 record. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network and locally on 1350AM and 106.9FM radio. The Badgers are favored by 27.
Wisconsin has won 10 straight season openers. P.J. Hill (tailback) begins the year ninth on UW’s career rushing list with 2,814 yards. Whether tight end Travis Beckum (hamstring) and fullback Chris Pressley (broken thumb) play will be game-time decisions. Allan Evridge (quarterback) hasn’t started a game since 2005 due to his redshirt freshman season at Kansas State.
Akron is 1-16 all-time against Big Ten foes. Its lone victory came on Sept. 5, 1894, when it beat Ohio State 12-6 during the John Heisman coaching era. Quarterback Chris Jacquemain (Junior)threw for 1,623 yards and 11 TDs a season ago in a platoon situation. This year, Jacquemain is not expected to share starting duties. Senior kick returner Bryan Williams ranked second nationally last season in kick return average at 31.9 yards. One place Akron has some experience is the offensive line.
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Meet The Team On Sunday
By Jason Roberts | August 8, 2008
Akron, OH - The University of Akron Zips football team will host their annual Meet The Team celebration on Sunday, August 10 from 5-6 pm at Rhodes Arena. This free event follows a team practice and will give fans a chance to interact with the team and Coach JD Brookhart. The University will provide refreshments and season ticket holders will have the opportunity to pick up their tickets for the 2008 season. Any tickets not picked up on Sunday will be mailed on Monday.
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Kent Stadium Vandalized
By Jason Roberts | August 8, 2008
Kent, OH - The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that vandals have defaced portions of the newly remodeled DIX Stadium near the Kent State University campus. “AK Rowdies” and “Go Zips” were spray-painted in an apparent attempt to possibly make it appear as if it was a U of Akron fan who did the damage. It is unknown at this time who is responsible for the vandalism.
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Cedrick is Back!
By Jason Roberts | July 2, 2008
Akron, OH - Cleveland.com is reporting that former Akron men’s basketball player Cedrick Middleton has been hired as the program’s graduate assistant coach.
“Cedrick was one of the hardest-working players we have had at Akron and who I have ever had the opportunity to coach,” fifth-year head coach Keith Dambrot said in a statement. “He had a great playing career and is a great person. He is one of the main reasons we were able to turn this program around and enjoy so much success over the last four seasons.”
Middleton played for the Zips from 2005 to 2008. His 130 games played, logging time in every contest, is the most by any player in program history.
He was honored as the Mid-American Conference’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2007 and finished ranked 29th on Akron’s all-time scoring list (1,120) and eighth in all-time steals (131). Middleton, a Chicago Heights, Ill., native, earned his bachelor’s degree in communication in May, and will pursue a master’s degree in sports science and coaching.
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Brooks Arrested After Firing On Officer
By Jason Roberts | May 19, 2008
Akron, Ohio - A University of Akron basketball player was arrested Saturday night after opening fire on police, NewsChannel5 reported. Akron detectives said that Rydell Brooks, a sophomore at UA, was arrested after a routine traffic stop. They said Brooks, 20, fled from the vehicle and fired shots at the officers. The officers were not hit. After a short foot pursuit, Brooks was arrested. Police said he is being held in the Summit County Jail and is facing attempted murder and felonious assault charges. Brooks joined the Zips last year. He was a 2006 Buchtel High School graduate. He transferred to Akron from Niagara University to join the men’s basketball team. Brooks averaged 4.7 points in starting 30 of 35 games as a freshman in 2006-07 for the Purple Eagles, who he helped qualify for the NCAA tournament. He sat out the 2007-08 season for the Zips and is eligible to play the next three seasons. According to his Web site, Brooks was born Sept. 29, 1987, in Akron. He is the son of Rydell Brooks and Diane Bell and was raised by his paternal grandmother, Katherine Brooks. He has six siblings. Brooks is expected to be in court on Monday.
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Zips Land Top Prospect
By Jason Roberts | May 9, 2008
Akron, Ohio - Tom Gaffney of The Akron Beacon Journal reported that Zeke Marshall, one of the top center prospects in the country, has made an oral commitment to the University of Akron men’s basketball team.
Marshall is 6-foot-11 and from McKeesport, Pa. He is ranked as the 11th-best center and 61st overall junior, according to Scout.com.
Scout.com reported that he was choosing between the Zips, Pitt, Duquesne, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
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Another Zip Is Off to the NFL
By Jason Roberts | April 27, 2008
AKRON – (from GoZIPS.com) For the fourth consecutive year, a member of the University of Akron football team was drafted within the first four rounds as corner back Reggie Corner was picked in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills.
Corner was the 114th pick overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, the fifth-highest Akron student-athlete to be selected, following Charlie Frye (67th pick in 2005), Jason Taylor (73rd pick in 1997), Dwight Smith (84th pick in 2001) and Andy Alleman (88th pick in 2007).
Since 2001, Akron has had six players picked. In addition to the names above, Jake Schifino was taken in the fifth round (151st pick overall) in the 2002 draft and Domenki Hixon was taken in the fourth round (130th pick overall) in the 2006 draft.
Corner, who started every game over his career and graduated from Akron in December of 2007, ended his career at Akron with 197 tackles (52 in 2007), 15 interceptions and 35 pass breakups. His 15 career picks ties current NFL defensive back Smith for second on the Akron all-time list. Also, Corner ranks eighth on the Mid-American Conference all-time list with his 15 career picks and ranks seventh on the MAC all-time list with his 225 career return yards off interceptions.
Corner earned first team All-MAC honors in 2007, as named by the league’s coaches, as well as first team All-MAC by Rivals.com and Phil Steele Magazine. He led the league and ranked fourth in the NCAA in interceptions (0.58 per game). He added 12 pass breakups to go along with his seven interceptions to tie teammate Davanzo Tate as the MAC leader in passes defended (1.58), which ranked sixth in the NCAA. His seven picks was the second-best total in the nation to date this season and is fourth on the Akron single-season list. Corner opened the season being named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week after returning an interception 74 yards for a TD in the win over Army. The following week at Ohio State, he had another pick and two pass breakups, one of which led to a John Mackey interception. His solid play continued at Indiana, where he had a career-high eight tackles. In Akron’s win over rival Kent State, Corner intercepted a pass and returned it 43 yards to the KSU two, setting up what proved to be Akron’s game-winning TD. He added two picks in the Temple contest and one each versus Miami and Central Michigan. Corner closed the season with six PBU over the final three games, including a career-high four versus the Chippewas of CMU. In addition to being All-MAC, Corner was named the Zips’ “Most Valuable Defensive Back” by the UA staff.
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Zips Lose To UMASS, End Long Season
By Jason Roberts | March 22, 2008
Amherst, MASS - The Akron Zips long season came to an end today in Amherst, Massachusetts as they lost to UMASS 68-63 in the National Invitation Tournament.
The Zips seemed to struggle in the beginning. Akron was slow to adjust to the UMASS height in the paint and their tough 3-point shooting from the perimeter. The Zips were sloppy with turnovers and inaccurate with their outside shooting, but they still managed to battle back to within 3 points at the half.
It was a different game in the second half as Dambrot made adjustments in the locker room. About five minutes into the half, Akron took the lead for the first time since they were up 2-1. Then Jeremiah Wood turned on the afterburners. Wood was hitting shots from inside the key to outside the 3-point arc. With just over eleven minutes to go, Akron found themselves up by 9 points. UMASS seemed to fall victim to the same shooting bug that infected Akron a few times this season, especially against rival Kent State.
With six minutes to go, the shooting and turnover bug began to infect Akron. It seemed that neither team could get anything to fall. With 4:22 to go in the game, UMASS battled back to within 3 points. A turnover by Cedrick Middleton allowed UMASS to cut the lead to 1 and sent the crowd into a frenzy.
UMASS continued to press and play the tough defense that had them leading in much of the first half. Consequently, the Zips continued to make poor passing choices leading to turnovers.
With 3:14, UMASS took the lead at the free throw line 61-60. On the next trip down, Nick Dials was double-teamed and lost the ball, in the skirmish for the ball, Chris Lowe was tripped by Dials and Akron was charged with a controversial intentional foul giving UMASS two free throws and the possession.
Brett McKnight hit a 3-pointer with 2:10 to go to bring the Zips to within 2 points. After a stop at the UMASS end, Akron again turned over the ball and proceeded to call a timeout with 1:30 to go down 65-63.
With 54.7 to go in the game, Akron brought the ball into the forecourt. Brett McKnight missed a 3-point shot and UMASS called a timeout with 24.3 to and 23 on the shot clock. Akron, down by two, needed to foul to stop the clock. UMASS’s Gary Forbes was fouled and missed the first of two shots. Akron, down by three with 17.6 left, Akron inbounded the ball which eventually led to an unnecessary 3-point miss by Jeremiah Wood which sealed their fate. In the last half of the game, Akron was out shot 25-7.
The loss ends the Zips season, already the longest in school history with 35 games. Akron finished 24-11.
For Akron, Jeremiah Wood again led the team in scoring with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Cedrick Middleton had 14 points, while Nate Linhart and Nick Dials had 6 and 3 points respectively. Off the bench, Brett McKnight had 11 points while his brother Chris had 6 points.
Akron shot 43% from the field, 76% from the free-throw line and 41% from 3-point range.
Today was the last game for seniors Nick Dials, Jeremiah Wood and Nick Goddard (did not play).
Topics: Men's Basketball | 1 Comment »
Akron Upsets Florida State In First Round
By Jason Roberts | March 18, 2008
Tallahassee, FL - Whenever Akron travels outside the MAC to play, they are greeted with the usual “Where is Akron?” or “What is a Zip?”. Tuesday night was no different as Akron opened NIT postseason play against the Florida State Seminoles. Whether the Seminoles and their fans received answers to their questions they won’t soon forget that the team that they taunted beat them in overtime 65-60. It is their first ever win over an ACC team and it was Florida State’s first lose in the first round of any postseason tournament. The loss was the first to a non-conference team this season for Florida State.
The win wasn’t pretty. Akron was up by as much as 12 points in the first half, but Florida State battled back to within one at the half as the Zips led 34-33.
The second half was even uglier. Akron couldn’t hit their free throws down the stretch. They went 4-4 in the first half but went 1-8 in the second half. The free throw woes continued for much of the overtime as Akron went 10-19 on the night, but Nick Dials did hit key shots from the charity stripe in the waning seconds of the extra period.
The night belonged to Nick Dials who is playing in his senior year with Akron. Dials only hit 2 baskets for most of regulation, but really turned it on in the last minute. In the overtime period he was unstoppable scoring 15 points, more points than the Seminoles did as a team in the extra frame. Dials had a team high 21 points with 4 assists and no turnovers.
Jeremiah Wood struggled a bit with 9 points, but he had 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Nate Linhart put in 12 points and a team high 8 rebounds while Chris McKnight added 10 points. Off the bench for Akron the only points came from Darryl Roberts with 8 points.
Akron shot 38% from the field, they were 11-28 from 3-point range 39% and they shot 10-19 free the throw line. Akron had 12 assists to only 10 turnovers.
Akron will next play second seed UMASS in Amhurst, mass on Saturday 12:00 noon. The game will be televised on ESPN. For all of your Zips game day information, visit the UofAZIPS.com Game Day page.
Topics: Men's Basketball | 2 Comments »
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