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Do we really know how good the Zips are this year? After two regular-season games, we’re still waiting to gauge Akron’s talent level.
In the opener against Penn State, Akron was overmatched. However, in the InfoCision home opener, the Zips pounded FCS Morgan State.
Going in to this weekend’s game against Indiana, Akron is five-point favorites. A weekend of firsts. Not only are the Zips hosting a Big Ten (11) team, they are also favorites against their midwestern big brother.
From all indications, Indiana is not very good and has been described as a mid-level MAC team. Lets hope that is an accurate description.
Has anyone heard how attendance is shaping up for Indiana? One would think interest would be high, with the new stadium.
A win this weekend, against a Big Ten-team will be key in keeping momentum generated by the stadium alive. Because the long-term factor on generating fan interested will be the Zips’ performance on the field, rather than the field itself. Sorry Summa.
Looking ahead, the schedule looks tough. Next week, Akron travels to Mt. Pleasant to take on the class of the conference, Central Michigan. After a homecoming game against Ohio, the Zips are on the road for three games; Buffalo, defending MAC champions, Syracuse, which is looking for payback after last year’s embarrasment, then, Northern Illinois. It would be nice to take away at least two victories in that three-game road swing.
The Zips will then come home to Kent State on November 7 and Temple on November 13.









They’ve only been Division I since 2001 and they’ve already won two bowl games. The Owls of Florida Atlantic beat Central Michigan 24-21 in the Motor City Bowl. FAU, which has only had a football program since 2000, is considered one of D-I’s success stories. FAU, who killed Memphis in last year’s New Orleans Bowl, plays out of the Sun Belt Conference, and brought a 6-6 record into Detroit. Central Michigan was 8-4. After a slow 1-5 start in 2008, FAU won five of their six final games to go into the bowl season with some momentum. The Owls’ slow start included losses against national powers Texas, Michigan State and Minnesota.
Could it be the Coaching?
year. The stadium is going to be top-shelf. We know the same cannot be said for the team. The Zips will go into their new home limping from this year’s disaster. The stands will be full. The atmosphere will be electric. However, the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Is J.D. the man to bring that consistent high-level of performance year after year? With the new stadium, state-of-the art indoor practice facility and a brand-new campus, the recruiting excuses are, if they have not already, disappearing. J.D., who once showed so much promise and was on the tip of everyone’s tongue whenever an opening came up at a “premier” program, is fading into the stereotypical Akron coach. The hot seat awaits him if the Zips pull off a repeat 2008 performance in 2009. Time is running out – and quickly.
Zips quarterback Chris Jacquemain chalked up another impressive performance, completeing 20 of 26 pass attempts for 260 yards. Jacquemain showed a lot of poise in leading the Zips on more than one scoring drive and proving that he’s not the same man of inconsistency and poor judgment that he was last year.
‘BIG LEAST’ PITT’S BEST FRIEND
EMBARRASSED TO DEATH!
UPDATE ON FOOTBALL ALUMNI

HOLLYWOOD WILL WAIT: JASON TAYLOR HAS MORE FOOTBALL TO PLAY
CMU FOOTBALL ON VERGE OF SETTING SCHOOL RECORD
MEN’S SUMMER BASKETBALL PREIVEW
AKRON’S LAST-PLACE FINISH MEANS PRESSURE ON BROOKHART