ZipsWire-Jacquemain Named Starter

NEW DEPTH CHART PUTS JACQUEMAIN OVER JACKSON

Mike Rasor has the latest in his blog.

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‘A TALE OF TWO HALVES’….COACH BROOKHART SAYS

The following is a transcript of head coach J.D. Brookhart‘s discussion with the media from today’s weekly press conference.

On the loss to Connecticut…
“The game was a tale of two halfs in many ways. We played pretty good football in the first half. We felt like it was game of momentum shifts and a couple of them we didn’t respond well too. We certainly had an opportunity for more points in the first half. Obviously, the momentum at half changed when we didn’t get any points out of the last drive but I thought we came out and rebounded from that fine. We got the interception right out of the half in the first series but then we got called for a hold after having the first down. We came back and defense again responded. From there I didn’t think we responded well to the momentum shifts. We are not a team that is going to come out and throw 50 points on the board very often. We got behind and did not recover well. We played a good football team but now we are into Mid-American Conference play the rest of the way. That’s where our goals are at.”

On the schedule…
“We have played the fourth toughest schedule to date.  Ohio State and the University of Connecticut are two of the toughest defenses in the nation but there is still life, no doubt. We understand exactly where we are. We have goals that we set each year. Obviously, winning the MAC is the number one goal. We have BCS goals as well. If you recall this football team last year, the first thing that comes to mind is not the upset against North Carolina State it was the rest of the way. In the end the win against NC State was a great momentum builder and exciting but it meant zero to the season. The 2005-06 season we were 5-3 and lost, I believe, most of our BCS goals but we won the MAC Championship and went to

Detroit for a bowl game. That is what people remember of that football team. Right not we are looking at the fact that we are 1-0 in the league.”

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On quarterback Chris Jacquemain…
“Chris played pretty well, he had a good first half. He played well enough that we left him in for the second quarter series that Carlton Jackson was going to play. We thought we needed to continue with him. He did make some errors, the one critical one and he also took some sacks he shouldn’t have but I think he got that under control and did a better job in the second half.”

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On the third quarter breakdowns to date…
“There are a couple reasons we haven’t done well in third quarters. At Ohio State we just got worn out. The defense had played so hard in the first half. At Indiana, the quarterback got loose and made some great plays and was even better than we though he was.  I think you go in with a plan and then make your adjustments at halftime.  At UConn, we went and defensively were playing well.  Then, all of a sudden, they go away from every tendency they have.  We got hit a little bit off balance.  We areplaying good football teams.   We obviously have to play better but to point the finger at the third quarter as to why, I don’t know. One of the challenges I have given to the team is to finish better. We finished well at Kent, but had some breakdowns at OSU and Indiana.”

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On the loss of John Mackey to an ACL injury…
“John is so vocal and so respected for his work ethic and how he plays. I think that inspires other guys to ramp it up a notch. Your talking about a kid that played through a shoulder injury last year I don’t think anyone else would have played through. There is that respect level and seeing that in the huddle juices the guys up a little bit. That is something that the defense collectively has to ramp up.”–0–

On the progress of the offensive line…
“We are still making some mistakes that hurt us but we are getting there. In terms of grading they’re kind of borderline right now. In terms of passing I think part of that is competition and who we have played but I think we have made great improvements. Our missed assignments have been lessened dramatically. I’m not going to say I am happy with line but I am pleased with the progress.”

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On wide receiver Jabari Arthur…
“I can’t say enough good things about him. He was the first player in our office this morning to watch tape. He sacrificed his dream of being a college quarterback. I thought he would do better at wide receiver and I think that’s proven out for him. In every way he is the right kind of guy. Obviously, he is a physical talent but also he has a mature demeanor about him that is really engaging. He is a pleasure to have on the team.”

On playing Western Michigan Saturday…
“They are a very good football team. In my mind they were the favorite to win the MAC. I thought they were the most talented with the most guys back. It is the same crew, they are physical, they run the ball well, have good skill players, and are big up front. Defensively, they are complicated and they are a physical football team. Last year they handled our offense up front. They also have a good kicking game, one of the best punters in the nation. Those are our challenges.”

NOTES:

-The combined record of the three teams Akron has lost to this fall is 14-1. (Ohio State is 5-0, Indiana is 4-1 and Connecticut is 5-0).

-All of Akron’s opponents to date have a combined record of 19-6 as kent State is 3-2 and Army is 2-3.-With all five of Akron’s previous opponents getting wins on Sept. 29 (including UConn’s win over Akron), the Zips now have the fourth-toughest strength of schedule in all of NCAA Division I football (FBS and FCS). Note: the NCAA lists Akron’s previous opponents’ record at 16-4, which is their record minus playing Akron.

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-Akron has faced the nation’s second-ranked and fifth-ranked defenses in the nation this year in Ohio State and Connecticut, respectively.  Akron only trailed OSU 3-2 at halftime and was only down 13-2 through three quarters.  At UConn, akron led twice and only trailed by six (10-6) at halftime, drving to the two before having time expire as the first half gun sounded.

-Senior wide receiver Jabari Arthur, who eight catches for 81 yards at UConn, now has 132 career receptions and now only need 17 to tie the Akron all-time record (188 to surpass) as Matt Cherry (2000-03) had 149 career receptions to be the current leader. Arthur, who averages 6.8 receptions per game this season, stands at fourth on the school’s all-time list, needing just seven to move to third and 10 to move to second.

(source: Akron Media Relations, photos: Jeff Harwell, Zips Sports Photography)

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FOCUSING ON THE MAC

After the thumping UConn gave the Zips, The Beacon Journal reports they can now focus on winning the MAC championship.

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ZIPS DEFENSE LOST ITS HEART

Saying that John Mackey’s injury is devastating to the Akron defense is overstating the obvious, reports The Buchtelite.

The Buchtelite writes up the UConn game.

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SON OF ZIP DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR WANTS TO SEE “OTHER” OFFERS

Highly-recruited Hoban safety Will Fleming, son of Akron defensive coordinator Jim Fleming, says many schools are interested in him, but few are putting forth offers because of his Dad’s position with the Zips. Rivals.com reports.

(photo: Rivals.com)

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SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN

Broncos coach Bill Cubit didn’t need an aspirin on Sunday because his team clobbered Toledo on Saturday, reports the Kalamazoo Gazette.

The Gazette also reports that, with 245 yards on the ground and some excellent O-line play, the passing game took a back seat in the victory over the Rockets.
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ZIPPY UNDEFEATED IN MASCOT COMPETITION

Otto from Syracuse is now orange juice after Zippy defeated the, the, thing from the “Cuse” in the Capital One Bowl Mascot of the year competition.

In addition to his third consecutive win, Zippy is also at the top of the overall standings with more than 115,000 votes.

This week, Zippy is up against Joe Bruin from UCLA.

Vote for Zippy daily

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Ball State thumps Buffalo, Miami comes up big against Syracuse and Bowling Green continues its winning ways against D-I newcomer Western Kentucky. MACReportOnline has a wrap up of week #5 action.

VanDelaySports Week#5 Recap

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Ball State QB Nate Davis is known for having one of the better arms in the MAC. However, as the Muncie Star reports, he has recently found that he can also run with the ball, although he prefers to keep it in the air.

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P.J. Mahone was an outstanding running back at Elyria High School. However, as the Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune reports, the Falcon safety put those offensive skills to good use against Western Kentucky.

BG News reports the Falcons’ mistake-free offense keeps moving.

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The University of Buffalo’s offense is making many Bulls fans scratch their heads, reports the Buffalo News.

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OU coach Frank Solich says he didn’t pull starting quarterback Brad Bower because he did anything wrong last week against Kent State. He just wanted what backup Theo Scott could offer. You try to figure that one out in an article in the Athens Messenger.

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In what might be considered a bit of an overstatement, The Daily Kent Stater reports that Flush running back Eugene Jarvis is proving he belongs with the nation’s – let me repeat that – the nation’s elite.

The Beacon Journal reports that believing in Jarvis is paying off for Kent head coach Doug Martin.

His elusiveness is what impacts his effectiveness, The Plain Dealer reports as the Eugene Jarvis news smotherage continues.

Contact Don Olson at: donolson160@yahoo.com