ZipsWire-Brookhart News Conference

BROOKHART SAYS, “…AN UNBELIEVABLE FINISH”

On the stunning win against Western Michigan…
“Obviously that was an unbelievable finish. I think it was a real testament of what we are trying to do here. That was the fourth game in four years that we have won on the final play. We did it at Marshall, at Northern Illinois, N.C. State and then again Saturday night. I think that says a lot about our kids and their beliefs and what we are doing. That game could’ve gone a lot of different ways a lot of different times. Clearly in our eyes, Jabari Arthur was in the end zone on the one play that they ruled out. We thought maybe the last play could’ve been more justice than luck because of the previous call. We played a very good football team.

Western Michigan is going to win a lot of games and they are very talented. We had some things go our way; they had some things go their way. But we have to improve. I thought offensively we made some good improvements but defensively I was a little frustrated with our tackling. It was a great win, a big win. Crossover games count in tiebreakers and we anticipate them having a very good record.”

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On new starting defensive back Wayne Cobham and the transition between the UCONN and WMU game…
“I think it was comfort level. Being able to play a little faster. I think that first start is always difficult. You don’t want to mess up but I think he got over that and the biggest thing with him is you see a want too in him. He has turned into a good player. At the beginning of the year he became our special teams guy and now this opportunity has shown up and I have to tame him back some because he is getting a ton of reps defensively. It is important to him, he wants to be a good football player and he wants to help the team. He’s growing up and is making good strides. He has put himself in a position that if he continues doing what he is doing, he will be a great success on the field but also as a person. He is doing things right.”
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On wide receiver Alphonso Owen…
“He has made some very good strides. He is a guy that can make some plays and probably take some heat off of Jabari Arthrur. He dropped that first one but we believe in him and he came back and made a big one.”
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On how hard the team plays…
“For the most of the four years we’ve been here I’ve been impressed with how hard they have played. I was disappointed quite honestly in the second half of the UCONN game. I thought we didn’t play with the strain and energy that we are capable of playing with. I thought that was a little bit of the reason the game went the way it did but we did keep playing and that’s what we’ve always been about. I have said it before; one thing we talk about is persistence and they do that.”
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On the MAC teams to date…
“Nobody is that different in the MAC. When you get a chemistry going on a team, a belief on a team, who knows. I firmly believe that. You look across the board from any of the 13 teams (in the MAC) and anyone is capable of winning each game, they really are. Mistakes change the game; momentum changes the game. Everyone thought

Ohio and

Kent would be the league dogs in our division and you never know they still might end up being but it just goes to show that everybody can win. The chemistry piece on the team has to be good. They have to play through the valleys and tough times. I think it is very unique to each team and how they are going to do. That’s what has been fun about this league, everybody has a chance each year.”
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On the upcoming game against Temple

“Offensively, Temple makes your kid (sic) work because of all the shifts and formations, unbalance, its high volume and mental for our team. Their quarterback is a good athlete and can hurt us both ways. He has a cannon of an arm. I think they have some great athletes. They are as good as any team in the MAC.”

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

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…THE PLAY

Click here if you haven’t seen The Play that vaulted the Zips over the Broncos. The radio call by Zips play-by-play announcer Steve French is amazing. Audio courtesy of Sports Radio 1350/Akron.

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Zips coaches still excited about winning play…reports The Beacon Journal.

Zips welcome wins their foes cast off…reports The Plain Dealer.

Lateral saves Zips…The Buchtelite.

Career night for Arthur…The Buchtelite.

Adam Ferrise of The Buchtelite grades the Zips for their performance thus far in the current season.

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THE WESTERN WIN-THE TURNING POINT?

It is much too early to say for sure, but when Zips fans look back on the 2007 football season, they could look to Saturday’s win at Western Michigan as the turning point.

Going in to the game, it looked like wide receiver Jabari Arthur was the only tried and true offensive threat. At last week’s news conference, head coach J.D. Brookhart acknowledge that, and the fact that the opposition keys, double and triple teams Aruther as the main weapon of the Zips offense.

And still, with the Western defense giving Arthur all he could handle, the junior sets a school record by catching 15 balls for 223 yards and three touchdowns.

A set up?

During the Kalamazoo contest, the Zips instead used a wide-range of receivers. Running back Bryan Williams caught three passes for 74 yards and Alphonso Owen also caught three passes for 58 yards.

As the passing game thrived, Brookhart also established the run with Williams grinding out 81 yards in 14 carries for an impressive average of 5.1 yards per carry. Jacquemain himself had 44 yards on eight carries, which is all you want from a drop-back QB. Jacquemain’s passing performance and Williams’ rushing implies adequate protection and run blocking from the offensive line, which has struggle this year.

Jacquemain coming of age?

But a balanced passing attack does not work unless the quarterback is up to the task. Saturday night, sophomore Chris Jacquemain certainly was. Jacquemain threw 41 times, completing 23 for 389 yards.

In addition to being the possible turning point of the season for the Zips, could the Western Michigan game be the turning point in the career of Jacquemain? His solid performance makes Zips fan enthusiastic that they have finally found the field general they have been seeking in the quarterback derby that has been the current season so far.

Zips well-positioned

Going in to the main stretch of the MAC schedule, the Zips are in a good position as they seek their second MAC East championship in three years. However, with the parity in the MAC this year, nothing is guaranteed. There is a lot of work to do. Central Michigan seems to be getting their act together. Temple won its first MAC game last week. Buffalo seems to be improving with their win over Ohio. The Miami game is in Oxford. However, if the Zips have indeed turned the corner and will continue to improve, especially the offense, this could be a season to remember.

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ARTHUR AND JONES HONORED BY THE MAC

The Mid-American Conference recognizes Jarbari Arthur for his outstanding performance against Western Michigan and Andre Jones for his amazing 89 yard kick return.

(photo: Jeff Harwell, Zips Sports Photography)

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Six weeks have transpired and the conference rankings still seem unsettled. UB beats OU, Temple beats NIU, and Miami beat Kent. My rankings would have been wrong on each account. Here is how I see it now.

1) CMU (3-3) The Chips are 3-0 in the MAC and look to be in control of the West. They have looked poor during several OOC games but when it comes to MAC play they are 3-0. That is hard to argue against.
2) Akron (3-3) The Zips are 2-0 in conference with wins over two solid programs(Kent/WMU). Other than a blowout loss to UCONN the Zips have been respectable in each of their contests.
3) Bowling Green(3-2) The MAC’s lone program with a winning record fell badly to BC. BG needed everything to go right to get past a top 10 team and that was not the case today.
4) Miami(3-3) The Redhawks might be back. They had a bad two week stretch but appear to have fixed their problems.
5) BSU (3-3) The Cardinals were heralded by many as the top team in the conference. The took a beating by CMU but showed that their offense is strong and their defense is not.
6) Kent(3-3) A second loss to a MAC East opponent is going to put a damper on Kent’s title hopes. The Golden Flashes are a quality team that can compete with anyone but I don’t think they are going to be in the championship picture this season.
7) WMU (2-4) A team that had the Zips on the ropes and did not close them out. Tim Hiller and Jamarko Simmons are an amazing combination. I would not count WMU out yet.
8 ) EMU (2-4) They played Michigan strong and had some highlights flash up during some other games broadcasts. I would have loved to EMU to take this one. EMU is definitely an improved team.
9) UB (2-4) They have two big wins against East opponents. I know they beat OU and Temple but with so much parity this good be important down the stretch.
10) OU(2-4) Two losses to MAC East opponents really damaged OU’s chances for a title run. The Bobcats need a defense.
11) Toledo(2-4) A narrow win against Liberty? UT can’t be this bad-the idea of playing the Rockets still would scare me. This program know how to win.
12) Temple(1-5) Congrats on the win! Temple is going to get a couple more before the season is out. Temple’s time is still probably a couple of years down the road but they will make life rough for the rest of the MAC.
13) NIU(1-5) WOW! NIU has fallen on hard times. NIU does not appear to be turning back. They are going downhill fast.

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ZIPS MOVE UP TO 74 IN SAGARIN RATINGS

After Saturday’s fantastic finish in Kalamazoo, the Zips move up four spots on the Sagarin ratings after six weeks of action.

HORRIFIC, UNFATHOMABLE

WOW! Caleb Troop of The Athens News gives it to the Bobcats right between the eyes.

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Painful loss to test Broncos resolve

Western Michigan is facing a must win against Northern Illinois after a painful loss to The University of Akron, reports the Kalamazoo Gazette.

The Gazette also reports that there is a positive to take away from the Akron loss – the passing game has taken a step forward.

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Ball State behind the 8-ball!

The Muncie Star says the Cards put themselves in a difficult position after their loss to CMU.

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Chips control their own destiny

As Ball State laments its loss, C-Mlife.com says the Chippewas are in the driver seat in the MAC West.

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CONGRATULATIONS CLEVELAND INDIANS!!!!

CLEVELAND 3 GAMES

NYY  1 GAME

Contact Don Olson at: donolson160@yahoo.com