ZipsWire-Temple at Akron, Homecoming ’07

Posted by Don Olson Published in ZipsWire

TALE OF THE TAPE

Temple (1-5, 1-2 MAC) at Akron (3-3, 2-0 MAC), 6 p.m. ET

Site: The Rubber Bowl (surface: AstroPlay, 31,000)

Series: Temple Leads 9-7, (Last meeting: Akron 25, Temple 15 in 1999)

Radio: SportsRadio 1350/Akron, WERE 1490 AM/Cleveland

Outlook: Somewhere in Akron, in the vicinity of the football program, somebody has an angel sitting on their shoulder. The Zips have been the absolute kings of miracle MAC comebacks with last week’s thrilling 39-38 last second win over Western Michigan just being the most recent example. In 2006 the Zips pulled out a 20-17 win over North Carolina State on a last-second one-yard TD run; in 2005 the Zips captured the MAC Championship in a 31-30 win over Northern Illinois on a touchdown pass with ten seconds remaining and the year before that, in 2004, Akron scored 17 points in a span of two minutes to down Marshall 31-28. It also helped last week that the Zips may have found a regular starter at QB in Chris Jacquemain who threw for 389 yards and four TD’s while WR Jabari Arthur chipped in with a school-record 15 receptions for 223 yards and three touchdowns. Temple also was the beneficiary of some late game heroics, winning 16-15 last week over Northern Illinois when Jake Brownell connected on a 39-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining. The Owls failed to score an offensive touchdown in their historic, first-ever MAC victory, as Terrance Knightron recorded the Owls’ only touchdown on a 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Temple QB Adam DiMichele continues to be a steadying influence for the Owls offense and contributed 257 total yards. The Owls’ defense has also shown marked improvement over last season and ranks second in the MAC, allowing 377.8 yards per game.
Prediction: Akron 45, Temple 17.

(source: MacReportOnline.com)

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AKRON, TEMPLE KNOW ABOUT FANTASTIC FINISHES

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports this morning that the Zips and the Owls know a little something about last-second wins this season.

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AT THE HALF

Temple’s student newspaper takes stock of the current season at the half-way point.

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TIME FOR CUBIT TO MOVE ON

Yeah, we all get hosed by the refs once in a while. Gee – we don’t know anything about that at Akron, do we? However, Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit is still talking about last week’s freak Zips win in Kalamazoo. As the Beacon Journal reports today, Akron coach J.D. Brookhart says it’s time to move on. We agree.

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MAC NO LONGER NON-BCS FORCE

by Adam Rittenberg, ESPNU

You know it’s a typical MAC season when nothing goes according to plan. The league is no longer a force in the non-BCS, and only one team (Bowling Green) has a winning record. But the MAC title race is reliably entertaining, as several squads scrap until December. Defending champ Central Michigan looked awful in the nonconference but dominant in MAC play, winning three games to claim an early division lead. Akron, which beat Western Michigan in stunning fashion last Saturday, shares the MAC East lead at 2-0 with Miami (Ohio). Kent State is also in the mix. Both preseason division favorites, Western Michigan and Ohio, have struggled so far, and Ball State already has dropped two conference home games. Buffalo (yes, Buffalo) could be a sleeper team after starting 2-1.

Biggest Surprise
It’s always amazing when Buffalo claims two of its first three MAC games, but the way the Bulls have won is more noteworthy. Beating Temple 42-7 is nice, but almost everyone feasts on the Owls. A 31-10 dismantling of preseason MAC East favorite Ohio indicates that Buffalo could be for real. Miami’s 2-0 start is less surprising, but the RedHawks won only two games all of last season. Picked fifth in the MAC East before the season, Bowling Green has showcased a dynamic offense behind quarterback Tyler Sheehan that could pay off in November. Eastern Michigan might surprise some teams after being picked last in the MAC West.

Biggest Disappointment
The preseason division favorites share this unwanted tag. Ohio was a strong bet to defend its MAC East title, but it has reached a crossroads halfway through the season. After close losses to Wyoming and Kent State, the Bobcats collapsed against Buffalo and slipped into the division basement. Western Michigan hasn’t fared much better, inexplicably blowing a 38-31 lead with 15 seconds left against Akron last week. The Broncos’ defense has declined substantially, from 11th in yards allowed last season to 103rd this year. Toledo and Northern Illinois remain winless in the MAC West. NIU’s streak of seven consecutive winning seasons is at risk in what might be coach Joe Novak’s final season.

Midseason MVP
Bowling Green quarterback Tyler Sheehan was the clear choice until he threw five interceptions last Saturday against Boston College. Sheehan, who ranks 10th nationally in total offense and third in completion average, still deserves some props after fueling the Falcons’ offense in his first year as the starter. He shares the award with another super sophomore, Kent State running back Eugene Jarvis, who ranks fifth nationally in rushing (141.8 ypg). Other MAC daddies include Ball State quarterback Nate Davis (15 TDs, 2 INTs), Akron wide receiver Jabari Arthur, Western Michigan wideout Jamarko Simmons, Ball State wideout/returner Dante Love and Eastern Michigan defensive end Jason Jones.

Midseason Coach of the Year
Bowling Green’s Gregg Brandon deserves credit for going with youth (Tyler Sheehan) over experience (Anthony Turner) at quarterback. He shares this distinction with Miami (Ohio) coach Shane Montgomery, whose team has rebounded from a 10-loss season to pick up two key road wins in league play. Eastern Michigan’s Jeff Genyk could make a push before the season ends, and first-year Central Michigan coach Butch Jones is off to a splendid start in league play. Ball State’s Brady Hoke nearly pulled off a colossal win at Nebraska.

Bowl bound
Bowling Green and Ball State have the standout quarterbacks (Tyler Sheehan and Nate Davis) that teams need to reach the postseason. Central Michigan continues to be infallible in MAC play and could make a repeat trip to a bowl. Miami (Ohio) can win league games on the road and might sneak into the postseason, and both Kent State and Akron remain factors in the MAC East.

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SLAUGHTER AT “THE SHOE”

As Kent State offers themselves up as cannon fodder to the Buckeyes this week, the Wretched Courier reports that a Flash who grew up near the Shoe is excited to go home and get his brains beat out.

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Week #7 Preview, by MACReportOnline.com

Preview by VanDelaySports.com

‘DIG ONE’ FOR THE GIPPER

Did you hear, they’re exhuming the body of Notre Dame football great George Gipp. The exhumation was sought by some of Gipp’s family members, but they’re not saying why.

All we know is that they’re looking to perform DNA testing.

Gipp died in 1920. Yahoo Sports reports.