1997 Zips Football Season Capsule
Head Coach: Lee Owens
Record: 2-9 (2-6 MAC, sixth in the East Division)
Vern Smith MAC Player of the Year nominee: Andre McCray
All-MAC: Kevin Kuntz (first team, Football News),
Nate Boyd (honorable mention)
Academic All-MAC: Mike Hayes (first team), Bill Burke, Brock Knisely,
Dan Wessman (honorable mention)
Team Awards: Greg Lomax (Most Valuable Back, Top Offensive Performer,
High Scorer); Andre McCray (Top Defensive Performer, Outstanding Junior,
Captain); Kevin Kuntz (Most Valuable Lineman, Captain); George Germany
(Top Defensive Performer, Captain); Carl Whitt (Outstanding Junior);
Jamie Reader and Corey Christian (Outstanding Senior); Rich Reliford
(Outstanding Freshman); Dan Wessman (Lifter of the Year); Ellery
Bradford (Heisman/Unsung Hero); Matt Chase (Team Academic Award);
Nate Boyd, Mike Lagasse (Captain).
Jamie Reader: Played in the 1998 Hula Bowl, free agent signee by the
Arizona Cardinals.
Street & Smith’s MAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Nate Boyd
USA Today Online Positive Performer: Andre McCray
AT&T Long Distance Award: Greg Lomax (vs. Ohio, 92-yard TD run)
MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week: Greg Gromek (vs. Central Michigan)
Season Highlights: Opened season at eventual co-national champion Nebraska
(sixth-ranked at game time), also played at 13th-ranked LSU ...
Akron exploded for 573 total yards in a 53-14 rout of Central Michigan
and 554 yards (470 yards rushing) in a 45-35 win over Kent to reclaim
the Wagon Wheel ... 11th-ranked rushing offense in the nation (221.0
yards per game) ... Mike Hayes ranked 16th nationally in punting average
(43.75 yards per kick) ... Mike Lagasse ranked 35th nationally in
kickoff returns (23.9 yards per return) ... Greg Lomax’s 835 season
rushing yards were the most by a Zips back in Division I-A play.