Game Day Information
Date: September 20, 1997
Site: Akron, Ohio
Stadium: Rubber (35,202)
Kickoff: 7:00 ET
Team Records: UA is 0-2, 0-1 in the MAC; BGSU is 1-2 (1-0 MAC).
Radio: WHLO 640-AM, WTIG 990-AM
TV: No live TV. Highlights replayed Sept. 22 as part of Zips'
Monday Night Football. (WAKC-TV Channel 23, 8 p.m.)
Series: 5-3, Bowling Green
Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, the Akron Zips have been in this position before.
Coming off a disappointing loss, UA has to regroup for its annual Acme-Zip Game. The Zips stumbled in their MAC opener last Saturday at Miami, falling behind 28-0 at half, and winding up with a 49-20 setback. A year ago, Akron experienced a "nightmare" in its MAC opener at Ohio, losing 44-14, but rallied to play 15th-ranked Virginia Tech to the wire in the Acme-Zip contest.
"We didn't make the strides from the first game to the second game like we did a year ago," says Zip head coach Lee Owens. "We are a better team than what we showed at Miami."
The Zips, 5-5 at the Rubber Bowl under Owens, will have a chance to prove they are "better" this Saturday evening against MAC upstart Bowling Green. Kickoff is at 7 o'clock. The Falcons shocked Miami, 28-21, at Doyt Perry Stadium on Sept. 6. BGSU is 1-2 overall, but an all-important 1-0 in the MAC East Division. Akron, hoping to be a division contender, needs a win to avoid a 0-2 league start.
Bowling Green lost its final five games of 1996, including a 21-14 loss to the Zips last Nov. 2. The MAC's dominant program of 1991 and '92, BGSU is looking to shake off back-to-back losing seasons, and probably views this game as a "swing" game.
The Zips have to rekindle some Acme-Zip magic, having a record of 29-13-1 in this annual game. Akron surprised defending MAC champion Central Michigan, 16-13, in 1995.
SERIES: Bowling Green leads the all-time series by a 5-3 margin, including 4-1 in MAC games. Akron picked up its first MAC win over the Falcons, 21-14, last Nov. 2 at the Bowl.
LINEBACKER MATCHUP: Saturday's game will feature the two best middle linebackers in the Mid-American Conference. Akron's Nate Boyd (E. Liverpool) and Bowling Green's Kevin O'Neill, a (Stow) Walsh Jesuit product. Boyd ranked third in the MAC last fall with 140 stops (90 solo), while O'Neill placed second in tackles for loss with 23 and earned first-team All-MAC. Boyd was Street & Smith's preseason Defensive Player of the Year of the MAC.
DROP BACK AND PUNT: This game also matches the league's two top distance punters in UA's Mike Hayes (Elyria) and BGSU's Andy Pollock. Hayes, 32nd in the nation a year ago and overshadowed by Ball State's Brad Maynard, now with the NFL's New York Giants, is first in the MAC with a 45.5 yard average. Pollock is second at 44.7.
BEECHCROFT REUNION: Miami University is the "Cradle of Coaches," and Columbus Beechcroft High School is fast becoming the "Cradle of Quarterbacks." BGSU starter Bob Niemet starred at Beechcroft for coach Tom Dunlap from 1991-93. His successor was current Akron signal-caller James "Butchie" Washington (1994-95). Two other Beechcroft alumni are on these teams' rosters: sophomore defensive back Richard "Ricky" Jones for Akron and freshman running back John Gibson for Bowling Green State.
MEDICAL UPDATE: Sprained ankles forced sophomores Bill Burke (Lancaster) and Bo Hunter (Wilmington, Del.) to exit the Miami game early. Burke, a starting outside linebacker, reinjured his left ankle which he hurt at Nebraska. Hunter, the No. 1 tailback, came off the field under his own power. Both should be ready for the BGSU game.
Senior linebacker Pat Powell (Beaver, Pa.) broke a bone in his foot and did not make the trip to Oxford. Powell had just been promoted to #2 middle linebacker behind Nate Boyd. Sophomore defensive back Mike Hughes (New Middleton) was cleared to play the Miami game, following (right) shoulder surgery. Hughes missed the Nebraska game and was not involved in any contact drills during preseason camp.
Junior defensive back Jon Eaton (Wheelersburg) severely sprained his left ankle playing in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament before camp began. A two-year starter and a member of the GTE District IV Academic Team, Eaton ranked fifth on the team in tackles last fall (65 total) and played a key role in UA's secondary being among the nation's top 25 units against the pass. He is considering a medical redshirt for 1997. A persistent shoulder injury continues to keep junior tight end Shane Ladner (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) sidelined.
BUCKEYE ASSISTANTS: Their paths did not cross in Columbus, but UA head coach Lee Owens and Bowling Green mentor Gary Blackney both served as assistants to John Cooper at Ohio State. Owens wore the Scarlet and Gray from 1992-94. Blackney served from 1984-90.
GOLF OUTING PLANNED: The University of Akron football letter winners and members of the Varsity "A" Association have organized the first Letterman's Breakfast & Golf Outing for Sept. 20, the morning of the 44th annual Acme-Zip Game.
The Zips will entertain Bowling Green that night at 7 o'clock at the Rubber Bowl.
Breakfast will be served at 7:15 at the Holiday Inn Akron South with the golf scramble to begin at 8:15 at Chenoweth Golf Course, about one-quarter mile from the Holiday Inn. There will be a steak fry and tailgate at the Bowl leading up to the Zips' contest with the Falcons. The package for the entire day is priced at $60. All past Zip football players are invited to attend.
For further information, contact George Housos (Class of '84) at (330) 434-4545 during the day or at (330) 494-0295 evenings.
GEISER APPOINTED: Last week, 1992 Cornell grad Doug Geiser was officially appointed video coordinator for the UA athletics department. The former three-sport star and Valedictorian at Triway High School also is coaching Zip tight ends. Geiser served as graduate assistant strength coach under Dan Bailey for two years.
OWENS ON WAKR: Zip coach Lee Owens will do a one-half hour Acme-Zip Game preview on WAKR Radio 1590-AM this Thursday at 6 p.m. He'll also do a 5-minute talk with WAKR's Mark Richards each Friday at 8:45 a.m.
NEED A LIFT?: The UA Football Parents Group is sponsoring bus transportation to and from four upcoming Zip football games: Oct. 11 at Marshall, Oct. 18 at Eastern Michigan, Nov. 1 at Ball State and Nov. 15 at Toledo. Round trip fares range from $15 to $28. Contact Monica Gromek at (440) 729-4140 for information.
SCHOLARSHIPS EARNED: Two walk-on members of the Zip football team have earned scholarships. Freshman wide receiver Lavel Bailey (Cleveland/Kennedy) and sophomore defensive tackle Jermaine Williams (Akron/Central Hower), were granted scholarships following the Nebraska trip. Bailey, listed No. 2 at split end on the depth chart, had a spectacular 69-yard touchdown grab in Lincoln. Williams made the trip, dressed, but did not play.
Five other Zips, including offensive tackle Kevin Kuntz, tailback Mike Lagasse, free safety Andre McCray, linebacker Eric Small and wide receiver Carl Whitt, are former walk-ons who have earned scholarships.
AKRON'S MAC AWARD NOMINEE FOR SEPT. 13: Sophomore wide receiver Willie Spencer (Massillon/Washington) is the Zips' Offensive Player of the Week. Spencer tossed a 34-yard scoring strike to Carl Whitt and was on the receiving end of a Greg Gromek 14-yard touchdown pass last Saturday at Miami. Spencer is Akron's leading receiver with eight grabs for 88 yards.
SIDELINED: Two Zip sophomores did not make the trip to Miami for violation of team policy. Linebacker Brad King (Dublin) and defensive tackle Anthony Slimon (Alliance), both formerly on the second unit defense, were left home.
SCHEDULE STRENGTH: A recent NCAA survey of Division I-A football schedules reveals Akron having the 44th (out of 112) toughest schedule in the nation. The Michigan Wolverines grade out No. 1 with their 1997 opponents having a .659 winning percentage in '96. Akron is ranked first among MAC schools, with games against preseason Top 10 opponents Nebraska and LSU.
AKRON'S NFL PERFORMERS: In two games, former Zip star Jason Taylor has shined for the Miami Dolphins. A third round draft pick (73rd overall) and a starter in all five preseason games, Taylor has racked up 14 tackles and one QB sack (in two games so far). In the preseason, he had four sacks for 35 yards in losses. Miami is off to a 2-1 start. A first-team All-MAC DE last fall, Taylor had 18 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks.
Victor Green, a Zip letterman from 1990-92, led the NFL in tackles last year as a DB for the New York Jets.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Zips play just four home games in 1997, after adding the Nebraska road trip and losing the Youngstown State home game. Senior defensive end Corey Christian (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) says four home games isn't so bad. He had only two his senior year at Pittsburgh Penn Hills High School, waiting for a new stadium to be completed. The Princeton Tigers this year play all 10 games on the road while their new stadium is being constructed. Akron home dates are Sept. 20 vs. Bowling Green (7 p.m., Acme-Zip game), Oct. 4 vs. Central Michigan (7 p.m.), Oct. 25 vs. Ohio (3:30 p.m., Homecoming) and Nov. 8 vs. Kent (3:30 p.m., 40th Wagon Wheel Game).
"LUNCH WITH THE COACH" ON MONDAYS: UA's popular "Lunch With The Coach" program takes place on Mondays at noon at the Martin University Center, 105 Fir Hill Street. Zip head coach Lee Owens reviews the previous week's game and previews the upcoming contest. Tickets are priced at $7.00. Joe Dunn again will serve as emcee.
MAC'S NEW ERA: The Zips are in the East Division of the new Mid-American Conference format. Marshall and Northern Illinois have rejoined the league, bringing to 12 the number of schools in the 51-year-old all-sports conference. At the MAC Media Day on July 23 in Pontiac, Mich., the Zips were picked to finish in fifth place in the East, ahead of rival Kent. Akron won three of its final four games last fall to finish 4-7 and 3-5 in the MAC (t-6th).
The MAC will stage a Championship Game, pitting East and West champs, Dec. 5 in Huntington, W. Va. The winner will advance to face an at-large team in the first Ford Motor City Bowl, Dec. 26, at the Pontiac Silverdome.
NONCON: UA's Oct. 18 date at Eastern Michigan is a non-conference game. The Zips play five games within the East Division (BGSU, Kent, Marshall, Miami and Ohio) and three cross-over games (Ball State, Central Michigan and Toledo). The Eastern Michigan game will not count in the league standings.
RADIO COVERAGE: For the sixth straight year, Akron radio station WHLO 640-AM will be the flagship station for University of Akron football. Massillon station WTIG 990-AM has reached agreement for a third season to form the Zips Football Radio Network. WHLO's 5,000-watt daytime signal covers 66 of Ohio's 80 counties in addition to western Pennsylvania and into West Virginia.
Returning for his ninth season as the "Voice of the Zips" will be Steve French. He will be joined in the broadcast booth by Clint Scroggs, who last year served as UA's sideline reporter. The UA network is on the air 15 minutes before kickoff with the pre-game show, featuring Zip head coach Lee Owens.
AKRON ZIPS' MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Every Monday night throughout the season, Zip football fans will be able to see UA game highlights on WAKC-TV Channel 23 at 8 o'clock. The one-hour show, hosted by Joe Dunn, will feature head coach Lee Owens evaluating game highlights from the previous Saturday. Coach Owens also will preview the Zips' upcoming opponent. The Miami game will be shown Sept. 15 with the final show Nov. 17 following Toledo.