Game Day Information
Date: October 11, 1997
Site: Huntington, W. Va.
Stadium: Marshall (30,000)
Kickoff: 7:00 ET
Team Records: UA is 1-4, 1-2 in the MAC; Marshall is 4-1 (2-0 MAC).
Radio: Akron's broadcast will originate on WHLO-AM (640) and WTIG-AM (990).
Marshall's broadcast will originate on the Thundering Herd Network
from WDGG-FM (93.7) and WRVC-AM (930) in Huntington and will be carried
by 30 stations in West Virginia, four in Kentucky and one in Ohio.
TV: There is live television in southern West Virginia (FoxSports
Pittsburgh, WNVT-TV). There is no live television in Akron; highlights
will be replayed Oct. 13 as part of Zips' Monday Night Football on
WAKC-TV Channel 23 at 8 p.m.
Series: 3-2, Marshall
Just like that, the rest of Akron's season got real interesting.
The Zips' 53-14 thrashing of Central Michigan has their final six opponents reconsidering "AKRON" on their schedules.
First up is Marshall, well-rested since a 42-16 pounding of Ball State on Sept. 27. The Thundering Herd features the nation's top WR in Randy Moss, who caught five TD passes vs. BSU.
"Let me have at least 12 hours to savor this one before we start thinking about Marshall," said Zip coach Lee Owens after Saturday's convincing victory.
"It's been a tough road. The schedule we've played definitely has toughened us up." The Zips pulled out all the stops in accumulating 573 yards of total offense against the Chipps. Sophomore quarterback Greg Gromek (Chesterland/West Geauga) had his finest game in eight college starts, completing 16 of 24 passes for 263 yards and 3 TDs. It is the second best passing day for a Zip QB in six Mid-American Conference seasons.
Akron's defense warmed up for Moss by containing a Central passing unit which ranked fourth in the league. Marshall has the MAC's best air attack at 314.2 yards per game.
The Zips are hoping to get on a roll again, like they did last year when a 10-7 upset of Miami sparked a three-game win streak in late October and early November. The Akron game is Marshall's first MAC home game since rejoining the league.
SERIES: Marshall leads 3-2. The two schools met five times from 1974-82. The home team has won each time.
AKRON'S MAC AWARD NOMINEES FOR OCTOBER 4: Sophomore quarterback Greg Gromek (Chesterland) is the Zips' Offensive Player of the Week. Gromek completed 16 of 24 passes for 263 yards and 3 TDs (0 INTs) in 2 1/2 quarters. Gromek's first-half passing total of 220 yards is a school record, topping the old mark of 214 set by Eric Schoch in 1973 vs. Temple.
Senior linebacker Nate Boyd (East Liverpool) is the Zips' Defensive Player of the Week. Boyd picked off two CMU passes and made five stops to lead the UA defense in limiting the Chippewas to 14 points.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION: The Zips rekindled everyone's enthusiasm with a 53-14 win over Central Michigan. The offensive output of 573 yards is Akron's best effort in six Mid-American Conference seasons. The Zips' 53 points are the most scored by an Akron squad since 1969 when UA posted a 60-27 win over Youngstown State.
ALOHA: Zip senior fullback Jamie Reader (Monessen, Pa.) has been invited to the Hula Bowl, Jan. 18, 1998, in Honolulu.
DEBUT PERFORMANCES: Two Zip freshmen defenders --rookie CB Rich Reliford (Bolingbrook, Ill.) and redshirt LB Derek Wilborn (Waldorf, Md.) -- made their first college starts against Central Michigan. Reliford had one solo tackle and a pass break-up. Wilborn registered five solo hits.
IRON MAN: Junior quick tackle Kevin Kuntz (Steubenville) made his 27th consecutive start against Central. An All-MAC candidate, Kuntz left the game midway through the third quarter with leg cramps and is expected to start at Marshall.
SMITH CLEARED: True freshman DB-KOR Dwight Smith (Detroit, Mich./Central Catholic) saw limited action against Central Michigan after being cleared to play Sept. 25. Smith was caught up in the NCAA clearinghouse which evaluates high school transcripts and determines academic eligibility for freshmen.
One survey rated Smith the 16th best prep player in the state of Michigan last fall. He possesses sprinter's speed, having won city track titles in the 100 and 200 meters. Owens says he is a 10.4 100-meter man. A year ago, he rushed for over 1,000 yards, intercepted 12 passes and made 111 tackles.
PRAISE FOR WHITT: Owens continues to have high praise for junior WR Carl Whitt (Warren/Champion). The former walk-on has 11 catches to date for 216 yards and two TDs; but more importantly, says Owens, is his blocking. Owens believes Whitt might be "the best run-blocking receiver in the MAC."
MEDICAL UPDATE: Sophomore WR Willie Spencer (Massillon) sustained a hip pointer against Central Michigan, but is expected to be ready for Marshall.
Sophomore LB Bill Burke (Lancaster), already slowed by a left ankle sprain and a groin pull, sprained his right ankle v. CMU.
Junior punter Mike Hayes (Elyria) injured his right foot at LSU and was questionable going into the Central game. He did punt three times against the Chipps.
Redshirt freshman guard Chad Smith (Canton) has missed the last three games with a shoulder strain.
Senior linebacker Pat Powell (Beaver, Pa.) broke a bone in his foot prior to BGSU and has not dressed for the last three games. Powell had just been promoted to #2 middle linebacker behind Nate Boyd.
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 All-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. He will take a medical redshirt for 1997.
A persistent shoulder injury continues to keep junior TE Shane Ladner (Pittsburgh) sidelined.
EFFICIENCY: In terms of passing efficiency, the Zips have the second best air attack in the MAC. Akron's team rating is 135.6, behind only Marshall (171.0). Also among MAC statistical leaders: Mike Hayes is No. 1 in punt average (44.7), Mike Lagasse is second in kickoff returns (24.3), FS Andre McCray is second in pass break-ups (6) and QB Greg Gromek is third in passing efficiency (133.9).
THE BEASTS ARE IN THE EAST: In head-to-head match-ups, the MAC East Division is 7-0 against the West Division. Four MAC teams received votes this week in the AP Top 25 poll: Miami, Marshall, Toledo and Ohio. The East has outscored the West, 276-102.
SORTING OUT THE AVALANCHE: The Zips' record offensive performance against Central needs to recapped.
53 points:
AKRON'S NFL PERFORMERS: Former Zip star Jason Taylor has shined as a rookie starter for the Miami Dolphins. A third round draft pick (73rd overall) and a starter in all five preseason games, Taylor has racked up 19 tackles (17 solo) and one QB sack through 5 games. In the preseason, he had four sacks for 35 yards in losses. Miami's record is 3-2. 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.
"LUNCH WITH THE COACH": UA's popular "Lunch With The Coach" program will take place at a special time next week, on Wednesday, October 15 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 $7.50. Joe Dunn serves as emcee.
MAC FORMAT: 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 is 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.
In his ninth season as the "Voice of the Zips" is Steve French. He is 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 Marshall game will be shown October 13 with the final show Nov. 17 following Toledo.
ZIPPY THE KANGAROO: Zippy, Kasey, Moe and Katy. What do they have in common? They are the only four college kangaroo mascots in America. The University of Akron has Zippy, the University of Missouri-Kansas City has Kasey, Virginia Military Institute has Moe, and Austin College in Sherman, Texas, has Katy. UA's Zippy originated in 1954 with the playing of the first Acme-Zip football game.