Women’s basketball

I think I’ve already posted some of this, but here is the entire 2006-2007 schedule.

The biggest home game is against Pittsburgh. The rest of the schedule is pretty ho-hum.

Miscellaneous

The Varsity A club will induct seven members into its Hall of Fame on Nov. 3.

I’m too young to recognize any of the names.

Football

Three of CFN’s five experts picked Akron to beat Kent State on Saturday.

I’m sticking to my two touchdown spread. The real line is Akron - 2.5.

* Edit: One of the five "experts" is a chicken. An honest-to-goodness chicken that picks a team based on which bowl of food it approaches first. Clucko the Chicken chose Kent State. We’re screwed.

Football, men’s basketball

In today’s podcast, the Buchtelite numbskulls talk about the Akron-North Texas game and which men’s basketball games should be most exciting.

Download podcast_6.mp3

• Speaking of the schedule, take a look and see why Keith Dambrot is frustrated. It’s hard getting decent home games when out-of-conference teams won’t accept $70,000 to come to Rhodes Arena.
• The Buchtelite’s Adam Ferrise wrote about J.D. Brookhart’s Monday press conference on the North Texas game.
• I wrote my column about receiver David Harvey and other exciting freshmen on campus…

I am a forward-looking sports fan.

If my team is the New England Patriots, for example, I wouldn’t care if they return to the playoffs this year. I would be depressed because the team’s future is dim.

That’s why I’m excited about Akron sports. Freshmen are talented and contributing in important ways. And I’m not just talking about football.

But since we’re on the pigskin topic, freshman receiver David Harvey is already the most electrifying player on the team.

His 78-yard return on the game’s opening kick off against North Texas was a great example why. Later in the game, he eluded the Mean Green tacklers for a 79-yard return.

That performance earned Harvey the Mid-American Conference Special Teams Player of the Week last week.

Harvey also is challenging incumbent Jabari Arthur as quarterback Luke Getsy’s go-to receiver. He has accumulated an average of 79.2 receiving yards per game, which is third best in the MAC.

I would love to talk with Harvey about how exciting it has been, but I can’t. Coach J.D. Brookhart says he is off-limits to the media.

Probably for the better. With talent like Harvey’s, the staff needs to handle him like a china doll.

Like I said, there are talented freshmen throughout campus.

Four more of them play volleyball.

If you have some time, it’s worth watching this exciting team as I did on Friday. The Zips lost 3-0 to No. 20 Ohio, but showed promise.

Once, the ball flew over the net toward a vacant spot on the Zips’ side of the court.

Akron senior Kim Horn immediately sacrificed her body on the hardwood floor to preserve the point. Then a teammate set the ball for the team’s jumping bean.

Like she was fired from a cannon, 5-foot-7 freshman Brionna Patterson soared above the net for a ferocious spike. She is among the team leaders in kills (not the Goldeneye 007 kind, I’m talking about finishing points in the Zips’ favor).

What’s sad is nobody wanted Patterson. Well, almost nobody. Indiana Tech and Wheeling Jesuit College showed interest in the Sandusky native.

"She comes from a school that doesn’t have a history of being very good," coach Mike Sweitzer said. "We did our homework and other schools didn’t."

Watching her spike the ball, it seems Patterson could out-leap anyone on campus.

"I have to make up for not having much height," Patterson said.

At this point, Akron is unable to recruit tall players, who typically flock to more successful programs, such as Ohio’s. But the players Sweitzer is finding are realizing their potential quickly.

Kara Smith is eighth in the MAC in assists. Megan Rodriguez is 10th in service aces. Elizabeth Martin completes the quartet of young’uns.

"We’re really tickled to death," the coach said. "They have been playing their tails off."

I could go on and on.

Men’s basketball coach Keith Dambrot proved that by filling his 2007 class with players bigger programs would love to have. Pittsburgh basically pleaded with star center Steve Swiech to reconsider choosing the Zips.

With great facilities and improving teams, talented freshmen will be a mainstay for years to come.

Golf

In other Buchtelite news, coach Tom Porten talks about winning the McLaughlin Tournament this weekend.

Men’s soccer

The Buchtelite’s Dan Kadar wrote about how the Zips offense needs to improve against Ohio State.

Women’s soccer

The Buchtelite’s Josh Volchko chronicles Akron’s slow start to MAC play.

Men’s basketball

Akron received a commitment from the No. 13 player in Ohio, reports Ray Mernagh of Hoopfactor.com.

Ronnie Steward is a 5-foot-10 point guard from Columbus. Marshall, Western Carolina and Wright State also offered him a scholarship. Other schools of interest included Stanford, Minnesota, Clemson, Holy Cross and Kent State.

Scout.com gives Steward two stars but very little other information.

Mernagh writes that this will complete Keith Dambrot’s 2007 class, which also includes stud center Steve Swiech and guard/forward Brett McKnight.

I’ll probably have more on this later this afternoon.

Football

Despite the proximity, Kent State is a small mystery to me.

Deep down, I know the Flashes aren’t good, but their record makes me wonder whether they can make Saturday’s game against Akron close.

KSU opened the season at home against Minnesota and lost 44-0. Then came an overtime loss to Army in which they scored their first touchdown on a fake field goal.

Quarterback Julian Edelman’s efficiency allowed KSU to win at Miami two weeks ago, 16-14. Six Bowling Green turnovers on Saturday gave the Flashes a surprising 38-3 victory.

It’s hard to say whether KSU is any good. I mean, Bowling Green has only snuck by Florida International and Buffalo. Miami has yet to win a game.

When the Flashes faced an opponent with some certainty of talent, the Gophers blew them out.

Here’s what I do know about Kent State…

• They have three pretty good offensive playmakers in Edelman, running back Eugene Jarvis and receiver Najah Pruden.
• Edelman is a running threat as well as passing. He has run for 198 yards in four games.
• Jarvis, a 5-foot-5 freshman, relies on speed. He has averaged 4.9 yards per carry this season.
• Pruden has emerged as Edelman’s No. 1 target. Problem is, where are the Nos. 2, 3 and 4? No other receiver is close to Pruden’s 386 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Pruden is a 6-3 speedster and certainly will be one of the defense’s focuses.
• The Flashes have effectively stopped the pass this season. They are 12th in the nation in pass defense.
• The two biggest names on defense are tackle Danny Muir and safety Andrew Kirkland.
• Kirkland had a huge game against Bowling Green, tallying two interceptions, two sacks, 12 tackles and a forced fumble. CFN says the Flashes’ secondary is easily the team’s strength.
• Muir is a 285-pound run stuffer with the potential to get into the backfield. Still, Muir’s line has allowed five running backs to rush for more than 90 yards in four games (Minnesota had two).
• The early betting line has Akron a favorite of between 3 and 3.5 points. I think that is too conservative. I won’t make my prediction yet, but from what I know about Kent State, I see a two touchdown Zips win.

Football

Previewing the Browns highlights on SportsCenter, Scott Van Pelt said: "Don’t you know about the power of Charlie Frye and the Akron Zips?"

It didn’t seem like he was being facetious, either.

Frye threw and scrambled well, but his fourth-quarter interception opened the door for a Ravens 15-14 win.

Golf

Behind strong performances from Brad Wright and Blake Sattler, Akron won its second tournament in as many years.

Sattler and Wright finished one-two overall at the McLaughlin Tournament in Farmingdale, N.Y.

Those scores, as well as respectable cards by Ryan Gutowski, Ryan Culbertson and Vaughn Snyder, allowed the Zips to edge St. John’s in the 16-team event.

I’ll probably look into this sometime this semester, but I suspect the Zips are improving because of the Field House, which allows them to practice 12 months a year.

Women’s soccer

The Zips are experiencing a difficult start to the MAC season.

They lost 1-0 at Central Michigan just two days after falling 3-0 to Eastern Michigan.

Up next are four MAC home games starting Friday against Western Michigan 7:30 at Lee Jackson Field.

Football

We all knew this game would go the Zips’ way.

That said, the real story is Akron’s awful special teams performance.

Matt Domonkos missed two extra points and a 24-yard field goal. North Texas also blocked a punt and recovered an onside kick.

With MAC play continuing next week at Kent State, who surprisingly isn’t that bad this season, the Zips have some serious issues with the most annoying part of football: kicking.

J.D. Brookhart does not appear to have options for replacing Domonkos — probably the least reliable kicker in the nation.

Of course, there are several positives in a 33-13 win…

• David Harvey returned two kicks for 157 yards. You might be watching the MAC’s most electrifying player.
• Andre Walker and Aaris Reed filled in nicely for Dennis Kennedy, who probably could have played if the Zips were playing someone other than North Texas. Both backups averaged over four yards a carry. Brookhart said Kennedy will play next week at Kent.
• Luke Getsy was very efficient, even though he didn’t throw for 400 yards. I’ll take 14 for 20 with three touchdowns and no interceptions any day.
• At 16,011, attendance was poor if you consider the Zips are playing at home for the first time since winning the MAC Championship, playing in their first bowl game and beating NC State. However, the student turnout was the best I’ve seen. Part of that is due to the Greek fest. Hopefully frat boys come out to the Rubber Bowl once the temperatures drop in November.

Here are results from around the MAC…

• I was shocked Kent State won at Bowling Green, 38-3. Then I looked at the stats. The Flashes worked with a short field the entire day because the Falcons had six turnovers to Kent’s none.
• You’re going to see a lot of people giving Kent a shot to win this game. I won’t be one of them. This is the same team that Minnesota blew out 44-0. This is the same team that Army beat in overtime. The only way this is a close game is if Akron’s special teams continues its impotence.
• In other MAC play, Missouri waxed Ohio.
• Northern Illinois creamed Indiana State.
• Syracuse showed how awful Miami really is.
• Western Michigan destroyed Temple.
• Toledo blew out McNeese State.
• North Dakota State upset Ball State.
• Central Michigan used overtime to beat Eastern Michigan.
• Buffalo put up a decent fight against Auburn before succumbing in the second half.

Football

Like me, J.D. Brookhart expects Luke Getsy to have a much better game this week.

As for North Texas’ quarterback, the athletic Woody Wilson will get the start. The Dallas Morning News says the matchup of the day will be Wilson vs. Akron rover John Mackey.

• After the betting line opened at Akron - 15, it has crept up to a 17- or 17.5-point spread.
• Our friend Danny Sheridan predicts an 18-point Zips victory.
• CFN says Akron will win 28-10.

I already revealed my prediction on our Podcast. I believe Akron will win 35-14.

Women’s soccer

Akron’s undefeated streak ended Friday with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Eastern Michigan.

I knew it wouldn’t last forever, but a severe beating is not what I expected from a team that had only given up one goal this season.

Volleyball

I watched No. 20 Ohio beat the Zips 3-0 tonight at home.

The Bobcats capitalized on many Akron errors, but from my vantage point, the Zips showed great promise against the MAC’s powerhouse.

Unless something miraculous happens during tomorrow’s football game, my Tuesday column will likely feature the volleyball players.

Golf

Blake Sattler sits in first place after day one of the McLaughlin Tournament in New York.

So do the Zips.

If Akron hangs on, it would be the second victory in as many season.

Football

In the past two weeks, three new three-star recruits have appeared on the Zips’ radar, Rivals.com says.

• Kenard Burton is a 5-foot-9 slot receiver from Dodge City Community College. The juco prospect wants to attend Kansas State, but also is looking at Iowa State, Miami (Fla.), South Florida, Troy, Middle Tennessee State and Akron. The Hurricanes have contacted Burton and are probably another favorite to land his services. No team has offered Burton a scholarship.
• Brian Gamble is a 5-11 safety from Massillon Washington High School. He has offers from Akron, Ball State and Eastern Michigan. Illinois and West Virginia have been talking to Gamble, which he says is exciting.
• Rocco Pentello is a 6-0 safety from Westerville, Ohio. He has offers from Akron, Air Force, Cincinnati, Ball State, Marshall and Toledo. What Pentello really wants is that letter from West Virginia or Ohio State.

And here are some updates on previous three-star recruits on Rivals…

• Frank Edmonds is still the 11th best running back in the nation. And he STILL lacks an offer from a BCS school. Five MAC schools, including Akron, are hoping it stays that way. His 5-6 height is probably playing a part in this.
• Akron is still one of three scholarship offers for Maryland safety Kahlil Permenter, along with Temple and Boston College.
• The Zips appear to have little chance in landing three-star receivers B.J. Cunningham and Derek Moye. Same goes for offensive linemen Mark Spinney and Mark Wetterer. Three cornerbacks seem to be fading from Akron’s rearview mirror as well.

Here’s another clip I found at ZipsNation.org. A CBSSportsline.com writer says J.D. Brookhart is on the short list for the likely job opening at Miami (Fla.).