Men’s soccer

Playing in a suspect conference, Akron knows any loss could prevent a good seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The Zips made their first step against No. 10 New Mexico tonight, winning 3-1 in the opening night of the Westfield Insurance Cup.

Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Elliott Bradbrook and Ivan Sandoval scored against the Lobos’ goaltender Mike Graczyk, a preseason All-American.

The Zips will play Alabama-Birmingham Sunday at 5 p.m.

Football

The theme: Stan Brock says he’s really excited about the defense. They have a lot of starters back, but that’s the bad news. (I stole that line from Lou Holtz.) The team was fifth-to-last in the nation in rush defense. The pass defense was seventh in the nation, but why pass when you can run at your leasure? To show those stats aren’t the result of an outstanding secondary, Army only intercepted four balls last season.

Anyhow, theeeey’re baaaaaaack! And ready to give up acres of yards once again. The best player is safety Caleb Campbell, who isn’t particularly talented, but displays high energy. That’s how most of the team is. It’s hard to blame the coaching staff because it’s difficult to get recruits into West Point.

The key players: SS Campbell, LB Charlie Rockwood

The weaknesses: Defensive line, linebackers

How the Zips can score: Dennis Kennedy will be busy. So will his three backups. With both teams running nonstop, the inaugural Patriot Bowl won’t be too exciting, but it should be quick.

A note…

The ABJ’s Patrick McManamon, in one of his first pieces as lead columnist, wrote about the Zips’ quarterback situation. I disagree that this competition won’t continue into the season. If Carlton Jackson plays well and Chris Jacquemain doesn’t, how can’t the former assume a larger role?

Men’s basketball

According to the recruiting sites, Painesville point guard Alex Sullivan has committed to Akron.

Rivals.com calls it a soft verbal, which seems like a lesser level of commitment. Neither site offers much more insight on Sullivan.

Akron will have five scholarships to offer this recruiting season. Combo guard Anthony “Humpty” Hitchens already has accepted one.

Looking at the roster, the team will need a couple big men to replace Quade Milum and Jeremiah Wood.

The ABJ’s Michael Beaven reminded me that Rydell Brooks has transferred from Niagara. He will sit out this season due to transfer rules. No word on whether he will receive a scholarship. If he does, that will make four point guards on scholarship (five if you count Hitchens). And they’ll all be underclassmen. Can somebody say “logjam”?

His blog provides Brooks’ stats at Niagara, which were unimpressive as a freshmen. Beaven told me he has seen Brooks play and is impressed by the guard’s athleticism, jump shot and slashing ability. At 6-foot-2, he will be a good defender in trapping situations.

And then there’s this…

Zippy will get a shot to win Capital One Mascot of the Year.

Fans will vote to choose the winner. I assume we will see plenty of our favorite marsupial in the new few months on commercials promoting the contest.

As Mack Rhoades points out, this is great exposure for the UA athletics department.

Some of you have expressed concerns that, aside from a few promotions for the Patriot Bowl, how would a layperson know the Zips are fielding a team this season? My take is this: People who will buy season tickets probably will do so regardless. The real marketing campaign should come on a week-by-week basis where you can get the fringe fans possibly to drop by the Rubber Bowl on a whim. A school with limited resources must use them wisely and not necessarily advertise for the benefit of current fans.

Men’s basketball

Under Keith Dambrot, players have never returned from summer in such great shape, according to assistant coach Jeff Boals.

The team opened its conditioning period with a mile run. Cedrick Middleton, who spent his summer interning at ESPN in Bristol, Conn., blew everyone away with a time of 4 minutes, 47 seconds.

Many players have lost significant weight, including Jeremiah Wood, Steve McNees and Nick Dials.

The Zips worked really hard last season to compile an outstanding record. With the way it all disappeared with Penno’s Prayer, the team could have responded in two ways: give up or work even harder. Coaches are raving about how their players have taken the latter path, and it all starts with Middleton (who must be considered team captain, in my opinion).

“Coach was talking about how Cedrick has changed the complexion of the program with how hard he works,” Boals said.

Another good sign is that every player is solid academically.

Looking ahead, the starting lineup probably will consist of three guards again. You can’t keep Middleton or Dials out of the starting lineup, but you also don’t want to force either into a true point guard role. Ronnie Steward, a Dru Joyce clone, and McNees, a flashy passer, will platoon at the 1.

The coaches are realistic in thinking the team might not be that great to begin the year. Joyce and Romeo Travis meant a lot, particularly in intangibles. Joyce’s graduation leaves a hole for the team’s “quarterback” and go-to shooter in the clutch. Travis’ offense and rebounding kept Akron alive in many games.

The team has just one exhibition scheduled. Walsh University will visit on Nov. 8.

(The purpose of this post is to deter mass suicide among Zips fans if Akron loses to Army on Saturday.)

Football

The theme: Stan Brock took over this season for Bobby Ross as head coach. As an assumption in recommending Brock, Ross believed his son Kevin would stay on as the offensive coordinator. Army hired Brock; Brock canned Kevin — possibly a sign that there’s a new scheme coming.

David Pevoto won the starting quarterback job over Carson Williams, in what one has to consider an upset. Williams, a sophomore, has upside and played well at times after taking over the job last season. Pevoto, a senior, showed more consistency during camp, Brock said.

In the end, this will be a running team. The new wishbone offense will include three backs, one receiver and a tight end. It makes running the option possible on every play and to either side. It works well to emphasize Army’s backfield depth. They also want a fullback on the field to make up for blocking deficiencies among a new offensive line.

The key players: WR Jeremy Trimble, RB Wesley McMahand, QB Pevoto

The weaknesses: Offensive line, wide receivers, quarterback

How the Zips can stop them: Take advantage of the Zips’ team speed in ball hawking. It shouldn’t be terribly difficult to cover Trimble, keep an eye on the tight end and send everyone else on the field after McMahand on every play. The wishbone offense is not terribly complicated to defend. I would be surprised if Army is able to sustain any drive longer than 40 yards.

Football

If you have not joined Dan Kadar’s College Football Pick’em League on Yahoo, please do so now.

It’s fun. It can give you bragging rights. It will help you keep up on the weekend’s football activity.

Begin by clicking here. The group ID is 7144. The password is kentsucks.

If you already signed up for the league, remember your picks are due soon.

I plan to begin breaking down Army in the next couple days. Today, I will talk about the Black Knights’ offense. Tomorrow is defense.

Football

Question: Is Akron equipped with play-making wide receivers after the loss of DH and JL?

Discussion: In the span of one week last spring, the Zips’ receiving corps went from tops in the conference to a severe concern. Two players left the team, and that meant the groups consisted of Jabari Arthur and a bunch of guys you probably haven’t heard of. Let’s begin by introducing those guys.

Stephon Fuqua was a high school teammate of Ted Ginn Jr. at Cleveland Glenville High School. He earned the starting job next to Arthur this fall. He ranked sixth in his senior class academically and only played one year of high school football. That potential made it clear why J.D. Brookhart took a risk on him in his first recruiting class.

The backups, however, I thought performed better in camp. Brandon Williams is a junior from Tampa who chose the Zips over Duke and Iowa State. He excels in making tacklers miss with his moves. He has played parts of three games during his time with the team. Another receiver likely to receive time is Alphonso Owen, who transferred from Malone College, where he was a star. He seems like he could be a good deep threat.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. The team has warm bodies. So what? Can they fill in for their departed teammates?

Answer: My inclination is to say yes. Throughout recent team history, talent has filled in for talent at wide receiver. Before Charlie Frye’s senior season, the team needed to replace several receivers. They found Domenik Hixon. When Hixon left, DH and JL showed up. Now that they’re gone, someone else should step in. Mid-majors typically are successful in recruiting wide receivers.

Each of the receivers has shown flashes of being an above-average MAC performer. Combine that with Arthur, whose physical presence and speed could make him an NFL draft pick, and the receiving corps looks significantly better than at the beginning of August.

Football

The Buchtelite’s Adam Ferrise argued why Akron will win only four games this season.

I concur in his reasoning, but think there are at least six games on the schedule that the Zips should win, even under the most dire circumstances.

There are several other Buchtelite stories worth reading as well…

The Zips’ new scheme will rely, at times, on a hurry-up offense to keep defenses on their heels, Vincent Dorsey writes. (Dorsey is an outstanding reporter and writer, by the way.)

Mack Rhoades discusses the exposure the program will receive this season.

J.D. Brookhart talks about the new leadership council on the team, which allows the coaching staff insight in the behind-the-scenes happenings.

The men’s soccer team worked hard this offseason to satisfy the hunger from missing the 2006 NCAA Tournament, coach Caleb Porter said.

The women’s cross country team wants to repeat as Triple Crown MAC champions. This season is the first leg of that goal.

For those of you not aware, I no longer serve as the Buchtelite’s editor in chief. I actually have no formal connection at all. But there are a lot of good writers like Dorsey and Ferrise, whose goal it is to continue the paper’s award-winning status.

Football

A couple days after the decision, Carlton Jackson sent J.D. Brookhart a text message: “Coach, I just wanted to let you know I’m behind you 100 percent in the decision.”

Brookhart did Jackson no favor by refusing to speak about last season’s off-the-field problem. I, and most fans, started to assume the worst — that Jackson is uncoachable, possibly involved with the wrong people or activities. This gesture, however, says a lot about the Zips’ backup quarterback.

No disrespect to Chris Jacquemain, who works harder than perhaps anyone on the field, it makes me more confident that this team will be Jackson’s by midseason.

Football

Question: Did the offensive line — full of talent, low on experience — gel quickly enough to protect a new quarterback?

Discussion:

Akron’s offensive line displays a great diversity in terms of geography, experience and the level of recruitment they saw after high school. Will these five guys develop chemistry to prevent a repeat of last season, when Luke Getsy was constantly on the run? The spring was a mixed bag. Run blocking seemed fairly solid, but that wasn’t the original concern. It’s pass blocking that could ruin the Zips’ new quarterback.

During blitzes, Brion Stokes and the Zips pass rushers typically found easy access to the quarterback. Soon, however, Chris Jacquemain found a way to beat it. Like all solid pros know, when the defense sends the house, dump off the ball to a running back or tight end and set up a convoy to take him 30 yards. This play fits perfectly into Jacquemain’s skill set and should be an excellent weapon against over-aggressive defenses.

Against the normal base defense this spring, the offensive line held water. Of course, no one really can say whether that means anything. The defensive front couldn’t sack a Barbie doll last year. As I have said, though, it proves the offensive line is prepared to stop at least a bad pass rush.

When compared to other head coaches, J.D. Brookhart usually is optimistic. Still, his quote Monday assured me a little more about the line’s solidity. “We will have three freshmen starting on the offensive line, and I’ve said it a number of times — they are going to be good,” he said. (Psst. Coach, you only have two freshmen starting.)

Answer: Not quite, but it improved this spring. And where the pass blocking lacked, the offensive creativity picked up.

Tomorrow: Are there enough playmakers on this team?

A new offer…

Dwayne Beckford, outside linebacker, Irvington, N.J.
Offers: Akron, Temple, Purdue, Connecticut, Michigan State, Syracuse and Toledo
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 215
Speed: 4.45
Notes: Beckford logged 88 tackles, forced four fumbles and sacked the quarterback 10 times as a junior.
Likelihood: At the end of July, Beckford’s top four schools were Temple, Purdue, Michigan State and Syracuse. If the Zips had offered before that, there’s no hope. If they have offered since then, Beckford could always analyze a new option. A lot more teams have become interested in his services as well, such as Tennessee, Alabama and Rutgers. Likelihood: very low.