Football
Here are my responses to this week's MAC Blogger Roundtable…
1. Now that we have reached November, what do you really think of this no-Saturday stuff? Is it a necessary evil, an unnecessary evil, or a non-issue? Do you think that the difficulty for home fans outweighs the long-term benefit of being on ESPN?
Because you must balance the fans' interest and the conference's desire for exposure, I think they should only play mid-week when there is a promise to be on ESPN or ESPN2. Being on ESPNU doesn't do it for me. It diminishes the quality of MAC football to say we're willing to play Tuesday morning during breakfast so a handful of football fanatics get to watch live football in an unusual timeslot.
2. As we hit the home stretch, who are your early leaders for MAC Offensive and Defensive players of the year? Coach of the Year?
For offense, you're looking at a three-way race. It depends on 1) if you're willing to vote for a freshman (Temple running back Bernard Pierce leads the league in rushing by almost 40 yards) and 2) whether you can pick between either of Bowling Green's studs: receiver Freddie Barnes or quarterback Tyler Sheehan. I'll go with Barnes. On defense, I could narrow the list to five, but not much further. As for coaches, I'm a big Al Golden fan.
3. Bernard Pierce is making a huge impact as a freshmen at Temple. What freshmen are making an impact or showing promise at your program?
Brian Wagner is a reason to watch Akron play football. Maybe the only reason. The linebacker is second in the MAC in tackles, eighth in fumbles forced, third in fumbles recovered, ninth in interceptions, and he has scored a touchdown. You're looking at a Freshman All-American. J.D. Brookhart knew he had a special player when he nominated Wagner for Preseason All-MAC before Wagner played a single snap.
4. Think back on your time as a fan…..what is the single most exciting or thrilling moment you recall witnessing for your team…..I'm thinking in person, but certainly not a requirement.
This is easy. I was in the front row in Detroit at Ford Field on Dec. 1, 2005. Luke Getsy found Domenik Hixon on a deep post route with under a minute to play. The touchdown gave the Zips their first MAC Championship. We were going absolutely berserk, hugging complete strangers. That was a great time to be a Zips football fan. That's the point when I decided I would never sit in the press box during a football game if I can help it. You can't enjoy a moment like that without high-fives, clapping, shouting, chest-bumping, etc.
5. Rank 'em if you got 'em.
1) CMU
2) Temple
3) NIU
4) Kent State
5) BG
6) WMU
7) Toledo
8 ) Ohio
9) Buffalo
10) Miami
11) Akron
12) Ball State
13) EMU
Men's basketball
The Zips will begin the season ranked eighth in the Mid-Major Top 25. Akron is ahead of some traditional mid-major powerhouses, such as Davidson, St. Mary's, VCU and George Mason. The team sits behind Butler, Creighton and Gonzaga, among others.
Miscellaneous
My election for Stow City Council At-Large is tomorrow. If you're a Stow resident, make sure you get out to vote. Here is my Web site, in case you're interested.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I still remember that moment at Ford Field (I was there as well)… it honestly about brought me to tears talking with a local man who was at the game and was wondering why Akron fans were so insanely excited (above the normal last second victory cheers) and how that one single moment could propel a program onto so many more longer term gains…. sigh.
That's a great memory Mike. I always wished I could have been there. But, watching at home wasn't so bad. I remember when Getsy released that ball and the camera panned to Hixon who was open, and thinking "OMG, he's open and it's a perfect pass", then jumping out of my seat and almost hitting the ceiling in my living room when he caught it in the endzone. Finally, as the extra point went through, thinking "OMG, the Zips are going to WIN! They're going to WIN!" All the while enjoying the best two announcers that ESPN had, Thursday night college football's Mike Tirico and Kirk Herbstreit, who were enjoying the comeback almost as much as we Zips fans were. Tirico – "Akron out of time outs. Second and ten. Hixon running deep. Getsy pumps; he throws for Hixon. Caught for a touchdown. Are you kidding me?" Herbstreit – "Somebody call Kirk Gibson."
I was at that game, and I was at the blizzard game where they won the MAC East over Kent. While the latter was exciting in front of maybe…2,000 fans i will never forget the excitement of the game, the comeback and the thrill of knowing that for once our Zips pulled off an amazing victory. The 3+ hour ride home didn't seem so bad! I got to bed at 3:45 and woke up to teach my 1st graders at 6:15 the next morning…Funny I never felt tired that day!!!
Congrats on the win tonight Rasor! I got you two votes from my parents tonight. Good luck with your council seat and keep the great blogs coming for Akron sports!
Yup! Congrats on the victory, Mr. Leading-Vote-Getter!
The crowds at the 'Blizzard Bowl' and the MAC Championship game keep getting bigger. If those can be 1 and 1A that would work for me. I was at both. Girlfriend wnated to kill me at the Kent game. We stayed until everybody left the field. But, the win over NIU was probably more exciting because of the comeback and the fact the Akron was the underdog. Seems so long ago.