Football

J.D. Brookhart has a problem.

A really, really good one.

He has about five running backs who would merit carries on a decent Mid-American Conference team.

Last year, that would have come in handy after first and second stringers Dennis Kennedy and Alex Allen suffered injuries.

"You better be three-deep minimum at tailback or you're in trouble," Brookhart said.

Along with a healthy Kennedy and Allen, the coaches can call upon Andre Walker, who has had a fantastic spring, Joe McDaniel, who looked pretty solid today, and Joe Tuzze, a capable bruiser.

That's not to mention Bryan Williams and Aaris Reed, who could earn carries during the summer.

When I asked Brookhart about Williams, he let out a good chuckle. He knows he has a great problem on his hands.

Notes:

Brookhart said the lack of depth at wide receiver has made it difficult for the healthy receivers to keep up. When the team runs three- or four-receiver sets, fatigue becomes a major issue. Getting Jabari Arthur, Jermaine Lindsey and David Harvey back should work wonders for the passing game.

Chris Jacquemain looked pretty good today. He threw some nice passes and led the team to the 4-yard line during the 10 minute scrimmage that concluded practice. Truthfully, it's the first time Jacquemain has impressed me all spring.

Brookhart called a holding penalty on the defense that kept that drive going in the red zone. Quipped big Nate Robinson: "Take that guy off the payroll!" Actually, big Nate is still big. He's just not as enormous around the waist. It looks like the guy really shaped up.

Carlton Jackson captained the final drive of the day, which ended in a fumbled snap or some sort of confusion about the handoff.

Athletic director Mack Rhoades was in attendance. I tried to pick his brain a little about conferences and such, seeing as how it's not a very well kept secret that Akron is unhappy with the MAC.

Rhoades was at Texas-El Paso when the university moved from the WAC to Conference USA. He said there are seven categories a conference looks for when choosing a new team (In parenthesis, I'll comment on how I think Akron fares): community support (poor), athletic success (below average), facilities (good, soon to be excellent with a new stadium and renovations to Rhodes Arena), TV market (decent, if you count Cleveland), geography (good, if we're talking about the Big East), athletes' academics (better than you would think) and transportation access (excellent with two airports within an hour).

So it's not really all about having a football powerhouse or 30,000 fans at every game. Mainly, you want a well-rounded institution. My concern is, how will Akron improve in community support? Rhoades said he's been working on that until 10 p.m. each night. While he was at UTEP, football attendance jumped from 15,000 to 47,000 in five years. His plan at Akron is to start a grassroots campaign, sending staffers out to the community and using a telemarketing company to make calls. The new slogan for this season is "Roo Town." I haven't seen any posters yet, but it seems like a good idea.

The team will practice without pads tomorrow. Every team must have three helmet-only practices out of the 15. It is one of the NCAA's silly rules about spring football. Since Brookhart has an ultimate frisbee game planned for tomorrow, I'm not bothering to show up.

Saturday is much different. At 11 a.m., the team will conclude the spring season with a 100-play scrimmage. Although it's outdoors, the event is closed to the public. Brookhart hopes to figure out the quarterback and offensive line position battles during the scrimmage.

Golf

The Buchtelite's Jeff Thomas talked to coach Tom Porten about the team's historic string of success.

The team hopes to win its first-ever home event at Firestone Country Club and Windmill Lakes Golf Course on Sunday.

Baseball

The Buchtelite's Josh Volchko discussed the team's upcoming gauntlet of MAC East teams with coach Pat Bangtson.

The most prominent of these games is the matchup against Kent State Tuesday at Canal Park. Proceeds will go to Akron Children's Hospital.

Golf

Never in the 50-year history of the program have the Zips won three events until this season.

Akron bested 13 other schools to win the Wolf Run Intercollegiate in Zionsville, Ind.

Brad Wright won medalist honors at eight-over par.

The Zips have two more tuneups before the MAC Championship on May 2.

Football

The Buchtelite's Adam Ferrise went in-depth about how Akron's offense will change this year.

It's definitely worth reading.

The ABJ's David Lee Morgan also wrote about the topic, but added information about Joe Moorhead, who will call plays this year, rather than J.D. Brookhart.

Also read Morgan's story about the spring game. It has some quotes I didn't throw on the blog.

Miscellaneous

In the final installment of a three-part series about life as a UA athlete, the Buchtelite's Vincent Dorsey writes about how Zips cope with the end of a career.

It's another worthwhile read.

Football

J.D. Brookhart talked in-depth about what he has seen so far in the spring on GoZips.com.

The ABJ's David Lee Morgan wrote a very compelling feature on Viktor Rajek, the receiver-turned-defensive lineman from Slovenia. It would be a huge boost if Rajek earned minutes next year.

Golf

I just read that a Zips golfer has won MAC Golfer of the Week in each of the season's first four tournaments.

The team is heading to Zionsville, Ind., this weekend for a duel with Wolf Run Golf Course, the 15th hardest track in the nation.

That may be true, but the Zips must be tested just playing their home course, Firestone Country Club, from the tips, especially if they're practicing in the summer right before the WGC event.

Men's soccer

Akron opened its spring exhibition season with a 0-0 tie against Cincinnati in blustry weather Thursday.

The GoZips.com article provides a good idea what the starting lineup might look like in the fall.

Golf

The MAC named Akron's Blake Sattler as its Golfer of the Week after the senior won medalist at the McLaughlin Tournament in New York.

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.

Softball

For the second season in three, Akron will have a new coach in the dugout.

This time it's Julie Jones, who comes to the Zips after a 10 years career as Cleveland State's head coach.

Jones took the Vikings to last year's Horizon League championship. The team finished the season at 38-15. Her overall record is 206-245-2.

It's cliche — and pretty meaningless in a sport where athletes are usually good students anyhow — but Jones' players have traditionally done well in the classroom.

Here is another interesting facet about Jones' career: Her fundraising topped $25,000 each year.

Jones is a local product, too, playing at Garfield High School and Baldwin-Wallace College.

Jones replaces Julie Wright, who unexplainably bolted to Wisconsin to be an assistant coach. Despite her noggin-scratching exit, Wright's teams overachieved while rebuilding.

With Jones and women's basketball coach Jodi Kest, Akron hired winning head coaches from Division I programs. This makes me believe athletics director Mack Rhoades is offering salaries that are quite competitive.

Baseball

Here is a GoZips.com update on how players are faring in the wood bat summer leagues across the country…

• Starting pitcher Tom Farmer has a 1.59 ERA in the prestigious Cape Cod League.
• First baseman Kurt Davidson is an All-Star in the Valley Baseball League in Virginia.
• Outfielder Charlie Lenhard has a .559 slugging percentage in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, which is also quite prestigious.
• I reported that outfielder Rashard Graves would participate in the Midwest Prospect Baseball League in Indiana. He has decided not to play, after all.
• To find out what's up with these leagues, you can read my Indianapolis Star story on them by clicking here.

Men's soccer

So you're asking: Who will replace star forward Ross MacKenzie.

Don't be disappointed, but his successor did not play one minute last season.

Pablo Moreira missed the entire season with a knee injury, but coach Caleb Porter is asking him to step into a large role, Jennifer Long of GoZips.com reports.

If Moreira wins that spot, his success will be one of the biggest keys to the Zips' return to the nation's elite.

• The Chicago Fire Premier won the Great Lakes division of the United Soccer League's Premier Development League. Players on the team include Evan Bush, Sinisia Ubiparipovic, Matt Tutich and Jonathan McClain.

Miscellaneous

Remember to add the new GoZips.com to your Favorites list.

The URL no longer includes CSTV. All you need to type is www.gozips.com. If you haven't seen anything new on the site for a while, that's probably why.

Football

A running back from Warren, whom Akron offered a scholarship, verballed with Ohio State on Monday.

Daniel "Boom" Herron is the No. 21 running back in the country, Scout.com says. Neither recruiting site mentions Akron as a serious candidate for Herron.

I hope he enjoys riding the bench behind Antonio Pittman and Chris Wells. Nice career move, Boom. See you in the CFL.

Golf

How to be Ben Curtis Instruction Manual

• Step One: Win the Ohio Amateur golf tournament.
• Step Two: Sign an endorsement deal to wear ugly NFL polo shirts.

Zips players Ryan Gutowski and Vaughn Snyder will start the process this week. Curtis, who gets paid to be the worst dressed non-Euro on Tour, won the state am in 1999 and 2000. The Stow resident went on to win the 2003 British Open.

I covered the Indiana Amateur for the Star two weeks ago. It was a lot of fun watching how good the players are. If you're in Beachwood, drop by Canterbury Golf Club.

This information comes courtesy of the great Tom Gaffney, who covers Zips basketball pretty darn well for the ABJ.

Golf

Akron finished the MAC Tournament in seventh place, 41 strokes behind champion Kent State.

A bright spot: Freshman Vaughn Snyder finished 15th overall with a score of seven-over.

This season has definitely been a surprise. Without its star, Blake Sattler, and with a brand-new coach Akron's hopes looked bleak. Still, the team did something it hadn't in several years by winning the Bradford Creek Invitational.

Next year, the young core will have another year under its belt and Sattler will return.

Track

The Zips' tune up for the MAC Championships went well.

Fourteen athletes won their events and the team set a total of eight NCAA regional-qualifying marks.

Many of the 20 seniors honored on Senior Day won their events. Click the link above for a full list.

Unfortunately, sprinter Howard Harris finished just 0.03 seconds from qualifying for regionals.

Baseball

The Zips fell to Ohio, 5-2.

The teams will play tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Unless the Zips go nearly undefeated in their six remaining conference games, it looks unlikely they will make the six-team double-elimination tournament. You can take a look at the MAC standings to see what I mean.

Softball

The Zips lost their second-to-last regular season game today to Eastern Michigan, 2-1.

The Eagles and Zips have identical MAC records of 13-8.

Both teams will conclude their regular seasons tomorrow at 1 p.m.

The Zips still don't know who they will play to open the eight-team, double-elimination MAC Tournament. Their first game will be Wednesday.

Golf

Akron sits in eighth place in the MAC Tournament after day one.

But the Zips are only out of first by seven strokes.

Ryan Gutowski (2-under) and Vaughn Snyder (1-under) have kept Akron in contention.

Men's basketball

Coach Keith Dambrot may be close to filling the final scholarship, which Bubba Walther vacated by transferring to Ohio.

Steve McNees, a point guard from New Castle, Pa., visited campus on Friday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Beaver Falls guard Lance Jeter will visit campus later this week, the Tribune-Review also says.

According to someone who knows more than me, it isn't unheard of for a coach to hold onto a scholarship if he can't find a worthy recipient. Jeter and McNees would be worthy, but who knows what will happen if they go elsewhere.

McNees decommitted from Duquesne, which granted him a release from his letter of intent. Other schools of interest include Eastern Kentucky, George Washington, Kent State, Rhode Island, Robert Morris and Youngstown State.

Jeter has interest from many of the same schools.

Football

Here is the ABJ's story about the Blue-Gold game.

You will see my column on the game by Monday night.

Softball

Akron lost 2-0 against Kent State yesterday, ending the Zips' six-game winning streak.

Kent State's pitcher, Brittney Robinson, threw a shutout, striking out 14 and giving up only three hits.

The Zips had a scoring opportunity in the fourth inning, but Jaclyn Spirtos popped out in foul territory with the bases loaded.

Kent State scored off two solo home runs.

Track

From the GoZips.com release, it seems like Akron had a quiet Saturday in California for the Mt. SAC Relays.

The biggest news from the event's final day was a sixth-place finish from John Russell in the pole vault.

Akron has two home outdoor meets this season. The first is next weekend at the Akron Quad.

Men's soccer

The Zips tied Cincinnati in their second spring scrimmage yesterday.

It looked as if they would beat Cincinnati, but the Bearcats tied the score at 1 in the 85th minute.

Matt Tutich scored Akron's lone goal. It was his third of the spring.

The Zips will travel to West Virginia for a Wednesday rematch against the Mountaineers who Akron beat in the second round of last year's NCAA Tournament.

Golf

After day one of the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate, Akron sits in an unimpressive 11th place.

Akron won its first tournament in several years a few weeks ago. Since then, it seems the team is fizzling out.

Baseball

Despite a Charlie Lenhard grand slam, the Zips lost yet another MAC game, falling 7-6 at Central Michigan.

Akron now is 7-23 and 2-9 in conference play. The teams will matchup again today at 1 p.m.

Miscellaneous

Happy Easter!

Football

Gary Estwick of the ABJ wrote a really good story about Domenik Hixon's draft prospects.

I can't imagine him going any later than the fourth round. His numbers are too good and his speed is too quick for him to drop further.

Here is the Hixon file from Pro Football Weekly.

• Did you know that Steve Perry went to Akron? Me either. It's not the lead singer from Journey. It's actually Stephen Perry, who was just named president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Men's soccer

Yeah. I didn't know men's soccer had a spring season, but I guess they do.

For six games, new coach Caleb Porter will watch how his team prepares for next fall.

Akron beat Tiffin 5-0 in the first of these games. The team will play some UA alumni today.

Track

The Zips are leading the All-Ohio Championships, in both the men's and women's divisions.

I'll post more on this either tonight or tomorrow once the event is finished.

I'll also see if I can get the inside scoop from coach Dennis Mitchell.

Golf

First it was a freshman in Vaughn Snyder. Now it is a sophomore leading the Zips — and the rest of the field.

Colin Clemente shares the lead in the Marshall Invitational after the tournament's first day.

As a team, the Zips are 3-over, which also is first in the field.

This success sure came out of nowhere. Other than Blake Sattler, the golf team was nothing special last year.

Softball

The softball team split yesterday's doubleheader with Bowling Green, 3-0, 3-1.

Akron moves to 13-5, 4-2 MAC. Bowling Green is 22-13, 5-1 MAC.

The Zips will play today and Sunday against Toledo.