Men’s soccer
Akron beat No. 3 Notre Dame 3-0 in its season opener.
To the best of my knowledge, it’s the highest ranked team the Zips have ever beaten. Scoring goals were Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Steve Zakuani and Kofi Sarkodie.
Next up for the Zips is No. 7 Indiana, the alma mater of coach Caleb Porter. The Zips and Hoosiers will play Sunday at 2 p.m.
Football
Can you believe the college football season starts in five days?
The Zips will play at Wisconsin to open the season. The Badgers are ranked No. 13 in the nation. Here is a quick preview to get you up to speed on them.
The early line is Wisconsin minus 26. It’s hard to say whether the Zips will cover until we see J.D. Brookhart’s injury report. You already know my opinion: Rest the stars for a winable game.
I will not be in town this weekend to watch the game. My girlfriend surprised me with a trip to Cape Cod. I will have some comments when I return, however.
Men’s soccer
The ABJ’s Patrick McManamon featured Steve Zakuani in his weekly column today, talking about how the uber-talented sophomore found Akron.
Believe me when I say that the team is THRILLED that Zakuani chose to return to Akron, rather than signing with a professional team. That was a realisitic scenario.
By the way, No. 12 Akron lost 2-0 to No. 24 North Carolina in a preseason match in Indiana. The real stuff begins Friday when Akron plays No. 3 Notre Dame.
Akron must have more consistent scorers, especially early in the season when the Zips play a strong schedule.
Men’s soccer
Caleb Porter has spent two years continuing to build Akron’s soccer program.
The university rewarded him this week with a two-year contract extension that will last until 2011.
During Porter’s tenure, Akron has the best winning percentage in the nation. The Zips finished No. 10 in RPI last season. Moreover, the recruiting has been phenomenal.
Mack Rhoades should not have extended Porter’s contract. Rather, Rhoades should have found a sturdy pair of shackles to keep Porter tied to Lee Jackson Field.
Women’s basketball
Jodi Kest reeled in the nation’s 59th best recruiting class, an expert says.
This comes in the aftermath of a large portion of the team being kicked off the roster.
To be honest (and I want to stay as far from Don Imus territory as possible), the women’s basketball players who I saw around campus were, categorically, the rowdiest team on campus. Aside from Sarah Tokodi, who seemed nice, Kest probably achieved addition by subtraction.
Miscellaneous
It’s hard to characterize 2007.
Looking back on the year, you might call it an utter disappointment. The basketball team failed to reach the postseason. The football team won four games. The soccer team got upset in the first round.
On the other hand, you could call it a success with Keith Dambrot winning 26 games and having the best men’s basketball team ever to play at Akron. The athletic department revealed its gem of a stadium. The soccer team returned to national rankings and got great play from two freshmen.
Here is the list of most notable moments from the year. Please add your memories for each one.
1) Penno’s Prayer — You won’t see many heartbreaks like this in sports. Cedrick Middleton’s free throw went off the front rim. Then 6.6 seconds seemed like an eternity as the ball found Doug Penno, who found backboard and twine. If you want to torture yourself, watch the Youtube video. I don’t think I have ever written with such anger.
What I wrote
2) Miracle at Kalamazoo — You won’t see many finishes like this game, either. Andre Jones took a pitch and cut out Western Michigan’s heart. “Everything but a band on the field,” ESPN’s commentator said about its top play of the week. If you want a reason to drop the noose from Penno’s Prayer, watch this video. Unfortunately, the rest of the season was a huge downer. In the MAC, however, you never can say next season won’t be better.
What I wrote
3) Zips flush Flashes four times — Is there anything sweeter than beating the Golden Flashes THREE times in one basketball season, including eliminating them in the MAC Tournament? Naa. Top it off with a victory in the teams’ final meeting in the Rubber Bowl. That should silence the Kent State fans for at least 12 months. Winning at the MAC Center will prove to be essential to the team’s confidence during this conference season. Here’s a video of the KSU band solemnly playing at The Q. I assume it was after the fate of its team was known.
What I wrote
4) Stadium revealed — Since 2004, we have heard promises of a new stadium. A concrete announcement came in July. It seemed like a great day for everyone involved. Well, except for the property owners who are losing their homes and businesses. This stadium will be the MAC’s finest. If it does open in 2009, the Zips will have no excuse for not competing at the highest level of any mid-major team. I had to threaten legal action in order to receive the rendering before the announcement, and that was fun.
What I wrote
5) Soccer success — The Zips returned to the level of success under Ken Lolla. Akron should sustain it too, because two of the key players Anthony Ampaipitakwong and Steve Zakuani were freshmen. The team lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but Caleb Porter will have the Zips contending for the foreseeable future.
Zippy made an improbable run for the Capital One Mascot Challenge championship. We will learn tomorrow if the marsupial beat Goldy Gopher. I say “improbable” because I assumed Akron would have no chance to beat several BCS schools in a fan voting contest. I know for a fact a handful of dedicated Zips fans were carrying the load.
The women’s track team won another MAC Championship. The men finished second, which is their highest place ever.
Golf coach Tom Porten smacked his tee-ball out of bounds by bolting to Kent State to be an assistant.
Akron suffered through severe incompetance at quarterback. Chris Jacquemain turned into Rex Grossman after the first quarter of most games. Carlton Jackson ran well, but was a turnover machine. Both guys were suspended.
The university did not renew volleyball coach Mike Sweitzer’s contract. He had held the job for 17 seasons.
The university added women’s golf. Jenny King comes from Kentucky to lead the Zips, who will begin play in 2008-09.
Men’s soccer
Akron’s season concluded tonight with a 1-0 loss to Central Florida in double-overtime.
The Zips outshot the Bulls, 17-8, but Yohance Marshall scored the game’s only goal in the 101st minute.
Star freshman Steve Zakuani got off five shots.
Men’s soccer
If Caleb Porter knew Zips history, his bags would be packed for Moscow or some other cartoonishly unfair place for a first-round road game.
For once, however, the Zips didn’t get screwed. In fact, they won’t even play in the first round.
After the bye, either South Florida or Colgate will come to Lee Jackson Field. Then the course gets more difficult with a road game against No. 3 Connecticut. No. 2 Wake Forest, who beat Akron earlier in the season, also is on the Zips’ side of the bracket.
The Zips will play their first game Wednesday the 28th. Round three will be the following weekend.
Men’s soccer
Anthony Ampaipitakwong put an exclamation point on his freshman season by sending his team to the NCAA Tournament.
Akron won the MAC Championship over Buffalo 1-0 thanks to his goal in the 101st minute. The Zips outshot the Bulls 18-4 and landed four players on the all-tournament team.
We will find out tomorrow where the Zips fit in the tournament bracket. They should be hoping for a first-round bye.
Men’s basketball
Akron missed 8 of last 9 foul shots in a valiant attempt to blow a second-straight game in Alaska.
A Nick Dials running floater with 3.9 seconds remaining foiled the cunning plan as the Zips beat Tennessee State 74-72.
“I had a big 7-footer running out at me, so I had no choice but to drive,” Dials said.
Jeremiah Wood led the Zips again with 17 points and eight rebounds. The assist-to-turnover ratio was more palatable, as well, at 17-13. Akron will leave Alaska with third place in the BP Top of the World Classic.
“We’re definitely going to have to do some things differently,” Keith Dambrot said. “Anyone who thinks our team right now is as good as last year’s team is mistaken.
“I think we’re going to get better, but people will have to be patient.”
The Zips will have a week to heal before a string of home games begins Saturday versus Binghamton.
Men’s soccer
Akron beat Northern Illinois 2-1 in double overtime to advance to the MAC Championship. The Zips will play Buffalo for the conference crown Sunday at 2 p.m. in front of the home crowd.
Akron got its goals from Steve Zakuani and Michael Nanchoff. The Zips consistently had difficulty clearing the ball from NIU scoring position. The Huskies were the only MAC team whom Akron did not beat. The teams tied 0-0 earlier in the year.
Men’s basketball
Akron made it a lot closer than necessary against South Carolina Upstate last night.
The Zips eventually won 64-60, but the Spartans exposed some problems the team will need to overcome.
USCU outrebounded Akron 43-29. Akron made only 15 of 30 free throws. The team had only seven assists, compared to 13 turnovers.
Despite contributing to the latter two categories with nine missed free throws and five turnovers, Jeremiah Wood led the team with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Some sloppiness is excusable in the season’s first game. Look around the nation. However, the Zips will need to gather themselves before tonight’s matchup against Portland State. It starts at midnight EST.
I will break down the Vikings later today. I have to find something to do because there’s no college football worth watching.
Men’s basketball
To be honest, I have never heard of them.
I have a perfectly good excuse. They have been in Division I for only a week.
They leaped into the Atlantic Sun conference, which has some nice wins to its credit so far (Belmont over Cincinnati, Gardner-Webb over Kentucky, Mercer over USC).
Before making the jump, USCU won two of the past three Peach Belt Conference championships. Consequently, they went to the Division II tournament.
The first thing that pops out about their roster is 7-foot-2 Nick Schneiders. He played 14 months on Germany’s playgrounds before USCU recruited him. (Kinda sounds like “The Air Up There,” doesn’t it?) Schneiders is still raw, but he can rebound.
Head coach Eddie Payne formerly held that job at East Carolina and Oregon State. He is known for a high-tempo game with three guards in the starting lineup. His son Luke Payne is one of those guards. He is a smart distributor and good shooter. Another good guard is Jeremy Byrd, whose quickness leads to a lot of steals.
Bobby Davis, a junior college transfer, leads the team with points after putting up 13 in a loss to Utah.
Those four guys could probably play for some MAC teams. With nine freshmen on the roster, however, depth will be a problem. If the Spartans love to run so much, they’ll need a lot more.
Akron needs to push the ball, get a big lead and cruise.
Prediction: Akron 78, USCU 49
The line is Akron minus 25 with an over-under of 110.
Men’s soccer
Akron will play Northern Illinois in the MAC Tournament semifinal tonight.
If you remember, the Huskies knocked the Zips out of the tournament last year.
Coach Caleb Porter said the team is very confident heading into the weekend.
Football
The theme — Ohio’s defense has been successful when it is able to penetrate into teams’ backfields. The Bobcats are second in the MAC with 24 sacks. They are in the top-half in the conference in stopping the run and pass. The line in this 4-3 defense is the strength.
Key players — Landen Cohen and Kris Luchsinger lead that line. Safety Todd Koenig leads the team in tackles. Although he has been quiet this year, don’t forget about punt returner Chris Jarrett, who was a third-team Freshman All-American last year.
How Akron can score — This should be a good test for Akron’s line. It must limit penetration because the Zips won’t move the ball if they’re facing third-and-long all night. Chris Jacquemain is eligible to play, but the coaches haven’t announced who will start. As with the entire season, I might as well be throwing the passes if the Zips don’t enter the endzone at least four times.
The Steelers beat up on the Ravens last night, thanks in part to linebacker James Harrison’s awesome game. Consequently, ESPN is all over Kent State for producing the emerging star.
The Buchtelite’s Vincent Dorsey wrote about some of the suspensions this season.
Nick from VanDelaySports.com says Ohio will win 28-13.
Men’s soccer
The Zips earned the No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament, which means the Zips will get home games on Nov. 16 and 18.
The Buchtelite’s Adam Ferrise breaks down the team and says it has earned the status of the “real” football/futball team on campus.
Men’s basketball
In the realistic event that Akron loses again in football Wednesday, keep your chins up.
Keith Dambrot’s boys are playing an exhibition against Walsh Thursday at 7 p.m. at Rhodes Arena.
With National Letter of Intent Signing Day coming up and the season about to begin, I hope to have some inside scoops for you within the week.
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