The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Football Update
August 24 | Football
Akron - WVPX-TV 23 will televise the Zip football team's season opener Saturday, Sept. 2, from 11th-ranked Virginia Tech. Air time is Noon. The game is being produced by ESPN Regional Television.
A PAX affiliate station, WVPX is in 1.65 million households in Northeast Ohio. A year ago, WVPX carried the Zips' opener at second-ranked Penn State. Dave Sims and Jeff Bostic will provide the commentary.
|
Head Coach Lee Owens |
Also ... the first installment of the Lee Owens Show will air on Akron radio station ESPN 1350-AM on Monday, Aug. 28, at 5 p.m. Coach Owens and longtime Zip voice Joe Dunn will talk UA football. The weekly half-hour program will run through Nov. 13.
ZIP NOTES: The Zips broke camp on Wednesday following their second scrimmage ... tailbacks Brandon Payne (Rankin, Pa./Woodland Hills) and Jimmie Gray (Cleveland Heights) rushed for 131 and 74 yards, respectively ... each had one rushing touchdown ... otherwise Akron's defensive unit played extremely well. Zip coach Lee Owens has said all summer that this year's defensive unit is the deepest and most talented in his six seasons at Akron, including the 1996 outfit which ranked third in the Mid-American Conference in total defense and featured star end Jason Taylor ...
Virginia Tech opens its 2000 season this Sunday, Aug. 27, against Georgia Tech in the BCA Bowl at Lane Stadium/ Worsham Field in Blacksburg, Va. The game kicks at 8 p.m. and will be aired by ESPN2 ...
|
Dwight Smith |
Zip senior DB Dwight Smith (Detroit, Mich./ Central) is on the 40-man Watch List for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back by the Thorpe Association in Oklahoma City. Smith, a preseason top 20 pick at his position by The Sporting News, tied for MAC leadership in passes defended (16 break-ups and two INTS) last fall. He was a second-team All-MAC selection ... Smith is the second Zip in three years to be listed by the Thorpe Award, Andre McCray having been tabbed in 1998 ... He is the third Zip to gain consideration for national awards. Sophomore tailback Brandon Payne has been nominated for the Doak Walker Award, while junior tight end Tim Ritley (Perry/Lake Perry) is under consideration for the inaugural John Mackey Award ...
Tickets are available for the Varsity A Association Kickoff Dinner Thursday, Aug. 31, at Tangier Restaurant in Akron. Contact the Zip Athletic Ticket Office at 330-972-6920 or 1-888-99AKRON. The social hour begins at 6 p.m., with dinner served at 7 ... 100th year Zip football media guides are on sale in the Athletic Communications office (Room 76) in James A. Rhodes Arena. Guides are priced at $10 per copy. You can order by mail: write to Mary Lafferty, 76 JAR Arena, 373 Carroll Street, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325. Make your check payable to The University of Akron and please include $1 for postage.
#
|
|
