The University of Akron Athletics
Day Two, Same Excitement for UA Football
August 07 | Football
2009 Akron Football Roster (as of Aug. 7)
AKRON- Day two was much of the same as day one for The University of Akron football team. Spirits and the excitement of practicing at InfoCision Stadium and on Summa Field were still high.
"I really like the tempo of our offense," said sixth-year head coach J.D. Brookhart. "I can see our summer conditioning has really paid off. Also, our speed on defense is exciting. We can really run to the ball and we just need to improve our discipline a little more. These first two days have been great. In know our players feel the energy of the new stadium."
The Zips, for the second day, went three hours in shorts and helmets. The team will add shoulder pads to the gear Saturday, Sunday and Monday and have its first practice in full gear on Monday (Aug. 10).
"We should get a better gauge as to where we are tomorrow, adding shoulder pads to the mix," Brookhart said. "While we want to be physical, we will stress taking care of your teammates and having the proper techniques to hopefully avoid injuries."
Akron will open the season Sept. 5 at Penn State, who is ranked eighth in the USA Today Coaches' Top 25 preseason poll. The Nittany Lions were 11-2 last season and return 10 starters, including seven All-Big Ten honorees. Central Michigan, Akron's Sept. 26 opponent on the road, received three votes in the coaches' poll.
NOTES:
Former Akron head football coach Gerry Faust made his first visit
to Zips' camp. He too was very excited about the upcoming season
and seeing the Zips play in InfoCision Stadium.
Reggie Corner, a first team All-MAC selection and 2007 Akron graduate, will be back in the area this weekend. The 2008 fourth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills will return to his high school stadium (Canton McKinley's Fawcett Stadium) as his Bills face the Tennessee Titans in the annual NFL Hall of Fame game on Aug. 9.
Another former Zip has returned to the area as Brandon Anderson signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns Wednesday.
