The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Open 2015 Season at #19 Oklahoma on Saturday
August 31 | Football
Pregame Coverage:
Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Terry Bowden – Weekly Press Conference Video
Terry Bowden – MAC Weekly Media Teleconference Audio
MAC Weekly – August 31
Gameday Coverage:
Listen to Free Audio Stream (TuneIn.com)
Watch on Sooners.com
Follow Free Live Statistics
Akron (0-0) at #19 Oklahoma (0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 5
Memorial Stadium [82,112] | Norman, Okla.
6 PM CT | 7 PM ET
THIS WEEK
Akron opens its 115th season of football in non-conference action at No. 19 Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 5. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT [7 p.m. ET].
Fox Sports will televise the game on a pay-per-view basis with Ron Thulin (play-by-play), Dave Lapham (analyst), and Chad McKee (sideline) calling the game. In Ohio, AT&T U-Verse, DirecTV, and Dish Network will carry the game. Please check your local listings for channel and pricing information.
Additionally, Sooners.com is offering out-of-state fans a pay-per-view opportunity online.
The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron-IMG Sports Network [SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship), 1420 WHK in Cleveland, 1440 WHKZ in Warren/Youngstown] with Steve French calling the action, Brad Detwiler providing analysis, and Joe Dunn with sideline report. The pregame show starts at 6 p.m. ET. A free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.
Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Terry Bowden, the Zips return 47 lettermen, including 12 starters. The Zips utilize a spread offense and a 4-3 defense. In season openers, Bowden is 1-2 at Akron.
In the 2014 final national rankings, Akron was ranked among the nation's Top 25 , including No. 22 in red zone defense (0.756), No. 23 in interceptions (13), and No. 28 in scoring defense (23.1). Individually, NT Cody Grice (Akron, Ohio) was No. 10 in fumbles recovered (3), QB Kyle Pohl (Farmersville, Ohio) was No. 22 in completions (20.8), and PK Robert Stein (Cincinnati, Ohio) is No. 25 in field goal percentage (.813).
Oklahoma, under the guidance of 17th-year head coach Bob Stoops, return 44 letterwinners, including 13 starters, to its multiple offense and multiple defense.
In the final NCAA stats, the Sooners were ranked among the Top 10 in two categories– No.8 in rushing defense (106.4) and No. 10 in rushing (261.2).
AKRON-OKLAHOMA CONNECTIONS
Akron has no players from the state of Oklahoma on its roster.
Oklahoma has two players from Ohio–– redshirt freshman C Alex Dalton (Troy, Ohio | Troy HS) and redshirt junior T Sam Grant (North Royalton, Ohio | St. Edwards HS).
Both head coaches have brothers on their staffs. Terry Bowden's younger brother Jeff Bowden is the Zips' special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach. Bob Stoops' younger brother Mike Stoops is the Sooners' associate head coach, defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach. [complete family coaching history is on page 7]
The head coaches have faced each other before. When Bowden was the head coach at Auburn (1993-98) and Stoops was the defensive coordinator at Florida, Auburn beat Florida twice, 38-35 in Alabama in 1993, and 36-33 in Gainesville in 1994.
Bowden served as a graduate assistant coach under his father, Bobby Bowden, at Florida State (1979-80), when the Seminoles dropped back-to-back Orange Bowl games to the Sooners.
Zips' video coordinator Jason Sanders, a two-time Mid-American Conference Video Coordinator of the Year honoree, served as the Sooners' assistant director of video operations from 2007-10 and was a part a of three Big XII championships (2007, 2008, 2010), the 2008 BCS national championship game, two Fiesta Bowls, and the Sun Bowl.
AKRON-OKLAHOMA: THE SERIES
This is the first meeting on the gridiron between the Zips and the Sooners.
WELCOME TO THE BIG HOUSE
The Zip have played before some big crowds over the last five years, including games in four of the nation's Top 5 biggest college stadiums.
In 2011, the Zips traveled two hours to Columbus, falling to the Buckeyes, 42-0, before 105,001 fans. In 2012, Coach Bowden's first season at Akron, the Zips traveled to Tennessee, falling 47-26 before a crowd of 81,719.
In 2013, the Zips traveled to Ann Arbor and took on No. 11 Michigan. With 107,102 screaming fans, the Zips saw a fourth-and-goal play for the win come up short as the Wolverines pulled out a 28-24 win. Last fall, UA visited Penn State, leaving with a 21-3 defeat before 97,354 fans.
1. Michigan Michigan Stadium 109,901
2. Penn State Beaver Stadium 106,572
3. Texas A&M Kyle Field 106,512
4. Ohio State Ohio Stadium 104,944
5. Tennessee Neyland Stadium 102,455
AKRON RANKED NO. 2 IN MOST IMPROVED TEAMS
Phil Steele has ranked the Akron Zips at No. 2 in his Top 10 list of the nation's most improved teams entering the 2015 season. Miami (Fla.) is No. 1, followed by UA, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Temple, Texas, Northwestern, Ball State, and Colorado.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Akron was selected to finish second in the Mid-American Conference East Division this fall. Two-time defending East champion Bowling Green was picked first, followed by Akron and Ohio, and Massachusetts.
In the West Division, Toledo was selected first, just one point ahead of Western Michigan. Five-time division champion Northern Illinois was third.
The 2015 MAC Championship Game is slated for Friday, Dec. 4 at Ford Field in Detroit. Kickoff is 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
WATCH LISTS
Two Zips were named to national Watch Lists for prestigious awards.
Seniors LB Jatavis Brown and NT Cody Grice were named to the Watch List for the 2015 Rotary Lombardi Award. A two-time first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection, Brown was the Zips' defensive MVP each of the last two seasons. Brown led Akron with 99 tackles, including a team-best 64 solo stops, and a team-best 14.5 TFL last season. Grice is a first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection. A starter in every game of his collegiate career, Grice finished with 31 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, and three fumble recoveries last fall.
Senior PK Robert Stein (Cincinnati, Ohio) was one of 30 players nationally named to the 2015 Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker Award Watch List. Last fall, Stein was a perfect 24-of-24 in PATs and 13-of-16 in field goals. He was the Zips' leading scorer with 66 points. Stein kicked off 56 times for 3,213 yards (57.04 avg.) with 10 touchbacks and four out of bounds.
PRESEASON HONORS
Seven University of Akron football players were named to preseason All-Mid-American Conference teams in the 2015 Phil Steele's College Football Preview. Earning preseason first-team All-MAC accolades was senior LB Jatavis Brown, a two-time first-team All-MAC selection.
Named to the preseason third-team All-MAC were senior NT Cody Grice, senior LB Darryl Monroe (Orlando, Fla.), and junior DL Se'Von Pittman (Canton, Ohio).
Preseason fourth-team selections were senior OL Dylan Brumbaugh (Green, Ohio), junior DB Larry Hope (Miami, Fla.), and junior DL Jamal Marcus (Durham, N.C.).
Athlon Sports recognized eight Zips on its preseason list. Earning preseason first-team All-MAC accolades were seniors LB Jatavis Brown and NT Cody Grice. Named to the preseason second-team were seniors OL Dylan Brumbaugh and P Zach Paul (Broadview Heights, Ohio).
Preseason third-team All-MAC selections were seniors DL Rodney Coe (Fulton, Mo.) and PK Robert Stein. Preseason fourth-team selections were juniors DL Jamal Marcus and DB Larry Hope.
ALLSTATE AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM
Junior FB Christian Allen (Morgantown, W.Va.) is one of a record 197 nominees for the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® which has recognized college football players for the last 24 years from across the country who exemplify a superior commitment to community service and volunteerism.
In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and the AFCA, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing. The final team members will be announced in September.
Allen appeared in 10 games last fall. He played primarily on the field goal unit. Off the field, the sport management major is involved with visits to Akron Children's Hospital, the reading program with local elementary schools, and the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event.
NEW FACES ON THE SIDELINES
In the offseason, the Zips added two assistant coaches to the staff– Darrell Funk and Eric Hickson.
Funk, who serves as the offensive line coach and offensive run game coordinator, joined the Zips after serving as the offensive line coach at the University of Michigan for the last four seasons..
Hickson, who coaches the running backs, joined the Zips after serving as the interim head coach, running backs coach, and outgoing recruiting coordinator at Garden City Community College in Kansas during the 2014 season.
2014 SEASON REVIEW
Under the guidance of then-third-year head coach Terry Bowden, the Zips concluded the 2014 season at 5-7 overall and 3-5 in MAC play after a heart-breaking 27-24 loss at Kent State on Nov. 28. The five wins equaled the total from the 2013 season. With 10 victories over the last two seasons, the Zips totaled more wins than the previous three seasons combined (2010-11-12 = 3 wins).
ZIPS IN THE NFL
Six former Zips are currently listed on NFL rosters– DE Nordly Capi (Jacksonville), DB Jalil Carter (Minnesota), RB Jawon Chisholm (Pittsburgh), WR Zach D'Orazio (New England), LB Justin March-Lillard (Kansas City), and G Jarrod Pughsley (Kansas City).
NFL TIES
Five Zips have family ties to the NFL. Senior RB Donnell Alexander's father was the late Derrick Thomas, the NFL Hall of Famer with the Kansas City Chiefs. Sophomore LS Michael Buddenberg's father John was drafted by the Cleveland Browns to begin his seven-year NFL career. Junior OL Michael Casimos' father Chris played with the New York Giants as a free agent. Redshirt senior Rodney Coe's grandfather Charlie Coe is a former NFL coach; his uncle Michael won a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants. Junior QB Matthew Hoyer's older brother Brian is currently the starting QB with the Houston Texans.
ZIPS QUICK HITS
• Five of Akron's 2015 opponents—Oklahoma (Russell Athletic), Pittsburgh (Armed Forces), Louisiana (R+L Carriers), Bowling Green (Camellia), and Central Michigan (Bahamas)— participated in bowls in 2014.
• Five of Akron's 2014 opponents— Penn State (Pinstripe), Marshall (Boca Raton), Pittsburgh (Armed Forces), Bowling Green (Camellia), and Ohio (not selected)— were bowl eligible following the 2014 season.
• In 2015, Akron opens its seventh season playing on-campus in InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. The Zips have a 13-23 record at the venue (4-2 in 2014). The stadium opened in 2009.
• Since 1979, Akron has faced 25 nationally ranked teams, going 1-24. The Zips' sole victory was a 34-20 win over No. 25 Marshall at the Rubber Bowl on Nov. 2, 2002.
• The 2015 season marks the 10th Anniversary of the Zips' 2005 Mid-American Conference championship. Under coach J.D. Brookhart, UA defeated Northern Illinois, 31-30, in the MAC title game before participating in the Motor City Bowl, its first bowl appearance as an NCAA Division I-A member (FBS).
• Akron has 51 student-athletes on its roster from the state of Ohio; 37 of those live within a 30-mile radius to campus.
• The Zips features experienced players on the roster, including 14 transfers– senior RB Donnell Alexander (Colorado State), senior OL Tommy Brown (Ohio State), sophomore QB Tra'Von Chapman (Pittsburgh), r-junior CB Wedley Charles (Hiram), r-senior DL Rodney Coe (Iowa State), r-sophomore WR A.J. Coney (Weber State), junior DB Larry Hope (Miami [Fla.]), r-senior DB Bryce Jones (Boston College), sophomore OL Josh Krok (Kentucky), r-junior DL Jamal Marcus (Ohio State), senior LB Darryl Monroe (Washington State), junior DL Se'Von Pittman (Ohio State), junior OL Xavier Quigley (Western Iowa), and sophomore ATH Anthony Young (Indiana).
• Senior WR Michaelee Harris (Achilles) and junior WR Mykel Traylor-Bennett (hand) are out for the season with the injuries.
HITTING THE AIRWAVES
A minimum of six Akron football games will be televised nationally this season: at Oklahoma (Fox Sports), Pittsburgh (ESPN3), Savannah State (ESPN3), Ohio (TBA), at Eastern Michigan (TBA), and at Bowling Green (TBA).
CAPTAINS
Akron will select game captains for each game throughout the season. The players will vote on their permanent team captains at the conclusion of the season.
UP NEXT
Akron returns to InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field for its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 12, with Pittsburgh. Kickoff is 6 p.m. ET on ESPN3.
