Zips Open 2017 Football Season at #6 Penn State

Saturday, September 2

University Park, PA

Noon

University of Akron

Penn State

August 28 | Football

Kickoff is Noon on Sept. 2

Pregame Coverage:
Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Bowden's Weekly Press Conference Video
MAC Weekly Media Teleconference Audio (Bowden)
MAC Weekly Release – Aug. 28

Gameday Coverage:
Buy Single-Game Tickets
Listen to Free Audio Stream (TuneIn.com)
Watch ESPN
Follow Free Live Statistics

Akron (0-0) at #6 Penn State (0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 2
Beaver Stadium [106,572] | University Park, Pa.
Noon ET | ABC Sports

THIS WEEK
Akron opens the 2017 football season at perennial powerhouse and No. 6 Penn State on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Noon at Beaver Stadium.

ABC Sports will televise the game with Mark Jones (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), and Quint Kessenich (sideline) calling the game.

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 one hour prior to kickoff. A free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.

Under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron returns 57 lettermen, including 15 starters. The Zips utilize a spread offense and a 4-3 defense.

Akron returns RB Van Edwards (Cape Coral, Fla.) who was the team's leading rusher with 492 yards and three touchdowns on 100 carries. Under center, senior QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) went 146-of-242 for 2,079 yards and 18 touchdowns last fall. Senior WR Austin Wolf (Lebanon, Ohio) is the top returning receiver with 550 yards and five touchdowns on 36 receptions. Defensively, junior LB Ulysees Gilbert (Ocala, Fla.) had 122 tackles, including a team-best 65 solo stops, a team-high 11.5 TFL, four sacks, eight hurries, and two forced fumbles.

The Nittany Lions, under the guidance of fifth-year head coach James Franklin, return 45 letterwinners, including 18 starters, to their multiple offensive and multiple defensive schemes.

Junior RB Saquon Barkley, the 2016 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, is the top returning rusher with 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns on 272 carries. Junior QB Trace McSorley, the MVP of the 2016 Big Ten Championship game, went 224-of-387 for 3,614 yards and 29 touchdowns. Senior WR DaeShawn Hamilton is the top returning receiver with 506 yards and a touchdown on 34 receptions. Defensively, senior S Marcus Allen had 110 tackles, 6.0 TFL sacks, two fumble recoveries, and a blocked kick.

AKRON-PENN STATE CONNECTIONS
Akron has six players from Pennsylvania on its roster— junior DL Brock Boxen [New Galilee, Pa. | Beaver Falls HS], redshirt junior DB Shawn Featherstone [Pittsburgh, Pa. | Penn Hills HS], senior S Zach Guiser [Fayette City, Pa. | Greensburg Central Catholic HS], senior DE Michael Kish [Pittsburgh, Pa. | Brentwood HD], redshirt freshman WR Nate Stewart [Bethlehem, Pa. | Pius X HS], and senior QB Thomas Woodson [Monroeville, Pa. | Gateway Senior HS]. Guiser's parents– Eric & Susan– are Penn State alumni.

Penn State has five players on its roster from Ohio– freshman QB Sean Clifford [Cincinnati, Ohio | Saint Xavier HS], sophomore CB T.J. Johnson [Cleveland, Ohio | Euclid HS], freshman OL Mike Miranda [Stow, Ohio | Stow-Munroe HS], sophomore DT Antonio Shelton [Westerville, Ohio | Westerville-North HS], and freshman SN Chris Stoll [Westerville, Ohio | St. Francis de Sales HS].

PSU assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach Terry Smith coached Zips' senior QB Thomas Woodson at Gateway High School.

Akron QB Nick Johns' (Leesburg, Va.) father Gregg played linebacker at Penn State, lettering in 1985 and 1987.

Akron head coach Terry Bowden has coached just one previous game at Beaver Stadium [Sept. 6, 2014]. Additionally, the Zips' mentor faced the Nittany Lions as the head coach at Auburn. Bowden and the Tigers faced Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions in the Outback Bowl following the 1995 season. Penn State claimed a 43-14 bowl win.

Additionally, as a member of the ABC broadcasting team, Bowden provided color analysis for a game at Beaver Stadium during the 1999 season.

Akron associate head coach and defensive coordinator Chuck Amato is a native of Easton, Pa., and began his coaching career there as an assistant coach at Easton High School (1969-70).

PSU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Moorhead worked at Akron for five seasons (2004-08) as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under coach J.D. Brookhart.

Akron Assistant Athletics Director and football SID Cathy Bongiovi (Penn State '87) earned her bachelor's degree in journalism at PSU. She previously worked at her alma mater for four years (1997-2001), advancing to the 2000 women's basketball Final Four with the Lady Lions.

AKRON-PENN STATE: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the sixth meeting between Akron and Penn State in series history which began in 1999. The Nittany Lions hold a 5-0 record over the Zips. All five games were played at Beaver Stadium.

In the teams' last meeting in 2014, the Akron defense forced three turnovers, but the Zips were only able to convert them into three points as UA dropped a 21-3 decision to the host Nittany Lions. Kicker Robert Stein converted a 28-yard field goal for the Zips' three points in the third quarter.

In 2009, No. 2 Penn State claimed a 31-7 win in the season opener for both teams. The Lions led, 31-0, at intermission. Akron's lone score was a 40-yard pass from Chris Jacquemain to Deryn Bowser. PSU had 515 yards of total offense on the day, compared to UA's 186.

SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Penn State:   0-5
Akron in games at Akron:   0-0
Akron in games at Penn State:   0-5
Akron in games at a neutral site:   0-0
First meeting in series:   1999, at Beaver Stadium, L, 24-70
Last meeting in series:   2014, at Beaver Stadium, L, 3-21

SERIES HIGHS
Akron Zips
Rushing:   Dennis Kennedy, 25-59, 1 TD (2006)
Passing:   Charlie Frye, 29-26-2-223 (2004)
Receiving:   Zach D'Orazio, 5-61 (2014)

Penn State Nittany Lions
Rushing:   Tony Hunt, 8-137, 1 TD (2004)
Passing:   Daryll Clark, 29-41-0-353, 3 TDs (2009)
Receiving:   Jesse James, 2-57, 2 TDs (2014)

Year   Site                        Result   Akron Coach   Penn State Coach
1999   Beaver Stadium   L, 24-70   Lee Owens   Joe Paterno
2004   Beaver Stadium   L, 10-48   J.D. Brookhart   Joe Paterno
2006   Beaver Stadium   L, 16-34   J.D. Brookhart   Joe Paterno
2009   Beaver Stadium   L, 7-31   J.D. Brookhart   Joe Paterno
2014   Beaver Stadium   L, 3-21   Terry Bowden   James Franklin

BIG CROWDS ON THE ROAD
Akron has faced its Top 10 biggest crowds on the road. At Penn State in 2009, 104,968 fans attended the game at Beaver Stadium. In 2014, 97,354 fans came to watch the squads.

Last season Akron visited No. 10 Wisconsin and played before a crowd of 77,331. In 2015, UA opened the season at Oklahoma before 85,370 fans.

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Since 1979, Akron has faced a nationally ranked opponent 28 times, recoding a 1-27 record. The Zips' lone victory came on Nov. 2, 2002 against No. 25 Marshall with a 34-20 win at the Rubber Bowl.

UA has faced a Top 10 team four times, including its highest ranked opponent– No. 2 Penn State on Sept. 4, 1999. [full record vs. ranked opponents is listed on p. 165 of the Akron media guide]

PRESEASON HONORS
Nine Zips were named to Athlon Sports' 2017 preseason All-Mid-American Conference teams.

Earning preseason first-team All-MAC was junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III. Third-team honorees were junior OL Kyle Ritz, redshirt junior PK Tom O'Leary, and junior KR Van Edwards. Named to the preseason fourth-team were senior QB Thomas Woodson, senior RB Warren Ball, senior WR Austin Wolf, senior DL Darius Copeland, and senior S Zach Guiser.

Four Zips were named to College Sports Madness' 2017 preseason All-MAC teams.

Named the preseason MAC Defensive Player of the Year and earning preseason first-team All-MAC accolades was Gilbert. Third-team honorees were O'Leary, Edwards, and Guiser.

2017 WATCH LISTS
Junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III was named to the Watch List for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy which honors the best defensive player in college football, while senior OL LaVonne Gauthney was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List as the most outstanding center. Seniors WR A.J. Coney and S Zach Guiser were both named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List for outstanding community service.

FOSTER NAMED HOTY CANDIDATE
Junior H Kyle Foster has been named a preseason candidate for the 2017 Peter Mortell Holder of the Year Award. Foster, who has played in every game of his collegiate career as the holder, was a semifinalist for the award last season.

BALL NAMED TO SI'S FREAKS LIST
Senior RB Warren Ball has been ranked at No. 22 nationally on Sport Illustrated's 2017 Freaks List of Top 40 workout warriors in college football.

The 6-1, 225-lb. Ball, who received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA following his season-ending injury last fall, was clocked at 4.4 in the 40 and only has three percent body fat.

ZIPS QUICK HITS

The players elected seniors RB Warren Ball, WR A.J. Coney, and S Zach Guiser as team captains for the 2017 season.
Six of Akron's 2017 opponents— Penn State (Rose), Troy (Dollar General), Western Michigan (Cotton), Toledo (Camelia), Miami (St. Petersburg), and Ohio (Dollar General)— participated in bowls in 2016.
Since 1979, Akron has faced 28 nationally ranked teams, going 1-27. The Zips' sole victory was a 34-20 win over No. 25 Marshall at the Rubber Bowl on Nov. 2, 2002.
Akron has 46 student-athletes on its roster from the state of Ohio; 33 of those live within a 30-mile radius to campus.
In 2017, Akron opens its ninth season playing on-campus at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. The Zips have a 18-30 record at the venue. The stadium opened in 2009.

MAC PREDICTIONS
Akron was selected to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference East Division this fall by both the media and the head coaches. Defending East champion Ohio was picked first, followed by Miami and Bowling Green. Akron, Buffalo, and Kent State rounded out the picks.

In the West Division, Toledo was selected first, followed by Western Michigan and Northern Illinois. Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, and Ball State rounded out the predictions.

The Toledo Rockets were also predicted to win the 2017 MAC Championship Game which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Ford Field in Detroit.

POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE
Six Zips competing this fall already have their bachelor's degrees: RB Warren Ball (sports industry), WR Tra'Von Chapman (sport management), OL Nick Fazio (mechanical engineering), OL LaVonne Gauthney (sport management), LB Andrew Hauser (sport management), and TE Mykel Traylor-Bennett (organizational supervision). The six Zips ranked 10th nationally with players with degrees. Northwestern leads the country with 18 graduated players on its roster.

UP NEXT
Akron returns to InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field for its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 9, with Arkansas Pine Bluff. Festivities begin with the second annual Touchdown Music Fest, featuring Roots-rockers JD McPherson and Nikki Lane as co-headliners. The music festival is FREE to the public. Gates to the Lee R. Jackson Track & Field Complex (next to InfoCision Stadium) open at 2 p.m. Nikki Lane will take the stage at 3 p.m., followed by JD McPherson at 4:45 p.m.

The football game is slated for 6:30 p.m. General admission tickets for football game as part of the Touchdown Music promotion are only $10 each.