The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Akron – INSIDE SLANT
Akron first-year coach Terry Bowden knows his history. He didn’t expect to turn Akron into a winner overnight. Bowden just wants to see daily progress toward becoming a winning tradition. Although Thursday’s 56-14 defeat to Central Florida looks like another ugly mark on Akron’s declining program, Bowden viewed the opener as the first step toward becoming a winning program.
“It’s been a great day,” Bowden said. “There’s a lot more anxiety that all coaches have in the first season coaching a team that was 1-11 two years in a row and all we’ve done is practice against each other. You don’t have any way of comparing where you are until you line up and play somebody. I’ll be shocked if Central Florida is not a good team this year. They were physically more talented than us.
“But the day was great, the atmosphere, getting it started. No matter what happened in this game, it is the start of our push of turning this program around. As long as our kids played hard and did the best they could, that was the baseline where we have to begin from.”
In the opener, the Zips suffered through some of the same old storylines that led to blowout losses in the last three years. Akron got off to a slow start, trailing 35-0 at halftime, receivers dropped balls, the running game lacked spark and the Zips had problems inside the red zone.
The Zips experienced problems in special teams, couldn’t sustain drives, turned the ball over four times. But the Zips, unlike the last two years, showed some life at quarterback. Senior Dalton Williams completed 30 of 50 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. The offensive line looked strong in the spread offense.
The Zips don’t have to wait long to get another crack at a team from Florida, traveling to Miami to face FIU on Sept. 8.
“We’re going to win some ball games, but we’re going to get thumped some,” Bowden said. “There are a lot of areas we can improve upon.”
———————————————–
NCAAF Team Report – Akron – NOTES, QUOTES
WHAT’S AHEAD: The Zips get a close look at the importance of speed for a program looking to carve a spot among the giants in college football. After succumbing to a 56-14 home loss to Central Florida, the Zips head to Miami to battle FIU. The weather should be a factor, plus the speed of FIU and depth. The Zips can’t sulk too long after another blowout loss.
–Maybe Akron fans can’t sulk away any woes. Call is a coincidence. For the first time at InfoCision Stadium, after consecutive 1-11 seasons, Akron fans can purchase beer at games.
–Terry Bowden’s career record in openers dropped to 13-5-1, with the Zips losing their fifth straight season opener.
–Dalton Williams showed confidence and knowledge of the spread offense, completing 30-of-50 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Williams did miss a few receivers, while several passes were dropped.
–KR Dee Frieson made some alarming mistakes that cost the Zips. He muffed one punt inside Akron’s 10-yard line that set up a UCF touchdown.
KEEP AN EYE ON: In his first game in an Akron uniform, senior quarterback Dalton Williams brought some life to the offense. He completed 30 passes for 245 yards and tossed two touchdowns. Williams ran the spread offense like a veteran, even showing his poise by not getting rattled after some key drops by his receivers.
LOOKING GOOD: Defensive tackle Cody Grice might have finally found a home. The redshirt freshman stepped up in the opener with eight tackles. Senior linebacker Troy Gilmer added six tackles, including two for losses.
STILL NEEDS WORK: The running game. Akron didn’t have a runner with more than 37 yards. Jawon Chisholm was slated for a breakout season, but he was held to 17 yards on seven carries.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “That’s why I encourage people to buy season tickets, I don’t want people who’s going to jump off ship. If you buy the whole package, you’ve got to come for the whole show. This team will get better.” — Akron coach Terry Bowden.
———————————————–
NCAAF Team Report – Akron – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES:
–WR L.T. Smith, a sophomore, might become new quarterback Dalton Williams’ favorite target. Smith caught a team-high seven passes for 87 yards and one touchdown, including hauling in a 37-yard reception.
–WR Marquelo Suel is building on a solid 2011 season, catching seven passes for 62 yards and a touchdown in the opener.
–RB Quentin Hines thrust his name in the running backs discussion by leading the Zips with 37 yards on six carries, averaging 6.2 yard per rush.
ROSTER REPORT:
–LT Jarrod Pughsley played the opener with a sprained ankle suffered in practice.
–LB Keionne Baines suffered a lower body injury that forced him to don crutches after the loss.
———————————————–
