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I am not sure if anyone else noticed this during the game but Akron and Iowa State played with a great deal of sportsmanship. Early in the game there was a late hit and penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct on Iowa State the coach immediately took the player off the field. I cannot count how many times I saw Akron players helping Iowa State player off the ground after a tackle. I am hopeful that all the talking, taunting and stupid late hit penalties are gone and this team just plays hard nosed football. This team played with a great deal of maturity.

Now, it is time to get back to cheering for the Zips for the rest of the season.

I've said it a million times, and I'll say it one more; Terry Bowden will retire as head football coach of the Akron Zips. Go Zips.

Here are some thoughts I wrote for another blog (more about our players and from our perspective, but I thought it might be of interest): Cyclone fans did a great job of getting into the stadium early and wearing gold/yellow (even a Packers jacket was appropriate) to honor Celia Barquin Arozamena. The tribute began as the band played a subdued rendition of “The Bells of Iowa State” that established a deeply moving and somber mood. The video tribute to a student-athlete from Spain, the moment of silence, and the national anthem placed Iowa State in its global context perhaps like never before. It was a special privilege to have this week’s Kid Captain, Zach Plueger, and his family at our tailgate before the game. Zach looked great out at midfield for the coin toss with his wheelchair being pushed by #32 David Montgomery himself. Andrew delivered another memorable tailgate meal. Watching him cook on the discada is like seeing art made. It was especially fun to have Akron fans from Ohio, as well as ISU alumni with young families return to Ames for the tailgate. Now to the mundane matters of the game itself. Workmanlike effort for Iowa State in the victory. Although Akron jumped out to an early lead and was never far behind, I never felt like the outcome was in jeopardy. However, it was another week of rather uninspired play calling by Coach Campbell. Not as bad as in Iowa City, but it was certainly a step back from the wide-open field for the Oklahoma game. Please, when Butler gets one-on-one with a short cornerback, just throw him the ball. Or when we have three receivers out wide against two defensive backs, get them the ball. Both teams struggled on third down, but our struggles happened close enough to get field goals. Defensive adjustments led to the win. Iowa State has allowed only 6.9 points in the second half of the last 14 games (and most of those are high-powered Big 12 offenses). Akron’s QB completed only 12 passes. His TD toss was a thing of beauty, but he seemed off on many throws. The pressure he felt from our line was largely a result of good coverage. JaQuan Bailey #3 was one of our leading tacklers. Akron’s defensive end #9 seemed like he was in our backfield all day. It was only after the game that I learned that untested #63 Collin Olson was starting on our O-line. Perhaps there was a connection. Why play Brock Purdy, third string QB, for two plays, including a designed run for him? Perhaps it was just to get him some more experience on the field, but it came at a time in the game when I thought it was more important to get the first down and keep the drive going. Tarique Milton #14 may be the future for us at WR. Even though he fumbled (our first real fumble in two seasons), Campbell kept him in the game for kick returns and as a primary target on pass plays. I took notice that Campbell didn’t just yank him. We got our first true glimpse of Johnny Lang #24 as he scampered around the left side for a nifty 12 yard gain. And Kene Nwangwu #3 had a great kickoff return. Our depth and speed at RB is going to be very valuable at some point this season. In last week’s press conference, Akron’s coach Terry Bowden, said that 5 or 6 of their first half penalties against Northwestern were because their Center couldn’t hear the snap count. In Evanston! I was hoping that a hostile crowd at Jack Trice Stadium would be devastating for him, but they went to a QB clap that seemed to work. However, they did seem to have trouble getting the play called in from the bench. Nice job fans! The essence of the second half is that neither team did very well on third down, but ours happened with better field position, so we got points from field goals.

Nice Spark game summary

Butler dropped to 1-5-2 as they lost 3-2 to Providence Creighton improved to 5-1-1 with a 1-0 win over Villanova Creighton is showing as 20 in RPI after last night's win West Virginia 2 Dayton 0 (Dayton was 4-1-3 coming into last night's game) Bowling Green dropped to 1-5-2 as they lost 3-2 in OT to Purdue Ft. Wayne

Bring on Sands, Suggs, and White

It was not a bad game for us being on the road against a team with talent roughly equal to or better than the very best MAC teams, but in the end we beat ourselves in a game where we needed to play mistake-free. On the bright side, for the first time in a long while, our biggest problems can be resolved with coaching, practice, film, and discipline and don't just boil down to "major lack of talent/depth" at one or more positions.

They should mail the check enclosed in a thank you card

This wasn't our best effort, but we hung with a damn good team. Hats off to TB and staff for getting our talent level to the point that we could do this. In past years we would have been blown out. Now our guys go into games expecting to win. They are good and they believe it. I hope our injuries heal quickly and we go play smash-mouth defense with the MAC. Kato and the O will get better altho' Kato picked a hell of a time to miss open receivers. BTW, you are lucky you didn't play us Nebraska! Now pay up.

About to drive through Lincoln...with my Zips shirt on. Wish I had time to troll and take a selfie in front of the stadium.

GASSER FOR HEISMAN!

Sad the weather robbed us the likelihood of beating their butt on national prime time television.

Hey Huskers, Karma sucks

Zips Equipment just posted this. Nice gesture.

NC State 1 Virginia Tech 0 Virginia 2 Syracuse 0 Louisville 1 Pitt 0 N. Carolina 1 Notre Dame 0 2 OT Michigan State improves to 7-0-2 with a 2-1 win over Rutgers SIUE is now 4-1-2 after 1-1 tie with St. Louis SIUE is 37 in RPI Northern Illinois improves to 6-2-0 with a 2-0 win over E. Illinois N. Illinois is currently 20 in RPI

I like what I saw in the 1st half. Good ball control, excellent strike by Egbo, and defense looks much improved with Muhammad on the right side.

I mean, when you hastily cut programs while adding official video-gaming competition teams...you're kinda inviting/deserve/warrant this kind of rambling criticism.