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I am so glad this game has been brought up in another thread. This 40-0 victory is one of the greatest Akron Football game ever played, if not the greatest, in my opinion. Some context is necessary here so pull up a coronavirus cocktail and read on. Akron played the University of Tampa in the 1969 Acme-Zip game which was the opener for both teams. Tampa was an excellent DII program and was accustomed to playing in the playoffs. Tampa openly talked about going D1. They floated the idea of getting Ohio State on their schedule to demonstrate their seriousness. Backers would guarantee OSU $250,000, a big amount in those days, to visit Tampa for a game in 70,000 seat Tampa Stadium. After all, Tampa beat Mississippi Sate and Tulane in 1968. They thought they were ready. To make room for OSU Tampa said it would drop Akron in a heartbeat. OSU just laughed it off. BTW, Tampa beat Akron 28-12 in 1968. Akron fullback John Vargo told me it was the hardest he has ever been hit in his life. We were coached by Gordon Larsen, the best coach I think we have ever had. Gordon was pissed and put everything into getting his team prepared. The crowd for the game was near 40,000. I had made the soccer team. As was Acme-Zip custom the soccer team played a game before the football game. We soccer players were given wooden, fold-up chairs on the field which were put all around the field to accommodate as many fans as possible. There must have been 1,000 of them temporarily set up. Ours were one row away from the field. From the very beginning the Zips played with a ferocious passion. The hitting was incredible. The foreign soccer players I sat with were stunned at the collisions they saw only a few feet away. Akron took it to Tampa from the opening kickoff and never stopped. They reflected their coach's indignation and were ready to make a statement. Tampa blinked first and then damn near quit. Akron didn't care. We played with determination until the final whistle. Make no mistake, though, Tampa was a talented team. They had All-Americans Jack Del Gaizo at QB and Leon McQuay at RB. Later Freddy Solomon and Jon Matusak, two NFL All-Pros would play for them, but they were not on this team. Tampa went on to win its next 8 straight games, but for this game their coach, Fran Curci, could only say that the team "was bleeding' and he hoped he could get them back some time soon. Tampa did go on to move up to D1 in 1971. Unfortunately the board of trustees at the school voted to drop football in 1974 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were awarded an NFL franchise. The BOT thought they could not draw any crowds to support D1 football with an NFL team in town. I love Akron football. To this day I find it hard to recall a better game nor one in which I am more proud of the team and coach. They proved something that night. It was a joy to be there. Hope you enjoyed this first person story. Go Zips!

He's also got a podcast where he's interviewed a few former Zips (Richie Laryea, Adam Najem, and Aodhan Quinn). I've only listened to the Najem one so far, but they talked a lot about his decision to come to Akron and the recruiting process. Pretty interesting.

1. ACC 2. Big Ten 3. Big-12 4. Pac-12 5. SEC 6. Dayton

@zipsmsoc LB De Vera, Korb, Derschang, Souders The short and speedy lefty is a fan favorite of Zips fans everywhere. Unlike many players, during his four years Niko De Vera never seemed to be playing out of position. Even when he was coming off the bench as a freshman, Niko looked entirely at home at LB. It obviously helps tremendously to have a good left foot when playing LB. And Niko has a fantastic left. His crosses are most often inch perfect service, at the right height, at the right spin. Both his team defense and his 1 v 1 are very good. And De Vera wins many more headers than one might guess. Niko improved noticeably every year as a Zip. AND… Zips Nation will never forget December 1, 2017 @ Louisville, when he blasted in his PK, sending us to the College Cup. Niko De Vera currently plays for Portland Timbers II. Chris Korb played midfield in high school at University Schools. After transferring from Xavier, he took some convincing to play LB, but the 2009-2010 squads were better for it. Chris lacks a convincing left footed cross, but he is a good tackler, a hard worker, and his playmaking is more like a midfielder than a standard outside back. Chris Korb is sturdy and dependable. A very good all round player, Chris Korb enjoyed a six plus MLS career, mostly with DC United, before eventually succumbing to multiple injuries. Andrew Souders is disserviced by being forced to compete at LB. He played CB most of his Zips career. Not sure he played LB even for a full season. Souders is a victim of his own versatility and selflessness. This I know: One must go back to the 80s to find a Zips player as hard tackling as Andrew Souders. (See Grahame Evison,) FINAL ANALYSIS: I strongly prefer left-footed players at LB. Need that end line cross with the natural foot. Niko De Vera is the voters' and he is my pick as well.

great analysis on left centerback.... Bryan Gallego certainly should have been one of the 4 voting choices

Is Gonzaga the Dayton of the West?

Totally heart breaking for athletes across the country to have their seasons cut short ....the Blackford team was poised to win its first regional title in the entire history of the school ...brown finished the season with the state lead in scoring for the second straight year ( first person to have a chance to do it three straight years ). In the last two weeks the end of season awards have been posted : 1. voted by Indiana basketball coches association to supreme 15 underclassman in the state 2. Voted by AP and coaches to the Indiana junior all star team ( top 18’juniors in the state but the annual game against the Kentucky all stars was cancelled ) 3. Voted by AP to 3rd team all-state. 9 seniors and 6 juniors made up the fifteen players to make an all-state team he was one of the 6 juniors ...4 of the other six have been offered or already committed to power 6 schools the aau season is in jeopardy and if no more games are played brown might not get a power 6 offer without a way to prove himself this summer...that gives you guys a shot in my book

We'll take a raincheck.?