MDZip

Bleacher Report's recap of the game. How much money could you have gotten on a prop bet that any Akron player would get voted player of the game? Pohl got 64% of the vote. And down in the comments section someone gives us credit for being the fifth best team in the MAC. Before the game I would have happily taken that. Now I'm not so sure.

I know some people were curious about this, it appears the Zips got $900K to play in Michigan. If we keep playing well like this, we're not going to get those nice paydays any more.

This looks like a wide open year, but the Zips have slipped from 7th to 15th in the latest NSCAA poll.

Hoping after this weekend, we can just refer to them as Lose-iana.

Sorry for being a little late to the party, stayed up that way a couple more days. I'll try to give my impressions of being there without duplicating too much of what has already been said and I have posted some pictures from my view of the field. And UA1987, I was too late with my similar joke, I was going to say LT Smith should be promoted from LT to Major. Day late and a dollar short. Obviously both an awesome and awful day at the same time. I actually was tailgating with some Michigan fans who were polite but obviously didn't give the Zips any chance (they were a little humbler after the game) and I did hear a comment on the way into the stadium that that person expected about a 100-0 score. There was some real respect earned by the Zips Saturday. By the way Zips fans at the top of the stadium, during the big Zips plays, because the stadium went slient, you were heard. I was right behind the Zips bench and that was a great place to be, you could really sense the Zips confidence building as the game went on. Zips were outmanned to some degree as Michigan rolled up a lot of big plays on them (and the score likely would have been a lot different without four Michigan turnovers), but that was the great thing. No matter what happened I always saw confidence from the Zips players that they were not done. At the end of the game I saw (I think it was CJ Mizell) gathering the defensive players after the Zips took the late lead imploring to "Do our job since the offense has done theirs." A linebacking core of March, Turner and Mizell is damned good, and I was very impressed with the D-Line putting so much pressure on Gardner. Also give major props to the O-Line for the protection they provided. Funniest looking play of the game was a punt team formation where Moses McCray and Fransohn Bickley were side by side on the D-Line. Apparently the play was to have McCray occupy the blockers and let Bickley slip in beside him. It came pretty close to working. Anyway here are some of the better pics: Beginning of the game Play under way Pohl back to pass Timeout Beginning of a play Pohl steps to the line Shot of the Zips Rooting section up by the flags (including the two Zips fans that were the only ones that I could find within 50 rows of me). Zips celebrating Zips take the lead late in the 4th!! This would be my avatar if the score had held. Some very concerned Michigan fans. I also had a good shot of when the Zips got intercepted in the end zone but it shall never see the light of day. I had video of the last three Zips plays in hope I could capture dead silence in that stadium (except for a few hundred Zips fans), but it wasn't to be. Great, great experience, now Zips, build on it!

They explained this at the game. Hoke calls any game that starts at noon a "glazed donut" game because of the early start so he bought the students glazed donuts (400 dozen of them). So happy I made the trip up, so disappointed and yet so proud of that team at the same time. I think it bodes well for the Zips especially with UCF knocking off Penn State. I now think JMU should be happy with how well they hung with the Zips. I am very encouraged for next week. Do I see light around a corner?

Thanks for posting that - nice video of Zeke's arrival although the author's comment that Zeke does not pack light I think was a little off since it appears he is pushing a cart with luggage for both he and the other player that arrived. Plus if you're seven feet tall, each piece of clothing will take of more room. Really nice to see him smiling though, hope he does really well there and can parlay it into something bigger. He will always be one of my favorite Zips, not just for his play but how he handled himself too. Class act (has the retire his number talk started yet? )

In, but coming from distance so won't make it there until shortly before game time.

Zips drop to #7. Indiana has gone from preseason #1 to out of the rankings so it could be a lot worse. St. Johns is up to #12 by beating us, Maryland is now #18 and VCU has risen to #19. That would be viewed as a good win Friday.

The ones I checked with were in row 95. Similar to the set up at OSU where visiting fans got the very top rows.

Some of those look new but that is the right section. When I looked with the row numbers I was given I wouldn't have been within 20 rows. Probably should have waited (although I'll bet I can come and find an empty seat). Since we are gtting close to game time, prices have dropped quite a bit too.

Went the Stubhub route too. Looked for one in the Zips section but couldn't find anything where Zips fans were put so I "settled" for one for $60 on the 50 yard line five rows from the field. I don't think these are going to be tough tickets.

Didn't feel like a new thread but on a more positive note, an MLS/Adidas ad before the MNT vs. Mexico featured five MLS players and two were former Zips (Zakuani and Mattocks).

For some reason Dave's link led to to a page not found. I think this one will get you there. Clever paragraph in the story: Akron, led for a second season former Auburn coach Terry Bowden, barely beat second-tier James Madison Saturday and has lost 27 straight road games since winning at Eastern Michigan nearly five years ago. The Zips will be in the same county as it was against Eastern Michigan, but they will basically be in another world on the football field against the Wolverines.

Actually that was answered here already. (thank you ZipGrad01). Section 8 all the way at the top corner of the stadium.

Think he meant Rossi. Rizzo was an offensive lineman.

Actually, according to the GoZips game statistics, the Zips had nine tackles for losses totaling 42 yards (including 3 sacks) so I'd call that a pretty good performance but it certainly did appear that JMU controlled the LOS. It was giving up all the big plays that really hurt (of course JMU could probably say the same thing). And a little shout out to Jawon Chisholm for passing the 2,000 yard career rushing mark in the game. If he continues to run north and south he has a shot at a 4,000 yard career (with the added bonus of some nice receiving yards - that's one reason I think he stays in games too, he is a good receiver - huge catch in the JMU game).

The names of the officiating crew were published on GoZips.com: Referee: Greg Blum Umpire: Ed Feaster Head Linesman: Chris Garner Line Judge: Jeff Meslow Back Judge: Reginald Berry Field Judge: John Masterson Side Judge: Grady Smith Have not found a way to find if they have any conference affiliation.

JMU is a lot better than some people gave them credit for. The top of FCS and bottom of FBS aren't that far apart. Yeah a little luck but the offense played pretty well and a win is a win and those have been damn hard to come by. JMU is no slouch but it does make me happy to shut up all their fans that claimed they should win "easily" (and that we didn't pay them $300K to come and beat us at our house). JZ84, close prediction.

Two more FBS - FCS upset alerts (not involving the Zips). Portland St. up on Cal 30-27 and Richmond over NC State 21-10. Western Michigan down 14-0 to Nicholls St but its early.

Actually they beat Virginia Tech but that's probably irrelevant now. My blood pressure has gone down again, so its basically who wins the second half. Gotta give the Zips some credit for sucking it up and coming back. March and Caponi playing well, Hirschman has made the most of his opportunity, Pohl looked really jittery. C'mon Zips can't afford to drop this one.

Actually though they look pretty good on TV.

Outstanding save, but I'm still partial to the one he made in the NCAA championship.

If this program is going to take a step forward this year, this is more than a must win - but it's not a guaranteed win, which is why it is important. When Morgan State showed up last year I don't think anyone was that worried about them, they have been a down FCS team for quite a while. JMU is a different challenge and one the Zips should welcome. A challenge but one they must be able to meet to keep moving forward. A victory by a touchdown or less would not be a victory, these boys need to show they are playing with a fire and need to put this team away by more than the pont spread, otherwise the confidence level won't be there for the games after Michigan. C'mon Zips I am not expecting 66-6, but how about a nice 38 -17 score? I'd be satisfied with that.

This line kind of stood out - Ohio State is one of three basketball programs outfitted by James' Nike line, along with Kentucky and Miami. (sigh)