Akron Zips vs. Indiana Hoosiers 1975-2024
7 Akron Wins
27 Akron Losses
3 Draws
https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/msoc/opponent-history/akron/153
This Zips Memory 10/5/1986 is the only victory over Indiana during the 1980s.
1-0
It was a sunny Sunday afternoon in early October following nearly a week of rain. Everything everywhere was muddy. I do not recall Buchtel Field having much bleacher seating; maybe there was none at all. The crowd were kept from the field by hastily staked nylon rope. That’s it. Fans were virtually on top of the game, in a way that would not be permissible today. It was unsafe. The pitch was barely lined, and I think it was smaller than regulation. Both teams were just making do with the conditions.
Matches between Akron and Indiana are historically physical. Just ask Dyson Clapier. To date, this match is the roughest (dirtiest) NCAA contest that I have ever attended (and I have attended hundreds). Every tackle was violent! Every head-ball left someone on the ground. Loose balls were perilous. Seemingly every player in the match was limping at one time or another. Sound familiar? This game was about screw-in cleats, slide-tackles, and bloody noses. Ugly. Choppy. MF Graham Evison (RIP) became my hero that day.
After an especially egregious tackle where MF Michael Berish was intentionally elbowed in the face, Head Referee displayed the yellow card. Akron bench was outraged, screaming for a straight Red. During clock stoppage as Berish received medical attention from the Trainer, Assistant Coach Simon Spelling, himself not far removed from these same battles with Indiana, called D Shaun Docking to the sideline. The conversation was heated but whispered behind raised hands so that only those two could hear.
Game play resumed for about five minutes afterward. Zips were (barely) keeping possession in their final third. Then there was very audible (and somewhat sickening) ccrracckk. Whatever happened occurred in the Akron defensive third, far away from where the ball was. Out of the corner of my eye I just caught Docking walking away from the Indiana player left on the ground… crying. Like sobbing. No call was made by the officials. Jerry Yeagley was apoplectic, as if he was going to stroke out and die right there in Akron. His coaching staff did well to restrain him. To this day I am not certain what happened. And I am not sure those who do know would tell. Rumor has it that the player’s rib was broken. Others maintain there was a knee to the… midsection. Whoever that Hoosier was, he did not return to the contest. Done.
I need help from others here. These things are not easily researched nowadays. How did we score? Was it a PK? F David Wells? Sadly, I do not remember all the details. I just remember D Matt Smith picking mud out of his hair as the clock expired.
I truly hope they are on our schedule in 2025, but F#@% Indiana and the Hoosiers they rode in on!