David Lee Morgan Interviews JD?

[Captain Kangaroo]

Again, I refuse to give my personal info the The Beacon so I can't read the column. If you have access to the Beacon page, give it a read.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Someone sent me a copy of the interview:

David Lee: "So...how are The Golden flushes looking in the offseason?"

JD: "Uh....I'm coach of The Zips."

David Lee: "Zips....Zips...man, why is that sounding familiar?"

JD: "It's the 24,000 student University that's 4 blocks from your desk."

David Lee: "Oh man, I'm so embarassed...sorry about that. So are the Mount Union Zips gonna have a big 2004?"

JD: "We're the AKRON Zips. Is this some kind of joke?"

David Lee: "My bad again, man. For some reason Mount Union football always comes to mind when we're talking local collegiate football. Now Lee, can you tell me what you're gonna do about that defense? My man Paul Winters always has the offense up to speed, but the D always let's him down?"

JD: "I'm not Lee Owens. Lee Owens is coaching at Ashland this year. Paul Winters is coaching at some Division 2 school in Michigan, I believe?"

David Lee: *blushing* "Oh, there I go again...GOD am I embarassed. Now I'm starting to see why I've been stuck at The Beacon for all these years and can't get a job at a real paper...damn I'm a horrible excuse for a beat writer."

JD: "Don't be so hard on yourself. Let's get started on the right foot. What would you like to ask me regarding the 2004 Akron Zips' Football team?"

David Lee: " Umm...I'm sorry...what was that? I was trying to figure out the best way to get to Younstown from here. I'm doing a big story on my alma mater YSU. I might stop in and see Coach Pees on my way there."

JD: "Isn't Pees in New England with the Patriots right now?"

David Lee: "DAMN you're funny JB! We're gonna get along just great!"

JD: "I have a meeting. I need to leave. I think you can find the door."

David Lee: "That's cool. I heard there is an interview with you on GoZips.com. I'll just copy that and reprint it in a few weeks. That's how I do my best work. Later on, JC."

End of interview.

[Zipsrifle]

Very nice. I may have started something.

[Zipsrifle]

Here is the copy. I like the "Lack of Community Support" jab. Maybe it's because nobody knows there is a team cause all they read is OSU stuff.

Zips coach settles in, excited by Frye, plan

Brookhart sees similarities between Akron's situation and early years in Pittsburgh

By David Lee Morgan Jr.

Beacon Journal staff writer

With less than three weeks to go before the start of preseason camp, University of Akron football coach J.D. Brookhart sat down to talk about various topics as he prepares for his first season as a collegiate head coach.

Brookhart was named the head coach Dec. 15, replacing Lee Owens, who is now the head coach at Division II Ashland University.

Brookhart, a 39-year-old Colorado native, was the former offensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh under coach Walt Harris.

Last season, Brookhart coached All-American wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who was the 2003 Biletnikoff Award winner and Heisman Trophy runner-up.

The Zips open the season Sept. 4 at Penn State.

Q: How has the transition been for you?

A: It's been fun. We've covered so many areas, with the initial (high school) senior recruiting, to hiring a staff, to getting ready for spring ball, getting ready for the regular season and so many other things. At times, especially early on, it was a little overwhelming, but I feel like my head is above water now. You work around the clock to get things done, and I think there's a lot of excitement.

Q: What has been the biggest challenge you've faced?

A: The biggest challenge is changing the public perception of what this university is all about. I remember what the university was like five years ago when I was recruiting the area, and now, it's nothing close to what it was then. I can't wait to walk on campus on Sept. 1. I really can't wait. There are people who are Akron grads that haven't been on campus in five years and they are shocked at what they see and they get excited.

Q: Well, what was your perception of the university before you arrived?

A: I thought of it a little bit like I thought about Pittsburgh when I went there. You're talking about an old steel town with old factories that weren't being used. I thought Akron was the same, and that definitely isn't the case.

Q: The community support for the football program has been lacking here in Akron. What similarities and challenges do you see in Akron compared to Pittsburgh, a school also in the heart of the city?

A: When we first got to Pittsburgh, I think they played Rutgers the last game of the season, and they announced a crowd of 10,000, and there were probably 4,000 people in the stands. A lot of it back then was changing the perception of the program, and that's the challenge here. I think we need to rally the community behind us because there's a lot to be proud of here.

Q: How important is it for the athletic department to make a Saturday afternoon at the Rubber Bowl a fan-friendly atmosphere, and what needs to be done to accomplish that?

A: We need to do some things with game-day events. A lot of people in the stands aren't there for the football game, and I can speak for my own 6-year-old son. It is an event. It's a day for the family. Maybe the dad and the high school son love (senior quarterback) Charlie Frye, but mom may be there for a different reason, the 12-year-old son may be there for a different reason and the daughter may be there for a different reason.

Q: What's been the most pleasant surprise since you've been here?

A: Two things. The way our staff works with each other is just tremendous. There's great chemistry. And I think the other thing is the kids. I just love them. They are committed to this program, and they want to be good. They want to be successful.

Q: What are your plans to establish a sense of family and pride within the program among the players and staff?

A: We always talk about accountability, on and off the field, within the community, as well as productivity. We've made a strong point of reference on academics, and they challenged us at first. They didn't believe that we would get them up at 6 a.m. and make them go to class, and they found out. We haven't had problems because we sent that message early.

Q: You've coached one Heisman Trophy candidate in Larry Fitzgerald. Now, you have another Heisman candidate in quarterback Charlie Frye. What similarities do you see in both players that make them stand out?

A: The two things that stand out between Larry and Charlie, first, they understand about sacrifice. To be great, you have to make great sacrifices; they both have done those things. And they love the game. There's a passion there. They have a great desire to learn.

Q: When you look at the two players, do you get a sense that their teammates sense those leadership qualities?

A: I think anytime you have successful people, others gravitate to those habits. That's what's been so great here. So many people look to Charlie for leadership. He's the first one out here throwing the ball in the net when guys are just pulling into the parking lot for practice, and he'll stay after to work with the receivers and the running backs.

Q: You run a pro-set offense. How do you think Charlie has adapted to your style and does it fit him?

A: Absolutely. He's grasping it like I've never seen before. He's extremely intelligent. What the NFL teams do in this West Coast offense, the quarterback has to know what everybody is doing, and Charlie is very capable of handling the offense right now. He's training himself for what his future is going to be.

[EAGLETIME]

David Lee Morgan is a great writer and a guy that knows football. He kew the real story about what went down with Akron last fall.

[Captain Kangaroo]

David Lee Morgan is a great writer and a guy that knows football.

That is classic!