No Moral Victories!!!

[Guest rooboy]

Read this: From Gozips.com.

When's the last time we heard a Zips coach say anything close to this??? I'm thinking Huggins maybe??

Refreshing isn't it?

Brookhart Looks For New Attitude and Senior Leadership to Carry 2004 Squad

Zips return 43 letterwinners, including 12 starters, to this year's team

Aug. 8, 2004

Spear-headed by first-year head coach J.D. Brookhart and his business-like approach, there is a new mindset surrounding the Akron Zips football program.

Not only is a new coaching staff in place, along with new offensive and defensive schemes, but the players have also developed an even stronger bond than the one they've enjoyed in recent years. That was evident this summer when nearly the entire squad ran through voluntary seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 workouts at the Rubber Bowl.

"I love the attitude of this team," Brookhart said. "They gave us (the coaching staff) great effort throughout the spring and that continued this summer on their own. We have a group that wants to be good, especially the seniors who want to go out on high note."

The task at hand, however, is challenging.

The Zips return 43 letterwinners, including 12 starters, six on offense and defense, but much of the offensive production has departed from last season's 7-5 squad.

Brookhart and offensive coordinator Jim Pry will have to replace over 80 percent of the receiving production and over 60 percent of the running back production.

In addition, the 2004 schedule is much more daunting than the 2003 slate, which included six home games and two Division I-AA opponents.

Akron opens the season at Big Ten foe Penn State on Sept. 4, and then must face ACC opponent Virginia two weeks later.

In addition to the contests versus the Nittany Lions and Cavaliers, UA travels to Northern Illinois, which finished second in the MAC West Division last season with a 10-2 mark. The Huskies and Ball State replace Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan as divisional cross-over games.

Offensively, UA will rely on all-everything quarterback Charlie Frye, the MAC Preseason Player of the Year, and a senior-laden offensive line, which returns four starters.

But the success of the offense will fall on the shoulders of Frye and he seems to be ready for the challenge.

"Charlie's already a coach on the field," said Brookhart, who landed his first recruit in January when Frye opted to return to Akron rather than enter the 2004 NFL Draft. "As talented as he is, his intangibles are incredible. He has great leadership skills and does it with such an even keel. The players gravitate towards him."

Frye heads into the season as one of the top-rated signal-callers in the nation and a candidate for the Heisman Trophy as well as the Davey O'Brien and Unitas Awards. He has already re-written the UA record books and will continue his assault on the MAC charts in 2004.

But Frye, the first Heisman candidate in school history, will need some help.

Junior Jerell Ringer will have the first opportunity to replace Bobby Hendry's nearly 1,000 yards on the ground. Domenik Hixon, the team's top tackler last season, was moved from free safety to wide receiver in the spring to give the receiving corps a boost, as only one of the top seven receivers from 2003 returns.

Brookhart, who has instilled some of his business philosophies, hopes a change in style and attitude will help a defense which ranked 81st in the nation and 10th in the MAC last season.

"I loved their attitude (in the spring)," Brookhart said of the defense. "They stepped it up. I think they felt like the little brother (to the offense). The defense is a very capable, exciting group when they play as a unit. When they play as one they are a fun team to watch."

Brookhart and defensive coordinator Jim Fleming will use a 4-3 base scheme, but try to give offenses different looks.

"We understand we need to be multiple and show teams different things to be successful," Brookhart said. "We are going to try and create confusion and play with a high motor."

The defense does return six starters, including three of its top four tacklers, from last season and will lean on some veterans.

Chase Blackburn and Diontre Earl formed a solid linebacking unit last season, but Blackburn, a senior, moved to end in the spring and holes will need to be filled there and in the secondary with Hixon moved to offense and the starting cornerbacks departed.

Brookhart does have concerns on defense.

"I'm worried about the depth on the defensive side of the ball," Brookhart said. "Some young players are going to have to step up. How much pass rush can we get without blitzing? But I think those are questions that most teams have."

The staff is hoping for a solid season from defensive end Dwayne LeFall. A three-year starter along the defensive line, LeFall is looking to punctuate his career with a solid senior season. He took on a more high-profile role in the spring and continued that during summer workouts.

Despite concerns on both sides of the ball, Brookhart is looking forward to his first season.

"I can't wait for the season to get started," Brookhart said. "We want to compete at a high level immediately.

We are not playing for any moral victories.

You never want to do that. The kids have high goals as well. You hate to set expectations too low. We just want to play hard and smart every single game, so we have a chance to win in the fourth quarter."

A complete breakdown of the offense will appear on Monday, Aug. 9 and a rundown of the defense will follow on Tuesday.

[Guest Ernest]

I don't think morals were at the top of the last staff's priority list, except when talking about Moral Victories.