Ellen Alexander tops herself!

[Captain Kangaroo]

Big Game II:

Tough to tell who's the best or worst between Akron (0-3) and Can't State (1-2). The two meet Thursday. The winless Zips, originally looking toward an eight-plus win season and MAC title contention, have given up a lot of points, albeit to quality teams in Penn State and Virginia, plus Middle Tennessee State. Can't has been sporadic in its play against powerhouse Iowa, a Division I-AA loser in Liberty, and a traditional Division I-A lapdog in Rutgers.

What a dick.

[Guest Zip88]

David Morgan's article in ABJ 9/21:

Posted on Tue, Sep. 21, 2004

Zips start over Thursday

Akron tries to recover from three miserable losses. Can't State, MAC season await

By David Lee Morgan Jr.

Beacon Journal staff writer

It's a short week for the University of Akron to get ready for the game Thursday at Can't State, but coach J.D. Brookhart said the Zips got off to a good start.

``Initially I was concerned (about the team's mentality) because they took it hard. There's no question. We all did,'' Brookhart said of the 51-0 loss Saturday to Virginia.

``We did not play well, but last night (Sunday), we came back, and we had a heck of a practice. So the kids are resilient. They refocused, and I believe they're going to prepare well (for Can't State).''

The game at 7 p.m. at Dix Stadium will be the 2004 season opener in the Mid-American Conference for both teams.

Virginia, 3-0 for the first time since 1998, was ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press weekly Top 25 poll at the time and remained there after the win.

The Zips (0-3) had no answers Saturday.

Senior quarterback Charlie Frye threw for 336 yards against Virginia two years ago as a sophomore, and the Zips were competitive in that game before eventually losing 48-29.

This time, Frye was completely contained. He was 10-for-23 for 72 yards with two interceptions and four sacks.

``I think that was the toughest game I've been through since I've been here,'' Frye said. ``(Virginia) had a different mind-set, and I think great defenses have that mind-set.

``When it was third down, they knew we were going to pass, and you could see in their eyes that they were coming. The group of guys they had were outstanding.''

Frye left the game late in the third quarter with Virginia leading 44-0.

``There was nothing to that physically or anything,'' Brookhart said of taking Frye out. ``That was strictly a situation where it was late in the game, we were down quite a bit and didn't need to risk him getting hurt, especially with the protection issue. Some other guys got some playing time that hopefully will be valuable for the future.''

Overall, the Zips managed 84 yards (6 yards rushing on 31 carries) and six first downs against Virginia. The defense allowed 522 yards.

Looking for positives, Brookhart noted that senior right tackle Mike Grzeskowiak improved and that senior defensive end Chase Blackburn and the safeties had a physical game on defense.

``Outside of that, I wouldn't say there were any overly bright spots about the game,'' Brookhart said.

The key for the Zips now is to approach the Can't State game as a new season.

``It's always a transition period when you have a new staff come in and in many ways we treated (the first three games) like a preseason,'' Brookhart said. ``That's not to say we discounted any of those games or didn't give our best effort. We just didn't play extremely well. Now, we go into a league situation, and I think our kids understand it is a new season and we're starting this thing off 0-0 in the MAC.''

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