Guest Zip88 Posted November 17, 2004 Report Posted November 17, 2004 Posted on Wed, Nov. 17, 2004 Brookhart wastes no time with Zips First-year coach has team in running for MAC title By David Lee Morgan Jr. Beacon Journal staff writer It took University of Akron first-year coach J.D. Brookhart just one season to do something that hasn't been done at the school since 1983, which is win five consecutive games. If the Zips (6-4, 6-1 in the Mid-American Conference) can win against Miami University on Saturday at the Rubber Bowl, they will win their first outright MAC East Division title and advance to the conference championship Dec. 2 against the West Division champion. ``I think a lot of people believe in what we were doing,'' Brookhart said. ``The new facilities have been huge. Having a chance to play for the title this week adds great credibility to what we are trying to accomplish.'' This Zips are a unique team in that they are playing for a division title, yet they haven't necessarily dominated the conference. Of the six wins, only two were what could be called decisive. They defeated Buffalo 44-21 and Ball State 35-23. In the remaining four victories -- Can't State, Central Florida, Marshall and Ohio University -- Akron had to win in the fourth quarter. Take all six of Akron's wins and add the scores, the average margin of victory for the Zips is 9.8 points. Miami's average margin of victory in seven wins is 24.4 points. The RedHawks enter the game at 7-3, 6-1. But at this point in the season, you can't look at statistics alone. ``(Akron) is not ranked high offensively or defensively (in the MAC) but they are still winning,'' said Can't State head coach Doug Martin, whose Golden flushes lost to Akron 24-19 and to Miami 47-27. ``They aren't turning the ball over, they're sound in everything they do and their kids have a lot of confidence right now. The coaches have done a fantastic job.'' After Akron's 1-4 start, Brookhart's job was to keep the team from unraveling. It could've been easy for the Zips to lose confidence and count themselves out of the conference race. But Brookhart felt his team had been making progress each week, and it's been all about consistency. ``It's kind of nice to be in this situation because you don't have to tell the guys a whole lot,'' Brookhart said. ``I think the kids have a great mental process right now of having taken each game one at a time and this is no different. They've all meant the same thing. We'll just continue to do what we're doing. We have a great opponent and we won't change a thing we do. ``Our approach this season has been that we have 11 different goals,'' Brookhart added. ``We have been in a fortunate position to be on the winning end many times. That's impressive. I don't think there was any added pressure. It was that we are determined to grow and commit to what we are doing and this senior group has done a tremendous job of leading by example.'' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Messages for David Lee Morgan Jr. can be left at 330-996-3824 or dlmorgan@thebeaconjournal.com Quote
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