MAC football schedule released

[ZachTheZip]

http://mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&am...;DB_OEM_ID=9400Our complete schedule according to them (Home games in bold, MAC games in italics):Saturday 8/30 - @ WisconsinSaturday 9/6 - @ SyracuseSaturday 9/13 - Ball StateSaturday 9/20 - @ Army (ESPN or ESPNU)Saturday 9/27 - CincinnatiSaturday 10/4 - @ Can't StateSaturday 10/11 - Bowling GreenSaturday 10/18 - @ Western MichiganSaturday 10/25 - bye weekWednesday 11/5 - Toledo (ESPN2 or ESPNU)Thursday 11/13 - Buffalo (ESPNU)Saturday 11/22 - @ OhioFriday 11/28 - @ TempleThat's 12 games. We don't play Miami, which is in violation of NCAA rules. We have to play every MAC East team in order to be allowed to participate in the Conference Championship.We also play Western on the road for back-to-back years.

[RowdyZip]

http://mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&am...;DB_OEM_ID=9400Our complete schedule according to them (Home games in bold, MAC games in italics):Saturday 8/30 - @ WisconsinSaturday 9/6 - @ SyracuseSaturday 9/13 - Ball StateSaturday 9/20 - @ Army (ESPN or ESPNU)Saturday 9/27 - CincinnatiSaturday 10/4 - @ Can't StateSaturday 10/11 - Bowling GreenSaturday 10/18 - @ Western MichiganSaturday 10/25 - bye weekWednesday 11/5 - Toledo (ESPN2 or ESPNU)Thursday 11/13 - Buffalo (ESPNU)Saturday 11/22 - @ OhioFriday 11/28 - @ TempleThat's 12 games. We don't play Miami, which is in violation of NCAA rules. We have to play every MAC East team in order to be allowed to participate in the Conference Championship.We also play Western on the road for back-to-back years.

This is very interesting. Anyone else irritated how 2 of the 3 announced television games are @ the rubber bowl? AND in novemeber nonetheless. As if we don't have enough problems drawing and late in the season, we dont need to give people another reason to stay home.

[Dr Z]

From GoZips.com

[johnnyzip84]

http://mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&am...;DB_OEM_ID=9400Our complete schedule according to them (Home games in bold, MAC games in italics):Saturday 8/30 - @ WisconsinSaturday 9/6 - @ SyracuseSaturday 9/13 - Ball StateSaturday 9/20 - @ Army (ESPN or ESPNU)Saturday 9/27 - CincinnatiSaturday 10/4 - @ Can't StateSaturday 10/11 - Bowling GreenSaturday 10/18 - @ Western MichiganSaturday 10/25 - bye weekWednesday 11/5 - Toledo (ESPN2 or ESPNU)Thursday 11/13 - Buffalo (ESPNU)Saturday 11/22 - @ OhioFriday 11/28 - @ TempleThat's 12 games. We don't play Miami, which is in violation of NCAA rules. We have to play every MAC East team in order to be allowed to participate in the Conference Championship.We also play Western on the road for back-to-back years.

This is very interesting. Anyone else irritated how 2 of the 3 announced television games are @ the rubber bowl? AND in novemeber nonetheless. As if we don't have enough problems drawing and late in the season, we dont need to give people another reason to stay home.

Actually, I don't mind seeing the "old bowl" get a nice sort of "send off" on TV late in the last year of its usefulness. At least these games are in EARLY November. This will also give the TV crews plenty of opportunity to talk up the new digs on campus. This schedule isn't great, but it's not a total disaster either. Not sure what to make of the Miami omision, though.

[ZachTheZip]

GoZips.com has us @ EMU instead of @ WMU. That would make more sense.I don't really like having TWO AND A HALF WEEKS off before seeing Toledo and Buffalo at home. It's way too easy to get rusty.

[ziptrumpet87]

I think it SUCKS to have the FINAL GAME AT THE BOWL on a THURSDAY NIGHT when not everyone will be able to attend!!!!

[w00t]

LOL, where's zipmeister? Hiding from the legions of morons who dared to insinuate we might play Wisconsin next year?

[zippy5]

Looks like 8-4 to me fellas

[Bleacher Bum]

Well, it looks like I'll have to take a day off work to steal one of those highly sought after troughs from the RB.As far as Miami goes, this is a quote from JD on GoZips.com -- “It is disappointing to lose our rivalry with Miami for this year, but it will be nice to host Ball State and see us play Eastern Michigan for the first time since I’ve been here."There is another article where Mack says we will play Indiana in the first game at IC Stadium on Sept. 19, 2009, one week later than the original Kentucky game.Also, I was poking around at Miami's message board to see if they know anything about us not playing each other. It seems Akron, Miami, BG, and Temple all play 5 MAC East teams and 3 MAC West teams. Only Buffalo, Can't, and Ohio play all 6 MAC East teams, and Western Michigan only plays 7 MAC games, 11 total.

[zipsbandman]

This conference is messed up!

[Quickzips]

Initially, I really hate this schedule. Only 5 home games and I can't really see us winning more than two of them. At least we get two at home before October. I actually rather like the last half of the schedule. EMU, Toledo, Buffalo, Ohio and Temple are all games that we CAN win. I don't think for one minute we take all of them, but it's possible to win any one of them. The first part of the schedule is brutal though. Wisconsin is a game that I expect us to get thoroughly pounded in right off the bat. Syracuse is a team that we COULD beat on the road, but it's far from a guarantee. Ball State is probably the best team (and certainly in the top 2) in the conference. I expect to lose to them. I hate having to play Army b/c even when we win we don't look too convincing and we've gotten our tails handed to us by them before with a better team than I expect us to have this year. Cincinnati is an up and coming program with a lot of talent. The rivalry game with Can't is always a tough game. Then you have BG which is another one of the better teams in the conference. At best we could come out of those first 7 games 3-4, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is below that.

[Blue & Gold]

Negative: I don't like losing the Miami game. I love to hate those guys and look forward to that game every year. Positive: I do like picking up Toledo. We should try to play them every year - they're a natural rivalry and a quality opponent.

[GoZips88]

LOL, where's zipmeister? Hiding from the legions of morons who dared to insinuate we might play Wisconsin next year?

Insinuating Moron #519 logged in and on duty, SIR!

[gozips19]

quote from mac rhodesDue to these circumstances, the University of Akron will not play at the University of Kentucky in the 2008 season, nor will the Wildcats come to Akron in 2009 to open the University’s new InfoCision Stadium. Although we worked very hard — in conjunction with the Mid-American Conference, to adhere to the signed contract from June of 2004, we regret that a solution to this matter could not be resolved. We offer our sincerest apologies to the University of Kentucky for any inconveniences and thank Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart for his cooperation.translation: the mac still doesn't have their act right with scheduling. you think they would have figured this out after last years mishaps but it doesn't look like it. that being said this is an ok schedule, MUCH better than last years. you also could see history repeating itself with a freshmen qb starting at camp randell....that seemed to work out ok for the zips in the past.....

[Zipsrifle]

OK, I think I might have missed something, but here's my take.Buffalo on Trs. night will NOT be the last game at the RB. We told Kentucky that InfoCision probably won't be ready, and they told us to go Pound Sand. So, I expect one game at the RB in '09, and InfoCision will open 1/2 way through the season. If this is what happens, I think we should play Can't for the opening game. That Rivalry is very hot right now and we should just throw down from the beginning at the new stadium. This is all just speculation, but that's my take. If Buffalo is the last game at the RB, and it is on a Trs. night, I will be very, very, very, very disappointed. We need to send the old girl out with a bang. Promote the hell out of the game, have it on a Saturday. I have NEVER been to a game at the RB that's sold out and would love to see it just once in the 15 years I've been going to Zips games. No Miami?? WTF!!! They are always a big game. I think I speak for most Akron fans when I say, I hate Can't the most, but Miami is a solid #2. When is our FB schedule not going to be a complete pile of $#!+ Finally, I can't believe how many people are just throwing in the towel already. I think JD knows that this year is "Put Out or Get Out". At least in my mind it is. I'm optimistic that we'll be competitive.

[ZippyAlum]

I like this schedule because I think I can actually get to all the games because the weekday games are home and the away games are on the weekends. Oh course, Wisconsin could be tough but maybe I'll have to go visit my brother!!! Although, how far away is Temple?

[Lee Adams]

Looks like 8-4 to me fellas

and which schedule are you looking at?...the wins are????

[Lee Adams]

I like this schedule because I think I can actually get to all the games because the weekday games are home and the away games are on the weekends. Oh course, Wisconsin could be tough but maybe I'll have to go visit my brother!!! Although, how far away is Temple?

road trip to Syracuse...see a game in a dome...neat!

[Zipmeister]

Here I am boys. I hope you have all learned a valuable lesson from this experience. Never Ever trust what an Athletic Director tells you. According to an unnamed person, who currently has a job in Akron, the previous athletic administration overbooked the 2008 season and the league office was going to line up another MAC team to take our place on the Badger's schedule (I have the original email to prove this if anyone would like to make a wager concerning my veracity). Apparently the replacement is us. My best guess is (and I'm not asking any AD for the story this time) is that lacking any volunteer replacements, Wisconsin decided to play hardball to enforce the Akron contract and it was easier to buy our way out of the Kentucky game.Regarding your suggestion that I eat crow, I have one thing to say.................pass the mustard.

[w00t]

For what it's worth, I always assumed you knew what you were talking about... I just think it's funny.

[ZippyAlum]

BG plays at Boise State AND at Wyoming! Oh Dear! But their schedule looks way easier than ours!

[goodthts]

First off, this schdl is way better than years past. 3 home games before Halloween are great, meaning we may actually have some nice tailgating days ahead! The 18 some days off in Oct/Nov is idiotic! This is football, right? Not Bball. When has a non-bowl bound team ever had off that much time in the middle of a season? Means we basically have 2 half-seasons now. The Zips will play 8 games (5A/3H) hopefully getting a split there, then rest up for trick-or-treating and heal their injuries. Then the last 4 games (2A/2H) will probably also result in a split, making the Zips even at 6-6. The result would be an average year, but at least not a losing one going into the new digs. If the Thu, Nov 13 home game with Buffalo is the last ever at the RB--got to agree I don't think it is either--then who's up for a ZipsNation party wagon/bus going to the game and getting a block of rooms downtown for afterwards. We could have a right ole send-off for the RB. And stash any RB "collectibles" in the bus. Also, as with any project subject to academic/governmental politics (re: InfoCision Stdm), I am scared too the building will not be complete in time for an early fall '09 game. Let's hope Rhodes and Proenza really push all details through to see this actually happen, because we've already lost one possible match up. Here's to the Bball team making a run, the summer being sunny and warm and the excuses for another crappy offense in the fall being non-existent!!

[akronad]

You've got to luv the MAC and their scheduling???? Two things bother me. First the 18 days off. Basically , we are playing 2 half seasons. The only good thing is if we have injuries, they have time to heal. The bad thing is the rthym and continuity the team will have built will be lost. Secondly, the last game at the RB on a Thursday night is nothing short of a travesty. Every year, we keep hearing the same old tune. That they want to make the games family entrtainment. Well playing on a Thursday nite will not get it done. If the game is a 7:00 start and since the game will be on TV, you just know the length of the game will be in excess of 3 hrs. Which will put school age chidren home and in bed around 11:00. But, how many of these kids will actually go to sleep right away? I don't have school aged children, but just trying to look at the total picture.

[Dr Z]

First off, this schdl is way better than years past. 3 home games before Halloween are great, meaning we may actually have some nice tailgating days ahead!

One of the most important things in an Akron schedule in my opinion, I'm with you!

[Captain Kangaroo]

on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I'd give this schedule a 6.Dropping Kentucky had to happen. Sucks, but that's what you get when you have 3 athletic directors in 8 years, and you're scheduling several years in advance.@ Wisconsin is a nice "money" game. Although, like the OSU game, I'm sure is pays us a fraction of the going rate.@ Syracuse is a winnable game...if we are a decent team. 5 hour road trip is very manageable.Home - Ball State is great. Nate Davis is a lot of fun to watch. @ Army is a very winnable game. The weather in upstate New York in mid-September should be perfect for football. I'm really looking forward to that one.Home - Cincinnati -- Great home game. Zips need to take care of business and beat the Bearcats. It is a HUGE game to get a BCS school at home. We can't blow it.@ K.e.n.t -- October 4th should be great weather. 7 mile drive to the K.e.n.t. tailgate lot for me. Home BG -- Wow...four of our first seven games are within 10 miles of campus! Tough match up...BG's spread offense destroyed us last season.@ EMU - Everyone says how nice their stadium is. Maybe I'll finally check it out. Nice to have a "soft" MAC West opponent.2 bye weeks? Bizarre. Ridiculous. Home - Toledo -- Wednesday night game again wreaks havoc on tailgating. The schedule says "ESPN2 or ESPNU." Gee...let me guess which one it will end up being. Home - Buffalo - 100% definitely the final game at the Rubber Bowl. This is my "Zipmeister/Wisconsin Lock of the Year!" No way in hell the stadium is a week or two away from completion on opening day. If it is, what a total embarasment it would be for Mack Roades and UA. I don't see Mack letting that ostrich-sized egg drip down his face. IC Field opens on schedule, and I'm drinking IC Light in the parking lot.@ OU -- Man, we suck in Athens. Of course, no TV.@ Temple -- Not ditching the family for Thanksgiving weekend. The Zips will need to win that one without me. Why play a Friday game if there's no TV? Stupid.MAC Championship -- With no Miami on the schedule, JD should be expected to be there.