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Big game with archrival helps UA players focus
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Wednesday, Oct 01, 2008
The University of Akron football team had no trouble observing this particular moratorium on disappointment.
The Zips had little choice but to forget a frustrating 17-15 loss to the favored University of Cincinnati last Saturday at the Rubber Bowl.
The coulda-woulda-shoulda nature of the defeat could have lingered in the collective minds of the players, but did not because the opponent this Saturday is none other than archrival Kent State.
''We gave them 24 hours to get over it. That's the great thing about 18- to 21-year-olds, they are pretty resilient,'' UA coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''It obviously helps very much that it's Kent State week.
''I don't think it will be an issue at all getting up for this week. It's too big a game.''
Brookhart wants his team to carry over the enthusiasm of the Cincinnati game and learn from the experience of taking a Bowl
Championship Series and Big East team to the final minute.
''There were a lot of positives . . . that point us in the right direction as a football team,'' Brookhart said. ''Hopefully, we all take it all that way and prepare the right way for this week.''
This week's game, to be played at noon at KSU's Dix Stadium, will be the 51st between the two teams. The Zips lead the series 28-20-2, including a 27-20 victory in 2007.
At stake will be the Wagon Wheel trophy given to the winner and bragging rights in Northeast Ohio.
A victory also would provide a building block because both teams lost their Mid-American Conference openers and close their schedules with seven consecutive MAC games.
''There is more emphasis on Kent than any other game throughout the season,'' said senior linebacker Kevin Grant, who ranks 11th nationally in career tackles with 275. ''It's the most pivotal game in our season. A win, especially against Kent, would be a great starting point to finish off the season because, from here on out, it's all conference play.''
The Zips enter the Kent State game in a general state of good health, compared with the early season. Running back Andrew Johnson (shoulder) and noseguard Ryan Bain (foot) will not play, and several others are questionable.
But UA got a big boost against Cincinnati with the return of defensive linemen Eric Lively (elbow), Deni Odofin (leg) and James Hardy (hand).
They saw action Saturday and were part of a defensive effort that held the Bearcats to 20 points less than their scoring average. The Zips forced and recovered two fumbles against UC, giving them a national-best 10 for the season.
Their return, along with the development of an inexperienced secondary, has Brookhart optimistic that defense could be a strong point against the Golden Flashes and for the rest of the way.
''We got some guys back. Collectively, as a group, guys were flying to the football,'' Brookhart said. ''It was a big step defensively for us, doing what we try to do on a weekly basis, playing 11 as one to the whistle. We were pretty sound defensively most of the game.''
Against Cincinnati, the Zips hurt themselves with untimely penalties, special-teams mistakes and a failure to capitalize on several good scoring opportunities.
The single play most scrutinized afterward was a decision by Brookhart in the third quarter to go for a first down at the Bearcats' 5 on fourth-and-inches, rather than attempt a 22-yard field goal.
The Zips were stuffed at the line — it was the play on which Johnson was hurt — and the Bearcats took over on their way to what would become a two-point victory.
''I thought we were going to have to score 30 points to win the football game,'' Brookhart said. ''I thought we could make 8 inches, 10 inches, whatever it was. It didn't work out. At the time, I thought it was the correct decision. When you look back . . . maybe it wasn't.''
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
See a video preview of the game from Zips blogger Mike Rasor and Golden Flashes blogger Jonas Fortune:
The University of Akron football team had no trouble observing this particular moratorium on disappointment.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 07:41 AM, 10/01/2008
I have to admit the zippers are better than I thought but still 1 or 2 more wins is it for this bunch.
