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By Michael Beaven
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 03:24 p.m. EDT, Aug 06, 2009
The sun shined and a few clouds scattered across the sky this morning as a new era of University of Akron football began.
Zips players and coaches arrived at InfoCision Stadium for a pair of firsts — the first practice of the 2009 season and the first practice at the $61.6 million facility that is still under construction.
Coaches blew whistles and shouted instructions at players who went through drills. Simultaneously sounds of drills and other equipment rang in the background as construction workers continued to work around the stadium.
''The first day always has good enthusiasm,'' UA coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''There was a lot of excitement walking down here. A couple of guys said they got chills. It is our house. InfoCision Stadium is here, it's everyday, it's not five or six times out of the year. This is truly our house and something we will violently protect.''
UA players and coaches were unanimously impressed by the stadium, which has a capacity seating of 30,000.
''It's incredible,'' Brookhart said. ''Oh my god. The amenities here, the grandness of it is shocking. It was special, it had to sink in. I was a little more giddy. I peaked out here (Wednesday) night at about 10:30 through the doors and got here a little bit earlier (Thursday) than normal.''
Zips senior quarterback Chris Jacquemain threw passes to senior receivers Deryn Bowser and Andre Jones, and senior running backs Alex Allen and Joe Tuzze ran with the football as the Zips conducted a three-hour practice from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Summa Field's synthetic surface.
''It was exciting,'' Allen said. ''It's a different atmosphere and it's a little bit hotter because the wind doesn't circulate as much. It just felt good to get out here and finally get to run on this field.''
Across the field, senior defensive backs Miguel Graham and Wayne Cobham, junior defensive back Jalil Carter and junior defensive linemen Almondo Sewell worked on fine-tuning their skills.
''I think it's great for the whole city and for the whole student body that it is on campus,'' said freshman linebacker Will Fleming, an Archbishop Hoban graduate. ''It is a nice centerpiece for the campus.''
Brookhart praised junior linebacker Mike Thomas and junior defensive back Tyler Campbell for guiding the defense.
''I think it was a good practice all around,'' Thomas said. ''There was a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm from the offense, defense and special teams. It was a good day.''
Brookhart noted Allen as a vocal leader on offense along with Bowser, Jones, senior offensive linemen Elliott Bates and Zack Anderson, junior offensive linemen Mike Ward and Corey Woods and senior receivers Jeremy Bruce and Dashan Miller.
''We expected high energy,'' Bowser said. ''We knew it was going to be a little hot out here, but we had to push through it. It is a new turf, but everybody had to get out here and fly around on it to get used to it. The stadium is looking good and we couldn't wait to get out here.
''When I took a recruiting trip here, this was a dorm room. This was dorms and where the athletes stayed. They told me that they were going to knock this down and build a stadium. All I had seen was a little brochure and I was like, 'Oh that is what's it going to look like,' but looking at the dorms I was like 'I don't know if that's going to fit.' I just watched it come from Day 1 until now. It's exciting to be in here.''
UA opens the season at Penn State on Sept. 5 at noon and then plays two games at home against Morgan State (Sept. 12, 2 p.m.) and Indiana (Sept. 19, 3:30 p.m.).
''We want to set a tradition in the new stadium and the goal is to go undefeated in this stadium, which is possible,'' Allen said. ''I expect to see all the seats filled because it's on campus. We want to have more students and fans come out.''
Notebook
Assistant Athletics Director/Media Relations Mike Cawood said Sewell and freshman long snapper Adam Steiner (GlenOak) each set school records. Sewell did 38 repetitions while bench pressing 225 pounds, the standard weight at the NFL Combine and Steiner recorded a 42-inch vertical jump. . . . Redshirt freshman running back Larry Dawson (North) also took part in the inaugural practice.
Read more about the Zips on Ohio.com
at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/zips/
The sun shined and a few clouds scattered across the sky this morning as a new era of University of Akron football began.
Zips players and coaches arrived at InfoCision Stadium for a pair of firsts — the first practice of the 2009 season and the first practice at the $61.6 million facility that is still under construction.
Coaches blew whistles and shouted instructions at players who went through drills. Simultaneously sounds of drills and other equipment rang in the background as construction workers continued to work around the stadium.
''The first day always has good enthusiasm,'' UA coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''There was a lot of excitement walking down here. A couple of guys said they got chills. It is our house. InfoCision Stadium is here, it's everyday, it's not five or six times out of the year. This is truly our house and something we will violently protect.''
UA players and coaches were unanimously impressed by the stadium, which has a capacity seating of 30,000.
''It's incredible,'' Brookhart said. ''Oh my god. The amenities here, the grandness of it is shocking. It was special, it had to sink in. I was a little more giddy. I peaked out here (Wednesday) night at about 10:30 through the doors and got here a little bit earlier (Thursday) than normal.''
Zips senior quarterback Chris Jacquemain threw passes to senior receivers Deryn Bowser and Andre Jones, and senior running backs Alex Allen and Joe Tuzze ran with the football as the Zips conducted a three-hour practice from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Summa Field's synthetic surface.
''It was exciting,'' Allen said. ''It's a different atmosphere and it's a little bit hotter because the wind doesn't circulate as much. It just felt good to get out here and finally get to run on this field.''
Across the field, senior defensive backs Miguel Graham and Wayne Cobham, junior defensive back Jalil Carter and junior defensive linemen Almondo Sewell worked on fine-tuning their skills.
''I think it's great for the whole city and for the whole student body that it is on campus,'' said freshman linebacker Will Fleming, an Archbishop Hoban graduate. ''It is a nice centerpiece for the campus.''
Brookhart praised junior linebacker Mike Thomas and junior defensive back Tyler Campbell for guiding the defense.
''I think it was a good practice all around,'' Thomas said. ''There was a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm from the offense, defense and special teams. It was a good day.''
Brookhart noted Allen as a vocal leader on offense along with Bowser, Jones, senior offensive linemen Elliott Bates and Zack Anderson, junior offensive linemen Mike Ward and Corey Woods and senior receivers Jeremy Bruce and Dashan Miller.
''We expected high energy,'' Bowser said. ''We knew it was going to be a little hot out here, but we had to push through it. It is a new turf, but everybody had to get out here and fly around on it to get used to it. The stadium is looking good and we couldn't wait to get out here.
''When I took a recruiting trip here, this was a dorm room. This was dorms and where the athletes stayed. They told me that they were going to knock this down and build a stadium. All I had seen was a little brochure and I was like, 'Oh that is what's it going to look like,' but looking at the dorms I was like 'I don't know if that's going to fit.' I just watched it come from Day 1 until now. It's exciting to be in here.''
UA opens the season at Penn State on Sept. 5 at noon and then plays two games at home against Morgan State (Sept. 12, 2 p.m.) and Indiana (Sept. 19, 3:30 p.m.).
''We want to set a tradition in the new stadium and the goal is to go undefeated in this stadium, which is possible,'' Allen said. ''I expect to see all the seats filled because it's on campus. We want to have more students and fans come out.''
Notebook
Assistant Athletics Director/Media Relations Mike Cawood said Sewell and freshman long snapper Adam Steiner (GlenOak) each set school records. Sewell did 38 repetitions while bench pressing 225 pounds, the standard weight at the NFL Combine and Steiner recorded a 42-inch vertical jump. . . . Redshirt freshman running back Larry Dawson (North) also took part in the inaugural practice.
Read more about the Zips on Ohio.com
at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/zips/
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 03:39 PM, 08/06/2009
Great! Now lets get out and support the ZIPS!
Highland Square, OH
Posted 03:40 PM, 08/06/2009
The student section is going to be insane. Can we get a wave going?
Canal Fulton, OH
Posted 03:46 PM, 08/06/2009
Let's go Zips! Let's go Zips!
A hood near you, OH
Posted 03:51 PM, 08/06/2009
Good news, I am looking for a much better season. I think our defense will be much improved this year in this very offensive minded conference. Jacquemain's experience at QB should help the zips avoid the costly turnovers that hurt us last season. For the first time in a long while I am looking forward to seeing the Zips open up their season in a great new venue.
I will now step aside and wait for Patriot's latest tirade against Akron U.
Macedonia, Oh
Posted 04:05 PM, 08/06/2009
The University of Akron is looking good visually and academically. Now if people in Akron and the surrounding region would make a point of flying the officail UA Zips stadium flag from their porches instead of or in addition to OSU flags, that would be a very good source of inspiration for us all.
Now, let's get out there and support our univesity and its Zips and campaign for a new on-campus arena close to the stadium.
Canton, OH
Posted 09:18 PM, 08/06/2009
FEAR THE ' ROO. . .
Methron, OH
Posted 09:50 PM, 08/06/2009
Exactly Slovensko, good night to you, Akronites, Summit Countyers, Ohioans, and all who sees, bless you!
San Antonio, TX
Posted 04:44 PM, 08/07/2009
I sure hope along with the new stadium comes new traditions. Maybe the band marching across the campus or the UA colors used for the walk way to the stadium and player intrance. Just to mention a few. Anyone have any other ideas for new traditions?
Highland Square, OH
Posted 06:41 PM, 08/07/2009
Yeah. Let's make some new chants for the student section.
Kandi, SL
Posted 07:49 PM, 08/10/2009
Away with Brookbum. How can you have a guy with a 42' vertical being along long snapper? At least he should try red snapper.
