Akron Wins in Boca Raton

The Akron Zips have already won in Boca Raton, Florida.  

Oh, you didn’t know that?

Well, if you’re scrambling to find the score of the game, don’t.  The contest hasn’t finished yet.  Actually, it hasn’t even started.  However, Akron can consider themselves victors already.

The Zips will have a fiercely contested bowl game versus Florida Atlantic University on Tuesday,  December 19, 2017.   The perception is that Akron is underdogs in this game to the Owls.  Big underdogs.  Perception, however, can be misleading.

The perception going into this season was Akron wasn’t going to play in a bowl game.  The perception was they weren’t going to win the MAC East.   According to many media members‘ preseason polls, Akron wouldn’t finish second or even third in the East.   One prominent Ohio publication didn’t have Akron receiving a single first place vote.  Ohio, Miami and Bowling Green combined to receive all those votes.   By now you already know, Akron did, in fact, win the MAC East and are, in fact, playing in their second bowl game within the past three years.

Maybe some of the predictions of the 2017 Boca Raton Bowl remind you of the last time the Zips played in a bowl game.  On December 15, 2015, in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Akron was perceived as underdogs against the heavily-favored Utah State Aggies.  The Zips weren’t given much of a chance.  One reason was due to the fact of having to travel so far and Utah State being so close to home.   But none of that mattered, as the victorious Akron Zips had the last laugh when they hoisted the trophy after a 23-21 postseason win.

Akron will again have to travel far from home on Tuesday.  Well, that’s the perception at least.  By now, we know how perceptions have turned out. 

Ohio is such a hotbed for football talent and it goes without saying the Zips recruit well within the Buckeye State, but did you know that more than 25 players on Akron’s current roster have ties to Florida?  The name Bowden carries substantial weight in the Sunshine State and the Akron Athletic Department has done a stellar job of obtaining elite talent from all over Florida.  So, with that being said, this isn’t exactly a typical road game, it will be home for quite a few Zips and their extended families.  Another incorrect perception.

Finally, the perception that Akron Head Coach Terry Bowden is an underdog to FAU Head Coach Lane Kiffin.  Kiffin has won 43 college football games as a head coach and five as a head coach in the NFL.  Bowden, meanwhile, has amassed 171 college football victories.  Kiffin has never won a bowl game while at the helm, while Bowden has three bowl wins.   In addition to the previously mentioned Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win, Bowden has won the Independence Bowl and Peach Bowl.  Kiffin’s offense may have some serious firepower but Bowden has seen every trick in the book.  Trust experience over hype.

Akron won the MAC East.   They won the Wagon Wheel.   They’re in a bowl game again.  They’re playing in the backyard of where a good majority of their players hail from.  That’s a win, a win, a win and another win.  So, as you can see, even before this bowl game kicks off, Akron has won.

The perception on paper is that Akron won’t beat Florida Atlantic   It’s a perception that the Zips have dealt with all season.  They’ve overcome those perceptions all year on the football field.