We'll begin this article by stating the obvious - a new arena would be better than anything listed below.  In a perfect scenario, the city of Akron and The University of Akron could come together on an arena project and make it happen.  Until that day comes (and hopefully soon), here's our best ideas: Give the students Section L This is by no means an attack on our students that attend games and sit in sections F-H.  But there's a few reasons the current setup doesn't work. Trying to get chants going with a barrier between Sections F-H and Section 5 is nearly impossible.  Same for when Sections F-H try to do so with the opposite end zone.  If we're being honest, the seats aren't great either, as most have an obstructed view.  I've always preferred to sit up higher.  It's not that I don't want to be close - I just don't feel like poking my head back and forth for 40 minutes of a game trying to see around the hoop directly in front of me....

Above: Can Senior Jimond Ivey lead the Zips back to the promised land? After 13 seasons at The University of Akron and 12 straight 20+ win seasons, Keith Dambrot left the Zips to become head coach at Duquesne University.   Akron Athletic Director Larry Williams moved quickly to replace Dambrot with a familiar name to MAC basketball fans, John Groce.   Groce had spent five seasons as head coach for the Illinois Fighting Illini, finishing all but one of them with a winning record.   However, that wasn’t enough for Illinois as they decided to move on from Groce following the 2016-17 season.   Groce is, of course, best known for his major success at Ohio University, some of which came against the team he currently leads.   Groce went 85-56 there in four seasons, leading the Bobcats to two MAC Tournament Championships and two NCAA Tournament runs, once of which they advanced to the Sweet 16.   Groce’s first season in Akron brought mixed results.  ...

It's homecoming time in Northeast Ohio as the RedHawks of Miami (1-4) travel to the Rubber Capital of the World to take on our Akron Zips (2-1). Miami is coming off a heartbreaking collapse at home to Western Michigan, while the Zips enjoyed their bye week. The all-time series is 17-9-1 in favor of Miami, while Akron has taken 4 out of the last 5, owning a 4-2 record in the Bowden Era. How will this Saturday's matchup look? Let's take a look. Miami Quick Hits Miami is coming off a disheartening loss at home to Western Michigan. The 'Hawks led 27-14 at half before the Broncos would explode in the 2nd half to take the contest 40-39. Miami's defense gave up 562 yards of total offense and got dominated in time of possession. Senior QB Gus Ragland has had a good start to the season, throwing for 1,017 yards and 8 touchdowns on a 58.4% completion percentage. Miami's passing offense ranks 83rd in the nation. The rushing game for the 'Hawks has been...

Where do I even start? Deep in the heart of Evanston, our Akron Zips rallied from an 18-point deficit on the road to pull off their first win against a Power 5 team since 2014 and their first win against a Big Ten team since 1894. If that's a lot to take in, I understand, and I'm here to take you through it quarter by quarter. 1st Quarter Northwestern was first on the board after capitalizing on a disastrous special team play which gave the Wildcats possession at the Zips 7 yard line. Jeremy Larkin took it in himself, 7-0 Cats.  The rest of the first quarter was a defensive battle as both sides had drives of 9 plays or less, all ending in punts or turnover on downs. At the end of the 1st, it was 7-0 Northwestern 2nd Quarter After an Akron punt, Northwestern had a 7 play, 73 yard drive which ended with a Jeremy Larkin 5 yard run from the Wildcat Formation. 14-0. Nick Gasser put the Zips on the board with 39 seconds to go in the half to cut the score to 14-3. A persona...

Tonight, our Akron Warriors Bold march into Evanston, Illinois to do battle with the Wildcats of Northwestern. The Zips, coming off of a dominant win over Morgan State, are looking for their first Power 5 win since Pittsburgh in 2014. Northwestern is searching for answers after losing to Duke at home last week. Will Akron "Zip" on through and #FlyTheFlag or will Northwestern get back on track as the go into Big Ten play? Let's take a look at both squads. Akron Quick Hits Kato Nelson had a good game last week, throwing for 232 yards and 3 TD's. A key to an Akron win is a solid air attack. Northwestern's secondary looks shaky so far this season, as they gave up 204 yards and 3 scores in the air to  Duke last week, so if Kato can get hot early, watch out. The running game last week for the Zips was outstanding. Van Edwards broke the century mark and added 2 TDs, and Kato went for 42 as well. I don't expect the Zips to be as effective going up agai...

Business as usual. The Zips ran rough-shot on Morgan State, picking up their first win of the 2018 campaign, 41-7. The scoring was opened up on a Nick Gasser field goal following a 6 yard punt by Morgan State. A 6 yard punt. The following Bears drive was cut short by an Alvin Davis interception, Van Edwards capitalized by running it 21 yards into the end zone to make it 10-0 midway through the 1st. The momentum never swung back in Morgan State's favor, as the Zips tacked on 17 more before halftime. The 2nd half produced more of the same, as Akron went up 41-0 before Morgan State finally got on the board with 11 seconds left to give us the final tally of 41-7. Offensive Players of the Game Kato Nelson - The redshirt sophomore went 16-26 for 232 yards and 3 TD's including a beautiful 35 yard dime to Kwadarrius Smith. Kato also showcased his talent on the ground, gaining 42 yards on 9 carries. Van Edwards Jr. - The familiar presence in the Zips backfield provided a ...

The wait for the 2018 Akron Zips football season is nearly over. After a 7-7 finish, a MAC East title, and their 2nd bowl appearance in 3 years, our Zips look to “finish the climb” and build open a solid season. The first hurdle comes in the form of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Led by former (National Champion) UCF Head Coach Scott Frost, the Huskers are looking to make a statement after a very disappointing 4-8 2017 campaign, which included a loss to fellow MAC member, NIU. Quick Hits: Nebraska Scott Frost returns to his alma mater with a coaching record of only 19-7. Frost was also the OC/QB/WR coach at Oregon from 2009-2015 and was the LB coach at Nothern Iowa from 2007-2008. True Freshman Adrian Martinez will be the Huskers’ starting QB Saturday. Martinez is the only scholarship QB on Nebraska’s roster. Nebraska hasn’t started a true freshman at QB since 2009. Quick Hits: Akron Sophomore QB Kato Nelson gets the week 1 nod. Nelson came on for the suspended Tommy Woodso...

In late March of 2017, longtime Zips head coach Keith Dambrot announced he was leaving Akron for Duquesne.  Soon-after, Tavian Dunn-Martin, Michael Hughes, Antino Jackson, Aaron Jackson, and Noah Robotham would transfer from the Zips.  Josh Williams had also previously announced his transfer, and both Kwan Cheatham and Isaiah Johnson had graduated.  This left Akron with only four returning players (Ivey, Utomi, Olojakpoke, and Eubanks).  Newly-hired Zips coach John Groce did his best to fill in the gaps left, but finding players who could make an immediate impact that late in the game was tough.  He did, however, add several transfers - Eric Hester, Loren Jackson, and Deng Riak - that had promise to elevate the program back to its previous championship level - and maybe beyond.  After a year's wait, we'll finally see if they can deliver on that potential. Joining them as new Zips are LePear Toles, Channel Banks, Jeremy Roscoe, and Tyler Cheese....

Another Spring Game has come and gone in beautiful Akron, Ohio. Zips fans were treated to a solid defensive game with a few big time plays from, hopefully, future big time players. The Blue defeated the White 17-6. Sophmore QB Kato Nelson showed flashes of what Zips fans can expect for the next couple of seasons and the defense looked to be in mid-season form already. This piece will dive a bit into the big positions and the big question marks heading into the 2018 season. Quarterback There isn't a question as to who will be the Zips starting QB heading into week one, that job belongs to Kato Nelson. Nelson, who started the last 3 games of the regular season last year, lead the Zips past OU and Kent State en route to a MAC East title. During the Spring Game, the sophomore from Hollywood, Florida connected with another Floridian in Redshirt Senior Kwadarrius Smith for his only touchdown pass of the day. While the QB1 spot isn't in much doubt, the Blue squad got a solid...

One of the hottest Lacrosse teams in the nation right now calls Akron, Ohio their home.  The Zips Lacrosse team is currently undefeated and ranked in the Top 5 nationally.  We discussed that ranking and much more with Head Coach Nick Lopez, Assistant Coach Bill Samilson, Vice-President Tyler Skoloda, and President Nick Poghen.  Enjoy! Q: For those who haven't always followed the team, can you tell us a little about the history of the program? Poghen: The team was officially established in 1989 as a club program much like many other universities across the country without an NCAA program. After a few years of development, it became a team of interest for league consideration while remaining independent from 2007-2009. We ended up joining the National College Lacrosse League (NCLL) in 2010 and have competed in it since. Throughout its time, the program has grown in numbers each season and has made multiple playoff and tournament appearances. Q: Where does the tea...

It's been 30 years since the last Akron Zips player who an Honored Jersey took the court for our storied program.  Today, we present to you 24 reasons why Romeo Travis' #24 should join then in receiving that honor. 1. Travis is 7th all-time in scoring with 1,491 points scored. 2. Travis is 9th all-time in rebounding with 783 career boards. 3. Romeo is 2nd all-time in blocked shots with 165 swats in his four years.  Only Zeke Marshall blocked more. 4. Upon graduation, Romeo was also 10th all-time in steals. 5. As a Senior, Travis was named an Associated Press All-American. 6. Travis is one of only 13 Zips players to ever receive that honor. 7. Romeo was one of only four Akron players to be named an AP All-American while the Zips were a Division I program. 8. As a Senior, Travis was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. 9. Romeo was named to the All-MAC 1st Team twice in his career, while being selected All-MAC 2nd Team once as well. 10. T...

Q: Growing up, who were the players you admired most? A: The players I admired the most were Scottie Pippen, Shawn Kemp, and Rasheed Wallace. Q: When you decided to commit to the University of Akron, you had a few other reported offers.  Was anyone else close?  What was your recruitment like, given you already had a relationship with Coach Dambrot? A: I was close but once Coach Dambrot told me to “sign the damn papers” I knew that’s where I wanted to be, with someone who wanted me. Q: You played for Coach Dambrot both in high school and in college.  What was it like to play for Coach D?  Were you surprised to see him go to Duquesne? A: I was surprised to see him leave. But playing for Coach D was a great experience.  He made you want to play for him and your teammates the right way. Q: 2007 MAC Championship.  Doug Penno.  A questionable clock operator.  How hard was it to get past that game, especially since it was your senior year...

Starting Lineup Romeo Travis - Travis is seventh on the all-time scoring list, ninth all-time in rebounding, 10th in steals, and 2nd in blocks.  He was an honorable mention All-American by the AP in 2007 along with the MAC Player of the Year and has put together a solid professional career overseas.  Travis should have his #24 added to the school's honored jerseys that hang in the rafters at James A. Rhodes Arena. Bill Turner - Turner is 5th all-time in scoring and 4th all-time in rebounds.  He led the Zips to three postseason appearances and was named an All-American for the 1966-1967 season.  He played eight seasons in the NBA for San Francisco, Cincinnati, Portland, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Zeke Marshall  - Marshall is the Zips' all-time leader in blocked shots and the 17th leading scorer in school history.  The Zips reached the MAC Championship game each of the four years Zeke manned the middle, winning two of them.  He has played for...

Monday night's First Round MAC Tournament contest against Western Michigan was so wild, such an emotional roller coaster, that Zips fans might have needed an extra day to process it.  This program, no stranger to wild games in March, adding another instant classic and moved on to Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena.  But before they/we do, let's look at a few key takeaways from Monday's game. A Dreadful Start This contest started with the Broncos jumping out to an 18-0 lead and extending that lead to as high as 23 points in the 1st Half.  It took 8:06 for the Zips to score their first points on a Daniel Utomi dunk.  During the 18-0 Western Michigan run, the Zips missed nine shots and turned the ball over six times.  It looked like Akron's season would end without a visit to The Q for the first time since 2004.  But the young Zips had other plans. The Comeback Akron refused to quit, going on a 17-0 and 27-8 run to trail just 35-31 at halftime....

Here's an updated look at the offers the Akron Zips men's basketball team has extended to 2018 prospects.  The Zips only have one scholarship officially open, but as we've seen in year's past, that can always change. TJ Moss Position: Guard Height 6'4", Weight 180 lbs School: Findley Prep (Henderson, Nevada) Rankings: 24/7: 3 star, ESPN: 4 star (80 scout grade), VC: 4 star Other Offers: Memphis, South Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona State, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Marquette, Massachusetts, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, TCU, Tennessee-Martin, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt Neftali Alvarez Position: Guard Height 6'1", Weight 175 lbs School: Miami Christian School (Miami, FL) Rankings: 24/7: 3 star, ESPN: 3 star (79 scout grade), VC: 3 star Other Offers: Wichita State, Dayton, Colorado State, Arkansas State, FIU, Georgia Tech, Hofstra, Massachusetts, Purdue, VCU, Wyoming, Virginia Caleb McConnell Position: Guard Hei...

Hey Zips Fans,  Recruiting class announcements are an exciting part of any collegiate sports fans year. This year proved to live up to the hype as the Akron Zips Men's Soccer team announced 10(ten!) new recruits for the 2018-19 campaign. Today, we here at Just a Blog From Akron (with the help of our friend, Akron Men's Soccer Head Coach Jared Embick! ) will introduce you to that recruiting class! twitter @zipscoachembick Sam Tojaga - Defensive Midfielder - Erie, PA What we know: Cleveland Internationals Academy Product Real Salt Lake U-19 - Reached championship bracket in Generation Adidas Cup Attended camps at Penn State and Louisville #112 Recruit - College Soccer News Rankings Shows versatility: has played central attacking and central defensive midfield JE: He is a defensive midfielder. Brings size at 6'2" and balance to our team. Very smart player who reads the game well and can distribute the ball well. His work rate, intensity and pas...