The Akron Zips football team represent the University of Akron in the NCAA Division I-Bowl Subdivision college football tournament, currently affiliated with the Mid-American Conference. The first recorded Akron football game happened in 1891, with Akron winning over the Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio to the tune of 22-6. But the team finished its "first" season with four straight losses. Led by renowned coach John Heisman (to whom the prestigious Heisman trophy was named after), Akron posted its first winning season in 1893 with a 5-2 win-loss card. Akron played as an independent team for 24 seasons since its inception before joining the Ohio Athletic Conference in 1915. In 1937, Akron was classified as an NCAA College Division (Small College) Independent school. After 9 years of playing off a conference, the team returned to the Ohio Athletic Conference from 1946 through 1965. Two years after leaving the OAC, the Zips played in its first ever Bowl Game after finishing the season with a 7-3-1 record in 1968. Unfortunately, Coach Gondon Larson's boys lost the Grantland Rice Bowl to Louisiana Tech, 13-33. In 1973, Akron was elevated into an NCAA Division II Independent school and three years later, would once again be invited into a Bowl Game this time in the Knute Rockne Bowl. The game, which was also a Division II Semifinal Playoff Game pitted Akron against Northern Michigan, with the Zips escaping with a 29-26 victory. The Zips advanced into the Division II Championship Game which was also a Pioneer Bowl Game just seven days later. Akron went on to lose to Montana State, 13-24. For two seasons, Akron was taken in the Mid-Continent Conference afterwhich the team would join the Ohio Valley Conference in 1980, signalling the team's reclassification as an NCAA Division I-AA school. Seven years of decent showing in the OVC may not have brought titles for the Zips but it did turn out well for the team as not long after, in 1987, Akron would once again be reclassified, this time as NCAA Division I-A school, leaving the OVC and once again competed independently. Akron was admitted as an expansion by the Mid-American Athletic Conference in 1992 and would start their first season in MAC on a high note with a 7-3-1 record. But six losing seasons ensued for the Zips, which ended only in 1999 when the team registered a 7-4 card. In 2005, with a decent showing of 7 wins and 6 losses, Akron managed to snatch the MAC East Division Championship, then defeated the Northern Illinois U in the MAC title match to win its first ever Conference title. Coach J.D. Brookhart then led the team to its first NCAA Division I postseason Bowl game, against Memphis in the Motor City Bowl.
The Zips' football rival is the Kent State Golden Flashes which also plays in the same conference and Division as Akron. The two teams battle for the Wagon Wheel trophy since 1946. Akron leads the series, 27-20-1.
Akron Zips 2008 Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | Hometown (Prev. School)
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| 1 | Brandon Anderson | DB | 5-11 | 175 | Sr. | Dublin, Va. (Pulaski HS/Hargrave Military Academy)
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| 1 | Branko Rogovic | PK | 5-9 | 170 | RSo. | Toledo, Ohio (Brunswick HS/Univ. of Toledo)
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| 2 | Jalil Carter | DB | 6-1 | 190 | So. | Toledo, Ohio (St. John's Jesuit HS)
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| 3 | Dennis Kennedy | RB | 5-11 | 205 | Sr. | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Stranahan HS)
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| 4 | Stephon Fuqua | WR | 6-1 | 205 | Sr. | Cleveland, Ohio (Glenville HS)
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| 5 | Matt Rodgers | QB | 6-2 | 200 | RFr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. (Seton LaSalle HS)
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| 6 | Curtis Brown | WR | 5-11 | 190 | RFr. | Belle Glade, Fla. (Glades Central HS)
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| 7 | Andrew Johnson | RB | 5-10 | 215 | RSr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. (North Hills HS/University of Miami)
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| 8 | Zack Campbell | P | 6-1 | 195 | RFr. | Canton, Ohio (Canton McKinley HS)
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| 8 | Jose Cruz | TE | 6-5 | 240 | So. | Johnstown, Pa. (Bishop McCourt HS)
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| 9 | Gary Pride | RB | 5-9 | 180 | RFr. | Cincinnati, Ohio (Colerain HS)
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| 9 | Doug Richardson | DB | 6-0 | 170 | So. | Twinsburg, Ohio (Twinsburg HS)
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| 10 | Alex Allen | RB | 6-0 | 210 | Jr. | Youngstown, Ohio (Ursuline HS)
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| 10 | Kade Wagner | QB | 6-2 | 215 | RFr. | Green, Ohio (Green HS)
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| 11 | Miguel Graham | DB | 5-9 | 165 | Sr. | Rock Hill, S.C. (Rock Hill HS/Coffeyville (Kan.) CC)
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| 11 | Chris Jacquemain | QB | 6-2 | 215 | Jr. | Mentor, Ohio (Mentor HS)
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| 12 | Jeremy Bruce | WR | 5-10 | 200 | RJr. | Beaver Falls, Pa. (Blackhawk HS/West Virginia Univ.)
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| 13 | Shane Shead | DL | 6-3 | 240 | Fr. | Plano, Texas (West HS/Hargrave (Va.) Military Acad.)
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| 14 | KC Patterson | QB | 6-3 | 210 | Jr. | Granite Bay, Calif. (Oakmont HS/Sacramento State College)
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| 15 | Nate Burney | DB | 5-6 | 165 | So. | Youngstown, Ohio (Cardinal Mooney HS)
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| 15 | Brian Flaherty | TE | 6-4 | 240 | Sr. | Stow, Ohio (Stow-Munroe Falls HS)
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| 16 | Andy Hildreth | P | 6-0 | 190 | Sr. | Dayton, Ohio (Northmont HS)
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| 17 | Brandon Williams | WR | 6-1 | 180 | Sr. | Tampa, Fla. (Chamberlain HS)
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| 18 | Drew Logan | WR | 5-9 | 170 | RFr. | Uniontown, Ohio (Lake HS)
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| 18 | Chuck Thompson | DB | 5-10 | 180 | RJr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. (San Benito (CA) HS/De Anza (CA) College)
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| 19 | Dante Barnes | DB | 6-1 | 185 | RSo. | Virginia Beach, Va. (Kempsville HS)
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| 20 | Mike Thomas (Akron) | DB | 5-11 | 215 | RSo. | Columbus, Ohio (Fork Union (Va.) Acad./Univ. of Massachusetts)
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| 21 | Andre Jones | DB | 5-11 | 185 | Sr. | Forestville, Md. (Forestville HS/Avon Old Farms (CT) School)
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| 22 | Da-Von Moore | DB | 5-11 | 205 | RFr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. (Brentwood HS)
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| 23 | Sean Fobbs | LB | 6-1 | 215 | So. | Miamisburg, Ohio (Miamisburg HS)
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| 24 | Bryan Williams | RB | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. | Akron, Ohio (Buchtel HS/Valley Forge (Pa.) Acad.)
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| 25 | Aaron Williams | LB | 6-0 | 205 | Fr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. (Penn Hills HS)
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| 27 | Wayne Cobham | DB | 6-2 | 195 | Jr. | Pembroke Pines, Fla. (Flanagan HS)
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| 28 | Amin Kabir | LB | 6-1 | 195 | Jr. | Warrensville, Ohio (Warrensville HS)
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| 30 | Kevin Grant | LB | 6-2 | 245 | Sr. | Herndon, Va. (Herndon HS)
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| 32 | Joe Tuzze | RB | 5-11 | 215 | Jr. | Mayfield, Pa. (Lakeland HS)
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| 33 | Joe McDaniel | LB | 5-11 | 205 | Sr. | Turtle Creek, Pa. (Woodland Hills HS)
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| 34 | Phillip Morris | RB | 6-0 | 220 | So. | Columbus, Ohio (Mifflin HS)
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| 35 | Bryant McMillon | DB | 5-10 | 185 | Jr. | Cincinnati, Ohio (Hughes Center HS)
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| 38 | John Stec | P | 5-9 | 190 | Jr. | Delray Beach, Fla. (Atlantic HS)
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| 40 | Evan Laube | DB | 6-0 | 205 | Jr. | Richfield, Ohio (Revere HS)
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| 41 | Levon Morefield | DB | 5-9 | 215 | So. | Columbus, Ohio (Brookhaven HS)
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| 42 | Matt Harmon | RB | 5-9 | 220 | Jr. | Massillon, Ohio (Massillon Jackson HS)
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| 42 | Michael Taggart | LB | 6-3 | 210 | Jr. | Green, Ohio (Green HS)
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| 43 | Matt Gaynor | LB | 6-0 | 185 | RFr. | Medina, Ohio (Medina HS)
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| 44 | Ray Siler | LB | 6-1 | 240 | 5Sr. | Canton, Ohio (Perry HS)
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| 45 | Igor Iveljic | PK | 5-11 | 190 | So. | Mentor, Ohio (Mentor HS)
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| 45 | Joe Rash | DL | 6-2 | 265 | RFr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. (Penn Hills HS)
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| 47 | Al-Teric Balaam | LB | 6-1 | 235 | Jr. | New Brunswick, N.J. (New Brunswick HS)
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| 48 | Tyler Campbell | DB | 5-11 | 190 | So. | Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington North HS)
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| 49 | Matt Little | LB | 6-2 | 220 | RFr. | Durham, N.C. (C.E. Jordan HS)
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| 50 | Mike Polinski | LB | 6-0 | 205 | So. | Mansfield, Ohio (Mansfield Senior HS)
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| 51 | Elliott Bates | OL | 6-4 | 295 | Jr. | Houston, Pa. (Chartiers-Houston HS)
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| 53 | Dan Ronsman | OL | 6-3 | 290 | RFr. | Antioch, Ill. (Lakes Community HS)
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| 54 | Doug Williams | LB | 6-2 | 235 | Sr. | Tampa, Fla. (Chamberlain HS)
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| 56 | Almondo Sewell | DL | 6-2 | 260 | So. | Trenton, N.J. (Trenton Central HS/Hargrave (Va.) Military Acad.)
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| 60 | Dan Marcoux | DL | 6-3 | 275 | RFr. | Ramsey, N.J. (Don Bosco Prep HS)
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| 62 | Luke Walker | OL | 6-0 | 275 | RFr. | Newark, N.J. (Licking Valley HS)
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| 64 | Zach Burk | LS | 6-0 | 190 | RFr. | Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington Central HS)
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| 67 | Deni Odofin | DL | 6-4 | 230 | So. | Endicott, N.Y. (Union-Edicott HS/Valley Forge (Pa.) Acad.)
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| 69 | Casey Estrada | OL | 6-5 | 290 | RJr. | Folsom, Calif. (Folsom HS/Sacramento City College)
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| 70 | Paul Simkovich | OL | 6-4 | 310 | RFr. | Latrobe, Pa. (Greater Latrobe HS)
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| 71 | Mike Ward | OL | 6-3 | 305 | So. | Fairfax, Va. (St. John's College)
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| 72 | Zac Kasparek | OL | 6-5 | 305 | RFr. | New Brighton, Pa. (New Brighton HS)
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| 73 | Jake Anderson | OL | 6-4 | 305 | RFr. | Erie, Pa. (McDowell HS)
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| 74 | Chris Kemme | OL | 6-6 | 305 | Sr. | Upper Arlington, Ohio (Upper Arlington HS)
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| 75 | Corey Woods | OL | 6-5 | 300 | So. | Reading, Pa. (Exeter Township HS)
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| 76 | Ryan Gibbons | DL | 6-2 | 260 | Jr. | Sheridan, Ind. (Sheridan HS)
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| 77 | Keith Huebner | OL | 6-7 | 310 | Jr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. (Baldwin HS)
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| 78 | Zack Anderson | OL | 6-4 | 305 | Jr. | Lester, Pa. (Interboro HS)
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| 79 | Jason Sekinger | OL | 6-9 | 330 | So. | Columbus, Ohio (Westland HS/Univ. of Minnesota)
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| 80 | Brigham Van Etten | WR | 6-3 | 195 | RFr. | Cleveland, Ohio (West Geauga HS)
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| 81 | Alphonso Owen | WR | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. | Cleveland Heights, Ohio (Cleveland Heights HS/Malone)
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| 82 | Brandon Bomar | WR | 5-11 | 165 | RFr. | Massillon, Ohio (Jackson HS)
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| 82 | Viktor Rajek | LB | 6-4 | 230 | So. | Pezinok, Slovakia (J. Papanka HS)
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| 83 | Merce Poindexter | TE | 6-4 | 250 | Sr. | Ellwood City, Pa. (Lincoln HS)
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| 85 | Matthew Smith | TE | 6-3 | 230 | So. | Edon, Ohio (Edon HS)
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| 86 | Jerome Royal | WR | 6-2 | 180 | RFr. | Cleveland Heights, Ohio (Cleveland Heights HS)
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| 87 | Richard Sandilands | WR | 6-1 | 190 | So. | New Philadelphia, Ohio (New Philadelphia HS)
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| 90 | Blake Smith | DL | 6-3 | 230 | So. | St. Louis, Mo. (Eleanor Roosevelt (Md.) HS)
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| 91 | Wallace Pendleton | DL | 6-1 | 310 | Jr. | Oak Park, Ill. (Fenwick HS)
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| 92 | Ryan Bain | DL | 6-2 | 305 | RJr. | Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook HS/Univ. of Iowa)
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| 93 | Eric Lively | DL | 6-2 | 275 | Sr. | Gambrills, Md. (Dematha Catholic HS)
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| 94 | Shawn Lemon | DL | 6-1 | 230 | So. | Waldorf, Md. (Westlake HS)
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| 95 | Marquinn Davis | DL | 6-6 | 285 | RFr. | Youngstown, Ohio (Rayen HS)
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| 96 | Hasan Hazime | DL | 6-5 | 250 | Fr. | Pickering, Ontario (Vanier Prep)
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| 98 | Nick Legger | DL | 6-2 | 250 | Sr. | Brunswick, Ohio (Brunswick HS)
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| 99 | Cowles Stewart | DL | 6-2 | 290 | RFr. | Westfield, N.J. (Westfield HS/Hargrave (Va.) Military Acad.)
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