Akron Football: A Brief History

Akron Zips:

Established as a program in 1891, the Zips moved to the FBS level in 1987 from the FCS making them the first ever school to make that jump. The Zips have not been one of the success stories in those following 26 years with only a single bowl berth to show for all that time. Overall, the Zips are perfectly .500 in school history but only winning 37.1% of their games since a jump to the FBS level.

First Season: 1891

Head Coach: Terry Bowden (1-11)

All-Time Record: 486-486-37

Bowl Record: 0-1 (Motor City Bowl, Lost to Memphis 38-31)

Playing Field: InfoCision Stadium, Summa Field, Opened in 2009. Capacity of 30,000.

Conference Affiliations (FBS only):

Independent (1987-1991) 23-30-2 Record

Mid-American Conference (1992-Current) 86-155-1

Attendance: 13,383 (5-year average)

National Titles: None

Conference Titles:

• 2005 MAC Champions

Record Versus Rivals (20+ meetings):

• Ball State: 10-9-1
• Central Michigan: 9-15-1
• Eastern Michigan: 16-12
• Kent State: 29-23-2
• Miami OH: 5-17-1
• Ohio: 11-16-1

Year-By-Year Record (Since 1987, Division I FBS Era)

• 1987    4-7
• 1988    5-6
• 1989    6-4-1
• 1990    3-7-1
• 1991    5-6
• 1992    7-3-1
• 1993    5-6
• 1994    1-10
• 1995    2-9
• 1996    4-7
• 1997    2-9
• 1998    4-7
• 1999    7-4
• 2000    6-5
• 2001    4-7
• 2002    4-8
• 2003    7-5
• 2004    6-5
• 2005    7-6 Motor City Bowl Berth
• 2006    5-7
• 2007    4-8 
• 2008    5-7
• 2009    3-9
• 2010    1-11
• 2011    1-11
• 2012    1-11

Coaching/Team History:

The Akron Zips were a team on the FCS level or I-AA level as it was known until recently. We will focus on the 1987 and on time when they were a FBS team.

Before jumping to the FCS level for the 1987 season, the Akron Zips brought in former Notre Dame Coach Gerry Faust for the 1986 season in which the Zips competed for the Ohio Valley Conference.

Coming in as a FBS independent, Faust struggled to put competitive teams on the field going 23-30-2 in the 5 year period of Akron playing the independent role. In 1992, the Mid-American Conference extended an invitation to the Zips to join them in all sports.

Starting with the 1992 season, the Zips joined the Mid-American Conference joining Ohio, Miami OH, Western Michigan, Toledo, Kent State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Ball State. Later, Buffalo, Northern Illinois, and Massachusetts joined the MAC to form the current conference.

Faust was able find his most success with Akron during his first year in the MAC going 7-3-1 and finishing third in the conference. After falling back below .500 the following year, Faust had one final year to save his job but sadly has his least successful season as a coach going 1-10 and being relieved of his head coaching duties. Faust stayed with the school fundraising and speaking for the university for many more years.

Looking to go in a different route, the Zips hired Ohio State assistant Lee Owens to replace Faust. Owens struggled during the majority of his time with the Zips but did lead them to three winning seasons and a share of the east division in 2000. Although having winning records, the Zips were not invited to any bowls during his tenure. After the 2003 season, Akron surprised many and fired Owens which was very surprising considering the Zips went 7-5 on the year with a career record at Akron of 10-61. Owens moved on to D-II Ashland University where he has gone 67-34.

After letting Owens go, the Zips went with the University of Pittsburgh offensive coordinator, J.D. Brookhart. Brookhard came out quickly for the Zips putting up winning record in each of his first two seasons with the school capped by a conference title and appearance in the Motor City bowl where the Zips lost to Memphis 38-31. Brookhart was named 2005 MAC coach of the year for that season's work. With two winning seasons and a very bright future, the bottom fell out for the Zips and Brookhart was never able to regain the success of the first two seasons going 17-31 in the next four years before being let go after a 3-9 season in 2009.

Wanting to find the glory of Brookhart's early years, the Zips found another interesting hire, taking Rob Ianello from Notre Dame where he was the wide receiver coach. This hire proved to be a complete disaster as Ianello lost his first 11 games as head coach and was later fired after the 2011 season with a 2-22 overall record with the Zips including only one win over a FBS program (Buffalo).

After such a disaster of the Ianello hire, the Zips decided to make a big splash and hired former Auburn coach Terry Bowden who was coaching North Alabama after taking 11 years off from coaching. Bowden started with the 2012 season and could not chance fortunes as the Zips had their third straight 1-11 season last fall.  

All-Americans:

• David Harvey--1st Team (2005)
• John Stec--Honorable Mention (2005)

Akron Hall of Fame Football Players:

• Adolph, Dave G. - Football ‘80
• Amison, Isavelt - Football ‘81
• Andy, Mike - Football ‘12
• Arango, David G. - Football, ‘95
• Azar, Floyd P. - Football ‘77*
• Bailey, Art - Football ‘78
• Bauer, Robert - Football ‘88*
• Beidleman, Jack E. Jr. - Football ‘80
• Bierce, Bruce W. “Scotty” - Football ‘75*
• Black, James R. - Football ‘92
• Boedicker, Earl O. - Football ‘84*
• Boggs, Thomas G. - Football ‘83
• Braccio, Jim - Football ‘90
• Brumfield, Dennis - Football ‘92
• Butowicz, Tony - Football ‘78
• Case, Richard J. - Football ‘91
• Clark, Michael K. - Football ‘96
• Cobb, Charles H. - Football ‘94
• Cochrane, Kenneth “Red” - Football ‘75*
• Cockerham, Steve - Football ‘87
• Costigan, Charles J. - Football ‘93*
• Crisp, Park “Tumble - Football ‘76*
• Daum, Carl V. - Football ‘77*
• Delaney, Ken - Football ‘89*
• DeMarco, Tom - Football ‘90
• Deo, George E. - Football ‘84
• Derr, Zac - Football ‘11
• Dombroski, Robert M. - Football ‘06
• Dreisbach, Ollie - Football ‘79*
• Evans, Glenn - Football ‘86
• Fernella Mike - Football ‘78*
• Fisher, Frank - Football ‘78*
• Florin, Ignatius - Football ‘84*
• Flossie, Ben - Football ‘79*
• Frye, Harold E. - Football ‘77*
• Graham, Andy - Football ‘93
• Grant, Wayne - Football ‘97
• Greene, Ray - Football ‘85
• Haley, Art - Football ‘79*
• Hatch, Mike M. - Football ‘82
• Hatherill, Robert E. - Football ‘01
• Heckman, Dennis A. - Football, ‘94
• Heisman, John - Coach
• Hensal, Earl - Football ‘76*
• Hodakievic, Al - Football ‘90
• Holian, Dave - Football ‘84
• Holmes, Russell-Football/Basketball ‘96
• Jenkins, Hayes - Football ‘76*
• Jenkins, Verlin - Football ‘76*
• Johnson, Lillbern “Nubs” - Football ‘82*
• Kelley, Christopher J. - Football ‘99
• Kelly, Clarence E. - Football ‘07
• Kerkian, Alan A. - Football ‘95
• Klaus, Rsss - Football ‘12
• Kregenow, Edwin L. - Football ‘77*
• Krino, Mike - Football ‘76*
• Lahoski John A. - Football ‘75*
• Lomax, Frank - Football ‘87
• Lopeman, Edward E. - Football ‘94
• Lyons, Robert L. - Football ‘05
• Maluke, Andrew W. - Football ‘75*
• Mazzaferro, Joe - Football ‘76*
• Miller, Dick - Football ‘02*
• Pallija, Tony - Football ‘85
• Palmer, Clarence A. - Football ‘80*
• Papp, Joseph - Football ‘88*
• Parnell, Charles - Football ‘88
• Reese, Bradley J. - Football ‘92
• Reeves, Gerald M. - Football ‘77
• Rockwell, Frank W. - Football ‘82*
• Rogers, Virgil - Football ‘89*
• Rossi, Marion - Football ‘86*
• Rudison, Billy - Football ‘11
• Ruff, Dan - Football ‘80
• Russell, C. Willard - Football ‘94*
• Russo, Mario - Football ‘76
• Schoch, Eric E. - Football ‘91
• Schutz, Donald E. - Football ‘93
• Scott, Roderick - Football ‘07
• Scruggs, Gene - Football ‘79
• Seals, Darrington - Football ‘89
• Semester, James S. - Football ‘98
• Sparkhawk, Wilson - Football ‘85*
• Spessard, Carl - Football ‘84*
• Sturgeon, Bill - Football ‘79 *
• Swigart, Clarence M. - Football ‘83*
• Toth, Ed - Football ‘81
• Travis, John - Football ‘04
• Tsaloff, Carl - Football ‘78*
• Ulrich, Ronald A. - Football ‘96
• Van Horn, Mark - Football ‘88
• Verdon, John - Football ‘04
• Wahl, Frank “Whitey” - Football ‘76
• Waldsmith, Ralph “Fats” - Football ‘78*
• Wargo, Frank “Doc” - Football ‘78*
• Winters, Paul - Football ‘89
• Witwer, Frank C. - Football ‘91*
• Zazula, Frank A. - Football ‘75*
• Zemla, Joseph M. - Football ‘77*
• Zimmerman, Guy “Red” - Football ‘76*
• Zwisler, Don - Football ‘81

NFL Players:

• Andy Alleman (2007—2009)
• Scotty Bierce (1920–1925)
• James Black (1984)
• Chase Blackburn (2005—), New York Giants Linebacker
• Dan Callahan (1960)
• Matthew Cherry (2004–2006)
• Mike Clark (1987)
• Reggie Corner (2008—2012)
• Red Daum (1922–1926)
• Zac Derr (2002–2006)
• Charlie Frye (2005—2011)
• Victor Green (1993–2003)
• Ed Grimsley (1987)
• Jeff Grzeskowiak (2002–2003)
• Art Haley (1921–1923)
• Domenik Hixon (2006—), New York Giants Wide Receiver
• Chris Kelley (1987)
• Ed Kregenow (1926)
• Robert Lyons (1989)
• Louis Mackey (2001–2002)
• Ryan Myers (2005–2006)
• Ron Pasquale (1987)
• Jamie Reader (2001)
• Jake Schifino (2002—2006)
• Dwight Smith (2001—2008)
• Jason Taylor (1997—2011)
• Mike Teifke (1987)
• Shawn Vincent (1974–1991)
• Ralph Waldsmith (1921–1922)