Bowling Green State University Athletics
Know the Opponent: Akron
July 25, 2017 | Football
Over the course of six weeks, BGSUFalcons.com will break down the 12 opponents that BGSU Football will face during the 2017 season. The Falcons' fifth game of the season is their Mid-American Conference opener and BGSU hosts Akron Sept. 30 for Military Appreciation Day and Extra Yard For Teachers.
SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
SEASON TICKET BENEFITS (SPARK PAGE)
ROAD GAME TICKET PRICES/SALES INFORMATION
FOOTBALL TICKETS PAGE
RIMINGTON-WORTHY
Akron center LaVonne Gauthney was named to the watch list for the 2017 Rimington Trophy. The Rimington is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I-A College Football. The senior is entering his fourth season as a starter for the Zips. Gauthney has been all over the field in his college career, playing on the defensive line as a freshman and as a tight end as a sophomore. He started 11 games at center last season. His season highlight was when the offensive line provided perfect protection (not allowing a single sack) against Miami.
PREVIOUS KNOW THE OPPONENT FEATURES
MICHIGAN STATE
SOUTH DAKOTA
NORTHWESTERN
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
ONE MORE YEAR
Zips running back Warren Ball was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA heading into the 2017 season. Ball began his collegiate career at Ohio State, seeing action in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He played in 10 games at running back and on special teams during the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff championship season in 2014. Following his redshirt junior season, he made the decision to transfer to Akron for his last year of eligibility. He was instantly named Preseason All-MAC and picked up his first career touchdown in Akron's season-opener against VMI. Two games in, though, he suffered a season-ending injury at Wisconsin. He returns in 2017 with 181 yards and two games under his belt for the Zips.
ZIPS VS. ZIGGY
The Zips have struggled mightily against the Falcons, coming out on the losing side in each of the teams' last eight meetings. The games have not been close, either, with Akron being outscored by a combined 151 points in those eight games. Seven of those eight meetings have been decided by double-digits and it's been even worse in The Doyt. The Falcons have defeated Akron by an average of 27.3 points in the last decade in front of the Bowling Green faithful. This has only worked to hurt Akron's all-time record against Bowling Green as they are 7-16 against their MAC East opponents.
FINALLY TENURED
Akron head coach Terry Bowden's 2017 season will mark the longest he has been with a team since beginning his coaching career. Bowden began coaching with Samford, posting a 21-5 record between the 1991-92 seasons that would lead to a job offer from Auburn. He picked up right where he left off, going 46-12-1 in his first five years with the Tigers. Despite this consistency, he lost favor when the Tigers began the 1998 season 1-5 and was fired. He took a break for ten years before resuming coaching with North Alabama to a 29-9 record over three years. He joined Akron in 2012 and has since gone 24-37. He is responsible for one of the Zips' two bowl appearances, picking up the first Akron bowl win in 2015 with a 23-21 win over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
BEWARE OF GILBERT
Widely regarded as Akron's best player coming into 2017, linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III is looking for an encore performance following a dominant sophomore season. Gilbert is entering his junior year as the defending team-leader in tackles (122), tackles-for-loss (11.5), sacks (4.0), and hurries (8). He ranked ninth among all defensive players in total tackles per game with 10.2. For this effort he was named First-Team All-MAC as well as the team's defensive MVP. He is the key to helping a weak Zips defense make its way through the season.
SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
SEASON TICKET BENEFITS (SPARK PAGE)
ROAD GAME TICKET PRICES/SALES INFORMATION
FOOTBALL TICKETS PAGE
RIMINGTON-WORTHY
Akron center LaVonne Gauthney was named to the watch list for the 2017 Rimington Trophy. The Rimington is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I-A College Football. The senior is entering his fourth season as a starter for the Zips. Gauthney has been all over the field in his college career, playing on the defensive line as a freshman and as a tight end as a sophomore. He started 11 games at center last season. His season highlight was when the offensive line provided perfect protection (not allowing a single sack) against Miami.
PREVIOUS KNOW THE OPPONENT FEATURES
MICHIGAN STATE
SOUTH DAKOTA
NORTHWESTERN
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
ONE MORE YEAR
Zips running back Warren Ball was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA heading into the 2017 season. Ball began his collegiate career at Ohio State, seeing action in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He played in 10 games at running back and on special teams during the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff championship season in 2014. Following his redshirt junior season, he made the decision to transfer to Akron for his last year of eligibility. He was instantly named Preseason All-MAC and picked up his first career touchdown in Akron's season-opener against VMI. Two games in, though, he suffered a season-ending injury at Wisconsin. He returns in 2017 with 181 yards and two games under his belt for the Zips.
ZIPS VS. ZIGGY
The Zips have struggled mightily against the Falcons, coming out on the losing side in each of the teams' last eight meetings. The games have not been close, either, with Akron being outscored by a combined 151 points in those eight games. Seven of those eight meetings have been decided by double-digits and it's been even worse in The Doyt. The Falcons have defeated Akron by an average of 27.3 points in the last decade in front of the Bowling Green faithful. This has only worked to hurt Akron's all-time record against Bowling Green as they are 7-16 against their MAC East opponents.
FINALLY TENURED
Akron head coach Terry Bowden's 2017 season will mark the longest he has been with a team since beginning his coaching career. Bowden began coaching with Samford, posting a 21-5 record between the 1991-92 seasons that would lead to a job offer from Auburn. He picked up right where he left off, going 46-12-1 in his first five years with the Tigers. Despite this consistency, he lost favor when the Tigers began the 1998 season 1-5 and was fired. He took a break for ten years before resuming coaching with North Alabama to a 29-9 record over three years. He joined Akron in 2012 and has since gone 24-37. He is responsible for one of the Zips' two bowl appearances, picking up the first Akron bowl win in 2015 with a 23-21 win over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
BEWARE OF GILBERT
Widely regarded as Akron's best player coming into 2017, linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III is looking for an encore performance following a dominant sophomore season. Gilbert is entering his junior year as the defending team-leader in tackles (122), tackles-for-loss (11.5), sacks (4.0), and hurries (8). He ranked ninth among all defensive players in total tackles per game with 10.2. For this effort he was named First-Team All-MAC as well as the team's defensive MVP. He is the key to helping a weak Zips defense make its way through the season.
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