Once considered only a fantasy, a mythical accomplishment only seen in legend, Zippy, the marsupial mascot for the University of Akron, achieved the impossible dream. In this year's Capital One Mascot Open, the Zips mascot was a wire to wire champion, going undefeated in the 11 game regular season on its way to the playoffs. With a first round bye firmly in its pouch, Zippy took on Syracuse's Otto the Orange and Minnesota's Goldy Gopher on the way to the title, earning $10,000 for the University of Akron in the process. The kangaroo's lovable nature and metaphorically rabid fan base helped power Zippy through the rollercoaster of the season. With a league leading 357,000 votes of total offense, getting by fierce competitors like South Carolina's Cocky the Gamecock, UCLA's Joe Bruin, and the always formidable Gabibbo Big Red of Western Kentucky.
Lou Holtz -- or "Holth" if you're being unkind -- has achieved something remarkable this football season, going from a universally loathed figure on a par with Mark May to everyone's slightly addled, slightly awesome distantly related uncle.
The turning point was in one of his quickly-infamous "pep talks" wherein he totally reconfigured your perceptions, man, by ripping up some newspaper and quickly reforming it into a whole once more. It was awesome. Really. Truly, this lisping elf reminscent of Granny Clampett was possessed of magical powers.
Yeah, well, don't you forget it, Mister:
Anyone wishing to become a supplicant can find him on the top of the highest peak in the Himalayas; bring him jugs of moonshine bearing the inscription "XXX" and ye shall be granted your answers.
What you just watched is a video Brian Cook shared with you earlier this week of the final play of Akron's 39-38 comeback victory over Western Michigan. It was a thrilling comeback to watch for anybody who saw it, but if you were to ask Western Michigan what they thought, they would probably tell you that Akron's win was a crock of naughty word.
What you saw happen there was Akron's Alphonso Owen pick up a free kick from Western Michigan at the eleven yard line. You then saw him return the kick 14 yards before tossing the ball to teammate Andre Jones, who then took it all the way for the game winning score.
You know what you didn't see? The illegal block in the back thrown by Akron's Tyler Campbell early in the return. Don't worry about it though, the officials didn't see it either. They even admitted as much in an apology to Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit.
This promises to be the only post in Fanhouse history categorized both "Akron Football" and "Western Michigan Football," so drink up.
It's not exactly the Music City Miracle, but it's not half bad:
That was the final play of Akron's 39-38 victory over Western Michigan, and it might go down as the finest completely unplanned cluster... uh... bomb of a final play since Cal-Stanford, since there's no way any of that stuff was thought out in any way. Also, it provides a definitive answer to "what obscure collegiate radio crew is the most biased in all the land?"
Today's a big day in college football with most of the marquee games later tonight. However, several underdogs are making it a compelling early afternoon.
Akron trails Ohio State 3-2 on the strength of an early safety and three Buckeye turnovers.
West Virginia just scored a touchdown to go up 20-16 against Marshall in the third quarter. Steve Slaton has been kept under wraps most of the day, allowing Marshall to capitalize on some West Virginia defensive mistakes and lead for most of the game.
Elsewhere, Wake Forest leads Nebraska 10 to 6 late in the second quarter. Sam Keller has been a bit erratic for the Cornhuskers and for the most part, tailback Marlon Lucky has been held in check. After a disappointing defeat last weekend against Boston College, Wake has put together a more complete game today.
Last year, Buffalo bailed on West Virginia for a bigger payout to be the patsy elsewhere. The buyout wasn't too high, and the contract wasn't very good. It left the Mountaineers scrambling to find a substitute.
Pitt doesn't have that problem with a game scheduled next fall versus Bowling Green. The Falcons are on the schedule for September 1, the home opener. The contract is solid and getting out of it is not going to happen without consent.
Pitt, at Bowling Green's request, has allowed the Mid-American Conference to provide a substitute opponent. Until that substitute opponent is provided, however, Pitt has a valid contract to play Bowling Green on Sept. 1 at Heinz Field.
"I wouldn't see that changing unless it's agreed by everybody," MAC commissioner Rick Chryst said. "Generally, the discussions are between the institutions. We're working on our non-conference schedules, and we're working with several of our schools on several issues."
"They had a pretty tricky defense," offensive tackle John Shaw said. "They had a 3-5, and they were showing blitzes that I hadn't really seen in the last week-and-a-half of studying the defense. They threw a lot at us really quick."
These are problems which will work out as the offensive line gains experience. Unfortunately, that has to happen quick, as the big match-up between the Lions and the Leprechauns looms ahead.
But was Penn State really playing a 3-4 defense against Akron? The coaches insist it's more like a 4-3 with the right end standing up. Whatever it is, it is really, really fast. And until some of PSU's freshman defensive linemen make some progress in practice, expect to see a lot of Tim Shaw on the right side.
THE NEXT "BIG" THING? True freshman wideout Chris Bell caught only one pass for 19 yards against the Zips, but the 6-2, 200-pounder with the imposing physique was on the field a bunch and may eventually cut into the playing time of one of the Lions' sophomore wideouts, either Deon Butler or Jordan Norwood.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS. The days of calling for a fair catch at 5-yard line and tip-toeing on kickoff returns are over. True freshman A.J. Wallace is a home-run threat every time he fields a kickoff and sophomore Derrick Williams -- Calvin Lowry's replacement as punt returner -- just missed on taking one back 58 yards for six points Saturday.
INTO THE FIRE. Akron's untested receiving corps was a nice warmup for Penn State's green defensive backfield. Now comes the mid-term exam. Cornerbacks Tony Davis and Justin King, meet Notre Dame All-America Jeff Samardzija.
The keys to this match-up appear to be:
Pressure Quinn
Score points--Morelli must have a good day
Better running attack
Control Darius Walker
Don't get between Weis and the buffet table
BTW, Dan Connor garnered Player of the Week honors in the Big Ten.
Once considered only a fantasy, a mythical accomplishment only seen in legend, Zippy, the marsupial mascot for the University of Akron, achieved the impossible dream. In this year's Capital One Mascot Open, the Zips mascot was a wire to wire champion, going undefeated in the 11 game regular season on its way to the playoffs. With a first round bye firmly in its pouch, Zippy took on Syracuse's Otto the Orange and Minnesota's Goldy Gopher on the way to the title, earning $10,000 for the University of Akron in the process. The kangaroo's lovable nature and metaphorically rabid fan base helped power Zippy through the rollercoaster of the season. With a league leading 357,000 votes of total offense, getting by fierce competitors like South Carolina's Cocky the Gamecock, UCLA's Joe Bruin, and the always formidable 
Last year, Buffalo bailed on West Virginia for a bigger payout to be the patsy elsewhere. The buyout wasn't too high, and the contract wasn't very good. It left the Mountaineers scrambling to find a substitute. 
