Tag: Akron Zips

Former Penn State coordinator Joe Moorhead addresses uncertain head coaching future

Former Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead is just 8-28 in three seasons at Akron. Could he be looking for work in 2025?

Former Penn State offensive coordinator [autotag]Joe Moorhead[/autotag] could be in some interesting waters as the college football coaching carousel swings into full motion. With Akron’s season in the books following a 4-8 season, head coach Moorhead faces questions he may not be able to answer about his future with the program.

Moorhead has said he is focusing on preparing for the offseason as if he will be back in charge of the Akron program in 2025, but leadership changes and a disappointing overall coaching record in three years could take the decision out of his hands. Moorhead has commented on the state of the resources available to his program as he addressed his future.

“What I’ve learned enough in this business is you never say never,” Moorhead said following Akron’s regular-season finale earlier this week, per Football Scoop. “I don’t have a crystal ball, I’m just excited about what we’ve been able to do, and come in here despite the resources – or lack thereof – that we are provided, that we have been able to fight, and scratch, and claw and first become incredibly competitive, and now find a way to win.”

Moorhead spent two seasons coaching the Penn State offense after being named offensive coordinator in 2016. He left behind his role as head coach at Fordham and quickly helped elevate the Penn State offense to help win a Big Ten championship with players like Saquon Barkley, Trace McSorely, Chris Godwin, and Mike Gesicki at his disposal.

After two seasons as offensive coordinator at Penn State, Moorhead returned to head coaching when Mississippi State made an offer. Moorhead spent two seasons as head coach at Mississippi State but was fired at the end of the 2019 season. He then went to Oregon to be the offensive coordinator of the Ducks for two seasons before getting a chance to be the head coach at Akron in 2022.

Moorhead won two games in each of his first two seasons with the Zips and doubled the win total this season to sit at just 8-28 as head coach at Akron.

Penn State could be in a spot where it could potentially need a new offensive coordinator. [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag] is a name being thrown around for some possible head coaching opportunities, and co-offensive coordinator [autotag]Ja’Juan Seider[/autotag] could be getting a head coaching opportunity soon too. If both happen to leave, would Franklin work to bring Moorhead back to Happy Valley?

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Akron deals Kent State 20th straight loss

Kent State loses its 20th straight game

Akron came into its game Tuesday with the second-longest road losing streak at 14 games.

The Zips found the perfect opponent to remedy their woes away from home. They downed winless Kent State, 38-17, in MAC play.

The Zips fell behind 7-0 as the Golden Flashes scored on an 80-yard pass play 79 seconds into the game.

Akron rattled off the next 17 points en route to a 23-10 lead at halftime.

They built the lead to 38-10 at the end of three.

Kent State is 0-11 and has lost 20 straight games. It is the lone winless FBS team in the country with one game left, against Buffalo.

Akron had two rushers with more than 100 yards in the romp; Jordon Simmons had 113 on 11 carries while Charles Kellom gained 104 on 19 attempts.

Kent State’s last win came on Sept. 16, 2023, when it beat Central Connecticut State.

The longest road losing streak in FBS belongs to Temple at 19.

Akron has not had a four-win season since 2018 and is now 3-8 with a game left.

Akron coach Joe Moorhead compares Ohio State to national title-winning teams of past

Some pretty praiseworthy quotes about Ohio State from Akron’s head coach after the game. #GoBucks

Yes we love to hear what Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has to say after each Ohio State football game, but we also like to know what the opposing coach has to say after seeing the Buckeyes in action, especially this year, one with a boatload of expectations.

Akron head coach Joe Moorhead was very complimentary of OSU heading into the game in his preview press conference and his tune didn’t change after his team lost to the Buckeyes by a score of 52-6 on Saturday.

In fact, Moorhead spent almost half of his postgame press conference heaping praise on Ohio State and receiver Jeremiah Smith, even calling the Buckeyes national-title contenders akin to 2019 LSU and last year’s Michigan team.

“I learned that Ohio State is an incredibly talented team that’s very well coached and will have an opportunity, in my opinion, having coached against the 2019 LSU team — and took my son to see Michigan last spring over a recruiting visit,” said Moorhead. “So I know what a team that can play for the national championship looks like, and this looks like a team that can play for a national championship … It’s just an embarrassment of riches. Everywhere you look there’s a guy that can catch it, break a tackle and score, or a guy that can run by you, and a guy that can throw the ball, and a line that can protect.”

In case you missed his comments, you can catch them below after we uploaded the presser to our YouTube channel.

It’s one thing to impress one coach with how your team played. Ohio State will have to continue to play well, and if it can impress Dan Lanning of Oregon, maybe things will continue to feel like the Buckeyes can win a national championship.

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WATCH: Ohio State head coach Ryan Day postgame Week 1 press conference

Listen and watch what Ohio State head coach Ryan Day had to say after the win over Akron. #GoBucks

The Ohio State Buckeyes took down the Akron Zips 52-6 Saturday in their first game of the 2024 college football season.

While the scoreboard shows a dominant victory, it didn’t quite feel that way as the Buckeyes were up just 7-3 at the end of the first 15-minute period. Ohio State won the second half 35-3.

However, there were a slew of very positive performances. True freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith ended with two touchdowns, a huge feat in his first game.

Ryan Day was able to speak and just about every topic in the postgame press conference and gave his opinion on several aspects of the game, some impressive and some not so much.

Check it out below.

The Buckeyes were able to take down the Zips in Week 1 with ease, and they should have another relatively easy matchup with the Western Michigan Broncos in Week 2.

Grading Will Howard’s first start for Ohio State football

Will Howard now has one start for the Ohio State Buckeyes under his belt. Let’s dive into how he did in it. #GoBucks

The Ohio State football team was almost 50-point favorites at home against the Akron Zips in its first action of the 2024 season. The Buckeyes came out on top in the end, but they took just a 7-3 lead into the second quarter and even were down 3-0 after both teams had a drive.

Numerous Ohio State players got their first start both at Ohio Stadium and in the scarlet and gray. Quarterback Will Howard was among them. Howard, who transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State, got awarded the starting job over Devin Brown and ended the game with 228 yards and 3 touchdowns, having completed 17-of-28 passes.

Ryan Day was asked how he felt Howard did after the game and didn’t give a great response, mentioning that he will need to review the film before giving a definitive answer.

While Day might have been joking, Howard — nonetheless, — could’ve played better and certainly could’ve gotten out of the gate faster. The Buckeyes second drive ended with Jeremiah Smith’s first touchdown of his career on a 15-yard pass from Howard, but the first drive of the season featured two incompletions.

Howard did pick it up, but he had at least two incompletions on the team’s first four drives. He eventually started to pick the lacking Akron defense apart, but those early-game issues are not something to be overlooked. At the end of the day, Howard ended with three scores and connected on more than 60% of his attempts.

https://twitter.com/TheSG_Podcast/status/1830013607410602424

When looking at the entire game as a whole, what grade should Howard receive? It was far from an “A” performance, but it also wasn’t necessarily a “C.”

Grade: B-

Howard could’ve shown more, but he gave enough for an easy 52-6 route of Akron. Day will need to see that consistency continue against Western Michigan next weekend.

Best photos of Ohio Sate’s win over Akron

Check out some of the best photos from Ohio State’s first time in the ‘Shoe in 2024. #GoBucks

Game 1 is in the books for the 2024 version of the Ohio State football team and it was a bit of a mixed bag. The first half had many Buckeye fans gnashing their teeth and ringing their hands, but the second half put the worries to bed in a 52-6 victory over Akron.

There was plenty to take away from the win since it was the equivalent of breaking the seal on the season, but there was also some eye candy with those scarlet and gray uniforms inside the ‘Shoe for the first time.

As usual, we had some of our photographers there to capture some of the best images of all of the action, and we’re here to show some of the best of them with you.

Here are some of the best high-resolution photos of Ohio State football’s win over the Akron Zips on Saturday afternoon.

WATCH: Jeremiah Smith makes one handed, contested catch

What. A. Catch. #GoBucks

The secret is out. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day can no longer keep the fact that freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith as one of the best receivers in the country in the dark.

All Smith has done so far in this one is catch two touchdowns, make several other highlight worthy plays, and provide offense when needed for the Buckeyes. One of those was a catch that, at first, looked like a great ball control catch, but then upon further slow-motion review, was a one-handed and significantly contested (if pass interference is your style) grab.

Watch as Smith has one arm held and still brings down the catch by pinning the ball with one hand against his chest while falling down close to the goal line. First, take a look from the angle that doesn’t make the one-handed snag evident.

https://twitter.com/B1Gfootball/status/1830003195457720451

Now, from the other angle that shows you just how superhuman he is.

https://twitter.com/CBSSportsCFB/status/1830003938759680129

Remember, this is only Game 1 of the season and we’re seeing these types of things. You can bet that there will plenty of other jaw-dropping moments from the top recruit in the 2024 class.

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Ohio State football issues availability report for Akron game

Ohio State football issues availability report for Akron game #GoBucks

The Ohio State football team has released its availability report for its contest against the Akron Zips and it appears that the Buckeyes will be missing a starter on both sides of the football. On the offensive side of the ball, OSU will be missing Donovan Jackson and on the defensive side of the ball, Cody Simon will be absent from the season opener.

Losing Jackson is a huge bummer because this offensive line needs to gel and be a cohesive unit before the Bucks play an opponent on the same talent level as them. The Simon injury is also upsetting due to his injury history but should provide a unique opportunity for the rest of the backer depth. Here is the rest of the availability report:

Out

  • OL Devontae Armstrong
  • S Jayden Bonsu
  • DL Cade Casto
  • RB TC Caffey
  • OG Donovan Jackson
  • LB Cody Simon
  • WR Reis Stocksdale

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Watch what Akron head coach Joe Moorehead said about Ohio State in previewing the matchup

Akron head coach Joe Moorehead seems to think his team has quite the challenge this weekend. #GoBucks

The Akron Zips have their work cut out for them and their head coach, Joe Moorehead knows it. Ohio State might have the deepest and most talented roster in college football this season and Akron will be the first team to test that out Saturday when it visits the ‘Shoe for Week 1.

Moorehead had his first — albeit short — preview press conference earlier this week and talked about his team, but also what he sees from the Buckeyes. He was asked about OSU being a national title contender and provided an answer without hesitation.

In case you missed his comments about Ohio State, you can visit the short presser thanks to the Akron Zips YouTube channel below.

It’s time to get this scarlet and gray party started.

Check back often throughout the weekend as we set the table for the game, then have analysis and reaction during and after the game.

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Ohio State coach Ryan Day Week 1 Akron press conference

Day meets with the media for his weekly in-season presser for the first time. #GoBucks

It feels a little like Christmas Eve for Ohio State football fans because Week 1 of the 2024 season is just a couple of days away. This year should be a memorable one if the Buckeyes have anywhere near the season everyone things, and it’ll all get going against Akron on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Every week, we like to peek in on OSU head coach Ryan Day and his press conference to preview the upcoming game, and we have our first one with his time behind the podium to talk about fall camp and preview the Akron game.

If you missed any of what Day had to say leading into the kickoff to the season, we have his press conference in its entirety thanks to the Big Ten’s YouTube channel.

In it, Day discusses what expects in Week 1, names some starters on competitions that were still unknown, has some thoughts on new quarterback Will Howard, and more.

Stay with us as we have ongoing coverage of the opening of the season before, during, and after the contest vs. Akron.

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