Displaying items by tag: akron zips

University of Akron alum, and former Zips wide receiver Matthew Cherry can add Oscar-winner to his resume. 

Last night, Cherry won the Academy Award for "Best Animated Short" Sunday for his film "Hair Love" about an African American father learning to do his daughter's hair for the first time.

The film was funded by through a Kickstarter campaign that raised $300,000.

Cherry, an NFL journeyman, played on the same Zips team as former Browns quarterback Charlie Frye. He still holds the school record for most punt returns in a single season with 305.

:17 - This Jussie Smollett situation has been the most interesting and polarizing story in 2019….at least since Covington Catholic from a few weeks back. Ray and Tony talked about the Empire actor getting fingerprinted over what has become a hate crime hoax, as well as how much time he may serve for this.

8:54 - College football is big business, but how big is it for the non-Ohio States and Alabamas of the world? Malone University has cut their football team to save money. What about D1 schools that aren’t top-tier, like the Akron Zips? Dr. John Green, interim president at the University of Akron, talked about the importance of a school’s football program, both on the field and off.

19:29 - February 22nd is National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day. Sue Peschin is the president and CEO for the Alliance of Aging Research joined the show to raise awareness for proper heart health.

23:47 - It’s a surprisingly slow weekend at the movie houses, especially with the Oscars happening this Sunday. Our movie guy Scott Wynn joined the show, as he usually does on Fridays.

26:36 -Big matchup in girls hoops on Monday. Andy Booth, head coach of the Wadsworth Lady Grizzlies basketball team, joined the show to preview.

Sam and Brad talked to George Thomas from the Akron Beacon Journal to talk about the firing of Terry Bowden right off the jump, At 12:51 they talked to Brian Bidlingmyer about this weekend's Greynolds Classic, and at 20 minutes they spoke with Rob Oller of the Columbus Dispatch.

 

Akron Zips head football coach Terry Bowden spoke with the Sam and Brad Show Friday to talk about the team's bowl game on December 19 against the FAU Owls.

 

The Boca Raton Bowl is the Zips' second bowl game in the last three seasons.  

Akron Beacon Journal sportswriter George Thomas spoke with Sam and Brad to talk about the Akron Zips' 37-34 win over the Ohio Bobcats. 

 

The Zips control their own destiny in the MAC East Division and if they win over rival Kent State, they will play in Detroit for the MAC Championship December 2nd. 

 Defensively, linebacker Ulysees Gilbert will be expected to bring leadership on the field this upcoming season for the Zips.

 

Zips running back Warren Ball also discussed his excitement to get things going this football season.  A transfer from Ohio State, Ball said his journey to Akron has been one with challenges, but he relishes his leadership role with the team.

"I just want to make those around me better and help this team win," Ball said.

 The Zips finished 5-7 overall and 3-5 in MAC play in 2016.

After 305 wins and four trips to the NCAA Tournament in 13 years, Keith Dambrot is heading eastbound on Interstate 76. Dambrot, the now-former head coach of the Akron Zips, joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to talk about his decision to guide the Duquesne Dukes. Duquesne is familiar territory for Dambrot, as his father played there and his mother is from the Pittsburgh area. According to Dambrot, leaving the University of Akron was “the toughest decision I’ve ever made in my life, to be perfectly frank about it.” He said he was not looking around for other jobs, but the timing was right to try to turn another program around. It will be a seven-year, $7 million contract for the 58-year-old Dambrot.

Dambrot is 59 and says he doesn't want to be coaching into his 70s or 80s, and looks at the rebuilding of the Duquesne program as a great opportunity. "The timing was right and I would take one more fling to turn another program around," Dambrot said.

LISTEN to the full Dambrot interview with WAKR's Ray Horner below.

The winningest coach in Akron hoops made some time with 1590 WAKR.

Keith Dambrot took home win number 11 on the season on Tuesday night, which happened to be victory number 289 at Akron, and he joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to talk about the journey. That journey includes recruiting and trying to compete in the parity-filled Mid-American Conference. Though he remains humble, Dambrot does feel honored to be included in the elite group of coaches and players who have made their way through the program over the years.

Dambrot joined the Zips as an assistant coach in 2001, and was named head coach in 2004. He began his head coaching career in 1984 with Tiffin, and most notably coached LeBron James at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

Fans from either team may not be pleased with their seatings in the lowly NIT, but all eyes in Ohio will be on the Schottenstein Center tonight. Well, at least sports fans’ eyes.

Paul Keels, the voice of the Ohio State Buckeyes, joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to preview the NIT matchup between the Buckeyes and the Akron Zips. Paul spent some time researching the Zips, saying they have a chip on their shoulders after their last-second loss to Buffalo on Saturday. The perimeter defense for the Buckeyes will have to step up, as Akron is a dangerous team from three-point land.

Keels also mentioned the interest the Buckeyes may or may not have in this game. The last time Thad Matta’s team had missed out on the NCAA Tournament was in 2008, when the Buckeyes took home the NIT title.

Buckeyes and Zips will be heard tonight on 1590 WAKR, with tipoff happening at 7 o’clock.