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But athletic director Mike Thomas blinked after Owens won three of his last four games, including a stunning upset of league power Marshall. Another poor start this fall will likely signal the end for Owens at Akron. But that isn't likely to happen. The Zips welcome back nine starters on offense and will face a much less daunting schedule. It might not be enough for Akron to challenge in the East Division, but the Zips should win enough games to keep Owens employed. OFFENSIVE KEYS: When a team returns nine starters from a unit that produced an average of 404.3 yards (28th in the nation) and 27.1 points per game, there are legitimate reasons to be optimistic.Quarterback Charlie Frye, a 6-foot-4 junior with two years of starting experience, is the man who makes the Zips go. Frye will likely hold every major Akron passing record by the end of his junior year if he maintains his 2,400-yard, 12-touchdown season averages. And with a veteran offensive line in front of him, and no fewer than four receivers who each hauled in 26 or more passes last season, the Zips have a chance to be even more productive in 2003. Senior tailback Bob Hendry is a proven 1,000-yard rusher, and sophomore Thomas Plummer, a big back from Canada, is expected to show why he was a major college recruit before landing with the Zips. DEFENSIVE KEYS: Where to begin? Defense has been a thorn in Owens' side for the past four seasons, and it nearly cost him his job in 2002. If the defense doesn't get its act together in 2003, Owens is likely finished as the dean of MAC head coaches.But there is guarded optimism for this season.
Junior defensive end Dwayne LeFall led the Zips with 4.5 sacks as a freshman, took a redshirt year to clear up his academics, then returned and delivered one sack last season. Senior defensive tackle Marques Haynes is a proven leader who has played linebacker, defensive end and tackle. But he can't do it all alone. After that, "potential" is the word attached to every projected starter or backup defensive lineman. SPECIAL TEAMS: There are solid performers at every spot. Running back Matt Carter ranked second in the MAC with a 24.1-yard kickoff return average. Matt Cherry returns to handle punts after a year off. He ran two back for touchdowns as a sophomore.The coaching staff expects more consistency from placekicker Billy Sullivan after he hit 7 of 14 field goals and 40 of 43 extra points as a freshman. Punter Andy Jerdon averaged a strong 40.3 yards per boot. FINAL ANALYSIS: With arguably its easiest non-conference slate in years and a schedule loaded on the front end with MAC cupcakes (Kent, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan) the Zips would have to implode not to clinch a .500 season by early October. The real question is, can Akron's defense play well enough down the stretch to make a run for a MAC division title? Maybe not, but the Zips should improve on last season's four-win total.• Click here for complete index of 2003 team previews
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