Courtesy: Jeff Harwell-Zips Sports Photography Fifth-year UA head coach J.D. Brookhart.

AKRON ­— The University of Akron Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades announced today the Zips’ 2008 football schedule, which includes five home games ­— including Big East Conference member Cincinnati — in the final year of the University’s association with the Rubber Bowl.

“This year’s schedule is exciting in and of itself,” Rhoades said. “However, when you add the mix this being the last year at the Rubber Bowl, this season will be special as we start the transition, playing five home games in 2008 then host six in 2009 on campus at InfoCision Stadium. In terms of the home games, three of the five teams (Ball State, Cincinnati and Bowling Green) played in bowl games in 2007. Our non-conference schedule is very competitive, facing two Big East schools (Syracuse and Cincinnati) and a Big Ten school (Wisconsin) as well as getting to experience a game at West Point versus Army.”

Akron, under the direction of fifth-year head coach J.D. Brookhart, will open the 2008 season at Wisconsin on Aug. 30 and travel to Syracuse the following week (Sept. 6).

The Zips will play their 2008 home opener on Sept. 13, hosting fellow Mid-American Conference member Ball State. The next five weeks will see Akron alternate between home and road contests. The streak starts with a date at Army on Sept. 20, a game that will be televised on either ESPN Classic or ESPNU.

The Cincinnati Bearcats will be the Zips’ lone non-conference home game with that contest set for Sept. 27. Akron will make the short trip to face rival Kent State on Oct. 4 before returning to the Rubber Bowl to host Bowling Green for UA’s Homecoming. A game at Eastern Michigan (Oct. 18) rounds out the first half of the Zips’ football schedule.

After a consecutive Saturday’s off, Akron will host back-to-back, mid-week games on the ESPN family of networks in what will be the final two UA home games at the Rubber Bowl. First, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, Akron will host Toledo for an 8 pm contest, to be televised on either ESPN2 or ESPNU. The following week, the Zips’ will host Buffalo at 7 pm on ESPNU for the program’s final game in the facility.

Nine days later, the Zips play the first of two road games to end the regular season. On Nov. 22, Akron will travel to Athens to face Ohio. The following Friday, UA wraps the regular season with a Nov. 28 contest at Temple. The 11th annual Mid-American Conference Championship will be played Friday, Dec. 5, at Detroit’s Ford Field.

The University of Akron Head Football Coach J.D. Brookhart on the 2008 Schedule:
“This is a challenging schedule, especially considering our first two non-conference opponents and playing them both on the road. That is a tough start, but good opportunities lay in that tough start. On the other hand, we have been in this situation before so it is nothing new to our program.

“It is disappointing to loose our rivalry with Miami for this year, but it will be nice to host Ball State and see us play Eastern Michigan for the first time since I’ve been here.

“Bringing in Cincinnati helps us grow as a program. This will be our first time to host both a Big East and BCS team. I like being able to bring a team of that caliber here and look forward for those opportunities InfoCision Stadium will provide.

“In the end, everyone plays 12 games and you have to take advantage of those opportunities. No matter what — opening up with two road games, having the extended layoff or whatever ­— you have to prepare 12 times. No one cares about excuses; they just want results. That is how we must approach it.”