2015 Game 2: Pitt at Akron Game Thread

Game day from Akron, OH.
http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sp...090715aag.html
"FOOTBALL TRAVELS TO AKRON FOR FIRST ROAD TEST OF THE SEASON
The Panthers make their first ever trip to Akron on Saturday.
Sept. 7, 2015
PITT vs. AKRON
September 12, 2015 • 6 p.m., ET
InfoCision Stadium (30,000/ProGrass) • Akron, Ohio
ESPN3 • Pitt IMG Sports Radio Network
PittsburghPanthers.com • @GoPittFootball • #PITTvsAkron

PDF LINK: Complete Pitt Game Notes (Akron)

GAME STORYLINES
Pitt will travel less than two hours to the west for its first road game of the season. The Panthers visit Akron of the Mid-American Conference for a 6 p.m. contest at InfoCision Stadium. Pitt is looking to build on its season-opening 45-37 victory over Youngstown State in Coach Pat Narduzzi's debut. The Zips opened at No. 19 Oklahoma and lost, 41-3.
Pitt will try to avenge a 21-10 loss to the Zips at Heinz Field last season. The Panthers are 2-1 all-time against Akron and own a 30-4 overall record against MAC opponents.
The Panthers will be without their All-America tailback James Conner, who undergoes season-ending knee surgery this week. Conner, the reigning ACC Player of the Year, sustained the injury in the YSU opener. In his absence, a trio of young backs will be called upon, including redshirt freshman Qadree Ollison, who rushed for 207 yards in the opener.
Qadree Ollison's 207-yard performance vs. YSU established a Pitt record for rushing yards in a season opener by a freshman. His production came on just 16 carries--all in the second half--and included a 71-yard TD run.
Pitt offensive line coach John Peterson served in the same capacity with the Zips in two separate stints: 1995-98 under Lee Owens and in 2014 under current Akron coach Terry Bowden. Additionally, Pitt football administrator Bob Junko was the Zips' defensive coordinator from 1988-94 under Gerry Faust.
An elevated pass rush was a defensive priority for Pitt heading into this season. In the Youngstown State opener, the Panthers notched six quarterback sacks--nearly 1/3 of last year's 13-game total of 19. Linebacker Nicholas Grigsby led Pitt with two sacks in the YSU win.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television • ESPN3
Michael Reghi, play-by-play
JeRod Cherry, analyst
Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & the Pitt IMG Sports Network
Bill Hillgrove, play-by-play
Pat Bostick, analyst
Larry Richert, reporter
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Sirius Channel 109
Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & the Pitt IMG Sports Network
Bill Hillgrove, play-by-play
Pat Bostick, analyst
Larry Richert, reporter
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Sirius Channel 145, XM Channel 194
WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM
Pitt IMG Sports Network Online Audio Options
PittsburghPanthers.com via CSLive
Pitt Gameday LIVE App
iOS
Android
TuneIn
PITT-AKRON SERIES NOTES
This is the fourth meeting between Pitt and Akron...the Panthers lead the series, 2-1, but dropped the most recent encounter, 21-10, last season at Heinz Field...the 2015 game marks Pitt's first game at Akron...the initial two games in the series took place in Pittsburgh nearly a century apart...the inaugural meeting was a 17-0 Pitt win in 1900, just the 11th season of intercollegiate football competition for the University of Pittsburgh...the two teams would not play again until 1998, when the Panthers defeated the Zips, 35-0, in Pitt Stadium...Pitt is 30-4 all-time against current members of the Mid-American Conference, including a 26-2 mark at home, a 3-2 record on the road and 1-0 mark in bowls...Akron head coach Terry Bowden lettered at running back in 1977 and 1978 for West Virginia, which at the time was an annual Pitt rival...Pitt won each of those games, including 44-3 in `77 and 52-7 in `78.
PITT-AKRON HISTORY IN BRIEF
Series Began: 1900
Series Overall: Pitt leads 2-1
At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 2-1
At Akron: 0-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 27, 2014 (Akron won, 21-10)
Current Series Win Streak: Akron has won 1 (2014)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 2 games (1900; 1998)
Longest Akron Series Win Streak: 1 game (2014)
Largest Pitt Margin of Victory: 35 points (35-0, 1998)
Largest Akron Margin of Victory: 11 points (21-10, 2014)
THE COACHES
Pitt Coach Pat Narduzzi
Overall (season): 1-0 (first)
At Pitt (season): same
Alma Mater: Rhode Island, 1990
Record vs. Akron: 0-0
Akron Coach Terry Bowden
Overall (season): 151-88-2 (22nd)
At Akron (season): 11-26 (fourth)
Alma Mater: West Virginia, 1978
Record vs. Pitt: 1-0
--PITT--"