MAC East football preview

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East Division

Akron Zips
Last season record: 1-11 (1-7 MAC)
Head coach: Rob Ianello, second year
Intriguing matchups: Sept. 17 at Cincinnati, Sept 22. against Ohio
Week one matchup: Saturday at noon at No. 18 Ohio State
Coach quote for week one: “If you can’t get excited in front of 106 thousand, and on national TV I’ve got the wrong guys.”

Overview: In coach Ianello’s second year he’ll look for change and improvement from last season’s lone victory.

“We’re already light-years ahead of were we were last year,” Ianello said.

He will bring out two quarterbacks this season, although the offensive system won’t change. Ianello had two stints at Wisconsin over six years. He said he’s trying to implement Barry Alvarez’s coaching style.

Bowling Green Falcons
Last season record: 2-10 (1-7 MAC)
Head coach: Dave Clawson, third year
Intriguing matchups: Sept. 24 at Miami, Oct. 1 at No. 24 West Virginia
Week one matchup: Tomorrow at 9 p.m. at Idaho
Coach quote for week one: “We have a few guys on our team that played Idaho in the Humanitarian Bowl (in 2009).”

Overview: If the Falcons want to get back to a bowl game, they have to improve their rushing game. That includes running the ball and stopping the run on defense.

Last season Bowling Green rushed for the least amount of yards in the MAC and allowed the second most yards on the ground defensively. Clawson made changes on the defensive line to improve that.

“We’re moving Kevin Moore from defensive tackle to end,” Clawson said. “We’re trying to get the best players on the field at all times.”

Buffalo Bulls
Last season record: 2-10 (1-7 MAC)
Head coach: Jeff Quinn, second year
Intriguing matchups: Oct. 1 at Tennessee, Oct. 15 at Temple
Week one matchup: Saturday at 6 p.m. at Pittsburgh
Coach quote for week one: “I remember playing Pitt for three years at Cincinnati. I know their program…they have talented players.”

Overview: Quinn was the offensive coordinator with Brian Kelly at Cincinnati and when he left for Buffalo he took a quarterback from the Bearcats with him. Chazz Anderson, a Cincinnati backup, transferred and now will start for the Bulls in his senior season.

“Chazz has done a real nice job coming in here and running our offense,” Quinn said. “He brings a wealth of experience and is familiar with the offense and terminology.”

Quinn has the Bulls running a hurry-up offense to wear down defenses and says it keeps the players excited.

Kent State Flashes
Last season record: 5-7 (4-4 MAC)
Head coach: Darrell Hazell, first year
Intriguing matchups: Saturday at No. 2 Alabama, Sept. 17 at Kansas State
Week one matchup: Saturday at 12:20 p.m. at No. 2 Alabama
Coach quote for week one: “Alabama is a fantastic football team at all three levels. So sound on special teams, you can’t get an edge on them.”

Overview: Hazell, a former offensive coach at Ohio State, takes over at Kent State and will be able to enjoy a great talent in defensive lineman Roosevelt Nix.

Nix was the first player to ever win the MAC Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman.

“It wasn’t a fluke he was defensive player of the year,” Hazell said. “He’s a pain. He’s very quick, runs to the ball. Unique, special player.”

Miami (Ohio) Redhawks
Last season record: 10-4 (7-1 MAC)
Head coach: Don Treadwell, first year
Intriguing matchups: Sept. 17 at Minnesota, Oct. 22 at Toledo
Week one matchup: Noon Saturday at No. 21 Missouri
Coach quote for week one: “They’re tough from top to bottom. Missouri provides an explosive offense, solid defense. They have the ability to spread you out on offense.”

Overview: Treadwell returns to his alma mater where he was a captain in 1982. In his first big decision last week, he named Zac Dysert as starting quarterback over sophomore Austin Boucher.

“It’s a nice thing to have two proven winners,” Treadwell said. “Both got to compete this camp for the job.”

Dysert threw for 2,406 yards and 13 touchdowns last season without playing the last four games. Boucher led the Redhawks to four straight wins to close out the season in replace of Dysert.

Ohio Bobcats
Last season record: 8-5 (6-2 MAC)
Head coach: Frank Solich, seventh year
Intriguing matchups: Sept. 24 at Rutgers, Wednesday Nov. 2 at Temple on ESPN 2
Week one matchup: Saturday at 8 p.m. at New Mexico State
Coach quote for week one: “It’s a four hour flight, which always concerns you with travel time. They’ve been practicing in warmer weather and in the high altitude.”

Overview: The Bobcats will have to replace quarterback Boo Jackson who threw 18 touchdowns, ran for another seven and caught one last season. Jackson nearly pulled off an incredible upset at Ohio State a few years ago.

Replacing him will be the son of former MLB All-Star catcher Mickey Tettleton, Tyler Tettleton. The redshirt sophomore played in 2009 completing 9 of 23 passes for 128 yards and two interceptions.

“Tettleton had a very good fall camp,” Solich said. “He can throw the ball and also has mobility. He’s somewhat of the complete player, but is inexperienced.”

Temple Owls
Last season record: 8-4 (5-3 MAC)
Head coach: Steve Addazio, first year
Intriguing matchups: Sept. 17 at Penn State on ESPN, Oct. 1 at Toledo
Week one matchup: Tomorrow at 7 p.m. against Villanova
Coach quote for week one: “It’s an intercity rivalry game. Exciting for the city of Philadelphia.”

Overview: In his first season Addazio won’t announce who his starting quarterback will be until gametime tomorrow. He said he is confident with his depth at the position though.

Addazio does know who will be taking hand-offs out of the backfield. Junior Matt Brown took 162 carries last year for 830 yards. Brown might fill a few more roles for Addazio too.

“Running back Matt Brown will have the opportunities in the kicking game as a returner,” Addazio said. Brown also was a successful receiver out of the backfield last season.