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GAME TIME
Morgan State will face Akron on the road in a non-conference matchup on Saturday (Sept. 9). Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field in Akron, Ohio. The game will air on ESPN+. The game will also be broadcast by WEAA, 88.9FM.

GAME COVERAGE
ESPN+ will air the game live. Ryan Cavanaugh will call the play-by-play with color analyst Anthony Lima. 

RADIO: WEAA, 88.9 FM is the flagship station for the Morgan State Bears ... Lamont Germany will call the play-by-play with Renard Stubbs in the booth. The game will be broadcast live on 88.9 FM and streamed on WEAA.org, HSRN.com and on SiriusXM 386 and 988 on the SiriusXMmobile app. 

LIVE STATS: www.akronzips.com

SOCIAL NETWORKS
Fans can keep up-to-date with all MSU Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/MorganStBears and @MorganStateFootball. You can also become a fan of the Bears on Facebook at Facebook.com/MorganStateBears.

TICKETS
Season ticket plans—which include a ticket to all five home games, including homecoming start at only $120. Premium seats and the football/basketball Bear Pass are both now available for purchase by calling 443.885.1522 or visiting MSU Student Center Athletics Ticket Office during business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or click 2023 MSU Ticket Information.

THE SERIES
• Saturday marks the fourth meeting in the series that began with a 41-0 Akron win on Sept. 1, 2009 in the grand opening of InfoCision Stadium.
• The Zips hold a 3-0 advantage in the series vs. MSU.
• In the team's last meeting on Sept. 8, 2018, sophomore QB Kato Nelson, threw for 232 yards and three TDs to lead Akron to a 41-7 win over the  visiting Bears at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field.

THE COACHES
• Damon Wilson enters his 2nd season as Morgan's head coach. He previously spent 13 seasons as the head coach at Bowie State University where he achieved three straight Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference championship 2010-12
• Joe Moorhead enters his second season leading The University of Akron football program after being named head coach on Dec. 4, 2021. He was a member of the Zips coaching staff from 2004-08, including serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2006-2008.

A WIN WOULD ... 
... give Damon Wilson his sixth win as MSU's head coach.
... mark the Bears first win against Akron, improving their record against the Zips to 1-3 in the series.
... mark the Bears second consecutive road win, its first back-to-back road wins since 2018 (at N.C. A&T, Savannah State).
... mark the Bears first-ever win against an FBS member.

FCS NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK
Following its hard fought 17-10 upset victory at No. 18 Richmond, Morgan State has been named the FedEx Ground National Team of the Week, Stats Perform announced Tuesday. The Bears earned a nationally ranked upset and their first season-opening win since 2012. Jabriel Johnson's 10-yard touchdown run with 6:27 left broke a 10-10 tie, and it was set up one play earlier by defensive end Noah Washington's fumble recovery following linebacker Erick Hunter's strip sack of Richmond's Kyle Wickersham. The MEAC squad, which finished 4-7 in coach Damon Wilson's first season last year, limited Richmond to 264 yards of offense, forced four turnovers and had five sacks.

QUICK HITS
• The 2023 Morgan State Bears will be under the leadership of second year head coach Damon Wilson. Wilson, the 23rd coach in school history, previously served 13 seasons as the head football coach at Bowie State. There, he achieved three straight Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference championships, in 2021, 2019 and 2018; five NCAA playoff berths; and three CIAA Coach of the Year honors.
• The Bears played a pair of QBs in their season-opener  upset against #16 Richmond. Carson Baker started the game and completed 5 of 8 passes for 68 yards, including a pick and was sacked three times. ODU transfer Dominique Anthony.finished with 31 yards in the air on 2 of 5 completions.
• Despite the loss of All-MEAC RB Alfonzo Graham, the Bears will look for Jabriel Johnson and Norfolk State transfer J.J. Davis and Myles Miree to carry the load this season. Davis led the Bears in Richmond with 12 carries for 73 yards (6.1 avg) and Johnson pounded out 44 yards on nine carries and scored the Bears go-head touchdown to seal the win at Richmond.
• The Bears return veteran wideouts Andre Crawley (22 rec., 336 yds, 2 TDs), Daymond "DJ" Hamler (25 rec., 256 yds) and Tyler Wilkins (12 rec., 139 yds, 2 TDs).
• Morgan has a number of offensive lineman as they enter the 2023 season ... The Bears have 19 OL listed on the roster and will be led by veteran All-MEAC G Marvin Atuatasi (6-1, 305) and T Dexter Carr Jr.  (6-3, 295).
• DL Elijah Williams, a Preseason All-American, emerged as a force on the defensive line for the Bears last season. The New Jersey product registered 60 total tackles (33 solo, 27 assisted) last season, including a league-high 19.0 tackles for loss (ranks No. 5 in FCS) and nine sacks (T-No. 13 in FCS).  He opened the season with 8 tackles, 2 TFLs and a QB hurry at Richmond.
• DB Jae'Veyon Morton is on the official watch list for the 2023 Black College Football Player of the Year Watchlist, the Black College Football Hall of Fame ... The 2022 All-MEAC selection started in every game (11) and his season totals include 34 tackles (25 solo, 9 assisted), 10 pass breakups (T-No. 24 in FCS), and three picks.
• RS Keith Jenkins Jr. was one of the top return specialists in the nation as a freshman last year ... The speedster finished the season with two kickoff returns for touchdowns (T-No. 2 in the FCS) ... he is expected to add some time in the backfield this fall.

A GLANCE AT THE ZIPS
•  Akron finished the 2022 season with an overall mark of 2-10 and went 1-7 in conference play. They capped the season with a 23-22 heartbreakingloss against Buffalo.
•  Akron was predicted fifth in the East Division MAC preseason Coaches' Poll .
• Eight Zips were named to Phil Steele's 2023 preseason All-Mid-American Conference teams. Earning preseason first-team All-MAC was junior WR Alex Adams. Named to the preseason second-team All-MAC was redshirt senior TE TJ Banks, while redshirt seniors QB DJ Irons and WR Daniel George garnered third-team preseason laurels and redshirt senior RB Lorenzo Lingard, senior DL Ryan Johnson  redshirt senior DB Nate Thompson, and junior KR Blake Hester were preseason fourth-team All-MAC selections.
•  The Zips elected seniors QB DJ Irons, WR Daniel George, DL Ryan Johnson and DB KJ Martin as captains for Akron for the 2023 campaign.
•  Akron is set to return eight offensive starters and seven defensive starters from a year ago.
• Akron returns its top-three tacklers in; Nate Thompson (73 tackles, 38 solo, 35 assists, 2 TFL) Darrian Lewis (56 tackles, 30 solo, 26 assists, 3/5 TFL) KJ Martin (53 tackles, 30 solo, 23 assists, 3 TFL).
• Akron returns its top-two quarterbacks in; DJ Irons (253-379-7, 2,606, 10 TD) Jeff Undercuffler (70-120-5, 791 yards, 5 TD).
• Akron returns top-two leading rushers in; DJ Irons (133 carries, 314 yards, 4 TD) Clyde Price III (99 carries, 309 yards, 7 TD).
• Akron Returns four of top-five leading receivers in; Alex Adams (63 catches, 856 yards, 9 TD) Daniel George (67 catches, 793 yards, 2 TD) Clyde Price III (31 catches, 139 yards, 1 TD) TJ Banks (21 catches, 175 yards, 0 TD).
•  Temple mounted a nine-play, 50-yard drive, culminating in a one-yard touchdown reception from to with 14:52 left in the ballgame, as Akron lost 24-21 in heartbreaking fashion to the TEM on Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. DJ Irons led Akron's passing attack with 205 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns and one interception. Temple outgained Akron 353-279 in the contest. The Zips managed only 41 yards in the second half after gaining 238 in the first.
• MSU's last game against Akron was on Sept. 8, 2018 at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field under Bears head coach Ernest T. Jones ... Sophomore quarterback Kato Nelson, threw for 232 yards and three TDs to lead Akron to a 41-7 win over Morgan.  The Bears' quarterbacks had a rough day in the office. Junior DeAndre Harris threw for 73 yards and completed 7-of-14 passes, while DJ Golatt Jr. didn't have it any easier. The redshirt-freshman was held to 5 yards passing (1 of 8). Both quarterbacks tossed an interception apiece.

A LOOK AHEAD 
• Saturday, Sept. 16th will mark the 28th meeting in the series that began with a 34-7 Morgan Sate win at Towson on Sept. 1, 1979.
• The Tigers hold an 21-6 advantage in the series vs. MSU.
• The Tigers have won 9 of the last 10 meetings against Morgan State since 2005, including the last four matchups.
• Towson  handed the Bears a 29-21 loss at Johnny Unitas Stadium on Sept. 10, 2022. Towson quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome helped the Tigers pull out a 29-21 victory in front of 9,784 fans in attendance at Johnny Unitas Stadium.  Pigrome went 14 of 25 for 157 yards, including three touchdowns as Towson rallied to beat the Bears. Carson Baker had a solid night as the Bears starting signal-caller. He went 10 of 24 for 152 yards and threw a pair of touchdowns and an interception for Morgan. Alfonzo Graham led the Bears with 89 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns.

BEARS OPEN 124th SEASON OF FOOTBALL SINCE 1898
MSU enters its 124th season of football and will open the 2023 campaign under second year head coach Damon Wilson.

PRESEASON PICKED 4TH 
Morgan State was picked to finish fourth (4th) in the MEAC standings, according to the poll of the conference head coaches and sports information directors.
North Carolina Central has been picked to defend its MEAC Football Championship as the Eagles topped the league's annual preseason poll for 2023. 

PRESEASON ALL-MEAC PLAYERS
Six (6) Bears were named to the MEAC preseason team at the 2023 MEAC Football Press Luncheon in Norfolk, Va. Senior linebacker Lawrence Richardson, senior defensive back Jae'Veyon Morton,  junior defensive lineman Elijah Williams, and sophomore return specialist Keith Jenkins Jr. were first-team selections. Senior offensive lineman Marvin Atuatasi and junior linebacker Erick Hunter were second-team picks.

RETURN MEN 
The 2023 Morgan State Bears return 16 starters - 8 on offense, 8 on defense and 1 on special teams.

CAMPAIGNING FOR SUCCESS 
The Bears enter the 2023 season looking to post their first winning season since going 6-5 in 2009. MSU's 7-6 record in 2014 was vacated. 
 
NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
The Bears will open the 2023 campaign with two of its first three non-conference matchups coming on the road. MSU opens the season at Richmond (Sept. 2), followed by a game at Akron (Sept. 9). The Bears will host Towson (Sept. 16) and Albany (Sept. 23), before traveling to face Yale (Sept. 30). The Bears round out non-conference play when they host Stony Brook (Oct. 7) for homecoming. 

BEARS OPEN 48th SEASON IN MEAC
The Bears will open its 48th season in the MEAC when they host Norfolk State for the conference opener on Oct. 8 ... it will also mark Morgan's Homecoming.
• The Bears opened the 2022 MEAC schedule with a 24-21 loss against Norfolk State (Oct. 8) at Hughes Stadium.
• The Bears kicked off its first season in the MEAC in 1971. Morgan State withdrew from the conference at the end of the 1979-80 fiscal year, before returning to the MEAC in 1984.

MSU LEGEND EARL "PAPA BEAR" BANKS
Earl "Papa Bear" Banks was a legendary head coach at Morgan State University, 
• In 1960, Banks took over the head coaching position at Morgan State from 2011 Trailblazer Award winner, Edward Hurt. 
• In his 14 seasons as head coach, he would lead the Bears to six CIAA titles, one CIAA Northern Division championship and one Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. Banks had an overall record of 96-31-2 after he retired from coaching 1973 and produced three undefeated seasons from 1965 through 1967. 
• He guided Morgan State to four bowl games, winning the 1965 Orange Blossom Classic and the 1966 Tangerine Bowl.
• He was named the American Football Coaches Association's recipient of the 2018 Trailblazer Award. The award was presented, posthumously, at the 2019 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.


FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE 
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more. 
• Follow us on social media:
Facebook: /MorganStateBears
Twitter: @MorganStBears
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.