2003 Akron Zips football team

The 2003 Akron Zips football team represented the University of Akron in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. Akron competed as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Zips were led by head coach Lee Owens.

2003 Akron Zips football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Division	East Division
Record	7–5 (5–3 MAC)
Head coach	Lee Owens (9th season)
Offensive coordinator	Paul Winters (9th season)
Defensive coordinator	Joe Tresey (2nd season)
Home stadium	Rubber Bowl

2003 Mid-American Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
No. 10 Miami (OH) x$		8	–	0					13	–	1
Marshall		6	–	2					8	–	4
Akron		5	–	3					7	–	5
Kent State		4	–	4					5	–	7
UCF		2	–	6					3	–	9
Ohio		1	–	7					2	–	10
Buffalo		1	–	7					1	–	11
West Division
No. 23 Bowling Green x		7	–	1					11	–	3
Northern Illinois		6	–	2					10	–	2
Toledo		6	–	2					8	–	4
Western Michigan		4	–	4					5	–	7
Ball State		3	–	5					4	–	8
Eastern Michigan		2	–	6					3	–	9
Central Michigan		1	–	7					3	–	9
Championship: Miami 49, Bowling Green 27
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 28	7:30 p.m.	Kent State	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH (Battle for the Wagon Wheel)		L 38–41	26,814
September 6	3:30 p.m.	at No. 18 Wisconsin*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	ESPN+	L 31–48	75,401
September 13	6:00 p.m.	Eastern Michigan	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH		W 24–17	10,262
September 20	7:00 p.m.	Howard*	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH		W 65–7	20,259
September 27	6:00 p.m.	at Buffalo	University at Buffalo Stadium Amherst, NY		W 38–21	6,385
October 4	2:00 p.m.	at Miami (OH)	Yager Stadium Oxford, OH		L 20–45	20,157
October 11	6:00 p.m.	Cal Poly*	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH		W 45–14	8,319
October 18	6:00 p.m.	Central Florida	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH		W 38–24	8,113
October 25	Noon	at Connecticut*	Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT		L 37–38	36,074
November 1	4:30 p.m.	at Marshall	Joan C. Edwards Stadium Huntington, WV	ESPNGP	L 24–42	29,884
November 8	1:00 p.m.	at Central Michigan	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI		W 40–28	9,222
November 15	Noon	Ohio	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH		W 35–28	9,102
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Roster

2003 Akron Zips football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 2 Matthew Cherry Sr QB 5 Charlie Frye  Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB 1 Rickey McKenzie Sr DB 4 Sekai Greer Jr DB 23 Domenik Hixon So DB 24 Montae Russell Jr LB 44 Chase Blackburn Jr LB 58 Matt Robinson Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class P/K 14 Billy Sullivan So	Head coach Lee Owens Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt