Faust Takes It Easy in Akron Debut With 35-0 Win Over Salem College

Gerry Faust saw no need to run up the score any higher in his first game as head football coach at the University of Akron.

“If I had wanted to put more points on the scoreboard, we probably could have,” Faust said Saturday night after Akron rolled past tiny Salem College of West Virginia, 35-0.

A crowd of 35,202 packed the Rubber Bowl for Faust’s first game since he resigned as Notre Dame’s coach in November.

Faust was 30-26-1 in five seasons at Notre Dame.

“We must have played 60, 65, 70 kids,” Faust said. “They work hard and they deserved to play.”

Tight end Chris Kelley ran 42 yards with a touchdown pass from Vernon Stewart, and Dan Hampton scored on a pair of dives to lead the Zips’ offense, which held only a 14-0 halftime lead.

“I’m fairly pleased with the way we handled Coach Faust’s offense,” Stewart said. “I’m glad the way we picked it up in the second half. But we’ve got to improve. We’ve got to play all four quarters.”