Presenting The Akron MACwood Squares

MACwood Squares is our summer reading series on the best athletes in Mid-American Conference sports history. This week features Akron. Looking for your MAC school? Consult our schedule for other teams and please submit your nominees as well.

So much soccer. So many long surnames. A quick liner on each person (longer for those we didn't get to yet) after the jump.

Anthony Ampaipitakwong (soccer)
Bonus points for being a four-year player in a leave-early era. Multiple Hermann Trophy finalist, and we'll overlook this haircut.

Mike Birkbeck (baseball)
Holds UA records for pitching wins and on-base percentage. Also the only All-American in team history and fourth round pick of the Brewers in 1983. He finished with a 4.86 ERA in 270 1/3 innings, but Tony Gwynn, Fred McGriff and Rafael Palmeiro went a combined 0-for-15 against him.

Charlie Frye (football)
Could not replace Trent Dilfer or Kelly Holcomb in Cleveland, but he did rewrite UA passing records.

Joe Jakubick (men's basketball)
The Zips' all-time scoring leader. Akron's basketball future looks bright; maybe in another year, they'll add a second basketballer to the list.

Jason Taylor (football)
Tackler, sacker, dancer, lover. His good looks get him in the center square.

Stevi Large (track and field)
Won the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track championship in the hammer, also was runner-up in the indoor track weight throw.

Darlington Nagbe (soccer)
I'm going to put him at No. 3 soccer-wise, but absolutely worth as much as the others.

Christi Smith (track and field)
Won the 2000 NCAA championship in the heptathlon, and finished second a year previous. Add it up, and she's a two-time All-American.

Steve Zakuani (soccer)
The No. 1 Most Wanted.

Thus concludes Akron's week. Next week: Miami. Consult our schedule for your favorite team.