[Blue & Gold]

This link is to the Ohio.com Varsity Letters blog, where the ABJ keeps tabs on potential scholarship recipients. This response, from ABJ sports columnist George M. Thomas, regarding two Buchtel football players, perfectly illustrates the very real trouble Akron has in both being taken seriously and in taking ourselves seriously. Akron has a deep inferiority complex.

Linky

What disheartens me most is that this is coming from an ABJ reporter. I know, I know, I'm showing my age when I'm concerned about the printed media, but, in the past, the printed media has been very influential in shaping a regions self-identity. It is very troubling when our city's own chosen voices don't believe in us.

Our city needs more Caleb Porters.

[Blue & Gold]

That guy truly is an ass, and perfectly illustrates the very real and deep image/self-image problem Akron has. Get over there and leave a reply to let him know we have higher aspirations for our city and university than he does. I just added a reply. I'll paste it here (the quote is from one of George Thomas' earlier replies):


"The reality is I have a better chance of gaining super powers than the University of Akron football program does of becoming any type of national football power."

This is exactly the loser mentality that universities such as Boise State, Hawaii, TCU, Utah, Brigham Young, Eastern Carolina, UCF and any other non-traditional power very likely also had to overcome. It's just sad that a loser like this has a voice at our local paper. This wrongful, damaging, and self-loathing perspective – that the Akron area and it's university are hopeless losers – has now been shown to be the underlying presupposition from which his articles will all spring. This comment betrays a very serious and troubling disposition against the University of Akron. Our city desperately, and may I repeat, desperately, needs less people like George Thomas and more people like Caleb Porter; people who firmly believe that Akron can excel and that the Akron area can cultivate and experience success.

Please do the Akron area a favor, George, and move away… again.

Go Akron!
Go Zips!

[bobbyake]

That guy truly is an ass, and perfectly illustrates the very real and deep image/self-image problem Akron has. Get over there and leave a reply to let him know we have higher aspirations for our city and university than he does. I just added a reply. I'll paste it here (the quote is from one of George Thomas' earlier replies):
"The reality is I have a better chance of gaining super powers than the University of Akron football program does of becoming any type of national football power."

This is exactly the loser mentality that universities such as Boise State, Hawaii, TCU, Utah, Brigham Young, Eastern Carolina, UCF and any other non-traditional power very likely also had to overcome. It's just sad that a loser like this has a voice at our local paper. This wrongful, damaging, and self-loathing perspective – that the Akron area and it's university are hopeless losers – has now been shown to be the underlying presupposition from which his articles will all spring. This comment betrays a very serious and troubling disposition against the University of Akron. Our city desperately, and may I repeat, desperately, needs less people like George Thomas and more people like Caleb Porter; people who firmly believe that Akron can excel and that the Akron area can cultivate and experience success.

Please do the Akron area a favor, George, and move away… again.

Go Akron!
Go Zips!

Looks like George Thomas is a typical bandwagon follower. Give credit to Terry Bowden, he's getting people excited for Akron American Football.