zippy-claws

Well, the season is finally over, mercifully, and there's no reason to beat a dead horse. The women's soccer team took a few steps forward the last third of the season, only to let it all go to waste in a horrible display of soccer at OU. Maybe the losing and the end of the season finally took their toll. I wish the seniors good luck in their future, and I wish the returning players a hard-working fruitful off-season that keeps them focused on coming back stronger and more ready for the rigors of D1 soccer. And I wish Coach and her staff begin work after a few days of reflection on developing a program that is competitive, and finding the right pieces in the recruiting process to make Akron a non-bottom dweller in the MAC. We need a legitimate goal scorer, we need speed up top. We need a legitimate D1 goalkeeper. We need to hang on to the likes of Ella Hadley, Emma King, Anna Simmons (especially Anna Simmons!), and Hannah Langstaff. Can't lose any of them, In my opinion. They will be the veteran core if this team is to rise in 2024 to respectability. I'm a Zip fan, a women's sports fan, so I'll be back in the stands again in 2024, but it sure would be nice to go home after a match with a smile on my face.

If you read my posts you know I'm not a fan of Guthrie. That being said, I do believe Akron Athletics is better off now than under Larry Williams. More on my thoughts on Guthrie later in this post. Here's my "State of Akron Athletics" comments. First - Facilities. Since Guthrie arrived we've seen repairs made to InfoCision that were needed, although we still need to fix/replace the video board. The JAR is what it is, but it's not terrible, and the new floor, the addition of a "$$$ donor bar" are all positives. It still looks good, and those who do attend infrequently still think it's a good facility. FirstEnergy continues to be one of the top Soccer-specific Stadiums in NCAA soccer, and they recently upgraded the sound system to give more sound clarity and moved the speaker system to make the seating area more enjoyable before the matches (you can actually talk to your neighbors pre-game without screaming!) Ocasek is a very nice facility for swim meets, and they just added a huge, state-of-the art video system that is not only informative, entertaining and readable, but offers the swimmers and divers training assistance. Of course, basketball is getting a new training facility as well. And the new track and field complex at Lee Jackson field is fantastic, although the throws area are a little convoluted. All of these were done under Guthrie, so hats off to the AD and The U on Facilites. Coaches - Guthrie was smart enough to realize that Coaches Groce, Embick and Peresie were the most successful coaches (and programs) he had, so he's left them alone, and even has enhanced their contracts. It doesn't mean he keeps his mouth shut and doesn't criticize them in public to others, which is a big negative IMHO about Charles. He is overheard many times at games/meets/matches being very critical of his coaches to the general public, which I'm sure get back to the coaches mentioned and may tend to undermine their confidence. That being said, I believe he made positive hires in football, softball and volleyball. Baseball has been a circus. He needed to move on from Sabo but the OSU coach fiasco and then not re-signing last year's coach has to be questioned, as well as his new hire. Granted baseball hasn't started and time will tell but his pick is a little underwhelming. The Women's soccer hire was and is disastrous, not that she is a bad person or knowledgeable, it's once again a terrible hire for a D1 school with a Nationally ranked Men's program. Track and Field is another terrible hire. Some will point to the 2023 Outdoor MAC title for men as an argument, but the head coach had little to do with that, it was the throws coach and his athletes that won that title. Meanwhile the women's program is still in shambles. And she's already lost the throws coach after one season and has gone through 2 PV coaches already in one year. It's no secret Guthrie chased Coach Mitchell off, like he did Herlihy from soccer (needed). Still...Now we have a new Lacrosse coach, so we'll have to see how that goes. And I do feel the new hire for Women's basketball is a solid choice without watching one game, but once again, Guthrie's handling of the Jackson situation was pretty ham-handed. Department - The Athletic Department is not what I would call a well-run machine. Being a retired businesswoman, I understand wanting to have staff around you that you have confidence in and comfortable with. And I understand the desire to change, but change for change sake is not always a good thing. The department was already reeling from needed staff reductions, like all departments at Akron when Dr. Miller came on board. It appears from the number and quality of recent departures from Athletics that the methodology is "make life hell on them and they'll leave on their own" rather than try to work towards a different and consistent approach. They've lost a lot of good people and their replacements seem more like a hodge-podge rather than a unified front. Game Day Experience - It is abysmal. At all events. From football's thuggish music on every down instead of marching band, lack of any entertainment during time-outs, quarter changes etc. to the treatment of us fans by game-day staff, plus the cost of everything, it's not going to bring anyone to games. Basketball was so-so but once again, where are the things that make families and casual fans want to attend? They finally seemed to "get it" at the last few soccer matches with a few give-aways. Let's face it, it just flat out is terrible across the board, especially compared to the entire MAC conference, other than perhaps KSU. We do got to many away events in the MAC plus go to watch a niece and nephew who compete at other MAC schools, and hands-down we are 11th out of 12 in Game Day experience. Eastern Michigan leads the way, Miami is very good, Toledo is solid, and I can go on. So that's my "more-than-two-cents" worth. I'm sure I've given enough ammo for some of you to tear into me and tell me where I'm wrong, but the premise was to offer "thoughts" on the State of Athletics....and these are mine.

Very nice win for the women and coaches. These past three matches have seemed to see a change in philosophy of play, with tons of shots and shots on goal, and some gutsy play, like they're playing to win rather than playing to not lose. Hopefully a learning experience for the staff and the team. Way to go Zips!

At least it wasn't an attempted on-sides kick to open the game that led to a TD! 🤣

In their loss to Ball State, they had solid statistics as well, they outshot BSU by a gazillion, which tells me they've at least changed their game strategy and are playing very aggressively on offense, which is great. It had to be a heartbreaker to give up the late gal last Thursday after they played so hard, at least it appeared on the livestream that they were the aggressors.

AMEN!!! So tired of the "local talent" BS spewed here all the time. Take the time like @GP1 did and look at all the rosters for MAC teams, BIG10 teams, Cincy, WVU, Marshall, Dayton, and tell me where our local talent is represented. Through in Pitt too. I did this for the Women's soccer thread, albeit smaller rosters, and you need to face the fact that the "local talent" myth that @dre22era believes in, including hiring the Hoban coach is a fantasy.

I remember going there a few years ago, 2019 maybe?, and how bad it was...

I kinda got talked into getting on Instagram to see things about my out-of-state grandkids, and I happened to "follow" the FB team there. I get inundated by pictures of all the FB players the days leading up to a game, and they're all "tough guy" poses, and "in-your-face" looks. If they spent more time working on basics, rather than posing for their Instagram account, they might be better off. Nothing like a 1-5 team who loses to the likes of NIU, Buff and CMU posing as FB players then losing again that week. IMHO. Of course, then I get the women's soccer posts as well, and they show the women having all sorts of "funnzie" games and smiley faces, and they've won 2 matches all year. How about winning, then post your winning poses.

The 2023 edition of the MAC Champions Swimming and Diving team had their Alumni meet on Homecoming, and they begin competition this weekend with the Zips Classic Friday and Saturday. Just remember these names and numbers please: Emma Moynihan (Miami) - 4:42.47 (2019 500 free); Claudia Lins de Mello (Miami) - 1:45.47 (2019 200 free); Claire Leichty (Toledo) - 16:11.80 (2012 1,650 free) Say their names

Ain't that the truth!

@Zip_ME87 and @fknbuflobo, Gentlemen, if you kindly re-read my post on RPI for the women's team, I never called for the coach to be fired or regime to be changed. Nor once again, did I blame her. I was just simply stating the fact that it is so bad, and I realize that she inherited a bad situation. I just do not see a coach with only DIII experience knowing how to recruit for a DI program at this point, and no one seems to want to help her succeed. One other point I'd like to make. Some during this thread of conversation on women's soccer have suggested that we have such a fertile ground in NE Ohio which to recruit women's soccer from. And yes, we've had our Walshes, our Copleys (recently), our Twinsburgs, but the talent just isn't as deep as we kid ourselves to believing. I looked up every BIG10 and MAC soccer rosters, threw in Cincinnati, Dayton, WVU, Pitt, Marshall, Cleveland State and Youngstown State as well. I looked for women who played HS or lived in NEO, and I defined NEO as Eylria/Lorain to the PA border, and Lake Erie down to New Philadelphia. Here's what I found. And this is only rostered players, not whether they start, get playing time, are stars, etc. MAC - Akron has 9 players, the entire rest of the MAC has 13. BIG10 - 13 teams with 8 total players, 3 of which are at Ohio State Cleveland State has 10, Youngstown State has 5. Cincy, Dayton, Marshall, WVU and Pitt has a total of 1. So, where did the NEO talent go? I highly doubt the numbers are big in the ACC, SEC, Big East. And I'm too lazy to keep looking at rosters. My points are, 1) we may be living in a bubble as to how much talent resides here, and 2) to think that just because our coach may have an NEO connection, that that's where our hopes should lie. I wish her luck and success, I've never called for her to be fired, I've just always thought the hire was a mistake.

So you guys always discuss RPI for the Men's team, I thought I'd look up the RPI for the women's team. The 2-11-0 team, that have lost all 6 matches at First Energy Stadium. RPI - 312, out of 347 schools. One of those wins was against Niagra, whose RPI is 338. Wisconsin-Green Bay is in at 323. Hmmm...where did our AD come to UA from? Pattern? or silly me. I was encouraged after the NIU game, but gutted after watching the WMU match. Maybe we should close down women's soccer and form a women's rowing team, or our team can play FIFA Soccer on the e-Sports team.

And Good Captain, there was one glaring similarity to all 4 TDs and almost every single yard...it was the left side of our defense, every single time, where he gained the yards and TD. Every. Single. Time. Where the heck was the D Coordinating adjusting to that? We called it every time...#1 - right side- TD.

Just a gentle correction @TennZip, Nano's PK wasn't missed, it was saved by their keeper. It actually was hit pretty well, low and right, but the keeper guessed or read it right. But it was a missed opportunity indeed.

The guy they got was evidently in the kiddie pool, FWIW! There are HUNDREDS of unemployed marketing managers from the private sector, and if you don't think they could step in and run this program efficiently and spectacularly successfully, you've got institutional bias way beyond compare.

I wouldn't say "Hold on". They dominated the entire match and were never threatened, that's not "holding on".

You are so right. But you'll get shouted down by the old-guard that will stick up for the new regime. It's no secret that Mr. Guthrie got rid of Pritt Entertainment Group last year, thinking he and his new cohorts had the expertise to put on a quality, or even competent, DI football game experience. It is he who wants the DJ experience (not Irons, mind you), removing the traditional Marching Band in College Football stadium effect that exists at all the Big schools, and we have a helluva band to boot. Marketing???? So, they hired some wiz from Robert Morris, boy now there's a powerhouse of DI athletics! And has it made a difference? You tell me. We all made fun of Keith whatever-his-name-was when he was on the video board doing give-aways on the field, but God I miss those days now. Where's the kiss-cams, the dance-cams, the juke box games, the give-aways? How many times are we going to see some people standing on the field with Dr. Miller during a time-out and the PA guy not even mentioning what it is for? And don't even start to defend the poor choice made for PA announcers the last two games! It's not even a good high school football game experience. And yes, I'd love to take the family to a winning program, but as an alumn I feel I need to go when I'm in town, and the lack of winning would at least be tolerable if there were some pleasurable distractions. And your comparison to the Rubber Ducks is excelllent. Nice to see someone else feels like I do.

Homecoming....in town to visit family....looking more forward to the noon game at FirstEnergy though, or maybe the alumni swim meet at Ocacek! 😜

Thank you @TennZip for your kind words, I appreciate them and for the suggested route for me to follow to make my feelings known.

That's what my best friend's husband used to do at the Rubber Bowl. Partied Hearty in the lot outside the tunnel from up-top, then when the rest of the boys went in to watch, he drove home....

Back in Akron for the weekend, and loved the Men's game on Friday night, and went to the women's game on Sunday. First off, the women are playing spirited soccer, and have had so many close losses it's gotta be tough. They play gritty defense, just haven't seemed to find an offense yet. I've been super-critical of Women's soccer, I know. But I was impressed by what I saw. It would be easy to fold up the tents for themn, but they haven't. Now my beef...I know and you know I'm a nick-picker, but...I went to the game mainly because it was the program's Pink Day, when they honor breast cancer victims and surviviors, raise money for research, etc. The only reason I knew it was Pink Day is because the PA announcer at the men's game said it was going to be. Being a cancer survivior myself, I have six Zip's pink tee shirts I either donated money for or were given at past Pink Days, and whether you liked Noreen or not, there was always a moment for women from both teams to honor family members who were victims or survivors, a moment of silence for the victims, tee shirt sales and donation opportunities. Women's basketball also does a heckuva job with their Pink games. Today was a Marketing disaster. This has nothing to do with the women's team, but everything to do with whatever Marketing department there is at Akron. The only reason you would know it was Pink Day was the team wore pink stockings. There was no display, no mention of American Cancer Society, no sales or giveaways for breast cancer awareness, and not a peep out of the PA announcer about why the team was wearing pink, or that it was even Pink Day. I asked the two marketing GAs at the entrance, where all the cancer awareness things were, and they looked at me like I was from Mars. They gave scarves to students attending the game, not Pink one's but some give-away to try to lure them out of their dorms. Whoever the head of Marketing overall or the head of marketing for women's soccer should apologize and or be reprimanded by Mr. Guthrie for this egregious oversight. Don't do us any favors, and stop having Pink games if you're not going to recognize their importance.

The commercial is for Zip's Cafe in Cincy. It features Sam Hubbard of the Bengals. In the ad, it doesn't look like Sam is wearing the T you speak of, but the server that's delivering his burger to the table has a "new logo A" on it.... We’re ready for our closeup! Honored to be featured as a Cincinnati staple in @getspectrum newest local ad featuring friend o.url

It IS too big, but it's just another example of poor planning. It was obvious from the start that the new logo was an expensive semi-mistake. I actually do like the new logo, but it wasn't thought through by the powers-to-be what it entailed form a branding standpoint. Have you noticed (and if not, you will) that most of the sports teams are now just using block "AKRON" on their unis and warm-ups? Telling....

Going back to FLA tonight, thinking about FloSports for Tuesday. Anyone had any experience yet, and if so, is it worth the $30/month?

And I'm sure you still want to watch a Dambrot basketball team as well.