MDZip

With the large number of home games that we have scheduled this year I hope someone had the foresight to schedule enough matches on a local field (say, St. V again) so that if we do get into a bad weather situation again this fall and the Lee Jackson field is deemed unplayable again (highly possible since the field itself has not been updated) that we will have an alternate place to play a game (at least that is how I fuzzily remember the NCAA rule).

Hey, who picked last year's game? Ball St and Buffalo each have a vote. I see the East race as wide open, there is absoultely no favorite (no preseason poll I've seen has the East Champ at better than 5-3 in conference and I think Phil Steele had a five way tie at 4-4 (maybe he saw the basketball standings and figured football worked the same way?) Anyway, the Zips have just as good a chance this year as anyone, I think they have been underrated so far. In the west, I think WMU has the most complete team and Hiller is pretty much LeFevour's equal and the game is at WMU. So it's Akron and WMU and we know what happens when Akron gets into a MACC against a more highly regarded opponent (historically this tracks at 100% ).

We're #4 in the National Collegiate Soccer Coaches Association PollAnd College Soccer News has us at #6

Hey Webmaster, I applaud your effort, but are you sure youy are looking to include Infocision Filed? It appears that most of your stadiums are concerned with soccer from our perspective (even the one NFL field you list is listed as playing soccer). Our stadium is unlikely to ever be used for soccer and our true soccer stadium is too small for what you listed that you are looking for. If you are looking to create an American football stadium section, there will be plenty of pictures on this site that could be used, but if we caught your attention because of our fine soccer team, welll we're pleased about that as well. Good luck on your project.

I've been excited about Zips soccer for a number of years. Even though I will probably only get to see one game this year (Indiana on the Friday night before the football), I ordered season tickets (at $50 that's a great bargain) just to help support the program a little more. Any time you have that level of talent and commitment on any level (and soccer may not be the marquee sport in college but its still well ahead of most other sports - and I would argue trailing only football and men's basketball on the UA campus) you want to help show support for the incredible job they're doing. If you can't do it by attendance, buy a season ticket (they're cheap and you get a scarf ).

And the test they are running on the scoreboard is pretty interesting.

So perhaps this reporter isn't exactly on top of Zip football. It's a nice story of reward for effort nonetheless. Do you think it's possible Tyler or someone else accidentally mentioned a scheme change to this guy but the details got screwed up somehow?Sadly, instead of that, I think he just has some fact issue problems ..."Junior Mike Thomas, a Hartley graduate who spent time last year at strong safety when he was the second-leading tackler (81), has moved to linebacker......Akron lost two of its first three last year, including a 17-15 loss to Big East champion Cincinnati on Sept. 27."Thomas never played safety and Cincinnati was the 5th game last year - though it is correct we lost two of our first three so he's got that going for him.

And surpisingly they even mentioned that he was a draft pick from Akron last year.

So it's meaningless but it's still fun to see us there. Nice work.

Almost to both UNC and Louisville - and only 7 from the top 40. If only we'd have started sooner.

Not that it really means anything now but votes are still being accepted despite the cut line (and the total is going up very slowly so not many people are voting). Would still be entertaining if we could sneak into the top 40, but regardless still a very impressive showing. Nicely done those of you who were primarily responsible. We may not be the biggest fan group but we're passionate.

Great tip! Thanks!!Ahhh the advantage of having a school name that starts at the beginning of the alphabet I got even lazier - I lined up Forde's vote with Akrons check box, then after the vote is over I use Alt-f, Alt-x to get rid of the voting window so now I don't even use the mouse (and I made the IE window very thin so its not obvious what I'm doing if someone come in). I'm averaging about one vote very 10 seconds. Glad I wasn't real busy today and that my Akron Compter Science education is really paying off.

This works pretty well - on IE go to tools, Internet Options, select the Privacy tab and set it to High. Then set your screen size so that when you click on vote in Forde's story, Akron will appear on the csreen. Click Akron hit return (since the submit button is the default) kill the winodw and click vote again on Forde's story. Still wish I had the time to write a bot for it though.

Now you guys have me playing too. Someone's count is off we are currently at 67.

I was wondering if that was going to be how we started to connect with recruits from the Southwest. I was worried it was going to be the "grassy knoll". Thank goodness Dennis Kennedy is no longer with the team.

The NCAA has a right to define how intercollegiate athletics are structured since they are the governing body (right or wrong). So they decide exactly what FBS, FCS, etc. need to have as standards to participate in those divisions (and remove those they do not deem worthy). In the same breath, they claim to have the best interest of the student-athlete in mind and yet don't have the balls to say that either it really is only about money and cut off all of the schools that don't make it money or actually make it about the students and have it be like EVERY OTHER sport in the NCAA including FCS football and down. What is so damn special about FBS football that it has to be this way? It's the money, admit it or give everyone the shot they deserve as member institutions at that level. It works great for the NCAA basketball tournament, and for those kids who are students (and not athletes) who have no shot at winning the tournament also have a great experience at it. Do those students not count - should they have a "lesser" college experience simply because their school chooses not to spend enormous sums of money on athletics? That is one of the great things about the NCAA tournament. You can play in a "lesser" conference against schools of your caliber and still get a shot and a fun college experience. Plus the seeding works out well too. The FBS needs a 16 team playoff (11 conferences and 5 at large). I don't care if the MAC ends up with seed 15 or 16, they deserve it just as much as anyone else. The claim that it about protecting the athletes from extra games is just BS. So its fine for the football players in FCS but not FBS? Tell me the difference. And what about teams that rise (and fall)? What about USF? A few years ago they were nobody now they have a shot at a National Title. If they had joined a "lesser" conference, they'd have no shot. Why them and not someone else? How about Miami, FL? Pretty much no football history until Schellenberger, who then went to Louisville and resurrected them and now they have a shot. How about FAU in a few years? That's where he is now. It's ridiculous to think about things as they are now as though they will never change (Washington & Jefferson, a tiny DIII school in PA, played in the Rose Bowl in the 20's). That is such an elitist attitude. Akron has a ton going for it, put it in one of the big 6 and let it go for a few years and it would be right there with everybody else (you think kids don't also get sold on who they play? You bet they do - and the old adage about a rising tide lifts all boats applies here). I think the huge payoff that each of the BCS conferences get might help some too.I read Pat Forde's story and I think he is only half serious, there are some lines where it appears he even thinks it wouldn't be the right thing to do but it's something to talk about. It's just not the right thing.

The beautiful female cheerleaders will remain in our section for our enjoyment - most of the male cheerleaders will be playing in the game (actually we did have one last year who really should have been playing) so as not to injure our players, but we can have them stand a$$ backwards if that helps your guys!

The Zips are planning on using a 2-2-4, using only freshman to save the better players for the tougher games later in the year and also giving Penn State our offensive playbook (marked with which plays we're using and when we'll be using them) in order to even out the playing field and give the Nittany Lions (Latin Translation: Single Mountain Cat - loosely translated: Scared Pussy) - a chance!

Is it in the woods? What is it doing?

We've played you before and not one clip of Akron vs. PSU? Sure its easy to make you look good against all of those other easy teams you play, couldn't you even find one good play against us? OK, so it seemed more like a season promotional video than an Akron one.

Glad he's fast because at 6'2" and 157 lbs he isn't going to be running over a lot of people.

Jake, A little "advice" (it's spelled with a c, advise is a verb) for you. You've been on this board for a whole month, you've posted pretty much on one topic and attacked pretty much anybody who disagreed with you. I really couldn't care less where they build a new arena as long as it meets the University's needs, but it is fun to debate. I will admit, however, going for the cheap laugh at your expense because you have presented a "villain" persona - maybe you want it that way? There are people who have been on this board for years. They generally have civil discussions even when they disagree (and at some point they simply agree to disagree), occasionallly it gets ugly. You seem to attract that on many of your posts. Some good natured ribbing (like saying GP1 has not had a humble opinion - I'll bet he gets that reference and maybe even was mildly amused by it, as he occasionally will post as the "great" GP1) happens too. People need to not take themsleves or what we discuss too seriously, after all it's a fan board that truly affects very little about our lives. You might want to lighten up.Good day sir!

Here's our question from the list - Akron Will InfoCision Stadium change the average college football fan's opinion about the Zips?In the local community, and in the recruiting world, Akron's new stadium is going to pay major dividends. However, to change Akron's perspective on a national level, the Zips will need to start winning more on the field.Spot on - don't think anyone would argue with that. My question would have been "Will the Zips defense finally take a step forward and help the offense?"

I'm not going to worry to much about the lights or back of the the scoreboard or any other little details that probably could have been done a little better. The place looks awesome! Bring on Sep. 12th!

C'mon GP1, when have you ever had a humble opinion? And Jake, for gosh sakes is your last name Off or are you like the son of a trustee with land to unload? We got it, you're for an on-campus arena and feel that anything else would be a huge mistake. Others see it differently. Move on.