MDZip

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.

Its always good to see new members getting involved, but as a new member you may not know that the topic of new traditions has gotten some atention already. This particular thread wandered off course on occassion but it did have some pretty good ideas about possible new traditions - http://zipsnation.org/forums//index.php?sh...t=0&start=0Welcome aboard!

We have a Penn State fan here at work. I showed her the web cams of the new stadium. She seemed quite favorably impressed (it looks so much better with that hillside filled in with grass). I also showed her the Captains Photoshop handiwork on the Penn State scoreboard. She seemed somewhat less impressed with that. Got six tickets and am ready to go for Sep. 5th. I'll be in San Diego the week before and don't even feel bad about wanting that week to be over.

You may want to be more specific.Sorry, thought they were pretty obvious. Look at the top of the lower deck stands, looks like some large white panels being stood up but only part way down the stands. It doesn't look permamant and doesn't exist on the west side stands.

What in the world are these?

Only 39 days, man that doesn't make it sound so far away now, does it?

I think that those of us that attended during all of the Hilltop High years are especially proud of what's going on right now and to have been around to help start some of it.

Stadium cams have something green going down on the hill right now - I can only guess from the cams but it looks like sod. In any case, it's going on now - that should end the debate.

Bombs away!

I ran into a kid who was a boat driver in a underground lake in a cave called The Lost Sea in Nowhere, Tennessee this summer who not only knew that Akron was the Zips but that we were finishing up a new stadium. Also, saw two Zips shirts in Niagara Falls earlier this year. It's coming.

And at least our announcers sounded enthusiastic and educated. The clip where Appalachian St. beat Michigan is also on the site http://www.entertonement.com/clips/mzhvstk...ate-University-where the announcer delivered the classic "The Mountaineers have done beat the Michigan Wolverines". Ah, if only it was the West Virginia Mountaineers.

I don't understand all of the love for Buffalo in these pre-season picks. They won a lot of their games by very close margins last year (Hail Mary against Temple, 4OT against us, 2OT vs. BGSU, OT vs. Army, lost to Can't), including getting an absolute bomb of a performance by Ball St. in the MACC last year, and they lost a very talented 4 year QB with no one proven to back him up this year. I think too many of these publications just look at who won the MACC the previous year and pick them. I think it is going to be a dog fight in the East again with the winner once again going 5-3. I just don't see the luck coming in two straight years (look at all of the luck we had in 2005, it certainly didn't hold the next year either). You really have to be a dominant or lucky team in the absence of a dominant team to win a division. I just don't see that happening for the Bulls again this year.

VanDelay not quite so high on us - we're picked third in their preview and are the only one so far to have gotten a writeup.http://www.vandelaysports.com/football/mac-preview-2009/

That was an all-time Zips classic game. You can still find highlights of it on YouTube too. Andre Jones was the one who returned it (after Alphonso Owen tossed him a lateral).

As much as you hate to see quality players move on, this truly is a sign of just how talented and deep Zips soccer is. Most likely he saw that playing time was going to be reduced this season and opted for the path where he could play. While not a good event, it probably is a very good sign for the soccer team. The Indiana soccer/football double dip on Sep. 18th and 19th should be awesome. Go Caleb and crew!

I appreciate al of the effort that went into writing this, but set to that song? Might as well have just picked Shania Twain's "Feel Like a Woman".

I'm more worried about aliens tracking our recruiting.

Certainly glad to see another good recruit but I can't say I see what maybe some of you see. Both profiles listed that he had interest in BCS type schools but I didn't see any interest the other way. Akron appeared to be his only offer. Did we just get in so fast and good that we beat everyone to it?

Though apparently they renamed the arena after Mack (Rhoads Arena) instead of Rhodes Arena.I also noticed that many of the sponsoring organizations begin with the word "Young". That leaves me out.

If this one turns out anywhere near as well as the first, I'm all for that policy.

If you're in a potential one-bid league and you believe you have the talent to compete you owe it to your team to at least let them take a shot at it. I'm not sure about the down-side, maybe if you lose all your OOC games, perhaps your team loses heart and takes their league shot down with it, but hopefully you're a good enough coach to overcome that (or maybe your team really isn't good enough). But the upside and notoriety (and possible confidence boost) of knocking off even one of the big boys might be worth it. As an example, look at Coppin State's, a tiny MEAC school (which is definitely a one bid league), OOC schedule from last year:at No. 10 Purdue L 66-46 1-1 at No. 23 Kansas L 85-53 1-2 at Richmond L 78-67 1-3 at Dayton L 73-56 1-6 at Wisconsin L 57-46 1-7 at No. 14 Syracuse L 82-71 1-8 vs. Colorado* L 80-63 1-9 vs. Pepperdine* L 58-56 1-10 vs. George Washington* W 59-53 2-10 at No. 4 Oklahoma L 93-62 2-11 at Missouri L 88-55 2-12 I took out a few of their lesser opponents and they lost every one of these games but one, but you know what? When it came to the conference race they were right in the thick of it (and you may remember them as one of the 15 seeds that knocked out a #2 - Iowa State - several years ago). They didn't win it this year but they are always competitive in conference and they schedule this way every year. They truly are an anyone, anywhere type of a team. Now I am not suggesting that the Zips adopt this particular model or schedule but a few more high profile teams wouldn't be a bad thing (even if we have to go there). I trust Keith and his philosophies on scheduling but I also think we might have an at-large shot over the next few years but not without a challenging schedule. Even with the MAC bringing down the SOS you can get an at-large with the right OOC schedule (and wins). Ask Butler, the Horizon isn't much different than the MAC and the more notoriety Butler gets, the more better players get interested and enroll. I thin Akron has a golden opportunity to build on last year here. I'd hate to see it go to waste.