MDZip

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.

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".