MDZip

Here is what I think (because I know you were all waiting for my opinion). We got ahead of ourselves. The stadium is very nice but I think anything would look better next to the Rubber bowl. I love the stadium but it could be dressed up a little more like some giant players posters or the flags of the MAC teams like we saw in the drawings but it is no panacea for solving all of the Zips issues. Quite frankly with the awful facilities we had up to this point, it's damn hard to recruit quality kids. So we're playing with the best we could get over the past few years. Do you know that when recruits were brought on campus in the last few years they never got to see the Rubber except from a distance? Now the stadium is a centerpiece. The stadium really only comes into play for helping with recruiting from this point forward. As far as attendance and tailgating go, it's going to take time to get established. The area is hungry for a winner, but give them a good product and they will come. OK, 18K isn't great but considering what we've averaged in attendance over the last few years, it doesn't look so bad. The experience is good for the most part, we just need to get some interest in the community by putting a product out there that generates interest. For any of you that were at the soccer game on Friday, that was phenomonal. You think most of those people would have been there without the #1 ranking? That's what draws interest. I did happen to see Zeke at the basketball tent and talked to his parents (nice family) but I didn't see him limping or I would have asked. Gamechanger are you out there? She did show me a picture that was pretty cool, hope she posts it soon, but I don't want to steal all her thunder. OK, I've been all over the map so I might as well end it with this. How strange will it be that Jacq will be the answer to the question "Who threw the first touchdown pass at Infocision?" in the only game he ever played there.

Very disappointing. Don't know if Jacq would have helped but it seemed our biggest issues was in the passing game. Rodgers has had very little opportunity and to have to shoulder it all today is not all his fault. Hope Jacq feels a lot of the responsibiulity for that. Rodgers did not play well (with 4 INT's) but Indiana outmanned us, and with the poor field position the D was handed it was almost a given to score. Indiana is not a good team, but we sure made it easy on them.

Outstanding game - tons of energy, great to see a big crowd like that (seemed like more than 2448). Zips had a lot of chances to score but just couldn't quite finish (the Indiana goalie also made a number of very good saves). That worries me a little come tournament time, but the defense was outstanding as usual. I happened to be taping while the goal was scored, I'll try to get it up on YouTube. Funny thing was it was not a great shot compared to all of the others before it, but it was the one that counted. We're still #1. Beat St. Louis on Sunday and lets go for the Indiana sweep today. When we win this afternoon do we get to call Indiana our b####?

I've seen that too, I believe the one loss is the 1896 Akron/Buchtel loss. No other MAC team has beaten Ohio State (at least not in the modern era) so I'd suspect that is the single loss.

The most beautiful thing I ever saw was in the film "American Beauty" and it wasn't that stupid wind twirled plastic bag at the end. This is a close second though.

I love this guy - no prisoners.

For those that wanted a program from last week, seems the Zips are printing more (see the bottom of the article above). There are a lot more money stats in it too to include concessions (more money in one week than was made all of last year) and Zips apparel.

Was that Toledo from last year?

Yeah, we've heard of her. Heck of softball player and a fine looking woman. If you guys are using her as a safety, you have probably upgraded the level of talent on your team.Actually I just wanted an excuse to post a picture of her.

Lot 4 drummer who was kicked out of the band in 8th grade for lack of talent. I'm in.

The timing on getting to the tournament combined wityh Zeke's arrival has been perfect. So we get a little notoriety from making the tournament and then people notice we also have an excellent recruit to match up with the most of the players returning from last year. I would just like a mention in one of these articles how smart he is, seeing as how he picked Akron just as much for the academic program.

Zips 3 Hoosier Daddies 0. Ampi, Nagbe and Sarkodie on a penalty kick.

Since I have been wrong so frequently lately, I'm going to go with Indiana 28 Zips 24.

Why don't we just do it anyhow?Yeah we could sneak in while Coach Martin is off doing the same thing at NCAA headquarters.

I am glad he didn't go to the hospital last week, would have been a real shame for him to miss the opening game. Get back on your feet soon Gary.

I think it's funny how low key Coach Porter is, he just casually mentions how they happen to be the #1 team in the country! I'll be there for both - I'm fired up! A double Indiana beatdown!

Here's one - a little discussion on the Zips.http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=170&f=2350This is another a little bit on the Zips part of the way downhttp://indiana.rivals.com/forum.asp?sid=942&fid=725

I actually like this years schedule best (which is akin to your schedule #1). One payday game where we make some cash and at least have the opportunity to get some national attention with a big upset, one "we pay" game where we bring in someone to get a guaranteed six home games and then two against either lower tier BCS teams or upper tier of the other conferences, one home and one away.

I wondered if they would use it for that - that's great. Some of my fonder memories had to do with intramural football at the Rubber Bowl.

Yep, see this threadhttp://zipsnation.org/forums//index.php?sh...2&hl=Howard

Akron victories Yeah, I meant victories over Indiana but I can see how that could be taken the other way. Please gods of college sporting victories take no offense.!

Overall, met every expectation that I had. We were in lot 4 (they really should let the parking attendants know what the lot numbers are since some didn't know what lot they were attending, but very minor really) between Phi Tau and Delta Gamma and started tailgating around 11:15. I expected to see a few more tailgaters around that area but it still had the feel of a nice big-time program. The Zips Fest was well done but if anything it did seem that the demand was underplanned. I bought a few Zips shirts at a little Kiosk by Memorial and then went back and told my brother-in-law and by the time he got back there they were sold out (programs did disappear early - for crying out loud it was the opening game - didn't they think a few people might want them?). For all the gnashing of teeth about the huge traffic problems we could have had, we were in and out in minutes. Did anyone have any traffic issues?But any complaints were minor, being on campus and having a big-time feel about it was awesome. I thought it was great that some of the other sports had tents to celebrate, saw Zeke and a lot a the team beforehand, but the best thing of all was there was Zips gear everywhere. If they didn't have it, they bought it, very few other colleges represented other than Akron. I didn't even mind the lines going in that gives the feel of big-time football as well (ask me how long it took me to get into Penn State). It just seemed long because I was so eager to get inside. Giveways and atmosphere outside was outstanding (loved seeing all of the Greek houses having something going), pregame with the skydivers was great, and it was electric when the Zips entered. Loved the noise. We were down close (7 rows up and while I was a little worried when we bought the season tickets, turned out that was a great sight line and it's fun being that close. I would have even caught one of the mini footballs (I watched for the cheerleader with the weakest arm ), and would have had it if the guy in front of me didn't jump and get a finger on it. :)I know a lot of people were disappointed that we didn't open with a "name" opponent, but it seems to me that this was perfect. had a chance to work ou the kinks and having a pretty good chance of an opening week win which hopefully bring folks back next week. The seats were a little crowded (but I'd prefer that over there being no one there), the student hill was awesome (I wanted to go sit there too , and I loved that the Zips team shop was crowded with lines. A first class experience, I will be back next Friday for two Indiana victories!

I think the Paulus rental is somewhat bizarre and I'd love to see Penn State hammer them. Makes us look a little better and gives us more hope that we can take them out again this year. Penn State 41-7.

I'm glad that uakronkid is gone as well. That new Zach the Zip guy seems pretty good, though. I can't believe how much he has posted being on here just a short time.A little over 16 hours to go!BTW that's a very cool new avatar, MDZip! It's so ominous. It would be fun to put the alternating C D' "Jaws" music to go with it :thumb:Hmmmmm woudn't it be cool if you could get your avatar up on the big Info scoreboard and have the band play the "Jaws" thing? We could save it for times when we're in the Red Zone.Have to admit I found the basis for it on another page but I had to tear it apart and redo it in order to make it work as an avatar on this site. Don't know who gets the original credit for it but I thought it was pretty cool. Not much is truly original on the net anymore. As a side note, a woman I work with is a Morgan State alum. I better have bragging rights after I get back. 15 hours until game time, hitting the road in three! Go Zips!Are we playing at 2am? Thought it was 2pm. Dang, I'm getting so excited I'm way ahead of myself. Maybe I'll just chalk it up to an "any one, any place, any time" theme.

I'm glad that uakronkid is gone as well. That new Zach the Zip guy seems pretty good, though. I can't believe how much he has posted being on here just a short time.A little over 16 hours to go!BTW that's a very cool new avatar, MDZip! It's so ominous. It would be fun to put the alternating C D' "Jaws" music to go with it :thumb:Hmmmmm woudn't it be cool if you could get your avatar up on the big Info scoreboard and have the band play the "Jaws" thing? We could save it for times when we're in the Red Zone.Have to admit I found the basis for it on another page but I had to tear it apart and redo it in order to make it work as an avatar on this site. Don't know who gets the original credit for it but I thought it was pretty cool. Not much is truly original on the net anymore. As a side note, a woman I work with is a Morgan State alum. I better have bragging rights after I get back. 15 hours until game time, hitting the road in three! Go Zips!