MDZip

Even though my brother-in-law and I both live out of state we are seriously thinking of buying Zips season tickets for next year. So I went on the web site and there is a giant ad on GoZips.com to buy season tickets. When you click on it ANYWHERE it takes you to a broken ticketmaster link. I tried briefly to find them there but could not after a few minutes of searching so I went back on GoZips and finally found another way to look for season tickets. When I tried to see where the tickets were, it gave me a section number but no idea on where the section was other than a vague "color" map. They could have been anywhere in that color map. That was on a crappy small map (that you could just barely see the sections let alone section details) that said to click on it to see a larger map. I assumed that might show the sections/row in more detail but no, it was just a slightly larger version of the same crappy map. And even though its not relevant, there is a link to show the same bad map through the name "Inficision Stadium". We use a site where they can't even spell our name right? I also tried to call a few weeks ago instead of doing it this way and simply got a recording. No one has called me back, so I figured I'd try it via the web.If fans like me who actually give a damn about the program get this frustrated trying to get tickets how in the world is the "average" fan going to feel about this ticket buying experience? Do we always have to do things second rate?

We on this board are not permitted to get involved directly in recruiting, but the easiest thing to do if any of these young men are interested in the University of Akron is have them go to the Zips official web site (www.gozips.com) and fill out the student-athlete questionnaire. They can find it at:http://www.gozips.com//quest/Questionaire....DB_OEM_ID=10800

Even though I lost complete interest in the NCAA soccer tournament after our royal screw-over, I did just go back to see who won. Seems Maryland beat UNC, blah, blah blah, but ESPN had their post-season awards and had this to say about Steve Zakuani.Best Player: Steve Zakuani, AkronAfter leading the nation in scoring with 20 goals and seven helpers, Zakuani is the clear frontrunner for the Hermann Trophy. The other finalists are quality Wake Forest seniors Marcus Tracy and Sam Cronin, but if Zakuani doesn't win in a landslide it would be a travesty. If he does, the 6-foot forward from Zaire (via London) would become just the third sophomore to earn college soccer's highest individual honor, which the Missouri Athletic Club will award in St. Louis on Jan. 9.Like Gonzalez, Zakuani is also a solid pro prospect. His seven game-winners this year suggest he has a knack for netting important goals, and he already has a more impressive pedigree than most scholastic stars: He trained in Arsenal's youth system until he was 15 and his older brother has played professionally in England since 2002.It would take a tiny bit of the sting out of the year if he won the Hermann. I'm still ticked though.

You did a nice job and by the way if you haven't fixed it already, Akron is part of the Mid American Conference not the Mid Atlantic Conference (not even sure there is one of those).

Not sure which is worse - that I didn't see this until it was too late or that you were more aware of an event that was happening 20 miles from me than I was. I thought about just giving a fake scouting report with glowing reports of future Zips but I guess now I'll just have to wait like everyone else - darn it. Was impressed by the Old Bay reference though.

I will add three things - one, I indeed had to use the punch cards for my first two years, and it was awful (we secretly plotted how to knock COBOL programmers decks to the floor) and we had no remote capability so we actually had to show up at the computer center ("you kids have it so easy" - shakes fist ). Two, I've said this on the board that I got my Masters from Johns Hopkins in CS and while a good school, Akron's program blew it away and three) Zeke Marshall, who could have gotten a full scholarship to some other very fine schools, chose Akron for its computer science department - 'nuf said.

How about YOU-EH? (UA)?That's how they pronounce us in Buffalo.

Welcome John! You'll find quite a mix of folks on this board - everyone from current freshman to us oldies (Computer Science - 1984 - yeah, they had computers then ) but the common thread is a love of Zips sports and the University. You will enjoy yourself. Glad you elected to join us.

So the reign of Bain will be mainly for no gain?

Within 8 - 12 minutes to go.

Did you also happen to follow Happy Gilmore around during a Pro-Am tournament? The price is wrong ... b*tch!

Yeah, quite easy to make fun of, but he is a University of Akron graduate - perhaps he actually still cares about the place?

Its possible it could have been a LeBron sort of situation from a few years ago where everyone just stood around waiting for the superstar to make a play but I really can't see that with this player, this team and this coach. Steve gave us two great years so if he's moving on, best of luck to him. Really would be nice for him to pick up the Hermann trophy on his way out, and he should, after all it is handed out by the MAC (OK, that stands for the Missouri Athletic Club, but still ... ). And I just saw UNC got into the final (against Maryland). I hadn't paid any attention to the tournament until now after we got jobbed, but to see UNC in the final when we could well have played them on our home field, it still just sickens me. Thank goodness Coach Porter wil be hanging around in the future, I was really worried about that one too.

The MAC has three bowl tie-ins. A few years ago we had one. I think the MAC rightly does not want to risk those tie-ins (we're already a little tenuous in the GMAC bowl) on a one year undefeated season. If it was a BCS bowl, our partners would understand, that's understood for the non-BCS conferences. But if we start taking away a major draw for our bowl partners on a year they should get it, they might reconsider for all of the other years in which the MAC is less than spectacular. We need to honor those commitments.

While the thread may be dead, there is still some interest for the league as a whole. We have 6 teams bowl eligible, 4 are projected to go. That seems about right. Neither of the 6-6 MAC teams (BGSU and NIU) are projected to go. What it means is that our game against Temple really was pretty meaningless. Buffalo is projected for the International Bowl, which is a great spot for them.

I did get a response to my note to Ms. Keller (I have to give her credit for sending a reply Thanksgiving morning). I responded to her in saying that I certainly understand the safety concern but do not understand why in four days, at least a neutral site could not be found and I do not understand how it is in any way fair to move the game to the opponents site. I do not expect a response back on that one.All of the other things people have cited against the Zips (the NIT snub, being the only team left out of a bowl in 2005) really had very little to do with NCAA decisions. This one does. That's what made me mad enough to write to complain. I wish more people would do so. I was hoping to see the game with my son and nephew while I was back for Thanksgiving. I will concede some blame on UA for the field conditions but I cannot accept the fact that it was moved to an opponents field. That is just wrong. At least her answer does indicate that when the Zips take out NW on their field, there is at least a chance that the next round will be back in Akron (of course as an out of stater I won't likely get to see it).This was Ms. Keller's response:Thank you for your email. The overall safety and experience of all student-athletes participating in the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship is our utmost concern. Appendix G in the men's soccer championship handbook clearly states that if a seeded teams' field becomes unplayable then they will lose the opportunity to host championship competition. Reports from various staff including those from the University of Akron indicated that the field had become unplayable. Therefore the decision was made to move the game to Northwestern University. The goal of all preliminary round competition is that it be played at one of the participating institutions. In light that Ohio State had already arrived in Akron and the game needed to be completed as soon as possible in safe conditions was the main reason that particular game was played at the local high school on an artificial turf field. In the event Akron wins this weekend, a review of its field will be made and only then will a decision be made to determine whether or not Akron will host quarterfinal competition.

I sent the same note from above to both ladies that were listed in Rasor's blog. Same tone, not accusing, but asking for an explanation.I got an out-of-office e-mail from both. Ms. Smith's reponse directed me as follows (Ms. Keller's said she would be out on the 27th and 28th). I will be out of the office the week of November 24 without e-mail access. You may e-mail Nicole Boles (nboles@ncaa.org) with anything that is time sensitive. I will respond to your message Monday, December 2. Thank you and have a Happy Thanksgiving.I have also e-mailed Ms. Boles.Ditto. Keep sending those emails guys, it can't hurt.Aaaaannnndddd .... she's out until December 1st.Thank you for your message. I will be out of the office until Monday, December 1. I will not have access to e-mail during this time. I will respond to your e-mail just as soon as possible.Nicole BolesNCAA Playing Rules Administration

I sent the same note from above to both ladies that were listed in Rasor's blog. Same tone, not accusing, but asking for an explanation.I got an out-of-office e-mail from both. Ms. Smith's reponse directed me as follows (Ms. Keller's said she would be out on the 27th and 28th). I will be out of the office the week of November 24 without e-mail access. You may e-mail Nicole Boles (nboles@ncaa.org) with anything that is time sensitive. I will respond to your message Monday, December 2. Thank you and have a Happy Thanksgiving.I have also e-mailed Ms. Boles.

I sent the same note from above to both ladies that were listed in Rasor's blog. Same tone, not accusing, but asking for an explanation.

I just gave the NCAA my 2 cents...I just did the same - for whatever good it'll do, we at least need to let them know our anger over stealing a hard earned right away from the team. I was not profane not accusatory, but I think all Zips fans are owed an explanation. This is what I said.How is it even remotely fair to have a team get a high NCAA seed in soccer only to have their game moved to an opponents field (not even a neutral field)? I am talking about an apparent decision to move the Akron-Northwestern playoff game to Chicago! I am bringing my family to Ohio over Thanksgiving to support a Zips team that absolutely earned the right to play at home. I understand that if a playing field is unplayable a new venue can be selected. There is no alternative field anywhere other than the opponents home field? Could someone please explain this to the legion of loyal Zips fans as to how this is even remotely a fair situation? What happens if the Zips advance yet again in spite of this extreme disadvantge? Will they yet again go on the road despite being a #5 seed? Explanation, please?

This is semi-related. I was just watching Colts-Chargers and they still do the player intro's where they name their college. When they got to Antonio Gates, he said "Detroit Central High School". Did Can't change its name - maybe as part of the Ohio Higher Education Realignment or was it to conform to the truth in advertising laws?

Here's a difference though. My dad graduated from Ashland, played football there, was named as one of 24 players to their first 50 years of football "dream team" and is inducted in their athletic hall of fame and even he didn't know they lost today. He was vaguely aware that they were playing but didn't pay much attention to it. Huge difference between the level of interest and degree of difficulty between D-I and D-II.

Domenik Hixon had another big day, two huge kickoff returns. Given that he is also a better receiver than Josh Cribbs, if I was looking for a young returner, I'd take Hixon - I don't expect to get a lot of argument on this board.

The real irony of this quote from the OSU site is the fact that is exactly the kind of language you'd see at our site after playing OSU in football like last year. We gave them a tough game. That is the kind of language that is used to give yourself some hope. Kind of cool to see it turned around our way.