scottditzen

Any tradition that brings you in proximity with the Zips Cheerleaders is a good thing. Now throw in Miami's Dance Team for an added bonus while you're at it.

Count me in for Script Zips. Looks very cool.That Illinois State pregrame has me amped up for Sept 12!!!!

Gold jerseys would be a great addition. Classic.Really, the only problem I have with the uniforms is the huge bubble numbers. Tone those puppies down a bit and we're looking good!!!! You're absolutely right it is reality. Sports logos/marks & uniform design is a multi-million dollar business. People get paid very serious coin to think long and hard about these decisions. I hope that our sports marketing department is putting in overtime on this one.

I would recommend a salute to the history of the Akron Marching Band."The University of Akron Marching Band originated between 1900-1910 as an ROTC Band that performed for parades and May Day."Amazing, that's close to a century of tradition!!We should do some research, find out what the original music was all about, and go with that early era stuff. Or, how about some original compositions saluting the Century of Tradition for the Band?

Okay okay, you guys in the Band have been pretty good sports on here. It's great to all be on Zipsnation. Please don't read any ill will into whatever I type. Honestly, I think the Flag Squad needs to do a much better job. They are the "front window" for the Band, and, God love em', they need to show somebetter coordination out there. p.s. for the record, I want to say that I've never called the Bands talent or playing ability into question.

DM please "give up" and become "showy and popular." But seriously, I don't know why you feel that you would have to lower your standards in order to gain support. By becoming "popular" I swear to you that you will not be selling the audience short.

I think it's time to get a petition going that could sway the Board of Trustees. Wow, well said!Btw, did anyone else notice the distinct aroma of charcoal outside the Stile Field House today? It was great! I remember going to Camden Yards in Baltimore and before the game there were all sorts of street-side food vendors set up between the baseball stadium and the right field warehouse. It smelled great. I've been told that Fenway Park in Boston is the same way. Maybe we can get a handful of food vendors to set up shop around the Info - make it almost like a mini-county fair food scene? Ribs, sausage sandwiches, elephant ears, lemonade, gyros, etc. The entire stadium area should smell of a boutique of mouth-watering aromas. When the aroma of polish sausage & charcoal drifts into & fills the Info, all the better! That couldn't help but drive concession sales inside the Info as well. Mmm. People will know that they are at an event!Also, a few guys in my tour group were wondering about alcohol sales. (It was the first question that was asked. Lol.) The answer was that that the board of trustees haven't made up their minds yet.I don't drink. But I think that they should sell beer @ the games. That's just seems to be a big part of the American sports scene experience. And why not? They always make a killing on those $6 beers.

Since this thread is about to be changed to "Criticism of our Band" I'll add my 2 cents worth.I'm a complete traditionalist when it comes to the role of a band. There is no way in hell I want to hear Aerosmith or Foreigner or Neil Diamond. Rock music just simply cannot be done justice by a marching band. So that leads me to....Rule no. 1: Do NOT play any hit song unless it charted prior to 1950.Rule no. 2: Showtunes or worse, sappy mood music MUST be avoided at all costs.Rule no. 3: A marching band MUST be rythmic and energetic. My high school band used to be so good, then an effeminate new director came in and had them neutered. Now they march to the sound of triangles and xylphones- no drums. Now our h.s. football team sucks too. Coincidence? Hardly. Rule no. 4: A band NEEDS to have an identity. For example, Shaw H.S. in Cleveland is high energy, very loose, a little sloppy at times but amazingly fun to watch. They were invited to Bejing for crying out loud. Now at the opposite end, Ohio State sounds formidable, is ultra disciplined but also manages to carry on their tradition in an exciting way. Like their polar opposite Shaw, they have an identity and are beloved.Our Band plays pop/rock music....badly. For whatever reason, we are seldom energetic. We have no identity. We can play "Hey Baby" in the stands during the game and carry on a great, loose fun sound. But then at halftime the kids are forced to stand like statues and play slow mood killing music far too often. My plea is for our band to choose an identity. Be badasses at whatever you want to do. Get an attitude. Be exciting. Be nostalgic. Get some adrenaline going.I'm closer to the program than the freaking Director is so just listen to me....the true, transformation in Akron spirit cannot occur without the inspiration of our Zips Marching Band!!!!!

Loving the idea of a playoff, but I think inserting the MAC champion into a 16 team tournament would cause an uproar. I mean, how often is it that the MAC champ is ranked that high at the end of the season? It's hard to argue that we're deserving.Don't get me wrong, I think the conference champion idea is commendable, especially for us, as it would surely raise the prominence of our conference. But I think you have a better argument for the MAC's inclusion if the tournament has more teams, say 24. Then the "Top 8 that wait" TM could have a first round bye. And the bowls can be placated by1. integration into the tournament and2. have the rest serve, like Xu said, as NIT type games.

I am so thankful that those days of half-assedness are behind us.

I used to work at the Rubber Bowl concessions, and also at the JAR. I got by for two years eating nothing but peanut M&M's, rubber dogs, FunNacho cheese, popcorn and the rare but cherished frozen snickers bar.Don't buy the concession workers story. Take it from me, it's far more likely that one of the student employees simply stole all the jalapenos.

Lets get back to the topic of real importance....will Roo Brew be available at this stadium or not??? I agree, no one realizes that if we were 9 weeks, 6 weeks, 32 weeks, whatever, we wouldn't move the home opener up a week...Agreed here. All I know is we'll have Brand new stadium ready for football come 9/12/2009.No more arguing from me on that point.I'm just going to continue to enjoy the outstanding job this contruction crew is doing look forward to the stadium to continue taking shape like it has. On 01/24/2008 you still had dorms, parking lots, houses and businesses on the site.Look at what we have today 03-30-2009.I don't see how anyone couldn't be impressed with that and not be excited about what we'll have come 09/12/09.

Amazing how Seatle has come out in support of the Sounders!!

I distinctly remember meeting a bunch of the Va Tech fans, and they were truly shocked at the condition of the stadium, but even more, the complete lack of turnout for that game. Those Rubber Bowl days are gone now, and it's time to write a new chapter in Akron football. VA Tech was furious at the turnout that game and I can assure everyone they will never come back to Akron.Having games played at the tail end of a hurricane tend to hinder attendance.People seem to forget that Virginia Tech, pre Frank Beamer, was atrocious. The Zips/Hokies series was a 3-for-1 set up pre-Beamer, when 4-7 was considered a banner season for Tech.It was a classy gesture for Beamer to honor our contract, but no way in hell would they do it again.

I think having the best soccer team in America will bring us a little noteriaty, don't ya think? I am sorry....I know the soccer team is good, but how many people in the community really care? It is a sport nobody cares about. The soccer program does not bring in money for the university. Why on earth would we sacrifice our basketball programs future for the soccer team? That is just silly in my opinion. We need to focus all the universities efforts on football and basketball. If those sports are successful the others will fall in line.

Right now I believe an arena in the 10k range, located downtown, would be the most beneficial. It's only a matter of time before downtown makes a complete transformation, and this is a great example of how UA can keep on being an integral part of downtown. My only concern is that the place be designed to be as intimate as possible for games. We have to avoid any possibility of being stuck with a bland, cavernous arena at all costs (see CSU Convo Center). Also, when in use for larger events, make surethat everyone knows they are setting foot inside the home of University of Akron Basketball. As for the JAR, 1. it's photogenic on tv and 2. we win games thereBut there is absolutely no buzz about the facility. None. I'm as excited as seeing the team play there as I would be to see them atMemorial Hall or Central Hower, and that's not right. Where the team plays should be a source of pride and inspiration. And the JAR just isn't that place.It's so sterile and has the worst, "small time" feel about it. A facility downtown would have bars and restaurants close by, perhaps even integrated in the arena if done the right way. The new student housing on Main and Exchange is testament that new and exciting things are in store for the city center. Keep the JAR for intramurals, build downtown, and start a new era for Akron Basketball.

The more I think about it, the more I think kicking off the schedule with Morgan State is ingenius.Think of it, thing of the atmosphere...so many students getting their very first impression of Akron football on a game where we really should win big. Indiana isn't going anywhere, they'll get their shot at us and it will be a great time. But getting started with a win builds momentum, and is the smart way to go.

Oh man, Old Milwaukee.....you're killing me...

In my opinion this is a good scenario. Let the staff and University work out all the kinks re: a brand new stadium vs. Morgan State and be 100 percent ready to roll when big name opponent Indiana comes to town. Plus, that gives us another warm weather game with guaranteed attendance. On the flip side, sure, historically speaking it is much nicer to put Akron-Kentucky or Akron-Indiana on a commerative plate or poster or whatever. But I can't wait to check the webcam and see green turf instead of contractor trucks!!!

Awesome article/clip!!! I took the tailgating comment to mean for the first time "on campus." There mere fact that an emphasis is being made on the whole gameday experience (aka tailgating) makes me feel more optimistic. I don't want any open container violations lol.I hope this is the overwhelming sentiment for the "quiet" masses of sports fans here in neo... Cloverine wrote: The stadium can be seen from quite a distance. When the stadium was first announced, I just gave it a shrug, but even I am starting to feel some good vibes coming from that place.

I would buy some of those awesome jerseys in a heartbeat. Sorry to hear about the news. Hope they can get some sponsorship or revenues to keep going.

"Guarding LeBron James is both a benefit and challenge of being a men's basketball player for the Zips."Amazing article.

It should run through the mind of every recruit, that if you come to Akron with Coach Dambrot, you are just 1 degree of separation from playing X Box in LeBron's living room.

Whoa, at :52 seconds is the JAR at its MOST PHOTOGENIC EVER.

So awesome that you'll be in Portland!!Okay, something to consider, WKNR wasn't forced at gunpoint to sign a contract for the MAC Tourney. They did so for business reasons. So that could mean that A. they thought a lot of people would tune in, or B. that they are trying to grow the audience for this event. Either way, as Zips fans, we win. That's part of my point. WKNR had a contract to air the tournament. Our "coverage" basically consisted of hearing the games and becuase we played in four of them, we had a little extra.I listened to those hacks during their shows and as I said, UA got about 5 minutes of run....And most of that talk was in comparison to CSU... I hope to miss the party as I will be in Portland.