Zipsrifle

Oh, then it must be accurate..... I don't have the slightest clue of how far behind they are, but I'm sure they will be working their hardest to get the job done on time. Now, does anyone have any idea if the budget increases if they are working overtime? I would think it would, but I'm not sure how this stuff goes with construction. Also, as a worker in this economy, would you rather get paid overtime now, or would you rather have a steady job for an additonal couple of weeks?

We can't compete in the MAC and you want this program to be the doormat for the CUSA? Marshall dominated the MAC and went to the CUSA and have gone 4-8, 3-9, 5-7, and 4-7. What do you think is going to happen to Akron?People need to realize what Akron is, people are out here thinking we can compete with Penn St and the Big Ten and we should be in CUSA.....we need to compete in the MAC before we think about competing with good programs.And you need to realize that we do compete in the MAC. We were 8 points away from being 8-4 this year. We nearly beat the Big East Champions, we made Syracuse look like rightfully like the bottom of FBS. If you keep thinking small time and letting the fact that a couple things don't go your way in a given year, you are always going to be small time. Futility is not a team that has been D-1 for all of 20 years and has recently garnered enough respect to be able to recruit talent get 10's of millions of dollars in donations to fund facility improvements and been to a bowl game in the last 4 years. No futility is being a D-1 football program for the entirity of existance and having your most notable season being in 1972.Marshall was failing as they left the MAC and hell UCF went 0-12 they just won a C-USA tile last year or the year before. So the "can't compete" argument is pretty useless. Cincinnati won a C-USA title once (2002) and they just went to the Orange Bowl.How do we compete in the MAC? How many winning seasons has this program had? How many bowl games? How many MAC titles?We most certainly do not compete in the MAC. Cinci had the perfect storm of a season, they have never shown that can consistently be a winner. Neither has UCF.Why do people want to be bottom dwellers and hope for a perfect storm of a season every now and then in the CUSA? That's not even a great conference to begin with.This program needs to focus on what it can do to recruit the kind of players to be sitting at the top of the MAC year in and year out. Right now, this program hasn't recruited the players needed to have consecutive winning seasons...We beat a horrible Syracuse team and we lost to an ok Cinci team and we want to make jumps to a bigger conference? People are guaranteeing a win against a soso Big Ten team that curb stomped us two years ago, we need to come back to earth.Lets just hope we are competitive this year, have a winning season, compete for the MAC title and hopefully get a bowl game before we worry about being doormates for a below avg conference when we can't even compete in a bad football conference.It's called vision. Many in Akron are not used to it, but it is nonetheless there and growing stronger every year. Of course we need to dominate the MAC. Come on, everyone agrees to that. But what comes afterward? No MAC team travels well with fans. Marshall did as you could expect 6-8K every game. We needto be that type of program. Once there we will need a bigger stage. CUSA seems the most feasible to me, but conferences are changing and we must be in position to take advantage of positive growth when it is offered. Continued membership in the MAC will always limit a program's potential. If we can outgrow it I say embrace it.Until we are ready for the leap we must do all to get our house in order. That means build a fan base, bring fans to away games, create high performance expectations i.e. tradition of winning, build facilities and be a program the public wants to see (especially TV). If we do that new conferences will seek us out. As KD tells his team every year "Think big" and prepare then to make it happen. We should have a strategic plan that covers 5, 10 and 15 year goals. One of those goals should be improving conference affiliation. I didn't feel Cinci traveled that well this year. Better than a MAC school, yes, but not what I would expect from a BE School. I think the "Travel" factor is partially dictated by those who don't really travel. Lets face it, there are TONS of Michigan fans out there and when Michigan plays Northwestern, I think all the Michigan fans in Chicago show up. How would Akron achieve this?? Well, I agree it would be difficult in the MAC, and probably in CUSA. I think we'd really have to make some noise for a few years before this would kick in. I don't see that happening for a while to be honest.

How did you come up with 45? Is that 9 weeks or 6 weeks? 45 days seems like a LOT of time to be behind schedule.Question 1: How did you come up with 45? Simple extrapolation based on how far they were behind schedule at the topping off ceremony.Question 2: Is that 9 weeks or 6 weeks?Neither, 45 days is actually 7 weeks and three days (you aren't an education major are you?).No, I'm an Engineer...If you are considering a 5 day work week.....9*5 = 45If you are considering a 7 day work week....7*6 = 42...I didn't feel it was necessary to split hairs about the additional three days.I wasn't trying to be a prick, I was just trying to understand how you got 45 and extrapolation from the topping off is perfectly logical. Also, I was curious about how you would apply this number as we go forward. 45 days is a long time and I would think there is no way they would get the project done in time for a new opening day of Sept. 12th.

How did you come up with 45? Is that 9 weeks or 6 weeks? 45 days seems like a LOT of time to be behind schedule.

I also remember Channel 3's report explaining that the new stadium was part of a central-campus sports complex. However, when UA gave the stadium announcement I remember the Don being outspoken about how unhappy he was that the Info wasn't located closer to downtown (even though it's only about a quarter-mile away ) Afterward, apparently, Proenza & the Don got together and decided that if the U was ever to build an arena, then the city could have input into where it is located. I don't think the agreement by Don & Proenza was really a big surprise to anyone because, at least on ZipsNation, the general understanding was that, if there was an arena to be built, then the city and the university would work together on the project and that it would be located on Main Street across from Canal Park. That design would give us Canal Park and the LBJ Arena together on Main Street and the Info about half-a-mile away on Exchange. Also, the arena would be on the block adjacent-to-the-south of the Polsy Building and adjacent-to-the-west of a UA parking deck. So the location is definitely in the campus footprint.In my mind, LP doesn't answer to anybody in this town. He'll put a new arena where he wants it, regardless of what the Don says.

OK here is where it isn't clear. If you go by what it says "or two all-star basketball contests" and take this literally, then I interpret this to mean if he plays in two events, he loses a year. But, with that said, under the same reasoning, if he played in 3 all-star events, he would be eligible again. I would get a clarification letter from the NCAA if my kid had this issue, which, of course, they never will because I have never heard of an all-star target shooting event.

Because it allows the MAC to get TV time. We aren't getting on TV on Saturday, that's just how it is. Friday, and mid-week games, allow us to get a game or two on ESPN network. That is a big plus for the school. I don't understand why so many people cry about a game behind on the weekday. You have to get up the next morning...ok?...You aren't going to be out there til 1 or 2 am. Im all for whatever gets the school, and this great new stadium, more exposure. Putting every game on Saturday would mean absolutely no national exposure. Which hurts the program.People cry about a weekday game because some people need to travel from a long distance to get to the game. I used to have to travel 4 hours to get to Akron. People have limited amounts of vacation time and are forced to burn it because some prick in Cleveland thinks it's more important for the Zips to be on some side screen at BW3 in St Louis. People also have kids and can't tailgate before the game because the kids who have activities during the week. I know, I know, I should just suck it up and buy season tickets and miss the games so those guys totally hammered in St. Louis can spend 3 seconds looking up at the screen and say "What's a Zip?"That's great that you travel to see the Zips, but I would venture to say that you are in the very small percentile of fans that would have that issue. We are looking for students and the Akron area to fill the stands. Face it, kids want exposure. I could care less about some fan in St Louis wondering what a Zip is, I am concerned when a kid from Florida gets a letter from Akron wondering what the hell kind of joke that is because they never play on TV.OK, so now I live an hour away. My previous points are still valid. And why do I care what some kid in Florida thinks? Seriously, he probably doesn't have ESPNU and if he does, he sure as hell isn't watching it on a Friday night....he's playing football! What about all those other recruits that come for a visit on a weeknight and see an empty stadium? Do you think they are going to be more swayed by the game being on ESPNU or by walking into a shiny, new, packed stadium on a beautiful fall afternoon that is rocking??

You underestimate the power of "new-ness". The first game could have been against the cheerleaders and it would sell out because the stadium is new. It will be "the place to be". Second the Ohio State game won't have any more impact than any other OSU game. The same waiting list of people will get the OSU allotment, Toledo will have their's and then the rest will go to OSU faithful and only 74000 people can fill Cleveland Browns Stadium. Which is about 28000 less than normally go to their games. It's actually less of an Impact than regular home game. The problem with attendance has been apathy. Nobody wants to go and watch a team that may or may not win when the atmoshphere and view is depressing. It makes you feel even worse if you lose. There is a a good buzz going into the season around the potential of the team, you have great buzz coming from The Info. Attendance should be the least of anyone's worries. Now if we are 3-5 going into the last stretch with no chance of getting into the MAC championship game, then yes people will use weather as an excuse and not show up for the Temple and EMU games. But on the other hand if we are 5-3 or 6-2 the place will be packed the entire season.To add one more quick note...I would rather have a 90% chance of a win coming in than Wyoming (who most people in the area could not care less about). Winning brings creates fans. Mount Union plays a bunch of nobodies every year until they get in the playoffs (and still plays only about 2 teams that anyone from the area ever heard of) and they have a following, because they win. Build it and they will come, win and they will stay.Exactly! Cleveland Browns Stadium holds LESS than the 'Shoe, so there will be enough people sitting at home to fill ICS! Here is what I wonder. It is a home game for Toledo is it not? I bet that the OSU season tictet holders and the Toledo Season Ticket Holders all get into that game. Can anyone confirm???

Wow, UofA must be growing. I lived in about 5 different apt. when I was in school. I had no problem finding a good, cheap place to live. I think my rent was $200 a month! $500-$600 could easily buy you a house!

Last I had heard that was where it'd be... which is kinda dumb if you ask me because there are still quite a few surface lots around campus that can host tailgating just fine (namely the surface lot south the Schrank) I plan on being South of Schrank. First of all, there is a fenced in grass area there that the kids can play in and NOT get run over by cars.....I just hope they have it open. Second, it's by the Rifle range, so if they have a match, we can mozy down there and cheer on the team!

There are reasons why Akron had 5 (4) home games and schools like OSU have 7 (8) home games. This is the reason why.

They are supposed to have a day or two sometime in May where fans can "pick-a-seat".My understanding is that they will have "Priority" this year which is probably based on several things. I think one of them is how long you've been a season ticket holder, which apparently will work in my favor. When I called to get my tickets the guy sounded very suprised at how long I've had season tickets....I think this season makes it 7 years.

Because it allows the MAC to get TV time. We aren't getting on TV on Saturday, that's just how it is. Friday, and mid-week games, allow us to get a game or two on ESPN network. That is a big plus for the school. I don't understand why so many people cry about a game behind on the weekday. You have to get up the next morning...ok?...You aren't going to be out there til 1 or 2 am. Im all for whatever gets the school, and this great new stadium, more exposure. Putting every game on Saturday would mean absolutely no national exposure. Which hurts the program.People cry about a weekday game because some people need to travel from a long distance to get to the game. I used to have to travel 4 hours to get to Akron. People have limited amounts of vacation time and are forced to burn it because some prick in Cleveland thinks it's more important for the Zips to be on some side screen at BW3 in St Louis. People also have kids and can't tailgate before the game because the kids who have activities during the week. I know, I know, I should just suck it up and buy season tickets and miss the games so those guys totally hammered in St. Louis can spend 3 seconds looking up at the screen and say "What's a Zip?"

Yes, I am the first call us out for losing when we seem to find a way to come from ahead and find a way to lose. And yes I pointed out that it took several miracles to beat Toledo and therefore we could have lost. The point I was attempting to make (and did a poor job) was that I am just not a firm believer in the 2004-2009 "trend" that was posted earlier.Sure, steps have been taken to win the MAC championship in 2009. But when the 2007 and 2009 titles basically come down to one or two plays, I'm not buying in on a trend. If we win in 2007 and lose in 2009, where is the trend? As for the significance of the Toledo game? It was huge. Freshman and sophmores, making big plays and hitting big shots while getting invaluable experience. We finally proved that we can break through and win a big game. How will this impact 2009-10? Not real sure, but with everyone except Nate returning, I hope it pays dividends. As others have posted, the schedule needs to be upgraded and the team needs to come back with the understanding that the MACC will have to be earned again. Winning a championship in 2009 doesn't guarantee one in 2010.Very good points. I believe in the trend if for no other fact that given the experience of our team this year, we did pretty darn good! We can't take the MACC for granted, but I hope these guys come out with the mentality that they are the MAC Champs, they will be the MAC Champs again and they are working for bigger and better things.

Just keep winning is it. I was thinking the other day about how KD is going about this thing. I really have to say I'm very, very impressed with how he's building this program. There were many times I thought he should do things differently, but there is a reason why I'm not a D-IA BB coach (mainly because I don't know squat about BB). I also think that KD is in Akron for the long haul. I think it would take an offer from a pretty big school to get him out of Akron. No TCU for him! I'm really excited about the BB program right now....he's doing a great job!

That would be Can't State in 2008....MAC BB Champs and about 50% of their degree programs.

Good idea, and I'll be on campus....but don't think I can swing the tailgating thing. We're planning on throwing some cash at the OBC as they've been supporting the Zips and we haven't been to Akron since the last game at the RB.

Please tell me it is the D that is kicking the $#!+ out of these guys and that they will continue to do this when the season rolls around!

Dude, you can join me in the family section. That is a hell of a good deal and if it was like last year, they don't differentiate between a "Child" ticket and an "Adult" ticket so when you leave the kids at home, you can bring a couple of your buddies. I've got it all figured out. The "Family" section is in the upper deck which is a stupid idea, I see my kids falling over the side and as you know, the kids are going to be chasing Zippy around the stadium. Anyway, we rig up some type of jungle gym about 15 rows up, all the guys sit in the front rows, drink beer and cuss at the refs. The Moms sit behind us and make sure the kids don't learn any phrases they aren't supposed to know.

I'm pretty pissed about this actually. I mean, we've talked on here about doing things in such a manner that we act "Big Time". Though this is the way most "Big Time" programs start the season, with a cup cake game, this is a complete waste of a once in a lifetime event for a Zips fan. F the "dry run" and the "First Game at our new diggs" crap. We finally got a Big Ten school to play at our house AND it was the first game in our new stadium. BIG game on top of BIG story here and you get BIGTIME excitement for everyone in Akron on Sept. 19th. That is what people are going to be talking about for years! Now we go and blow it with by scheduling a school that I didn't even know existed!?!?! What a load of crap! I saw the game on Sept. 19 as the point where stopped acting like some rag tag group of bumbling idiots and started acting like we know what we're doing. I guess we're just a rag tag group of bumbling idiots with a lot of debt and a shiny new stadium!

I just wanted to inform everyone what "Official" tailgating means:1) You must register with the UAPD prior to your first tailgating event of the season to get a tailgating permit.2) You must purchase a season parking permit for $575 dollars from the athletic dept.3) Upon entering the parking lot, and showing your pass, the UAPD will search your vehicle to confirm that you have a maximum of 24 cans of beer and no liquor.4) You must show up at least 4 hours prior to kickoff.5) You must have a tailgate on a truck.6) Your license plate must have something Zips related written on it.7) You vehicle must have a horn that plays the Zips fight song8) The beer MUST be Old Milwalkee Light or Schlitz9) You will be required to have a Zips flag at least 40 ft high.10) You must put some stupid necklace made of small tires around your neck.That's it! Now, how many people did I have going on this one???

You are obviously not married. Maybe he's trying to get out of the house????

There should be one!!! Unless the university thinks that it would be out of control being so close to May Day. Even though it would be cool to see burning couches in front of the JAR like they used to do on Katherine Place Could be dangerous. I remember people trying to flip a bus on Exchange street one year. Don't want that to happen to the team bus :blink:

Portland must be similar to Michigan.....drive in the fast lane no matter what speed you are going. I've literally driven by myself in the right lane for an entire mile, passing 100+ cars before. On the Prius, I have a humorous story there. I saw a gigantic mobile home pulling out of Wal-Mart the other day. You know, the kind that maybe gets 7 mpg on diesel. Yep, and it was towing a trailer that had a Prius loaded onto the back. Hey, look at me, I'm saving the earth!!!! Back to the Zips. I admire how you stuck to your promise. I'm just too damn cheap. I too turned the Toledo game off with about 5 minutes left. Hopefully next year we will get our regional games somewhere within driving distance.

Who cares! Sign a contract or something! It's not like we won't be loaded for the next two seasons. Very glad to see CSU win last night. I think there is pretty good BB being played in NE Ohio right now and this will get a good shouting war going between Akron and CSU.