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Comments about Chris Jacq aside, I did find the perfect spot in downtown Cleveland for the Akron billboard. East 9th & Prospect, across from Panini's, Winking Lizard, The Clevelander, etc. Side of a parking garage attached to the Ameritrust building (wish I had a camera while walking yesterday). Perfect spot for the banner!!! Banner= season schedule, ticket information, Chris Jacq, Bowser and Sewell. Better?

IUPUI has made the tournament in the last couple years and has been in their conference championship game a couple times. Niagara has done the same. I believe Howard was in the NCAAs last year or the year prior. Definitely could be a couple quality wins with a nice run.

Excellent idea. Tough sometimes with NFL schedules, but Taylor, Frye, Hixon would be a nice start.I know this is not the place for it, but here goes: there is room for both Akron and Ohio State!!! Think not? I will use Cincinnati (again) as an example. Plenty of Buckeye fans down there who also support UC. It doesn't have to be one or the other. It is one of the great beauties of college athletics..you can like different teams for different reasons. For example, my Dad went to BC and played football there= I am a BC fan (plus the city is great). I grew up an OSU fan, have family that have gone there, etc. and so I remain a fan. I went to Xavier, so I am a Xavier fan. And, since moving back to Cleveland area in 2001, I have grown into a very diligent Akron fan (both of the school, the sports and the city).So, forget about worrying about OSU when marketing Akron. It can be done. I don't want to break out into the "in this economy" crap, but I can go see good high quality Division I football 6 times this year, 1 hour away for the grand total of $175+ gas. That is 4 tickets for each game ($150 family package) and a parking pass ($25). And NO, this is not the only reason I go. But, this can definitely be attractive for others.I already will be bringing an ND grad, a Can't grad and my mother & step-father who usually travel to 1 OSU game per year with us. No OSU game for any of us this year..that alone would cost me $175 for 2 tickets.So bring on the Chris Jacq billboard (he is a Cleveland area kid, and I believe he will have a great season) on Public Square or Playhouse Square or near Progressive/Q!!!

Syracuse, a few years ago, used a big banner of one of their players saying something to the effect of "New York's College Football Team". It was hanging in Times Square. Obviously, that was a rough sell since Syracuse was struggling and, though in NJ, I believe Rutgers is closer.Anywho...how about a big banner of Chris Jacq in Public Square in downtown Cleveland? Better yet, Playhouse Square (most like Times Square, though I'm not really comparing them)!Use the old "Cleveland +" slogan and say, "NE Ohio's College Football Team". Hey, it's a stretch..but it makes things interesting!

<br /><br /><br />I'm pretty sure the Family Section is in the upper north-west corner of the stadium, just under the pressbox tower.Thanks. It seemed that way based on the map and where it shows the luxury boxes. However, the structure in the end zone in the map throws me off. Can never figure out if that is the building for the locker rooms (my guess) or the scoreboard.Thanks again.

Excuse my ignorance= is the Family Section on the same side as the press box or is it on the side facing the press box (and the rest of campus)? I thought I had it figured out at one point, but now I am a bit confused.

http://cfn.scout.com/2/862394.htmlIt must be the fact that we are basically 1/2 way to the beginning of the 2009 season (Jan 5 to May 5= 4 months/May 5 to Sept 5= 4 months) that we are slowly seeing posts that really deal with the season.I am surprised to see Akron not even being considered for the 3 or so bowl tie-ins. Fear the Roo and Get Zipped!!!

before September 5th (the sooner, the better!!!):1. I want to see Kangaroo "paws" lining the streets and walkways to the stadium. Clemson does this with the Tiger paw. I think Massilon might do something similar. This would be unique (the Kangaroo part).2. I want to an e-mail or snail mail announcing the day I can pick my seats. 3. Turf rolling out on Info on the Web Cam.4. An announcement about updated uniforms. There doesn't have to be a drastic change as the Akron brand is building with the A-Roo, Fear the Roo, etc. Simplify like Jacksonville Jaguars just did to improve and grow the brand. I still say that I always love to see the university name on the helmet, especially if you are looking to get your name out there. "Akron" on the helmet, A-Roo on jersey sleeves. UCF did a nice uni change when unveiling their new stadium.5. Road game information. I already have my hotel in State College.6. A glorious scoreboard, rising from the dirt.7. The view from my new seats.8. A game time for Penn State.9. A game time for Morgan State.10. My parking assignment. I saw all the lots on the new site for the stadium. I assume, as a season ticket holder, I will have one of the priority lots.11. Some updated Akron apparel. My head is not so big that I should not be able to get an nice, unstructured A-Roo hat that fits my head (with the bottom touching my ears). It was amazing how short the hats were at the bookstore when I was there a few weeks ago. New jerseys, a nice Akron jacket...Akron on the back, A-Roo on the chest. I am ready to dump some cash at the bookstore or new team shop. C'mon UA, Adidas, etc....step it up!!!12. More information about who is partnering with UA for advertising...Ohio Brewing, Sheraton Cuyahoga Falls, etc.13. A large "A-Roo" spotlight symbol over the university..kind of like the Bat signal!!! (OK, that might be going a bit far).14. My hotel room in State College. This will let me know that the time is near.14 things I want to see...matching the 14 Zips wins I want to see!!!

I am planning on going to the Penn State game, paritally b/c I think it could be something special. Last time I was there was 1984, when a little QB named Douglas Flutie played great in a loss.I am a fan, not a coach, so I will say that, if we repeat the performance of BC that I saw in 1984 (a 38-31 loss that was HIGHLY entertaining), that would be a moral victory. However, I really do think we have a chance based on the WR & OL losses for PSU. My prediction in April is still PSU 34, Akron 24...but that has 4+ months to change!

Does anyone know what they are going to put around the field on the concrete "box" surrounding it. Are they going to just paint it, use blue & gold padding, use pictures, faux brick?The Browns used all kinds of colorful pictures for a while= I hated it. Now they just have brown padding. Looks nice and simple.Also, though I'm sure we will see "Akron" & "Zips" in the endzones, I would love to see the old school diamond pattern in alternating blue & gold.

I want to see us run on the field with a real kangaroo!!!

That conversation was not documented as it occurred on the front steps of the Q, but it was witnessed by at least three other adults, all of whom are posters on this board, myself being among them. So, while not officially documented, I can vouch for Zips Win! that GW said it.So it is not a bad blood thing..it is a fear thing. Well the AD & Waters need to sit down with Dambrot and Rhoades and get this done. It makes too much sense for it not to happen.

I will proudly wear my new Zips jersey(designed by VMD?) and sit on my new Zips chairback cushion (that I will have to lug into the stadium, dammit!).

Does anyone actually have documentation, link, etc. about this "Waters refuses to play Akron" stuff?

If they are smart, they will do what Indiana University did=You can "purchase" one of those chairback seats (similar to what folks bring in) and it will be affixed to your seat for the season. Not sure how this would work for HS games being played there, but it could be another revenue source. I'm sure if they bought a large amount, they could get them for $15 per. Charge fans $30 for the season ($5 per game) and boom...$15 made on every one purchased!!!That must be what they did at UCF... we went to a game there and there were several of those in spots with no people anywhere near them. They were just clamped on to the seat. We thought about using them, but ended up moving over by the band at halftime. I guess that would only work in the reserved sections.They should do what they do at Nebraska. Rent out chair backs by the game. You rent them on the way in. Let them sit when you leave. No need to bolt them to a bench. They pick them up and rent them again next game. Spectators weight keeps them in place.No "bolting" at IU. Just latches. But that way works fine too.

As some know, I am an X grad. Personally, I hope it is Chris Mack or Pat Kelsey (current assistant at WF, Prosser disciple, XU grad, 32 years old, big-time fan of Cincy and all it is about).Kelsey would be my #1 choice, Mack a close 2nd. Both are highly rated assistants. I don't like any of the other names. It is time for X, like Akron, to go with one of their own.Go Musketeers & Zips!!!NOTE: If X can't land Payne and lose the kid from Columbus (name slips my mind), I certainly hope they land at UA!!! I would be even happier with a split= 1 to XU and 1 to UA.

If they are smart, they will do what Indiana University did=You can "purchase" one of those chairback seats (similar to what folks bring in) and it will be affixed to your seat for the season. Not sure how this would work for HS games being played there, but it could be another revenue source. I'm sure if they bought a large amount, they could get them for $15 per. Charge fans $30 for the season ($5 per game) and boom...$15 made on every one purchased!!!

I think that we are throwing away a GOLDEN opportunity if we do not make some adjustments. Logo & uniform design are so important for the brand that is Akron Zips athletics to continue to climb. Winning is obviously #1. But those that underestimate logos, uniforms, etc. just don't get it.If you think it is stupid for a player to want to go to a team because they like the uniforms/logo, it is just as stupid as applications going up for NON-ATHLETES when a team does well in sports (ie. Akron making NCAAs this year). Student-athletes (using the word loosely) have chose to play at places partially because they could get the jersey number they want.It doesn't matter if all this is stupid or not, it is reality.

For the most part, I'd say that your list is pretty probable. The only thing that bothers me enough to mention would be to swap Buffalo with BG. As of now, there is an evident line forming between MAC schools willing to spend on athletics, and those not willing. In any case, I see Akron and Buffalo as two MAC teams who are willing, and should be grouped in the same conference. Not to mention, that gives the CUSA a NY school rather than another Ohio school. The academics at UB are also superior to BG.I'd be totally cool with Buffalo, and yes that would capture a different market. BG is building a new b-ball arena, so I have to give credit where it is due. And they have put some funds into football stadium. However, right now Buffalo is building both b-ball and football programs pretty well.

When BE pairs itself down for various reasons, you could easily see something like this:MAC EastCan't StateBuffaloOhio UniversityTemple (football only)Army (football only)Navy (football only)WestEastern MichiganCentral MichiganWestern MichiganBall StateNorthern IllinoisToledoBIG EASTNorthConnecticutSyracuseMarshallWest VirginiaPittsburghRutgersSouthUCFSouth FloridaSouthern MissCincinnatiLouisvilleMemphisConference USAEastEast CarolinaUABAkronMiamiBowling GreenTulsaWestRiceHoustonUTEPTulane SMUNorth TexasYou could debate a few teams, but the point is that the BE will take teams from CUSA MOST LIKELY, thus leaving them scrambling. CUSA and MAC can reorganize.Akron would play 8 conference games. 5 in the East, 3 in the West.I think we would keep our rivalry with Can't, BG would keep theirs with Toledo and Miami would keep theirs with Ohio.So, we would still play 3 Ohio teams (non-con vs. Can't). And, IMHO, games against Houston, Tulane, SMU and Tulsa would be more interesting than vs. WMU, CMU, EMU and Northern Illinois.This also would open us up to more easily AVOID FCS team most years and play other MAC teams to go along with our 2 BCS conference games. Playing it out, our schedule in, say 2013, could look like this:at MichiganCincinnatiat ArmyTulsaat UABat BGHoustonMiamiat SMUEast Carolinaat TulaneCan't

Ironically, I was going to post something about this on the football site. I will still do that, but here ya go.When BE pairs itself down for various reasons, you could easily see something like this:MAC EastCan't StateBuffaloOhio UniversityTemple (football only)Army (football only)Navy (football only)WestEastern MichiganCentral MichiganWestern MichiganBall StateNorthern IllinoisToledoBIG EASTNorthConnecticutSyracuseMarshallWest VirginiaPittsburghRutgersSouthUCFSouth FloridaSouthern MissCincinnatiLouisvilleMemphisConference USAEastEast CarolinaUABAkronMiamiBowling GreenTulsaWestRiceHoustonUTEPTulane SMUNorth TexasYou could debate a few teams, but the point is that the BE will take teams from CUSA MOST LIKELY, thus leaving them scrambling. CUSA and MAC can reorganize.Akron would play 8 conference games. 5 in the East, 3 in the West.I think we would keep our rivalry with Can't, BG would keep theirs with Toledo and Miami would keep theirs with Ohio.So, we would still play 3 Ohio teams (non-con vs. Can't). And, IMHO, games against Houston, Tulane, SMU and Tulsa would be more interesting than vs. WMU, CMU, EMU and Northern Illinois.This also would open us up to more easily AVOID FCS team most years and play other MAC teams to go along with our 2 BCS conference games. Playing it out, our schedule in, say 2013, could look like this:at MichiganCincinnatiat ArmyTulsaat UABat BGHoustonMiamiat SMUEast Carolinaat TulaneCan't

16 team is ideal.Also, no reason you can't still have 15-20 bowl games. Kind of like the NIT of college football.

By "sightlines" do we mean the track that stands right in front of 3+ rows of viewing. THAT is the #1 thing that bothers me about the JAR. It is WORSE than lights in front of the stands!!!

Ding, ding, ding..winner!!!Coming from the west side of Cleveland happens once a year to go to The Jar. It would be 3-4 times if I knew I had a nice comfy seat. And..if a new arena is built downtown, you can bet the wife and I will leave the kids with grandparents and stay at Sheraton Cuyahoga Falls or new hotel and take in the game, dinner, etc.

Big difference btwn college football stadium on campus and college basketball arena. And, big difference btwn where a downtown arena would be located vs. where the Rubber Bowl sat.College football is about the tailgaiting experience surrounding the stadium and being OUTSIDE. College basketball in NE Ohio..during middle of winter: you want the venue close to bars, restaurants, etc. where local residents and students can go before/after and stay INSIDE. And, b/c this is still on the edge of campus (basically), it will only help to have the university and city grow together.