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I would like to see them look very similar to BC's unis. Just replace all the maroon with blue and the eagles with our logo. I think a single thin blue stripe on the helmet with the logo would be sweet. I would go with these combos:home:Blue jersey/gold pants (5 games)Blue jersey/ white pants (1 game)road:White jersey/blue pants (4 games)White jersey/gold pants (1)All white (1)Obviously, we would keep our number style (unless Nike changes it), but PLEASE make it 15-20% smaller)!!! BC keeps just the right mix of old school look with some newer twists. I'd like to see Akron do the same.NOTE: BC uses Adidas/Reebok so I'm sure if we are using Nike next year it will not be EXACTLY the same.

I just wonder if he can get another redshirt. Not sure if many players have received 2 years of medical redshirts. See Ben Mauk of UC.

No fans of Cleveland sports teams in Akron? Huh, that is odd. Ridiculous.

the MAC. OK, so this is based solely on my perception, opinion and own personal experience. I'd be happy to get any statistically data if someone has it to support or refute my opinions.I know having the games on TV during the week gives more exposure to the conference and universities, but does it really help? Can most fans get to those games easily on a Tuesday or Wednesday night? Especially when these games are typically in the cold of November? I believe that many fans cannot/will not go on these weeknights. If you are up visiting your kid and want to check out a game...well, you are most likely there on a weekend. If you have little ones that might be able to go to a day game in September or October, they most likely cannot go to a game on a weeknight (beddy bye time). Part of what makes college football great is the fact that games are on Saturdays. You can party, drink, take the kids, etc....whatever your age (college kid, parent, grandparent, casual fan, etc.) the experience is just better on a Saturday. I think the weeknight games especially hurt the MAC. ACC teams, Big East teams, etc. typically have a huge base that will go whenever (and most of their teams play 1-2 games at most, and on a more "traditional" Thursday night). MAC teams need those fans that want to take their kids to the game, or the fan that just loves to sit out in the fall weather, or the fan that cannot afford a OSU, UM, ND, etc game.,or some of the less-than-enthusiastic MAC school kids who just go to socialize, see the band (OU), etc. (which is OK!). And even the diehard student fans and general fans who might travel a little to support their team= lot harder to travel on a Wednesday vs. a Saturday.I'm not saying get rid of all night games. I just think that every MAC school should have at least 10 Saturday games, and better to have 11. Personally, their have been at least 4-5 times in the last 3 years where I wanted to go to a MAC football game, but because of it being on a weeknight it was not possible. And, most of these times have been in October and November when I'm less likely to travel a distance to games.I think many would say that the MAC has not fared as well the last couple years. Could this be part of the problem? I really don't know, but my guess is that perhaps even some potential recruits don't like the idea of weeknight games (parents/family can't see them as easily might be one of the biggest reasons).I'd love to hear others thoughts, theories, etc. And if anyone has any attendance information about weeknight MAC vs. weekend MAC games over the last 3-5 years, plus MAC attendance before they went to many weeknight games vs. the "old times" when just about every game was on Saturday.Thanks for reading. GO ZIPS!!!

I'm not here to judge anyone's size. But if you go to an ND game or OSU game, that is where you are truly packed in like a sardine. They give you all of 6 inches for your butt before the next numbered seats come along. If Akron does it this way, get ready for an all new kind of uncomfortable. Of course, if you are expecting a 28,000 seat stadium with 18,000 fans...then yes, you will have more room. I'm hopeful the place will be full!

Ah yes, prehistoric seating (Mybackissore) lives on. May treat myself to a new clip-on seat with built-in chairback after the upcoming season. Use the one I have five more times and chuck it into the men's "trough" on my way out of the Rubber Bowl for the last time.That sucks! I was hoping, at the very least, they would go with bench seats with backs. Yeah, if I become a season ticket holder, I may have to purchase the old chairbacks.

A couple questions someone "in the know" might know=1. Will the seats be bucket, chairback, mix or or "pack em in like Sardines style"?2. Will they sell "3 game packs" or something instead of just full season tix?

It's not that complicated:6 Home, 6 AwayOnly 4 non-con games. It helps to look at a "5 year window" as an example. It basically is a 3 year cycle with "mid-level" BCS conference teams. 1 game deals (here) for I-AA teams (or whatever they are called). 1 for 1's with most CUSA teams, Navy & Army, etc.Year 1UK (begins 3 year cycle)Memphisat Syracuse (begins 3 year cycle)at PSUYear 2at UKSyracuseat NavyUMass (going to have to do it to keep 6 home games= East teams should be able to travel)Year 3at UK (ends 3 year cycle)Southern Missat Syracuse (ends 3 year cycle)Indiana (begins 3 year cycle)Year 4at IndianaNavyat MemphisFordhamYear 5at Indiana (ends 3 year cycle)at Southern MissEast CarolinaMinnesota (begins 3 year cycle)Year 6 would have to have to have at ECU and so on and so forth.You try to mix the WEAKER non-con home years with the years that Can't State is a home game= for example, years 2 & 4. This might be too weak in not playing big time opponents. But to get 6 REAL home games and get some teams with a little clout, this is a good look at the first 5 years. Let the new stadium (best in MAC), improved campus, etc. sell the program initially.

Though that hurts, they get the kid from Notre Dame (Demetrius Jackson?). OK, Iinsert ND joke here...but I think they will be in good shape by week 4.

WHOA Zipmeister! I stand informed! (I was beginning to feel like a VCU fan there for a second!) For the most part, I can only go by what I see currently on Wisconsin's web site ('future schedules' still showed Akron for next year as recently as a few days ago) and ours. I wouldn't expect our web site to be completely up-to-date and ASSUMED a Big Ten school would have the resources to keep theirs a bit more current. As far as I know, ZipsNation.org hasn't yet added a 'future schedules' link and if it has been mentioned in any of the previous football threads, I plain ol' missed it. I did e-mail the football staff at Akron a few weeks ago regarding the outdated 'future schedules' web site page. They indicated that the 2008 schedule wouldn't be officially announced until sometime in March. No feedback regarding the dated schedules page.Anyone on the board know what the 2008 OOC schedule looks like at this point?Supposedly, at Syracuse, at Army, at Kentucky and home to Cincinnati. This is from a site that updates DAILY, yet it still has Wisconsin game on the schedule. So, take it for what it is worth:http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/college...dules/akron.htm

I am sorry but you are mistaken.... GP1 is right Akron and Canton are on the decline..here is a link to back up that statementhttp://www.citypopulation.de/USA-Ohio.htmlColumbus population is rising...check the same charts.I didn't state that all of what he said is incorrect. Please read everything completely for appropriate understanding. It is a FACT that 1/3 of Ohio's population is still located in Cleveland, Akron, Canton & Youngstown area.And, so we are clear: Columbus area in square miles is considered to be btwn 210-225 depending on which report you read. Cleveland, as a comparison, is 75-80 square miles.

GP1;Toledo will be playing OSU in a "home" game in 2009. Can't State may very well be playing Penn State in '10 or '11. Browns stadium allows Toledo, BG, Can't and Akron to play a "home" game against a Big Ten school, just as much as Temple can play a home game against PSU and draw 69,000 (3/4 MINIMUM of which are PSU fans). Your argument here is just bizarre.I won't even comment too much on your population/regional facts because they are just, for the most part, false. One simple fact that I will give is that 1/3 of the state's population is in NE Ohio.

Funniest thing about those pictures= ND at #19?!?!?!

While my post is short, it is exceedingly easy and quick to write. GP1 is the perpetual pessimist. "We will never be any good, ever, ever, ever!!!!"Then why do you even bother to follow the programs?WOW! Is he always like that? I can't possibly quote his and put everyone through that!GP1:I won't say you don't have any good statements, because you do have at least 1 or 2. But PLENTY of bad ones too. NE Ohio talent may not be as good, but it is still a very fertile region. PLENTY of kids from NE Ohio going to MAJOR programs. Temple has a great facility?!?!?!? Yeah, kids love playing in 66,000 seat stadiums with 10,000 people there. How many great college programs play in pro stadiums? Can't think of one off-hand (and please don't say Pitt), though there might be 1 or 2. USC? OK, well...not really sure where that fits in the scope of pro/college stadiums. Are you the same type of person that gripes about how NE Ohio sucks, we are losing all of our jobs, the weather sucks, etc.

of the MAC, or similar to the BYU/UTAH programs of the MWC? I think it is pretty clear that these next 2-3 years are HUGE! This year needs to be the building block for the '09 and '10 teams in determining if that type of "domination" is possible. The new stadium is obviously a huge part of this. We live in an age where kids like things that are new, glitzy, etc. Look at UCF and how they are taking off in their new stadium. Akron, Can't State and Miami are truly in the most fertile recruiting grounds within the conference. Miami has obviously been the most solid program over the years (Toledo had their run too), but not dynamic. Though Can't State may have more history with some previous players and coaches, their stadium/location/program is not positioned as well as Akron. 20 years after becoming Division I (whatever they call it now), Akron is truly on the cusp of having the OPPORTUNITY to become a top notch mid-level program. I hope they seize the opportunity.

Thank you for the thorough response.

Aint happening. It would be nice to try and get some revenge on them for ruining our home winning streak, but ESPN won't go for a re-match.When are pairings officially announced?

So, in the end, no one knows why Miami had only 7 conference games last year, and now we look to be in the same situation. Even if it is not Wisconsin (which, since the official Akron site showing upcoming seasons and games might be the worst in the nation, I will believe their site and this site which is updated DAILY= http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/college...ules/index.htm) it does seem odd that we would not play a game on 8/28 or 8/30 as just about every other team is playing that weekend.

2008 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DATE OPPONENT 8-30-08 at Wisconsin 9-6-08 at Syracuse 9-13-08 at Kentucky 9-20-08 ARMY 9-27-08 CINCINNATI TBA MAC Opponents 5 out of conference games? I never understood how Miami only played 7 conference games, and now Akron looks to be doing the same thing. Anyone have additional information. All in all, this is a decent non-conference schedule. Cincinnati is SOMEWHAT of a marquee home game, Army is better than bringing in a I-AA program (or whatever it is called) and Syracuse is very beatable while we can give UK a game.

These are decent candidates, though I think Miami is a stretch (I'm not sure Cincy would welcome that). I'd throw UCF into the mix as well, but the other ex-MAC school, Marshall, could suffer the same fate as Miami (WVU would probably try to prevent it).If the Big East eventually does go to a 12 team league all around, they'll have some big decisions to make with the likes of Georgetown, 'Nova, Marquette, etc.I accidentally ommitted UCF. They and Memphis would most likely me the top 2. UCF has a great new stadium and would be a natural rival for South Florida. Memphis brings a nice market, great basketball and OK football.UC plays Miami every year, so not as big of a problem as Marshall (though I know UC might be trying to get out of the yearly game). As for the non-football schools you mention, there is easily enough quality programs to bring in to keep those programs playing at a high level= possibly UMass, Xavier, Dayton, St. Joe's, etc. Not saying those schools are as good as Syracuse, UConn, etc., but the 8 leftover teams could easily add 2-4 teams of good quality to build a strong conference.

OK, this is all really simple: 1. The Big East will EVENTUALLY most likely go to a 12 team conference of teams that play basketball AND FOOTBALL. Right now it is 16 teams in b-ball, 8 in football. This is the opinion of many experts.2. When looking for schools, they will want similar school, good regions, good facilities, etc. Here is why Akron would be a strong candidate:Cleveland/Akron is a hotbed for recruits.Cleveland/Akron area is still a huge area when it comes to exposure.If you think a brand new 25-30,000 seat stadium (with capacity to go larger), doesn't have something to do with it, you are nuts.Proximity to schools= Akron is basically in the middle between Lville/Cincy and WVU/Pitt/Syr etc. Regionally, it makes sense.24,000+ public institution fits in well. The way the campus has improved and the school has changed will play a factor as well.It is not rocket science, people. Buffalo might be in the mix, but I think the best possiblities for various reasons are Akron, Miami, Toledo, Southern Miss, Memphis the acadamies and MAYBE Temple (though they have been there before).

We are fine...and once 2009 gets here, it won't matter anymore.

Syracuse, Indiana & Kentucky are teams that we already have lined up (as many know). Hopefully they don't back out. Some other programs that make sense (type of school, region wise, etc.) and programs where we could probably get a 1 for 1 and have 6-7 home games a season in '09-'12:CincinnatiUConnMemphisMarshallSouthern Miss.

Not only new stadium, but new headquarters:http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/8868267.html

Any mention of the "regular" seats. Will they be bucket chair backs, bench chair backs or just bench?