RobC2

Any architectural renderings as of yet?

I think that if the Beacon would merely cover the Zips like the Canton Rep covers the McKinley Bulldogs (just a high school team, mind you), it would do wonders to rally the community. If you'd read the Rep on a regular basis, you'd think McKinley athletics was the most exciting event anyone could ever hope for! Yes, it's quite small-townish, but none-the-less, the Rep is faithful to their good ol' Bulldogs!

It has gotten better. In fact, I discovered ZipsNation through the Zips blog on Ohio.com!!! For that I am grateful! I read the Zips blog every day. I just wish they would give the Zips more pub!!! It's the chicken - egg controversy. I believe if the Beacon would treat Zips athletics with more zeal, nominal college fans would get excited as well!

I am new to ZipsNation, so my gripe is likely something you've been struggling with since you started ZipsNation. But I am continually dissappointed in the coverage given to our NCAA DIVISION I-A sports program by our supposedly LOCAL newspaper!!!Really, what is the problem?!I know I am not the only Zips fan who was slapped in the face by the bitter irony of the front page of the Beacon sports section Sunday. i.e., Terry Pluto's article entitled: "It's Time to Notice the Zips' Success." But what consumed 80% of the front page of Akron's paper? Needless to say an article on the CLEVELAND Browns!?!? Ouch!Q: And in today's sports section? A: NOT A SINGLE ARTICLE! Not a single WORD! Let alone front page material. In fact, there was not even a mention of the Wright State men's basketball game a week ago - ON THE DAY OF THE GAME!?!?Again, really, what is the problem?!The first sentence of Terry's article read, "If you're a basketball fan, Akron's best kept secret is begging for your attention." Perhaps Terry should have written, "If you're a Beacon Journal editor, Akron's best kept secret is begging for your attention." Or better, "We here at the Beacon Journal are doing our best to keep Akron athletics a secret."Dissappointed and bewildered,but none-the-less,Go Zips!

Hopefully, our new stadium will have individual seat-backed seats (and not merely bleachers w/ armrests) identical to Canal Park style seating! Except in the end zones, where cheaper bleacher seating would be located - i.e., Canal Park outfield bleacher seating - which was a nice little shout out to old Thurman Munson Stadium in Canton. Also, quite a few loges / luxury boxes - I believe companies in Akron would be excited about purchasing loges!One poster said the stadium will be located near the new fieldhouse, between Brown and Spicer streets. But aren't Brown and Spicer streets south of Exchange, while the new fieldhouse is north of Exchange? The streets must extend north of Exchange, no? I like the idea about re-routing Exchange Street, but that would likely interfere with the plans already in place for new townhomes and apartments/shops/restaurants on existing Exchange.Go Zips!

Where do you get your "insider" information? I do hope they can generate a whole Camden Yards (Canal Park) type of atmosphere around the entire stadium site! We only get one shot at this! While baseball has seen the light (with retro-style stadiums), football stadiums still seem to be quite cookie-cutter/generic. I noticed Ford Field had a great looking loge/luxury box section which gave the stadium an impressive highth dimension (I believe it was 3 stories). Jacobs Field does the same. I think luxury boxes would sell well in the new Akron stadium, and give it an impressive, "BIG" feel, even if it seats only 30,000.Also, if it's going to be an outdoor stadium, we need to encorporate a new red brick bell/clock tower into the design. Akron has a few beautiful old clock towers around town & that would add an old-school, classy feel to the design. I've seen that planners have seemingly noticed this and have encorporated small clock towers into the new greenspace around campus already. This would be a Big Ben type of statement! It could ring when the Zips run through the tunnel & after we score!Which we'll be doing often!Go Zips!

I am a newcomer to ZipsNation (though I've been a Zips fan for years), and I just discovered this stadium dialogue this afternoon. Needless to say, I am extremely excited that so many people have so much to say concerning the new stadium! I believe that a perfect storm of good coaching, good recruiting, good marketing, beautiful campus improvments, local support and the necessity of replacing the Rubber Bowl has come together to create a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a beautiful stadium that all of northeast Ohio would be proud of - except perhaps for the Canton Repository; they are only ever jealous with anything that has to do with Akron (have you noticed that?).Anyway, with the admittedly awful football product that has been offered the Zips fan over the last, oh, almost 20 years - from the firing of Jim Denison through the Gerry Faust and Lee Owens eras - I can say that I am honestly amazed at the number of people that faithfully attend Zips football games! Now that JD Brookhart has established a firm foundation (through good coaching, good recruiting and taking advantage of vastly improved facilities) I am in agreement with the rest of you - I believe the sleeping giant is awakening!And now that the new stadium concept is an inevitable reality, I do believe that we should THINK BIG and not shortchange ourselves from the outset.I think a covered stadium is the way to go. I am a die hard fan (I grew up 5 minutes from the Rubber Bowl), but even I skip games now and then due to the weather. The fall weather in NE Ohio is precarious at best - rarely pleasant and often downright nasty. As much as I love Zips football, I despise sitting in the rain - and if there is one thing NE Ohio is known for, it is the consistent cloud cover and rain. I sat through one quarter of the Can't State game, but could not take more than 1/2 hour of that torture.Two potential drawbacks:1) is a domed stadium expandable?2) can a domed stadium be aesthetically attractive?I love Canal Park! People go to Canal Park for two reasons, only one of which is baseball! The other being that the stadium is an enjoyable experience in and of itself. I believe a good, old-fashioned, georgeous red brick football stadium would be fantastic! Could a domed stadium pull that off?

I'm liking the OOC schedules! These are all winnable games (save, perhaps for Penn State next year - though they are losing Robinson - and at OSU in 2007). I believe these are the types of OOC games we have needed for years - BCS conference schools WHO WE CAN BEAT!!! Though we are not a pushover to anyone anymore (that's been a loooooong time coming!), some of the OOC games in the past were awfully difficult (i.e., Iowa, LSU, OSU). However, with the likes of Cincinnati, NC State, Indiana, 'Cuse & Kentucky on the calendar (not top-10 caliber opponents, but mid-level BCS schools) we can now enter all of those OOC games with excitement & realistic confidence that we'll win - not merely hoping to just keep the game close!We can hang with any Big East school and @ least half of the Big Ten!Next season: Top 25!Go Zips!

Thanks for the tip! sunshinepreps.net is a great source! I just typed the players names into their search engine to find the video footage - but how on earth did you hear about & find Sheldon Dennis, Gerald Tate & Mickey Baker on that website?! I was surprised to see Sean Hakes on what seemed to be a predominantly Florida database.)I had known about Sean Hakes from Rivals.com. Sean looks really good. Calm. Strong arm. He's a lefty... I was not aware of that. If I'm not mistaken, Carlton Jackson is also a lefty. I'm excited to see what he can do!I suppose I'm straying from the D.J. Henderson topic.Anyway, thanks again & keep us posted on any other recruiting news!!!

I wasn't able to listen to the Ball State game, but, as you all know, winning on the road in the MAC is exceptional!What is the latest on Conyers? Is he in school? Will he be suited up next year?this Saturday I'm going down to Columbus to see St.V. play Lancaster. Last season Lancaster handed McKinley their only loss of the year. This was largely due to the play of Christ McKnight - a Zips recruit who is a senior at Lancaster this year. He was named the Columbus "Play-By-Play Classic" tournament MVP last year after his team won the tourney by beating McKinley. He was offered by West Virginia. I found some pictures of him on the web and he looks fantastic! I'm excited to get him in the lineup next season - along with a healthy Jeremiah Wood!Go Zips!

The BJ reported he has verballed. Rivals.com hasn't reported that yet - but those recruiting websites can be quite inaccurate and occassionally contradict each other. Rivals has outside linebacker Joe Underwood of Youngstown interested in Akron, while Scout.com says he has verballed with Miami. Also, Rivals reports OG Chris Hanna as having no interest in Akron, while Scout reports he has medium interest. Who knows what to believe.However...D.J. looks like a strong, fluid athlete! He's obviously a natural athlete, as he's a quality basketball player and has only been playing football for 2 seasons now! Tons of potential! Speaking of potential... Though D.J. will most likely be redshirted next year, theoretically we have the potential of starting 3 wideouts between 6'4'' and 6'5''!!! Jabari Arthur is, I believe, listed at 6'4'', J. Sharps is listed at 6'5'' and now D.J. Henderson comes in also at 6'5''! All running the 40 in the 4.45 - 4.55 range! Quite an arsenal! Of course, I am also excited to see what Brandon Williams (6'1'' - Tampa) brings to the field (he was offered by Iowa State) as well as Jermaine Lindsay (6'1'' - Maryland) who is supposedly a real burner! Additionally, I thought Johnny Long (6'1'' - Cincinatti) looked very good when given playing time this season. :macc: