interfx

I've been trying to find a social media group / FB group that is 'active' on Zips sports? Most of the ones I've found, have not had posts for a few years now? What is the active social media group out there? Does ZipsNation have a FB Group that discussions can take place?

Any one going to the Troy game? Thinking about it...

They sound good, just more "full" sound. Can really hear the brass!!! Nice to see the band back at this size again!

I'm starting to wonder if all the ABJ stories are about getting more paid viewers of their Ohio.com website... I refuse to pay to read their news(after 7 free articles per month)... Cleveland.com seems to have better reporting anyway...

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/07/university_of_akron_will_save_15_million_from_abolishing_213_positions.html#incart_m-rpt-1 This is the first time I've seen the actual list of positions eliminated. While it's not good thing to lose your position, it is interesting to see how the positions spanned all the colleges and at all levels. From admin. assistants to Directors to Vice Presidents... Never an easy thing to do... It would appear he also eliminated his admin. assistant... Sr Exec Administrative Asst Office of the President/Office of the President.

Way to Go!!! Great to see a Zips Fan at the game today... My son plays in the Auburn Marching Band (son of a Zip)

Why is there a person holding an Akron Zips sign in the crowd @ Alabama (vs. Auburn) today behind the ESPN live show right now? Go Zips!

Thumbs Up! If people have suggestions for show/music ideas - share them... With regards to not having a band, and using pre-recorded music during a football game, would much rather a real band playing the fight song vs. current RAP, Top 40 hits... That's not what football experience is about.

Here's some old videos of the Zips marching band and traditions back in the 1970s some good shots of crowds in the Rubber Bowl in these videos. http://www.zipsalumniband.com/something-called-pride/ http://www.zipsalumniband.com/video-saturdays-challenge/ (BTW - The alumni band comes back each year to continue some of these traditions. Not as easy as it looks 30 years after you graduate)

I come back to see the Marching Band (I'm a former marching band person)... They are there every game (rain, shine, sleet or snow), spend 6+ hours a week preparing, do it for a single credit hour, and are often the largest group of people in the stadium, stuck at the far end of the stadium... If you took the band, their friends and parents that come back to watch their kids - sometimes I wonder how many people are there to watch football. (based upon the number of fans in the stadium this year)

Awesome... Glad to see Akron buy the old Townhouse bar... This is such a great piece of property for Akor to own!!! Amnyone know what the master plan shows in this location? Additional sports facilities? or more parking?

I came back for homecoming this year, and was really blown away by the new stadium. After many years (mid 1980's) marching half time shows in a nearly empty (falling apart Rubber Bowl). Here's a few observations from a passionate alum... (Not sure if the new AD reads here on ZN)Top 51. Great Stadium, Really First Class...2. The Marching Band sounded great, really liked the pregame "marching"!3. The environment outside the stadium was also great. Was cool to watch the crowd outside the stadium, eating, drinking, listening to the band, music, ...4. Tail gating lots were alot of fun!...5. Great to have Homecoming on the holiday weekend (Columbus Day) - easier for out of towners to get back (I came from Atlanta)Bottom 51. ZIPS MERCHANDISEGet a real website for Alumni to order Zips merchandise. The GoZips Store is a joke! The stadium store should be open NOW! We're alumni, have jobs, and ready to spend some $$$ on campus. Make it easier for us to do this. (spend money!!!)2. STUDENTSFigure out how to get students at the game. Some there this year - but didn't look like anymore than at the Rubber Bowl last year. Even if you have to make "free", better to have some people in the stadium, than an empty stadium... You can always charge in the future if the program becomes a winning program. Right now I think you need as much support as you can get.3. MEDIA COVERAGEGet the ABJ (Ohio.com) to actually cover the Zips... The Razor Blog is OK, but often Zips stories are behind Browns, Ohio State, and most other D-1 programs. If there is no news, make some news to cover (the good kind). Get them focused on personal stories. Get a PR focus on the local media. (give them a reason to cover the Zips!)4. ALUMNII know this is the role of the Alumni Association - but you spend some ad $ to get focus on zips alumni. The mailings they do are great, but should focus on how to get Alumni out to the different sporting events... 16K last night is OK - but figure out how to get the word out. Give tickets away with purchase of Zips gear, get local establishments involved also... Lots of bars along Exchange that are doing great business... Get them together now...Give away a free ticket for updated alumni email, contact information. The cost of aquistion of a person for the cost of a General Admission ticket is a bargain. Most companies spend $10-$20 to get a qualified lead... Giving away a free ticket to get a "real" email distribution, alumni contact is a great way to get people updated, advertised to. Get some real marketing focus!5. BANDDo a high school band night, get some highschool bands out at the stadium... Have them join "Ohio's Pride" for a half time show... (when the away team doesn't bring their band). Invite some of the great local bands (Cuyahoga Falls, ...). Will get kids excited about the UA, and will turn into kids joining Ohio's Pride in a few years - a great recruiting tool!!! (and will bring their parents to the game as paying parents, families) Where else in NE Ohio, can go to a stadium like InfoCision to march when you go to College? At Ohio State - it is tough to even march as a freshman, or even sophmore because of the numbers.OK, I know it's more than 5, but here's a great idea to have more people join, especially for Homecoming!6. AFTERNOON GAMEConsider afternoon games in 2010. (3pm/4pm kickoff)

I made it here! What's with the crappy weather? (Oh yea, I'm back in Akron...) Hope it's better tommorrow.As you can imagine most of us alumni have a lot of passion about the Zips. Can't wait to see the new stadium first hand!

I'm coming back to town for the homecoming weeekend game this weekend. Is there a ZipsNation.org tailgate, which lot?

Absolutely AWESOME! It's now my desktop on my laptop...Seriously, you should be working for the sports marketing department. Your work is awesome! and so much better than what I've see on Go Zips, etc...Keep up the great work!

VERY interested.I've been trying to get the graphics departments and GoZips people to make wallpapers for years. No reply.I recommend using the Gallery Here at the Nation. It's under utilized and would keep things together without needed thread bumping or searching.Go Zips!Started!Akron Zips ArtI uploaded 21 images, still have a ton but for some reason it won't let me put anymore on...Can you make one for the marching band?So many to pick from! You Rock! Someone needs to call the marketing department and get you a paycheck.

Clean it up now! I want a top notch program - not just wins! (for now). We have a new stadium, a new sense of pride, and a new AD... Need to get it under control right now! Only time will tell if we need a new coach...

What an idiot, right before a "real" team in the new stadium...Hope the sophmore is ready to go!

Here's some more show ideas...Beatles (did this back in the 80's - stadium loved it!, timely with the re-release of the Beatles. You have the music in your library)Classic Rock ShowSports show (Olympic theme, Rocky, ESPN, Monday Night Football)Good luck!

I think you're missing the point... You have a new stadium, and now is the time to start new traditions with the marching band... The band has tried many things in the past, and some stuck but some didn't. Back in 1980's they had a small "slock" band that walked around playing for the different parts of the Rubber Bowl - backl when the Rubber Bowl was so packed you couldn't hear the band... I personally don't care what other college bands do, only pointing out they each have something unique in what they do... This is your time to create something memorable!!!Good luck finding that "special" thing... (with Energy!)The video of the block A looked awesome! (with energy)

Were you on the East or West side? My dad took video from the GA seating and you can barely tell what song we're playing, but there are several videos on facebook from the pressbox side and the new fanfare just feels huge. It's a little simpler than in the past but by the time we hit that last chord the sound is unbelievable. I'm not taking offense to anything, and when I post responses it's simply to explain why we do what we do and ask for suggestions. We aren't entirely satisfied with pregame but because of the location of the tunnel we're stumped as to what to do. Everyone has to come out at once because between the students and the fact that we're in a concrete tunnel we won't be able to hear the drums. We've experimented with this several times. I personally thought there was too much announcing during pregame and halftime, it was a little distracting. I think once we play the national anthem instead of having the extended singing version the whole thing will flow a lot better.You guys are so lucky in the band today! You get to make your own traditions in the new stadium! I enjoyed double time through the old Rubber Bowl, and I'm sure you guys will come up with something cooler in the next few weeks... Don't fall into the "rut" of having to be the same! Just pump the Energy Up! and do somehting unique for Pre Game that people will talk about for years to come! From the videos I saw, wasn't that exciting either... See you guys at Alumni Band in about a month!

I can personally confirm BOTH the different styles discussed (Corp, or glide style) and High Step both if done well are quite difficult... I think the key points of this thread is how you capture the "Energy" This can be done in many different ways (dynamics, different setups, ...)Good to hear Pre Game is High Step again! One of the threads in this forum, has a great marching A (from the backside)... Looks great, lines nice and straight...Good luck with looking for that something special!!! the new Sousaphones look great!

You mean an example like this? or for those who think no bands do this anymore in the MAC...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O7EUXidnQ0

Anyone hear if they are leaving the stadium cams on during hte game, or at least during pregame? For those of us out of town, it would be great to see what a sold out stadium looks like, and also good to see the band in the new stadium...Anyone hear? It's not like the stadium cams are good enough to actually see the action of the game - so no worries there...

That's great. That looks awesome at night! Can't wait for this season to start!