sgm405

It's a business. They play to the team with the largest fan base, which is - by far - Ohio State. Simple as that. And you or anyone else cheering for whoever OSU plays will do nothing to change that.

1. I've stated before and I'll state again, I am an OSU fan because I have family members that went there. Not everyone who cheers for a top team is a frontrunner.2. I say Ohio State is "Ohio's team" in the sense that out of all of the schools in Ohio, OSU is the favorite of more Ohioans than anyone else. It's not even close. Are you really going to argue that? 3. Boise State is a great story. But I want you to notice something about them. First, name me one top team that they played aside from Oklahoma. But OSU is overrated? Second, what did Boise State going undefeated get them? Well, they won the same share of the National Title that Akron did...none of it. Sure, we'll have some Cinderella stories every year. But we still haven't really seen a team like Boise step up and do it year after year.

Zero State plays even with Michigan. USC exposes Michigan. LSU dominated their BCS bowl game as much as...Florida. If Zero State played in the SEC, they would not have been in the conference championship. They were exposed as an overrated media-hyped school. They didn't even have 100 yards of total offense. First of all, congratulations on the Zero State thing. Must've taken you at least 5 minutes to think of that one...congrats.Second, that kind of thinking does nothing. OSU is better than Michigan, Florida is better than OSU...that's all we know. Oh, and I love how you totally discount OSU beating two #2 teams this season in your "logical" thinking.

Screw Zero State! Way to go GATORS!!! I think the arguement could be made that Zero State would not be in the top 3 of the SEC. Final Rankings(mine)1) Florida2) Boise State3) USC4) LSU5) Zero State As bad as they looked, it's still one game. Auburn lost to both Arkansas and Georgia. LSU lost to Auburn and Florida. And they are both better than OSU, who only lost to the eventual National Champ? Makes sense...

Does Florida winning really do affect Akron? At all?Ohio State is going to continue to be a top team and continue to be a National Title contender. Akron isn't and never will be at their caliber...I'm sorry. And I hate to say that, I really do. I'd love for us to be a continuous national power. But I'm also being realistic. If Akron wants the headlines, they need to do something worthwhile. Like go to more than one bowl game. Or win a bowl game. They don't get coverage because they do nothing that makes anyone that isn't already a die-hard Zips fan a fan. When they start winning their conference year after year, going to bowl games, winning bowl games, and beating the teams they are supposed to beat, they will get media attention. When they lose to mediocre competition, they will not. ...and cheering against OSU no matter who they play does nothing but make anyone look jealous and bitter...they're always going to be "Ohio's team" and they're always going to have "scoreboard." The sooner the anti-OSU crowd realizes this the better.

For every classless person in Athens, I bet you I can find their counter part in Akron, or Can't, or Buffalo, etc... I was at the OU Akron football game last year and saw drinks poured on OU fans, and taunts I wouldnt even care to repeat. It happens everywhere. I wouldn't judge the average fan by the bad apples. I know I wouldnt want to be judged on the basis of some knuckle heads I see at games. Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning it by any means. Seems to me this has been a heated game ever since Hipsher grabbed his junk, flipped the O-Zone the double bird and nearly started a riot...As far as the crowd, I wasnt at the game, but given the bowl game tonight, I don't think you should use this game as a point of reference. I know when they come to Cleveland, OU's band is usually the best. I do agree there are bad apples in every crowd. On a totally side note...What was up with a bunch of the students doing the "Hey! You suck!" to Rock N Roll Part 2 at the last home game. That's Can't State classless bullshit. Please, let's not do that again.

You'd really want Bubba Walther back? Bubba Walther is a spineless piece of sh*t. Someone gives you competition for playing time, so you go behind your school's back and set up a transfer? A real man would have stepped up his game and shown he DESERVED more playing time than the other guy...a real man wouldn't have gone behind his team's back to set up a transfer while still wearing a Zips uniform. Bubba Walther is a decent player who lacks even an ounce of intestinal fortitude in his skinny ass body. I'd take all three of Dru, Ced, and Dials over him in a heartbeat.

Once that happens.......... Agreed. Aside from that, can we get some marketing up in here? lol. Where have all the radio/tv ads gone?

Ohh no no I know...I should've prefaced my comments with an explanation. I didn't think you were saying that at all. The topic of a student section just got my thoughts heading towards ours...my mind wanders hahahahaI agree the students that do show up make a difference...that's why I think it's soooo important to get the old students back and get new blood in as well.

In all honesty, The Rowdies aren't much to brag about. We don't fill up half of a tiny section, let alone two tiny sections. It's borderline embarrassing. The students that do show up do a great job of getting into the game, but it's just not enough to me. So while we're on topic, here's why I think this has happened...The stupid shirt rule. Seriously. You simply never ever ever ever EVER turn away students from the student section, especially when there are empty seats. And if you do insist on the students wearing the shirts, you a) bring extras to games, Allow new people to sign up, and c) Don't let little kids sit in the student section and turn away kids. By doing this, A LOT of students were alienated. I know many people who choose to sit general admin now, even though (I think) the rule is gone. And I don't blame them. If you were a student who had been coming to games for years and showed up to find that you now had to sit up top because you missed a meeting that barely anyone knew about...and that it was too late to sign up, you might be ticked too. So what can we do? A few things...1) Recruit kids from the dorms. Put up fliers, put stuff in their mailboxes...whatever. And then offer free stuff to get them to games...just get them there. Once they find out it is fun and that we have a pretty good product on the floor, hopefully they come back. 2) More free stuff. Last year was great - winter hats, peanuts, anything free helps to put butts in the seats. 3) Apologize to the students. I know they're trying hard - I do - but the leadership of the Rowdies really alienated and insulted a lot of students. Send an email out, or post a bulletin on the website. Stand up, admit mistakes, and ask them to come back. I have a strong feeling that they would. We were a great student section last year...the best I've ever seen at Akron...maybe I don't have all of the answers, but we've got to figure out what went wrong from last year to this year...and fast.

I saw that too. I did a double-take looking for Akron, but it just shows that ESPN really is clueless outside of the "high-major" conferences. They just pick whoever has the best record/RPI at the time and automatically assume that they will win the conference, even though conference play hasn't even started yet. Look, I think Akron is better than OU...and I think we will get that spot...but why is ESPN clueless? Both teams are 9-3, both teams have a lot of talent....Akron's big win is against Oral Roberts, OU's big win is against Cincy. As of RIGHT NOW, OU has the edge.

All good points.To address the point above, universities have people who crunch numbers just like every other business out there. If there was more money to be made in a playoff system than a bowl system, there would have been a playoff years ago. Athletic directors know their job is to make money and if a playoff would make them more money, they would jump at it in a second.Bowl sites simply couldn't be used to have a playoff because most people could only afford to go to one game a year. It's not like basketball where you only have to fill fifteen to twenty thousand seats. The games would be played in 60-70,000 seat stadiums and I don't think they would come close to filling them.Lastly, the point about only 50-60 teams having a shot. In reality, it is less than 15 out of about 120. Look at all other levels of college football. It's the same teams year in and year out that make the playoffs and go deep into the playoffs. Mt. Union, Wisconsin Whitewater, Grand Valley State, Northern Missouri, UMASS, Montana, App. State, etc. Having a playoff system has basically destroyed any interesting regular season competition at these levels of football. Unless someone really enjoys college basketball, the 64 team system has basically destroyed interest in the regular season. I'm not even certain why conferences like the Big East, Big Ten, SEC, etc. even have post season tournaments. All of them are going to get 5 or 6 teams in the field of 65 anyhow. Just give the conference championship to the team with the best record. Interesting points. I'm not sure I agree that they wouldn't make more money on this idea...how could they not? The marketing possibilities are endless. I also don't buy that bowl sites couldn't be used. I don't think you understood my idea. Each bowl would still exist - 7 of them would just be as part of the playoff system. So a first round game might be the Sugar Bowl. Furthermore, I think it's silly to think games like OSU vs USC, Florida vs. Michigan, etc wouldn't sell out. Do you realize how many people try to get tickets for the big bowl games and are turned away? They'd sell out - all of them...especially with more on the line. I don't think it would destroy the regular season at all. Unlike basketball, you would still have to have a near-perfect season to get into the championship mix. Take that and add even half of the excitement that March Madness produces, and College Football takes a huuuuuge leap forward.

Always a good debate. Here is my biggest argument FOR a playoff system. And Boise State provides the best example. They went undefeated this season in Division 1-A football...and have absolutely no chance of winning the title. In fact, probably 50-60 teams in Division 1-A college football enter the season with the realistic notion that no matter what they do, even if they go undefeated, they won't sniff the National Title. Is there any other sport that does that? What is the point of a team even being in Division 1-A if they have absolutely and literally no shot at the National Title? Do you guys realize that if Akron went undefeated, even with this year's schedule - that they'd have a shot? Here is my simple solution - an eight team playoff. You keep the bowl games - they just become part of the system. And here is why it works...- It only adds two games to a team's schedule, while eliminating the idiotic month-long layoff between the end of the regular season and bowl games. - Seven bowl games, not just one, will have far greater importance than just playing for pride. - More money...that's what is important to them after all, isn't it? - Most years, few teams outside the top 8 are really good enough to be considered National Champ.Is it foolproof? Heck no. No playoff or tournament system is. But it will decide the national champion on the field, give more teams a realistic chance to win it all. Just think how exciting this would be:1 - Ohio State8 - Boise State4 - LSU5 - USC3 - Michigan6 - Louisville2 - Florida7 - WisconsinLook at the first round matchups, as well as potential matchups later in the tournament. How can anyone argue that that isn't better than what we currently have?

Attendance: 2091And by crowd noise it seemed like about 50

Harvey is good, but better than Hixon already? Not a chance.

Rasor BlogMaybe it'll light a fire under his ass...

I'd be shocked in he got drafted...he's just not a very good QB. I do notice he is the 15th best SENIOR, not 15th best QB prospect. He'll get a tryout somewhere, but he won't stick.

Thanks zen! It wasn't my best show, but not bad I guess. zip81 - I originally was but later switched to education. I've DJed and done sports at WZIP for about 6 years now though, just for fun though. The guys on the show are always trying to get people to call in and talk Akron sports but nobody really ever does...maybe some of you guys can change that!

Hey guys...just thought you all might be interested. Today from 10-1 I'll be returning to my old stomping grounds to guest host a sports talk show on WZIP, 88.1 FM locally. You can also listen at www.wzip.fm.We'll be taking calls, so please feel free to join us on the program - 330-972-8888. The first hour will probably focus on NCAA/Zips, the 2nd on MLB/NBA, the 3rd on the NFL/Browns.Thanks!

I just don't see where Romeo bloomed over the last two seasons. To me, he is the same player he was as a sophomore. Decent scorer and rebounder, pretty good passer, pretty good defense...rarely takes a game over...shoots poorly from the line...solid all-around but not spectacular in any facet of the game. Is he really that much better than he was as a sophomore, and if so, in what way? Maybe I'm just not seeing it... When i said the last 2 seasons i meant his sophomore ans junior years. He got better from his freshman to sophomore year...that's about it IMO

Is it just me or did anyone else not feel like Dambrot was whining? He praised the fans that did show up and simply said that we needed to find ways to get more people out to the games...does anyone disagree with that? And why is that considered whining?

I just don't see where Romeo bloomed over the last two seasons. To me, he is the same player he was as a sophomore. Decent scorer and rebounder, pretty good passer, pretty good defense...rarely takes a game over...shoots poorly from the line...solid all-around but not spectacular in any facet of the game. Is he really that much better than he was as a sophomore, and if so, in what way? Maybe I'm just not seeing it...

No need to get dramatic. I'm not talking about the legacy of his life, just in collegiate basketball as a Zip. And why is it unfair to say a player has disappointed me? I didn't knock him as a person - by all accounts he's a nice enough guy off the court, and I truly believe that - but he just hasn't shown me what I thought he would on the court. How is it unfair to say that?

sgm...you are taking this way, way too seriously. And yet you started a new thread complaining about your kid's school having an OSU day... Yeah, but we're only taking this so seriously...You asked if it is really THAT big of a deal.I say, no it is not.Kind of a Gee Wiz thing..you know. I'm not upset about it..Merry Christmas! Sounds good...I guess I read it the wrong way.As for the Zips gear in local places, I know the Champs in Chapel Hill mall has a bunch of Zips shirts. I believe Finish Line does as well. Maybe it's just Summit Mall...or maybe you're looking in the wrong places. Bottom line, whether anyone wants to accept it or not - there are far more OSU fans than Akron fans, even in Akron. And businesses sell what customers demand the most.

Last night got me thinking...I remember when Romeo Travis came to the Zips, how excited everyone was, me included. I felt like we got a diamond in the rough, a superstar in the making ignored by other teams in the shadow of Lebron James. I heard people say that he would dominate the MAC by his senior year, and that he was a potential NBA prospect. He started off as any freshman would...he had some bright spots, but struggled at times as well. It was okay though...he was just a freshman. Most freshman go through this. And his 8 pts, 6 rebounds a game weren't bad. His sophomore year his play improved...his numbers jumped up to 12 and 7 a game. I felt he was a star on the rise. And then something unexpected happened...Romeo leveled off. His junior year, he averaged 14 and 7...this year, 15 and 5. Similar stats every year. His shooting percentage is almost the same, his free throw percentage has never been good...not much improvement statistically. Link - http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=15193And that's not all. He's never really taken over a big game. Never have I said to myself, "We're ok...we've got Rome"...as a senior, he's already missed two starts because of breaking team rules and has played lazy basketball at times...in all honesty, he looks the same to me now that he did as a sophomore. Now don't get me wrong...Romeo is a good, solid collegiate player who is an important part of the team. But I guess I expected more. I know I never expected this...that I truly believe that next year, we'll miss Dru Joyce much, much more than we will Romeo Travis.