sgm405

I'm so tired of this "we gotta beat OSU to get respect crap". Sorry people...the MAC is and will continue to be disrespected. It's BS, but it's the truth. Look at basketball...Can't State makes it to the Elite Eight, a few other tourney appearances, has 8 consecutive 20 win seasons, and still, had they lost the MAC Title game wouldn't have touched an at large. People don't look at it as the MAC should be respected...they look at it as it was a one year wonder. Trust me, for those of you that think if Akron beat OSU in a football game that they'd all the sudden be put in the same class as folks, you're fooling yourselves. It'd be looked at as a fluke. They'd have to do it constantly AND dominate the MAC to get that kind of respect...and I frankly just don't see that happening. Face it, OSU is the premier university athletic program in Ohio. The history, the tradition, the national recognition, the fan support, and the lots and lots of winning have put them head and shoulders against the rest of the Ohio schools. And if you think that's changing anytime soon, maybe you better look at the rankings for basketball recruiting classes coming in next year (Greg Oden anyone?), or at some of the recruits OSU brought in (Wells, etc). Both of their football and basketball teams will be competing for a National Title, while we just hope to make it back to the postseason at all. They are a major program, we are a mid-major...you can root against them or talk about fans not being faithful if they cheer for them or whatever else...but nothing's going to change the current situation.

Explain this to me...why are you a frontrunner if you are a Buckeyes fan?

I'm a frontrunner because I like Ohio State? FYI, I started watching OSU football and basketball games when I was 7 years old as both of my parents grew up OSU fans as well. I've followed them ever since, close to 20 years now. Because I graduated from Akron, they come first and foremost obviously, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to stop rooting for the Buckeyes either when they dont even play UA. Zen hit the nail on the head...get over it man

Yes, people will stop buying OSU merchadise now because the Buckeyes lost in the 2nd Round and the NCAA Tourney...that will happen. Too bad they have the best high school player and the best recruiting class in the nation coming in next year...keep it up though Buckeye haters!

Fast service needed in Electronics...who is responding?

Go to Lids at Chapel Hill mall...got some very sweet Zips hats there

So basically you said the same things that I've argued against, but this time used a dictionary...

The Buchtellite has had a few real morons write for them in the past, and I think that is why you recieved the "no comment". Unfortunately, these idiots have at times overshadowed the always-top-notch sports coverage the Buchtellite has. If some of the other departments became more like the sports department, the paper would be amazing IMO. As for the University and WZIP discussing covering sports, just trust me...not WZIP's fault. Finally, I'm going to choose not to respond to Balki Bartokomous. Looking at his past two posts, I'd probably be better off discussing this issue with the stray cat that hangs out outside of my apartment.

With the money is costs to operate a radio station, hire a staff, etc etc etc...why? Why do that when you already have the best college radio station in the United States? To broadcast games? And what else would they do?

Do you know anything about WZIP? Seriously...I'm not being sarcastic. If you don't think it's a realistic experience for media students, you need to take a tour. The equipment for both the radio and TV programs are on par with most major commercial stations. Members of the radio sports team attend Akron, Cavaliers, Indians, and Browns games with media credentials… they call in updates, asking the athletes question in the post game press conference…they write articles for the website, perform and edit interviews with athletes…they cover local high school basketball and football games, doing commentary for each. You will get no better of a “realistic experience than you get at WZIP. Also, in looking at what WZIP does for the University, you can’t look at just advertisements. Do you realize how many high school students listen and hear about a different Akron program every hour? Do you realize how much the community is tied to WZIP and the University through other messages read by the DJ’s on the station? For the amount of money it takes to operate WZIP (most of which THEY pay for, not UA), they do a hell of a lot for the University of Akron.

Why?

I love all the OSU haters...lol...GO ZIPS! GO BUCKS!

Man you guys ripping in to WZIP and their general manager are complete idiots. That is the classiest organization on campus. There were discussions before about games being broadcast on WZIP that I know a great deal about...and while that's not something I am going to talk about, trust me, WZIP wasn't the one holding back the idea from working out. To zipsbandman, just because you don't listen to the station doesn't make it worthless. As many pointed out, the station is the #1 college station IN THE UNITED STATES and regularly competes with top stations in the area. And they do so with 3-4 hired staff members and the rest students. No offense to the Buchtelite, because they do have some good writers...but to even compare them to WZIP is just plain silly. As for Balki Bartokomous, do you even know WZIP's GM? Judging by your opinion of the guy, you don't. He is one of the finest staff members this University has. I don't know what your beef is, or if you maybe requested Britney Spears and they wouldn't play it or something, but the next time you open your mouth make sure you know what you're talking about. I've never called someone a moron on this forum...and...well, there's gotta be a first for everything. You, sir, are a moron. As others have said, why all the hate for WZIP? I guess when a program has as much success as they have had you're going to get jealous haters...it's just sad.

The students have tried. We wave and motion our arms for them to stand at big moments...we try to get them to join us in chants. Nothing has worked thus far. I don't see this as disrespect. We've shown appreciation to them for coming. As I said, me and my friends always try to tlak to the alumni we see and let them know we appreciate them coming out. My buddy even gave one an extra Fear the Roo shirt at one of the home games because they said they hadnt gotten a chance to buy one yet. The students arent claiming to be perfect either...we need to step it up a notch too. Look around...you think Ohio State's alumni sit there quietly? Do you think Gonzaga's does? Heck, even Can't State's alumni gets into it (although we need to remain classy). Those are top notch, winning programs. Deep down, you know that if this school is ever going to get any kind of attention, locally or nationally, that the team has to win and the fans have to become a factor. Can you imagine if the students became more organized...if more of them came out...and if the alumni started chiming in on the defense and let's go Zips chants? My god...we were undefeated at home this year with a couple hundred students making all the noise...can you imagine how much other teams would fear coming to the JAR if the entire crowd participated? The students have accepted that challenge. They've tried to become more organized, tried to get their peers out to more games, tried to be loud and proud at every game...and it's a work in progress...still not there. But the students realize that to become a major program, we have to act like it, and have started to try to improve themselves. Alumni can follow suit...or they can say they are disrespected, or complain about how we don't appreciate them, or talk about how they were there 30-40 years ago, or whatever they want to talk about...With as much energy as it's taking for excuses, you'd think that they could clap their hands and say defense every few minutes...

Hey it's my opinion, and obviously there are others who feel the same way. And in 40 years if I forget that I can help out the students out with some cheers or by doing a defense chant and clapping my hands, I hope some young grad "bitches" at me and reminds me of what to do. Coming to the games is a great way of supporting the team, and it's appreciated...but if we ever want to be a top notch program, that includes fans who make a difference in the game. Just my opinion...you can get defensive and say I'm disrespecting the alumni...but in my eyes, me and others who have said they need to be more involved are doing so because we know they are great fans, and we know that both us and them have yet to reach our full potential as a home crowd.

That's just it, you don't have the right to tell anyone to do more. You are suffering from delusions of grandeur. The truth is you're a loud mouth who has been a zip fan for what, one or two years? Keep on rooting for the team, just don't tell anyone what they have to do because it doesn't meet your standards! As for me, you have nothing on me. I've been cheering for the Zips since I was an undergraduate. Actions speak louder than words. And the ak-oldies you don't respect, show it with every sporting event they attend. I just love when people think they know you through an Internet message board! For your information, I've been a Zips fan since 1998, when my sister first attended the school. I started going to games then, came to UA in 2000, and have been to just about every home contest ever since (work conflicted at times). I have gone to road games, the MAC tourney every year, etc. I graduated in December and continue to follow the Zips for as long as I live. If you want to hold it against me that I was born later than you, that's fine. Whatever makes you feel better. Want to call me a loudmouth? Whatever. Again, if that makes you feel good about yourself, that's cool. Just don't try acting like you know anything about me or what kind of fan I am just because we disagree on something.

I wrote out a response, then read mrelegazna's, so...what he said

Gimme a break UADavid...and please, stop talking down to me like I'm a 5 year old. Me wearing an OHIO STATE hat has no effect on any game, anyone on this board, or the Zips in general. How people act and cheer at AKRON games are open for discussion because it is related to Zips sports and has a direct effect on games. Nice try though

Amen...eventually we'll get one of the lower sections...I hope

I do think a MAC team upsetting OSU in football would be big...but do you really think people in Ohio (in general) would all the sudden think the MAC was on the same level? I don't think they would...it'd be looked at as a fluke both locally and nationally. Now, that wouldn't be true IMO...just saying...it wouldn't change that much. For the MAC to get that respect locally and nationally they'd need to beat OSU and other Big Ten schools at at least a decent rate before people put them on the same level. Let's face it...and I say this as a die-hard Zips fan and a secondary Buckeyes fan...we simply aren't on the same level as them. I'm sorry...I wish it was different...trust me, I do...but we're not. The Buckeyes were a national title contender in football last year and will be again next year...they are currently a contender for it in basketball, and will only get better next year. Greg Oden, their star recruit coming in next year, could be the #1 pick in the draft if he went pro. We'll never sniff a national title, nor will we ever get recruits good enough to be the #1 pick in the NBA Draft out of high school. It sucks...and while I do believe the Zips can turn themselvbes into a much bigger and better program, I'm sorry...I don't ever see them being on the same level as OSU. Rip into mea ll you want...I wish it wasnt true..but it's reality. The Zips football team could go undefeated next year and they'd be lucky to get a BCS game, let alone sniff the National Title. As for wearing Buckeyes stuff, gimme a break...hey, some people aren't OSU fans too...that's fine. But that doesn't give anyone the right to tell me what team's gear I can or can't wear. Funny, nobody complains about seeing people wear gear from Notre Dame, Michigan, and other schools that aren't Akron...

Hey, you can look at it any way you want to. It's not alumni bashing...I just got done praising them for all they give to the Zips...I just asked for more. Hey, if you're happy with the JAR getting noisy for 1 or 2 games a year, that's fine. But if you want more, if you want us to become a top mid-major, everyone's going to have to step it up. You can take offense all you want...maybe too much truth coming out? Hey, at least this discussion has brought some life to ya...and it's not even the Can't game!

Look, this is turning into an Alumni vs. students thing, and that's silly. We're all Akron fans obviously. And obviously, both sides need work with the program. I've been sitting in the student section for 5 years and have seen a total change in the process. It used to be a few students sprinkled throughout the sections...it sucked, trust me, I was there. It was a big deal if we could get a defense chant. Let's be honest...that was when Akron was a mediocre school with mediocre sports programs. And I'll give it up to the alumni who were there when the students weren't. Things have changed since then. The school has become one of the better ones in Ohio, and is slowly turning from a commuter school to one that has students who actually stick around on weekends (biggest problem right there for student attendance). This year, the football team stepped up at the end of the season. So did the fans, students and alumni alike...10,000+ to Detroit was wonderful. Then the basketball team stepped up with a 20+ win season. For the first time, the student sedction was filled for most games. But that wasn't enough. The students made every attempt to DO MORE, coming up with player chants, team chants, and becoming a real factor in the game for the first time at the JAR. They knew that it was an improvement being there, but that to become a big time mid-major program, they needed to do more. THEY STEPPED UP. The alumni do come to the games and many have been for a long, long time. And that is greatly appreciated...really, it is. Whenever I saw alumni walking through the Q last week I'd always give them a high five and/or thank them for coming out. But just coming is not good enough anymore. Alumi needs to DO MORE. Look around at the other mid-major programs. They're alumni and students are loud and proud. They make it difficult to play against their teams at home. Can you imagine if the entire lower half of the JAR was in together on a defense chant? How deafening could that be? Nobody is saying the alumni aren't true fans. We know they are...trust me. The alumni has always been there, and this year, the students stepped up to match them by showing up just as much as they did. The students then took it to the next level, becoming a serious factor in the game with chants, cheers, and noise. Now it's time for the alumni to step it up a notch as well...

From reading your columns, I would expect more from you. How can you just stereotype a Buckeye fan? Am I a Buckeyes fan as well as a Zips fan? Yes. Do I think OSU has a better athletic program than any other college in Ohio? Yes, overall, I do. Do I think they are the only college in Ohio? Hell no. I think the state is full of great basketball programs, like Cincy, Can't, and now Akron. Football has produced some very good squads recently, such as Akron, BG, Miami, and Toledo. I've sat next to a few AK-Rowdies that are straight up embarassing in how they act and speak to others. Does that mean that all AK-Rowdies are idiots? Hell no...I know that the large majority of our group are great, knowledgable, respectable fans...I don't stereotype the group because of a few bad apples. Please quit doing the same to Buckeyes fans based on what a few friends are like, or (I'm guessing) because of a personal distaste for OSU.

Worst excuse I have ever heard. "I don't want to go to a free basketball game where my team is playing because the bleacher seats aren't very good."If that is truely some students excuse, we are better off if they stay home.Fan stands for "fanatic", not "well I'll go to see them if I get seats behind the hoop for free."Sure it's fun to sit behind the hoop, but a real fan will sit anywhere to see there team.Just ask Browns fans.JAR needs redone so we can get more students down below to make a ton of noise.I am guessing if Mack is as good as I heard he is, this will happen sooner than later.Good topic. Story in the Buchtelite could have been more extensive.I still like the idea of an alumni section too. Hey, we can agree to disagree. Have you ever sat in the upper level? You can't even watch the game. From the barrier, to the people walking, to being up high...you might as well stay at home. Just my opinion. And nobody said the alumni weren't fans. We appreciate them showing up. We just feel that if we're now asking for more from the team, we need to ask more from the fans...as RowdyZip said, showing up is no longer enough.