Blue & Gold

Speaking as one of those "handicap" parkers. may I just say, "FU!"That sight actually seems to be a long way off for handicapped parking. Shouldn't the handicapped parking be nearest the stadium?

Does anyone have an idea of how much single-game general admission tickets will probably run? I'm starting to try to get some groups together for some games, but I'd like to be able to tell my friends with kids just how much tickets will be. I'm going to guess $15. Does that sound about right?

Here's a cool little hip-hop/rock ditty:

<br /><br />The MAC needs to have a balanced schedule, one where we play all the teams in our own division, or else the NCAA can take away the MAC championship game. We're only allowed to do it now thanks to a NCAA waiver. granted on the premise that we're actively seeking a way to balance the divisions. You may not like the championship game, but it brings in more money than all of the MAC bowl games combined. <br /><br />Why in the world would you want to cut Buffalo, Temple, and NIU but keep Can't, BG and EMU? The MAC is too concentrated in northern Ohio. Dropping Can't and BG loses nothing for the league. EMU just sucks all around.<br /><br /><br /><br />My sentiments EXACTLY, 'Kid. You beat me to the punch. I was about to respond that we don't need any more than 4 schools in the MAC from the state of Ohio. Drop Can't - leaving UA in NE Ohio, drop BGSU - leaving UT in NW Ohio. Then we've got OU in the SE corner and Miami in the SW.No way do we want to drop Buffalo! UA and U@B have so much in common - natural rivals. I'm also for keeping Temple - with the condition that they join for all sports.Also, I'd also vot for dropping Eastern Michigan and Ball State. EMU sucks at everything - and did you know their campus is only about 5 minuts from U of Michigan?! I feel sorry for them but they don't have a chance at drawing many fans @ that school. And Ball State? Well, if you'd ask 100 college football fans where the heck Ball State is located, 99 wouldn't have a clue. Drop them.Then I'll vote for adding Illinois State. Nothing bad about adding another state university that is actually a state. Lol.That would give us a trimmed down and stronger MAC of Akron, Toledo, Buffalo, Ohio, Miami, Temple, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Illinois State.IMHO that's really not a bad sounding conference!

I mentioned this in another thread, but man, something's just got to be done about the plasma center. I was checking out the stadium again last night and again, just like every time I stroll by, it smacks you in the face just how embarrassing that plasma center is going to be for UA. It is disgraceful and straight-ghetto. The average I.Q. of a plasma center loiterer appears to be somewhere between a plant and a frog. Last night I watched as some 250-pound, white-trash chick blew cigarette smoke in her babies face as she was just standing outside that place with this blank, mindless, oblivious expression on her face. It's gross.<br /><br />I know change won't happen over night, but I'm horrified to think that directly across from the striking Main Gate of the sparkling new Info will sit an old Speedway gas station and, gasp, the decrepid plasma center.<br /><br />Has ANYONE heard ANY rumors of ANY potential development on that block? What would it take to get The Winking Lizard to build where the PC is now located? That spot should be an absolutely PRIME location.

Good grief, fellas. Knock it off. We need to bulldoze the Plasma Center and build the arena there! (Only half joking) I was checking out the stadium again tonight and it struck me once again, wow, what an embarrassing, low-life magnet that plasma center is and it is going to be directly across from our new stadium's MAIN GATE!! Good grief.

<br />I wish him luck. He probably got tired of being on the practice team. Can't blame him.<br /><br /><br /><br />Very true. It's a good move for him. He'll do very well @ that level. Good luck Eric!

Straight pimpin'!

Eric Coblentz transferred to Malone.

That's funny, as the gray and white combo was my personal favorite. Ha. But I think we all agree that the gray helmet is great! Put me in the camp that likes what Oregon does w/ their uniforms.

Welcome to the ZN family! And good question. Could they be platforms to stand on as workers install the ribbon scoreboard?

Congratulations on graduating from Basic!

Sometimes my BlackBerry doesn't cooperate very nicely with the ZN board. But what, exactly, were we supposed to see w the link you provided?

Was that a serious comment? A professional sports team doesn't care about which college team fans root for.Was this a serious quote? Absolutely yes. Don't think for a split second that ANY professional sports organization is not KEENLY interested in where a potential fan base chooses to spend their limited entertainment $$$.

Sauerkraut balls & Barberton chicken. And, of course, HAMBURGERS - since the hamburg' was invented here, after all. And Strickland's ice cream!!! (Or custard, or whatever it is.)

I don't know, but last night I went to check out the stadium sight and happened to park next to Patrick Nicely and Joe Vidovic (sp?). So some of the freshmen must be on campus already.

<br /><br /><br />Amen, my Akron-area brother! Do not be deceived and make no mistake, Cleveland would, without hesitation, squash Akron like a bug if they could. Cleveland's professional sports teams don't want to see ANY Zips fans. Neither does Columbus. Go Akron! Go UA! Go Zips!

At the risk of drawing the infantile ire of a certain poster, as I look at our northern campus area in conjuction with downtown, I am beginning to think the best location for our new arena really may be the current parking lot just north of Quaker Square.Here is the BIG twist - we should close Mill Street and knock the bridge down - creating a large, pedestrian friendly, Arena-Quaker Square area. This location could help the bars/restaurants in the Historic District and Northside, as well as be a great same-block compliment to the Summit ArtSpace building. The Historic District is actually quite hip & seems on the verge of really becoming something special. If we could then somehow landscape the northern edge of downtown to make a pedestrian-friendly concourse from Perkins Street to the Northside District it would really create a truly substantial indie-bohemian-type area.This Mill Street location would also be but one block removed from the John S. Knight Convention Center and could be used for conventions as well as concerts and Zips b-ball.(I don't know how to post an image, but you can easily mapquest the area. In fact, Summit ArtSpace is located @ 140 East Market Street, Akron, OH 44308. QUAker SqUAre is then found one block to the south.)

Can "the MAC" make the corporate decision to drop down a level? How would that work without affecting the autonomy of member schools? If over 50% of the schools are for it, then must those programs that would want to remain D-1A have to either get on board or jump ship? And if we have to leave the MAC in order to maintain our D-1A status, then we risk the very likely posibility of being an independent for a number of years until another D-1A conference would let us join, no?

Concerning the scoreboard pillars, it most definitely appears that they are going to remain the Akron-blue steel. But I was walking around the stadium sight just last night and believe me, they look great just how they are!

That is interesting, as Buffalo is also my second favorite U in the East and Toledo my favorite U in the West. Great minds think alike.

This once intelligent discussion has been hijacked and reduced to hyperbolic name calling. This is very disappointing. Generally the discussions on ZipsNation are even-handed when differing opinions are given on issues and travel a much higher road than the road to which this thread has descended.If I might try to restore some level-headed conversation, Jake, I see your point and find it very interesting. I've always been in the camp that believes the U should try to help downtown - a symbiotic relationship, if you will - and a downtown arena would do just that. We are in a different position that most urban campuses in that our campus lies adjacent with the downtown area.However, you maintain that the U should look out for Number One first, foremost and exclusively. However, by doing so, this will have the eventual consequence of indirectly revitalizing downtown Akron by building a stronger UA campus. Very good point and, I believe, worthy of much discussion!!!Jake, do you want to see a more vibrant downtown Akron? One of your comments above left me with the feeling that, though you love UA, you couldn't care less if downtown thrived, or not. Your answer to this question might help others on the board better understand your point of view - not that it is wrong, or right, just like g-mann is neither wrong, nor right. This board is for intelligent debate & discussion - what fun is it if everyone agreed on everything?For me, downtown Akron is one BIG reason I am so interested in UA athletics. I do want to see a more vibrant downtown - a downtown that Akron residents and Summit County residents are proud of. I want to see Akronites proud to be Akronites, and I feel a strong UA, a strong U athletics program and a vibrant downtown are all pieces of that puzzle. And when I think of UA and downtown Akron working together on a project for the good of both parties, well, I like the idea.

I'm sorry, but this comment really bothers me and since you have every right to say what you want, as well as I, I would just like to call you out and say, speak for yourself. No hard feelings though, just don't tell me what sports to root for.As an aside, I do wish we had a stronger baseball program.

I'm pretty certain they could still fit an arena into the original spot. They would perhaps have to design it around Troppe's new property, but that may actually add some character. When I look @ the block across from Canal Park, I think they could/should leave the Mayflower standing (dorm space) as well as Troppe's building and the Main St./Exchange-corner building and still have more-than-sufficient room for a b-ball arena. I still think that is the optimal sight, with UA now having a presence on Main Street. That sight is within the campus footprint.If not there, then perhaps we could somehow encorporate a new arena in with the John S. Knight Convention Center?

I like this quote from Rasor's blog:"The coaching staff likes Egner's athleticism — that he plays above the rim. "That's a great thing. I was getting a little tired of players who seemed scared to go up strong and dunk the ball. That's probably what I missed most about Romeo Travis and a healthy Jeremiah Wood. Go up angry and strong and rip the rim down! Break someone's wrist if they try to block you! (Or at least draw the foul.)