Aaron

There were posts a while ago about the Barley House being the next official watch party location. Does anyone have details about the PSU game this Saturday?

Kudos?!?!?! More like false advertising!!! When I purchased my family plan, I was told that the 4 seats are mine to use how I like and to take anyone I would like. Much like the Browns' "family plan", past Cavaliers "family plans", etc.. This is a major screw up on their part, and the ticket office will be hearing from me Monday.Sorry somebody at the university mis-sold you! My Kudos were for the instant child ID system at the game. Lost kids not only have their parent's (or ticket owner's) name on their wrist, but also have the right seat to return them to as well.

The only disappointing to me about the tour was the trash already in place. There were cigarette butts all over the family sections 202 and 204, counted easily a packs worth up there. Out on the field, we noticed some gum in the astroturf while waiting for the kids inflatables. Open to the public with free food, I knew there would be people there who just didn't care, I just didn't think it would be that bad. I hope everything is cleaned up in the next two weeks for a beautiful first game!

Just received the following email:The University of Akron athletics department will allow the public to get a feel for InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field on game day, hosting a Stadium Preview/Meet the Team Saturday (Aug. 29) from 11 am-1 pm.The event is free and open to the public and parking will be available in the lots on the corners of Carroll and Spicer Streets. Also, free food will be provided (while supplies last) in the new concession areas, including Papa John's Pizza, Shearer's Pretzels and Pepsi products.However, to enter, you must first pick up a ticket at Gate 2 of InfoCision Stadium (northwest corner, closest to the Lee Jackson Track and Stile Field House). We are asking everyone to get their free ticket in order to test the new scanners.Once inside, fans will have a taste of the atmosphere that will be present Sept. 12 when the Zips host Morgan State at 2 pm. There will be inflatables and other games; the audio, video board and ribbon boards will be tested; the 2009 Zips football team will be on hand to sign autographs and have their pictures taken; Zippy and more.In addition to walking throughout the concourse and on Summa Field, fans can tour the FirstMerit Foundation Club Level. Then, at Noon, those who have purchased luxury suites will have the "Suite Testing" where they can taste items that will be on the menu for the Zips' six home games. For more information on the "Suite Testing" contact the Z-Fund at 330-972-FUND.As a reminder, FSN Ohio will broadcast a 30-minute show devoted solely to InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. The show will debut on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 9:30 and air a total of 10 times. The schedule for the 10 shows is as follows:Akron Zips: Welcome to InfoCision Stadium (broadcast on FSN Ohio)Aug. 27 - 9:30 pmAug. 28 - 10:00 pmAug. 29 - 1:30 pmAug. 31 - 10:00 pmSept. 1 - 11:00 pmSept. 2 - 7:30 pmSept. 3 - 9:30 pmSept. 4 - 2:00 pmSept. 4 - 6:30 pmSept. 5 - NoonSee you on Saturday!

3 Firestone and 3 North games? Looks like they're inviting schools based on academics rather than football quality - probably a good plan for the University.

In the docs with my season tickets, it says that RVs will have to pay per spot that they take up - a parking pass will give you one free space in a lot, then it will be $5 more for each additional space.

Got mine yesterday as well - nice 'collectible card' feel to them.FYI, the family packs come with two sets of adult tickets, and two sets of wristbands for kids. Wristbands are only valid for admission when worn by children, and have the seat/row number printed clearly on the band along with the parent's name. Kudos to some smart folks at the university for coming up with that one.

Here's one we've missed:http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/rank?versi...d=362#topOfListLet ESPN know the Zips are top in the MAC!

Fantastic videos! We've been doing pretty much the same pregame routine for 15 years now, its nice to see some changes there to go with the new stadium. Temptation, the hey song, maybe some other new songs... its great! Nice to have Galen (Dr. Karriker?) back

That's impressive! Did Can't finally shut down their sorry excuse of a band and give the instruments to people who actually know how to use them? Is the band on campus this week, or is their camp next week?

I actually asked this question during the stadium tour Monday, and our guide side that yes, there will definitely be doors on bathroom stalls, and there are individual urinals as well in the men's bathrooms.

I have much more hope for Akron's offense vs. PSU than I have in previous years. The right matchups and decent experience should be able to put a few scoring drives up on the board (although a few missed passes and those scoring drives stall right out...). The biggest question mark in my mind is when or if our defense can stop Penn State's running game. Our offense putting up 35 points doesn't mean much if the defense is giving up a TD every possession. I believe instead of our normal .5% chance to win, we may be at around 2-3% chance this year.

I hope they can get some drink and appetizer specials going similar to OBC, it made for a great gameday party. Either way, I'll be there again every game with the family in tow.

No matter the sport,no matter the time, cant sucksFl.a.shes - fear the roo

Ah yes, the freezer bowl. I was one of the 100 or so there till the bitter end - I HAD to see the team get the MAC championship, especially when it came by beating Can't State.I remember hanging out with the Band in one of the few heated areas of the Rubber bowl - the restroom, building up enough internal heat to head back out and brave the cold again for another few minutes. The kickoffs and punts being pushed by the wind all the way to the 1 yd line were great. I think the most important play of that game for the Zips was the opening coin toss, to get the wind on their side. This game ranks up with my most memorable Rubber Bowl events ever (right up there with the Hoban vs. St. V-M game of '96, the first year they renewed their rivalry).

If you're playing a version that gets updates (X360, PS3, PC) I would bet the stadium will come through in a version update a few months after release, once they've had time to get cameras into the place to do the modelling. They pride themselves on having all the details right.

We should work out something with the akron zoo and have kangaroo exhibit at the stadium. I mean would never suggest having it on the field, thats not safe, but keep in a secure area, similar to the ray tank they have at tropicana field!it would be great draw to get more families to come, their kids can go look at the real live zippys!!!!!At the Cleveland Zoo, in their Australian exhibit, the kangaroos are free roaming. I bet this could fairly easily be done. The biggest challenge is keeping them warm enough during our late season games.

See another topic on the boards for the best band fundraiser ever - sell chairbacks for the bleachers at the new stadium!

The Info is getting the band a lot of money (in an indirect way). Bussing the band to the Rubber Bowl for every game used to be a rather large expense for the band. Simply being able to march to the stadium should save enough money for a decent (plastic) Sousaphone. Now, one more 'tuba' isn't going to instantly make the band better sounding, but year after year that they keep this up can make a big difference. I agree with all the funding ideas above, BTW. Set up a table with the CD outside the stadium for donations as well. Sell the CD in the team shops, etc.

Ok, I may get some flack for posting this on an Akron board, but I believe (at least as of 3-5 years ago) the best marching band in the MAC is probably Central Michigan. To me, their depth of sound and precision marching is fantastic. They're not a large band, but every time I've seen them, everybody plays their part without fault, and creates a strong unified sound. But, that's the opinion of someone who doesn't like show bands, and can tell when a band's low sound is off balance with the high pitches. Ohio U's band always struck me as a bit unprofessional, too high-schoolish for my taste, and when they play their music, it never sounds quite right to me. Kind of like a tune played through $10 speakers instead of a Bose. However, OU is the ONLY show band in the MAC, and if you like show/swing bands, no one else can compete. I don't see Akron ever performing in a style like OU's. One of the best comparisons for Akron's band is going to be Pitt or Cincinnati - we should be able to be at their level if not greater year after year.

I'm one of those crazies who spent 6 yrs in band trying to improve things, 4 years UG, 2 yrs Grad (Stryker - are you Zips DM?). So my ideas for improvement are going to be a bit technical, but here goes.When Mr. Karriker first came to the university, he changed our pre-game marching style to one that is technically quite a bit more difficult than something that say, OU does, but will produce clean lines and a huge sound when implemented correctly. Here's the problem - we've rarely (if ever) implemented that high step well. In my opinion, we have enough people now that we don't necessarily need the sound boost from the raised step. If we went with the easier show style high step, it would look more exciting to fans, who probably don't really care about how strong the sound is. In other words, an easy step done well is preferrable to a difficult step done poorly (at least to me).I would love to see run-on changed to a formation where the band could be playing to the whole stadium at once. From the student section in the rubber bowl, the band was just too far away to hear the drum cadence well, and the sound was all focused on the home sideline. With the new stadium, there will be no 'home side', and hopefully a new pre-game will be developed that plays to everyone in the crowd. After the initial playing of our fight song, as well as the opposition's, I never could understand why the band moved around while playing the short stand cheers. Those would be much more effective if everyone in the stadium could hear what the band is playing the entire time. I would also like to see a 'related formation' for God Bless America and the Star Spangled Banner, instead of the concert setup they do each week. Even better, maybe God Bless America can be switched out for other patriotic songs from time to time. Maybe armed forces marches based on which ROTC presents the flag that day? It would pick things up a little bit between the Alma Mater and the National Anthem.Next, drop 'Win for Akron'. It's slower than most other things we play, its boring (barely moves), nobody outside the band knows the words, and its not even the school's fight song. Play something exciting instead while going to the block Zips please! This song could even change week to week, or cycle through 2-3 pieces. Going into the tunnel is great, but why does the band just stand around while you're there? I believe the drumline could and should continue to play, building up to the team entrance, getting everyone so fired up they don't care if the other team is coming out of their tunnel. I wish people were so fired up for the Zips coming, they don't even care about booing the other team. The team comes out, and boom, we have fireworks, the fight song (played to the ENTIRE stadium, not just a few people on one side), before a spirited march off the field, with the band keeping up energy until they make it all the way off the field.Again, this isn't a huge change from what we have now, but I think they could be significant improvements. Fans like OU because they play to the crowd, and do what they need to do to be always together and sound strong. Musicians and band folk who don't come from swing bands (I'm looking at you, Massillon) tend to dislike OU because they do things as easily as possible, keeping all style and no substance. OU will get invited to many parades year after year, because TV cameras don't care about how you sound, they care about how you look. Never use parade invitations to measure the worth of a band, as many parades will never invite strong sounding bands - their echoes off buildings would sound horrible for the television. I personally hope our band NEVER wears capes, and never dances. We're a marching band, not a dance team.Aaron O,Zips MB 97-03

Halftime, still tied 0-0, but we've been giving their goalie a busy day. Zips have 8 shots (4 SOG), with SteveZ leading the way with 3, all SOG. Suckeyes have had 3 shots (2 SOG). If we keep up another 8 shots in the next half, one of them HAS to get through...

25 minutes in, 0-0, but zips lead 3-2 in shots

I don't know about radio, but you can get score updates at http://www.ncaa.com/brackets/2008/ncaa_bra...soccer_men.htmlThey have a free gametracker, which is (unfortunately) probably as good as you'll find online for soccer

Even more importantly, Mich St. lost to Ill.-Chicago in PK, so as Akron keeps winning, we can be at home all the way to the finals!!!