72 Roo

I'm in Columbus and the radio reception of OU's station here is horrible. Can anyone tell me how to get the game from 1350 who is streaming. I've never done it before and am somewhat ignorant of how to access. OU sucks when we are playing them, otherwise I like their campus.

A design similar to the SMU stadium would be ideal.There is only one problem, there is no money to enclose the stadium at one end to create a horseshoe. Mac, and the committee to build the stadium, must deal with real world concerns of limited funding. We will probably end up with a sunken field, 20' - 25', below street level, with seating on either side and grassy slopes at each end. The plan is to enclose one or both ends at some time to get the seating capacity up. That will be driven solely by demand for more capacity.Don't get me wrong. I'd love an SMU-type stadium, but that design would add a minimum $10,000,000 more than what they have. Major donors are not stepping up to support that vision, regardless of how perfect it would be for the future of football, Akron athletics and the local economy. Until that happens, we will see a 25,000 seat stadium that will be designed to accomodate expansion if demand is there on a consistent basis.I agree with the earlier poster who said there is little we can do to influence the design decision unless we have a whole lot of money to donate. The stadium will boost our team, but not as fast or far as a visionary stadium would. For now, it looks like we will have to grow into something better than we will get.I also agree with many others who say

Our schedule had better not be what you guys are saying. We would only have four home game,all late in the year. This time, it is not something that was set up years ago. If we get no OOC home games, heads should roll in the athletic department.UAKid,It is the athletic dept under MAC's direction who has set up this schedule. Unless something drastic happens, we will only have four home games next year. Army is thrilled to use the Patriot series as a reason to force the game to be played in the Cleveland market. They get nothing out of coming to the bowl.Mac seems to be systematically alienating all the employees of the athletic dept he has inherited. Hence, you have the poorest athletic marketeer the university has seen in years, 100% turnover in athletic development, and piss poor presentation/entertainment value of most of our televised games. Mac just hired a guy out of Texas El Paso for athletic fundraising who has never done the job. Additionally, he only interviewed this one guy. Even when he had people on his current team who applied for the job, he never gave them the courtesy of a perfunctory interview.Mac has made some good hires and he deserves credit for that. He also has belatedly sign two great coaches in Mitchell and KD while extending the contract of JD, who has potential. These are all good accomplishments, but the morale and sense of vision that was uniformly shared and lived by the athletic dept has been destroyed, which is now showing up more and more. The schedule is an example.Mac deserves watching to see if he can renew a sense of purpose. As for me, and a few employees of his dept, I don't see it coming. I hope I'm wrong.

The schedule is shaping up to be a possible disaster. Army is only willing to play us in Cleveland Stadium (we'll be lucky to get 15,000) and Indiana does not want to come. Within the athletic dept one official says it's a done deal ... Indiana is not coming.Stay tuned.

I appreciatethe debate on my comment as to how we present on TV. I also appreciate the reminder regarding my faux pax in referring to us as AU vs U of A. I stand corrected, but it really doesn't change my opinion. The lower bowl on the teams side was half full. Eevry time the camera panned slightly up you saw it and it looked bad.I know the Wisc Green Bay vs Wisc Milwaukee was worse. Do we really want to benchmark ourselves against them. I think not. Rather take a look at the Big East, that's the level we need to shoot for. Their games rarely have any open seats lower to courtside. The lower bowl seats are owned by many corporate supporters. The university can still reserve the right to place fans there if those seats are not used. That is a policy we should give consideration. The timnes i have brought friends to a game they are amazed that the prime seats are so open. Until the purchaser fills them I think the university has to protect its image by puting people in those seats. Perhaps if the buyers show up the university will also provide cardiac defibulators to resuscitate the blue hairs after they stand once per game. They really should be moved so we can get some excitement courtside. But first things first. My main issue is filling those seats.Some of you have read my comments to be critical of the Rowdies. They were not. I only said it did not appear there were enough of them on TV. I still think that is an accurate statement. The ones who showed did well. I hope you grow in numbers. Thanks for being a Rowdy.

I've got to get this off my chest. Some may not agree with me but here goes.The AU-WMU did not present well on TV. The gym is obviously small like many in the MAC. But there is no freakin' excuse for all the empty seats in the lower bowl behind the bench/scorer's table side. Here we are going for our 15th win of the season, on national TV, Dambrot only losing twice in the JAR, a five game win streak, etc., and the blue hairs who buy the former Zip Athletic Club seats don't even fill half. That was downright embarrassming to all of us who love the Zips. How can you project a quality program that is exciting to be part of, yet half the lower bowl seats are empty?Mac has got to do something about these no-shows. Without these seats filled our marketing takes a huge PR hit. The people buying the rights to those preferred seats need to use them, even though they are mostly half dead during games, or Mac should fill them with students if unoccupied 5 minutes after tipoff. Some schools have done just that. If a person is running late they can call a hotline and get another 5 minute extension. Otherwise the seats go to students who can bring life to the courtside and help create an exciting atmosphere. Our program is getting better. Demand for tickets will grow faster if the JAR can be turned into a can't pass it up venue. People will rave about the electric atmosphere. It will happen. The sooner we get those seats filled the better the program looks in person and on TV. If we want better athletes we've got to present on TV better.Talking about presentation, the AK-Rowdies looked anemic. The ones that were there tried their best but there are not enough bodies on either end to project excitement. I don't know who is to blame for this, maybe no one. But the fact is the critical mass of crazies needed to make the impression we want aren't in the stands. It looks over TV like Akron is trying to have a program, we are successful, but no one cares. I refuse to believe that. This board is passionate and I can remember all the way back to Tony Laterza, Wyatt Webb and Memorial Hall. The desire for the passion of those days is still here. Mac and his marketing dept need to harness it.Until then, I will still drive from Columbus to see as many games as possible. I'll still support the ZIPS no matter what, but on TV we do not look good.

Let's not ghet too excited about the QB position until we see a major fix on our very poor offensive line. My prediction is that next year we continue to struggle there as JD did not prepare replacements during the course of this season. The game is won on the lines. We have a long, long season in front of us.

I agree with ya'll (thrown in for Tex Zip) that I would like to see JD stay another year, or more, and show he can coach. After this year I feel he has much to prove. He lost control of this team and things kinda spiraled out of control. My belief is that he has the ability. I also believe that if he shows it he will stay for no more than two years. We are not faced with a situation of if JD will leave, but rather when JD will leave.We need to find that rare individual, like KD, who cares more about his legacy than about jumping up to better jobs. Administration should support him and get out of his way. Akron needs to build a following, a tradition, and an expectation of victory. That takes many, many years, but leaves a solid foundation to build from. This is a pipedream, but you got to start somewhere. My dream coach would be someone who wants to be at Akron, loves Akron, and wants to keep taking it to the next level. He will not make a lot of money. But as the program grows he will make more and be known as the guy who made Akron reach its potential, which is beyond the MAC.Now I'm signing off and going to bed to dream some more. It may be crazy, but high goals are never achieved until someone dares to dream them. Go Zips!

Anyone who says we are turning on our coaches just doesn't get it. This football team played way below their ability. To accept their performance is to accept mediocrity and possibly sub-standard play. Can anyone say Lee Owens era? That's true mediocrity. We can, should and must do better. The talent and facilities are there. Let's not lower our standards or expectations because some posters don't know how to evaluate performance.

"it's going to get better next year for the kicking game, and offense simply because they can't get much worse"Racer, respectfully I'm not sure that is a given. Here's how I see it. We will have an unproven QB, a mostly new O line w/no depth, a running back (Kennedy) who gets happy feet trying to fake out everyone to get wide to running space rather than hit the hole with authority, no proven TE who can block a tackle and get open, an undersized FB, and a leftover poor kicking game. Our offensive play calling was nothing to be proud of either. That's too much to improve in one season. True our receivers could be the best in the MAC, but we have too many holes to fill. For me the most critical concern is the line where games are won or lost. If JD can find guys with size, skill and heart we can recover. I doubt it though. For what it's worth I hope I'm wrong.I believe we need to brace for a disappointing year.

Zipboy, thanks for sending your post. Very interesting. What seems to cause me concern is that the recruits who are expected to contribute early seem to be the ones we are having trouble keeping. That may be because for any MAC school to get someone who is capable of playing early, that recruit may be marginal by Big ten or Big East standards i.e. grades, work ethic, attitude, character. Therefore, they end up with us but still have the baggage ( see good old Nate Robinson). Just a thought, not really researched.Either way we are in for a tough year next year. With completely rebuilt offensive and defensive lines, a new quarterback and no solution to special teams in sight we have to brace ourselves for a bleak season. Just what I need, more post Thanksgiving depression.

Hey pals, let's knock the crap off! We did not take care of business repeatedly this season.Stop the ridiculous excuses. OU beat us outright. They played with greater pride and spirit than we did. Their coaching staffs made adjustments. JD and ours did not. Our O line was manhandled by the OU D line. Our receivers dropped 7 freaking passes. Our D line never penetrated. Getsy made poor decisions all night long. I had a field pass for that game and I was embarrassed by what I saw and heard on our sideline. This was truly a team of underachievers. Guys we didn't execute and it is costing us a chance to go to the MACC again, slowing our evolution to a highly respected team and pointing out JD has limitations. I haven't lost hope though. We have a pipeline of talent, the facilities continue to improve (latest: new offices in the fieldhouse) and I believe JD can learn from this experience. I support him and wish him well. But he has to get a reality grip and stop the excuses of 8 plays separates us from where we are and 8-3. That's just a smokescreen and should not be tolerated by us or Mac Rhodes. I know he is under pressure but stand up and take responsibility for the underachieving product he put out on the field. JD, his staff, the seniors and the captains are responsible for accepting poor performance. The key to solving a problem is to admit you have one. We have a great future with football. I, for one, will not let anyone stop me from believing in that vision. We are doing the right things. This season set us back, but does not stop us from recovering and growing to seize our potential. This is just a bitter pill to swallow since we all know we could have done far better.

Thanks for all the replies. This is going to be a huge game for OU and it ought to be the same for us. You just never know if Akron is going to show up ready to play to its potential. So far this season that has been rare. I fear Ou's running game. True our backers are too small andthe D line has not put on pressure or penetrated. Tough combination for us.But there is always the possibility of a miracle finish. I believethe game is won on the line. If we can show some offense I believe our defense can find a way to slow the OU running game.Good luck to GoCats and the rest of the OU faithful. I hope it is a great game with the Zips winning. I know for sure that it will be hard hitting. These two teams take it to each other with a vengeance each year.I can't get anyone from Columbus to join me so I'll adopt some Zip fans as new buddies when I get there. Look for a homeless Zip wandering around. Like Lee Adams, I'm a little older, but passionate about he Zips.

Some questions for the board:1) I'm coming from Columbus. Does anyone know if the Zips' fans will be seated all together?2) Is there a real chance of a sellout?3) Any Zips tailgating? Where? I'd like to say hi and swap lies.4) I'd like to sit with some Zip faithful. Any ideas where the most of our fans will be?5) Does anyone know if our O line has decided to play? I thought this veteran group of underachievers embarrassed itself against a mediocre Buffalo defense.6) Can our coaching staff keep from getting out-coached like Toledo and Can't did to us? I believe in J.D. but he or his assistants have done a poor job in preparing the team and making adjustments to the opposition.7) Sorry, I'm starting to rant. Just frustrated seeing a potentially great season slip away.

Thanks. For those of us who don't live in Akron and get the ABJ that article was touching. I remember the first time Jackoboice conducted the band he took over. I was blow away. What an improvement! It was the start of a band to be proud of. We all owe him a debt for his contribution to the U of A.

I think some of the posters were thinking UC has a stadium that is as rundown as the Rubber Bowl. Nothing could be further from the truth. It's a great place to watch a game. Completely rebuilt/restored and crying for a high quality team to play there. Maybe Dantonio will build one yet. The only sad comment is regarding the attendance. UC plays a schedule better than ours but draws poorly. I for one would love to have a Nippert clone on Exchange Street.

This just in .... The MAC Report has confirmed Can't sucks. But you knew that didn't you.

Can't is improved over last year, that much is true. But don't think for a minute that they can beat the Zips if we come to play. JD will have 'em ready and Can't will be treated to a defense that is every bit as good as Minnesota's. Remember 44-0?This is our game and there ain't no amount of Can't State false bravado that can change that. I hope all the golden flushes enjoy being drilled and eating crow. The Zips own you and that isn't going to change for a long time to come with our superior coaching and recruiting classes.BTW, when was the last time Can't won? Just as I thought, you can't remember either.GO ZIPS!

I agree our kicking game is a problem. What about the freshman from Lake Catholic? A former soccer player who was rated as the second best place kicker in Ohio and 10th in the country. Is he being red-shirted. I thought he reported this Fall, but haven't heard much about him. Can someone fill me in. Thanks. Go Zips! The Can't game will be great, but don't doubt for a minute that it is our game. J.D. will have 'em ready. He understands the importance of this as a rivalry, for recruiting, for the MAC East and the fact most of us hate Can't.

First time post, but this is a good topic.I'm in lock step with most of the board when they say the stadium needs to be done right. let's read that as right for the future. I get real scared when I hear discussion of limited budgets and working with what we've got. Those are just excuses for getting something up and getting it wrong. Remember the JAR. I do. I spoke with President Guzetta before he accepted the design and urged him to reject it.The stadium design must be expandable. I'm impressed with what Louisville did with Papa John Stadium. They built it with 42,000 seat capacity and are now planning to expand it to 63,000. We can't be as nice as they have because we don't have the funding. But on the other hand we can't build one just to get the public off the board of trustees backs. A 30K seat expandable stadium is an absolute necessity.BTW, did anyone see that on the initial picture of the stadium the architects had wedged a dorm between the stadium and Exchange St. There goes the positive visual effect this signature structure could make on visitors approaching the campus. What happened to some green space to make it stand out and be a symbol of our athletic emergence? The days of packing building upon building at Akron have got to end. Our campus is tremendous, but this design will not send the message we want.Let's be a positve force for change so we can be proud of what we end up with.