ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net

Whoever said the thing about tailgating right through the game might have been onto something! Stumbling into the stadium in the 4th quarter three sheets to the wind would certainly allow me to see the team through beer goggles, and really, that might be the best way to watch them this year.

Attendance was 10,086 of which half were present. Next home game we will get 3,000. These are the lowest of days to be a Zip. I would agree if we were still at the Rubber Bowl. The Info is a great place to tailgate, catch a game, be near downtown, etc. Whatever happens the rest of the way we've got that. I will agree with the tone of recent GP1 posts here, in that the MAC needs to figure out, and soon, what it wants to be. In 2010, this is a D-1 FBS conference in name only. Where are we headed, Mr. MAC Commissioner? Also, for Luis Proenza, where do you envision this program? It's entirely possible that the building of new facilities was accomplished with no connection to larger-better program intentions of any kind on the part of administrators. Who says a FCS or even D-II program can't play in a 30,000 seat stadium?

It was noted by more than a few fans that I talked with yesterday that Carter was on the sideline most of the game. In fact, a couple of us assumed he was injured, and yet there he was on kicks, and almost broke one late in the game. He's a player that must be on the field, at some position, as much as possible. That was a head scratcher for sure.

I remarked yesterday to other fans about the Temple game last year, along with the games against Big Ten teams we've played in recent years. In those games I didn't need to be a football scout to see the size, speed and athleticism differences between our teams and the opponents. They were obviously bigger, faster, more talented and the end results were completely predictable before the first snap. Before yesterday's game I assumed we'd see much the same between the Zips and GW with the Zips being obviously more talented. They weren't. I was amazed yesterday to see that GW was generally as big as we were, as fast (or faster at some positions) and just as physical as we were. Their O and D lines played as stoutly as ours, their skill players were more dynamic (especially that big #84--where is our #84?) and, painfully, their coaching seemed brighter. Now again I'm no football expert but it hurts a lot to say that this Zips team appears to me to be a FCS football team, and even worse, without the benefit of creative and dynamic coaching. I hope these things improve but it was certainly tough to watch yesterday. Now onto the silver lining. The Info is a great place to watch a game, it's right on campus near good restaurants and much more convenient than the RB was, and (BONUS) now it looks like those of us who attend games will have plenty of individual seat space. As I heard another fan say yesterday, they can't take the Info away from us now! Also, the lot 9 tailgating was another good time. I find myself in a place where to me, UA football is about the tailgating and the overall game-day atmosphere in our new house. I'm having fun going to these games and having some good food and beer, and in the end that's what matters in an entertainment product. If the Zips get their heads out of their asses it'll just be the icing on the cake. I mean, ask Cubs fans (or Browns fans for that matter) if the suckitude of their team means they can't have fun. Historically, taking UA football too seriously has proven to be bad for one's health. I'm not going to be trapped in that misery and instead choose to support the team but ensure that I have a good time doing so. GO ZIPS!

Attendance: 15,900 Akron: 28 GW: 10 Real enjoyment to had: tailgating before the game Go Zips!

Things that went well yesterday: 1) The weather was predicted to be far worse than it actually was. By game time, it had turned into a beautiful day. 2) Say what you will about the tailgating lot prices, but eating and drinking with other fans in lot 9 was damned nice. I was feeling good about just being a part of the atmosphere before we ever got to our seats. 3) The crowd was small, it was Rubber Bowl sized, but I didn't walk away from the facility at the end of the game embarrassed by the stadium, walking through wet grass and mud to my car. 4) The defense looked respectable, stout at times, even though a perusal of the box score has me wondering. 5) The band was really good and it appeared that there were more students in their section, and on the grass, than at many games last year. Certainly MANY more than used to go to games at the Rubber Bowl. 6) The overall game day experience was very good. I'll keep on coming back just for that, regardless of the number of fans in the stands. I suppose many of us, me included, expected that the University had decided to flip the switch on real, bigger-time, actual D-1 football when the new facilities were built. I now believe that it is possible that they took a chance to build when the opportunity presented itself, without simultaneously deciding to take the additional steps required to build an up and coming program. I also wonder if there is already so much pressure, so much competition in the college football universe, that there simply is no room for programs like Akron to "become" more substantial (read competitive) than they are now. If so, how about we schedule FCS teams out of conference and compete in the MAC, and adjust to our place in the college football universe? In any event, I feel good this morning knowing I had some good chili, a hot dog and beer among other fans for a few hours before the game, and enjoyed a (poorly played) football game in a beautiful facility with an actual team shop outside. That's where this program is. Those who want more in 2010 are probably going to be bitterly disappointed.

I stopped in at the shop before the game and thought the shop was pretty well done. It sounded like the mad dash was on this last week to get it ready. I appreciate that it is, if nothing else, no longer a paper covered eyesore on Exchange. Baby steps!

Lot 9 here. Booyeah. STZ

Reserve tickets, received Saturday in the mail and Lot 9 parking. Go Zips! STZ

Underneath the details of such things as jerseys and team stores lie the keys to whether I'm going to remain interested in the Zips' football program going forward. Those keys are the INTENT and REAL COMMITMENT of the university president and the board regarding whether to do what it takes to build a strong D-1 program or not. They either intend to do things right or they don't. So far, after being as pumped as anyone about Infocision, I've been stunned to see that the university seemingly planted the stadium in an apparent vacuum. There's no supporting marketing campaign, no team store(s), no apparent plan to do anything other than play middling ball in a middling conference. I certainly hope that I will be proven to be far too pessimistic but if I don't see tangible signs of progress in the next couple of years, I'm going to have to assume that Zips football is bad old business as usual. While we all gnash teeth about how the local community fails to support the Zips, what has the university done to promote and grow the program and the brand? Next to nothing as far as I can tell. I would guess that with the incredibly low profile held in the community by the sports programs at UA, even if the FB team started winning, nobody would show up because nobody would know that they were winning! You know, sort of the "tree falling in the woods" thing....

Ok, the reason the team shop isn't open in the JAR has to do with who the operator of that team shop was. The reason the stadium team shop isn't open has to do with a few things. First, we eminent domained the property where the team shop and parking now exist. Barnes and Noble won the contract to operate the team shop, they wanted it to have a coffee shop in the team shop to drive traffic 7 days a week. Because of eminent domain rules, you can not acquire a property and replace it with the same business. So there are several legal loop holes that have to worked through. Second, the Athletic Department had to convince powers that be that team apparrel shop was vastly different then The Odd Corner. They are trying to avoid lawsuits that may occur from opening the team shop. For the time being it is likely that the official stadium team shop will be open on game days and during some of the premier sporting events (soccer). If we want jerseys (and I want all three major sports available) we have to inundate Barnes and Noble and the Athletic Department with requests. It's that simple. To us it only makes sense that official jerseys are available, to Barnes and Noble, it only makes sense to stock items that move large volume. So the biggest thing we can do is e-mail bomb the person in charge of purchasing. Unfortunately the only good e-mail I can find is this.... bksakron@bncollege.com Remember three important words Authentic Official Jersey. Do not say replica, because they already sell the generic blue ones in the book store in the student union. This is all completely ridiculous. Either the university has determined that there isn't enough fan interest to warrant doing the work required to open and stock a team shop (or team shops) or the folks running the show are incompetent. There is no reasonable excuse for opening a 61 million dollar stadium and letting something like a team shop languish the way they have. It's actually starting to color the way I see the overall program, quite frankly. It's hard to get excited about a program that doesn't seem to care enough to even want to suck money from my pockets on "game gear". Idiots. Small time. Am I supposed to accept that UA is just small time? Mediocre forever? That's sure as hell the message that the university sends out, loud and clear, about its athletic programs time and again.

Big deal, if they are found guilty they'll get a slap on the wrist just like coach Belichick did for cheating. Trust me, it won't make it any better. Except it, and move on, that's the only thing that will make you less angry. You are right, good Dr. I will except it. I will. I will not, however, accept it.

Yes, I can honestly say that Lebron has NOT helped us land any recruits. He has never recruited any one, to say that a kid decides to attend the University of Akron because Lebron grew up in Akron is complete stretch and nowhere close to reality. Kids choose Akron over other MAC schools because we have been one of the top teams in the MAC. and getting LBJ's gear a chance to meet the guy have him come to your games and play under one of his coaches wouldn't help at all? I'm not saying it was a huge swing but I could see it being the final little push for a kid on the fence I want kids to come to UofA because they want to help the program carry on a winning tradition, not to wear LBJ stuff. I wholeheartedly agree. It's about Akron basketball, not about the Cavaliers, or about free agency or anything of that nature. College basketball is a really great thing, and doesn't have to be about any of the business that goes along with professional sports whatsoever. In some way its more honest and genuine, well it's at least prima facie more honest and genuine anyway. I have no doubt that Coach Dambrot and anyone else that has any meaningful place in the world of Akron basketball has one thing and one thing only in mind, and that's how to get the Zips to find a way to win another conference championship. If LeBron wants to hold camps at UA or donate money to UA or allow Nike to give UA really cool looking uniforms and top of the line basketball shoes why should the school or the basketball program distance themselves from that? It is a well known fact that Coach Dambrot played a big part of LeBron James development as a basketball player. It's also a well known fact that Coach Dambrot is a hell of a basketball coach who is going to have his team prepared for anything they may face, on the court as well as in life. Coach Dambrot is a great coach and that is evidenced by the performances of his players both on and off the court, of which LeBron James happens to be just one. How many people are honestly thinking about who is donating money to the Z fund or what brand of jersey the basketball team is wearing when the Zips take the floor? I think its great that LeBron wanted to do something for our basketball program. Something that he was capable of doing via his position with Nike. Fact is, this whole fiasco takes place in the sports world. In a month no one will care about anything that happened the month prior, especially with football season on the horizon. The fair weather Cavaliers fans (aka James haters) will be gone (which is the majority of them anyway) and those same people will be crying for a new Browns head coach before the season even begins. In the long run the issue is this: Does it hurt our program to be associated with the best basketball player on the planet? My answer to that question: It sure as hell couldn't hurt. Nothing LeBron James has done has impacted our program negatively and whatever association he does have with UA really isn't the deciding factor for any college athelete, nor should it be. Lets face it, as Zips fans who are we to be so selective about who we get support from? I'm glad we get some extra attention from LeBron's basketball camps and Nike, that's awesome, why are people so quick to criticize? If it doesn't hinder the program, what's the problem? And if UA being associated with LeBron pisses off "joe cleveland" who really cares? He doesn't even know CSU has a basketball team, let alone the Zips. I can think of no way (nor have I read one) that alienating LeBron James is good for Akron Basketball. I've even heard derogatory comments about the city of Akron from the Cleveland news media during this whole ordeal, one from the "sports extra" guy on channel 19/43 about how, when they finally take down and rid themselves of the LeBron banner in Cleveland he's sure there's a place for it at a scrap heap in Akron. He really shouldn't do things like that, he might anger the Don . But my point is, "joe cleveland" is the only demographic that is angry about LeBron leaving and "joe cleveland" for the most part knows nothing of UA or even CSU. "Joe Cleveland" watches the buckeyes and the browns and the cavs when lebron james played for them, or the indians when they were winners. If UA basketball makes it to the final four or even the sweet 16, "joe cleveland" will be sure to glob on. Until then, none of this really matters with respect to Akron Basketball. Coach D works hard to put the best team on the floor every season, if LeBron wants to help that's awesome, if not, Coach D is going to work just as hard at putting the best Zips team on the floor that he possibly can. PS. There's no need for the immature and juvenile name calling STZ. How old are you anyway? Some of that stuff is below the belt. Let's remember, this is a guy who not only grew up alongside some people on this board and some of their friends (and is from the hometown of many on here) but he's also someone's son and someone's father. Have a little class, after all, that is one major factor that separates us from Can't fans. I know I've been just as guilty of these things as much as many others have, but I'll leave you with these thoughts, from a John Wooden book nonetheless; Why is it easier to criticize than to compliment? Why is it easier to give others blame than to give them credit? Why is it that so many who are quick to make suggestions find it so difficult to make decisions? Why does the person with the least to say usually take the longest to say it? And lastly, why is it so much easier to allow emotions rather than reason to control our decisions? Valid points Zippy, but I can't be the only one, or can even be in the minority, in saying that I'm a Cavs fan. One of the things that makes this a great area is the access we have to major league teams. I love my Browns, Indians and Cavs and you'll not hear me saying that I love only UA sports. I'd bet that I'm in the majority of posters here on that. The reason that I believe that it is bad for UA to maintain relations with LeBaby is that it is becoming clearer by the minute that he planned to depart for a long while. Which is fine. His prerogative. However, the execution of his departure was carried out in a way that utterly maximized the damage to that franchise and to NE Ohio fans. For his own aggrandizement that kid put up the gigantic middle finger to all of us, and did it well after the Cavs had any chance to make hay in the free agent market. Nothing good will come from this, and the resentment and anger felt by fans and the media will tarnish not only his legacy, or what's left of it, but will tar any of those with whom he is closely connected. UA needs to minimize its exposure to LeQuit (and let there be no doubt, your super guy role model absolutely quit in the Boson series) before its programs suffer backlash.

No, I'm pretty sure Tom will refer to him as LeQuit in the meetings you describe. Unrelated, but do you suppose another topic for the meetings will be the team shop situation and the fact that after all of this time there still isn't a good way to buy team apparel?

A little perspective here. The idea that Akron is really a stand alone entity is silly. It is part of the larger Cleveland/Akron/Canton demo, and in fact if you look up the Nielson ratings, not to mention the general perception at large, Akron is considered to be very much a part of the larger "NE Ohio" cluster of cities, led by Cleveland. Get on I-77 or I-71 any morning or afternoon and they are loaded with commuters coming and going between the two areas. Most sports fans here are fans of the major league teams in Cleveland. I know I am. Also, based on how any of the cities in NE Ohio have done, economically, in the last 30 years, there isn't one of them that would likely stand on its own if it really were isolated from the others. Lastly, LeDrama has lived in Bath township for years, as has his mother. For those of you who don't know, many of those white collar commuters going and coming on I-77 to Cleveland every morning are Bath residents. Get as far as Richfield and residents there consider themselves no more affiliated with Akron than Cleveland. LeBron is a native Akronite, yes. And let's be clear that my OP, while expressing my outrage at the way he screwed the team and the community, addressed the issue of the UA-LeDrama connection and whether it will be good for the university to continue the close connection. I think it will be bad for the university. For those of you who remember Modell moving the Browns, there were locals at that time who defended Modell to be sure. However, the prevalent feeling was one of ugly betrayal, just like with LeQuit at this point. Those feelings are very likely to intensify, and there will at some point be backlash against the university if it stays cozy with the guy. I also believe it very likely that with all of the bluster about his love for Akron, we are about to witness him become scarce here. He and his hangers-on will get a taste of life there and he'll decide that it's easier to be there than deal with people here crapping on him for what he did. It's not easy to pay the piper, bro.

Oh for God's sake ZW what is your problem? Is it possible for you not to come across as a prude old scold? I've seen far more objectionable material on these boards than I included in any of the posts here. Ban me if it will unbunch your underpants, but the LBJ-UA connectivity issue is something that will have to be addressed, and soon. If some take offense to questions about LeQuit and his weird and unseemly connection(s) to UA, tough. It is completely germain to ask whether his betrayal, and the obvious now-brewing aftermath and blowback in NE Ohio, are things that the university wants to be connected to. Being cozy with the new Art Modell would be a huge mistake for the university from here on out. Also, how can it be that 2 full days after "The Decision" no supposed Zips BB fans on these boards have even thought to post about this issue? Can you not see the potential problems to come regarding the cozy BB-program relationship that UA has forged with the Chosen One? You can't see that UA stands to suffer mightily in blowback and being stained by their connections to LBJ as the ugly stories about him start to leak out now that he's gone? I know you fancy yourself as a huge Zips BB fan and booster, but I have to question the motive behind your post trying to slap me down ZW. First off you might want to check out: http://zipsnation.org/forums//index.php?showtopic=18777 and http://zipsnation.org/forums//index.php?showtopic=18782 and http://zipsnation.org/forums//index.php?showtopic=18784 and http://zipsnation.org/forums//index.php?showtopic=18776 If your wondering where I found these threads go ahead and scroll down just a little bit to the "Off Topic, Smack & Jokes" Forum below. Second off, nice knowing you. With the way you are coming off in this thread it won't be too long before your no longer welcome on these forums. Those posts addressed the LeChoke decision to walk, but not UA's connections to him and whether it will be prudent to remain connected to a man who is going to be deeply and fervently hated in NE Ohio for decades to come. I think it's already highly likely that, somehow, UA will be tarnished in all of this. Perhaps you aren't worried about that.

Oh for God's sake ZW what is your problem? Is it possible for you not to come across as a prude old scold? I've seen far more objectionable material on these boards than I included in any of the posts here. Ban me if it will unbunch your underpants, but the LBJ-UA connectivity issue is something that will have to be addressed, and soon. If some take offense to questions about LeQuit and his weird and unseemly connection(s) to UA, tough. It is completely germain to ask whether his betrayal, and the obvious now-brewing aftermath and blowback in NE Ohio, are things that the university wants to be connected to. Being cozy with the new Art Modell would be a huge mistake for the university from here on out. Also, how can it be that 2 full days after "The Decision" no supposed Zips BB fans on these boards have even thought to post about this issue? Can you not see the potential problems to come regarding the cozy BB-program relationship that UA has forged with the Chosen One? You can't see that UA stands to suffer mightily in blowback and being stained by their connections to LBJ as the ugly stories about him start to leak out now that he's gone? I know you fancy yourself as a huge Zips BB fan and booster, but I have to question the motive behind your post trying to slap me down ZW.

OK then, what top recruit has chosen UA because of LeQuit? With all of these top athletes rolling through the JAR, shouldn't we have scored a coup or two if LeQuit were so influential? Hasn't happened. If I told you that Art Modell wanted to sponsor UA football in some manner, would you agree that it was a great idea? LeBron's name is already mud and the trajectory is only rocketing downhill from here. Watch as all of the bad mojo starts rolling out about the Queen. The writers at the PD are already letting some of the slime from the LeQuit era roll out and it's going to get uglier folks. It will not be a good thing for UA to be affiliated with this punk and his clown posse. If that means that Romeo and Dru become miffed, tough. They and their combined legacy with that idiot are also losers in this deal. This is what happens when you worship an eleven year old kid and later surround him with nothing but homies and sycophants. It's time to cut all ties, UA.

Um, yeah. As are most BB fans around the US. Are you living under a rock?

UA fans who wear Heat gear to games ought to be tarred and feathered along with the Chosen Child. They also should have their heads examined. LeTraitor just destroyed NE Ohio and the Cavs' franchise on national TV and is deserving of Modell status and then some. How a resident of this region could support him at this point is beyond me. It's time to move away, LeChild. Please take your family and your disgusting posse and move to South Beach, and the hangers-on who have made their "careers" based on being affiliated with you can go away too.

Zach, in this particular case I will not refrain from calling you an idiot. Can it hurt? Are you kidding? Would it be good for any NE Ohio University to have Art Modell as a key reference point for their football program? The backlash is only beginning after the events of the last few days and LeQuitter is going to wind up as the most hated sports figure in the history of already-pained sports in this region. If UA doesn't jettison all connections to this son of a bitch and his crappy, idiot posse, they will pay a huge price going forward, in fan support and credibility. I'm not exaggerating when I say that it is very possible that LeBron will not even be able to live here in the off-season anymore. He is right on the cusp of replacing Art Modell as the most reviled sports figure in a place that takes its sports very seriously. You know, the same Art Modell who until this day cannot travel to Cleveland without special security details.

LeDrama's legacy in this area has now been sealed. Son of a bitch. He is the new Modell, the penultimate villain. Piece. Of. Dung. I truly wish him ill now, as do most sports fans in the area, as they should. So, I'm very interested to see what happens with his related affiliations in the area. Does the university BB team continue wearing the LeQuitter Nike uniforms? Is he still welcomed as a quasi deity when he and his posse come around? As for me, it will not work in favor of the university, Dambrot and UA fans to continue their cozy relationship with LeChoke. I'm interested to hear the thoughts of other posters on the board. WE ARE ALL QUITNESSES. STZ

The best that any of the MAC schools can hope for as this latest big bang creates mega conferences is that a few schools that would otherwise be way too good for the MAC get left out of current conferences, and that a few lucky MAC schools are given opportunities to glom onto newly created/retooled conferences. I think it's more likely that the new mega conferences will greatly decrease exposure to, interest in and interaction with MAC programs. I think it's very likely that bowl opportunities will shrink and that it's a matter of time before most MAC schools are reduced to FCS level.

I think you're confusing the interests of an Athletic director with that of a fan. I fully realize that soccer is a small budget sport. But I could care less. As a zips fan I want to see a winner. Interesting. I wonder where all those alumni were last season? I certainly didn't see them at the football games. I also find it interesting that the AK-Rowdies were late to a football game last year because they were too preoccupied with watching the soccer team WIN. I also find it interesting that the AK-Rowdies dumped plans for a bus trip to watch Akron football. Instead, the took a bus trip to Buffalo to watch Akron soccer WIN. Of course football will bring more publicity--IF YOU WIN. Akron football has sucked. I'm not interested. And judging from our attendance, neither is most of Akron. I couldn't agree more. I should be looking forward to tailgating and watching the new-look Zips but I'm actually very pessimistic about UA football. It's not a winning program and I was one who hoped that the Info, resulting recruiting, emphasis on the program by the administration, etc, would really put the program on solid footing. Where is the promotion? Where is the recruiting? Where is new AD TW? He's become completely invisible as far as I can tell. I'm not impressed with his utter lack of visibility. How do you become a community notable without being notable in the community? How can the administration allow the team shop to still be sitting empty on Exchange? What exactly was the purpose of taking a 5-cent program, providing a beautiful new facility, and then allowing it to remain a 5-cent program? I feel guilty at this point about having spent money again this year on priority reserve tickets for football and not supporting the soccer team. They are the winners. No field, being stripped of the playoff game two years ago, losing their best players to the pros and simply reloading each year. Playing for national championships. That's the kind of program we should all get behind. At this point, THAT is the team that should be playing in the Info. Let the bedraggled and losing football team play on the soccer pitch. It's where they belong until they can actually compete in the worst D-1 conference in the country. Last question: is it really that much to ask that UA football be competitive, every year, in the worst D-1 conference?

Perfect.