infofan

Acme is a sponsor of Can't state. Giant eagle claims to be a proud Akron supporter. That's why I would expect some merchandise to be carried at G E . And breaking off our long time marketing affiliation with acme was a major mistake. So was aligning UA with the Cleveland airport instead of Akron canton ( which is now a major sponsor of Can't). Yes marketing is business but supporting local companies seems preferrable to out of town companies when possible.

Has anyone else noticed giant Eagle has begun prominently advertising on the front page of their weekly circular they are "Proud sponsors of the Akron Zips". I appreciate the ads and the financial support Giant Eagle gives UA! However, it's frustrating that those same giant eagle stores stock HUGE amounts of Osu, browns, Indians, and steelers stuff but can't stock a single zip hat , t-shirt, or anything UA. I don't deny them selling those other tea's products but a "proud sponsor" could have a token display or more couldn't they?

DISGRACEFULL!!! How can TW and Dr Proenza let this go on? Again one has to wonder what if we had spent the 80+million we spent on the Info and the Stile fieldhouse and built an arena instead...........

someone told me it's going to be tape delayed(audio delayed or whatever it is)? So it'll probably be on after the Aeros game i assume... Well i listened to the end of aeros game. Zipslive was not on. More disappointing is that neither Tom W or Gregg Bach took time to answer my email inquiring about show. No great loss but it's the principle of the situation that is very frustrating

I've read that zipslive is returning tonight. However the aeros are on 1350- not zipslive as posted. My question is will show be on radio or not? I've asked both AD Tom and Gregg Bach and neither one responded. Neither has news collector. Does anyone on here know or care?

CBS Owned and Operated WKRK FM- 92.3 the FAN has announced former Fox Sports Radio morning team Kevin Kiley and Chuck Booms will reunite to host the new "Fan" morning show, with producer/sidekicks Josh Potter & Tony Mazur and sports anchor Jeff Thomas.[21] New York sister station WFAN personality Adam "The Bull" Gerstenhaber is being brought over to be the afternoon drive host, and it's expected that former Ohio State Buckeyes saftey and 2002 National Champion Dustin Fox will be his co-host. The Akron Beacon Journal reported that Andy Baskin, who currently serves as sports director for Cleveland ABC affiliate WEWS-TV, will be the new format's midday host, featuring Cleveland Cavaliers TV pregame host/sideline reporter Jeff Phelps as co-host and sports anchor Jeff Thomas.[22] Ohio Media Watch reported that UA grad Ken Carman, currently the lead play-by-play man for Ashland University football/basketball, and former afternoon host on Akron sports station WARF AM 1350, is expected to take the Prime time/evening slot. Overnight programming will be syndicated via Fox Sports Radio featuring programs hosted by Tony Bruno and J.T. The Brick. WKRK will also be the home for The NFL on Westwood One and NCAA football (also from Westwood One).[24][25] UA buys the time from 1350 for broadcasts, then sells advertising through IMG . UA also hires and Pays the broadcast team. The air time isnt free but its the cheapest air time available in Akron.

Im not on the payroll of 1350, but lets give them a little credit. All the mens Bball and Football, all non conflicting womens games, about 15 baseball games, and now 10 soccer games being broadcast. Thats a pretty decent committment, and the FCC controls their signal and power- nothing they can do about it.

He's very talented. However, it was painfully obvious that he could have hardly cared less about Akron. Insulting show, really. With all due respect, Ken carman has been to more Zip games than many of the frequent posters on here. He talked to and about all 6 major Zip sports and had the coaches on his show many times- how is that insulting? And he would ask some questions whether it be Dambrot, Kest, or Porter that Bill Morgan wouldnt have the nerve to ask. I fully agree that the best choice for a coaches show is Steve French or even Joe Dunn, but I guess were stuck with Bill Morgan, who does his best but just doesnt engage listeners at all, thus our coaches show doesnt interest or attract virtually anyone, and thats a shame. Does anyone remember Bill Needle who used to do the games and coaches show at Can't? The new guy ( Linder) is light years better and the coaches show is interesting ( as interesting as Can't can be). My point about KC was if you want to make it in the sports broadcasting biz you have to appeal to the masses and reality says thats OSU and not UA. I wish it was different.... As far as 1350 goes, we aint going anywhere else... WAKR does OSU and the CAVS, WNIR does Can't, the rest of the local stations are either non commercial or music oriented and arent going to change . the only option is If you have a smart phone download iheart radio and get 1350 that way

Most of you won't care for this post but I wanted to congratulate UA alum Ken carman on his new job. KC formerly hosted a local call in talk show on 1350 but few people listened so it's gone now. The guy is very talented and knowledgable despite his being a buckeye fan. I hate the buckeyes but is it really crime to follow them? KC did dozens of shows at the jar or ua and I hope he continues to talk up the zips on his new gig- primarily host on cleveland's The Fan 92.3 . Tw would have been wise to hire him for our coaches show bit too late now. Again way to go Ken!

Just curious. Has UA ever made a run at former Zip and major leager Mike Birkbeck as head coach?? I believe hes the pitching coach and head recruiter at Can't. He certainly has knowledge of talent, and would be a natural choice for a new coach if interested. I just dont know if hes interviewed in past or declined. I do know hes been at Can't for many years.

Zach, I didnt realize that it was a required sport for MAC. Thanks for pointing that out. However I can believe the 400-500K budget. Factor in a head coach Pat Bangston and his 3 or 4 assistants probably make a total of 180K or so. And the fact that they must open the season with 7 southern trips to Mississippi, Texas, Florida and the Carolinas for travel, accomodations, food, etc, That aint cheap! And they did schedule 7 games at Canal Park this year. I could be mistaken but that may be the most they have ever scheduled there. And no I dont think any of the city series/city parochials play more that 2 games excluding city championship. the news from today was pretty embarrassing too...................This weekend's Mid-American Conference relocated to baseball series between The University of Akron and Bowling Green has been moved to Bowling Green's Stellar Field. The three-game series was originally scheduled to be played at Lee R. Jackson Baseball Field on the UA campus, but this week's inclement weather has made the field unplayable. Friday's game will begin at 3:00 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday's games scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. I may be wrong but Im betting BG has had as much rain as us but somehow their "Steller Field" which does look pretty nice is playable. Isnt it amazing how much of a return you get on the money poured into soccer and track and ladies tennis but totally the opposite for some other sports. Lets hope long term makes the money invested in Football turns viable.

Cleveland State University, faced with budget cuts, has made the difficult decision to cut its baseball program at the end of this season. Athletic director John Parry said the decision was not an easy one. "Anytime you drop a sport, it's tough," he said. "You are taking away a draw for 25 young men." Parry said the main reason for the cuts was a lack of facilities for the existing team, which practices and plays 25 miles off campus in Avon at All Pro Freight Stadium. But the fact the Vikings have not had a winning season since 1989, and are currently 9-32 this season, can't be ignored. According to Parry, dropping baseball will save the athletic department $450,000. It will not affect CSU's membership in the Horizon League, as baseball is not a required sport for membership; and it will not impact CSU's NCAA status, as the Vikings still sponsor 16 varsity sports, two above the NCAA Division I minimum of 14. Cleveland State athletics likely could have had a comparable savings by taking from every sports budget, but Parry said, "our instructions were not to nickel and dime cuts, but make strategic decisions." The AD said CSU will honor any baseball player's scholarship if he chooses to finish his studies at CSU. Any player who transfers will be eligible to play at his new school immediately. The zips baseball program has been a cellar dweller for years unfortunately. Obviously we havent put any money into their facilities. With a season like this with all the rain outs and inclement days is it worth a half million dollars or so?? Im not advocating dropping the program, Just saying............

I must agree, it was very windy and very rainy. And the whole point of the spring game is evaluation. Why risk blown field goals/PATs ( we can miss them anyway!) as well as slips, falls, and fumbles in inclement weather when we have a facility next door fully useable. But lets please have the guy with net/goalpost duty practice a little or actually pay attention to the scrimmage next time!!

Didnt we have plans to play Marshall in football??? What happened to that series???

Good points. Geno left Can't because of their (Bradley) financial committment to basketball. New arena is not used for mens b-ball games but it contains an on campus practice facility. Carver arena in downtown holds about 11000. Can't has promised him on campus practice facility but not fulfilled that promise. Likewise for renovation to MACC. Maybe this is the time to commit some resources toward JAR renovations/practice facilities to show support of Dambrot and his program. It must be tough to have a program that continually competes for MAC championship yet facilities are arguably the worst in the MAC.

The Record-Courier has learned that Bradley University (Ill.) has hired Can't State University's Geno Ford as their new men's basketball coach. The whirlwind romance moved fast. Ford told the Record-Courier on Sunday night that he was about to board a flight for Peoria, Ill., where the Bradley campus is located. At that time, Ford said he did not have a contract offer. The Cessna Citation left Akron Fulton International Airport at 6:58 p.m. Within 2 1/2 hours, Ford’s face was on the Bradley University website, introducing him as the Braves' new head coach. Ford succeeded Jim Christian at Can't State. Christian left the program after accepting the head coaching position at Texas Christian University. Ford guided Can't State to back-to-back regular-season Mid-American Conference championships - a feat that had not been accomplished by any MAC team in more than 20 years. Ford was named the league's Coach of the Year the past two years. A replacement for Ford has yet to be named by Can't State. No contract terms were reported as of 10 p.m. on Sunday night I for one appreciate the loyalty Coach Dambrot has shown here at Akron . 13 miles to the east there is no such thing. one has to wonder how quickly Shaka will be leaving VCU and ( a depressing thought) will Can't go after Jeff boles? Please dont do that to us Jeff!

I believe renovation is going to happen before new construction, but even at that there are limitations. Those 4 big load bearing posts in the corners limit us from having a bowl-surround seating configuration. But i think if the track were removed and seating were run from floor to wallson both sides and in endzones , with concourses behind you could improve sightlines and have from 5200 - 6000 seats. Thats plenty for our fan base. Gonzaga built a new place 3 years ago that only holds about 6000. The big problems here are cost and timeline. It might be in excess of 10million to redo the JAR, and were spread pretty thin right now. ( hasnt baseball been promised some facilities?). Time wise, they redid Rose Arena at CMU in the off season and had it ready for this past basketball season. Likewise, at UT they re did savage arena in off season. If thats not doable they could probably set up portable seating at the Knight center for 4000 or so. Or could they do anything seating wise in the fieldhouse?? I think something else that is needed in any renovation/facility enhancement is a practice court. None of this is likely in immediate future but I wish the powers that be ( tom W, Dr P) would make some comment about facilities.

I have to ask this question............ Dont read too much into it. But an observation at the end of the Notre dame game made me curious. I saw CJ Oldham and Josh Egner get in game at the end ( and I salute the staff for giving them a brief taste of the experience). The official boxscore also says that Kyle Peterson got in the game, though I didnt see him in. No offense to those guys but why didnt Dakotah get in the game before any walk ons did? We know that we have six guys coming in and only 5 leaving so far so either Nick or someone else has to do a "Swiech" and transfer out. It just seemed curious that Euton didnt see the floor...........

While we didnt have the outcome that we all wanted today at the United Center, I was glad to see Steve and Brett come out to applause and let Josh and CJ get a brief taste of the dance! (I also thought Josh got fouled at the end). Just wondering though- Why did CJ, Josh, and Kyle Peterson ( according to box score- tho I didnt see him get in)get in the game but not Dakotah Euton. No offense to CJ and Kyle but why would you NOT play a scholarship player before playing the walk ons?? Or is Dakotah hurt?

I too heard the discussion, right before the Lady Zips game. They werent exactly "ripping apart" the fanbase. But they were calling it like it was- Flat out embarrassing for a school this size with as many students ( getting in free) ( and only 10$bucks for a lower level seat) to draw 1431 fans. I was one of them and Im all but giving up on the apathetic fanbase we have. Yes the JAR sucks, but when a game means so much ( 1st round of MAC tourney) any self respecting person who calls themself a fan on here should make it! You can DVR american idol or whatever is on the CW and support the team. I realize some people had committments but come on ...........

Yes our seed seems to have the easier road to the MAC final but that being said..........Lets give Eastern some credit. They have almost beaten us two years in a row havent they? Not a great matchup, but we play our game with the intensity they had at Can't and we come out on top. Zeke palyed well at Can't, we need him . Dont forget how much that last game with Can't always seems to take out of us. The last 2 years it was a very nervous opening round at the Q for the Zippers.

Great idea go zips!! Any zip fans going wear blue!! Of course for some inexplicable reason Can't has black uniforms and white uniforms( as do we) even though their colors are blue and pee yellow so who knows what the team will wear. Lets hope for a good turnout from akron fans.

Zips vs EMU game still on but............... the Can't State men's basketball game that was slated for 7 tonight at Western Michigan has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 21 in Kalamazoo. ''There were a lot of other schools in the conference in the same boat as we are,'' Asst AD Ashby said. ''The Mid-American Conference was great in working with us on rescheduling games on both the men's and women's side. While the weather can't always be predicted, when we are aware of a bad storm coming, it just is not in the best interests of the student athletes to send them out in it.

Hmmmm. all that snow. Wouldnt be surprised if their season average attendance of 514 isnt reached!!!What a shame the two best and newest arenas in league- EMU and NIU are so poorly attended.

I've been around long enough to remember the names of Billy Turner, Frank Thompson, Bobby Smith and Jerry Sloan. As I recall, both Evansville and the Zips both had a guy named Jerry Sloan playing for them. Those were the true glory days of Zip basketball. That team would have destroyed any of later day Zip teams. I remember being a young boy and the thought of those guys had me out shooting jumpers for hours at a time, I wanted so much to be as good as they were. I too am old enough to remember the old glory days of college division basketball at "akron U" ! mideast regionals, sometimes at home, games televised on TV 49, Bob Wylie calling the barnburners on radio sponsored by the Firestone Bank, and names like Len Paul, Will Schwartzinger, Harvey Glover, and others. They were great times but realistically I cant say they would have "destroyed later day zip teams. This years team perhaps, but still they built their 25 win seasons with wins over northern Michigan, Indaian PA, muskingum, Tiffin, etc. Not exactly world beaters. Im not criticising those teams, nor am I criticizing Hip Zip, but it reminds me of times people have said Mount Union could kill a mac school in football. I just dont buy it.