Jake

Again, see the big picture and yes it is an ugly one. This is not about The ABJ or Can't State. It's about UA, its lack of identity, and how it poorly markets itself. This letter by Dr Fey in The Buchtelite should give you reason to pause. Even he can't see what the real problem is. He blames it on the students when he should point the finger back at himself. How can UA students be true to something that lacks identity or if it gives in to those who want it to splatter itself all over downtown Akron so one can't see where it begins or leaves off?"Wear your colors-show your pride!Letter to the editorCharles J. FeyIssue date: 11/12/09 Section: Opinion Colleges and universities all across the country are engrossed in the mission of learning, discovery and engagement … and yet the biggest rallying force among the largest constituent groups (students and alumni) is college football. Whether it is watching the Big Green of Dartmouth College, the Crimson Tide of Alabama, the Red Raiders of Texas Tech, the Lobos of the University of New Mexico, the Bruins of UCLA or the Huskies of the University of Washington folks flock to their football stadiums to cheer on their teams. All of those students and alumni bleed their school colors and cheer as loudly as they can at their games. Walk the halls of PSU and you will see lions everywhere, or the halls of LSU and you will see nothing but tigers … or the halls of Baylor University, where you'll see lots of bears, oh my. Students at these campuses wear their college names and their mascots proudly every day. So, why is it that here at the University of Akron we see so many t-shirts, sweatshirts and ballcaps with the logo of some other college or university?I see Ohio State (and I keep hearing about how it is the school everyone in Ohio is weaned on, but still …), I see Cincinnati and I sometimes see a Michigan shirt. More confusing is the number of Miami, Ohio and BGSU logos that I see on our campus. How can that happen?Those are our conference rivals.I have even seen Can't State shirts on campus. Are you serious? What would be said to a person wearing a Michigan shirt at Ohio State? This behavior borders on athletic and institutional sacrilege. This is Roo-town for heaven's sake. We need to act like it! We need to develop pride in our "brand" - in our school. You should never wear another institution's colors or mascot or name on our campus, unless you are paying tribute to your dad or mom who went to that other institution before they were enlightened. And if you are wearing those other schools' clothes, it should only be a rare occasion like you ran out of quarters to do your laundry -and then wear the shirt inside out on those unfortunate days Where is our school pride?We need to always and proudly, wear our university colors and our name and our mascot, certainly on our campus - but everywhere off campus we can - to show our pride and to support our teams and our school.So every Friday during our football and basketball seasons and the day before every game, wear our colors and our name - proudly - on our campus and everywhere we go during those days. Wear your pride day! Wear the Gold and Blue! So, let's stack the stadium during every football game. Fill the field for every soccer game or every softball game. Jam the JAR for our volleyball games and certainly for all of our upcoming basketball games to support our great MAC championship men's basketball team and our terrific women's team!Let's rock our Roo-town so loudly that they hear us in that horseshoe in Columbus and wonder what in the world is happening up north!Join the AK-Rowdies and support your team.As so famously stated by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys back in the 60s, "So be true to your school now/Just like you would to your girl or guy/Be true to your school now/ And let your colors fly/Be true to your school. Be true to your school, the University of Akron! GO ZIPS!"How can UA students and the ABJ, for that matter be true to a school that tolerates, if not encourages the bastardization of its campus and redefinition of its name to Akron U? When was the last time you've heard the University of Cincinnati called Cincinnati U or The University of Michigan called Michigan U.? How about the next time Brubakers, located downtown in a (private) UA student apartment complex features an inflatable Brutis instead of Zippy, the AK Rowdies take matters into their own hands and UA students stop patronizing Brubakers...all of them.

Are we talking about the city of Akron having a TV station or The University of Akron having a TV station? There is a big difference. Isn't UA still a part of a consortuim with Can't State and YSU on PBS? I'm all for a UA TV station. The city has tried it too many times and it was a bust any way you look at it. UATV would have to be more regional with a broad programming format like WCan't State - Radio is, if it wants to be accepted and productive. It can't just focus on Akron, Ohio or UA sports. That said, I think it could give UA's athletics and UA as a whole a good boost in exposure and credibility.

With all due respect, I think the reason why we see all this disintegration between UA football, Soccer and Basketball is that many of those on this site don't see the forrest for the trees by realizing that being a Zips fan is about being a fan of The University of Akron. If you care about your university, then you'd have a more macro passion for its Athletics department and campus as a whole.If more fans supported the big picture, I think we'd have a better image and results all the way around.

I wholeheartedly agree with every part of this statement. But I'll wager everything I have that the outcome on March 5th is entirely different; as well as the mac tourney. I just have that deep down gut feeling that Akron Basketball is gonna finish everything the right way this year. I agree. And on March 5th, let's hope the AK rowdies use some originality and wit and not something on the order of Can't State SUCKS or regurgitate, "why so quiet?" We're counting on you AK rowdies. You help make a difference.Today wasn't original enough for you? We had 30+ tickets in the middle of their reserved seats and kicked about 15 people out of their seats who were sitting in them when we all went down a few minutes into the game. You should have seen the faces of the usher and cop who tried to stop us and realized we had every right to be there.Apples and oranges but,Good for you! Gooo Zips and AK Rowdies!!!

I wholeheartedly agree with every part of this statement. But I'll wager everything I have that the outcome on March 5th is entirely different; as well as the mac tourney. I just have that deep down gut feeling that Akron Basketball is gonna finish everything the right way this year. I agree. And on March 5th, let's hope the AK rowdies use some originality and wit and not something on the order of Can't State SUCKS or regurgitate, "why so quiet?" We're counting on you AK rowdies. You help make a difference.

Well according the ABA (the group that accredits the program) the "old one" is awful. So it's a "must do" project.On a side note, and I know we've all mentioned it before, why does everyone in Akron hate the University so much?Not everyone in Akron hates UA but your point is well taken. Many do and I have observed that they tend to be people who are just unhappy with themselves; those who like to see themselves as elitists, anti-culture pseudo hippies and those who are just plain stupid, anti-education hicks that still make up a large portion of the Akron population. You see this last category make up a large portion of our sister university's host community to the east. This category is also made up of those who still think downtown should return to being what it once was in the 50s and 60s, which will never happen.Worse than those who hate UA are those who are indifferent to it. They only acknowledge the university when they want to exploit it to achieve an agenda that is political or self-serving. The mayor is one of these people and the leadership at the ABJ is made up of these people. They are very parochial Akron dinosaurs who like individual facilities or services of the university ( E.J. Thomas Hall, the new stadium) but beyond that make UA invisible. These are the people who separate UA's athletics from the university and who want UA to build a new arena downtown instead of on the campus where it belongs. And don't let them kid you. They hate that the new football stadium is on the campus and not downtown. They are also the group of people who make too big of a deal about the Polsky Building being a pseudo-university facility. At best they see UA only in pieces and parts and cherry pick the parts they like at the expense of the university as a whole. It is this group of indifferent parochials who keep The University of Akron from coming off to the region as a real and authentic institution of higher education. To them it's just the same old "Akron U".thought you were gonna make an entire post without complaining about a downtown arena! silly me.Actually, the idea of a downtown off campus arena is one of the many symptoms that contribute to the much bigger problem of Akronites and students not appreciating UA.

From the Downtown Partnership "Welcome to Downtown Akron!If you’re looking to get off campus and discover Akron, Downtown is the place to start. Downtown puts you in the center of many different cultural amenities, living opportunities, delicious dining options and so much more. With the expansion of the Roo Express route you can travel to and from campus in seconds. ""22 ExchangeThese brand new student living apartments are only a quarter mile from the University of Akron campus and located in the heart of Downtown Akron's entertainment district."Even Downtown Akron admits that downtown is not on campus.

You look cute zip junky even thought someone needs to slap you in the face.

Well according the ABA (the group that accredits the program) the "old one" is awful. So it's a "must do" project.On a side note, and I know we've all mentioned it before, why does everyone in Akron hate the University so much?Not everyone in Akron hates UA but your point is well taken. Many do and I have observed that they tend to be people who are just unhappy with themselves; those who like to see themselves as elitists, anti-culture pseudo hippies and those who are just plain stupid, anti-education hicks that still make up a large portion of the Akron population. You see this last category make up a large portion of our sister university's host community to the east. This category is also made up of those who still think downtown should return to being what it once was in the 50s and 60s, which will never happen.Worse than those who hate UA are those who are indifferent to it. They only acknowledge the university when they want to exploit it to achieve an agenda that is political or self-serving. The mayor is one of these people and the leadership at the ABJ is made up of these people. They are very parochial Akron dinosaurs who like individual facilities or services of the university ( E.J. Thomas Hall, the new stadium) but beyond that make UA invisible. These are the people who separate UA's athletics from the university and who want UA to build a new arena downtown instead of on the campus where it belongs. And don't let them kid you. They hate that the new football stadium is on the campus and not downtown. They are also the group of people who make too big of a deal about the Polsky Building being a pseudo-university facility. At best they see UA only in pieces and parts and cherry pick the parts they like at the expense of the university as a whole. It is this group of indifferent parochials who keep The University of Akron from coming off to the region as a real and authentic institution of higher education. To them it's just the same old "Akron U".thought you were gonna make an entire post without complaining about a downtown arena! silly me.stop the personal attacks. they are getting old.

Well according the ABA (the group that accredits the program) the "old one" is awful. So it's a "must do" project.On a side note, and I know we've all mentioned it before, why does everyone in Akron hate the University so much?Not everyone in Akron hates UA but your point is well taken. Many do and I have observed that they tend to be people who are just unhappy with themselves; those who like to see themselves as elitists, anti-culture pseudo hippies and those who are just plain stupid, anti-education hicks that still make up a large portion of the Akron population. You see this last category make up a large portion of our sister university's host community to the east. This category is also made up of those who still think downtown should return to being what it once was in the 50s and 60s, which will never happen.Worse than those who hate UA are those who are indifferent to it. They only acknowledge the university when they want to exploit it to achieve an agenda that is political or self-serving. The mayor is one of these people and the leadership at the ABJ is made up of these people. They are very parochial Akron dinosaurs who like individual facilities or services of the university ( E.J. Thomas Hall, the new stadium) but beyond that make UA invisible. These are the people who separate UA's athletics from the university and who want UA to build a new arena downtown instead of on the campus where it belongs. And don't let them kid you. They hate that the new football stadium is on the campus and not downtown. They are also the group of people who make too big of a deal about the Polsky Building being a pseudo-university facility. At best they see UA only in pieces and parts and cherry pick the parts they like at the expense of the university as a whole. It is this group of indifferent parochials who keep The University of Akron from coming off to the region as a real and authentic institution of higher education. To them it's just the same old "Akron U".

In the not-so-long-run I think you will see this work out well for the campus and its image. What really makes the UA campus "scream commuter school" is if the university and downtown area blob together as an indistinguishable one. And, while I agree with you when you say downtown needs the campus, I disagree with you when you imply that the relationship works in the opposite direction. That is ABJ and Mayor Don's propaganda. UA does not need downtown at all. Politicians want us to think that but it is a lie. UA is a big fat milk gorged tit and downtown is a big fat selfish baby trying to suck on that tit at every opportunity. I think we will see Exchange Street in the area of UA be closed off just like Buchtel and Carroll. They are talking about it and they are also talking about making the UA campus have a better and autonomous identity separate from the downtown syndrome that so many Akron dinosaurs refuse to let go of. You will see more integration of the campus than you think and you strike me as someone who has the good vision that will be pleased by this integration of the campus with itself. This will include many things and among them will be a multi-purpose University of Akron Basketball Arena located conspicuously in the heart of the true UA campus near, if not east of the campus football stadium.Go Zips!Jake, all you're going to accomplish is getting another thread locked. We know what you think about campus/downtown. Stop.If this thread gets locked it will be because of you and your constant personal attacks. So, stop yourself.

In the not-so-long-run I think you will see this work out well for the campus and its image. What really makes the UA campus "scream commuter school" is if the university and downtown area blob together as an indistinguishable one. And, while I agree with you when you say downtown needs the campus, I disagree with you when you imply that the relationship works in the opposite direction. That is ABJ and Mayor Don's propaganda. UA does not need downtown at all. Politicians want us to think that but it is a lie. UA is a big fat milk gorged tit and downtown is a big fat selfish baby trying to suck on that tit at every opportunity. I think we will see Exchange Street in the area of UA be closed off just like Buchtel and Carroll. They are talking about it and they are also talking about making the UA campus have a better and autonomous identity separate from the downtown syndrome that so many Akron dinosaurs refuse to let go of. You will see more integration of the campus than you think and you strike me as someone who has the good vision that will be pleased by this integration of the campus with itself. This will include many things and among them will be a multi-purpose University of Akron Basketball Arena located conspicuously in the heart of the true UA campus near, if not east of the campus football stadium.Go Zips!

And where do you think home is for most UA students, duhhhhhh?....Akron, Ohio of course. The campus houses only 4,000 students at best and for most of them home is between 5 and 25 miles away. Like it or not, UA is by no means a residential campus. "Going home for the holidays" is not a phrase appropriate for those attending Akron U.

How in the Hell can one distinguish between a UA student and a non UA student on the campus of a major public university with a student population of nearly 28,000?

Because ESPNU said that will be the time of the game. Television rules. End of discussion. It's a non-issue. I suggest we concern ourselves with things inside of our control instead of mental and emotional masturbation.

I got the same. Gave them to a friend who took 3 guests. Go Zips

Great game and great turnout. One of the best I attended. Go Zips!

Everyone's holding their breath .....Everytime I read one of Jakes posts, this just keeps popping into my head.THANKS FOR SEEING THE OBVIOUS. THE MAJORITY ON THIS SITE ARE EPITOMIZED BY THE LITTLE CHICKEN. THEY JUST DON'T GET IT. THAT IS WHY THEY KEEP ASKING THE SAME STUPID QUESTIONS. THEY GO ROUND IN A CIRCLE...LIKE THE BILLY PRESTON SONG!Will It Go Round in Circles 4:28 Billy Preston 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Billy Preston $0.99 R&B/SoulWhoooosh! Right over his head! There, I fixed it. I wasn't talking about Dave.He's right. You guys are built too low. I've been compared to Foghorn Leghorn before and I'm proud of it. Thanks for the compliment!

Everyone's holding their breath .....Everytime I read one of Jakes posts, this just keeps popping into my head.THANKS FOR SEEING THE OBVIOUS. THE MAJORITY ON THIS SITE ARE EPITOMIZED BY THE LITTLE CHICKEN. THEY JUST DON'T GET IT. THAT IS WHY THEY KEEP ASKING THE SAME STUPID QUESTIONS. THEY GO ROUND IN A CIRCLE...LIKE THE BILLY PRESTON SONG!Will It Go Round in Circles 4:28 Billy Preston 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Billy Preston $0.99 R&B/SoulWhoooosh! Right over his head! There, I fixed it. I wasn't talking about Dave.Not over my head at all. You seem to have a problem with analogies. BTW, I never called anyone a troll. I was however called a troll by some of the dishonest members of ZN. And, that's right I said DISHONEST. It's not an insult just an honest observation. Quit treating ZN as though it were some sacrosanct church.

Everyone's holding their breath .....Everytime I read one of his posts, this just keeps popping into my head.THANKS FOR SEEING THE OBVIOUS. THE MAJORITY ON THIS SITE ARE EPITOMIZED BY THE LITTLE CHICKEN. THEY JUST DON'T GET IT. THAT IS WHY THEY KEEP ASKING THE SAME STUPID QUESTIONS. THEY GO ROUND IN A CIRCLE...LIKE THE BILLY PRESTON SONG!Will It Go Round in Circles 4:28 Billy Preston 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Billy Preston $0.99 R&B/Soul

I just disagree Zach. It appears that it is you who obsesses over someone being "wrong". It is your problem that you can't handle dissension and no one elses. Jake- lets start over. I appreciate you being an opinionated Zip fan. I do disagree with you on the projected location but its a free country. As such lets respect that we can agree to disagree. And make no mistake, if a new arena/convocation ctr is built on campus Ill be estatic. Lets just try to get along on here. Were all zip fans with the same end result in mind. I am a Zip fan and more importantly, I am a Univeristy of Akron fan and we do not have the same end in mind. So, let us not play footsie games with one another. I have my opinions and that is not the same as being opinionated. If you or anyone else wants to see a downtown Akron Arena, I have no problem with that as long as it is solely a city effort and not a so-called, phony joint university/city/county effort. For the past several decades, the City of Akron has derailed, emasculated and made invisible The University of Akron in order to hijack its facilities, services and accomplisments in a successful attempt to fraudulently convince the region that Akron, Ohio is the source of the accomplshments acheived by The University of Akron.If you are wondering if this is the reason why I am against a joint UA/city/county effort towards an arena, then wonder no more. You are absolutely correct!I maintain my position and there is no changing my mind.BUILD THE NEW UNIVERSITY OF AKRON ARENA ON THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON CAMPUS AND NOT IN DOWNTOWN AKRON. It is that simple!

Yes, I certainly do and in fact that is where I have already proposed that the new University of Akron Arena be built.. However, someone on this site denigrated me for that suggestion claiming that the site is smaller than the footprint of Rhodes Arena which it is not. It is a pefect site for a new on-campus, multi-purpose University of Akron Arena.

Obsessed is not the same as dedicated and I don't abdicate to what you call "the powers that be", you wuse! And you can lie all you want, downtown Akron is not part of the campus of The University of Akron. Saying so is just one of many myths and lies that Akron yokals like to perpetuate. Anyone with half a brain would realize that a new university arena should be built on the university campus proper in a clear, concise and conspicuous manner just as the stadium is. But, then again, it is you and people like you who wanted the UA stadium to be downtown as well. Why do you hate The University of Akron?

Very simple...that The University of Akron builds its new multipurpose basketball arena on the real and true University of Akron campus and not someone's idea of a pseudo/fake campus. Does that answer your question?

You are interested in process. I and others are interested in results and I seek those results through legitimate paths and not the mental masturbation that you seem obsessed with.And your original objection was to my quality of persistence without your afterthought of its application to good or bad objectives. You claimed that my persistence somehow discredited my opinion. Persitence alone is not a bad thing and if you are going to turn it into a bad thing, then at least have the intestinal fortitude to back it up with some facts. It's obvious that my unwllingnness to back down is being redefined by you and those who would confuse backbone with arrogance.My original general statement on persistence was that people on this forum "are sophisticated enough not to confuse the validity of a position with the persistence of that position's advocates."Here's a general statement on process:Sometimes people are tempted to use tactics to achieve results that result in achieving the opposite results. An example would be advocating something on a forum by using the tactic of belittling and insulting anyone who doesn't agree with one's position. Would people be more or less likely to vote with a political activist who used the tactic of knocking on their door and yelling in their face, "You're a stupid idiot unless you vote for my position."And you make a good point and I have never used that tactic, but those who have opposed me have. End of discussion.