akzipper

4000 seat arena? Is the University of Akron a high school now? That would be an embarrassingly small arena.

The USC Trojan, Iowa Hawkeye and Michigan State Spartan also come to mind.

From a branding standpoint, most teams/schools use a initial taken from the location and not nickname. Oregon (O), Nebraska (N), Green Bay (G), etc, etc. Honestly I think if any school were to break the rule it could be us. The Z is so unique that it really can't be confused with any other school. The ARoo is fine but I've also had people call it a horse or donkey. The problem is consistency. Keep the same logo so it becomes iconic. Way too many schools have fallen into the trap of switching helmets every season. Having a different logo on it every season doesn't help build a brand.

I'd go with Metallic gold, matte blue and white. All 3 with a big metallic Z logos on the sides.

Agreed. Bowden mentioned in the tweet we'll only have white and gold. I think those are two decent options, but blue might have been a better route.

He could end up being the Blake Bortles for Akron. I doubt he sticks around, but many QB's have proven that the path to the NFL doesn't have to go through a big school.

I feel like if he was really that great of a QB his numbers at Ashland would have been through the roof. Instead he seemed like a pretty mediocre D2 QB. Maybe it had to do with the talent around him, but still. Good QB's stand out at any level.

Well I think the problem was that the uniforms were designed by the football staff. Bigger schools have designers or pay manufacturers to design uniforms for them. UA doesn't have the money or people in place to do that type of work. In the end, the football minds used another school as inspiration.

If Bowden can get to a bowl game this season or next, UA better be ready to open it's checkbook big time. He will never get a National Championship or BCS chance at Akron. But money might be one factor that would keep him around.

This is why I have a problem with the uniforms. Funny thing is that a simple font swap could have made a HUGE difference.

Well I'm just making assumptions based on what we've seen and Zips football being cheap in the past. In 2009 the Zips got new navy jerseys, in 2010 white to match, and this past season white pants. Have to believe that the new gold helmets and black uniforms would be all they can afford. Honestly though I hate the use of generic fonts more than the use of black. It just doesn't look like the Zips. So yes, it's probably overreacting before we have all the facts. But what we've seen hasn't been very good...

The two teams that gain the most national exposure for UA don't wear the correct school colors. Basketball team has been silver/gray, black and blue. Football is now black and gold. It's important to have cohesiveness across all sports in order to build your brand.

Well according to them, Ohio State is the only real college in the state

I told everyone that the Zips would win more games than the Browns last season. It happened, and I expect the same in 2014.

Awesome! I see it as a win-win for both sides. The Browns can hold the popular event at an awesome stadium, and UA get's to show it off to thousands who may not have ever visited it otherwise. Hopefully this will encourage the Browns to hold training camp at UA in the future. I know they are entertaining the idea of moving it away from Berea and UA is easily the best option in NE Ohio. Unfortunately there just isn't enough room to hold it at Browns HQ anymore. No other college campus would be able to provide a brand new stadium and indoor practice field. Both with plenty of seating and parking for fans. Only downside is that the Browns will draw more fans than the Zips, regardless if it's a scrimmage or training camp.

If they really are used for only 1-2 games I can deal with it. Sometimes gold can end up looking pretty ugly if used as a jersey. So maybe black is the next best option. Just need to fit with our branding better and not look so generic. I'm holding out hope that we get to see new navy and white uniforms this year too.

Switch to navy and use Akron's font. Branding is important... I just don't understand the black jersey trend. Just because every team has a black jersey, doesn't mean we need one.

It seems that about 99% of college football coaches do this. Even the coaches at smaller schools (Boise, Louisville, etc) have since moved on. They all want to coach on the big stage and make big money. Jumping ship is the quickest and easiest way to make it happen.

As much as I'd like to believe you, I just don't see it happening. He's definitely not old enough to consider this his "last stop." Bowden is a competitive guy who wants to win. Even if he has 1-2 successful years at Akron there's only so far the program can go in such a small conference like the MAC. It's much easier for him to make the jump to a big school and make a mark. I love UA but doubt I'd feel very motivated to stay at a school that has a thousand people show up to games. Unlike Dambrot, he has no connection to or reason to stay at Akron.

I can't speak for him, but West Virginia's coach Dana Holgorsen is definitely on the hot seat. It's safe to say Bowden would probably be a good fit for them in 2015....

Wait...do people in Youngstown even have TVs?

Unfortunately whenever a facility is built, the public only views it as helping the primary tenant. Regardless of how the news is presented. They see the Q only benefitting the Cavs, Progressive Field benefitting the Indians, etc. Completely forgetting about other concerts and events throughout the year. Not to mention the economical impact it has on surrounding businesses and neighborhoods.

I'd rank all my Zips sports news this way: Big news - new uniform unveil - OOC home game against major opponent - stadium/arena upgrades Good news - new recruit - new transfer Not very exciting news - assistant coach/staff hire - OOC away opponent Awful news - moving down to FCS - black or silver uniforms

Don't think it will be uniform related. Since the helmets and some mockups have already been made public. I seem to think the news will be pretty underwhelming.... Maybe future OOC opponents?

There was also this. University Park Alliance's rough renderings of downtown showed an arena.