taxpayer

Is the lower bowl just for season ticket holders and Rowdies? Nope. Visting teams students are welcome; it's just Akron's students who aren't allowed! Oh, no Akron students can come in the front doors either! Visiting team's students, come right in. I talked to several players after the game last night and they all noticed the Buffalo students in the blue seats. They weren't happy; especially knowing that a large number of AKRowdies traveled to OU and ended up in peanut heaven. I hope the AD & coaching staff noticed. I've been attending UA games for two years and have wondered where in the world the students are. I think I know, somewhere where they aren't treated like 2nd class citizens! Let's review, lousy seating, track in the way, railing in the way, come in the back door, no you can't sit here, these seats are for Joe Akron who might show up IF we play DUKE, KENTUCKY or the HEAT (so they can boo LBJ) but right now you students go sit in the corner and be quiet! To the 3800 who showed up last night, good job. To those who should be inventing ways to get more students in the JAR and creating a better gameday experience and a "home court advantage" (in Akron that is an oxymoron), be very glad I'm not your boss. I'd have you run around "the track" during time outs and have the 38 Akron students in attendance throw blue and gold water ballons at you. Winner gets to sit at the media table on the floor but only for one play because you might say or do something uncoth. Just sayin

Lumberjack, your insinuations are sickening. Since you know CG tell him he should not repeat what he did at the games conclusion; he is better than that. If he has issues suggest he take them to KD. My observation is we've gone to focusing on ME and not WE. SHARE the ball and if covered or doubled, PASS to the open man. Too many forced shots last night. I'd love to see the coaches demand defensive & rebounding intensity. If you don't want to play D or you'd rather leak out then box out, enjoy the view from the bench. I know it's simplistic but IF we play as a TEAM we will regain our way. If we continue to rebound half heartedly and play soft inside then go one on one on the offensive end it's going to be an unfortunate end to a season of promise. To the poster who wants a shooter, are you serious? The Zips have a shooters, one of whom is first or second in the MAC in shooting percentage from the "3"; Brian Walsh.

3 games in 6 days at the end of the season, do the Zips benefit financially for moving the OU game back a day and the Cant game up a day? I know it was for TV and I know we want TV exposure and I know we need to play better on the espn coverage days....that's all a given. Who benefits? The Zips directly or the MAC? If the Zips program does not get some decent financial incentive I wouldn't agree to this compression. Would you?

After witnessing the pregame production OU laid on the Zips Sunday and the game effecting OU student and band performance a high bar has been set. I certainly hope a WHITE OUT & A SELL OUT will greet the ZIPS and more importantly harass Buffalo all night as the Zips go for the regular season championship clinching. Anything less will be a huge let down. If you are a regular attender bring 2 friends with you! Let's go Zips!

Lumberjack, I care as much as you but take a deep breath and watch the game again. First it's U of Akron. Second of all, the Zips had several players melt in last nights OU heat. Blown defensive assignments led to open shots by OU as did our defensive agression of chasing most of OU's players all over the floor. They spread us out, penetrated and kicked when our help defender had to rotate since we were being beat off the dribble by their pg. They hit their jumpers. What upset me was the number of layups OU made without being made to pay the price of hard closeouts and some hard fouls. Our biggest sin was lack of intensity followed by a low level of battle. Believe me when I tell you OU played like their lives depended on the outcome. We played like it was just another game. Add all that up and add some really bad nights by quite a few of the Zips and you get the outcome we got. We were not a tough team to play against last night; not physically, mentally or defensively. If don't become better defensively we aren't going to win against good competiton.

Unfortunately, I don't see any modifications for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season. I hope Coach D turns up the heat on the administration to get something done for the 2012-2013 season. There are several ways to accomplish what most on this board agree is a problem...student attendance and involvement to produce a true home court advantage. Put the media/announcers up on the track in a corner or at half court, donors up in the chair backs. Get two rows of students across from the team benches down on the floor in addition to both ends. I'd guess they could put 150 more students down at floor level in addition to the end of court seats currently in place. Unfortunately, I don't see any other possibilies for a near term solution and with this years and next years team, it's time for UA to step up and continue to support and elevate this program with significant renovations.

Athens, Sunday night.

Should have added, other than AA

Unlike the Zips guards, he was running of a ton of screens last night making him a tough guard. I wish we'd run our shooters of multiple screens for a change.

With the obvious lack of significant interest in the Zips basketball program, other than what appears to be a core fan base of 3000 the U of A and the dedicated fan base are delusional if they are even considering an arena with more than 6000 GOOD seats. 6000 is a good number even if the Zips dreams come true and they continue to evolve into a consistent top 40 program. If the dream occurs, then demand exceeds supply, ticket prices can be increased, season tickets would become more necessary to the core group and obviously a better financial investment for whomever. As a part of the arena review, is a survey being performed to find out who is attending the games? What demographic? Older alumni? Recent grads? Sports junkies? Students? With student attendance low, locate it near Canal Park and the nightspots. If students are in the majority, put it on campus. Serve your audience. I will leave it to the financial & marketing guru's to determine what's the best way to pay for it. U of A owned, privately owned and operated and leased to U of A. Is such a venue a possible money maker? Unless the Zips fill the JAR on a regular basis this new arena will take someone with guts & lots of money. I don't see taxpayer monies building it and the university has other more profitable investments it could make.

Most likely Charlie Coles last trip to the JAR as Miami's HC; let's give him something to remember....... White Out Sell Out Blow Out Keep it rolling Zips! Looking for a huge student turn out.....make a difference! Fill up the bottom and GA

A gameday itinerary/journal might be interesting

It's all conjecture and reliant on others opinions and actions. One game at a time and one win at a time. The RPI and the rest will take care of themselves if the Zips take care of their business. To run the table would be absolutely fantastic but I pray they are undefeated at the Q would be great as well. It's going to be a tremendous challenge and one we should enjoy! Sellout the JAR and make some roadtrips to support the boys.

Good job B! Keep it up!

I'm still upset with the homer job the Zips got at valpo; they shot 38 free throws to the Zips 7! Coach D got T'ed up for asking why a foul was called. Walsh was hurt in pregame and played 9 minutes. Zeke played 11 minutes, took zero shots and fouled out. The refs made a mockery of the game. The next night against Duquesne, Alex popped his knee early, Walsh played 30 min on one leg and Serb had a melt down. All that and missed free throws took the Zips down. What a terrible weekend of basketball and from what I'm reading, could ultimately cost the Zips big time. I truly hope valpo comes to the JAR so we could provide similar home cooking and explain it the way their fans did to me....welcome to Indiana! I just hope the Zips can win out and keep others opinions out of the discussion whether they get to dance or not.

Does anyone know why students have to enter via the backdoor???? Let them in the front door and the back door. The idea isn't to make enter difficult/inconvenient is it? If we have side doors, let them in those as well. I like the band located where they are; I like the fact there is room for students at both ends of the court. I just wish there would be a need to EXPAND student seating on the floor because the DEMAND was/is so strong. Drop the pettiness and show up in so many numbers that the powers that be are forced to expand the availability of room down there. The team and coaches want as many loud supportive students as close to the court as possible just like the soccer team and coaches love the student presence at their games. Get it done.

Just looked at our schedule and saw Zips vs OU moved to Sunday @ 8pm! Zips better be getting a huge TV payday for this. I was looking forward to a huge Zips invasion of the Condo for what was a Saturday night showdown in Athens. This change will insure a minimal Zip fan turnout plus it cuts off a day of preparation for Buffalo coming into the JAR on the following Wednesday! Any of you insiders got some info on this? I don't see why we would agree to the switch unless a significant amount of cash will be deposited into the Zips bank account.

AKSportsFan - is it true students have to go to the rear of the JAR to enter for a game? If that is correct, why in the world would the powers that be not have students entering the front of JAR as well?

As a relatively new ZIP booster/fan I submit the following and invite constructive criticism to better our gameday: How many big boosters sit on the floor opposite the team benches? Could they be accomodated with 1st row mid court seats? Move the balance of "media" to the endzone corners to perform their job? No one sits there now and they wouldn't block any fans views. Or relocate them (TV)to the officials table between the benches. Lots of other schools don't provide 1st row/midcourt seating to the media, in fact most put them in the endzones or up high in peanut heaven. Then bring in some risers, chairs or bleachers and make them student/AK rowdies only. If it takes some free t-shirts, hot dog/drinks, towels, etc to the 1st arriving students who want to sit/stand there than so be it. I think the boosters would go along with such a move. It would increase student/rowdie activity/noise, give us an improved home court advantage and they still get prime seats in the midst of the craziness. The students would feel "involved" and part of the game just like they do at the soccer games. This seems like a cheap and easy to accomplish way to address all the above stated excuses for lack of student attendance/involvement. Based upon student performance vs Cant I think the students will show up and confirm the teams/Coach D's comments concerning their effect on their play. If not, go back to the current lousy arrangements. What say you?

By "changing the culture" do you mean to say "going to Zips basketball games is fun and worth the effort". With the exception of the Can't game and to a lesser extent the OU game, the students are non existant. I guess the Zips have to be undefeated with blow out wins over CSU, OU, Can't State and theosu before more than 200 show up for a game. Too bad, as their energy has been sighted by KD and several players for helping them to play at a higher level and making the JAR an even tougher place to play. Not to mention, creating an atmosphere that's truly fun to be a part of. I hope this culture change begins Saturday...

Play hard, keep your mouth shut and smile when you shake the loser's hand. Old school or not that's the way classy, successful teams conduct themselves. Oh yeah, one more thing make the extra pass and acknowledge the guy who made your easier, better shot possible. If we reach this level, it's going to be a great ride.

When this team finally embraces truly sharing the ball and making the extra pass as opposed to forcing individual offense and dribbling too much, the turnovers will go down and our offense will be something to see. I hope that this comes sooner than later and that the coaching staff demands it. I'm sure defense will be worked on the next few days as we gave up an awful lot of drives last night. Nice to be 7-1 with such issues.

Zips on a nice roll, hope the students come out in force and the Rowdies are..... 4,000 Does Joe Akron care yet?

He's not helping the team at all right now. I totally disagree. Obviously he's struggling with his shot, but he plays solid defense and contributes solid intangibles. It's his senior year, he's struggling but he's still being a positive influence and he is helping "coach" some of his younger teammates. His biggest contribution is his great attitude; he enjoys team success as much or more than personal success. An important role model for his teammates; here's hoping for all of us he finds his stroke soon.

Make two predictions based on the Zips beating Buffalo and being 4-0 in the MAC or going into the Can't State game 3-1. 1. 6,700 w/standing room tickets being sold at the door. 2. 5,500