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STUDENTS WANTED: JAR - this Sunday @ 2pm.

Creighton is very, very good. Based upon what I saw we could double him as much as possible and make other Creighton players score consistently. It appears he prefers to score than pass, he might get frustrated if he isn't going to get his average. The other thing to keep in mind is this will be a Creighton home game...meaning we can't bully him or all our bigs will foul out and the kid will shoot 20 free throws himself. Creighton will have 16,000 fanatics in attendance so I look for a huge Zips effort to make a name for themselves in a true big time venue.

TPSjugglerdude - excellent report on 2013 kickoff tournaments; based upon your reporting I'd vote for: 1. Preseason NIT - Madison Square Garden, need anything else be said? Great visibility 2. Charleston Classic - we'd win it and the food is great. 3. Battle for Atlantis - "Think Bigger" - why not?

We have a sorry state of affairs if the above comments are accurate. With attendance historically low, who is ever going to invest millions in a facility for a program that can't draw 3000 people consistently. I agree the JAR's design is terrible but there are other significant issues when the student population if over 20,000 and less than 5% of them show up for a decent basketball game involving their university. Especially when all you have to do is show an ID to get in. Thank God for the program's boosters!

This should be one of the more entertaining games of the year. We go 10 deep; they go 10 deep. We owe them for the butt kicking they gave us at their place last year. A sold out JAR would help them build on the momentum coming off the PR Tip Off.

Wow, an attempted discussion on how to improve the game day atmosphere and a societal, generational debate ensues. Lets try again. The JAR is a university facility; currently the students are required to enter through the back door. If you don't realize that's a problem then either I'm wasting my keystrokes your oblivious to marketing and human nature. The students are WANTED by the team, coaches and serious fans of the Zips. As stated previously, a large, boisterous student section working in conjunction with the band adds to the fabled "home court advantage". I believe some new ideas are in order as we currently do not have such an advantage. If it's too controversial to move some big boosters, let's figure out a way to gain some courtside space and pack it with students. Even if it's standing room only, the students are young and if the concept is planned correctly, I believe that you could find 500 - 600 who would gladly fill this space. As far as students wanting something for free - with the price they pay for unversity classes the least UA could do is arrange better seating. The boosters and season ticket holders could have seperate sections from the students as I'm sure they wouldn't care to sit in the midst of a true student section. Is the blue bowl 100% sold out? If not, move all the paying customers together along with the teams families and recruits. If the seats aren't sold by game time, it's now student seating on a first come first served basis. Finally, I've tried to keep this discussion moving by throwing out some ideas; I'm in my 50's and believe in working for what you get. However, in this case, I believe that UA and some commentators here are totally missing the point; which is to get more life in the JAR. It would benefit the team, university and other fans to have a great atmosphere night in and night out as the season progresses. This is presented with the intent to improve the current situation not start a cultural war; leave that to the politicians. Go Zips.

ZZZips - both of your questions are legitimate. I haven't measured the floor corners but would suggest chairs on risers at the corners where the Zips come onto the floor or the corner where the opposition comes out. I'm not suggesting they sit at the band endzones for obvious noise reasons. As far as the media table: set it up against the rail in a track level corner of your choosing. Media representation isn't more than 10-15 and they don't have to sit shoulder to shoulder. If a game results in a large media presence set up all the corners to handle them. Portable tables with chairs work nicely. If the Fire Marshall or other authority objects put them at center court, above the track in a designed section and install some table tops. I'm sure they'll enjoy the bleachers. I'm not an architect but I am a fan of the Zips; the current arrangements are regretable at best; and I'm sure the administration is aware of the JARS faults. I'm posting in order to encourage discussion and hopefully some action. While proper time and planning are taken to design a better facility and to line up the payment of same, steps can be taken to encourage UA students to attend games. Let's create an enviroment that attracts rather than repels students and the general public. KD is delivering a product, it's time for some creative marketing/packaging. The donors/boosters are needed and wanted and I'm sure they'd love to have an electric enviroment for Zips basketball. Change is needed unless you desire the same old same old. Heck, if the boosters want to remain on the floor with students directly behind them, then I'm all for that as an option as well.

What is needed is some creativity and boldness. OU gets it and UA doesn't. OU's students and band and ADMINISTRATION create a homecourt ADVANTAGE for their basketball team. If you don't belive that, venture down for our next Athens game and see. The current student seating design and student interest in attending isn't a coincidence. The students feel like second class citizens and this "plan" reinforces that perception. Does UA still require them to enter the JAR at via the BACK DOOR? There are options to be considered, but apparently having a boisterous student section working in conjunction with the band to make the JAR a tough place to play for our opponents doesn't fit the current plan. UA has completely missed the boat as far as engaging the students to produce a challenging enviroment for a Zip opponent. What should have been a priority appears to be an after thought. Why not inform the students they can have all the end zone seats, move the media tables (across from the benches) upstairs to the track, in one of the four corners and have the band sit opposite the opponent bench (just like OU) and have the boosters on the floor sit by the Zip bench thereby allowing students to take over the sidelines opposite the benches. Think some students would show up for those seats? Have the band meet with the Rowdies and cooridinate. Obviously, the admin will oversee but some event management can make sure all planned activities are coordinated and acceptable. I think the program KD is building is worth throwing away previous years methods. Worth a try?

My take from the Tiffin exhibition: Zero/Zip improvements to the JAR....very disappointing The Zips pregame & intro's remain dismal at best Missed the band. Minimal endzone scoreboard performance - by design or is it simply not working? Does this university realize they have a good thing in KD and this team? Apparently not. Students absent as well. Again I was encouraged by the players performances offensively. Defensively, not so much. Depth of talent is off the charts impressive. Big & long. Quick? KD and staff are going to have a difficult time keeping all the players happy with an apparent 10 or 11 man rotation. Tiffin has some decent guards but their "bigs" weren't. This team has potential and with such a large rotation Chemistry is going to be huge in their climb towards success. Overall grade: Team O: B Team D: C - Adminstration/Event effort: D - Yes, I know it was an exhibition but with so many places they could improve the JAR and to have made none since last year.....really? Looking forward to watching this team!

I predict the old cliches will occur and hope that the team believes them: Health is Wealth This game is this year's biggest game You're not as bad as you think you are when you lose You're not as good as you think you are when you win Stats are for losers and all they care about Wins are all winners care about Scoring wins fans Defense wins championships The homecourt advantage is often the difference See you at the JAR!

Class of 82, I agree with your comments; as stated in another thread, the Zips OCC schedule this year is daunting to say the least. I haven't been around too long but I'd say this is the best (toughest) schedule entered into by the any Zips team.

Start mowing grass on October 31st and don't stop mowing until late March. All else is noise.

The opprotunity to earn respect officially begins in 15 days.

In another thread I said the first 6 games will be tough. It's actually 9 out of the first 12. Coastal Carolina - initial game @ their new facility John Carroll - home Oklahoma State - away P.R. #2 unknown - away P.R. #3 unknown - away Middle Tennessee - Home Creighton - away Detroit - away Ark Pine Bluff - home Cleveland State - home Texas Southern - home Princeton - home Whoever was complaining about soft schedules certainly can't say a word this year.

I agree with most of Lumberjack's post above; OU beat the Zips because Cooper had a great game. He made a few "hail mary" shots that sealed OU's win by 1 point. At the JAR Cooper couldn't make a shot. For the year he shot 30% from beyond the arc. Sometimes stuff like that happens. I'll take 5/6 guys scoring 10 each than a superstar scoring 25/30 on a consistent basis. OU is a good team as they showed; in my opinion they did a better job sharing the ball on offense and had the Zips running around on D as a result. If the Zips adopt the same unselfish attitude I think we are better. The Zips are deep and it will up to Alex and Melo to distribute the ball to the hot hand. The first 6 games are going to be tough as the Zips are Coastal Carolina's opponent for the opening of their new arena so a hostile capacity crowd awaits them then it's off to Puerto Rico vs Oklahoma State and two more quality games then off to Creighton and Detroit. Six tough AWAY games at the beginning of the year is going to tell us alot about this team. If they play unselfishly, play defense like they are capable and stay healthy look out! If they are worried about personal stats and more concerned about me than we, then look out as well.

Can someone stop in the JAR and see if the weekend practices will be open to the public?

Bobkittens show up at #39 http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4908 They look good on paper; expectations are high in Athens. Still can't believe Cooper's MAC champsionship game; from a 30% 3 pt shooter no less. I can't wait for February 2nd at the JAR and Feb 27th in Athens.

Apathy reins supreme at UA; I don't get it. Exceptional soccer team - apathic student support. Excellent mens basketball team - apathic student support. Entertaining and fun events to attend - where's the students? I've asked the same thing on the basketball board and typically hear the students have to work or the facility stinks. Too bad for Akron, my college experience was just the opposite. Games were packed with students and were a fantastic place to meet, laugh and blow off some tension from school and life in general.

Q's absence will be tough to replace; especially on the defensive side of the ball. His unselfishness, competitiveness and desire to win is what I'll remember and miss about QD. I will add my comments to those who truly hope Q can obtain his degree and return to the JAR next year as a wiser man who learned from two unfortunate events. I believe he could return and play since he did not "sit out" a year when he transferred in since his initial college dropped out of the NCAA's D1 level; I believe the NCAA allowance of 5 years to complete 4 years of athletic eligibility still governs.

We need Valpo in the JAR this year while the memories of last years game are still fresh in the Zips locker room. Coach D wouldn't have to say much, just play the video for the team. We could also get 3 relatives of our coaching staff to ref the game so Valpo would feel at home.

Oklahoma State shows up at #64; http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4794 Will make the first game of the PR Tournament a possible track meet. Big Zeke could be the difference as their bigs don't seem as talented as their guards; as the article indicates they may play small and quick. Marshall shown as #62; wish we had they at the JAR this year.

Wally B - It's the Akron way! Look how everyone at the JAR enjoys people walking the track while sitting on bleachers do the bob and weave while bending down to see under the railing....innovative way to exercise while spectating! The trend continues.....

Will the bracket buster game on January 23rd be a home or away game? Why Tuesday games on January 5th (at home vs CM) and March 5th (at home vs Miami)?

ZTZ - I agree with your statement; thought they'd be a little higher. Losing Nick C is a hit but I am confident that Tree and Nick H will make up for his loss. The Zips appear to be bigger, deeper and more experienced than last year. I'm hoping we can sneak up on some people early. It will be an interesting year!

Let's hope that Coach Porter recalls what Coach Dambrot decided and says thanks but no thanks. Would, could Akron add an addendum to Coach P's contract to sweeten his current deal in exchange for a highter buyout should he remain at Akron?