zip81

I-AA? In basketball? I think not.

They've only been Division I since 2001 and they've already won two bowl games. The Owls of Florida Atlantic beat Central Michigan 24-21 in the Motor City Bowl. FAU, which has only had a football program since 2000, is considered one of D-I's success stories. FAU, who killed Memphis in last year's New Orleans Bowl, plays out of the Sun Belt Conference, and brought a 6-6 record into Detroit. Central Michigan was 8-4. After a slow 1-5 start in 2008, FAU won five of their six final games to go into the bowl season with some momentum. The Owls' slow start included losses against national powers Texas, Michigan State and Minnesota.Akron's RecordUnlike the Owls, who have had a quick climb to D-I respectability, the Zips have had a long, hard road since becoming the first football program to make the jump from D-IAA to D-I in 1987. In fact, in the 21 seasons since the jump to the big time, the Zips have made the following accomplishments: 15 seasons under .500; 4 seasons under 4 wins; 1 Conference Championship; 1 Bowl appearance. In the 31 years that I have been following Zips football, I would expect to experience more joy than the completion of one Hail Mary in the 2005 MAC Championship game.Could it be the Coaching?Gerry Faust, Lee Owens, and now J.D. Brookhart, have all hovered around mediocrity with few fleeting moments of success. One of those moments came in 2005 when the Zips beat N. Illinois to win the MAC Championship before going on to lose in their only D-I Bowl appearance to Memphis. FAU, on the other hand, has been guided by legendary head coach Howard Schnellenberger, who is 5 – 0 in bowl games, including the 1983 Miami Hurricane’s national championship. Whether it is Schnellenberger, Paul Brown or Don Shula, great coaches have the ability to make their players perform at a consistent high level, despite the inconsistency of talent, through the years. This is something that has escaped the Zips football program since the jump to D-I.New Stadium - New Era?We were all hoping that Akron would have a successful year in 2008 to build excitement for the opening of InfoCision next year. The stadium is going to be top-shelf. We know the same cannot be said for the team. The Zips will go into their new home limping from this year's disaster. The stands will be full. The atmosphere will be electric. However, the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Is J.D. the man to bring that consistent high-level of performance year after year? With the new stadium, state-of-the art indoor practice facility and a brand-new campus, the recruiting excuses are, if they have not already, disappearing. J.D., who once showed so much promise and was on the tip of everyone's tongue whenever an opening came up at a "premier" program, is fading into the stereotypical Akron coach. The hot seat awaits him if the Zips pull off a repeat 2008 performance in 2009. Time is running out - and quickly.One thing is for certain; no matter who coaches the Zips, I'll be a fan. It is my school. I will be sitting in the new stadium with my buddies as I have for the past three decades. Fans like me will always be there. However, for Akron to reach the level we all think they wish to achieve, they have to attract people who are NOT like me. A stadium will only go so far. The only way to attract NEW fans is, to quote Oakland owner Al Davis, "Win Baby...Win."

I can't see the U firing him going into the new stadium next year.If next year is a flop..uh, bye, bye!

A citizen journalist.Very nice job.Also, very a revealing look into "newspapers" of tomorrow. I can see that video a thousand times. We finally won one.

Love this quote:"He has brought in former Can't State coaches to give opinions on ways to make improvements and has implemented many of their recommendations."The blind leading the blind. :lol: :lol: :lol:

All Akron Alumni serving in the military gain automatic enrollment in the AK-OLDIES at no cost.Please send me a message with your contact information and t-shirt size, and I'll get that baby in the mail.Thanks for your service to our country...and thanks to all our veterans out there!

oh come on, you have got to be kidding me... Someone seriously wrote that? I think their projection of 70k in attendance each week was off by a zero That was so funny, I busted a gut! Then I wrote to the editor, and he wrote back: "Hello Akron. Visit me next time you're in Zagreb." He or she would have to be from Zagreb to write that nonsense.

Then you should be an Indians or Browns fan...er...uh...wait...never mind. :D

This one is getting a little freaky.When the word "death" is used, someone needs to get a grip.I'm locking this one down.Love and peace to you all.

Because it's my school.Plain and simple.

I don't know what the hell they're talking about anyway. What is written on their forum is not what I wrote here.What did they expect me to say...that it was great BG won?

" Just down the street are Asian restaurants and relaxed bars."Is Chaser's II still on Triplet? :lol:

Ky. campus on lockdown after report of shots fired13 mins agoBOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Western Kentucky University was on lockdown Wednesday after someone reported seeing people with weapons in a building on a satellite campus and police later received reports that shots had been fired on the main campus, about two miles away.According to the university Web site, police searched the South Campus building but were not able to find any people with guns or witnesses who could confirm the reports.They later sent a text message warning students to seek shelter after the reports of shots fired in or near Pearce Ford Tower residence hall, on the school's main campus, though those reports were also unconfirmed.According to the Web site, police confirmed that there was some type of fight that occurred in or near the residence hall, but they could not confirm that weapons were involved or shots were fired. The school is about an hour north of Nashville, Tenn."What we believe we have is an altercation between a group of individuals," school spokeswoman Robbin Taylor told CNN. "It began in one area of the campus, moved to another area of the campus."The campus emergency warning system was activated and students and employees were told to remain indoors until an "all clear" was issued.

OMG Her Hauptman!He is the absolute worst.They could go to downtown Brady Lake and randomly choose anyone out of the trailer park who would be better.Who in the heck approves the hiring of that guy. Does he do football too?

I can't believe Penn State isn't on that list.

That's my understanding too.It is the NFL where the home team has the choice.

These two (who sound like fictional characters) were even before my time. I started listening to Zips football when Faust appeared on the scene and we were going to move to IA. Back then they had Don Ursetti and Whitey Wahl announcing. I know they were friends of the University (especially Whitey), but they were so bad that it was like listening to your grandmother (Whitey) and a garbage disposal (gravely voice of Ursetti) announcing the games.Carl was news director at WAKR and Rudy Pie, as we used to call him, wiggled his way in there somehow. Not sure how because he wasn't a radio type. Carl and Rudy did the games in '79, the same year I did them on WAUP. That was a lot of fun. We traveled a lot that year....Boise State, pre-Smurf Turf, (first time I ever flew in a plane), Temple at the Vet in Philly...Eastern Illinois....Morehead State.The team would fly in these old planes with Wright Airlines. Their planes looked like something out of Major League, the movie. We, WAUP, used to charter these small planes, seven seaters, with WAKR. Those were some scary flights.I wish WZIP still aired the games. It was great experience for the Media majors.They probably can't raise the budget. We would get Deluca or Tremonte Distributing to underwrite our games.

Anybody remember the days of Carl Dickens and Rudy Pikarski on WAKR?

Having the stadium on campus and all that goes with it is going to be major fun.

One thing to remember....the ABJ is suppose to report the news, not promote a cause.As for the Cleveland TV pinheads (and I know of which I speak), they'll cover the new stadium opening, and it will be covered by News rather than Sports.However, sustained coverage will come from winning.

If Akron wins, the coverage will be there.When you go into a story meeting, you decide what stories impact or interest the greatest amount of people. PERIOD.We all bleed blue and gold here, but the guy on the lawn chair in Kenmore with an OSU flag flying from his porch simply doesn't care.

Zany Finish Lifts ZipsAnn Arbor NewsEagles Lose Heart breaker on Bizarre PlanEastern Michigan AthleticsDennis Kennedy Listed as Top PerformerSan Francisco ChronicleEastern Loses After Blocked Field GoalDetroit Free PressMAC SummariesFt. Wayne Journal-GazzetteKennedy Runs for Three Touchdowns as Akron Downs EMUWANE-TV/Ft. Wayne

where bouts in Pittsburgh?We could have some common ground here.

My guess is that he is of Korean ancestry, and it is pronounced "Sook". Now excuse me, but I have to go to dinner. I have reservations at Fuk Yuen's Seafood Restaurant. Zip in ParadiseHonolulu, HINow THAT is funny! :lol: :lol:

This is great they're letting people sign the beam.This is a construction tradition. The beam will probably be the "topping out beam" meaning, the last one put in place. The topping out beam is usually painted white, signed by the construction workers and hoisted to the top with an American flag and Christmas tree attached. However, unless the design of the stadium allows it, you probably won't be able to see it after construction is finished.