skip-zip

Exactly. Drawing people from the stands into the concourse would be really, really stupid. It won't happen. It's going to be great weather, a great atmosphere, and a historic game for us. Why is anyone even assuming that people want to be at a Zips game, but be watching an Indians game anyway? If the Indians game is their preference, they probably wouldn't be there. And in regards to the Suites: I've been in them many times. Those are paid for by the companies. If they want to use their TVs to watch something else, that's entirely their choice. In fact, I was in a Suite last year when Michigan State beat the Suckeyes, and everyone was celebrating and jumping up and down. But that's what everyone wanted to do. The Buffalo game was WELL out of hand by that point. And just in case nobody has ever noticed, the majority of those people who go to the Suites are not active participants in the game anyway. Let me add something else: If you are this University, and you are dying to get more support for our Zips...even to the extent that the coach is opening up his own pockets to attract supporters. Are you going to put up any other sporting event on any TV in the stadium?

I've really started to feel strongly about this myself. I posted about it when I found out about the honoring of the 1976 team. I really think that fans, especially the younger ones, can develop a much stronger connection to the program (or progrum) when they see some of the great moments of our history. I have to admit, when I am at the games, and I see those short video clips of the MAC title game, the 2004 Marshall comeback, etc., on the video board, I get a great and proud feeling inside. Even now, when I've already seen them for the 100th time. Which remind me, I'd love to see them show Alcorn's 56 yard field goal to beat Toledo in the AcmeZip game in 1992. French's call of that is one of the best ever. I think he actually won some awards for that. And this weekend in particular, they BETTER show that final play punt return at WMU that won the game a few years ago.

Sorry, I had to laugh Poor Browns.

I missed it. Did they at least say that he was from Akron? Because it doesn't even show his college affiliation in the graphic.

I'd think about that again. They'd be SMART if they were showing the Indians game? Why? So that people can stand in front of TV sets in the concourse instead of being in the stands supporting the Zips in our most important game in the last decade? Sorry, but that would be a horrible idea. And unless someone is really stupid, that won't happen. I expect maybe a few scoring updates. But everyone is capable of checking that on their own phones anyway, so that's probably not necessary.

If you're talking about a University release, then actually we've never even PLAYED a ranked team at Infocision. If you're talking about the ABJ, it said we had never PLAYED a ranked team at HOME...period. No mention of Infocision. So, they missed both the opportunity to be factually correct about the Marshall game, AND more importantly they missed the chance to say that we BEAT that ranked team.

I wish we did have a "stout" run defense. Even Miami (if you remove the QB who had negative yardage) rushed for 4.75 yards per carry against us. But I do agree with you that this game should turn into a major shootout, especially with the great weather conditions. And I'm just not sure we can score enough to keep pace. I see a repeat of the App State game.

Right, I was confused about that one part too. But, the "playing a ranked team at home for the first time" is just dead wrong. Anyone at least 30 years old, even if they just have a light connection to Zips Football, is familiar with the "Leftwich Broken Leg Game" when we beat a ranked Marshall team at the Rubber Bowl. This isn't a casual Zips fans we are talking about here. It's our longtime designated writer for our major hometown paper. No excuse. Also....I thought that if the press helped us out a bit, and stated that we PLAYED and BEAT the last ranked team we played here in Akron, if could help publicize this WMU game. So, they totally dropped the ball there. Thank You ABJ !!

I know. I commented on this earlier. What a joke. We should expect FAR MORE from our local paper, and the reporter who's been covering us for a long time and makes a living from journalism.

I've seen the story. It's was on the Cleveland TV stations this morning too. I'll take any connection we can get between LeBron and Akron Athletics. Since the location of the institute is in Infocision Stadium, they were all mentioning the stadium. It's free publicity that we would have never gotten otherwise. You always love that. Who knows if any of this will result in a significant number of local kids growing up with pride in the University. But since we already know that so many kids are "raised" to show loyalty to the other program down South in the state, maybe this will start to alter that detrimental cycle. And as I type this message......the story is being talked about on WKYC Again !! Footage is showing the University and the Stadium, and talking about the institute. It might be a big story all day locally. That's great for us.

Thanks Zach. That's very helpful. I've also wanted one of those for a long time, and had never checked into how to get one.

And I'd love a Zips Hockey jersey. Can anyone help?

Yes, I'd agree that the diehard fans of a 6-0 team ranked #23 could easily justify a 4-5 hour trip. I think the game time really helps too. If it was the other way around, I'm sure plenty of Akron people would make the trip up there.

It was the LAST PLAY of the game. All WMU had to do was cover a punt, and the game was over. Someone posted the clip on another page in this thread. Go catch it. Frenchy and Stams' radio call is priceless.

I think the people in charge of rules must certainly be well aware of the problem. Hopefully they can do something about it.

But, it's certainly possible that many don't come to begin with, because of the 4+ hour commitment. I was also careful to note that I don't think that the length of the game is our biggest obstacle. But, it could have an impact.

This is how I see it right now. 9 is still on the table, as some people have pointed out. But I think that's a monumental task since we're not going to return to full beginning-of-the-year strength in terms of injuries. And it would still take at least one big upset to get there. 8 is still a good target to shoot for, based on what is remaining on the schedule, assuming we win every remaining game except Toledo and WMU. 7 seems like the most attainable number. I might have to make my first-ever trip to Athens for a football game if we are going to be playing them for the MAC East title.

And don't forget about Justin March. Part of the same linebacker crew. I remember back in 2013 when March and Mizell seemed to be getting all of the publicity. But at the end of the season, Jatavis got the top accolades. He may have emerged pretty unnoticed that year by many, but obviously the rest of the league certainly felt his impact. Now today, at the same position and same year in school (So.), Gilbert might be making the same impact. But he's also getting the early attention to go with it. Back in September, I was sitting in a restaurant in Madison Wisconsin talking to Badger fans, and they were asking questions about our team. Their eyes really got big when I told them that we recently lost TWO linebackers to the NFL. That was a pretty proud moment for me. So, I'm with you......AKRON is the new LINEBACKER U.

Good point. In some way, this could all certainly be attributed to the changes in our society. They say that this is the reason why enclosed Shopping Malls are failing, and why golf is dropping so much in popularity. A four hour sporting event could be a victim of this same trend. Come to think of it, I doubt that there is a football stadium anywhere in the country anymore where the fans are not hitting the exits early in droves, if they feel that the game has already been decided, one way or the other. If all they cared about was getting a full 4 hours of "entertainment" they would stay, right? I don't think this is a big part of the problem, but it could definitely have an impact.

It's just rather stunning, knowing that we were considered the #1 team in the Nation just a few weeks ago.

Unbelievable. Just no excuse. That particular fact.....playing a ranked MAC team at home and beating them before.....might just possibly be the most encouraging historical story line for this week that could encourage the community to get on board. And it's not just being ignored. It's being referenced incorrectly.

Like usual, we can't even get our own reporter, who's been assigned to the Zips for years, to know our history. Just about everyone associated with Akron Football knows that we played a ranked Marshall team (and won) at home in the 2002 game in which Leftwich broke his leg. Yet, he indicates that this will be the first time that Akron has ever played a ranked team at home.

Great point. And just like you, I sure hope that Woodson is the QB. But I don't mind mixing in Chapman one some of those "wildcat" formations, like we had done at times before the Woodson injury. He can break some long runs. Woodson doesn't have that ability. And this is going to especially be a game where we'll need as many big offensive plays as we can get.

We're down 1-0 at Halftime, if this thing is correct.

Am I the only one who's first thought is "Why don't we make this kind of effort for every home game"? Minus the Tuition Giveaway, of course. But, one difference is that it seems like Mr. Bowden has opened up his own pockets to add to the incentives, based on the way this is spelled out on Twitter. We may have also spelled it out that way so that we don't offend any students who feel that all of this free stuff for a sporting even is coming out of the University's pockets. God knows they get pissed off about spending money on sports..