GP1

Yes, it was so empty that the first topic on a local sports radio show after Toledo's win was why didn't anyone go. I was there, don't pretend there were more people than what there were. By the way, Akron has had crowds over 30,000 many times in the past.

(I'm glad I can now laugh about those days) Isn't amazing how years of frustration were released when they won? It's been a real good feeling the past few days.

I just remembered this. There was one really creative student who had the old defense type of sign where you make a "D" and then have a fence next to it. You all know what I'm talking about. Anyhow, this student cut out a "Z" instead of a "D" and it was Zefence instead of defence. Get it? I thought that was pretty creative.

Worse than the championship played at the Glass Bowl a few years ago when it was half empty for the Marshall vs. Toledo game? Even with Toledo Tom taking up 25% of the stadium, it was still only half full.

I have some extra magnets from a couple of years ago. You can e-mail me through this web board and I will send one to you. Loyal fans should be supported by other loyal fans. I thought two years ago the magnets, with the helmet logo, were the best thing they have given away ever and they did it for only one year and then no more. Does this make sense to anyone but me? They could buy 1,000 of the magnets for say $2.00 each at the most. Sell them for $5.00-$7.00 each and they only have to sell 400 to break even at $5.00. I think they could sell 400 at basketball games alone. The good thing about the magnets, and this is an odd good thing, is that if you forget to take one off of your car, somebody will steal it. Then two goals have been accomplished. One, the University gets to sell another magnet because they are so cheap that you can easily buy another. Second, in a strange way, you have provided advertisement for the University because someone will hang that on their refrigerator at home and be reminded of the programs when they look at it.

http://gotigersgo.collegesports.com/sports...otbl-sched.html Here is a post for their schedule and how they did against each team. They look like a similar team to us. I hope the game is as close as the Championship game with us winning again.

Are we the next Syracuse? Probably not, but who cares? What we are though is on the brink of being the next dominant team in at least the MAC East if not the Conference, and that's all I care about. While ever team is on the down slide, we are moving up in talent and facilities. We just won the MAC Championship, it doesn't get any better than that. If I was a fan of another MAC school, I would be scared of what Akron has done in the past two seasons. Coach of the Year last year (should have been this year also), top recruiting class, another great recruiting class coming, MAC East Championship, MAC Championship, we were the team that drummed Marshall out of the league, new campus practice facility, new stadium on the way, improved campus that attracts the type of non "suburban" kid necessary to have a winning program, the list could go on and on. Fear the Roo. As far as the Motor City Bowl not wanting us there, tough shit. We'll see them on the 26th. If the MAC does not want us there, tough shit. We'll see all of them next season with our even more improved team. Next season our schedule will be much more favorable than this season. If the MAC doesn't want us in the league, tough shit. Kick us out and prove that you are all scared of us...that will make the Conference look like a bunch of Bush Leaguers. Could we be the next Marshall in that the rest of the league hates us? I hope, because Marshall was hated because we were all jealous of them because they won year after year. Being the most hated team is really a good thing. If you read other school's fan boards, schools like Toledo, Miami, NIU, BGSU and OU all think they are one day going to be in the Big East. If they want to go to that conference, let them. They will all become the bottom feeders of their conference the same way Marshall has in Conference DOA. What did Marshall get for that move.....nothing.

There is no doubt that coaching is playing a huge role in the success of this program. I can only think of one time in the past two years when I think the Zips were out coached, and that was the CMU game this season. Other than that, the team has come to each game with a good plan to win the game. Sure, there has been some bad play calling at times, but that happens everywhere. On the whole, the coaches are doing a great job. It's been the little things the coaches do to move the program forward. If you look at the discipline of the players and coaches on the sidelines, it is impressive. That discipline resulted in Akron not having to use any time outs early in the second half of the game because the right players were not in the game or the coaches were indecisive. Without those three time outs, the Zips do not win Thursday. Watch Jim Flemming when the offensive is on the field. He is engaged with the players listening to what they have to say and then he works through all of their problems with them. I've never seen him up close on the sidelines, but he appears to be a real good teacher. He certainly had the defense ready to hold NIU to three and out at the end on a night when no defensive player really played all that well and Wolfe ran all over us the entire night up until that point. I've mentioned before that this staff reminds me a lot of the young coaches Faust brought here. Most of those guys are now at really big programs and have made good names for themselves. At the time though, they were young coaches looking to move up the coaching ladder. I would guess that at the end of this season, at least two coaches leave Akron to go to bigger programs that pay better. These guys all have families and they have an obligation to make more money to support their family. JD has the same obligation, but nobody is going to hire a coach from the MAC that went 6-5 during the regular season. The key is going to be replacing them with good coaches, which will not be a problem because the team is winning and a lot of quality young coaches will want to hitch their wagon to JD hoping that when he moves on, they will be taken with him. Don't get down if a couple of coaches leave. It is a natural evolution in the coaching profession when a mid major team is doing well. Embrace the changes and be comforted by the knowledge that the most reasonable predictor of future behavior is past behavior. JD hired good coaches the first time, he can hire good coaches in the future. Keep trusting in JD guys, he knows what he is doing. Enjoy the Holiday Season. This is a great time to be a Zips fan.

College Football News has Akron playing Memphis.

Great post! I'd love to meet some people from ZipsNation so I could buy you all a beer. The only person I know is ZipsWin!. I think I know who a couple might be, but I'm not really sure so I never say anything.

Who is saying that? It's great you give back...more people should.

In order for the Zips to continue the success they are having, it is important for all of us to support the school financially. There is no better time than now to give a donation to The University of Akron Foundation. Each of you, especially if you are a graduate, has an obligation to give whatever you can. Some of you may have graduated recently and may not be able to give a large donation, but it is important to give something back even if it is only twenty five or thirty dollars. Those of you who can afford more should give more. If you want to ear mark the money for the football program, you can...I think they have earned it. If you are an explayer and you get a free ticket to the Motor City Bowl, meet your obligation by giving some back to the school equal to the amount of the ticket. Get into the habit of giving and not taking. There are already too many free loaders in the world. Give the donation separate from the ticket and you can deduct the money from your taxes. Tradition starts somewhere and is maintained somehow. I think a great tradition of winning started last night and now we must maintain that tradition by giving back. I am so absolutely proud of what happened last night. I'm proud of the coaches and players. I'm proud of the enthusiasm from the students. I'm proud of the alumni that showed up. I'm proud of the response on this fan board today. Walk with your heads held high today Zips fans, it's been a long time coming. The only thing I am not proud of today is my inability to get over one of the worst hangovers of my life. Hank Williams Jr. was absolutely correct when he wrote, "Hangovers hurt more than they used to".

Here is one more request......Sell a DVD of the game from last night.

I love the dance analogy. Great post! At least the Zips and NIU are at the dance with a chance to bang the "ugly stepsister" at the end of the dance. Everyone else in the MAC will be having their own little circle jerk.

After the start of the season, I didn't think there would be anyway Getsy would not pass for over 3,000 yards. He went through a period in the season where he was horrible...at best. I would be interested to know from someone like InTheZone how bad his hand was after the CMU game and for how long. For about a three week stretch after that, he could not have thrown the ball into the ocean. Now is the chance for all of you who wanted to bench Getsy, and you know who you are, to admit you were wrong. Couldn't wait for basketball to start? Did you see that game Saturday? Benching Getsy would have created such a loss of confidence in the team, they would not have recovered. If Ferg played and things did not work out, then what? Play a freshman next year? No way! This team does not need a circus like the one we saw with the Browns the past few years with Holcomb and all the nonsense that went along with that situation. It's time to win now and Getsy obviously provided the best chance to win. I need this question answered though. How come with similar numbers last year, those of you who wanted Getsy benched were not wanting Frye replaced last year when they started out 1-4? I would never have replaced Frye last year for the same reason I would never have replaced Getsy this year. Get refocused guys. JD is the guy to take this team into the future and he knows what he is doing. Have a little confidence. Stop picking on a play here and there, making it out to be bigger than what it really is. Making it to the conference championship after two years is called doing a good job. Our future is looking up! In fact, I think we are going to get a good taste of the future on Thursday night. Try to have some fun.

I agree, I always feel like I have to go to Confession every time I write something bad about his coaching ability.

There are some bars at Greektown that are good and have good food. It isn't really Greektown, it's more like "Greek Street". You can safely walk to the stadium from Greektown.

Bill Cubit won the Coach of the Year award today. There is a connection with Cubit and the Zips. Early in the 90's, Cubit was the running backs coach for a couple of years under Faust. A long time ago, I posted a long post on former Akron assistants under Faust for 1987, but throughout his time at Akron, he had a ton of assistants that went on to some really good jobs. Some of the posters on this board are probably too young to really remember Faust, but he was a huge name at one point in college football. Too bad he was such a bad coach...

Your Rockets played Marshall in the MAC Championship a few years ago at the Glass Bowl and there were less than 10,000 at your home field. I was there. Don't try to kid yourself. So was I. We had close to 20,000 and yes I was pissed about the small turnout. THERE WERE NOT 20,000 PEOPLE THERE!!!!!! I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say 13,000. Akron had 12,000 for the CMU game this year and it was an early season MAC game against a team with a losing record at the time. Maybe you are mistaking those 20,000 empty seats for people.

Exactly, which is what makes the arrest of a 56 year old college football coach even more funny. At least you gave up years ago. He's too dumb to stop.

Looks like the same old Owens to me. Wins some games and loses the games that matter against the top teams in the league.

One year at OU and the guy is drinking too much.....that sound normal for that school. So what's the news story?

Your Rockets played Marshall in the MAC Championship a few years ago at the Glass Bowl and there were less than 10,000 at your home field. I was there. Don't try to kid yourself.

Less comments than voters? Come on guys, this is a chance to have some fun. I'll start off the fun with a Haiku Kangaroo muff dive After big Zips Detroit win Female Roos all grin Someone please take it from here. We're in the MAC Championship this week, it's time to have some fun.

No, but their wives and girlfriends had smiles......