Akron can be Cincinnati

[xu9697]

Gentlemen, I implore you to believe.As an XU grad who stayed in Cincinnati for a few years after graduation (1993-2000 including college years), I always talked about the potential of UC. Good POTENTIAL fan base, awesome SETTING for the stadium, already successful basketball program, etc. Let's remember that a short 22 years ago, Akron became a Division I team (and was beating up a team by the name of Cincinnnati in 1989).Since moving back to the Cleveland area in 2000, I have year-by-year become a bigger fan of Zips athletics for various reasons (too many to mention, too many probably wouldn't care). Anyway, I see the same kind of thing building here at Akron. Yes, we there are differences, most notably the not-having a big-time bball program. But, coincidentally it is growing at the same time as the football team. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF GREAT FACILITIES!!! UC has upgraded and built great ones, while also redoing their campus in a very similar fashion as Akron is doing (green areas, athletic facilities, retail, parking, residences, etc.) Akron has done or is doing the same things. Many doubted me when I spoke about UC 10-12 years ago, so I'm cool with being doubted here. But the combination of a talent-rich football area, new facilities of every kind, improved logos/slogans/marketing (yes it makes a difference), exposure b/c of LeBron James, basketball team improvement/Zeke/KD (Phil Martelli of Akron!), soccer team (and growing coverage of college soccer b/c of ESPNU), etc. it can be done here. This program can reach the heights of a Cincinnati.The obvious final big difference is Cincy landed in the Big East (which was a BIG KEY). I still believe that in the next few years there will be a retooling of conferences, and Akron needs to be ready to do all that is necessary to be in the best conference possible...BE, improved CUSA, improved MAC, whatever.Believe in The Roo!!!

[zippy5]

Hmm I thought we wanted to be Gonzaga, but since they don't have a football team, I'll settle for Cincy -side note, i almost went there. coolest campus, ever! the way the athletic facilities are designed, you walk in to the stadiums from the top...really cool, right in the middle of campus.

[xu9697]

Hmm I thought we wanted to be Gonzaga, but since they don't have a football team, I'll settle for Cincy -side note, i almost went there. coolest campus, ever! the way the athletic facilities are designed, you walk in to the stadiums from the top...really cool, right in the middle of campus.

I understand what folks say about Gonzaga, but being a public university WITH football I feel UC fits the eventual model better. And, they have just a bit of good basketball history too (though it pains me to say that...Go X!!!).

[johnnyzip84]

You draw a very interesting parallel, and one that I don't think is that big of a stretch (though I'm sure many disagree). College football fans have short memories indeed. When the Miami Hurricanes were the scourge of the NCAA, few were aware that prior to the good professor (Howard Schnellenberger) coming aboard, you could have lumped the "U" in with the San Diego States of the gridiron. The "U" didn't even have a football program until the 1950s. Change often comes slow to football programs. It's often hard to notice. But like anything, enough small changes can lead to a demonstrable difference over time.I was at the 31-0 victory over the Bearcats in 1989. The game wasn't even been that close. It may have been the pinnacle of Faust's reign here at UA, although the road victory over the same Bearcats to close out 1992 may have been just as impressive.I know it'll take a lot of work, but I don't think your vision is out of reach whatsoever. Sure, some things are out of the Zips control. But if they take care of the things that are available to them, then anything can happen. Ask Howard Schnellenbeger.

[Zipmeister]

Gentlemen, I implore you to believe.As an XU grad who stayed in Cincinnati for a few years after graduation (1993-2000 including college years), I always talked about the potential of UC. Good POTENTIAL fan base, awesome SETTING for the stadium, already successful basketball program, etc. Let's remember that a short 22 years ago, Akron became a Division I team (and was beating up a team by the name of Cincinnnati in 1989).Since moving back to the Cleveland area in 2000, I have year-by-year become a bigger fan of Zips athletics for various reasons (too many to mention, too many probably wouldn't care). Anyway, I see the same kind of thing building here at Akron. Yes, we there are differences, most notably the not-having a big-time bball program. But, coincidentally it is growing at the same time as the football team. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF GREAT FACILITIES!!! UC has upgraded and built great ones, while also redoing their campus in a very similar fashion as Akron is doing (green areas, athletic facilities, retail, parking, residences, etc.) Akron has done or is doing the same things. Many doubted me when I spoke about UC 10-12 years ago, so I'm cool with being doubted here. But the combination of a talent-rich football area, new facilities of every kind, improved logos/slogans/marketing (yes it makes a difference), exposure b/c of LeBron James, basketball team improvement/Zeke/KD (Phil Martelli of Akron!), soccer team (and growing coverage of college soccer b/c of ESPNU), etc. it can be done here. This program can reach the heights of a Cincinnati.The obvious final big difference is Cincy landed in the Big East (which was a BIG KEY). I still believe that in the next few years there will be a retooling of conferences, and Akron needs to be ready to do all that is necessary to be in the best conference possible...BE, improved CUSA, improved MAC, whatever.Believe in The Roo!!!

Well if there's one thing we are good at it's getting tooled.

[Zips fan]

I agree that Akron has a ton of potential. We have a university that is committed to improving it campus and athletics. The biggest difference between an Akron and Cincinnati currently is conference affiliation. We belong in the MAC until we can prove we have moved past the rest of conference members. Cincinnati ran into some luck with a great run with their basketball team, improvements in football, and the Big East looking for replacement members. I think Akron will need to move beyond the MAC for us to ever get on the national scene. If the Big East does look for new members, we need to not only be the top MAC program in football and men's basketball but competitive with regional CUSA programs(Memphis, ECU, and UCF).

[skip-zip]

johnny....I'm glad you also brought up the 1992 game, where Matt Kaulig filled in as QB, and helped Faust cap off his best season as Zips coach, and our best season ever as a D-1A program. I think that season really solidified the idea that we were going to remain a 1-A team for good, and could compete in the MAC.As far as the Cincinnati comparisons, it's hard to look past their conference affiliation. I know people who were students at Cinci when I was an Akron student in the 80s, and they talked often about an almost empty stadium for home games. They've come a long way since then. Hopefully, our facilities are a good first step. Lets hope we can also someday show a major conference that we have the potential to be an asset to them.

[GP1]

There can be parallels between UC and UofA, but not equal proportions.I just want UofA to be the best it can be with what it has. I just want to be us.

[Zipsrifle]

There can be parallels between UC and UofA, but not equal proportions.I just want UofA to be the best it can be with what it has. I just want to be us.

My Sister went to UC and I see UC and Akron completely different. I think UA is really a major driving force in the city, where as Cinci was a factor, but one of many. I hope to see the University Park neighborhood start to flourish more, that would really start to give Akron some energy.

[bigham78]

There can be parallels between UC and UofA, but not equal proportions.I just want UofA to be the best it can be with what it has. I just want to be us.

My Sister went to UC and I see UC and Akron completely different. I think UA is really a major driving force in the city, where as Cinci was a factor, but one of many. I hope to see the University Park neighborhood start to flourish more, that would really start to give Akron some energy.

But, I'm old enough to remember Nippert Stadium was a junk yard and Cincy had no facilites and couldn't draw jack to then 26,000 capacity Nippert. That like the RB had lights on the field back in those days.Today they have state of the Art facilities and they pack 35,000 Nippert and feel they'll need to enlarge the place in the coming decade.Cincy come a long way since the early 1980's.Lville football program was same boat except they were above medicore going 8-3 and 7-4. They played at old Cardinal Stadium in front of 9,000 to 14,000 at best. Today they play soon to be expanded Papa John Cardinal Stadium and they pack the 45,000 seats and have waiting list for season tickets.Put a winner on the field and build the top notch facilities and the fans will come.

[johnnyzip84]

There can be parallels between UC and UofA, but not equal proportions.I just want UofA to be the best it can be with what it has. I just want to be us.

You have a point, GP. I'd be pretty happy with "85%-90% UC" at UA

[GJGood]

Hmm I thought we wanted to be Gonzaga, but since they don't have a football team, I'll settle for Cincy -side note, i almost went there. coolest campus, ever! the way the athletic facilities are designed, you walk in to the stadiums from the top...really cool, right in the middle of campus.

I want to be somebody like a Utah. Always near the top of their conference in the major sports and still able to be somewhat of a player on the national scene. I think there's is an overall athletic program we can model ourselves after, at least for now. the difference is Akron is situated in much more fertile recruiting ground than they have in Salt Lake City, so if we ever reached the Utah level we then may be able to look even bigger at that point.

[johnnyzip84]

Hmm I thought we wanted to be Gonzaga, but since they don't have a football team, I'll settle for Cincy -side note, i almost went there. coolest campus, ever! the way the athletic facilities are designed, you walk in to the stadiums from the top...really cool, right in the middle of campus.

I want to be somebody like a Utah. Always near the top of their conference in the major sports and still able to be somewhat of a player on the national scene. I think there's is an overall athletic program we can model ourselves after, at least for now. the difference is Akron is situated in much more fertile recruiting ground than they have in Salt Lake City, so if we ever reached the Utah level we then may be able to look even bigger at that point.

While I have no problem with emulating Utah, population trends do not necessarily give Akron an advantage in recruiting IMHO. Couple this with the fact that Utah only has 3 D-1 programs (for the in-state kids) and is much closer to California. I'm sorry, but I think UC is more "in reach" for UA.

[LosAngelesZipFan]

XU-- thanks for getting this post going. It's always good to get a fresh perspective. Cincy, Memphis, Lville, Pitt, Syracuse, etc.-- UA could and should be in that tier of U's, both athletically and academically. There is no reason UA couldn't attain that-- and certainly with someone like Proenza, it's achievable. However, Akron is at a huge disadvantage compared with those other schools-- it competes in its backyard in almost every way with a myriad of institutions, from Ohio State for share of mind/heart to Can't, CSU, YSU for state support, students, private funding, etc. It is an article of faith with me that UA is on a long term path to being a better known institution. But it would be a hell of a lot easier if the state would combine UA and Can't. I know I say this alot, but having one institution with the scale and reach of a combined UA-Can't State would instantly create a Cincy-level institution, one that could in the long term go well beyond that. Ohio is a in an economic cul de sac or probably more aptly a deteriorating orbit. This is the kind of radical thing that needs to be done to create a future rather than just react to conditions. It's hard to contemplate in some ways, but it sure would be an exciting thing to see a U of 50K+, big endowment, synergistic research specialties, huge branch campus network connecting all of NEO, etc., etc.

[WinZip]

The Akron State Golden Zips?Kinda makes me sick...

[WinZip]

Whats a Golden Zip?

[LosAngelesZipFan]

Well, no, I was thinking we'd just call it UA and eliminate any and all references to Can't State altogether, but that's just my POV.

[MDZip]

The Akrent Golden F-l-a-s-h-i-n-g Zippers?