Zips fans are everywhere all the sudden

[RootforRoo44]

Just got back from where the Pavilion used to be down on the beach in Myrtle Beach, SC and had 2 separate cars drive by and yell "GO ZIPS!" to me (i'm wearing a "ROO TOWN This is your team" shirt). This is after drinking with a few Rowdies at the airport in Atlanta on my way down to Florida last week and also after getting a "GO ZIPS" yelled at me at Gatorland in Kissimmee, FL a few days ago. I know this doesn't sound like much but a few years ago i was lucky if i even got someone to ask me what the hell "Akron" was (and they would pronounc it "Eh-Kron") I dont know about you guys but i'm starting to get pumped for this fall sports season.(I'm on a bit of a road trip back to Ohio after flying down to Florida if you all are wondering.)

[MDZip]

I ran into a kid who was a boat driver in a underground lake in a cave called The Lost Sea in Nowhere, Tennessee this summer who not only knew that Akron was the Zips but that we were finishing up a new stadium. Also, saw two Zips shirts in Niagara Falls earlier this year. It's coming.

[UAZipster0305]

Although not that far away, I see Zips and UA gear rather frequently here in Pittsburgh, which is obviously another state and the heart of Panther and Nittany Lion country.Hate to say it, but I found a Can't towel in a Steeler's bar in St. Martin (the Carribean) a couple months ago. I told the owner about the rivalry and proceeded to remove it from the wall and hung it over the toilet. I'm going to start carrying UA towels with me and giving them to bars/restaurants wherever I travel.

[ksu sucks]

Although not that far away, I see Zips and UA gear rather frequently here in Pittsburgh, which is obviously another state and the heart of Panther and Nittany Lion country.Hate to say it, but I found a Can't towel in a Steeler's bar in St. Martin (the Carribean) a couple months ago. I told the owner about the rivalry and proceeded to remove it from the wall and hung it over the toilet. I'm going to start carrying UA towels with me and giving them to bars/restaurants wherever I travel.

Back in my hometown near Ashtabula, OH(almost Pennsylvania) there are tons or Akron blankets being sold at the local Wall Marts and one of the hardware stores. It's spreading, my friends. Buckeye country is officially being invaded.

[UAZipster0305]

Although not that far away, I see Zips and UA gear rather frequently here in Pittsburgh, which is obviously another state and the heart of Panther and Nittany Lion country.Hate to say it, but I found a Can't towel in a Steeler's bar in St. Martin (the Carribean) a couple months ago. I told the owner about the rivalry and proceeded to remove it from the wall and hung it over the toilet. I'm going to start carrying UA towels with me and giving them to bars/restaurants wherever I travel.

Back in my hometown near Ashtabula, OH(almost Pennsylvania) there are tons or Akron blankets being sold at the local Wall Marts and one of the hardware stores. It's spreading, my friends. Buckeye country is officially being invaded.

What is Buckeye Country?

[ZachTheZip]

So the question is: What is this a result of? Is it thanks to the basketball championship? The Fear the Roo (which seemingly ended around here) campaign slowly spreading outward over time? A merchandising partner being contracted to spread the brand nationally? Or is it tons of Zips fans coming out of the woodwork?I'm hoping for a combination of all of them, but especially the merchandising and Fear the Roo oes, because I want the marketing stuff to be successful. Maybe they learned that they have an easier job marketing to non-locals. It's plausible, given the resistance to all things Zips related around here.

[Zipsrifle]

So the question is: What is this a result of? Is it thanks to the basketball championship? The Fear the Roo (which seemingly ended around here) campaign slowly spreading outward over time? A merchandising partner being contracted to spread the brand nationally? Or is it tons of Zips fans coming out of the woodwork?I'm hoping for a combination of all of them, but especially the merchandising and Fear the Roo oes, because I want the marketing stuff to be successful. Maybe they learned that they have an easier job marketing to non-locals. It's plausible, given the resistance to all things Zips related around here.

I think it's a function of:1) Getting a surprisingly good education at a good price!2) A campus that one can be proud of!3) Having the time of your life while you are here.4) An image of an up and coming University.Earlier this year, I was sitting in a restaurant wearing my Akron Zips polo. A mother walked up to me mentioned how The University of Akron is really a great school. I noticed about 4 other people around us turn their heads in the "What school is she talking about?" fashion. I said, something about being an Alumni and a big sports fan. She said her daughter was a there for Engineering and that it was a great program and I mentioned that I was a Mechanical Engineer and also felt I got an excellent education. I get the feeling that we are losing the "Hilltop High" stigma that was attached to UA students in the past and Akron is being recognized as school that provides a quality education.

[MDZip]

I get the feeling that we are losing the "Hilltop High" stigma that was attached to UA students in the past and Akron is being recognized as school that provides a quality education.

I think that those of us that attended during all of the Hilltop High years are especially proud of what's going on right now and to have been around to help start some of it.

[RootforRoo44]

So the question is: What is this a result of? Is it thanks to the basketball championship? The Fear the Roo (which seemingly ended around here) campaign slowly spreading outward over time? A merchandising partner being contracted to spread the brand nationally? Or is it tons of Zips fans coming out of the woodwork?I'm hoping for a combination of all of them, but especially the merchandising and Fear the Roo oes, because I want the marketing stuff to be successful. Maybe they learned that they have an easier job marketing to non-locals. It's plausible, given the resistance to all things Zips related around here.

I think it truly is a combination of both. I think a perfect storm is brewing and if the football team can win 7 or 8 games this year and the basketball team can repeat something close to what it did last year then we may see the eye of that storm make landfall in Fall 2010. The Zips are indeed coming, and they are taking over "Buckeye Country" whatever the hell that is.

[zen]

Some of the sightings above being from the south reminds me of when I noticed some kid wearing a 'Fear the Roo' t-shirt in some photos I saw about a North Carolina coffee shop opening... and it was probably several months after the NC State game.I think that game captured some people's interest and curiosity.

[ksu sucks]

What is Buckeye Country?

Hm, apparently you are ignorant to the screaming masses of the uneducated fools who consider themselves Buckeye 'fans'. Live in Ohio for about a decade...you'll quickly realize what I'm talking about. Sorry if the term "Buckeye country" made me sound like one of them. I can assure you, I'd rather root for Michigan(just out of spite).

[zippy_ua_00]

So the question is: What is this a result of? Is it thanks to the basketball championship? The Fear the Roo (which seemingly ended around here) campaign slowly spreading outward over time? A merchandising partner being contracted to spread the brand nationally? Or is it tons of Zips fans coming out of the woodwork?I'm hoping for a combination of all of them, but especially the merchandising and Fear the Roo oes, because I want the marketing stuff to be successful. Maybe they learned that they have an easier job marketing to non-locals. It's plausible, given the resistance to all things Zips related around here.

I think it truly is a combination of both. I think a perfect storm is brewing and if the football team can win 7 or 8 games this year and the basketball team can repeat something close to what it did last year then we may see the eye of that storm make landfall in Fall 2010. The Zips are indeed coming, and they are taking over "Buckeye Country" whatever the hell that is.

im thinking the football team has a pretty good chance of taking home 7-8 wins this year. should be a good season and we will open some eyes around the country. As for the basketball team, we will be better than we were last year. we should win the conferance and if for some reason we dont we should get an at large bid. They too will open some eyes around the country, especially with losing only linhart and getting marshall, a true center, and being able to move mcknight to his true spot. He was out of place playing center but still did a hell of a job. i expect us to be ranked this year.

[RootforRoo44]

What is Buckeye Country?

Hm, apparently you are ignorant to the screaming masses of the uneducated fools who consider themselves Buckeye 'fans'. Live in Ohio for about a decade...you'll quickly realize what I'm talking about. Sorry if the term "Buckeye country" made me sound like one of them. I can assure you, I'd rather root for Michigan(just out of spite).

There is never an excuse to root for Michigan, Michigan State, or any of the "directional Michigans".

[ksu sucks]

There is never an excuse to root for Michigan, Michigan State, or any of the "directional Michigans".

Please. Leave that hate for Michigan to the suckeye fans. I'd never root for anyone over Akron, but I don't hate Michigan anymore than any of the other Big 11 teams(except OSWHO, of course).

[RootforRoo44]

There is never an excuse to root for Michigan, Michigan State, or any of the "directional Michigans".

Please. Leave that hate for Michigan to the suckeye fans. I'd never root for anyone over Akron, but I don't hate Michigan anymore than any of the other Big 11 teams(except OSWHO, of course).

They are a rival state that has 3 rival conference schools in it. Therefore due to them recruiting local talent because of their proximity, you should root against ALL Michigan schools.

[ksu sucks]

They are a rival state that has 3 rival conference schools in it. Therefore due to them recruiting local talent because of their proximity, you should root against ALL Michigan schools.

Yes, damn those Adrian college bulldogs. Damn them right to hell.

[RootforRoo44]

They are a rival state that has 3 rival conference schools in it. Therefore due to them recruiting local talent because of their proximity, you should root against ALL Michigan schools.

Yes, damn those Adrian college bulldogs. Damn them right to hell.

glad to see you're on board!

[Zipsrifle]

So, what do those of us who used to live in Michigan do??

[RootforRoo44]

So, what do those of us who used to live in Michigan do??

Never go back?

[Zipsrifle]

So, what do those of us who used to live in Michigan do??

Never go back?

No, that won't work. For one I work there in the winter and it also is an amazing place to vacation.

[MDZip]

Just got back from a trip to Costa Rica. I was up at a hot springs called Tabacon on the side of a volcano at the top of a mountain range. As I was waiting for my daughters I looked over and saw an Akron Zips T-shirt. I talked to the young man wearing it who had gotten it from his cousins in Akron. I continue to see Zips gear in very strange places.

[UAZipster0305]

Although not terribly far away, I see Zips gear all the time in Pittsburgh. Pretty amazing considering the saturation with Pitt, Penn St., the Steelers, Penguins, and now even the Pirates.

[Z.I.P.]

Just got back from a trip to Costa Rica. I was up at a hot springs called Tabacon on the side of a volcano at the top of a mountain range. As I was waiting for my daughters I looked over and saw an Akron Zips T-shirt. I talked to the young man wearing it who had gotten it from his cousins in Akron. I continue to see Zips gear in very strange places.

Congratulations. Hope you enjoyed the cloud forest. The howler monkeys take any skin? Hey, did I mention the Fear the Roo T-shirt the guy was wearing at Kahala Mall two yrs ago?