Home Opener!

[Zipsrifle]

Shoud be a great game next week. I really think that the Zips will come ready to play, and if we can minimize mistakes, we have an excellent shot at another upset. I expect an above average crowd, if the weather is good. When I ordered my season tickets, the guy at the ticket office said that season ticket sales were on track to well exceed last years total. Anybody have any idea what the final number was or how much higher than last years it is? Over the past 3 seasons, the home opener seems to bring in about 17,000 Zips fans. I wouldn't be suprised if the total tops 20,000 including new Zips fans and NIU fans.

It will be interesting to see how the new Zips Tailgating area works. I'm to cheap to pay for that stuff, but I did make some substantial improvements in my tailgating equipment! Anybody else make any upgrades? It would be nice to see continued improvement in the pre-game festivites. I think it is important to have a good showing in the lower lot when the opposing team's bus comes in. Unlike other stadiums where the tailgaing is spread out, that is pretty much the only area at the RB, and the opposing team has to drive right by it. I see it as the opening shot of the game. Mentally, if the opposing team sees a ton of cars and Zips fans :blink: , they will get it in their mind that the crowd will be against them.

There is one thing that has me concerned. Typically, I sit in the endzone, but nosing around the seating chart, I see that section is now blacked out. What's the deal with that? I know the seats were taking a beating, but I don't think they were so bad that you had to close them off. I'll be Pissed if I have to move. :angry: If so, I'm sitting in Section 20, just so I can piss off the other team and it's fans!

2005 Seating Chart

[zipboy]

If the Zips win Saturday, I think we are 6-1 heading into BG Oct 29th. Very good win yesterday against a quality team. It is good to see us not play even near perfect and still be this good. NIU is a load and one of the teams that I respect the most in the league. JD mentioned a few times last year that Akron would like to do what NIU has done and play the same way, smart, tough, physical football. A win over NIU, and Akron should crack the Captain's top 3!

[BlueRaiderPride]

Very good win yesterday against a quality team.

Quality team? I saw that team perform three weeks in a row, and it seems that the quality had degressed. It went from 5 turnovers against North Texas to like 3 turnovers and 100 yards in penalities against Akron. Quality team? No, not unless we beat an undefeated Vanderbilt or an NC State team with a winning record additionally sweeping the rest of our Sun Belt competition.

[msopher]

Akron might get spanked on Sat. or it could be a fun game. I'm not sure which one it wil be.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Very good win yesterday against a quality team.

Quality team? I saw that team perform three weeks in a row, and it seems that the quality had degressed. It went from 5 turnovers against North Texas to like 3 turnovers and 100 yards in penalities against Akron. Quality team? No, not unless we beat an undefeated Vanderbilt or an NC State team with a winning record additionally sweeping the rest of our Sun Belt competition.

MTSU would win at least 4-5 games in the MAC. Your defense is pretty decent. Your offense needs some playmakers. Seems like you will be in need of a new coach in November too.

[Zips fan]

This is going to be a great weekend. Men's soccer Friday and Football on Saturday. I think the game with NIU will be very telling. We looked good against Purdue but lost as expected and won at MTSU which I was expecting. This will be a good challeng against NIU. They are arguably the top team in the MAC right now and win here will go along way toward reaching the MAC championship.

GO ZIPS!!!

[zipper]

Regarding the soccer game, we're planning on hitting a home soccer match this year. Went to the pre-game tournament in town (Westfield? Cup) and I don't think I'll get the chance to see this level of play very often. I'm not a big soccer fan but the Akron's men's team looked extremely talented and big time. This ain't your CYO soccer. These guys can do amazing things with the ball, and even a non-soccer guy like me can appreciate it. I was just surprised at the appreciably higher quality of the talent at this level. It was fun to watch. And hey, we won (and keep winning. Aren't they undefeated?)

I will be surprised but extremely pleased if we beat NIU. I think we'll hold our own with them, win or lose. I wouldn't drop dead of shock if we won, either. Should prove interesting.