Over/Under Turkey Day Classic

[a-zip]

What is it gonna be folks!

[bigzipguy]

Anybody that has seen my explanation as to what it will take for Akron to win

the MAC east,(under a different thread), will no doubt agree that it is a long shot. Should,the games break our way, starting this weekend, then the Bowl will be filled

to near capacity.

[msopher]

It's sad when the fans only expect between 10-15,000 people to a Division 1A football game on a day when everyone is off work.

[Sloopy]

What is sad is that Can't State will probably not bring a single fan to the game. They are drawing the worst crowds in the nation right now. This game should be at the start of the season. Playing at the end is a curse.

[Captain Kangaroo]

It's sad when the fans only expect between 10-15,000 people to a Division 1A football game on a day when everyone is off work.

BG had 9K for the Akron game a couple weeks ago. It was on a Saturday. Everyone was off work.

13K for a 10am Zips' game that's:

1.) On TV

2.) Against the worst team in the nation

3.) Held in late November

4.) Held on a Holiday when many people travel

is pretty damn good. Especially when the best the Zips will be at that point is 5-5.

It isn't "sad" to draw such crowds on Thanksgiving morning. In fact it will be very impressive.

[Z-P]

I've been kind of "holding my water" here but .................. I've just got to jump in.

If you guys think any more than 5K will come out, you're crazy. Why would anyone go to the game? Think about it for a minute. 2 crappy teams, AM game on a holiday, end of season and everybodies footballed out, family in from out of town, weather will probably be "Ohiolike" etc., etc.,.

I'm sorry, but if we pull 5K I'll consider it a success.

Regardless, Z-P will go, and so will CK................with Doc in toe kicking and screaming.

I just had a grim thought..............can you imagine how shitty the tailgate section is going to look? Ouch.

[Sloopy]

The game is not really "on" TV, it is on ESPNu which no one except for dish folks get. Can't imagine most will opt to not come for the boob tube reason.

Lots of us old time Akron folks remember the Turkey Day game. I expect about 10K for the game.

[Z-Pouch]

13K for a 10am Zips' game that's:

It isn't "sad" to draw such crowds on Thanksgiving morning. In fact it will be very impressive.

13,000

I will buy you your favorite beverage (s) after a BB victory all night if there is an ACTUAL attendence (not announced, that would be cheating) of 13,000. I expect the announced attendence to be above 10k. I definately agree with you that an actual 10k on Tday morning is a huge success. Can't will be bringing no one to this game. This is just a tough sell to the general football fan.

The high school playoffs will be in full force on Friday and Saturday - although rumor has it that they are not using the Rubber Bowl for either the regional final or state semis. General fans may have some options to go see live football that weekend which could effect general turnout.

I still dont understand not having this game at the start of the year -- It is a given 25k-30k. Right now, the rivalry is what it is -- Akron on the verge of playing for championships and Can't still sucking which lines up for a probable meaningless last game. History says - The UA/Can't games at the start of the year have been great, the last game of the year ones have been a disaster in attendence. It's just not going to change unless a championship is on the line or both teams improve making an enjoyable football game for the general fan.

I voted for an actual attendence of 5k-7k. Yes CK, I know a mentioned 1k in joking !! BUT if it snows or is 10 below, you never know..........

[Zipsrifle]

I just had a grim thought..............can you imagine how shitty the tailgate section is going to look? Ouch.

I'll be serving Breakfast.....Irish style!

I say, between 7500 and 10000. I estimate there are about 8000 hardcore Akron fans. My data is about a year old, but whoever came to the BSU vs. Akron game at the Rubber Bowl last year, in the rain and cold, is gonna make it to this game.

[zipsbandman]

I still dont understand not having this game at the start of the year -- It is a given 25k-30k. Right now, the rivalry is what it is -- Akron on the verge of playing for championships and Can't still sucking which lines up for a probable meaningless last game. History says - The UA/Can't games at the start of the year have been great, the last game of the year ones have been a disaster in attendence. It's just not going to change unless a championship is on the line or both teams improve making an enjoyable football game for the general fan.

The reason we are having the game at this date is all because of ESPN. I guess when they come knocking, us mid majors jump at the opportunity to get the TV game, but I really don't like this scenario. Two teams with nothing to play for in front of an empty stadium is not very marketable in my opinion. I was really looking forward to an early season matchup with Can't at te Rubber Bowl this year.

Can't is pathetic. I almost want them to do better cause I'm embarased to even call them a rival.

[Captain Kangaroo]

* 2 crappy teams

* can you imagine how shitty the tailgate section is going to look?

Z-P: Ok, we're 4-5, but don't lump us in the "crappy" bin with K-ent! K-ent would give their left nut...probably from a black squirrel...to have the type of season the Zips are having! We're going to have 5-6 D1-A wins in a rebuilding year...Can't needs a decade to get such numbers.

Akron: Mediocre

Can't: Re-defines "crappy" (on an annual basis)

As far as the tailgate section, my little corner of Lower Derby Downs will look sweet. I can't speak for the others. Getting to the Rubber Bowl to tailgate a 7am will certainly be rough for all involved.

In general, I will say this positive thing regarding the Thanksgiving game:

If the Zips one day do get to be a good overall team, they will fill the stadium for the Aug/Sept home opener every year. The trick to having good attendance for a MAC team isn't to draw well the first couple good-weather games, it is to draw well the last 2-3 games. Playing for championships will draw bodies in November. So will tradition. If this Thanksgiving game does work out, it will ensure us a 10K-20k crowd for November on a bi-annual basis. Some of you oldtimers like me know that November games in the Rubber Bowl traditionally draw in the 500-2,000 range. This is a good opportunity to see if the idea has a chance to succeed. Maybe one day we can "opening day crowd" in November.

If the weather's good, there will be a solid 10k. And I will geat a beer from the notoriously cheap Z-Pouch.

[zipboy]

If the weather is good, there will be a decent turnout. Earlier in the year I went to the Gridiron 101 class. Someone asked UAM about why not playing this game early in the year. He said the league went through about 13 schedules and without saying more, we basically got screwed by the league. They had us playing this game on Wed. We lobbied to at least move it to Thursday. My understanding is that the league really wanted us to open up with OU for Solich's first game in late Aug/early Sept. JD did not want to play OU first without knowing what Solich would do and we said no way. We ended up getting this instead.

I do agree with not doing the throwbacks in this game. But it is Akron vs Can't. I could watch those guys play at 2 AM in a blizzard.

[GP1]

I bet there is going to be a much better crowd than people expect.

I know a bunch of old time Akron people who are going to the game just to see another Turkey Day Game.

[Kangaroo Craig]

I just had a grim thought..............can you imagine how shitty the tailgate section is going to look?  Ouch.

I'll be there bright and early in spot 11 hosting the Greek Alumni tent. We'll be serving beer and brats for breakfast. Go Zips!

[UA Fan]

The game is not really "on" TV, it is on ESPNu which no one except for dish folks get.  Can't imagine most will opt to not come for the boob tube reason.

Lots of us old time Akron folks remember the Turkey Day game.  I expect about 10K for the game.

Can't's website says it's on ESPN2, Akron's says ESPNU. I had thought it was ESPN2 which would have a "much larger" audience. Now I just searched the ESPN page and it shows it's on ESPNU. So if the crowd is small, not many people will know about it unless something happens that would make the highlight reel.