Misc Thoughts...

[Captain Kangaroo]

Back from Thanksgiving at mom's and reviewing people's posts, I'll offer the following:

* It was great to see the Zips drill Can't like they should. No pussyfooting around, just a beatdown.

* Ditto the OU game the previous week.

* Yes, our defense has given up single-digit points 4 times this year. That's awesome.

* Despite the naysayers, we deserve to be in Detroit. We beat the big dogs. And, despite the naysayers, we'll have a very nice showing attendance-wise in Detroit.

* Ironic that NIU fans were cheering for us in mid-October to help their strength of schedule, and it was their record that put us over the edge and into the Championship game.

* Memo to Zips Students: Go to the game. Soak this one up and have fun. Back in the mid-eighties (yes, I'm dating myself hard here) the Zips were runner-up in NCAA soccer, made the NCAA's in hoops and were a playoff 1-AA football team. It seemed like Zips athletics was destined for a long run of success. It has taken 20 years for the athletics department to again reach that collective level of success. The foundation is there for the Zips to continue this type of success for many years, but you never know...so enjoy it now!

* Despite the naysayers, the Thanksgiving Day game was a HUGE success. The weather was absolutely BRUTAL, but there were at least 8k at the game...with little if any help from the Can't fans. I think it is worth doing again. With decent weather I bet 15k is possible.

* Regarding playing Can't in August: We shouldn't. Our program is now at the point where we'll draw 20k for the season opener regardless of who we play. If, that is, we keep our existing Marketing group in-tact. Everyone forgets we were drawing 600 fans to good-weather November games only a couple years ago. People look at the 8k crowds in blizzards and cry that there were only 8k. It is absurd.

* We need to win on Thursday night if we want to go bowling.

* I saw the BG/Toledo game the other night. We could beat either of those teams. Their defense was horrific.

[msopher]

* Despite the naysayers, the Thanksgiving Day game was a HUGE success. The weather was absolutely BRUTAL, but there were at least 8k at the game...with little if any help from the Can't fans. I think it is worth doing again. With decent weather I bet 15k is possible.

8k in attendance is a huge success? Getting your game downgraded to ESPNU a huge success. Yeah it's great you got some exposure but I doubt anyone watched the game Thursday morning.

[zipsbandman]

* Despite the naysayers, the Thanksgiving Day game was a HUGE success. The weather was absolutely BRUTAL, but there were at least 8k at the game...with little if any help from the Can't fans. I think it is worth doing again. With decent weather I bet 15k is possible.

8k in attendance is a huge success? Getting your game downgraded to ESPNU a huge success. Yeah it's great you got some exposure but I doubt anyone watched the game Thursday morning.

Whould you want to sit through that weather Thanksgiving morning?

[Quickzips]

The point of the matter is that 8K is a huge upgrade from what this game would have recieved just a few years back. A game with no meaning for one team and with an inconsistent team playing on the other sideline in 30mph winds, snow squals that left you wondering where the players were, and wind chills below 0 may have only garnered 500 people if it was lucky a few years back. 8K compared to 500 is a HUGE jump and it shows that we are making progress not only on the field but as far as our fanbase goes and with the community.

[Dr Z]

* Despite the naysayers, the Thanksgiving Day game was a HUGE success. The weather was absolutely BRUTAL, but there were at least 8k at the game...with little if any help from the Can't fans. I think it is worth doing again. With decent weather I bet 15k is possible.

8k in attendance is a huge success? Getting your game downgraded to ESPNU a huge success. Yeah it's great you got some exposure but I doubt anyone watched the game Thursday morning.

I have to agree with the crowd.

I was suprised to see so many fans brave that weather. You would have to be there to understand. :angry:

Watching the highlights on ESPN did NOT do it justice. Did anyone else notice we made the top ten?

Between the weather and the crappy opponent I would say it was a success.

I know one thing, it will be a lot warmer at Ford Field

[Zip Watcher]

* Despite the naysayers, the Thanksgiving Day game was a HUGE success. The weather was absolutely BRUTAL, but there were at least 8k at the game...with little if any help from the Can't fans. I think it is worth doing again. With decent weather I bet 15k is possible.

* Regarding playing Can't in August: We shouldn't. Our program is now at the point where we'll draw 20k for the season opener regardless of who we play. If, that is, we keep our existing Marketing group in-tact. Everyone forgets we were drawing 600 fans to good-weather November games only a couple years ago. People look at the 8k crowds in blizzards and cry that there were only 8k. It is absurd.

I agree entirely about both of these points.

On playing Can't in November: What better way to ensure you win the East and can move forward in the bowl season than having your annual "Stomp the Worst Team In 1-A" party at the end of the season. Teams play their rivals at the end of the season, not the beginning. If Can't State has any sack, they'll figure out a way to compete and do their best to spoil the Zips fun here and there. My guess is that they won't do that for awhile, and while BG has to deal with UT and Miami with OU .. the Zips can continue to feast on the buzzards. Let's leave it where it belongs at the end.

That the game was a success: I'll admit that our group was not among the heartiest of fans in attendence Thursday. We made the fatal error of sitting on the visitor side to have great seats and at least show some people on that side. I think that side got the brunt of the wind and it was BRUTAL. We made it to half time and I lost a 2-1 vote for staying longer. The crowd was awesome for the conditions and it was a great time. Anyone who says it wasn't a success wasn't there. My father in-law, who is a BG and a UT grad came along with us, and agrees .. says he won't pass up the chance to do that again, weather or no weather. It was a cool thing to do on Thanksgiving morning.

On the game:

-Biggs must have had 4" spikes on .. his cutbacks were pretty impressive given the conditions.

-Defense did a nice job of containing the Can't State RB's for the most part. Can't State wasn't going to have much success in the air on this day .. even though they're a "Throwing Team".

- I thought that going with the wind would afford some opportunity for some short over the middle dumps to the TE position, given how many guys Can't State kept in the box, but I'm not a football coach.

- I've now seen the Zips in person 3 times this season (Purdue, BGSU, Can't) and the D has gotten steadily better with each game. I'll admit that I thought Luke looked best agaist the Boilers, but the team in general has progressed nicely.

I like our chances very much for a win on Thursday. Defense wins championships, and this should be a great game!

Go Zips!

[msopher]

Wow I guess if my Rockets played on Thanksgiving morning to only 8k, us fans would be pissed about it. This shows the expectation levels of both schools.

[AK-Zips]

Wow I guess if my Rockets played on Thanksgiving morning to only 8k, us fans would be pissed about it.  This shows the expectation levels of both schools.

do you really think that you would get 20,000 for a game that had wind chills at 45 mph of -18 degrees? The field temp at kickoff was almost zero.

Maybe i am wrong, but that would be impressive.

Secondly, the expectations are where they are because of student body demographics, consistent winning and stadium location. If we continue to go over 500 and improve on that, the new stadium will attract the regulars that are out there now along with (dare I say) students and the ones who are closet Zips fans. There are many people in the area that are alumni that don't come to games because they HATE the facility. They would rather see them play in Cleveland or at Fawcett Stadium in Canton than go to the Rubber Bowl.

Lastly, msopher, did Toledo always average 20k when they weren’t use to winning, or did they just always magically show up during a horrific season? Let us build our program one day at a time and since you love the rocket, why don't you just play with your own?

Go Zips!

[GP1]

Wow I guess if my Rockets played on Thanksgiving morning to only 8k, us fans would be pissed about it. This shows the expectation levels of both schools.

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.

[JP Morgan]

There are many people in the area that are alumni that don't come to games because they HATE the facility.

I happen to be one who hates the Rubber Bowl. I didn't used to in college but now I can't stand it. My wife won't come to games because the bathroom facilities are crap (excuse the choice of words), parking is in a grass field, and its really a dark and dreary place. I hate to admit it, but I have attended as many YSU games as Zip games in the past few years only becauase the tickets were free and YSU has a nice thing going downtown. The stadium is fan friendly, its clean, they have things to do for the kids and parking is great around the stadium. And being on campus its a real collegiant atmosphere. If we had YSU's staium on our campus we'd easily draw 20K a game. I'd be one of the 20K every week.

[Dr Z]

The stadium is fan friendly, its clean, they have things to do for the kids and parking is great around the stadium.  And being on campus its a real collegiant atmosphere.  If we had YSU's staium on our campus we'd easily draw 20K a game.  I'd be one of the 20K every week.

If your lucky, you might get on channel 27's news if there is a drive by also.

[msopher]

Wow I guess if my Rockets played on Thanksgiving morning to only 8k, us fans would be pissed about it.  This shows the expectation levels of both schools.

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.

[GP1]

Wow I guess if my Rockets played on Thanksgiving morning to only 8k, us fans would be pissed about it.  This shows the expectation levels of both schools.

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.

[Zipsrifle]

Man, is this attendance thing getting old. Enough already.

[UAZips]

I love pissing off the rest of the league Going to a bowl game, or even a respectable showing in the MACC will do wonders for attendence next year. I wish I could be in Detriot this thursday, but I live in Alaska, so that won't be happening

However, me and a bunch of guys are going to party and watch the game, it's on at 3:30pm here with the time difference hahaha.

Also, everyone here that's seen the Akron logo on all my stuff LOVES it. Most have never heard of the Zips, but love the logo and the team nickname. Interesting bit of info I thought.

[Wally B]

I love pissing off the rest of the league Going to a bowl game, or even a respectable showing in the MACC will do wonders for attendence next year. I wish I could be in Detriot this thursday, but I live in Alaska, so that won't be happening

However, me and a bunch of guys are going to party and watch the game, it's on at 3:30pm here with the time difference hahaha.

Also, everyone here that's seen the Akron logo on all my stuff LOVES it. Most have never heard of the Zips, but love the logo and the team nickname. Interesting bit of info I thought.

FEAR THE ROO!!!